Fantasy Basketball: Free Agents to Target For Stretch Run

February 24, 2023

Josh Wiesel examines three readily available NBA players who could help your fantasy basketball team as the playoffs approach.

Hey RotoBallers, my name is Josh Wiesel and I'm excited to be a new contributor to the website. I've always been a big NBA and DFS/Fantasy fan, so I figured it was time to put pen to paper writing about it. What you can expect from me is a quality analysis of players that will always include key statistics to strengthen my arguments and suggestions.

As we dive into the home stretch of the NBA season, fantasy owners may be looking for one of two sneaky additions to their rosters. The free agent market might seem dull 60+ games into the season, but there are players sitting around that can bring value.

What each player in this article brings is the ability to contribute in multiple categories. All should have ample opportunity to get big minutes as their teams push toward a playoff berth.

Matisse Thybulle - SG/SF, Portland Trail Blazers

Matisse Thybulle's future in Philadelphia looked bleak as the trade deadline approached. The 20th pick in the 2019 NBA draft has been doing a lot of cheering from the sidelines this season. Thybulle saw his minutes go from 25.5 in 2021-22, to 12.1 this season. Thrown an olive branch, Thybulle was included in a four-team deal that sent him to the Portland Trail Blazers. He and former New York Knick Cam Reddish would be joining the Blazers, while Josh Hart was on his way out of Portland to New York. Reddish, like Thybulle, was buried on the bench and looking for opportunity elsewhere.

A solid player, Thybulle averaged between 20-25 minutes a game while starting in 80 of 245 regular season games in three and a half seasons. Gaining playoff experience, he played in 25 postseason games.

Never a big scorer, Thybulle averaged 4.25 points per game on a little over three and a half shots per game. Hoping the three-point shooting would turn a corner, he’s consistently been in the mid to low 30 percent since his rookie season. The most three-pointers he’s hit in a season was 56 back in his rookie year.

In his four years at the University of Washington, Matisse only averaged 9.2 points per game. His best scoring season came in his junior year where he scored 11.2 per contest.

It was his defense that caught the scouts' attention. Earning Pac-12 defensive player of the year in his junior and senior seasons. Quickly recognized as a lockdown defensive stopper in the NBA, the six-foot-five stocky wing has been rewarded with All-NBA defensive second teams in 2021 and 2022.

His first game with the Portland Trail Blazers showed a little bit of everything he can do. Starting in his debut, he scored 14 points, grabbed six rebounds, dished out two assists, blocked three shots, and recorded a steal in 26 minutes. What surprised people and fantasy owners the most was his knocking down 4/6 from the three-point line. This likely won’t become the norm as the last time he hit four plus threes was in his 23rd career game when he hit a career-high five.

Just because he won’t pop like that from three every game, doesn’t mean he’s not worthy of a roster spot on your fantasy team. Thybulle came back to earth in a blowout loss to the Washington Wizards but did play 30 minutes and recorded four steals. Playing next to Damian Lillard, Anfernee Simons, and Cam Reddish should create open shots. The corners will be key and that’s where he has taken seven of his nine attempts thus far.

It’s encouraging that he’s seeing a touch under seven rebounding chances per game with Portland. That’s an increase from the 4.3 rebounding chances per game he had with the Sixers last season. Portland is one of the worst rebounding teams in the league, Thybulle will have plenty of chances to grab boards.

Starting Matisse Thybulle in every game since being traded, Portland clearly sees him as an important piece going forward. Offering steals and increased usage, Thybulle is a nice wildcard to add to your lineup if he’s still available.

Luguentz Dort - SG/SF, Oklahoma City Thunder

Only owned in 45 percent of Yahoo fantasy leagues, Dort is a guy you’ll want to go after. A proven starter that plays 30 minutes a game, there aren’t many players sitting on a waiver wire or free agent market like him. Typically, this late into the season, you’ll find guys coming off the bench that can have the occasional big game (Ex: Victor Oladipo, Seth Curry).

The good news is that the Oklahoma City Thunder seem to be content with competing this season. As it currently stands, they are narrowly behind the Golden State Warriors for the Western Conference tenth seed. Dort is a player that will factor heavily into the Thunders' playoff push. Playing in almost 88 percent of the team’s games, he’s reliable and durable.

Averaging 14 points and a little over four rebounds and two assists, the six-foot-four Canadian can be very useful to your lineups. Shot attempts have been down this season but that's also due to players like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Josh Giddey making scoring leaps. He has risen his three-point percentage from 33.2 to 35.1 and assists from 1.7 to 2.3.

Rebounding is another stat that he's made a jump in. Playing in 51 games last season, Dort only had six or more rebounds in 15 games. Just over 50 games into this season and he has matched that total. Seeing 8.7 rebounding chances per game this season, this is an increase from 7.8 last season. He's had three double-doubles this season with points and rebounds. Over the course of his first two seasons, he had zero.

In fantasy basketball, opportunity is everything. Dort is a positive plus/minus for the first time in his career and should continue to log heavy minutes.

Immanuel Quickley - PG/SG, New York Knicks

Owned in roughly 50 percent of Yahoo leagues, Quickley has been a fireball off the Knicks bench all season. With the addition of Josh Hart, Quickley has seen his minutes decrease but is still producing. In the three games since Hart's arrival, IQ is averaging 14.3 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 2.6 assists while shooting 53.5 percent from the floor in 24.3 minutes. That's better production than a lot of teams' third or fourth starters, making Quickley a good addition.

Even if Quickley continues somewhere between 24-28 minutes, he knows how to make the most of his time. Usually on the floor when guys like Jalen Brunson and Julius Randle need a breather, he's managed to average double-digit field goal attempts. A concern with players coming off the bench is they will be passive, the Knicks' point guard is the complete opposite.

He isn't shy about letting it fly from deep either. There's been just under 40 instances this season where he's taken four or more three-point attempts in games. Volume is important and the speedy guard makes sure to get his shots up. As always, potential assists and rebounds are good stats to keep an eye on. Quickley is averaging 6.1 potential assists and 6.9 rebounding chances this season. If he connects on more of those opportunities, his counting stats will start to look even better.

The big question surrounding the New York Knicks is who will get crunch time minutes. Jalen Brunson and Julius Randle are penciled in and Josh Hart has earned high trust in his short time in New York. There is a path where Quickley can play next to Brunson in high-leverage situations.

He's a fun player to watch and could be an even more exciting player to add to your roster as the fantasy season dwindles down.

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