Drake Powell, Taylor Hendricks, Kasparas Jakucionis Demand Minutes

Merlin sees a midseason inventory of players who deserve bigger roles. The article points to Drake Powell in Brooklyn, whose defense and rim finishing outweigh a cold three point stroke; Taylor Hendricks in Memphis, still regaining mobility but valuable as a versatile big; Kasparas Jakučionis in Miami, whose passing and 45 percent three point mark demand more pick and roll looks; Mohamed Diawara in New York, a 41.3 percent long-range shooter who can defend; and Vit Krejčí in Portland, a 42 percent shooter who should push for 25 to 30 minutes. Merlin whispers that the pattern is clear. Teams craving shooting, switchable defense, or a developmental edge will hand out minutes if coaches want quick gains. Small bets on these players could yield outsized returns down the stretch if opportunity meets consistency.