RotoBaller NBA Recap: #FreeNikolaVucevic

The Phoenix Suns were on pace for 36 points after one quarter in the desert last night. Yes, you read that right, Phoenix scored nine whole points in the first quarter against the defensive juggernaut that is the Sacramento Kings. In case you didn't catch the hyperbole, the Kings had allowed more points per game this season than every NBA team outside of Atlanta prior to this matchup. Surprisingly, these nine points scored by the Suns were two more than their franchise-low in a quarter of seven - which they put up in the fourth quarter against the Memphis Grizzlies back in 2006. Making matters even more Suns-ish, this was their second nine-point first quarter in less than a year (February 7, 2018 vs. San Antonio). Devin Booker didn't lace them up last night as he deals with a hamstring injury, he missed that contest with the Spurs as well (he was 10 years old for the Grizzlies game - missed that one too), and I think it's safe to say that the Suns miss him when he's not in the lineup.

The Jazz, on the other hand, just couldn't miss. Not only did Utah hit a franchise-high 20 three balls in their 139-105 mockery of the San Antonio Spurs, but they also did so with 60.6-percent marksmanship from deep (they're now shooting 46.2-percent from three-point range since re-acquiring Kyle Korver after a 31.9-percent clip to start the season). Hassan Whiteside decided he missed the locker room and hit the showers with a little under a minute to go in his Miami Heat's 105-90 loss to the Orlando Magic. He literally just got up off the bench and left - which pretty much sums up the game. Luka Doncic does not miss Slovenia (I have no way to confirm this, but tell his people to get at me if I'm wrong). Regardless, he's entirely too good at playing basketball to be just 19 years old. Speaking of age, yesterday happened to be rap legend Jay-Z's 49th birthday. Jay-Z once rapped, "Males shouldn't be jealous, that's a female's trait..." I'm jealous of Luka Doncic.

... At the end of the day, five games went into the books and since no night is complete in the NBA without a few notable fantasy basketball performances, we've got you covered with the RotoBaller NBA recap for Tuesday, December 4th should you have missed the action.

Lauri Markkanen Hasn't Missed a Beat

I'm done abusing the miss homonym. That was the last one. I promise.

Lauri Markkanen: 2018-2019, The Sequel comes to us just three days after his long-awaited return to the hardwood. And, despite the debut being a bit of a struggle (10 points on 4-of-14 shooting to go with four boards), he showed us he's still got some Lauri in him in this one.

Clearly dealing with the ill-effects of being sidelined for the first 23 games of the season, Markkanen shot a rusty 8-for-24 from the field -- though he went 5-for-13 from three-point range -- in 32 minutes of action. But, come on, did you really expect him to shoot lights out from the gates following an injury to his shooting elbow? If so, it's hard to be upset with 21 points, 10 rebounds, and two steals in only his second game back, but if that's not enough, the 32 minutes are definitely an encouraging sign. We've only seen Markkanen on the court twice this season, and he's already notched the same number of double-doubles as Zach LaVine with more than all but three of his teammates. The time to swindle an impatient fantasy owner for his services may have passed -- he's proven to be worth the wait -- but I'd send out a few offers and see if you hit before it's really, really, out of the question.

#FreeNikolaVucevic

Tough to feel bad for a guy who will make $12,750,000 this year to run back and forth on a wooden surface while occasionally bouncing a spherical object, attempting to throw said sphere through a circle which stands 10 feet above the wooden surface, and/or jumping to obtain the sphere as it bounces off the circle or tempered glass structure to which the circle is attached. Nonetheless, individuals who excel in their profession are typically recognized for their success. Nikola Vucevic is not being, and has not been, recognized for his success.

Vooch scored 19 points and pulled down 10 rebounds en route to his 16th double-double on the season last night against the Heat - giving him a double-double in two-straight games and seven of his last 10. In fact, his 16 total is tied for fourth with the likes of Giannis Antetokounmpo, Anthony Davis, and Ben Simmons. Yet, because he plays for a terrible franchise, nobody outside of Orlando (or a select few of his fantasy owners) even bats an eye. Annually. Averaging a double-double in four of his seven seasons in the league has warranted Vucevic the title of being the 100th-highest paid player, and as a matter of fact, he isn't even the highest paid (fourth) on this Magic team which he's carried to a surprising 12-12 start on the strength of more than 20 points and 11 rebounds per game.

Again, cry me a river, he's made himself a millionaire by playing a game; it's just hard to watch the prime years of one of the league's top talents go to waste. Vucevic will be an unrestricted free agent come season's end, but it'd be nice to see him featured on a contender before then - in real life and fantasy leagues alike. Orlando, see what you can get for him in a trade before he leaves you for nothing at the conclusion of the season. Fantasy owners, see how little you can give for him in a trade instead of watching him put up numbers on someone else's squad who probably doesn't show him the love and appreciation he deserves.

Keep an Eye on De'Anthony Melton

As mentioned, Devin Booker did not play last night for the Phoenix Suns. If I had to guess, he won't play tomorrow either. Or Friday... The exact timeframe is uncertain at this point. However, Booker's hamstring injury is a re-aggravation of the injury he originally suffered at the end of October, and seeing how he's been dealt an injury-riddled introduction to his NBA career, it's hard to imagine the 4-20 Suns rushing him back to marginally alter their dreadfulness. In other words, do yourself a favor and get familiar with Phoenix's rookie guards Elie Okobo and De'Anthony Melton.

The latter, Melton, tallied 21 points on 9-of-12 shooting -- while adding five assists -- in 23 minutes of the Suns 122-105 loss to the Kings on Tuesday. I'd bet my house that he doesn't continue to shoot 75-percent from the field and from three (he went 3-for-4 from deep), but he did give us a glimpse of the scoring prowess he displayed during the Summer League as a member of the Houston Rockets. Now no, Melton doesn't figure to be a consistent contributor -- he didn't see the court until about midway through the second quarter with the Suns trailing by 33 -- but he could provide some deep-league/DFS value should Booker miss extended time. (Sorry, I lied. Had to end this by coming full circle.)

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