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Fantasy Basketball: Is It Time For The Nurkic?

By Bryan Gibberman

Dec 26, 2014; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Nuggets center Jusuf Nurkic (23) during the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Pepsi Center. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 26, 2014; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Nuggets center Jusuf Nurkic (23) during the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Pepsi Center. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports /
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Time for some fantasy basketball fallout from yesterday’s Denver Nuggets-Cleveland Cavaliers trade.

Jusuf Nurkic replaced Timofey Mozgov as the Nuggets starting center. In his first game last night versus the Magic, Nurkic posted eight points, four rebounds, three assists, two blocks and one steal in 22 minutes. He missed 3-of-9 shots, but made both free throws he’s attempted.  Even before the trade Nurkic had seen his minutes increased recently.

He had played at least 20 minutes in the previous three Denver games and posted two double-doubles plus scored in double figures in all three games. In four games during January, Nurkic is averaging 11.7 points, 8.7 rebounds and four blocks with 48 percent shooting from three. On the season he’s hitting a respectable, for a big man, 66 percent from the free throw line.

J.J. Hickson has seen a big boost to his minutes in the last two gamesm recording more than 30 in each paying off with a double-double in both. He came off the bench against the Magic on Wednesday, but played 30 minutes. Nurkic is averaging 7.7 fouls per 36 minutes, JaVale McGee has no timetable for his return, so there’s going to be time for Hickson.

Per 36 this season Hickson is averaging 17.4 points and 13.5 rebounds. Both Hickson and Nurkic are worth adds in your typical 12-team leagues.

Mozgov in Cleveland is going to be interesting and it wouldn’t be surprising to see him eventually land as the starting center. Considering the Cavs gave up two first-round picks for him I think it’s a pretty fair assumption to what their eventual plan is.  In 25 minutes a night this season Mozgov has put up 8.5 points, 7.8 rebounds and 1.2 blocks.

My guess is his numbers in Cleveland probably stay right around that, but it’s hard to know. In the next couple of weeks the Cavs will be working to incorporate LeBron James back into the lineup plus three players they just traded for. How these minutes get distributed with Mozgov, J.R. Smith and Iman Shumpert at their respective positions is going to be interesting.

In December Tristan Thompson has been playing 38.5 minutes a night and that will most certainly drop once Mozgov gets integrated and comfortable. A lot of his game is about volume for fantasy, so that hurts. His November averages of 8.7 points, 6.2 rebounds and less than block per game in 24 minutes is probably a more realistic look at what to expect over the long haul.

More injuries boooooooooooooooooooo: Indiana Pacers center Roy Hibbert and Brooklyn Nets guard Deron Williams

  • Pacers center Roy Hibbert and Nets guard Deron Williams both left Wednesday’s games with injuries. Hibbert suffered a sprained left ankle, an injury that kept him out four games earlier in the season. In those games with Hibbert out, Lavoy Allen posted eight, 14, nine and 10 rebounds. He scored 10, 10, eight and three points. Allen’s worth a look short term if Hibbert misses any games.
  • Williams aggravated an injury to his side and reports from around the arena didn’t sound good. He’s been coming off the bench with Jarrett Jack starting anyway. Jack has scored in double figures in nine of his last 11 games with pretty solid rebound and assist numbers. I doubt he’s available in any leagues except ones that are shallow. His shooting percentages have been ok with 45 percent from the field overall, but a miserable 20 percent from three. In four games of January his shooting splits are 39/14/100 — yuck. Jack is worth having on a roster and should continue to see high volume minutes probably for the rest of the season.