The NBA Trade Deadline is on Thursday, so there's the potential for a lot of volatility this week. We've already seen a couple of big trades from the Portland Trail Blazers, and player movement almost always leads to new opportunities.
I love the potential of Nickeil Alexander-Walker in a now depleted Trail Blazers' backcourt, but he's rostered in too many leagues already for a spot in this article. However, I did add a bonus sixth pick to the article for one of Alexander-Walker's new teammates, who also has the chance to shine in this new era.
Let's take a look at some other players that should be on your radar right now.
Marcus Morris Sr., LA Clippers (18.8% rostered in ESPN leagues): Morris sneaks under the 20% eligibility wire this week as he settles more firmly into his larger offensive role. Morris has been one of the primary forward scoring options for the Clippers with Paul George and Kawhi Leonard sidelined, but they may rely even more heavily on him moving forward after their big trade. Norman Powell joins Reggie Jackson as long-range perimeter threats, and Robert Covington joins Nicolas Batum and Ivica Zubac as versatile big men options that aren't heavy scorers. This leaves Morris to settle more firmly into the dynamic inside/out scoring threat for the team. In this last two games, Morris has averaged 24.5 PPG, 7.5 RPG, 3.5 APG and 5.5 3PG in 33 MPG.
Davion Mitchell, Sacramento Kings (13.3%): The man known as "Off Night" has discovered how to turn it on, on offense. Mitchell has started the last six games for the Kings, and in that stretch has averaged 19.0 PPG (48.5 FG%, 37.8 3P%), 5.0 APG, 2.8 3PG and 2.0 RPG in 34.5 MPG. The Kings are 15 games under .500 right now, so if they've got a rookie playing this well you have to feel like they'll keep feeding him down the stretch of the season. Reggie Bullock, Dallas Mavericks (9.3%): Bullock has earned a much bigger role of late due to the injury absences of Tim Hardaway Jr. (broken foot), Kristaps Porzingis (knee) and Maxi Kleber (knee). Bullock has averaged 19.6 PPG (49.2 FG%, 100.0 FT%, 48.0 3P%), 6.0 RPG, 4.8 3PG and 1.8 SPG in 33.4 MPG over his last five outings, and looks to be a plus contributor in these categories for as long as he's getting starter minutes and a solid share of the offense.
Jaxson Hayes, C, New Orleans Pelicans (7.3%): Hayes is a wildly athletic young big man that the Pelicans have been slowly developing. I remember watching him in the Las Vegas Summer League in 2019, and in his first matchup I saw him jump clean over a defender to throw down a ridiculous dunk in perhaps the highlight of that entire tournament. In recent games, Hayes seems to be starting to come into his own with averages of 17.0 PPG, 8.0 RPG and 1.8 BPG in 29.5 MPG in his last four outings. The Pelicans are in a bit of transition with the news of their reported big trade for CJ McCollum, but Hayes still projects as their big man of the future, and if he's ready to perform at a high level consistently they should give him the minutes to do so.
Maurice Harkless, Sacramento Kings (1.3%): This is a random sighting for Harkless, a veteran that hasn't been in the limelight in years. He's started the last four games for the Kings with Marvin Bagley III (ankle) sidelined, and in his last three he's averaged 15.3 PPG (50 FG%, 100% FT%, 40% 3P%), 6.0 RPG, 2.7 3PG, 2.7 SPG, 2.0 APG and 1.0 BPG in 34.3 MPG. Bagley couid be back as soon as Tuesday, which could send Harkless back to the bench. On the other hand, Bagley has been widely rumored to be on the trade block for quite some time, the Kings are one of the most rumored teams to be active at the Trade Deadline, and said deadline is Thursday. There's a reasonable enough chance that Harkless ends up with a large role by the end of the week, that he's worthy of taking a flyer on while he's playing so well.
Ben McLemore, Portland Trail Blazers (0.2%): McLemore is a talented scorer that has rarely received starter minutes in the NBA, but may just get the opportunity with the Trail Blazers dealing both McCollum and Powell this week. McLemore scored 19 points with four 3-pointers in 28 minutes in his last outing, and if he gets big minutes and a green light he could be a source for shooting and scoring down the stretch of the season.