We’ve compared the new RotoWire player pool (#32) against the original slate (#31). The update reveals significant changes in projected minutes and fantasy production, including several players who have disappeared entirely from the new file.
Important finding: There are no literal zero-FPTS projections in the new upload. However, ten previously projected players have been removed. For late-swap purposes, these are the first players to investigate as potential injury-related exclusions.
1. Players removed from the updated slate
| Player | Previous FPTS | Previous minutes | New file |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jalen Johnson | 50.15 | 34 | Missing |
| Dejounte Murray | 40.04 | 33 | Missing |
| Kyrie Irving | 37.12 | 30 | Missing |
| Obi Toppin | 34.20 | 20 | Missing |
| Paul George | 30.35 | 32 | Missing |
| Larry Nance | 26.25 | 20 | Missing |
| Peyton Watson | 23.00 | 25 | Missing |
| Terrence Shannon | 20.68 | 22 | Missing |
| Dylan Cardwell | 11.08 | 10 | Missing |
| Clint Capela | 7.77 | 8 | Missing |
These are meaningful changes. Jalen Johnson, Dejounte Murray, Kyrie Irving and Paul George represent especially large amounts of previously projected production.
Missing from the file does not establish a confirmed injury or OUT designation. It does mean those players cannot be used as active recommendations under our updated uploaded-slate-only rules.
2. Biggest beneficiaries of the new projections
Changes below are directly measured from RotoWire #31 versus #32, before the new ceiling simulation.
| Player | Old FPTS | New FPTS | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jalen Slawson | 7.45 | 33.61 | +26.16 |
| Kobe Brown | 6.06 | 28.27 | +22.21 |
| Khris Middleton | 2.64 | 11.83 | +9.19 |
| Asa Newell | 17.23 | 24.71 | +7.48 |
| Jordan Walsh | 10.10 | 17.12 | +7.02 |
| Herbert Jones | 15.38 | 21.86 | +6.48 |
| Onyeka Okongwu | 34.22 | 40.55 | +6.33 |
| Jeremiah Fears | 26.31 | 32.15 | +5.84 |
| Aaron Wiggins | 25.37 | 30.92 | +5.55 |
| Jay Huff | 29.76 | 35.10 | +5.34 |
The two biggest changes are extraordinary:
- Jalen Slawson: 5 to 34 projected minutes.
- Kobe Brown: 5 to 35 projected minutes.
Both have moved from fringe roles to major projected playing time. Those are exactly the types of changes our minutes-sensitive NBA SACP v3.2 should recognize, although their real-world rotation assumptions need confirmation.
3. Best solver-aided late-swap targets
The refreshed workbook ranks the updated player pool using revised fantasy projections, simulated percentile estimates, salary efficiency, and ownership-adjusted upside.
| Player | Salary | New FPTS | Updated SACP* | RST% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Braden Smith | $3,100 | 36.12 | 42.99 | 2.3% |
| Jalen Slawson | $3,500 | 33.61 | 40.61 | 2.3% |
| Kobe Brown | $3,300 | 28.27 | 34.80 | 1.8% |
| Jay Huff | $4,000 | 35.10 | — | 3.6% |
| Onyeka Okongwu | $6,400 | 40.55 | — | 4.1% |
| Asa Newell | $3,500 | 24.71 | 31.42 | 1.3% |
*Updated SACP values are from a simplified 5,000-sample player-level simulation, not the full 50,000-run correlated NBA engine. Dashes indicate values not included in this summary table.
My strongest provisional late-swap targets are Braden Smith, Jalen Slawson, and Kobe Brown. Their salary-adjusted projections are unusually attractive, and their ownership remains extremely low.
But all three are listed in the ATL–IND environment, where the new data contains unusually large rotation changes. Confirm their eligibility, actual team assignments, and tipoff status before using them.
4. Biggest strategic change: ATL–IND
Previously, ATL–IND was a secondary game environment. The updated projections substantially change that assessment.
The new file includes:
- Onyeka Okongwu: 40.55 FPTS
- CJ McCollum: 36.86 FPTS
- Braden Smith: 36.12 FPTS
- Jay Huff: 35.10 FPTS
- Jalen Slawson: 33.61 FPTS
- Quenton Jackson: 33.39 FPTS
The listed game total is now 227.5, but the individual player projections have become considerably more attractive.
This is exactly the kind of situation where the solver can identify a fantasy opportunity that is not obvious from the Vegas total alone.
However, the unusually large projected roles also make this a high-priority data-validation spot.
5. Late-swap decision
For lineups with remaining unlocked roster spots, I would use the following hierarchy:
- Salary relief: Braden Smith, Jalen Slawson, Kobe Brown.
- Midrange ceiling: Jay Huff, Quenton Jackson, Naji Marshall.
- Higher-priced upgrade: Onyeka Okongwu.
- Conditional leverage: Asa Newell, Jeremiah Fears, Aaron Wiggins.
The specific swap must preserve positional eligibility, available salary, and the game’s actual lock time.
If your early players are ahead of expectation, prioritize reliable minutes and projection. If they significantly underperform, prioritize lower-owned P95/P99 outcomes.
Updated Excel export
Diamond Life NBA Solver #32 — Injury & Late-Swap Update
Includes updated master rankings, removed players, newly added players, largest upgrades and downgrades, late-swap targets, SACP rankings, right-tail rankings, game environments, and methodology.
Download updated Solver #32 workbook
Final takeaway: The biggest change from Solver #31 is the emergence of several inexpensive players with dramatically increased minutes and projections, especially in ATL–IND. That creates potential late-swap flexibility and tournament leverage, but the current data does not independently confirm injuries or game lock times. Verify those details before committing exposures.
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