If you’re not adjusting to new information in your fantasy basketball league, you’re destined to be left in the dust. The All-Star Break is approaching, and that means that now is as good a time as any to level up your roster.
The first step to do that is understanding what to make of the recent movers and shakers around the Association.
Paul George Suspension Shakes Up Fantasy Basketball Landscape
Over the weekend, Paul George was suspended for 25 games for violating the NBA’s drug policy, and this is a situation with no shortage of tentacles tied to it.
This obviously muddies the trade waters if the Philadelphia 76ers were in fact exploring such an option ahead of the deadline. George is three months away from his 36th birthday, and while his efficiency improved in January and we’ve seen glimpses of upside (32 points against the Milwaukee Bucks last week), he’s a tough sell for any NBA franchise that feels they are a piece away.
So let’s assume he’s a 76er for the remainder of this season. That’s step one.
Step two is your roster and your league. If you play in a league that runs through the end of the regular season as a whole, I’d look to hold if at all possible. The fact that he’s had ceiling games for a competitive team is encouraging enough for me to keep him rostered if space is a luxury.
That’s not most situations.
With this not being an injury, most leagues will not allow you to deactivate George, meaning he is dead roster rate until late March. If you’re fighting and clawing for a playoff spot, cutting ties is the right play. This game we play is so impacted by counting numbers, and those favor availability, something we know isn’t going to be the case with George in the short-term.
So now what?
The Sixers leaned heavily on Joel Embiid Saturday against the New Orleans Pelicans (40 points, 27 shots, 14 free throws), and that’s not going anywhere. The big man is healthy, and when available, he remains a game changer.
Jared McCain poured in 12 points in 17 minutes in that win (4-of-6 from 3). He’s worthy of a streaming look, but I find it hard to believe that Philadelphia will lean into him on a consistent basis given the production they already get from their backcourt.
Why Not Add Kelly Oubre in Fantasy Basketball Leagues?
Kelly Oubre is available in more leagues than I anticipated, and that’s where I’d lead in terms of a roster add (either via a trade or waiver priority).
The veteran wing is pacing for a career high in TS%, and should see his usage tick up as the fantasy regular season clock winds down. He’s a viable source of 3’s and points while offering 2.0 blocks-plus-steals potential.
He’s not a perfect player, and it’s possible that there is no real right answer as to whose value spikes with George out (they may just lean into the Embiid/Tyrese Maxey tandem), but you’re doing yourself a disservice if you’re not buying a ticket to this lottery.
Paul isn’t the only George in the news, however, as Utah’s Keyonte George, in the midst of a breakout season, sprained his ankle on Friday night and missed yesterday’s game as a result.
The hope here is that the budding star doesn’t miss much time, but as a 22-year-old on a team poised for plenty of ping pong balls that has taken the cautious approach with Lauri Markkanen all season, we need to be prepared.
Isaiah Collier is the natural add. He was their first-round pick in 2024 and shot 52.4% from the field (60.6% on 2’s) in January. We are looking at a player that can boost your assists in a hurry (especially if Markkanen can stay on the court) and is capable of stepping into passing lanes (four steals against the Golden State Warriors last Wednesday).
Utah’s 2025 first-round pick, Walter Clayton Jr., would also get more opportunities should George miss time, and he’d be my pick of the two if you needed scoring upside. The Florida star has been used sparingly up to this point, but with over half of his shots coming from 3 and a scorer’s mentality, it’s not hard to see him doubling his current scoring average should he land a 28–30 minute role.
Collier is the add I’d make if all else is equal and a timeline is unknown when waivers hit, but in most leagues, I’d be interested in either (Utah plays three games this week and three times in four days next week pre All-Star Break, a nice infusion of volume for an awkward scoring week).
Tyler Herro Injury Opens Door for Heat Depth Adds
Tyler Herro has appeared in just 11 games this season (last game: January 15) and has become nearly impossible to count on. With the Miami Heat hovering around .500, they seem content with letting him get right, understanding that their upside is limited as it is, nevermind if their star guard is compromised.
If we assume that this ribs injury continues to plague him through February, Jaime Jaquez Jr. figures to be the primary winner.
That said, he’s not available in most competitive leagues, and the manager with him is well aware of the value (and if that wasn’t the case, 20 points, six rebounds, and seven assists over the weekend against the Chicago Bulls ruined any buying opportunity).
Pelle Larsson poured in 22 points and added five steals in the loss to Chicago while Nikola Jovic earned his eighth start of the season (six points and five assists in 27 minutes). Larsson is my clear-cut favorite of the two because Miami was already more willing to give him time when Herro was “healthy.”
PELLE LARSSON BINGO pic.twitter.com/kVnaBCSAY9
— Heat Clips 🎬 (@MiamiClip) February 1, 2026
He’s a frisky guard that takes chances on defense and can be effective when he attacks off the bounce (0.7 points per drive over the past two weeks). Is he a piece that greatly alters the potential of your team?
Probably not. Could you use him as back-to-back leverage (this upcoming Sunday–Monday) as a way to get volume across two matchups before cutting ties?
I think so.
Cooper Flagg Dominates as Must-Start Fantasy Asset
As if the pedigree and years of steam surrounding Cooper Flagg weren’t enough, the man has poured in 83 points over his last two games. His 49 points on Thursday were the most ever by a 19-year-old in the NBA (he’s been 19 for less than 1.5 months), and I’d argue his 34 on Saturday was more impressive.
In Houston, the whistle wasn’t going his way late against an elite defense, and yet, he shot 52% from the field, got to the line 10 times, and turned the ball over just twice in 39 minutes of competitive basketball.
Whatever price you paid on draft day was worth it, and the confidence he is showing with the ball in his hands is well above what was expected this season (his 3PM over the weekend was off the bounce and launched without hesitation).
I’d argue that his assists (52.5% conversion rate from his teammates in January) have more room to grow than regress, and if the Houston Rockets couldn’t stop him after a historic night, how much of a more difficult matchup is realistically going to present itself?
Who knows what this roster is going to look like in a month, but for those with fantasy postseasons that start early, it’s worth noting that the Dallas Mavericks play five times in seven days from March 12–18.
He’s the star you’re well aware of, but what about Ayo Dosunmu in Chicago?
Josh Giddey continues to deal with a hamstring injury (four games played last month), and his backup has taken advantage in a variety of ways.
He’s not the triple-double threat that he’s replacing, but Dosunmu can contribute across the board and even shot 50% from distance in January. No, that’s not likely to stick, but this is a top-five team in pace of play, and they come out of the All-Star Break with three home games in that abbreviated four-day week.
He should be rostered across the board until we see Giddey put together a full week of reps, and even then, I think we’ve seen enough to consider holding on.
