The Breakdown
As we recently noted, Roy has been struggling with his shot and he's played poorly in four of the team's last five games. In that five game stretch, he's averaging just 11 points and shooting 33.8% from the field. His FG% for the season has dipped a shade under 40%, by far a career low. Brandon will be inconsistent all season long and will likely miss more games due to the knee issues. This ailment will not only affect him all season, but possibly for the rest of his career.
Nicolas Batum is a strong play while Roy is out and we believe he's worth holding onto all season. His production off the bench is inconsistent, but he'll be in line for big minutes whenever Roy sits out. Batum could be especially valuable if Roy is put on the shelf for an extended period, which is something that could happen later in the season if Portland falls out of contention. Nicolas remains available in just over half of leagues.
