Week 15 Schedule: Games Played
4 Games: CHA, CHI, DAL, DEN, IND, LAC, LAL, MIN, NOR, PHX, POR, SAS, UTA
3 Games: ATL, BKN, BOS, CLE, DET, GSW, MEM, MIA, MIL, NYK, ORl, PHI, SAC, TOR
2 Games: HOU, OKC, WAS
76ers say they won’t trade Ben Simmons until the off-season
On Monday, Shams Charania dropped a report indicating that the 76ers have not been pleased with the current trade market for Ben Simmons, so unless they’re blown away with an offer in the next few weeks, they intend to keep the disgruntled All-Star point guard until the offseason. 76ers’ President of Basketball Operations, Daryl Morey, is a tough negotiator and he’s indicated on numerous occasions that he won’t settle for anything less than a superstar or a bevy of first-round picks in any potential Simmons deal – and his eyes have been specifically set on Brooklyn’s James Harden. Now, Harden has not indicated that he wants out of Brooklyn, but he does have a player option for the 2022-23 season, so that’s where Morey sees the potential to strike a deal on a sign-and-trade offer with Simmons.
Now, this could all be smoke and mirrors from Morey, who is no stranger to conducting such tactics, but this isn’t the first time that he’s specifically sought out Harden, and reporting would indicate that Harden does respect Morey as a GM from their time together in Houston.
The Kings and Hawks have reportedly been the most engaged in talks for Simmons, but Morey has requested Tyrese Haliburton and multiple first-round picks from Sacramento and John Collins with multiple first-round picks from Atlanta, which is not something the Kings or Hawks seem inclined to go for. Morey has also been in pursuit of Damian Lillard, Bradley Beal and Jaylen Brown, but there’s been no indication from Portland, Washington or Boston that they’re interested in moving any of those guys.
Interestingly, Tobias Harris’ name was also brought up in Shams’ reporting, so he’s another guy that could be moved as part of a potential Simmons deal. Harris has shown throughout his career that he can put up numbers anywhere he goes, so I wouldn’t be particularly worried about his fantasy value if a deal does happen to go down before the deadline.
Lastly, in Monday’s report, Shams indicated that the 76ers are confident in Tyrese Maxey’s “long-term ability” to cover the point guard position in Philly, so it would appear that his value is safe as the 76ers’ starting PG.
Jerami Grant recalled from the G League
Grant is in the final stages of his recovery from right thumb surgery, and he was recalled from Detroit’s G League affiliate on Monday. Grant has been working out with just a splint since Jan. 11, and he was practicing with the G League team for the past week, so now it should just be a matter of him feeling confident enough with his surgically repaired thumb to play in an NBA game. The good thing about thumb injuries is that players are often able to keep their conditioning in check while they’re in recovery, so once Grant is cleared to play, he should be able to hit the ground running – and I wouldn’t be shocked to see him back on the floor for Tuesday’s game vs. Denver.
Once he does get back, Hamidou Diallo figures to return to the second unit, Saddiq Bey’s usage will dip and Trey Lyles could again become a negligible part of the rotation.
Rudy Gobert dealing with a calf strain
Rudy Gobert played through a strained calf on Sunday and still managed to pull down 18 boards over 36 minutes, but he indicated after the game that he’s going to be “cautious” with the “minor injury,” which would imply that he could sit out the second leg of this back-to-back on Monday in Phoenix.
Hassan Whiteside is still working his way back from the health & safety protocols and he didn’t play on Sunday, although he was listed as questionable, which would hint that he’s close. If Whiteside is cleared for Monday’s game, and Gobert hits the sidelines, then Hassan would make for a quality streamer option. However, if both Gobert and Whiteside can’t give it a go on Monday, then it’ll likely be Rudy Gay, Eric Paschall and Udoka Azubuike picking up the slack, with Gay being the most attractive fantasy target out of that group.
Light Game Days
Monday – Four Games
NYK vs. CLE
IND vs. NOP
CHI vs. OKC
UTA vs. PHX
Thursday – Two Games
LAL vs. PHI
MIN vs. GSW
Saturday – Six Games
BOS vs. NOP
IND vs. DAL
SAC vs. PHI
TOR vs. MIA
WAS vs. MEM
BKN vs. GSW
Streamers: Nerlens Noel (should be rostered), Jeremy Lamb (pending Caris LeVert), Jose Alvarado, Ayo Dosunmu, Darius Bazley, Hassan Whiteside (if cleared and Gobert is out), Rudy Gay/Eric Paschall (pending Gobert), JaVale McGee, Bismack Biyombo, Malik Monk, Furkan Korkmaz (pending Seth Curry), Charlie Brown (pending Danny Green and Matisse Thybulle), Jaylen Nowell (pending Anthony Edwards), Jaden McDaniels (pending Patrick Beverley), Otto Porter Jr. (should be rostered sans Draymond Green), Davion Mitchell/Terence Davis (pending De’Aaron Fox), Gabe Vincent (pending Kyle Lowry), Max Strus, Caleb Martin, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, John Konchar, Shaquille Harrison, Ziaire Williams