With the NBA Finals set to conclude this week, it's time to take a look at which players have helped or hurt their fantasy stocks heading into next season.
Though we should be careful not to take too much away from such a small sample size of games, especially when it comes to projecting regular season fantasy value, NBA front offices understandably place major importance on what takes place when the lights are the brightest (that is, during the NBA Playoffs).
For all 30 teams, excelling in the playoffs is the ultimate goal. For the 16 teams that reached the playoffs in 2020-21, the insights they have gained will factor into how they choose to construct their rosters and rotations in future years. So while it may not be wise to overreact to recent events, it'd be equally silly to totally ignore what we've just witnessed.
Without further ado, here's a team-by-team breakdown of players whose fantasy stock has moved up or down as a result of their performance in the 2021 postseason.
Memphis Grizzlies
⬆Stock up: Ja Morant
Morant didn't make the leap many were expecting this season—until the playoffs, that is. Though it resulted in only one victory in Round 1 against Utah, Morant carried Memphis, piling up averages of 30.2 points (48.7% FG, 32.3% 3PT, 77.5% FT), 8.2 assists, 4.8 rebounds, 2.0 threes and 0.4 steals in 40.6 minutes in his first career playoff series. He's not going to log this many minutes on a nightly
With the NBA Finals set to conclude this week, it's time to take a look at which players have helped or hurt their fantasy stocks heading into next season.
Though we should be careful not to take too much away from such a small sample size of games, especially when it comes to projecting regular season fantasy value, NBA front offices understandably place major importance on what takes place when the lights are the brightest (that is, during the NBA Playoffs).
For all 30 teams, excelling in the playoffs is the ultimate goal. For the 16 teams that reached the playoffs in 2020-21, the insights they have gained will factor into how they choose to construct their rosters and rotations in future years. So while it may not be wise to overreact to recent events, it'd be equally silly to totally ignore what we've just witnessed.
Without further ado, here's a team-by-team breakdown of players whose fantasy stock has moved up or down as a result of their performance in the 2021 postseason.
Memphis Grizzlies
⬆Stock up: Ja Morant
Morant didn't make the leap many were expecting this season—until the playoffs, that is. Though it resulted in only one victory in Round 1 against Utah, Morant carried Memphis, piling up averages of 30.2 points (48.7% FG, 32.3% 3PT, 77.5% FT), 8.2 assists, 4.8 rebounds, 2.0 threes and 0.4 steals in 40.6 minutes in his first career playoff series. He's not going to log this many minutes on a nightly basis during the regular season, but if Morant plays with the same level of intensity and avoids injuries, he may prove worthy of an early-round pick in most fantasy formats.
⬆Stock up: Dillon Brooks
Brooks was inefficient offensively during the regular season but still managed career highs in scoring (17.2 PPG), assists (2.3 APG), steals (1.2 SPG) and minutes (29.8 MPG). It may not be smart to take too much away from one series. Nevertheless, Brooks rose to the occasion, pouring in 25.8 points (51.5% FG, 40.0% 3PT, 80.8% FT), 4.2 boards, 2.2 dimes, 1.4 steals and 0.4 blocks in 35.0 minutes during the first five playoff games of his career. The Grizzlies boast decent depth, but over the second half of the season, Brooks clearly emerged as the team's best two-way wing player.
⬇Stock down: Brandon Clarke
Offensively, Clarke regressed in virtually every aspect as a sophomore. It's possible he'll bounce back next season, but he completely lost his spot in the regular rotation during the playoffs, during which he managed a grand total of two points, one board and one block in nine minutes.
Los Angeles Lakers
⬇Stock down: Dennis Schroder and Andre Drummond
Schroder and Drummond are both set to become free agents and may not be long for the Lakers, so their outlooks could be in need of revision in the near future. Nevertheless, neither did themselves any favors in these playoffs. Drummond managed meager averages of 9.0 points, 11.0 rebounds, 0.8 steals and 0.6 blocks in 21.0 minutes while Schroder mustered 14.3 points, 3.0 boards, 2.8 assists and 1.0 steal in 32.7 minutes per game. Drummond's per-minute averages were at least slightly encouraging. However, it's possible neither player will garner a ton of interest this offseason and both will instead have to accept undesirable, somewhat-limited roles once again heading into next year.
⬇Stock down: Kyle Kuzma and Montrezl Harrell
Kuzma and Harrell were practically non-existent in the playoffs. Depending on what happens this offseason, it's possible one or both could be more involved next season—but neither will be a splashy pick in fantasy drafts. Kuzma averaged 6.3 points on 29.2 percent from the field to go with 3.8 boards and 1.2 dimes in 21.5 minutes. Harrell was even less involved, collecting 5.8 points, 2.5 rebounds and 0.5 steals in 9.8 minutes while appearing in only four of the six games.
⬇Stock down: Anthony Davis
No one doubts the incredible ability of Davis. Nevertheless, after an injury-plagued campaign which extended into the playoffs, his fantasy stock will understandably take a hit heading into 2021-22. During the 2020-21 regular season, Davis posted career lows in rebounding, blocks, field-goal percentage and free-throw percentage, and he posted his lowest scoring average since his sophomore season. And things only got worse for him in the playoffs, as he was visibly hobbled. Looking ahead to next season, Davis might be rested as much as — if not more than — any other star player in an effort to keep him healthy for the long haul. And injuries aside, it's at least somewhat concerning that he struggled from three-point range for virtually the entire season.
Portland Trail Blazers
⬆Stock up: Jusuf Nurkic and CJ McCollum
Nurkic and McCollum weren't spectacular in the playoffs, but both should enjoy increased usage rates next season if Damian Lillard ends up being traded this summer -- a possibility that becomes more and more realistic with each passing week. Of course, it's possible that a Lillard trade could set off a chain reaction that sends Portland into a rebuild, but for now at least, McCollum and Nurkic could have slightly higher ceilings.
Dallas Mavericks
⬇Stock down: Josh Richardson
Kristaps Porzingis is the most notable Maverick to see his fantasy stock fall during these playoffs. However, Richardson has arguably seen his actual value plummet even farther. It has been a steady, gradual fall from grace for Richardson, who not long ago was a key cog for the Heat. He was nearly invisible during the playoffs, cobbling together averages of 4.9 points and 1.6 rebounds in 13.4 minutes across seven games. Depending on where he winds up signing, Richardson could still be worth a late-round flier, but at this point it wouldn't be that surprising if he goes undrafted in most standard leagues.
Los Angeles Clippers
⬆Stock up: Paul George
George stepped up with Kawhi Leonard sidelined and led the Clippers to within two wins of reaching the NBA Finals. George generated 26.9 points, 9.6 boards, 5.4 assists, 2.7 threes and 1.0 steal in 40.8 minutes per game and looked extremely comfortable while effectively operating as a small-ball big man for stretches. With Leonard rehabbing a partially torn ACL, George should operate as the Clippers' No. 1 option for most -- if not all -- of the regular season.
⬆Stock up: Reggie Jackson
After dealing with numerous injuries over the last half-decade, Jackson turned back time and looked like the fringe-All-Star player we saw during his first couple campaigns with the Pistons. In 19 playoff games, Jackson supplied 17.8 points (48.4% FG, 40.8% 3PT, 87.8% FT), 3.4 assists, 3.2 rebounds and 3.1 threes in 32.7 minutes. Whether Jackson can build on this heading into next season or not remains to be seen, but it's possible he'll attract more interest in free agency than fellow free agent point guard Dennis Schroder.
⬆Stock up: Terance Mann
Even prior to the playoffs, Mann was already a potential breakout player worth keeping an eye on. In Leonard's absence, Mann delivered 39 points (15-21 FG, 7-10 3PT, 2-2 FT), two boards, two steals and one dime in 36 minutes to help the Clippers clinch a spot in the Western Conference Finals. Though Mann's postseason averages were modest, he was relied upon more heavily in the playoffs than the regular season -- a rare feat for young players which bodes well for his future outlook. Depending on how the Clippers' roster reshapes this offseason, Mann could end up filling the starting spot temporarily vacated by the injured Leonard.
Denver Nuggets
⬆Stock up: Monte Morris
Especially for those who end up drafting Jamal Murray (knee), Morris projects as a solid late-round selection for most fantasy formats. He takes excellent care of the ball, has developed great chemistry with reigning MVP Nikola Jokic, and was the only Nugget besides Jokic who exceeded expectations in the postseason. Across 10 appearances, Morris produced 13.7 points, 5.5 dimes versus 0.7 turnovers, 2.4 boards, 1.6 threes and 1.0 steal in 28.6 minutes per game.
Phoenix Suns
⬆Stock up: Cameron Payne and Cameron Johnson
Deandre Ayton deserves most of the hype here, but my colleague already spilled enough digital ink praising the budding young big man. Payne, who will be a free agent this summer, has struggled against Milwaukee's elite defense—but he deserves a ton of credit for helping to steady the Suns' ship when Chris Paul wasn't healthy at various stages of this playoff run. And Johnson has stepped up after a subpar regular season, showcasing his beautiful shooting stroke, surprising leaping ability, and willingness to move without the ball. Johnson's elite shooting makes him the more appealing fantasy option, but Payne has shown enough in the playoffs to warrant a more-secure spot in the league.
Utah Jazz
⬆Stock up: Donovan Mitchell
Disappointing defeat notwithstanding, Mitchell was absolutely amazing in the playoffs. Despite the fact that he was returning from a month-long injury absence, he poured in 32.3 points, 5.5 assists, 4.2 boards and 1.1 steals in 34.6 minutes per game. Even if Mike Conley re-signs, Mitchell could make a leap into the MVP conversation, especially if he keeps improving his assist-to-turnover ratio and scoring efficiency. If Conley doesn't re-sign, Royce O'Neale, who led the Jazz in minutes per game during the playoffs, and Joe Ingles, who has flourished whenever Conley has been sidelined over the last two seasons, are also likely to see their fantasy stock trend upward.
⬇Stock down: Mike Conley
Conley was a rock star from beyond the arc, and a rock when it comes to setting the table for his teammates. This was true in the regular season, but even more so in the playoffs, as Conley canned 3.0 treys on 48.6 percent from deep while dishing out 7.7 dimes versus 2.3 turnovers. So why am I sleeping on him? For one, the veteran guard turns 34 before next season begins, and he has had trouble staying healthy over the last several years -- a trend that continued in these playoffs, as he missed five of Utah's 11 postseason matchups. Conley's game should age rather gracefully, but his health has become enough of a concern that he has to be approached with caution in season-long drafts.
