Player: Caris LeVert
Position: SF
Team: Brooklyn Nets
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Per 36 minute numbers can sometimes be misleading, but in his rookie campaign, LeVert posted a stellar all-around line of 13.6 points, 5.5 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.7 three-pointers made. Those numbers combined with a 45% field goal rate and 72% mark from the free throw line would add up to a top 75 roto player. Now, it should be mentioned that due to injuries he was limited to 57 games and just 21.7 minutes per game, but he enters this year with a clean bill of health.
In his first preseason game, the former Michigan standout, showed what he could do with 12 points, three rebounds, two assists and a steal in just 18 minutes of play. He struggled shooting in game two of the preseason, but much of that could be accredited to some simple rust as the Nets ease him back.
The one reason for concern with LeVert is the sheer number of wings the Nets have on their team. Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, Allen Crabbe, DeMarre Carroll, Sean Kilpatrick and Joe Harris all figure to get some time on the wings leaving no one with a lot of playing time per night. However, the counter to that is that the Nets are one of the fastest teams in the NBA ranking first in the league last year with a pace of 101.3 last year. If you are playing in deep leagues LeVert is certainly worthy of a late round flyer, but in shallow leagues keep him on your radar as the season hits the halfway point as players such as Carroll and Kilpatrick seem like good candidates to rest and allow young players such as LeVert to grow into their promising futures.
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