The NBA Finals start on Thursday, so with a few days in between, let’s discuss some players who caught my eye in the postseason. Instead of pulling from teams competing for the championship, I revisited the players from the 14 eliminated teams and assessed whose stock was on the rise. Now it’s time to cover those who fall.
Here are three players who have lowered their draft stock ahead of next season.
A classic case of having one foot out the door, Harris, an unrestricted free agent, put up the worst numbers of his career in the postseason. With Joel Embiid playing with one leg, it was surprising to see Harris become a statue on the wing.
Harris was one of the top draft picks at his position this year, so it was a significant disappointment to see a guy who averaged 17 points per game in the regular season only attempt nine shots per game, especially with Joel Embiid playing on one leg.
The sheer lack of aggression on the offensive end is worrying, especially as he will likely go elsewhere this summer.
We know who Tobias Harris is – an annoying player who does this from time to time, kind of player. There’s nothing wrong with a 15-point floor, six rebounds, two assists and strong shooting. Still, I expect his stock to drop after playing the Knicks in the opening round.
It’s one thing to be benched in decisive moments – it’s another thing entirely to be benched for the first time in your career – 218 consecutive games – during the Western Conference Finals. Giddey was a late-season hero to some, but his role seems suspect after a disappointing postseason.
Giddey’s minutes dropped considerably in the playoffs, a trend we’ve seen all season. After averaging more than 31 minutes in his first two seasons, his minutes have dropped to 25 per contest this year. His minutes in the playoffs dropped even further to 18 minutes per night. When evaluating Giddey’s current situation with limited production, it is clear that his stock is falling.
Trading Giddey would be the ideal outcome in real life and fantasy. Although OKC doesn’t have to do anything. He is eligible for a rookie extension and, thus far, has been a member of a young team that has evolved into one of the best teams in the league. But is it essential? No.
If he remains on the roster, his production will be limited, playing alongside two All-Star caliber guys and a perennial MVP candidate. Knowing this, gone are the days when Giddey would be a fifth to sixth round pick.
Another player reportedly on the move is Brandon Ingram. The Pelicans were not competitive in the series and were eliminated in four games. They lost the series by an average of 15 points, with two 21+ point losses. While the result wasn’t entirely Ingram’s, he didn’t do enough to help them win.
Ingram shot an atrocious 36% on two-point shots and 25% on threes. He also didn’t make his usual impact in other areas, recording just 4.7 rebounds and 2.3 assists in the series. One encouraging note was that Ingram racked up nine shares in four games, but history tells us he probably won’t carry over into the regular season.
BI production has remained stable if you expect a 20/5/5 line. However, if the rumors are true, his eventual fate will boost his fantasy stock. Still, I wouldn’t expect Ingram to go beyond the sixth round after another solid season mixed with an abysmal postseason.
