Razzball Nation! Welcome to our weekly review of an underperforming player that, hopefully, you will be able to swoop in and secure on your respective squads. Simply put, we look for a player who is playing below expected standards with a reasonable path to improvement. Scrubs need not apply. Now I am fully aware that the worst player in the NBA would have absolutely no problem whatsoever punishing me on a basketball court but that is apples to oranges. In here, I compare apples to apples, and it is in that context where I would dare use the word “scrub”.
Now, with that business cleared up, let us get to this week’s profile player. “We Indiana like Rik Smits”.
Myles Turner
To begin the season, Turner was one of the hottest players in fantasy. A minor ankle issue delayed his start by a week but, once he hit the court it was all systems go, especially on the defensive end, which is his calling card. Turner had at least two blocks in each of his first nine games and was a top 15 player early in the season. Fantasy GMs were getting what they had hoped for in a Center who could carry a team in blocks while providing great field goal percentage and out-of-position threes. He was turning out to be one of the better values in drafts as he was available in the fourth and fifth round in some leagues.
Over the past two weeks, Turner was the 77th ranked player on the season. However, that ranking plummets further over the past week where he is the 169th ranked player.
Two areas stand out most for me when I look to see why his value has dropped so considerably. First, the free throw percentage of 33.3% over the last week way down from his 76.6% season average. Clearly, there is scope for huge improvement there as he is a much better shooter than what he has shown recently. Second, O Brother, Where Art Thou BLOCKS?
Turner on the season is averaging 2.2 blocks per game, which, was already down from his 2.8 average last season. Over the past week however, it has been a hardly recognizable at 0.7 blocks per contest for Myles. Blocks can be fickle, much like steals as it is a volatile category and especially so when much of a player’s value is anchored there. Still, Turner has been one of the most consistent shot-blockers in the league for years and I will side with a regression to the mean rather than believe he can no longer track down a ball and send it to the moon.
Perhaps you can convince his current GM that he has whatever Rudy Gobert has. I believe the actual medical term is cantblockasophulus and for some there is no known cure. Turner does not suffer from this ailment, and he will be back to his ball blocking ways sooner than later. Try and get a deal done quickly because, as soon as Turner swats three or more in a game, this window will close shut.
To put this blocks topic into clearer perspective, over the last nine games Turner has blocked 12 shots. Compare that to his first nine games when he blocked 29 shots. WHOA! There is definite value to be had here and, with how difficult it is to secure blocks off the wire, you need to make an effort to get Myles Turner now.
I would be looking to trade any top 70 player for him and not look back. Even if the rumor mill begins to churn, I am confident that any team trading for him is doing so to play him similar minutes and hoping for similar production.
As always, hit me up in the comments section below and let me know your thoughts or specific deals you are pondering or pulled off.
Good luck out there,
Peace.
