News: Cavaliers forward Marreese Speights played a solid role for the Cavaliers after a January trade, but his time with the team may come to an end after just half a season. Speights has a player option for the 2013-14 season worth $4.5 million, and after averaging 10.2 points and 5.1 rebounds in just 18.5 minutes per game after the trade, he may opt to test the market. Speights has not yet said what his intentions are, and he has until June 29 to make a decision.
Analysis: Speights has yet to earn a big role on any of his three NBA teams, but he has certainly been productive when given the chance. Speights is averaging 17.0 points and 9.6 rebounds per-36 minutes in his NBA career. He has an intriguing offensive skill set that could lead him to breakout on the right team, so we will have to see where he lands this offseason. Speights is likely to be just a late-round Fantasy option on Draft Day in most formats.
News: Cavaliers forward Marreese Speights is not best known for his offensive game, but the team has been giving him plenty of opportunities to score recently. Speights played just 17 minutes Wednesday against the Celtics, but he attempted nine shots in the game, making six of them and scoring 13 points. He added six rebounds, one block and one steal, in a 93-92 loss.
Analysis: Speights has seen his role increase with the Cavaliers, and he has taken to it well. Speights is averaging 10.9 points on 9.2 field-goal attempts per game, despite playing just 19.9 minutes per game since joining Cleveland. Speights has been inconsistent, but is getting the green light to fire away off the bench, so he has some value in deeper Fantasy formats down the stretch.
News: Cleveland power forward Marreese Speights was ejected from Monday's game against the Pacers in the third quarter after a Flagrant-2 foul was called against him. Speights took down Indiana's Paul George by the neck and was tossed shortly after. He saw eight minutes in the game and was 2 for 4 from the field for four points with two rebounds.
Analysis: The University of Florida product had been seeing a few more minutes of late with the Cavaliers dealing with a bunch of injuries. That said, he's incredibly inconsistent and has just low-end Fantasy value in most formats.
News: Cleveland power forward Marreese Speights grabbed six rebounds on Tuesday during a win over the Wizards. Unfortunately, that was pretty much all he did in the game. Speights played 15 minutes and went 0 for 5 from the field, failing to score. He had two turnovers but didn't show up on the stat sheet elsewhere.
Analysis: Speights has had some decent performances for Cleveland but seems to be a bench warmer when everyone is healthy. We're not sure why as he's been an impressive talent at times in his NBA career. Still, as unpredictable as he's been, Speights has low-end Fantasy value.
News: Cavaliers head coach Byron Scott told the Cleveland Plain Dealer that forward Marreese Speights will continue to come off the bench despite his 23-point performance Monday against the Knicks. Speights earned the start Monday in place of Tyler Zeller, who was dealing with an illness. Zeller is expected to return to the starting lineup Wednesday against the Jazz. "Tyler's back now so I'll go back to the bench," Speights said. "It's Tyler's spot."
Analysis: Speights made the best out of his stop-gap start Monday against the Knicks as he played pretty well for the most part. However, Scott was not that impressed with his performance, especially since he went 0 of 4 shooting from the field in the second half. "I thought in the first half he was really focused and into it and the second half I thought he probably stayed in the locker room from a mental standpoint," Scott said. Still, while he is expected to return to the bench, Speight's recent boost in production may give him some value in deeper Fantasy formats moving forward. We'll continue to track his progress over the final weeks of the season.
News: Cavaliers forward Marreese Speights made his first start of the season for Cleveland during Monday's contest against the Knicks. Speights, who started in place of the sick Tyler Zeller, finished with a season-high 23 points in the 102-97 defeat. He made 10 of his 14 field-goal attempts and also added eight rebounds and one assist to his stat line, while logging 32 minutes of game action.
Analysis: Speights has gotten a chance to see some decent run during his brief time with the team and has played pretty well for the most part. The 25-year-old entered Monday's contest averaging 12 points and 6.1 rebounds during his first 12 games with the team and he has been seeing around 21 minutes per game over that span. While he likely will head right back to the bench once Zeller gets healthy, Speights' recent boost in production gives him some value in deeper formats over the final few weeks of the season.
News: Cavaliers forward Marreese Speights made up for a run of poor performances Saturday against the Magic. Speights was one of seven Cavaliers to score in double figures in the game, as he scored a game-high 18 points in just 23 minutes. He shot 4 of 8 from the field and 10 of 12 at the free-throw line, while adding eight rebounds and one steal, block and assist each, in a 118-94 win.
Analysis: Speights came out swinging at the start of his Cavaliers career towards the end of January, but he has been slumping in recent games. Speights entered Saturday’s action averaging 7.0 points and 5.3 rebounds per game in his previous four games. Speights seems to be playing between 20 and 25 minutes per game with the Cavs, and will remain an unreliable Fantasy option as long as that is so.
News: Cavaliers forward Marreese Speights put together yet another subpar performance Wednesday against the Spurs, as his hot streak to begin his Cavaliers’ career has come to an abrupt end. Speights shot 4 of 12 from the field in the game, scoring nine points in 16 minutes. He also grabbed nine rebounds in a 96-95 loss. Speights has shot below 50 percent in three of the last five games.
Analysis: Speights looked like a new man after being traded to the Cavaliers, but he has fallen off pretty quickly. Over the last five games, Speights is averaging 10.6 points and 6.0 rebounds per game, but is shooting just 33.3 percent from the field. His role on the team is also starting to fade, as he had played 20-plus minutes in just two of the last five games. Speights is getting plenty of opportunities to score the ball, but he remains more of a low-end Fantasy option moving forward.
News: Cavaliers power forward Marreese Speights scored in double figures for the seventh straight game on Friday night against the Magic. He finished with 18 points on just 3-of-13 shooting in the 119-108 win. Speights did most of his damage at the foul line as he made all 12 of his free throws while playing 22 minutes off the bench. He also chipped in with five rebounds and an assist in the victory.
Analysis: Speights has picked up his production since being acquired from Memphis earlier in the month and has been one of the hottest additions off the waiver wire as a result. He is averaging 15.8 points with 7.6 rebounds in the previous five contests on nearly 46 percent shooting. The Cavs count on Speights for scoring off the bench so keep the 25-year-old active in deeper Fantasy formats.
News: In less than two weeks, forward Marreese Speights has gone from an afterthought with Memphis to a pivotal member of Cleveland's rotation. Speights, obtained by the Cavaliers as part of a multi-player trade on Jan. 22, has averaged 15.4 points and 6.8 rebounds during his first five games with his new team. His solid production has already earned the admiration of coach Byron Scott. "I didn’t know he was that fiery," Scott told the Akron Beacon Journal. "I didn’t know he played this style of basketball. From what I saw in Philly, he was a guy who was primarily a catch-and-shoot guy, a perimeter big guy, who could stretch the floor. The first game we had him here, I saw he was much more than that."
Analysis: Speights, who played three seasons with Philadelphia to begin his career, produced a lowly clip of 6.6 points during 40 games with Memphis prior to being shipped out in a trade. He also managed just two double-doubles as a member of the Grizzlies, but has already registered one with the Cavaliers. Scott has provided the talented 25-year-old with additional playing time and he logged a season-high 33 minutes last Saturday against Oklahoma City. Fantasy owners should look to snatch up Speights in deeper formats as Cleveland lines up for some favorable matchups in Week 15 (Feb. 4-10), especially against Charlotte and Orlando.
News: Cavaliers forward Marreese Speights scored in double figures Friday for the fourth game in a row since joining the team, as he dropped 17 against the Pistons. He shot 6 of 15 from the field, but was perfect from the free-throw line on four attempts. He added one three-pointer in the game, his third of the season and sixth of his career. He added eight rebounds, three assists and a pair of blocks, in a 117-99 loss.
Analysis: Speights has taken on a big scoring responsibility for the Cavaliers, averaging 14.0 points per game since joining the game, while playing just 23.8 minutes. He was limited to just 6.6 points in 14.5 minutes in Memphis, but always showed the ability to produce when given the opportunity. He is getting the opportunity now, and is worth snagging off waivers in most Fantasy formats.
News: New Cavaliers forward Marreese Speights notched 10 points and six rebounds during Cleveland's 113-108 win over Milwaukee on Friday night. In his first game since being obtained from Memphis last Tuesday, Speights connected on 4 of 7 attempts from the field and went 2 for 4 from the free-throw line. He logged 18 minutes in his team debut -- a total he eclipsed only once in his last eight games with the Grizzlies. "Cleveland's always been a team that wanted me and a team that I wanted to come to," he told The Plain Dealer before the game.
Analysis: While the Cavaliers are hoping Speights can help fill the void left by the season-ending injury to center Anderson Varejao, the 25-year-old is hoping to find some stability with Cleveland. The Cavaliers represent his third team since being drafted 16th overall by Philadelphia in the 2008 NBA Draft. After averaging just 14.5 minutes per game with Memphis before the trade, he is primed for additional playing time with Cleveland as he is already familiar with its offense. "He can flat-out shoot the ball for a big man," coach Byron Scott said. Fantasy owners should keep an eye on his progress as he could make for a decent addition in deeper formats.
News: Cavaliers coach Byron Scott told the Plain Dealer that recently acquired forward Marreese Speights and guard Wayne Ellington will be available beginning Friday against the Bucks. Scott had considered holding both players out until they could get some practice time in with the team, but has decided to waive his personal policy.
Analysis: Speights was averaging 6.6 points and 4.7 rebounds per game in Memphis prior to the trade, however that was while playing behind All-Star Zach Randolph. He should see more than the 14.5 minutes per game he was averaging now that he is in Cleveland, so we expect his play to improve. Still, Speights has rarely been more than a low-end Fantasy option in his career, so continue to consider him as such moving forward.
News: Desperately in need of shedding payroll, the Grizzlies traded forward Marreese Speights and guards Josh Selby and Wayne Ellington to the Cavaliers on Tuesday in exchange for forward Jon Leuer, CBSSports.com NBA Insider Ken Berger reports. Cleveland will also receive a future first-round draft pick. The trade saves Memphis roughly $4 million and moves the team under the luxury tax threshold, considered a long-term goal by the new Grizzlies ownership. It also likely eliminates the financial need to deal standout forward Rudy Gay before the trade deadline.
Analysis: Speights will move to his third team in the past two seasons as Memphis obtained him from Philadelphia last year. The 25-year-old has been a key member off the bench for the Grizzlies, primarily spelling Zach Randolph and averaged 6.6 points and 4.7 rebounds per game. He surpassed 20 minutes in a game only twice this month, but registered a double-double in one of those outings. Speights could see more playing time with the Cavaliers as they have dealt with injuries to their frontcourt. Fantasy owners should keep track of his progression in Cleveland as he could warrant an addition in deeper formats.
News: With Zach Randolph sidelined with a back injury, Grizzlies forward Marreese Speights stepped up and earned the start Friday night against the Kings. Speights played well and nearly picked up his third double-double of the season. He scored 10 points on 5 of 12 shooting from the field and grabbed nine boards in a 85-69 victory. He also chipped in with two assists and one steal while logging 27 minutes of game action.
Analysis: Speights scored in double figures for the first time since Jan. 7, which was his previous meeting against the Kings. He has averaged 5.7 points and 4.3 rebounds per game over his last seven games. Speights may see some extensive minutes while Randolph is out, which will increase his Fantasy value. Still, he is considered as a low-end option in deeper formats for now. Once Randoph is back in action, Speights will return to his role off the bench and will have a hard time seeing consistent minutes.
News: Grizzlies forward Marreese Speights was fairly productive in Memphis' blowout win over the Kings Monday night. Speights finished with 10 points and five rebounds in the 113-81 win on 4 of 10 shooting from the field. He made both of his free-throws and also added one assist to his stat line while logging 20 minutes off the bench.
Analysis: Speights turned in a few heads after dropping in 22 points and 13 rebounds while starting in place of Zach Randolph last week, but has since returned to his normal reserve role. As expected, his production has fallen back down to normal levels as well as he has scored a combined 16 points over his last two games combined. As long as Randolph stays healthy, Speights will have a hard time seeing consistent minutes, which will continue to limit his value. He should only be owned in deeper formats as a reserve option at this point in the season.
News:Marreese Speights received the start for Memphis on Friday against Portland with Zach Randolph (illness) out and had a productive outing. He scored a game-high 22 points and hauled in 13 rebounds -- including seven on the offensive glass -- for his first double-double in the 86-84 loss. Both totals were season highs. Speights went 7 for 15 from the field and converted all eight of his free throws while playing 27 minutes. Speights also posted a steal in the victory. "I just tried to go out there and play hard and attack the goal when my teammates threw me the ball," Speights said.
Analysis: Speights has been an inconsistent producer while seeing around 14 minutes per night thus far but showed Friday what he can do with an improved role. Keep an eye on Randolph's status in the coming days to see if the 25-year-old will see more starts. If he does, Speights would be worth a look in deeper Fantasy formats but remains more of a low-end option at this point.
News: Grizzlies forward Marreese Speights posted eight points and a game-high 10 rebounds during Memphis' 81-72 win over Denver on Saturday night. Speights, who logged just 16 minutes of playing time, finished with one fewer rebound than the rest of the Grizzlies' reserves combined (11). Six of his boards came on the offensive glass as he led the team in rebounds for the first time this season. He finished just 3 for 9 from the field, the first occasion he has averaged less than 40 percent in the past five games.
Analysis: After a strong first month of the season in which he collected his lone double-double of the season, Speights has been hindered by inconsistency in December and entered Saturday's contest with lowly averages of 5.4 points and 3.8 rebounds per game. The 6-foot-10 brute has the ability to generate strong rebounding totals despite his lackluster run recently and should be viewed as a reserve option in deeper Fantasy formats.
News: Grizzlies power forward Marreese Speights turned in another productive performance during Wednesday's contest against the Bucks. Speights enjoyed a decent shooting night and scored 10 points in a 90-80 victory. He went 4 of 8 shooting from the field, including 1 for 1 from downtown. He also chipped in with six rebounds, two blocks and an assist in 16 minutes of game action.
Analysis: Speights has been a bit inconsistent as of late and has not been able to put up solid numbers after solid performances like Wednesday. After averaging 6.9 points and 5.3 rebounds in November, Speights has scored just 5.1 points and four rebounds per game in December. At this point, he has marginal value in the deepest of Fantasy formats moving forward.
News: Memphis power forward Marreese Speights had one outstanding performance but followed it with a poor one Friday against Detroit. Speights scored 18 points and grabbed 12 rebounds against Toronto on Wednesday, but saw just 17 minutes in Friday's game as he shot 3 of 7 from the field and scored six points. He grabbed seven rebounds with the six points.
Analysis: Speights is only slightly outdoing his season averages over his last five games and that includes his big effort versus the Raptors. He cannot compete at that level consistently and that is why Speights is more of a low-end Fantasy power forward.
News: Grizzlies forward Marreese Speights’ shooting hit a low Saturday against the Bobcats, as he made just 1 of 7 attempts from the field in a 94-87 win. Speights still managed to score nine points, his second-best total of the season, thanks to a 7-for-8 showing from the free-throw line. Speights added six rebounds and four turnovers in 21 minutes in the game.
Analysis: Speights, who shot 45.3 percent from the field in 60 games a year ago, has been unable to get his shot to fall through the first nine games of the year. He is shooting just 36.7 percent from the field, and his struggles are likely the reason why his minutes are down to 17.8 per game. Speights has just low-end Fantasy value at this time.
News: Armed with a new contract following his breakout season last year, Grizzlies forward Marreese Speights is eager to dismiss the apathetic tag that followed him during his first three NBA seasons. Speights flourished when he was acquired in a trade from Philadelphia to help fill the void created by the injury to Zach Randolph. He posted career highs in points (8.8) and rebounds (6.2) while starting 54 games after the January trade. "He's getting better but he can still get a lot better," center Marc Gasol told the Memphis Commercial Appeal. "He can be more consistent. We'll just keep helping him and making him work. He has a lot of talent."
Analysis: Speights found new life with the Grizzlies and posted two double-doubles in his first 10 games as he proved to be a capable replacement for Randolph. His game truly blossomed when he tallied 20 points and 18 rebounds during a win over New Jersey on Feb. 15. Now, he will provide much-needed depth in the frontcourt off the bench for Memphis and could exceed his average of 22.4 minutes per game from last season. "My mindset this year, knowing I'm coming off the bench, is to come with a lot of energy and do the little things we need," Speights said. Fantasy owners should target the 25-year-old in the later rounds of deeper drafts as a possible reserve option as he still holds some upside.
News: The Grizzlies came to terms on contracts for a pair of forwards Friday, as they inked Darrell Arthur and Marreese Speights to two-year deals, with Arthur’s reportedly containing a team option for a third year.
Analysis: Earlier in the offseason, it had been reported that the team would only be able to keep one of the two players, however they found a way to make it happen. This shores up their back-court depth, with Speights averaging career highs of 8.8 points and 6.2 rebounds per game last season. He will likely find playing time tough to come by in a deeper front court, though, so Fantasy owners should avoid targeting him outside of the late rounds of deeper leagues on Draft Day.
News: Grizzlies forward Marreese Speights is a restricted free agent this offseason, and the team has to make a decision on whether they will bring him back or re-sign fellow restricted free agent Darrell Arthur. Speights replaced Arthur when he went down with an Achilles injury prior to the season, and averaged career highs of 8.8 points and 6.2 rebounds per game in 60 games, showing he could handle a starting role with Zach Randolph missing time this season.
Analysis: The team will only be able to keep one of Speights or Arthur, and with Randolph in place at the starting power forward spot next season, the best thing for Speights’ value would be to hit the market and find a starting job. Speights has produced in his career in limited opportunities, average 16.6 points and 9.3 rebounds per-36 minutes, so the question may be whether he can find a full-time job. The 25-year-old former first-round pick is likely to be just a late-round selection at best on Draft Day no matter where he ends up, though the upside is there.
News: Memphis power forward Marreese Speights got the start at center on Tuesday night against Minnesota with Marc Gasol missing the game. Speights, who could continue to start if Gasol needs to miss more time, shot 8 of 11 from the field over 32 minutes to score 18 points. Speights played well for the Grizzlies as he added seven rebounds and two blocked shots.
Analysis: Speights seems to have all the talent in the world but cannot contribute as he did Tuesday consistently. He's shooting just 45 percent from the field on the year and is averaging just 8.8 points and 6.2 rebounds per game for the season. Every time he starts playing better, his numbers wane again. Speights only has realistic Fantasy value in deeper formats as long as Gasol returns Friday as he intends.
News: Memphis forward Marreese Speights has done a nice job filling in for Zach Randolph, but now he's back. Speights got a technical on Friday night against Toronto and was limited to just eight minutes of court time in the 114-110 overtime loss. Speights missed both his shots from the field and went 1 for 2 at the foul line, finishing with one point. He added three boards in the loss.
Analysis: The Grizzlies traded for Speights to give them depth while Randolph was out of action. Speights will be going back to the bench with Randolph back, which gives his Fantasy value a big hit. Keep tabs on how much he plays over the next few games to gauge if it's worth using him the remainder of the season. Consider Speights a low-end forward option in deeper formats -- if he's able to carve out some minutes moving forward.
News: Memphis power forward Marreese Speights had a big game on Tuesday night in a double overtime loss to the Lakers. Speights led the Grizzlies in scoring as they gave the Lakers their best effort. Speights scored 25 points over 47 minutes as he went 12 of 20 from the field. Speights added seven rebounds, five assists and a blocked shot for the Grizzlies in the win.
Analysis: Speights took his game to another level on Tuesday but has been playing well for the Grizzlies. Speights is averaging 15.4 points and 7.0 rebounds over his last five games and that comes with a block and 55 percent shooting. The bad news is that once Zach Randolph returns, which should be very shortly, Speights should return to the bench and start seeing limited minutes again. Fantasy owners will want to monitor that as Speights' Fantasy value would be rising otherwise.
News: Grizzlies forward Marreese Speights turned in his second straight underwhelming performance during Friday night's contest against the Raptors. Speights finished with just three points in the 102-99 victory, on 1 of 4 shooting from the field. He went 1 of 2 at the free-throw line and also chipped in with three rebounds, one assist and one block, while logging 20 minutes of game action.
Analysis: Speights has been ice-cold to start the second half for the Grizzlies. He has scored a combined five points over his last two contests and has made just two of his last nine field-goal attempts. Hopefully the 24-year-old can get himself going heading into Fantasy Week 11 (March 5-11) and start performing the way he did prior to the All-Star break. Despite his recent rough patch, owners should leave Speights active in the majority of formats moving forward.
News: Memphis forward Marreese Speights notched 16 points and eight rebounds during the Grizzlies' 104-103 victory over Golden State on Saturday night. Speights drilled 7 of his 15 shot attempts as he finished with a field-goal percentage under 50 percent for the first time in his past four games. He also came two rebounds shy of recording his third straight double-double as he managed 24 minutes of playing time for Memphis.
Analysis: Speights has been on a torrid run recently as his production has increased with his rise in playing time. Despite failing to top 30 minutes for the first time in his past four outings, the 24-year-old still managed to reach double figures in scoring for the third straight game -- a first this season. In that span, Speights is averaging 16.0 points and 12.0 rebounds per game. Fantasy owners should consider him a solid addition in deeper formats.
News: Memphis F Marreese Speights posted just eight points with five boards his last time out but was able to dwarf those numbers on Wednesday night against New Jersey. He set season highs with 20 points and 18 rebounds, including six on the offensive glass, in the 105-100 win. He was an efficient 10 for 13 from the field but missed his lone free throw while playing 38 minutes as a starter. Speights also posted two blocks and an assist in the victory. "A lot of people said I couldn't do this and do that, so this is a fresh opportunity," Speights said.
Analysis: After disappearing in Fantasy for a bit, Speights has woken up of late and is doing a solid job on the boards for the Grizzlies. He is averaging 12 points with 11.6 rebounds in his last five contests, while shooting nearly 52 percent over that span. He should continue to see solid minutes as long as Zach Randolph is out so keep an eye on his progress to see if he can keep up this pace. Owners in deeper Fantasy formats should definitely consider grabbing Speights off waivers.
News: After scoring in single digits in his of his previous six games, Grizzlies F Marreese Speights was able to get back on track against the Pacers on Friday. He finished with a season-high 19 points and seven rebounds in the 98-92 win. He went 8 for 13 from the floor and made 3 of 5 free throws while playing 37 minutes. Speights also posted two steals and two assists in the victory.
Analysis: Speights had been slumping of late but he is starting to wake up again, and Fantasy owners have taken notice. He is averaging 7.4 points with 6.2 rebounds in his last five contests. He should continue to see solid minutes while Zach Randolph is out so owners in deeper formats should consider scooping up Speights for Week 8 (Feb. 13-19).
News: Memphis forward Marreese Speights didn't have the best night shooting the ball on Wednesday versus Minnesota, but made his presence felt. He grabbed a game-high 15 rebounds -- eight offensive -- in 28 minutes of action. That ties a career high for Speights. Speights ended up with six points after hitting both his foul shots and going 2 for 9 from the field. The big man added a steal in his team's 85-80 win.
Analysis: Speights continues to be the beneficiary of injuries to Zach Randolph and Darrell Arthur. Despite this golden opportunity, Speights is still only averaging 4.0 points and 4.8 rebounds over his last five outings. He's shooting a dismal 25 percent from the floor over that span as well. Fantasy owners should continue to view Speights as a low-end forward option while he's getting quality minutes.
News: Memphis forward Marreese Speights continues to struggle for the Grizzlies. He continues to start, but has been losing playing time to Dante Cunningham. Speights went 2 for 4 from the field on Friday night against the Thunder, finishing with four points and one board. He saw just 13 minutes of action in his team's 101-94 loss.
Analysis: Speights has been taken out of some games lately for lack of hustle as he jogged up the court. It may not be long until Cunningham gets a shot to start over Speights, which is something for Fantasy owners in deeper leagues to keep an eye on. Over his last five games, Speights is averaging just 5.8 points and 3.2 board in 17 minutes per outing. It may be wise to search the waiver wire for a more productive option as Speights just isn't getting the job done right now. He's a low-end forward option in deeper Fantasy formats.
News: Memphis PF Marreese Speights has not scored in double digits in four straight games entering Monday against the Spurs. Speights scored eight points on Saturday in a loss at Phoenix. He went 4 for 8 from the field in that game over 18 minutes and added five rebounds and a block.
Analysis: Speights scored 12 points and grabbed 15 rebounds on Jan. 21 against the Kings. He's barely even totaled that in four games since. As long as Speights is not seeing consistent minutes, his Fantasy value is going to remain low. He's only worth starting in the very deepest of Fantasy formats at the moment.
News: Grizzlies F Marreese Speights was not much of a factor during Monday night's contest against the Warriors. Speights finished with just eight points in the 91-90 win, on 3 of 8 shooting from the field. He went 2 of 3 from the charity stripe and also chipped in with one assist and a steal, while logging 24 minutes off the bench.
Analysis: Speights has turned in some big-time performances since landing in Memphis a few weeks back, he has also turned in a few stinkers. He is averaging 8.8 points and 6.7 rebounds thus far, but Fantasy owners would love to see the 24-year-old string some quality performances together. However, with Rudy Gay, Marc Gasol and now even Mike Conley being relied upon to do most of the scoring, Speights' scoring numbers will likely continue to be a bit erratic. Consider him a viable low-end option in the majority of formats moving forward.
News: Memphis PF Marreese Speights had a big performance on Monday afternoon in a blowout win over the Bulls. Speights played 34 minutes as a starter and scored 16 points with 12 rebounds for the double-double. Speights shot 7 of 16 in the game and added a block and two assists for the Grizzlies.
Analysis: Speights has scored in double figures in four of his last five games and is averaging 11.4 PPG over that span. He's been playing better of late, and should be utilized in plenty of deeper Fantasy formats as long as he's getting over 20 minutes per game.
News: Grizzlies F Marreese Speights shook off a sluggish debut with his new team and recorded 17 points and seven rebounds during his second game with Memphis on Sunday. And that production is why the team pushed hard for him in a trade even before F Zach Randolph went down with an injury. Speights has welcomed a fresh start with the Grizzlies, who are giving him an opportunity to clear up criticism about his work ethic. "Going through that (in Philadelphia) made me realize that everything can't be gold all of the time," Speights told the Memphis Commercial Appeal. "I've got a fresh start here so I'm not worried about Philly anymore. ... (The Grizzlies) need me and I need them. I'm excited to be here."
Analysis: Speights was acquired from the 76ers last Wednesday, but the Grizzlies had targeted the underutilized big man during training camp. He logged just 11.5 minutes per game last season and hadn't played in any games with Philadelphia this year. Now, he could improve on his paltry career totals (8.5 ppg and 3.5 rpg) with sufficient playing time. Memphis also has Dante Cunningham at the power forward position, but Speights will receive opportunities. Fantasy owners should view Speights as a decent reserve option in deeper formats.
News: Recently-acquired F Marreese Speights got into his first action of the season with the Grizzlies, playing six points and missing both shots he attempted in Memphis’ 94-85 loss to the Jazz. He had just an assist and a block as his only official stats in his debut.
Analysis: Speights should immediately step into the rotation and play big minutes for a contender after he becomes acclimated with the Grizzlies’ playing style. The Grizzlies have just Dante Cunningham at the power forward position after Zach Randolph’s injury, so Speights is going to see an increase in playing time and opportunities. Fantasy owners should consider scooping up Speights in most formats as he gets comfortable.
News: Philadelphia, Memphis and New Orleans agreed on a multi-player trade Wednesday that will help provide depth to the Grizzlies frontcourt. The 76ers are sending F Marreese Speights to Memphis, the Grizzlies will move G Xavier Henry to New Orleans and the Grizzlies and Hornets each will send a second-round draft pick to Philadelphia. The deal was first reported by ESPN.com on Wednesday morning.
Analysis: Memphis is in need of help after F Zach Randolph's knee injury turned out to be more serious than originally thought and he could be out eight weeks with an MCL tear. Speights has been a solid bench player with the 76ers in terms of per-minute production, but hasn't found many minutes this season. But for Memphis, Speights will immediately step into the rotation and play big minutes for a contender. Fantasy owners should consider scooping up Speights in most formats as he could share time with F Dante Cunningham.
News: According to ESPN.com, the Memphis Grizzlies are close to acquiring F Marreese Speights from Philadelphia in a three-team deal with New Orleans. In the proposed deal, Speights would head to Memphis, G Xavier Henry to New Orleans and the Hornets would give Philadelphia two future second-round draft picks. The trade is pending a physical as Henry has missed the start of the season with torn ligaments in his right ankle.
Analysis: The Grizzlies are in desperate need of frontcourt depth after Darrell Arthur's season-ending injury. In addition, Zach Randolph's knee injury turned out to be more serious than originally though and he could be out eight weeks with an MCL tear. Speights has been a solid bench player with the 76ers in terms of per-minute production, but hasn't found many minutes this season. But for Memphis, Speights will immediately step into the rotation and play big minutes for a contender. Fantasy owners should consider scooping up Speights in most formats if the deal goes through.
News: Philadelphia forward Marreese Speights registered 17 points and seven rebounds in the 76ers' 117-94 victory over Washington on Wednesday night. Speights connected on 5 of 9 attempts from the field, including his lone 3-point shot, as he posted his highest point total in the last 12 games. It was also Speights' first trey of the season and came on his fourth attempt. He also matched a season high with two assists and added a block.
Analysis: Speights logged 20 minutes Wednesday in his first game back since the All-Star break. His counterpart in the starting lineup, Spencer Hawes, logged only 15 minutes against bruising Wizards center JaVale McGee. Speights had posted a decent run in mid-January and finished with an average of 7.6 points per game for the month. He has netted only 3.0 points in February as he finished with his first game in double digits this month. Until he receives more stable playing time, he remains a low-end Fantasy option only in deeper leagues.
News: Philadelphia forward Marreese Speights recorded a season-high 23 points and nine rebounds in the 76ers' 107-94 victory over Toronto on Wednesday night. Speights connected on 10 of 12 shots -- the majority of them from within a few feet of the basket as he dominated the paint -- to top 20 points for the first time this season. "It was pretty easy," Speights said. "The zone wasn't really that hard to break." The third-year forward netted 17 of his points in the second quarter alone -- one more than his previous season high for an entire game. He added an assist while playing 17 minutes Wednesday.
Analysis: Speights has been impressing the Philadelphia coaching staff recently and could get an increase in minutes. His marked improvement also comes as starting center Spencer Hawes continues to struggle and possibly leading coach Doug Collins to consider swapping the two in the starting lineup. Speights is still inconsistent but he now has five double-digit games this month after posting just two in the first three months of the season. Fantasy owners should keep an eye on his progression and be ready to pounce if he receives a firm commitment for more playing time.
News: Philadelphia forward Marreese Speights has shown some improvement recently, which has caught the eye of coach Doug Collins. Speights scored 10 points on a 4-for-9 shooting performance on Monday, helping the 76ers beat the Bobcats 96-92 in overtime. Speights nailed both his foul shots in the contest. He added six rebounds and two assists in his 19 minutes of court time.
Analysis: Speights is shooting 68.4 percent from the charity stripe this year, but over his last five games has been in a bit of a zone. He doesn't get to the line that often, but he's gone 9 for 12 over his last five. Speights is also averaging 8.6 points and 5.0 boards over that span. It seems Collins is trying to get him more involved and get him to live up to his potential. Until that happens though, Fantasy owners can ignore Speights in the majority of formats.
News: Philadelphia coach Doug Collins has seen improvement from power forward Marreese Speights, reports NBA.com. Speights entered Tuesday's game against Indiana with a designed play drawn up for him after he scored 10 points with seven rebounds in 14 minutes at Detroit last Saturday. “I put in a play for him,” Collins said. “He’s had the biggest smile I’ve ever seen on his face.” He continued his solid play Tuesday as he scored 14 points against the Pacers over 24 minutes and was one of the first players off the bench. He shot 6 for 8 from the field and grabbed nine rebounds.
Analysis: Speights is only averaging 16.6 minutes per game after Tuesday's contest, but seems to be getting more and more in favor in the rotation. Still, until his minutes are consistently around 20 per game, he's only a low-end Fantasy option. He's shown flashes of viability when he gets on the court and is averaging 9.2 points and 6.0 rebounds over his last five games with minimal playing time. Still, until Speights plays at least 20 minutes per game he's not going to have any Fantasy value.
News: Philadelphia started Marreese Speights on Monday night in New Orleans with Spencer Hawes missing the game. Speights gave the Sixers 24 minutes and played well, shooting 5 for 8 from the field and scoring 12 points. He grabbed six rebounds in the game as well.
Analysis: Speights has shown flashes in his short career, but the Sixers have never given him enough time to really come into his own. He hadn't been playing prior to Monday and this time on the floor may be short lived. For now, he doesn't have much Fantasy value of which to speak.
News: Philadelphia PF Marreese Speights (illness) is clearly not in the rotation as he was available for Monday's game at Golden State. Speights missed the last two games with an illness, but saw two minutes of action on Monday. He grabbed one rebound and did not score.
Analysis: Speights has a limited role in the offense in Philly and has minimal Fantasy value at this time after seeing only two minutes against the Warriors.
News: Philadelphia forward Marreese Speights was active but did not play in Sunday's 95-89 win over Denver. Speights has missed two straight games with an illness.
Analysis: Speights and the 76ers play again on Monday in Golden State on Monday. In his last three games Speights is averaging 5.3 points and 2.0 boards per contest. Speights has a limited role in the offense in Philly and has minimal Fantasy value at this time.
News: Sixers PF Marreese Speights dressed but did not play Wednesday at Boston because of an illness, according to the Philadelphia Daily News. He's considered day to day.
Analysis: Speights has upside, but he's playing minimal minutes off the bench right now. Until his role increases, you can avoid him in Fantasy.
News: Philadelphia PF Marreese Speights had one of his better games this season on Tuesday night in an overtime loss to the Washington Wizards. Speights shot 8 for 13 from the field over 28 minutes as he played more minutes with Elton Brand getting ejected in the game. Speights scored 16 points and added nine rebounds in the near double-double. He also blocked two shots.
Analysis: It seems that every time the 76ers give Speights minutes, he contributes at a high level. Then they go right back to playing him limited minutes after that. Speights is averaging just 19 minutes per game in his last five and is averaging 7.3 boards per night over that stretch. As long as he gets minutes, he's worth using in deeper Fantasy leagues. Unfortunately, he doesn't consistently get the minutes necessary for that to be the case. He has just low-end value until that changes.
News: Philadelphia forward Marreese Speights scored a season-high 11 points in a season-high 25 minutes of court time. He shot 4 for 9 from the field and went 3 fro 4 from the foul line. He added seven boards and a block, but the 76ers would still lose the game to the Spurs, 116-93.
Analysis: Speights' previous high for minutes was 17 and his high for points was eight. He may be coming around for the 76ers, but he has to start putting up some consistent numbers to be considered a Fantasy contributor. He's owned in just 6 percent of CBSSports.com Fantasy leagues for a reason. He should be left on the waiver wire in the majority of formats heading into Week 4 (Nov. 15-21).
News: Philadelphia forward Marreese Speights grabbed 11 rebounds in his 14 minutes of action on Wednesday night against Indiana. He shot poorly from the field, going 1 for 6, finishing with just two points. This was Speights' best performance so far this young season as he had six total rebounds entering Wednesday.
Analysis: Despite this being Speights best outing for the 76ers, that doesn't mean Fantasy owners should get too excited. He's owned in just 8 percent of CBSSports.com Fantasy leagues. Heading into the season it was thought Speights would have a bigger role, but that hasn't translated into an increase in court time. If he can carve out a niche in the rotation he may be worth grabbing off waivers, but as of right now he doesn't have much Fantasy appeal.
News: Sixers F Marreese Speights got the most playing time of any game yet this season in Tuesday's game against the Wizards. He logged 17 minutes off the bench and contributed six points with four rebounds while picking up five fouls.
Analysis: Speights looked to be in line for a much more significant role coming into the season, but has been buried on the bench. He has dealt with a hamstring injury since the preseason and could begin to see more playing time the further he is removed from the injury. However, the Sixers have a crowded front court at the moment and the situation Speights is in does not foster much consistency.
News: Sixers F/C Marreese Speights played only four minutes off the bench in Wednesday's season opener against the Heat. He scored just one point.
Analysis: Speights had a strong preseason and there was some hope he could overtake unimpressive Spencer Hawes at center, but right now he seems to be too far down the depth chart to trust. There is upside here, so keep an eye on him in order to pounce on him off the waiver wire and he might even be worth stashing in larger leagues. But he is certainly not a player that should be active in any league.
News: The 76ers picked up their fourth-year option on PF Marreese Speights on Thursday. Speights is averaging 8.4 points and 4.7 rebounds in seven preseason games.
Analysis: Speights has shown flashes of brilliance this preseason -- enough that there's even some talk of him starting at center -- but he'll probably be a bench player most of the season. He could get significant minutes early on with Spencer Hawes nursing a back injury, so he has some sleeper appeal in the late rounds.
News: Philadelphia F/C Marreese Speights, who has been dealing with a mild hamstring strain, struggled in Tuesday's preseason game against the Cavaliers. Speights had just two points on 1 of 7 shooting in 16 minutes off the bench. However, he did grab seven rebounds and had three assists and a steal in the 111-95 win.
Analysis: Speights missed a few practices because of his strained hamstring but the fact that he played on Tuesday is an encouraging sign for Fantasy owners. With Spencer Hawes sidelined until at least the end of October, Speights should see significant minutes early on. Consider him worthy of a late-round pick on Draft Day with a ton of upside.
News: Philadelphia forward Marreese Speights has a mild right hamstring strain, according to the Philadelphia Daily News. Coach Doug Collins said Speights has been doing some stationary shooting and hopes he can return to practice this weekend.
Analysis: Speights has played pretty well during the preseason, but this minor injury leaves the 76ers short on the frontcourt as they are also without Spencer Hawes. Once both are healthy, Speights should see time at both forward and center during the regular season, which is also a bonus for Fantasy owners. On Draft Day, Speights should be viewed as a late-round pick, with a big upside. He has the potential to get a double-double per outing, it all depends on how much Collins puts him on the floor.
News: Sixers F/C Marreese Speights scored 19 points in Tuesday's preseason game against the Celtics. Speights logged 21 minutes off the bench and added six rebounds in the 103-92 win. He scored 15 of his points in the fourth quarter and went 5 of 6 from the free-throw line.
Analysis: While the 76ers added Spencer Hawes to their roster in the offseason, Speights has had a solid preseason is looking more and more like he'll be the starter when the regular season begins. At 23, he has excellent upside and could emerge as a solid Fantasy center if given the minutes. Consider Speights in the later rounds of Fantasy drafts as a player with mid-round Fantasy upside.
News: Philadelphia PF/C Marreese Speights didn't start in the preseason opener against the Nets on Tuesday but he did play a team-high 31 minutes. Seeing almost double the amount of minutes that starter Spencer Hawes got against the Nets, Speights scored a team-high 19 points on 4 of 14 shooting from the field. He went 11 of 14 from the free-throw line and grabbed a team-high nine boards with two assists and a blocked shot.
Analysis: Speights averaged just under nine points and just over four boards per game last year for Philadelphia but he definitely showed his upside at times. The 76ers brought in Hawes this year but Speights is looking more and more like he'll be the starter when the regular season begins. Speights has excellent upside and could emerge as a solid Fantasy center if given the minutes. Consider him in the later rounds of Fantasy drafts as a player with mid-round Fantasy upside.
News: 76ers forward Marreese Speights struggled in his second year in 2009-10. Speights averaged just 8.6 points and 4.1 rebounds in 62 games. He missed time early in the year with a partial tear of his MCL.
Analysis: The injury could be the main reason why Speights struggled this past season. He averaged 16.7 points in October prior to the injury and then didn't play at the same level most of the year. We think Speights will bounce back and play better in 2010-11. He's worth a late-round pick on Draft Day next year.
News: Philadelphia Marreese Speights got the start on Friday night against Atlanta in the 76ers' 105-98 win. Speights, however, only started due to Samuel Dalembert being late arriving to the arena. Dalembert still played more minutes at 23 compared to 18 for Speights. Speights scored eight points and grabbed four boards in the game. He blocked a shot and shot 4 for 9 from the field.
Analysis: Speights scored 17 points and grabbed 11 rebounds over 30 minutes against Chicago four games back but has totaled 15 points and 10 boards in the three subsequent games over a total of 42 minutes. He started Friday but is not expected to remain there and still did little with minimal time on the court. Speights has upside but right now remains just a low-end Fantasy option for the deeper leagues.
News: Sixers F Marreese Speights scored 17 points and added 11 rebounds in a loss to the Bulls on Saturday. Speights shot 6 of 14 from the floor while adding a steal in 30 minutes. It was just his second double-double of the season.
Analysis: Speights could see an increase in his Fantasy value heading into Fantasy Week 22 (March 22-28) because of the injury to Thaddeus Young. However, Fantasy owners should consider Speights a risky stopgap option because of his inconsistent play. He did prove Saturday that he is capable of putting up quality numbers. Start him at your own risk.
News: After missing the previous six games with a knee injury, Sixers F Marreese Speights returned to the lineup Friday against the Knicks. Speights scored just one point and added one rebound in five minutes.
Analysis: Speights could see an increase in his Fantasy value heading into Fantasy Week 22 (March 22-28) because of the injury to Thaddeus Young. However, Fantasy owners should consider Speights a risky stopgap option because of his inconsistent play. If he is able to prove over the weekend that he can contribute, he might be worth a play in the deepest of leagues.
News: According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, 76ers F Marreese Speights (knee) will be a game-time decision for Friday's game in New York. Speights has not played since March 7.
Analysis: Speights has missed a chance to see a spike in Fantasy value with Thaddeus Young sidelined due to a thumb injury. Young is listed as a game-time decision Friday as well and Speights should not be trusted at this critical juncture of the Fantasy season due to his erratic outputs. He has upside, but not the role to be consistent.
News: Philadelphia PF Marreese Speights missed his 6th straight game on Wednesday against the Nets. Speights remains day to day but the Sixers are unsure when he'll be back.
Analysis: Speights has a chance at increased Fantasy appeal whenever he does get back, with Thaddeus Young sidelined due to a broken thumb. At the moment, he remains day to day. Think about taking a flier on him in deeper leagues if you need forward help.
News: Sixers F Marreese Speights (knee) will not play in Tuesday's game against the Hawks, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer. It will be the sixth straight game he has missed.
Analysis: Speights has a chance at increased Fantasy appeal whenever he does get back, with Thaddeus Young sidelined due to a broken thumb. At the moment, he remains day-to-day. Think about taking a flier on him in deeper leagues if you need forward help.
News: Sixers F Marreese Speights did not play in Monday's contest against the Knicks because of a knee injury. It is the fifth straight game he has missed.
Analysis: Speights is averaging just 8.1 points on the season to go along with four rebounds and only provides Fantasy value in the deepest of leagues when healthy. Keep him off active lineups until further notice.
News: According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, Sixers F Marreese Speights will not play in Monday's game against the Knicks. He remains day-to-day with a knee injury.
Analysis: Speights has missed the team's last five games counting Monday. He is averaging just 8.1 points on the season to go along with four rebounds and only provides Fantasy value in the deepest of leagues when healthy. Keep him off active lineups until further notice.
News: Philadelphia F Marreese Speights missed his fourth consecutive game on Sunday with a right knee sprain.
Analysis: Speights is averaging just 8.1 points on the season to go along with four rebounds. He only provides Fantasy value in the deepest of leagues.
News: The Philadelphia Inquirer reports 76ers forward Marreese Speights will not play Tuesday at Indiana or Wednesday against Charlotte. The earliest Speights would return is Sunday at Miami. Speights injured his right knee Sunday against Toronto.
Analysis: Speights has minimal Fantasy value when healthy. The safe bet is to ignore Speights for Fantasy Week 20 since he's expected to miss two games.
News: According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, 76ers F Marreese Speights underwent X-Rays on the injured right knee that forced him out of Sunday's game in Toronto. The X-rays came back on negative and he has been diagnosed with a sprain.
Analysis: Speights will be day-to-day entering Fantasy Week 20 (March 8-14). He has totaled just 19 points in his last five games and is not in a situation to contribute despite nice upside. Leave him reserved in all Fantasy leagues until further notice.
News: Philadelphia's Marreese Speights had to be helped to the locker room after spraining his right knee in the second quarter of Sunday's game in Toronto. Speights was driving to the basket when he stepped on Chris Bosh's foot, then fell over and lay on the court clutching his knee. He did not return.
Analysis: Speights will be day-to-day entering Fantasy Week 20 (March 8-14). He has totaled just 19 points in his last five games and is not in a situation to contribute despite nice upside. Leave him reserved in all Fantasy leagues until further notice.
News: Sixers PF Marreese Speights scored 12 points in Wednesday's loss to the Suns. In 25 minutes, he shot 6 of 9 from the field, missing his lone 3-point attempt. He grabbed four rebounds.
Analysis: Over his last five games, Speights is averaging 7.8 points and 4.4 rebounds, scoring in double figures just once in his last 15 contests. His sporadic minutes and production give him little if any Fantasy value.
News: Sixers PF Marreese Speights started the season off promisingly enough, averaging 16.7 points and 7.3 rebounds in the first three games. But it was all downhill from there. His minutes went from 23.6 a game in November, to 20.6 in December, to 12.3 in January, to 7.4 through five games in February.
Analysis: Speights has vanished as a Fantasy option in 2010. He's averaging 3.4 points and 2.6 rebounds through five February games, in which he's seen 7.4 minutes of playing time. A contributor in 2009, his diminished role in Philadelphia gives him no Fantasy value at this time
News: Philadelphia second-year forward Marreese Speights played just 12 minutes on Sunday in a win in New Jersey. Speights shot 1 for 6 and scored three points with three rebounds and two blocks. He's averaging just 12 minutes per game over his last five.
Analysis: Speights is simply not playing a lot with Elton Brand and Samuel Dalembert doing the job nicely. Until that changes, he's only going to have low-end Fantasy appeal. And it is a shame, too, because we've seen what he can do with time on the court.
News: 76ers PF Marreese Speights scored 14 points in extended playing time during Philadelphia's win over the Mavericks on Friday. It marked the third time in five games he has finished in double digits. He played 25 minutes, the first time he's logged more than 20 minutes since Dec. 22. Speights padded his stat sheet with three rebounds, one assist, three steals and three blocks.
Analysis: Speights has seen a drastic reduction in playing time. His average minutes a game have dropped from 23.6 in November to 12.4 in January, a month in which he's averaging only 6.7 points and 3.3 rebounds a contest. His reduced role makes him an unreliable Fantasy option.
News: Philadelphia PF Marreese Speights saw just over six minutes on the court on Saturday at Detroit. Speights shot 1 for 3 and scored two points with four boards.
Analysis: Speights is losing minutes to Thaddeus Young and Elton Brand, who are both finally healthy and playing well. That is the best-case scenario for the 76ers so don't expect it to change unless either Young or Brand gets hurt or struggles again. His talent is obvious enough that he could still overtake Samuel Dalembert at some point, but he offers more potential than results right now.
News: Sixers PF Marreese Speights, who averaged 19.7 points in his first three games back from a knee injury, is averaging only 7.4 points in five games since, finishing with six points and two rebounds in 19 minutes off the bench Thursday at the Clippers.
Analysis: With Lou Williams and Allen Iverson both healthy, the 76ers only have so many minutes to go around, making Speights not such a reliable Fantasy option anymore. His talent is obvious enough that he could still overtake Samuel Dalembert at some point, but he offers more potential than results right now.
News: Sixers F Marreese Speights had 28 points to go with 9 rebounds in 35 minutes off the bench Saturday against the Clippers. He shot 11 for 20 from the field. It was his third game back from a partially torn MCL.
Analysis: Speights has had better numbers in each of his first three games back and played big minutes for the first time Saturday. Speights has monster ability, but his current role off the bench behind Elton Brand and Samuel Dalembert may not lead to enough consistency down the line. For now, however, start him while the getting is good and he has the hot hand.
News: Philadelphia PF Marreese Speights (knee) finally returned to action on Wednesday against Cleveland. Speights played 22 minutes off the bench and scored 14 points on 5 of 11 shooting. He added four rebounds.
Analysis: Speights has the potential to be a No. 3 Fantasy option but is currently playing behind Elton Brand and Samuel Dalembert in the big man rotation.
News: The Philadelphia Inquirer reports via Twitter that the 76ers have said forward Marreese Speights will be listed as probable for Wednesday night's game against Cleveland. According to the report, if Speights plays he will have limited minutes. He has been out since the middle of November with a partial tear of the medial collateral ligament in his left knee.
Analysis: Keep an eye on Speights and hope he can return at 100 percent. He was playing well before the injury at 13 points and 6.4 rebounds in the first 10 games of the season. He will likely play behind Elton Brand and Samuel Dalembert as part of the big-man rotation, but Speights has the potential to be a No. 3 Fantasy option when healthy. Keep him reserved for now, but he could be ready to use in Week 9 if he comes back strong.
News: The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that Marreese Speights (knee) was able to practice Saturday after being cleared by doctors to do so on Friday. He is recovering from a partial tear of the medial collateral ligament in his left knee.
Analysis: Speights is likely to need a good amount of practices before he would be cleared to play. When healthy, he'll take away minutes from Elton Brand and Thaddeus Young. He averaged 13.0 points and 6.4 rebounds with nearly a block per game in 10 games prior to his injury.
News: The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that Marreese Speights will see a doctor Friday in the hopes of being cleared to practice. He is recovering from a partial tear of the medial collateral ligament in his left knee.
Analysis: Speights is likely to need a good amount of practices before he would be cleared to play. When healthy, he'll take away minutes from Elton Brand and Thaddeus Young. He averaged 13.0 points and 6.4 rebounds with nearly a block per game in 10 games prior to his injury.
News: 76ers forward Marreese Speights will miss six to eight weeks with a left knee injury. Speights was injured in the fourth quarter of a 94-88 loss at Chicago on Saturday night. An MRI on Sunday revealed he has a partial tear of the medial collateral ligament in his left knee.
Analysis: Speights has averaged 13 points and 6.4 rebounds in the first 10 games. He averaged 7.7 points and 3.7 rebounds as a rookie last year. He can be held on to in deeper formats but needs to be benched in all formats until he is able to return. When healthy, he is a serviceable low-end option.
News: Sixers PF Marreese Speights sprained his left knee on Saturday at Chicago and will be evaluated on Sunday. He is questionable for Wednesday against the Bobcats. Speights finished the game with six points and two rebounds in 16 minutes of action.
Analysis: Speights came into Saturday's averaging 13.8 points per game and 6.9 rebounds in 24.2 minutes. He also averages around a block per game, making him somewhat more than a low-end option. However, he is an injury risk for Fantasy Week 4 (Nov. 16-22) and should be left out of lineups for the upcoming scoring period.
News: Philadelphia PF Marreese Speights, who left his previous game Sunday after banging knees with a Detroit player, had little trouble returning against the Suns on Monday. Speights came off the bench to score 20 points over 30 minutes on the court. He shot 8 of 13 and grabbed eight rebounds.
Analysis: Speights is averaging 23.4 minutes per game this season for the Sixers off the bench. He's averaging 14.4 points, 6.9 boards and 1.1 blocks per game over that time and looks like a solid Fantasy option for deeper leagues off the bench.
News: 76ers F Marreese Speights left Sunday's game at Detroit with 4:50 to play after banging knees with a Pistons player under the basket. He is day to day.
Analysis: The Sixers play again Monday, which could lead to Speights having to miss a game due to the quick turnaround. He's a risky play due to injury, but the Sixers are scheduled for four games, which helps.
News: Sixers F Marreese Speights scored 20 points and also added 10 rebounds in 26 minutes off the bench during Saturday's overtime game against the Knicks. He is averaging 16.7 points and 7.3 rebounds through the first week of the NBA season.
Analysis: Speights has had two very strong games in the first week of the season and is a player that has the ability to put up numbers like this on a regular basis. However, his role off the bench will lead to some inconsistent results. He's best suited as a No. 4 forward in Fantasy for now, but could become much more under the right conditions.
News: Philadelphia C Samuel Dalembert played just 16 minutes in the starting lineup in the opening night loss to Orlando Wednesday. Dalembert shot 4 of 8 from the field and scored nine points. He grabbed two rebounds and blocked two shots. Dalembert's backup, Marreese Speights, played 26 minutes off the bench and poured in a team-high 26 points with five boards and a block. Speights was 10 of 11 from the field.
Analysis: Dalembert scored pretty well for him but his rebounding was disturbing and he saw minimal minutes. Speights played far better and could begin to see more minute and eventually move into the starting lineup. He does not have center eligibility but could gain it if he does move into the starting lineup at some point. Consider Dalembert a low-end No. 2 Fantasy center and think of Speights as a sleeper with high upside.
News: The Philadelphia 76ers have picked up contract options on three players, including starting small forward Thaddeus Young. Sixers president Ed Stefanski says the team exercised options for Young and power forwards Marreese Speights and Jason Smith on Thursday. All three are under contract through the 2010-11 season.
Analysis: The 16th overall pick in the 2008 draft, Speights averaged 7.7 points and 3.7 rebounds as a rookie. Speights is a promising young player with upside, but he'll be coming off the bench for the most part this season for Philadelphia barring injuries. He's worth stashing in deeper formats.
News: Philadelphia PF Marreese Speights scored 14 bench points in a preseason win over Washington on Tuesday. He shot 6 of 12 from the floor and grabbed eight rebounds. Speights came into Tuesday's game averaging almost 14 points and nine rebounds in six preseason contests.
Analysis: Speights is a question mark for the Sixers. He has clearly shown rebounding and scoring ability but will be just a bench player, at least at first, for Philly. He's worth a late-round Fantasy draft pick in most leagues and has serious upside.
News: Sixers F/C Marreese Speights scored 10 points off the bench in Sunday's game against the Raptors in 29 minutes of work. He went 5-for-13 from the field, adding five rebounds to his stat line.
Analysis: Speights is capable of scoring in bunches but has not done it frequently enough to be a big-time factor in Fantasy. Speights' status for next season is largely dependent on what the Sixers decide to do with Elton Brand, so be sure to track his progress in the offseason before making a decision on him on Draft Day 2009.
News: Sixers PF Marreese Speights reached double digits for the second straight night on Thursday, scoring 14 points in a 105-95 win over the Bucks. He added six rebounds and a steal to his stat line. He scored 16 points in Tuesday's game against the Hawks.
Analysis: Speights will score in bunches like he has the past two games every once in a while, but doesn't' do it on a consistent enough basis to be considered anything more than a low-end flier.
News: Philadelphia PF Marreese Speights scored 15 points and grabbed six rebounds on Sunday at Sacramento. Speights went 5-of-10 from the field.
Analysis: Speights can score in bunches but is still averaging just seven points and four boards over his last five games. The rookie forward remains just a low-end Fantasy flier.
News: 76ers PF Marreese Speights connected on just one of seven field goals for two points during Monday's game against the Hornets. He did have seven rebounds and one assists in 20 minutes off the bench. Speights had all of six rebounds in his previous four games.
Analysis: Speights has steadily averaged eight points since December and has seen a bit more playing time since Elton Brand went down with injury. However, the rookie forward remains just a low-end Fantasy flier.
News: Philadelphia PF Marreese Speights played 22 minutes on Wednesday against Denver and picked up a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds. He added a block and two steals and shot 5-of-11 from the field. He also hit a three.
Analysis: The three makes Speights 1-for-4 for the year from long range. He's no three-point shooter but Speights is becoming a nice option in deep leagues as he'll be Dalembert's primary backup the rest of the way.
News: Philadelphia PF Marreese Speights played well on Saturday against Miami but absolutely exploded on Monday in a win over Phoenix. The rookie out of Florida, getting more minutes now that Elton Brand is done for the year, scored 24 points against the Suns on 11-of-16 shooting with seven rebounds, two blocks and a steal in just 24 minutes on the floor.
Analysis: Speights is averaging 19.5 points, 6.5 boards and two blocks per game over his last two contests since Brand was ruled out in only 23 minutes per game. Imagine what he'd do on the court for the full game. The Sixers should continue to give him more minutes and since he's owned in just 26 percent of CBSSports.com Fantasy leagues, the time is now to be picking him up and reaping the benefits down the stretch.
News: Playing 22 minutes in the second game in which Philadelphia has played with Elton Brand out for the season, rookie power forward Marreese Speights scored 15 points and grabbed six rebounds. Speights, who should see a big increase in minutes now that Brand is out, shot 5-for-8 from the field and blocked two shots.
Analysis: Speights has shown some flashes of potential this season while Brand missed time. He can score in double figures, like he did for a six-game stretch in December and another four-game stretch in January and now on Saturday, and can bring down a handful of rebounds. He is certainly worth taking a flier on off the waiver wire with this news as he will get the majority of the benefit while Brand sits out the rest of the season.
News: Philadelphia 76ers forward Elton Brand will miss the rest of the season and need surgery on his dislocated shoulder. Marreese Speights will likely enjoy a significant Fantasy boost as a result.
Analysis: Speights has shown some flashes of potential this season while Brand missed time. He can score in double figures, like he did for a six-game stretch in December and another four-game stretch in January, and can bring down a handful of rebounds. He is certainly worth taking a flier on off the waiver wire with this news as he will get the majority of the benefit while Brand sits out the rest of the season.
News: Sixers PF Marreese Speights may be getting some more playing time in Philadelphia even though Elton Brand is back in action for the team because Samuel Dalembert suffered a sprained ankle in Friday's game against the Wizards. Speights had eight points in Friday's game, adding two rebounds in only 13 minutes of action.
Analysis: Brand had been struggling to get minutes when Dalembert started playing well and Brand came back. With Dalembert likely out of the picture for a little while, this opens the door for Speights to once again get some significant minutes. However, he is only a long-term stashee at this point and a low-end option in deeper leagues.
News: Philadelphia PF Marreese Speights played 21 minutes on Wednesday night at Houston after playing just three at New Orleans two days prior. He didn't do much with the added time, however, as he scored six points with six rebounds and a block.
Analysis: Speights is not getting minutes with Elton Brand back and Samuel Dalembert finally playing well. He's fallen off of late and likely won't return to Fantasy respectability this season.
News: Sixers PF Marreese Speights was one rebound away from recording a double-double on Friday, scoring 13 points and grabbing nine rebounds in a 109-87 win over the Spurs. The Sixers have been a resurgent team since Speights has become more involved in the Sixers' plans.
Analysis: Speights is yet to overtake Dalembert as a starter, but the day can't be that far away. Dalembert actually kept pace with Speights for the most part on Friday, but the rookie from Florida has outshined him almost every night. Speights is a good pickup in deeper leagues and is a better option than Dalembert at this point.
News: Sixers reserve PF Marreese Speights continues to make his case to overtake Samuel Dalembert in the team's starting lineup as he scored 12 points and grabbed eight rebounds off the bench on Sunday against the Hawks. Dalembert by comparison started and scored six points with six boards.
Analysis: Speights and Dalembert played about the same amount of minutes on Sunday as Dalembert's number of minutes continue to dwindle. Speights could take over the starting role eventually in Philly but Dalembert's defensive presence is keeping him in the starting role for the time being. Speights is worth picking up in deeper leagues and should be owned over Dalembert at this point.
News: If Philadelphia C Samuel Dalembert is not careful he'll lose his starting job altogether. Dalembert played just 13 minutes on Tuesday night in a win over the Rockets and scored two points with five boards. Backup Marreese Speights played 23 minutes and scored 15 points with eight boards.
Analysis: Dalembert is averaging 25 minutes per game this season but just 17 in his last five and the number keeps dwindling with each passing game. Speights, on the other hand, is averaging 15 minutes per game on the season and that is up to 17 over his last five and climbing. Notice a trend? Dalembert is an excellent defender and that is what keeps him in the starting lineup but Speights is coming on strong. He's definitely worth more to Fantasy owners right now so if you own Dalembert and Speights is available trade the waiver wire even up.
News: Philadelphia rookie PF Marreese Speights came off the bench for 18 minutes in Saturday's loss to the Spurs. The rookie out of Florida notched 10 points and six rebounds and was 4-of-7 from the field.
Analysis: Speights will take nights off and play minimal minutes far too often to really use in Fantasy. Still, he seems to score in double figures each time he's given minutes and is useful to hold on to just in case you need a big man while Elton Brand is down with injury. He has a nice future but he's not consistent enough just yet to warrant weekly use.
News: Sixers F Marreese Speights had 17 points and three rebounds off the bench in Friday's game in Washington. It was his second straight game with 10-plus points.
Analysis: Speights stands to see a significant increase in playing time, shot attempts, scoring and rebounding over the next month or so with Elton Brand out due to a shoulder injury. Fantasy owners in larger formats can think about taking a flier on him off the waiver wire.
News: Philadelphia PF Marreese Speights saw extended time in Wednesday's win over the Bucks because Elton Brand went down with a dislocated shoulder in the 3rd quarter. Speights responded with 12 points and seven rebounds in 19 minutes.
Analysis: If Brand is out for an extended period of time all of a sudden Speights looks like a nice option to pick up off waivers. He or Thaddeus Young could slide into the vacant starting PF spot but either way he's getting more minutes with Brand out.
News: Philadelphia PF Marreese Speights, a rookie out of Florida, played five minutes off the bench on Thursday in a loss to Orlando. He scored two points, blocked a shot and added a rebound.
Analysis: Speights has actually played pretty well when given minutes. In 17 minutes against Miami on Wednesday he scored six points and grabbed 10 boards. He's a rookie and he'll get limited minutes but he could blossom into more. He's not worthy of Fantasy attention right now, however.
News: The Sixers will play three games in Fantasy Week 1 (Oct. 27-Nov. 2). They'll host Toronto on Oct. 29, the Knicks on Oct. 31 and will travel to Atlanta on Nov. 1. The Raptors allowed 97.3 ppg last season, the Knicks (103.5) and the Hawks (100.0).
Analysis: The usual suspects, Andre Iguodala, Andre Miller and Elton Brand are must-starts through thick and thin. Lou Williams is a decent low-end starting option this week in deeper Head-to-Head leagues where low-end double digit scoring and little else may be appealing. The same goes for Willie Green, who will have to adjust to life off the bench after starting the last two seasons. Green could find himself back in the starting lineup if Young is unable to play at any point. Keep low-end options like Reggie Evans, Marreese Speights, Theo Ratliff, Kareem Rush and Jason Smith reserved this week.
News: Philadelphia PF Marreese Speights scored 18 points on Wednesday in the 76ers preseason finale against the Nets. Speights came into Wednesday's game averaging 8.2 points and 4.2 rebounds in 18 minutes per game over six games in the preseason. He added seven rebounds and two blocks against the Nets.
Analysis: Speights could develop into a nice Fantasy option in deeper leagues by the end of the season but doesn't figure to see enough playing time early to be worthy of any Fantasy consideration at this time.
