Joakim Noah

Joakim Noah in for an expanded role as Clippers prepare for the restart?

Joakim Noah refused to call it quits after suffering an unfortunate Achilles injury and now finds himself in a position to play and contribute to a championship contender in the Clippers. In speaking on Noah's contribution Coach Doc Rivers had this to say, "We need him to be a solid veteran player, we need him to be a leader as much as he can lead…and then really just to be ready when called upon…I think mentally, he's in the right space right now to be ready, so I think he will be." In responding to his teammate's contribution guard Rodney McGruder had this to say, "He's just bringing that energy every day …it's just the intensity and just the persistence that he plays with on the defensive end, how you always hear his voice. He's always yelling, he's always talking." With teammates Ivica Zubac and Montrezl Harrell not with the team, Noah's preparation looks as if it will need to be put to action for the upcoming scrimmages and "seeding" games.

Fantasy Impact

Noah this past year played in 42 contests and averaged 16.5 minutes of playing time, 7.1 points, 5.7 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 0.5 steals, and 0.7 blocks per game while shooting 51.6 percent from the field. When you look at his production and compare it to that of Zubac, they are not that far-off from one another, which should bode well for the Clippers. You mix Noah's comparable stats with his experience and leadership on the floor, and he could be a perfect fit for what the team needs as they make their run for the championship. From a fantasy standpoint, Noah would have made a solid value-play last year, especially in his last two months, where he averaged 21.3 minutes of playing time, 10.8 points, 7.6 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.0 blocks, and 0.5 steals. If he can reach that level of play while managing a consistent role in the rotation, Noah has the potential to be a rewarding option for your fantasy line-up, especially in DFS, given what you'll pay for him.