Fantasy basketball acquisitions: Consider Melton and Hield to address Butler absence

Last week’s season-ending knee injury to Jimmy Butler III was a pivotal moment in the league this season. Butler had been performing exceptionally well, and the Golden State Warriors were on a roll, winning 12 of their last 16 games as they aimed for a strong second-half performance in the standings.

In Butler’s absence, the Warriors brought Jonathan Kuminga back into the lineup, where he performed admirably until he sustained his own knee injury, sidelining him for Saturday’s game. Kuminga is a skilled and effective player when active, but he had previously fallen out of the Warriors’ rotation in the last two seasons. He has recently requested a trade. The Warriors now face a decision at the trade deadline that will affect not only their players’ fantasy statistics but also those of other teams that may be involved in potential trades.

Meanwhile, several Warriors players have stepped into larger roles, making them relevant for fantasy purposes as long as they maintain these positions. Expect to see multiple Warriors featured in this analysis.

As always, we will explore the free agency wire to highlight lesser-rostered players who can bolster your fantasy teams.

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Point guard

De’Anthony Melton, PG/SG, Warriors (5.6% rostered in ESPN leagues): Melton is among several secondary players on the Warriors who have gained fantasy significance following the injuries to Butler and Kuminga. He scored 22 points in 23 minutes just three days after Butler’s injury, marking the third occasion he has reached 22 or more points in his last five games. He is a suitable flex or streaming option in the Warriors’ current situation. Brandin Podziemski (38.9% rostered) is another point guard-eligible player from the Warriors worth considering for your roster.

Bub Carrington, PG/SG, Washington Wizards (12.0%): Carrington rejoined Washington’s starting lineup 10 days ago and has been delivering solid performances with significant playing time. He is a reliable scorer in the mid-teens range, capable of providing a few assists, grabbing three to four rebounds, and sinking a couple of 3-pointers while in this role. With Trae Young still sidelined and expected to be out for an extended period, Carrington may retain this role for the foreseeable future.

Shooting guard

Max Christie, SG, Dallas Mavericks (20.6%): Christie had another impressive run last week, demonstrating his ability to score over 20 points and hit three or more 3-pointers consistently when his shooting is on point. He has become an impactful player for the Mavericks this season, especially in the absence of Anthony Davis, and holds flex-worthy value while performing at this level.

Buddy Hield, SG/SF, Warriors (14.5%): Hield is another reserve for the Warriors whose usage has increased due to the absence of Butler and Kuminga. He scored 25 points in his first game following Butler’s injury, but he remains a bench player, leading to fluctuations in his minutes and scoring. Hield is likely to average mid-teens scoring with several 3-pointers per game moving forward, which are typical numbers for him when he is regularly included in the rotation.

Small forward

Kelly Oubre Jr., SF/SG, Philadelphia 76ers (47.9%): Oubre has been steadily improving his performance over the past week, showcasing his best play since returning from a lengthy injury layoff. He entered the starting lineup last Monday and increased his scoring from 18 points to 21 to 26 in his first three starts. Oubre is a strong scorer with 3-and-D capabilities and can also contribute a handful of rebounds each game.

Sam Hauser, SF, Boston Celtics (15.0%): Hauser has been exceptional from beyond the arc since the start of 2026. He made 46 of his first 95 3-point attempts this month and scored at least 16 points in five consecutive games over the last 10 days, including a 30-point outburst against the Atlanta Hawks.

Power forward

Saddiq Bey, PF/SF, New Orleans Pelicans (28.3%): Bey was on fire from late November through the end of December before missing a couple of weeks due to a hip injury. Since his return two weeks ago, he has continued his strong performance. Bey has scored in double digits in every game since coming back, including four games with 20 or more points during that stretch, with a high of 36 points on Friday.

P.J. Washington, PF/SF, Mavericks (48.8%): Washington missed a significant portion of January due to personal matters and an ankle injury. However, he returned with 10 points and five combined blocks and steals in 22 minutes on Thursday. When healthy, Washington is a reliable mid-teens scorer who can also contribute rebounds and 3-pointers, along with defensive stats.

Center

Jusuf Nurkic, C, Utah Jazz (51.2%): Nurkic continues to miss games regularly, but when he is active, his performance is remarkable. Last week, he became the first Jazz player in decades to achieve triple-doubles in consecutive games. Nurkic played only 10 games from Dec. 22 to Jan. 22, but during those games, he averaged 17.5 points, 12.2 rebounds, and 6.6 assists.

Jock Landale, C, Memphis Grizzlies (15.4%): Landale has alternated between starting and coming off the bench in the new year, but he has been effective in both roles. After averaging 17.0 points and 9.5 rebounds in two games off the bench last week, Landale returned to the starting lineup on Friday, posting 24 points and 11 rebounds. He is a viable flex option at center as long as Zach Edey remains unavailable.