Tom Carpenter, ESPN Staff Writer 9y

Big men who can produce 3s, steals

I am in a 10-team roto league, and I have 10s in field goal percentage, assists, steals and blocks, but I'm dead last in 3s. I sit in third place overall, just a couple of points out of first. (I’m also a healthy 13 and 37 games played behind first and second, respectively). As we slide into the second half of the season, my plan is to flip my abundance of dimes, steals and blocks for 3-point shooters.

In order to make a run from last to, say, third in 3s, I'll have to add something in the range of 5.0 to 5.5 3s a game to my roster for the remainder of the season. In an ideal world, I would simply acquire the likes of Kyle Korver and Klay Thompson, but trading for them isn’t easy or cheap.

The more likely path will be for me to make one big trade to get a stud, and then add some more inexpensive options, especially big men who shoot 3s. To that point, my top four power forwards and centers are averaging a total of 0.4 3s per game. That’s just wasted space in my climb to the top.

If I can add two or three 3s per game among my bigs, I should have a legitimate shot at pushing to the top of the standings.

This same approach works for any of you roto owners who are trying to make a significant climb in your standings via 3s or steals. Any of those you can get out of your bigs will give your team a better chance of attaining your goal.

Bigs who produce 3s

Kevin Love, Cleveland Cavaliers; Chris Bosh, Miami Heat; Serge Ibaka, Oklahoma City Thunder: Each of these bigs is averaging at least 1.5 3s per game this season, but because they all are studs, they won’t come cheaply.

Channing Frye, Orlando Magic: Frye is very much the opposite of a stud, which is why he is available in more than 90 percent of all ESPN leagues. Nonetheless, you can write him in for 2.0 3s week in and week out.

Robert Covington, Philadelphia 76ers: Available in 75 percent of ESPN leagues, Covington is eligible at both forward slots and has shown no signs of slowing from beyond the arc. He averaged 2.8 3s in December and 2.4 3s this month.

Ryan Anderson, New Orleans Pelicans: Anderson laid an egg for DFS players who used him when Anthony Davis was sidelined. With just a 35.9 shooting percentage this month, he’s a tough sell, even as a waiver claim. Still, he almost can’t help but bang down at least 2.0 3s each night.

Wesley Johnson, Los Angeles Lakers: Johnson makes for a sneaky waiver addition in deeper leagues and a cheap option in daily leagues. He averaged 1.8 3s in February last season and 2.0 3s last month. He would get an additional bump if Nick Young’s finger injury keeps him out of game action. Don’t forget that Johnson qualifies at both forward positions.

Jared Sullinger, Boston Celtics: The returns from beyond the arc for Sullinger aren’t all that great, but you can pretty well pencil him in for about 1 3-pointer each night. The Celtics have 42 games left, so you don’t need to be a math whiz to know that adding 40 or so 3s during the rest of the season could be the difference between winning and losing.

Markieff Morris, Phoenix Suns: Morris fits the same bill as Sullinger as a big man who consistently knocks down about 1 3-pointer per game. As noted above, that adds up over time.

Bigs who produce steals

DeMarcus Cousins, Sacramento Kings; Anthony Davis, Pelicans; Andre Drummond, Detroit Pistons; Paul Millsap, Atlanta Hawks: These guys are studs for multiple reasons, one of which is their ability to pile up plenty of steals from the center position. Of course, you’ll have to fork over a lot to get them on your roster.

Thaddeus Young, Minnesota Timberwolves: We may be disappointed in his overall production this season, but the power forward has averaged 2.0 steals a game in the past two months. He also is chipping an excellent 3.5 assists a game this month.

Markieff Morris, Suns: The fact that I’m mentioning Morris twice in this blog entry -- because of his respectable production in both 3s and swipes as a big man -- speaks to why he has become a fantasy darling.

Nerlens Noel, 76ers: After averaging 1.8 SPG during the first two months of the season, he is chipping in just 1.3 SPG this month. I expect that production to rise as the season rolls along. In fact, we should all keep a close eye on Noel once we get past the All-Star break; I expect a very strong finish to the season from him. Consider adding him as a second-half sleeper.

Draymond Green, Golden State Warriors: Green averaged nearly two steals per game last month. His average is down to 1.6 SPG in January, but as he showed in a pair of games last week when he totaled seven steals, he remains a legit threat in that department.

Mason Plumlee, Brooklyn Nets: Plumlee isn’t a major steals producer, but he has been effective this month as his role has expanded. He has at least one steal in each of his past eight games, a stretch during which he has averaged 1.4 SPG.

Robert Covington, 76ers: Eligible at both forward spots, Covington is averaging 1.3 SPG this season and 1.8 SPG in January. He lacks consistency, but twice this month he registered at least five steals in a game. That sort of upside on the cheap makes him a quality roll-the-dice option in daily leagues, too.

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