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ANALYSIS: With the glut of guards that the Clippers had when this season opened, I don't think anyone expected that a rookie they'd acquire via trade at the deadline would end up playing almost 30 minutes per game for them, but that's just what's happened after the acquisition of former Sixer Landry Shamet.
Shamet, who played point guard at Wichita State but who had mainly played off the ball in Philadelphia, has had more chances to shine in the Clippers backcourt than he did with Philly. In addition to playing around eight more minutes per game for the Clips, Shamet has seen increases in field goal attempts (6.4 to 8.3), assists (1.1 to 2.3), steals (0.4 to 1.3), and points (8.3 to 12) in his four games with the Clippers. While it's a small sample size, Los Angeles seems content to let Shamet start as part of a three-guard lineup with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Patrick Beverley.
One thing that helps Shamet is that while the Clippers still remain in the playoff race out West, they seem to be trying to test out new things. Ivica Zubac is starting at the five. The newly-acquired JaMychal Green is getting run off the bench. This is a team that got some promising future parts at the deadline and is devoted to getting the most out of those parts.
Shamet's big calling card at the NBA level is his three-point shooting, and fantasy owners in need of some bombs would be wise to give him a look. Shamet is shooting 41 percent from three this season, and that number has bumped up to 47.8 percent in L.A. While I doubt it stays that high, Shamet's ability as a catch-and-shoot guy projects to be near the upper echelon of the league, and if he can continue to develop his on-ball skills, he could be a key piece for years to come in Los Angeles. For now, Shamet is worth a fantasy look for people in need of scoring, steals, and threes. He should also see his field goal percentage go up as the 30 percent mark he's shot so far on twos in L.A. is far below the 52.9 percent mark he shot in Philly.
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