Coulibaly's Return Ignites Wizards, Chandler's Early Promise

Look, it's early. Real early. But a couple of guys are making some noise in fantasy hoops, and if you’ve got a hole on your roster, they’re worth a look. We're talking about Kennedy Chandler and Bilal Coulibaly, two names you might not have expected to be scrambling for on your waiver wire so soon.

Chandler, the Memphis Grizzlies' second-round pick from 2022, is suddenly getting a real shot. With Ja Morant sidelined for the first 25 games and Marcus Smart out indefinitely with a foot sprain, opportunity is knocking. Chandler started against the Utah Jazz on November 12, playing 33 minutes and dropping 11 points, 7 assists, and 2 steals. That’s a stat line that turns heads, especially for a guy who spent most of last year in the G-League, averaging 16.3 points and 7.3 assists for the Memphis Hustle. He backed that up with 9 points and 3 assists in 18 minutes against the Lakers on November 14. He’s quick, he can pass, and right now, the Grizzlies need a point guard to simply run the offense. Desperate times, as they say, call for desperate measures, and Memphis is desperate for healthy bodies.

Here's the thing: Chandler isn't going to light up the scoreboard every night, but if you need assists and steals, particularly in a deeper league, he's got a path to consistent minutes for at least the next few weeks. His usage might fluctuate once Derrick Rose fully ramps up, but for now, the runway is clear. The Grizzlies host the Clippers on November 19, and if Chandler gets another start and plays 30+ minutes, he's a must-add in all formats.

Coulibaly's Resurgence

Now, let's talk about Bilal Coulibaly. The Washington Wizards rookie, taken seventh overall in this year's draft, missed a few games with a knee contusion. But his return to the lineup has been nothing short of impressive, especially if you consider the Wizards' general disarray. On November 12 against the Raptors, Coulibaly played 28 minutes, scoring 10 points, grabbing 5 rebounds, and swiping 3 steals. He followed that up with 11 points and 4 rebounds in 23 minutes against the Mavericks on November 15. The kid looks confident, assertive even.

He's not just a warm body out there. He’s showing flashes of the two-way potential that made him a lottery pick. Coulibaly's defensive instincts are already apparent, and he’s clearly comfortable handling the ball and attacking the rim. The Wizards are in full rebuild mode, which means they're going to give their young guys plenty of rope. Jordan Poole and Kyle Kuzma are the headliners, sure, but Coulibaly is carving out a real role. He’s already averaging 1.1 steals per game on the season, and that number could easily climb.

My slightly spicy take? Coulibaly will finish the season averaging more steals per game than at least three other lottery picks from his class. He's got that defensive motor that coaches love, and he's going to get every chance to show it off on a team that desperately needs defensive identity. If you need defensive stats and don't mind a bit of a project for offensive production, Coulibaly is your guy. He’s available in far too many leagues right now, and that won't last.

Bold prediction: By the end of November, Kennedy Chandler will have at least two games with 8+ assists, making him a legitimate plug-and-play option until Smart returns.