Each Thursday this season, we ask a series of questions to our ESPN NBA reporters to give you their takes on key fantasy subjects.
This week's topics:
Is Chris Paul going to rest down the stretch?
What is Caris LeVert's long-term future with the Brooklyn Nets?
Will Lonzo Ball keep shooting?
Should you be concerned about Lauri Markkanen's back?
This week's contributors are: Tim MacMahon, Ian Begley, Ohm Youngmisuk and Nick Friedell.
Will the Houston Rockets limit Chris Paul's workload or give him some DNPs down the stretch to keep him fresher for the postseason?
Tim MacMahon: The Rockets would prefer to rest Paul and some of their other vets down the stretch. Ideally, they'd be able to lock up the West's top seed and then worry about rest.
Paul sat out Wednesday's practice due to some knee soreness, but he will play Thursday against the Clippers and dismissed any injury concerns, saying, "I'm cool."
I wouldn't expect his minutes to be limited as long as the top seed is at stake, except when he has the luxury of resting late in blowouts.
Caris LeVert has been posting some really nice numbers this month. What sort of long-term role do you think the Brooklyn Nets envision for him?
Ian Begley: LeVert certainly looks like he has a place in the Nets' future plans. The 20th overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, LeVert has progressed in some important areas this season. His assist rate has nearly doubled (25 percent) and, more recently, his 3-point shooting has been much better. In his past seven games, LeVert is hitting 40 percent of his attempts beyond the arc.
The 23-year-old's recent success may force Brooklyn's management to make a tough decision in the future. With LeVert, D'Angelo Russell, Jeremy Lin and Spencer Dinwiddie, the Nets have a surplus of players who thrive with the ball in their hands.
Does LeVert's success force the Nets to jettison one of those players? Perhaps they can deal Dinwiddie for a future asset? Based on LeVert's play recently, it seems unlikely that he'd be the player Sean Marks chooses to part with.
Do you think there is a point when coach Luke Walton might have Lonzo Ball limit his shots, or is he more likely to just let him learn on the fly, despite some atrocious shooting nights?
Ohm Youngmisuk: No, they want Ball to stay aggressive. What's more important for the Lakers is for Ball to learn when to take a good shot in rhythm.
Before this recent slump, Ball was shooting his best, making two or more 3-pointers in seven straight games. They don't have a problem with him shooting, they just want his shots to come in rhythm and be good shots.
Also, they may want to see Ball take the ball inside more. When he usually drives, he looks to set up teammates due to his unselfish nature. The Lakers may want him to be a bit more aggressive looking for his shot on drives. But other than that, look for Ball to keep shooting.
How concerned should fantasy managers be about Lauri Markkanen's back becoming a nagging issue down the stretch?
Nick Friedell: I'd be a little concerned, only because with the way the Bulls are going in the final few weeks of the season, it would be easy to shut down Markkanen for a game or two down the stretch to rest his back.
Why risk even more of an injury to the player that the organization is banking on becoming a cornerstone? They need him healthy for the future -- not during a time when wins aren't as important.
