Tough week for Spencer Dinwiddie owners after finding he has partially torn his ACL. It was clear his numbers would go down a little bit this season with Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving coming into the rotation but Dinwiddie was still a quality fantasy option. With Dinwiddie out, that leaves starting minutes open to multiple players in the Nets rotation that could see a serious uptick in fantasy production.
Caris LeVert
Through 4 games Caris LeVert hasn’t seen his usage fall with the arrival of Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving. Averaging 17 a game with poor efficiency numbers so far is a good sign for when his shooting comes back to form. Coach Steve Nash has talked to LeVert urging him to embrace his 6th man role and thus far LeVert has been excellent in that role. LeVert has the freedom to run the second unit and has kept the Brooklyn offense running without their stars. That being said I don’t see anything changing for LeVert’s role or minutes due to this injury. I think Nash wants him to come off the bench still and he already closes games for them so don’t look for too much to change with this injury.
Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot
TLC had a great game Monday night putting up 21-6-2 with 2 steals and a block in 40 minutes with Kyrie and Durant resting the back to back. Timothe has the potential to fit in nicely with Kyrie as a long-armed wing who can guard opposing guards and take spot-up jumpers on offense. TLC has gotten off to a hot shooting start this season at 43 percent from the field and if he can even stay above 40% from deep look for his role to grow dramatically in the coming weeks. The issue will come down to how effectively he can knock down those jump shots and if his decision making can keep up with how smoothly the starting lineup had played thus far this year.
Landry Shamet
Shamet is my winner for biggest role change due to this injury. He fits into the starting spot nicely as a career 39% shooter which could go up with the wide-open looks he could be getting similar to Joe Harris has been getting in the starting rotation. Shamet also has shown the ability to make quick decisions as a backup guard with the Clippers last season. The scary thing with starting Shamet has been his poor play to start the season, and his defense. A starting backcourt of Kyrie and Shamet defensively would make the mouths of many wings salivate in excitement. I think Shamet fits the best offensively with the Nets starting rotation besides LeVert and he would make the most of the opportunities he gets with the starters.
Conclusion
No matter what all three players will see improved roles with this injury. My bet is on Shamet to get the starting spot but even if it goes to LeVert, Shamet will then be the focal point of the second unit. TLC’s play should earn him minutes going forward with or without this injury and is someone to keep an eye on in deeper fantasy leagues.
