Khris Middleton has returned and should be owned in all formats

While I sit back and wonder if the NBA’s new esports league (as reported by Bloomberg) will create more job opportunities for people who write fantasy basketball waiver wire articles, here’s a rundown of key pickups who could make an impact in your league right now.

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(All owner percentages are for ESPN leagues as of February 8th)

James Johnson (SF – MIA) 42%
The Miami Heat have won 12 straight games and their jackknife forward James Johnson has a lot do with it. The eighth-year veteran is averaging a career high 11.9 points per game this year, while also chipping in five rebounds, three assists, a steal, and a block each game. His surge in scoring is likely due to both his playing time (26 minutes per game, second highest in his career) and his shooting nearly twice as much from three as his previous career high (3.3 attempted threes per game this year, previous high was 1.7 in 2013-14).  Johnson is known for his aggressive play (he’s a trained mixed martial artist), and if he can keep his shooting percentages high, his all-around game can help fill a box score, as well as the hole in your fantasy lineup.

Khris Middleton (SF, SG – MIL) 41%
Khris Middleton played his first game of the season Wednesday night, scoring five points in 15 minutes off the bench. While the Bucks’ leading scorer last season further tests out his hamstring, which required off-season surgery, his playing time will hover between 15 and 20 minutes per head coach Jason Kidd (and as reported by ESPN). Middleton has blossomed in Milwaukee and has proven to be their best perimeter shooter, as well as a willing and able wing defender. While his playing time will limit him for now, and the emergence of All-Star Giannis Antetokounmpo, the loss of 20-point-per-game scorer Jabari Parker could clear up shot opportunities. Middleton is a must-add right now. His ownership percentage is shooting upwards, so pick him up while you can.

Jamal Crawford (SG, SF – LAC) 39%
Crawford’s struggles had him heading towards his worst season since his oft-forgotten year in Portland in 2011-12, but the veteran shooting guard has shouldered a larger part of the Clippers’ offense with Chris Paul (PG – LAC) out with a thumb injury. The three-time Sixth Man of the Year has scored 18 points per and shot 40 percent from downtown in February, both well above his season averages. Until Paul returns (most likely at the end of the month), Crawford is the Clippers’ best playmaker and their most potent off-the-dribble weapon, which means you may get a month of solid perimeter play before Crawford’s minutes slide back to his season average of 26.9 per game.

Frank Kaminsky (C, PF – CHA) 16%
The trade of Spencer Hawes (C, PF – MIL) and Roy Hibbert (C – MIL), plus the injury of Cody Zeller (C – CHA), have opened up minutes for second-year center Frank Kaminsky to show off his impressive shooting range for a big man. The seven-footer shot 35 percent from long distance in January (32 percent for his career) and is up to 37 percent so far in February. If you’re looking for rebounds or defense out of your center, Kaminsky may not be your guy – his 11 rebounds Tuesday against the Nets were a season-high, and he’s only had four blocks in 2017. But the Hornets can run out some funky lineups that lack consistency from the perimeter, making Kaminsky’s outside skills a necessity and should create playing time even upon Zeller’s return (which should be this week). If you need a scoring punch, Kaminsky is an interesting pickup.

Shabazz Muhammad (SF – MIN) 12%
While Brandon Rush (SG – MIN) has replaced Zach LaVine (SG – MIN) in the starting lineup, it’s Shabazz Muhammad who has stepped up his game with LaVine out for the season with a torn ACL. Muhammad is shooting 60 percent on 2.5 three-point attempts per game and averaging 13.5 points per game in February, including 22 points against the Raptors on Tuesday. The fourth-year veteran has emerged as a key player off the bench for the Timberwolves and head coach Tom Thibodeau, and while his success from long distance should regress, he’s still a career 35 percent shooter from downtown. Expect Muhammad to be a key, if tertiary, scoring option for the Timberwolves through the rest of the season and his Thibodeau-approved toughness to keep him on the court should his shooting suffer.

Jake Stern is a correspondent with FantasyPros. For more from Jake, check out his profile or follow him @TVsJakeStern.