21/22 Week 24 Potential Shutdowns and Pickups
This is not a traditional pickup list. Today, I am going to do something a little different. I will be going through all 30 teams and discussing who may get a rest day or two during Week 24 and who would benefit from those rest days. This is not meant to be a complete list. If your league plays to the buzzer, you need to be on the lookout for surprise starts. There are always a few 12th men/G League call-ups that post goofy lines during the final week of the season.
Atlanta Hawks
Shutdown Odds: Close to zero. The Hawks are currently in a three-way battle for the eight seed and will be fighting to get at least ninth to lock up HCA in the 9/10 play-in.
Players to Watch
Delon Wright – An elite source of steals who would be a strong source of dimes if Trae Young were to get a night off. He also offers some nice upside in boards for a point guard.
Onyeka Okongwu – Would be a top-end source of FG%, rebounds, and blocks if Clint Capela is rested.
Boston Celtics
Shutdown Odds: Moderate. The Celtics seem like they are gunning for the one-seed and HCA throughout the first three rounds. However, depending on what the Heat and Bucks do over the next couple of games, they may be all but locked into the third or fourth seed by the time their final couple of games of the season take place. They may prefer to give their big guns a night or two off instead of pushing for the two-seed and a potential date with the Nets in round one.
Players to Watch
Payton Pritchard – Has been a strong source of threes lately and would provide some decent upside in points, assists, and steals if the Celtics trot out the lineup that they used against the Raptors.
Daniel Theis – Just a big-man categories streamer for now, but if Horford gets a night or two off, 35+ MPG will be in play.
Grant Williams – Not an option unless we see most of the starting lineup rest like we did against the Raptors. Could give you a 15/8 line with a couple of threes in a big role.
Brooklyn Nets
Shutdown Odds: Low. A night off for Irving and Durant is likely off the table after the Nets’ loss to the Hawks tonight.
Players to Watch
LaMarcus Aldridge – Unlikely to play big minutes in any games, but he could get 25 minutes if Drummond or Claxton sit. He’s old and has been getting some DNP-CDs lately, but the Nets will likely want to give him some reps before the playoffs.
James Johnson – A no-brainer stream if the Nets trot out the backups for a game or two. He isn’t the per-minute stud that he used to be, but he’s still a good bet for strong boards, steals, and blocks anytime he gets extra run.
Charlotte Hornets
Shutdown Odds: Close to zero. The Hornets are very likely to at least be playing for HCA in the 9/10 play-in on the final day of the season.
Players to Watch
Kelly Oubre – Will have 25+ point upside if the Hornets are able to rest their starters for a game.
Montrezl Harrell – Not playing much at the moment, but the per-minute production is still there. If he gets a start next week, something like 20 and 7 on excellent shooting will be in play.
Chicago Bulls
Shutdown Odds: Moderate. The Bulls will be either the five seed or the six seed and will likely play either the Sixers or the Celtics. If they don’t care about their seed or prefer to fall behind the Raptors, they could give the regulars a couple of nights off.
Players to Watch
Coby White – Big upside in points, threes, and assists if he gets a night or two when he’s the team’s first or second option.
Ayo Dosunmu – Always at least somewhat useful when he plays heavy minutes. Doesn’t contribute in a ton of categories, but he’d be a nice assists and steals option on a 30+ MPG night.
Cleveland Cavaliers
Shutdown Odds: Very low. The Cavaliers are going to have to play well over the next few games to lock down the seven seed and they’ll also be looking to reintegrate both Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley into the lineup.
Players to Watch
Cedi Osman – Always a high-upside points and threes option when he’s given big minutes.
Brandon Goodwin – Has averaged 7.4 APG and 1.8 SPG as a starter. A good grab if Garland sits.
Moses Brown – Won’t be useful after Allen and Mobley are back as neither are likely to rest, but a good bet for a double-double with a block or two until then.
Dallas Mavericks
Shutdown Odds: Low. The Mavericks will likely want to get the three-seed and get into the Grizzlies’ side of the bracket. Their battle with the Steph-less Warriors should go down to the wire. I wouldn’t expect many sits before the final day of the season. Worth noting that Luka Doncic is one tech away from a mandatory suspension.
Players to Watch
Josh Green – Has flashed at points this year and would likely be a nice source of steals and rebounds if given big minutes.
Marquese Chriss – Could put up close to a double-double with very strong defensive numbers if he gets 30 minutes on the last day of the season.
Boban Marjanovic – Has barely played this year, but he’s still Boban. If the Mavericks start him in the final game of the season, the per-minute production is all but guaranteed to be great.
Denver Nuggets
Shutdown Odds: Low. It would be surprising if the Nuggets were able to give their regulars more than the final day of the season off and even that may not happen. The Wolves are two back with the tiebreak. That’s a pretty gap with only four games left, but the Wolves have three easy games left plus a date with the Bulls on the final day of the season that could be a layup. Denver may need to win three of its remaining four games to lock up the six seed.
Players to Watch
Bones Hyland – The rookie has been a great per-minute player all season long and would have early-round upside on a night without Monte Morris and Nikola Jokic.
DeMarcus Cousins – Still an absolute per-minute monster. He can still be early-round Boogie when he gets close to 30 minutes.
Detroit Pistons
Shutdown Odds: Extremely high. The Pistons are locked in a tough battle with OKC for the third-worst record in the league and they have an outside shot of being caught by the Rockets and Magic if they lose out. Expect Detroit to do everything they can to finish the year 0-and-4. Cade Cunningham’s seven minutes against the Thunder shows that the Pistons are not messing around.
Players to Watch
Killian Hayes – Hayes is a must-roster in all leagues. Normally, he’s solid assists and steals and not much else, but 35+ MPG is in play the rest of the way which should lead to decent numbers elsewhere.
Frank Jackson – Always a good bet for solid points and threes when given heavy run. Dropped 26 with four threes against the Thunder.
Saben Lee – Was called up from the G League yesterday and immediately put up an 11/5/12 line in 35 minutes. Should be an excellent steals and assists option anytime he plays big minutes.
Isaiah Livers – Should play big minutes if Marvin Bagley doesn’t return. In a big role, he can help you in points, threes, and boards. Had 17/11 with four threes against the Thunder.
Golden State Warriors
Shutdown Odds: Draymond Green and Klay Thompson are missing at least one game this weekend and one game next weekend due to the Warriors having two back-to-back sets. Otto Porter will miss two games as well. Jordan Poole likely won’t rest. Kevon Looney could get a night off late next week.
Players to Watch
Gary Payton – A somewhat risky play since he’s not a lock to play big minutes when the Warriors rest their regulars. Still, he’ll be at least a top-end steals streamer on the nights when Klay is out.
Jonathan Kuminga – A great bet for 15+ points anytime Klay sits with 20+ point upside. The rest of his line is going to be so-so, even on a big-minute night.
Houston Rockets
Shutdown Odds: Low. The Rockets have already shut down their veterans. There isn’t anyone else to shut down.
Players to Watch
Alperen Sengun – Sengun is back Sunday against the Wolves. He is a must-add in all leagues with Christian Wood done for the year. We could get an early-round line or two with Wood out.
Indiana Pacers
Shutdown Odds: High. The Pacers are extremely unlikely to move up or down the standings but Brogdon playing again this year would be shocking. Chris Duarte is almost certainly done as well. I worry a bit about Jalen Smith too since he’s had a couple of sketchy sits lately and is seeing his minutes drop. The game against the Pistons on Sunday is the main risk. We’ll likely see some shenanigans then. Buddy Hield and Tyrese Haliburton could come down with some bad colds tonight.
Players to Watch
Isaiah Jackson – Jackson is back and is a great blocks streamer. Until we see him really start to eat into Goga Bitadze’s minutes, it’s hard to call him more than that.
Lance Stephenson – If you take a look at his game log, you’ll see mostly really nice lines on nights when he’s been given big minutes. He’ll need Hield to sit to have a shot at heavy run.
Los Angeles Clippers
Shutdown Odds: High. The Clippers can’t move up and they can’t move down, so expect them to give all of their regulars a rest day or two next week. We also have to worry about the starters having their minutes limited.
Players to Watch
Isaiah Hartenstein – Seems obvious, but he’s still on the wire in 60 percent of Yahoo leagues and 85 percent of ESPN leagues (not a typo). Zubac is already being limited and is likely to get a night or two off. When that happens, Hartenstein will have early-round potential.
Amir Coffey – Unuseable except on nights when the Clippers are doing a mass sit. Over his last four, he has two games where he played less than a minute and two games where he was over 37 minutes. On the big minute nights, he has 20+ point potential and can help in threes and steals.
Luke Kennard – Hasn’t been resting at all and has been picking up some extra minutes lately with some of the regulars getting nights off. A good bet for points in the mid-to-high teens and 3.0+ 3PG on nights when he’s getting extra run.
Los Angeles Lakers
Shutdown Odds: Low but not impossible. It depends on what the Spurs do. After a layup against the Blazers on Sunday, the Spurs finish with four tough games. If they surprise and steal a couple of those games or the Lakers faceplant, Los Angeles could have nothing to play for with a couple of games to go. Anthony Davis is more of a shutdown candidate than LeBron James. If the Lakers are eliminated and LeBron still has a shot at the scoring title, I would expect him to play.
Players to Watch
Malik Monk – It’s possible that Monk gets a game where he’s the team’s top option. He would be a no-brainer grab and start in that case.
Talen Horton-Tucker – THT has been terrible this year, but he did have a couple of massive lines earlier in the year when LeBron was out. I wouldn’t expect much in any game that James plays in.
Memphis Grizzlies
Shutdown Odds: High. The Grizzlies have locked up the second-best record in the league and cannot catch the Suns. They are already giving their regulars nights off. If you have one of the Grizzlies’ starters, I would plan for two games next week and hope for three.
Players to Watch
De’Anthony Melton – Should already be rostered but isn’t in a lot of leagues. Available in 49 percent of Yahoo leagues and 82 percent of ESPN leagues.
Brandon Clarke – Huge upside when he gets big minutes, but a bit of a rest risk himself. Tread carefully.
John Konchar – Solid upside in points, threes, and steals when given heavy run and an excellent rebounder for his position.
Miami Heat
Shutdown Odds: Low. The Heat are gunning for the number one seed and will need to play hard until the buzzer to avoid being caught by the Celtics or Bucks. The Heat have the tiebreaker against the Bucks but not the Celtics.
Players to Watch
Max Strus – Already starting and could have some massive games if Butler and Lowry sit. Producing an elite 4.0 3P36. A nice target if you need to make ground in triples in a Roto league next week.
Gabe Vincent – Not an option unless there are mass sits, but a potentially very nice play if there are. Has averaged 12.1 PPG, 2.5 3PG, 4.3 APG, and 1.2 SPG as a starter this year.
Omer Yurtseven – Would be an easy add if he gets a start on a Bam rest day. In his 11 starts, he’s averaged 12.5 PPG on 54.5 FG%, 12.9 RPG, and 0.9 SPG.
Milwaukee Bucks
Shutdown Odds: Moderate. I’m sure the Bucks would prefer to get the one-seed, but they may not be willing to prioritize it over rest. They already gave the Clippers a free win on Friday. The big three, Brook Lopez, and Grayson Allen are all rest candidates. Expect a bunch of sits against the Pistons on April 8th as that is the second night of a back-to-back set.
Players to Watch
Bobby Portis – Portis hasn’t been a standard-league player since Lopez has gotten up to speed, but on nights when Brook sits, he goes back to be at least the top-60 option that he was before Lopez’s return.
Jordan Nwora – Played 40 minutes against the Clippers when all of the starters rested and dropped 28 points, three threes, and one block. Not useful except on nights when almost everyone is out.
Minnesota Timberwolves
Shutdown Odds: Moderate. They will play their starters as long as they are within striking distance of the Nuggets and the six seed. If they get locked into the play-in with a couple of games left, expect nights off for all of the starters.
Players to Watch
Taurean Prince – A nice stream in his current role and could give you points in the mid-teens and two or three triples on a night when the starters rest.
Malik Beasley – Elite upside in threes and decent upside in points on a night when the regulars are out. Producing 17.5 PP36 and 4.4 3P36.
Naz Reid – Always a must-grab anytime he starts. Reid has averaged 15.8 PPG on 52.5 FG%, 1.2 3PG, and 8.2 RPG in his five starts this year. He’s also a great bet for blocks (2.2 BP36) on a night when he’s playing big minutes.
New Orleans Pelicans
Shutdown Odds: Moderate. The Pelicans still have some work to do, but now that they’re two games up on the Spurs, they are the heavy favorite for the nine-seed and HCA in the play-in. They are very likely to rest their starters during the final game of the season and could start resting players earlier depending on what the Spurs and Lakers do.
Players to Watch
Jose Alvarado – Only played eight minutes against the Lakers last time out, so hard to trust at the moment. However, he will be an elite steals option who can help out in assists anytime C.J. McCollum sits.
Willy Hernagomez – Hasn’t been in the rotation with Larry Nance back, so only an option if Nance sits in addition to Jonas Valanciunas. Can give you a double-double anytime he’s playing 25 minutes.
New York Knicks
Shutdown Odds: It should be high but who knows with Thibs. Julius Randle is done because he’s hurt not because there’s no point in playing him anymore. Would anyone be surprised if Burks played 36 minutes until the buzzer?
Players to Watch
Obi Toppin – A must-roster with Randle done. Toppin has been a mid-round player on nights when he’s started with averages of 14.5 PPG on 59.3 FG%, 1.0 3PG, 7.2 RPG, 3.3 APG, and 0.5 BPG.
Immanuel Quickley: Should already be rostered in his current 27ish MPG role, even though he’s not really starter-worthy at the moment in Roto. Could put up a couple of top-50 lines if Burks is shut down or limited next week.
Oklahoma City Thunder
Shutdown Odds: The Thunder have likely run out of players to shut down. Aleksej Pokusevski, Theo Maledon, and Isaiah Roby are must-rosters.
Players to Watch
Lindy Waters – Could be an elite threes streamer next week, especially if Pokusevski and Tre Mann have to miss more time. Has hit at least four threes in four straight games.
Vit Krejci – Waters is the better grab for threes, but Krejci could average close to two triples next week.
Aaron Wiggins – A safer bet for minutes than some of his lesser-known teammates, but he hasn’t been playing very well lately and shouldn’t be started in Roto. Still has some nice upside in points and threes.
Jaylen Hoard – Dropped 11 and 20 in his Thunder debut which is a fluke. This isn’t a Moses Brown-type callup. Could have a nice opportunity in front of him but only if Poku is out. Unlikely to do a ton outside of boards.
Olivier Sarr – Sarr is coming off of back-to-back big lines. Could be a 10/6 player who gives you a block if his minutes continue to be in the high-20s.
Orlando Magic
Shutdown Odds: High. The Magic are looking for excuses to sit Wendell Carter and it feels like his recent “injury” may end his season. Franz Wagner could also be done now that he picked up a legitimate ankle injury. There are not any other obvious shutdown candidates, but any starter picking up a minor injury will likely be shut down.
Players to Watch
Chuma Okeke – Should be rostered with Carter looking like he’s out for the year. Isn’t playing well at the moment but has picked up some extra minutes with Carter out and could pick up some more with Wagner hurt. The FG% is usually ugly, but the threes, boards, and steals are a good bet to be solid.
Mo Wagner – Played 27 minutes against the Raptors on Friday. Didn’t put up a great line, but if his minutes start to get into that range, he should post some very useful lines. Has a very fantasy-friendly game and has been a top-50 per-minute player this year.
Markelle Fultz – Only playing 20 minutes a night right now but has been making the most of his opportunities. Has been a top-50 player over his last four with averages of 14.5 PPG, 5.3 APG, and 2.5 SPG. The Magic do not have another back-to-back set, so he should play in all four remaining games.
Philadelphia 76ers
Shutdown Odds: Moderate. The Sixers have a very easy schedule to end the season, but with the Nets possibly ending up as the seven seed and the first seed looking out of reach, they will probably be fine with resting players and ending up in the three or four spot. Joel Embiid, James Harden, and Tobias Harris are very likely to be rested. Matisse Thybulle could be as well. Tyrese Maxey is the least likely of the staters to get a night off, but he could sit on the last day of the season.
Players to Watch
Paul Reed – The G League god isn’t in the rotation and hasn’t been much of a factor lately on nights when Embiid has sat. However, he’s worth watching as the Sixers could give DeAndre Jordan some rest next week. If that happens on a night Embiid is also out, Reed should get decent run and put up flashy numbers in boards (10.3 RP36) and the defensive categories (3.3 SP36, 1.8 BP36).
Georges Niang – Niang has been a solid threes streamer for a while and would have four-three upside on a night when the top options sit.
Phoenix Suns
Shutdown Odds: Extremely high. Chris Paul, Devin Booker, and Deandre Ayton will all get rest days. Jae Crowder as well. Mikal Bridges is a trickier case. He’s young and hasn’t missed a game yet. He may want to play the full 82.
Players to Watch
Cam Payne – Payne is a must-start whenever Paul sits. He’s averaged 14.1 PPG, 1.7 3PG, 9.5 APG, and 1.1 SPG as a starter.
JaVale McGee – A good bet for a double-double with excellent FG% and blocks whenever Ayton sits. Has averaged 11.5 PPG on 58.6 FG%, 8.4 RPG, and 1.2 BPG as a starter.
Cam Johnson – Will have 20+ PPG, 3.0+ 3PG potential anytime Booker sits, especially if those sits coincide with a Paul and/or Ayton sit.
Bismack Biyomb0 – Outplayed McGee in a bunch of the games that Ayton missed earlier in the year. Will have double-double potential with significant upside in blocks (2.0 BP36) if Ayton sits next week.
Portland Trail Blazers
Shutdown Odds: Who else is there to shut down? Greg Brown?
Players to Watch
Ben McLemore – Drew Eubanks and Brandon Williams are likely gone in your league. Kris Dunn is an obvious streamer for assists and steals. McLemore isn’t as obvious of an add, but he should still be considered by anyone chasing points and threes. The veteran has averaged an excellent 17.1 PPG and 3.3 3PG over his last eight.
Keon Johnson – The Blazers are giving the rookie a good look at the moment. The results have been mixed, but he’s not a bad option if you need points, threes, and steals. Johnson has averaged 14.7 PPG, 2.7 3PG, and 1.7 SPG over his last three.
Sacramento Kings
Shutdown Odds: Harrison Barnes could still be shut down, but beyond him, there aren’t any veteran players to shut down. Justin Holiday is still playing but has had his minutes cut.
Players to Watch
Damian Jones – Very lightly rostered on both Yahoo and ESPN despite playing like an early-round player lately. Should be rostered everywhere. Has been a top-30 player over the last two weeks with averages of 16.0 PPG on 73.1 FG%, 8.3 RPG, and 2.0 BPG.
Donte DiVincenzo – Another must-roster player who is lightly rostered. Has been a borderline top-50 player over the last two weeks thanks to averages of 13.2 PPG, 2.8 3PG, 5.8 RPG, 4.5 APG, and 2.0 SPG.
Chimezie Metu – Not as essential as his teammates, but that could change. Dropped 18/13 with two threes against the Rockets on Friday and has a very fantasy-friendly game.
San Antonio Spurs
Shutdown Odds: Low. I don’t think the Spurs really want to make the play-in, but they may by default. The Lakers only have one game left where they are going to be the favorite. The Spurs probably only need two more wins to get in.
Players to Watch
None – The Spurs’ bench doesn’t have any interesting per-minute producers and they are unlikely to be playing meaningless games.
Toronto Raptors
Shutdown Odds: Moderate. The Raptors are extremely likely to be either the fifth or sixth seed. They should play their main pieces for the next couple of games, but after that, we’ll likely see some sits with the game against the Rockets on the second half of a back-to-back being a prime spot for rest. Fred VanVleet is a lock to sit at least a game and will likely get multiple games off.
Players to Watch
Chris Boucher – Boucher could put up an early-round line if the Raptors rest some of their starters. Last week, Boucher played 30+ minutes four games in a row and put up two first-round lines over those four games.
Precious Achiuwa – Playing much, much better these days. More of a late-season points league play, but he can help in category leagues for his ability to put up decent numbers in points, threes, and rebounds.
Malachi Flynn – Hasn’t played a game since March 4th, but he did get some starts when VanVleet was out after the All-Star break. In his five starts this year, the sophomore has averaged 14.0 PPG, 2.6 3PG, 4.0 RPG, 5.0 APG, and 0.8 SPG.
Utah Jazz
Shutdown Odds: Moderate. The Jazz don’t have too much to play for at the moment. They’re probably not going to move up and it doesn’t really matter if the Nuggets pass them. However, given how poorly they are playing, they may opt to use the final couple of games of the season to try to get back on track.
Players to Watch
Hassan Whiteside – Whiteside is back tonight and will be a no-brainer start next week if Rudy Gobert gets some games off. In his eight starts this year, Whiteside has averaged 11.5 PPG on 63.5 FG%, 11.3 RPG, and 1.9 BPG.
Washington Wizards
Shutdown Odds: Really hard to predict. You’d think the Wizards would be resting players with their draft position still up in the air, but that hasn’t been the case yet. Kyle Kuzma is probably done. It sounds like he’s out for at least a couple of more games and they likely won’t bring him back to play in a pointless finale where a win hurts them.
Players to Watch
Corey Kispert – The minutes should continue to be in the 35+ MPG range. With KP and KCP in the lineup, he’s not going to do much with those minutes, but if they start to sit, the usage, points, and threes will go way up. The rest of his line will be weak.
Daniel Gafford – Should go back to early-season Gafford if KP were to be rested. I wouldn’t expect massive minutes, however. Thomas Bryant would enter the rotation and Gafford would likely play minutes in the low-to-mid-20s.