The Russell Westbrook era with the Utah Jazz sure didn't last long. While it is quite natural for everyone to focus on the LA Clippers and how the future Hall of Fame point guard fits in with his latest franchise, what about the Jazz?
They sure interest me for fantasy purposes.
After all, one of the top options in assists over the past few weeks plays for the Jazz, and he is readily available! So does a top rebounder and shot blocker! Yet another member of the Jazz achieved 40 fantasy points in three of the final four games prior to the All-Star break!
Start with SG/SF Talen Horton-Tucker, because he remains the most available, and I pay extra close attention to assists as a fantasy category. This fellow, sans much warning, averaged 7 APG over the final five contests prior to the All-Star break.
Horton-Tucker didn't start any games, but with PG Mike Conley off to Minnesota, the Iowa State product, in his fourth season, has become quite the playmaker off the bench. We have seen Horton-Tucker with occasional big assist games -- he had 10 in a November contest -- but now he is performing consistently.
Seven assists per game is a big deal. Only 12 fellows average more than that this season. This may be a small sample and may not continue, but it deserves attention. Some of the top point guards in the sport aren't averaging 7 APG over the past three weeks (Luka Doncic, De'Aaron Fox, Darius Garland).
Horton-Tucker is averaging 13.8 PPG, 7 APG, 1.2 BPG in February, an odd combination of numbers. Consider me intrigued, especially if starting guard Collin Sexton -- not a point guard -- misses time with a hamstring injury.
Meanwhile, starting C Walker Kessler continues to provide exceptional statistics, averaging 10.9 PPG, 9.8 RPG, 2.5 BPG and shooting 70% from the field since the start of January.
Kessler gets discussed in this weekly space quite a bit because I'm pleased that I was actually correct about something, but the rookie remains available in 57% of ESPN standard leagues. Everyone notices Brooklyn Nets C Nic Claxton, right? Kessler is supplying those numbers.
Then there is veteran PF/C Kelly Olynyk, who entered January among the top 50 on the full-season Player Rater, then sprained an ankle and missed a few weeks. Olynyk dropped a season-best 28 points in the team's final game before the break, adding 14 rebounds and 6 assists, too.
All-Star SF/PF Lauri Markkanen missed that game, but Olynyk topped 40 fantasy points in three of the final four games. He and Markkanen, who seems an obvious pick for most improved player this season, have coexisted nicely. That should continue.
OK, so perhaps you're not impressed by Jazzmen other than Markkanen and SG Jordan Clarkson, but production is production, whether for points or categories formats. The Jazz sending out Conley, SG Malik Beasley, PF Jarred Vanderbilt and SG Nickeil Alexander-Walker and not replacing them with new players -- especially the controversial Westbrook -- opened opportunities for others, and others have indeed stepped up!
While we're at it, and because I am always looking for statistical production in certain categories, here is an update on readily available category providers of late other than Horton-Tucker and Kessler.
Points
Cam Thomas, SG, Brooklyn Nets; Josh Okogie, SG/SF, Phoenix Suns; Norman Powell, SG/SF, LA Clippers; Gordon Hayward, SF, Charlotte Hornets; Terance Mann, SG/SF, LA Clippers; Malaki Branham, SG, San Antonio Spurs.
Thoughts: Thomas saw his minutes slashed as others joined the club at the trade deadline, probably because he's not much of a defender or boon to a team-oriented offense. Still, he should score in the high teens as a reserve. ... Okogie is doing more well-rounded, statistical things recently, including a trio of three-steal outings, but the pending return of Kevin Durant will slash his minutes. ... Hayward can't stay healthy, which is a shame, because he used to be really good. ... Mann probably loses more minutes and shots with the Westbrook addition than Powell. ... Branham looks like a legitimate scorer, and he should continue to see big minutes.
Rebounds
Kevon Looney, PF/C, Golden State Warriors; Jalen Duren, C, Detroit Pistons; Precious Achiuwa, PF/C, Toronto Raptors; Jabari Smith Jr., PF, Houston Rockets; Mark Williams, C, Charlotte Hornets; Isaiah Stewart, PF/C, Detroit Pistons; Isaiah Hartenstein, PF/C, New York Knicks.
Thoughts: Looney is back starting, though his numbers are a bit better this season as a reserve. He's not a scorer or shot blocker, though. ... Duren has been a bit all-or-nothing in games the past few weeks, explainable since he's a teenager, but I would take him over Stewart. ... Achiuwa as a starter averages 13.4 PPG and 9.4 RPG. He is so underrated now. ... Smith is another teenager, still rough as a shooter, but a consistent rebounder all season. ... Williams is the East version of Kessler, a double-double option with blocks. ... Hartenstein looks to score even less than Looney does, but 9.3 RPG this month is a big deal.
Assists
Killian Hayes, PG, Detroit Pistons; Ish Smith, PG, Denver Nuggets; Eric Gordon, SG/SF, LA Clippers; Markelle Fultz, PG, Orlando Magic; Monte Morris, PG, Washington Wizards.
Thoughts: Hayes remains a terrible shooter, especially lately as he has missed 27-of-32 field goal attempts in his past three games, but he is solid for assists and steals. ... Smith has been around forever and knows how to get assists, but his most recent steal was more than a month ago and his minutes are not safe. ... Gordon was a surprising assist contributor, and the Westbrook addition figures to end those ways. ... Fultz is ridiculously underrated by roster figures. He is playing big minutes and averaging 16.5 PPG, 5 RPG, 4.6 APG and 1.4 SPG this month. Wow. ... Morris gets consistent minutes, shots and assists, and we all have room for his season averages of 10.3 PPG and 5.3 APG.