On an evening in late September, dozens of people gathered at Malcolm X College on the near west side for the first official citywide meeting to talk about police oversight. The room was packed with community activists, office seekers, journalists, and grieving family members. For many of them, the satisfaction of seeing this long-awaited moment was tempered by the years of neglect preceding it.  

On a dais at the front of the room sat the newly appointed interim commissioners of the Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability—the result of decades of community organizing efforts to hold police officers accountable. Each of the seven members—a queer pastor, a political strategist, two lawyers, a nonprofit leader, and two activists—were drawn from different corners of the city. 

As with many of the city’s committees, commissions, and task forces (the holy trinity of symbolic gestures), the interim members were handpicked by the mayor, who did so more than a year after the ordinance that created the commission passed through the City Council. Until permanent members are selected, they are responsible for making recommendations to the bloated police budget, hiring and firing leadership, and setting goals for the department. 

It’s a far cry from the original demands for community oversight of the police pioneered by the Chicago Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression (CAARPR), which also demanded the commission be given the power to investigate police misconduct, govern the rules of the department, and approve the city’s contract with the Fraternal Order of Police. Nonetheless, for the people of Chicago, establishing some semblance of civilian oversight was a historic win and a chance to do things differently—or at least they hope.

“We take public comment very seriously,” said Reverend Dr. Beth Brown, one of the seven interim commissioners, as she invited audience members to comment. Like other political circuses in the city, that means two minutes (and nothing more!) for members of the public to express their grievances. 

A litany of pleas and words of skeptical encouragement poured into the mike. Some people begged for the return of loved ones wrongfully convicted. Others interrogated the commissioners. Many denounced the terror incited by members of the Chicago Police Department. Sustained applause followed each speaker. 

After several people spoke, Frank Chapman made his way to the front of the room with the help of a walker, his signature fedora perched on his head. The decades of leading a movement to stop police crimes has weighed on the 80-year-old activist, as evidenced by his laborious pace. When he spoke, the audience fell silent. 

“We’ve come here not just to challenge you . . . but to support you,” Chapman told the commissioners.  

As the lead architect of the proposal for community oversight of the police, Chapman reminded the commissioners that he knows very well what they require to function properly: funding and robust staffing. Last week, the Sun-Times reported that out of the 14 staff positions in the commission, only one has been filled. At a City Council budget hearing, the commission’s executive director Adam Gross reassured dubious alderpeople that more candidates were in the hiring process, but that there would still be vacancies going into the new year. One alderperson questioned Gross about his near 14 percent salary raise included in the mayor’s budget for next year, to which he denied having any involvement. 

“We didn’t do all this organizing to have a lame-duck council,” Chapman went on. His baritone voice sucked the air out of the room. All eyes and ears were on him. He directed his orders not just to the commissioners, but to the rapt audience before him that had made this meeting possible. Whenever Chapman said “all power to the people,” many in the packed room responded in kind.

Perhaps no one emanated Chapman’s urgency more than Chicago’s “concerned citizen” George Blakemore, a regular at public meetings. Sporting his signature hand-painted attire while waving a pointed finger, Blakemore said that the city has been here before, noting the failures of the Office of Professional Standards, the Independent Police Review Authority that replaced it, and the Civilian Office of Police Accountability that followed. Addressing the audience of nodding heads, Blakemore put his assessment of the interim commission bluntly: “I bet you won’t hold them to it.” 

Following the public comments, the commissioners formally fleshed out the commission’s business as the audience patiently looked on. The commissioners elected Anthony Driver as president, adopted rules, and set the next meeting date. They also established committees faster than I could keep count. Oswaldo Gomez, the commission’s interim vice president, noted the lack of a translator and promised to translate materials into Spanish for the next meeting. 

Before the meeting came to a close, the commissioners reminded people to run for a seat in the new district councils. In addition to the commission, the ECPS ordinance established these councils, which will be composed of three elected positions hin each of the city’s 22 police districts. The councils are charged with fostering a better relationship between police and community members. 

With a little over a month before campaign petitions for district council hopefuls are due, interested candidates will have to collect anywhere between 300 to 700 signatures, depending on how many registered voters are in their police district. Candidates for district councils will be on the ballot in next February’s municipal elections. 

Once elected, those members will then nominate 14 candidates for the permanent commission. The mayor will choose seven of the nominees for the city council to approve. 

After two contentious hours, the meeting finally came to a halt. There was a collective gasp for air. Though skeptical, the crowd was also visibly hopeful and quickly dispersed into chatter. As Chapman headed to the doors, he was accompanied by a flurry of handshakes and thank-yous.

Maybe this time would be different. 

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In the 2023 municipal elections, three candidates will be elected to councils in each of the city’s 22 police districts. Along with the citywide Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability (CCPSA), the councils are the result of decades of work by organizers for community oversight of the police.

District Councils are tasked with improving policing and public safety, getting community input on policing, expanding restorative justice programs, holding monthly public meetings, and nominating members of the CCPSA.

Read “Community oversight of police: finally a reality?” by Kelly Garcia

To be eligible, you must be a registered voter who will have lived in the police district you’re running in for at least one year on February 28, 2023. People convicted of felonies cannot run unless the conviction has been expunged; neither can people who owe the city money. 

Candidates have until November 28, 2022 to collect and submit petitions signed by a required number of eligible voters. The minimum number of signatures is based on how many registered voters are in each district (see list below). To defend their petitions against Chicago’s time-honored tradition of challenging the eligibility of opponent’s signatures, candidates typically try to collect several times the required number of signatures.

Candidate filings checklist

Below, check out some of the candidates for police district councils who are already gathering petition signatures to get on the February 2023 ballot. Some are running as individuals; others have joined up as slates of three candidates with shared political values and goals. We will update this map periodically as more candidates enter the race.

Eighth District (Archer Heights, Chicago Lawn, Garfield Ridge, Ashburn)

Jason Huff, a city worker who supervises car booting for the Department of Finance, runs a neighborhood watch in the Eighth  District on the far southwest side. Huff’s social media pages regularly tout his volunteer work with Chicago Police Department programs such as youth soccer events and catalytic converter anti-theft efforts. Huff established a campaign committee, Friends of Jason Huff, at the beginning of October, and has filed candidate disclosures. His campaign for District Council was endorsed by mayoral candidate and 15th Ward alderperson Ray Lopez. On October 22, Huff posted a photo of himself gathering petition signatures with 23rd Ward alderperson Silvana Tabares. 

Tenth District (Lawndale, Little Village)

Tanya Lozano has been involved in local and national social justice campaigns for immigrants’ rights, workers’ rights, and against police brutality for her entire life. Her uncle was Rudy Lozano, the assassinated labor and political activist who was an aide to Harold Washington; her activist parents carried on his legacy. At Healthy Hood Chicago, a nonprofit fitness center Tanya founded on the first floor of her family’s Pilsen church, the walls are emblazoned with murals of Malcolm X and Angela Davis, and classes are designed to counter the life expectancy gap faced by Black and Brown people in Chicago. Lozano has indicated an intention to run, but has not yet filed any candidate disclosures. 

15th District (Austin)

Arewa Karen Winters is a community activist who founded the 411 Movement and has worked with Justice For Families and the Chicago Justice Torture Center. Chicago police shot and killed Winters’s 16-year-old great-nephew in 2016. She cochaired Mayor Lightfoot’s Use of Force Working Group, which released its report earlier this month. In August, Block Club reported that Winters said CPD needs to “confront its overwhelming tendency to police Black and Brown communities,” and that district councils “will afford us the chance to not only speak truth to power, but power to power.” Winters has not yet filed any campaign disclosures. 

16th District (Jefferson Park, Norwood Park, O’Hare)

Dan Butterworth, a vice president of member experience at First Financial Credit Union, is currently enrolled in the Citizen Police Academy, a 12-week program run by the police department in suburban North Chicago. Butterworth’s social media posts variously express support for police officers—and also for the Innocence Project, a nonprofit organization that seeks to exonerate people who have been wrongfully convicted. In one such post, he wrote, “citizens must keep a watchful eye to ensure the fine line between safety and liberty is walked.” Butterworth has not filed any candidate disclosures.

19th District (Lakeview, Uptown, North Center)

A slate of candidates—data analyst Maurilio Garcia, parent Jenny Schaffer, and attorney Sam Schoenburg—are running for the 19th District Council. Schoenburg says policing is the government institution that is “least accountable and most shielded from genuine community input.” Garcia says he wants to ensure all residents’ experiences with the police are “positive [and] productive.” Schaffer says she wants to expand the umbrella of emergency services to include people like mental health care professionals, drug rehabilitation specialists, and homelessness response providers. Garcia and Schaffer have each founded antiracist community groups. All three candidates have filed candidate disclosures. The ONE People’s Campaign and 47th Ward alderperson Matt Martin have endorsed the slate.

20th District (Edgewater, Andersonville)

Violence-prevention outreach worker Darrell Dacres, former precinct captain and 40th Ward Office volunteer Deidre O’Conner, and Jewish Council on Urban Affairs organizer Anna Rubin make up a slate of candidates running for the 20th District Council. The slate’s campaign website emphasizes building a community where “every resident is safe, feels safe, and is able to access the services and professionals they need to thrive.” Only Rubin has filed candidate disclosures so far. The ONE People’s Campaign and 40th Ward alderperson Andre Vasquez have endorsed the slate.

24th District (Rogers Park, West Ridge)

Three longtime community organizers—EdVetté W. Jones, Reverend Dr. Marilyn Pagán-Banks, and Veronica I. Arreola—have formed a slate running for the 24th District Council. Jones is a trustee of the United Church of Rogers Park and works with the Circles and Ciphers Youth Organization. Pagán-Banks is the director of the nonprofit A Just Harvest and is a founding member of the Coalition to End Money Bond. Arreola founded the 50th Ward Action Network and worked with The People’s Lobby during the 2019 municipal elections. The slate’s campaign website calls district councils “the most progressive community-led police accountability device in the country” and says “it is important to elect the most progressive voices possible.”   

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The UniverSoul Circus returned to Washington Park this year after a break during the initial COVID-19 pandemic lockdown in 2020, to the delight of families looking for a fun excursion. The organization features many BIPOC performers and offers clowns, motorcyclists, dance troupes, contortionists, aerial ballerinas, and plenty of interactive moments with the audience members so the kids can get up and play along. Throughout their run (which goes through Mon 10/31), UniverSoul features guest ringmasters sometimes culled from the community, and tonight rapper and south sider Katie Got Bandz, who recently got featured in Nicki Minaj’s “Super Freaky Girl Queen Remix”) takes the reins. Tonight’s show starts at 7 PM, with more shows scheduled for Sat 10/29 (11:30 AM, 3:30 PM, and 7:30 PM), Sun 10/30 (11 AM, 3 PM, and & PM) and Mon 10/31 at 7 PM. Entry is near S. Cottage Grove at Payne Dr., and tickets are available at Ticketmaster. (SCJ)

Tack Room (1807 S. Allport) is hosting a free night of Stevie Nicks-inspired drag. From 9-11 PM, sip witchy drinks by candlelight while being haunted by a chance to win spooky good prizes. Performer Wanda Screw will be joined by musician Kevan Eftekhari to get all the white-winged doves singing “ooh baby, ooh.” Better break out the platforms and jumpsuits for this one. (MC)

Here are some more music options for tonight with links to past coverage by our music writers:

Reader contributor Jack Riedy teams up with Metro’s Jill Hopkins to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the release of Prince’s album 1999 with a dance party featuring hours of Prince and Prince-related music at Gman Tavern (3740 N. Clark, 8 PM, free, 21+). Trumpeter Marquis Hill visits SPACE in Evanston for “New Gospel Revisited,” a WDCB-sponsored concert (1245 Chicago Ave., Evanston, 8 PM, $20-$25 tickets at Eventbrite, all-ages).R&B artist and Chicago musician Marcus Atom performs tonight at Golden Dagger along with DJ and producer Timmy V (2447 N. Halsted, 8:30 PM, $15 tickets at Ticketweb, 21+). (SCJ)Read More

The Chicago Blackhawks have been very good to start the season. They have won four games in a row after losing their first two. Everyone on the roster has been contributing which has been a big reason for their success.

Patrick Kane scored his first goal of the season in their most recent win which came at home against the Florida Panthers. It is a little late for Kane to be scoring his first but now you know they’ll start coming in bunches.

Later in the same game, after the Hawks let the Panthers climb back into the game, they saw Jonathan Toews make an amazing play to score an empty net goal and put it away. It was a great game for a team that has very low expectations.

That was the 104th time that Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane have both scored in the same regular season game. In those games, the Chicago Blackhawks are 91-8-5 which is absolutely incredible.

The Chicago Blackhawks have had great times with Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane.

These two have driven the bus for this franchise for a long time now but a stat like this really puts it into perspective. There have been some other great scorers over that span like Artemi Panarin, Patrick Sharp, and Alex DeBrincat but nobody has had the impact of 19 and 88.

In the postseason, they have both scored in the same game 7 times. They are 6-1 in those games which is also incredible.

The Blackhawks have won the Stanley Cup three times and made multiple other deep playoff runs during the duration of their careers together. Each of them has won the Conn Smythe as the most valuable player of the playoffs too which says a lot about their contributions.

It is hard to see two players this impactful coming through at the same time but it happens. They are so different in terms of their play styles which has helped the Blackhawks bring a complete team game built around them throughout their careers.

We don’t know how many of these we have left as the Blackhawks are expected to fall off this season and they both only have this year remaining on their contract.

We don’t know if they will be traded, re-signed, or brought back for more but the uncertainty means just enjoy nights like the one they just had in Florida while you still can. That surely is an incredible stat for two guys who have been so good together for so long.

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The Chicago Cubs weren’t that good of a baseball team in 2022 but there were times when their offense was fun to watch. They had certain players that looked good enough to help them win some games by mashing. That did happen from time to time.

However, the Cubs only have one nomination for the 2022 Silver Slugger Award which goes to the best hitter at each position in each league. For National League catchers, Willson Contreras has been nominated for the Cubs.

He is nominated alongside Will Smith of the Los Angeles Dodgers, J.T. Realmuto of the Philadelphia Phillies, and Travis d’Arnaud of the Atlanta Braves. To be honest, all of them deserve the chance to win the award as they are all brilliant.

In 2022, Contreras was a National League All-Star. He hit 22 home runs and had 55 RBIs with 65 runs scored. His slash line of .243/.349/.466 for an OPS of .815 was excellent.

It was a down year for catchers across the league offensively but Contreras certainly did his job while playing on an underperforming team.

The Chicago Cubs saw Willson Contreras have a brilliant year in 2022.

This also all came while playing for a team that felt like they were going to trade him. The rumors were strong all season long. He even went on a little farewell tour during the last stretch before the trade deadline but was never traded.

The Cubs did him dirty by not keeping him as aware as they should have but he ended up sticking with the only team he’s ever known anyway. Now, he enters the offseason as a free agent. The Cubs are going to extend him a qualifying offer but it is unclear if he would take it at this point.

If he doesn’t, there are sure to be a few teams that go after him in free agency. A lot of teams can use a catcher like this that has Silver Slugger potential to pair with some decent defensive skills including a rocket of an arm.

It is unclear if he will be the one who wins the award but seeing him nominated is awesome for Cubs fans. We don’t know for sure if he’d be back but trying to keep your only Silver Slugger feels smart if you are trying to be competitive in 2023.

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The best fantasy basketball managers make a habit of looking at the NBA schedule, examining box scores and scouring the news for any tidbit that can help give them the edge in their leagues.

Luckily, Eric Moody does all that work for you each and every Thursday with the Fantasy 30, helping answer the tough questions such as who to start, who are the best fantasy basketball sleepers out there and what’s the latest injury news with key players around the league.

Here’s the latest fantasy news from each of the 30 teams around the league.

Atlanta Hawks: John Collins has had a superb start to the season after being undervalued in many fantasy basketball drafts. Through three games, he has averaged 19.0 points and 10.5 rebounds. Collins has scored 40 or more fantasy points in two out of three games this season, and is also contributing steals and blocks, which could propel Collins to a top-40 fantasy finish if he can maintain this level of production.

The Broncos take on the Jaguars across the pond at London’s iconic Wembley Stadium on Sunday at 9:30 a.m. (ET) exclusively on ESPN+. Subscribe to ESPN+ and get access to live NFL games, highlights, originals, analysis and more all season long.

Boston Celtics: Malcolm Brogdon is still getting used to a bench role, but he’s scored 10 or more points in three of his first four games this season. He’s also averaged 3.8 RPG, 3.3 APG and 0.8 SPG in 23 MPG. If Brogdon’s shooting percentages rise — and history shows that to be a strength of his game — he’ll provide even more value. On another note, Jayson Tatum became the third player in franchise history to score 25 or more points in each of the first four games. He joins Paul Pierce and Larry Bird.

Brooklyn Nets: Royce O’Neale has played 36.5 minutes per game this season, continuing to be a nice puzzle piece as he was in previous years in Utah. Statistically, he offers fantasy managers a little bit of everything. O’Neale has averaged 9.3 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 2.5 APG, 2.0 SPG and 1.5 BPG. If your team is in need, take a look at him off the waiver wire. He’s available in 80.5% of ESPN leagues.

Charlotte Hornets: Due in large part to Miles Bridges‘ legal situation, Jalen McDaniels is performing at a level where he should be picked up in most leagues. He’s averaged 11.3 PPG and 5.3 RPG in 23.3 MPG. In a points league, that translates into 28.8 fantasy points per game. McDaniels is available in 96.9% of ESPN leagues.

Chicago Bulls: Alex Caruso‘s fantasy performance against the Pacers was his best this season. He had eight points, two rebounds, three assists, three steals and two blocks. Like a moth to the flame, I am drawn to Caruso’s ability to contribute across multiple statistical categories. Caruso is available in 89.1% of leagues. Consider picking him up.

Cleveland Cavaliers: The season has started well for Cedi Osman with Darius Garland sidelined by a left eye injury. Osman has put up 16.0 PPG and 2.7 APG. Garland is expected to return on Friday, but Osman is worth keeping until further notice. On this Cavaliers team, he has a defined role and should be one of the first players off the bench. Osman is still available in 93.8% of leagues.

Dallas Mavericks: Christian Wood is already in a high usage role for the Mavericks, and there’s no reason to think that will change soon. Dallas’ Sixth Man is flourishing. Wood has averaged 24.3 PPG and 8.7 RPG in 26 MPG. He has also scored 34 or more fantasy points in three consecutive games. Wood has a strong chance of finishing in the top-50 for the remainder of the season.

Denver Nuggets: Nikola Jokic, the reigning MVP, is off to another great start this season. Through five games, Jokic has averaged 20 points and 10 rebounds while posting career-best shooting numbers (65.6 FG% and 90.6 FT%). Um… wow! Entering Thursday, the Nuggets’ versatile big man has scored 57 fantasy points per game.

Detroit Pistons: Cade Cunningham is starting to find his stride this season. Each of his first four games has seen him score at least 15 points, but he has also delivered solid numbers in other categories, such as rebounds and assists. Unfortunately, Cunningham shoots 40% from the field. However, he scored 41 fantasy points against the Hawks, a season-high, and still has plenty of room for improvement after being selected No. 1 overall in the 2021 NBA draft.

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Golden State Warriors: Andrew Wiggins could have the best fantasy season of his career if he maintains this positive momentum. He’s averaged 20.8 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 2.8 APG, 2.0 SPG and 1.3 BPG in 32.3 MPG. Three of Wiggins’ first four games have resulted in 46 or more fantasy points. His average draft position was 59.8 in ESPN leagues heading into the season, and he’s exceeding that by the way he’s playing.

Houston Rockets: Kevin Porter Jr. is off to a great start this season after the Rockets recently extended his contract. Wednesday night was already his 11th career game with at least 20 points, five rebounds and five assists. This season, the Rockets are 26th in points scored per 100 possessions played, with Porter Jr. among the few bright spots. Since the Rockets rank 21st in points allowed per 100 possessions played, Houston will have to score a lot of points and that is right up Porter’s alley.

Indiana Pacers: Even though Isaiah Jackson only averages 18.4 MPG, he’s a great player to stash. He’s available in 90.2% of ESPN leagues and he is very productive whenever he is on the court. Jackson’s ceiling is limited by Myles Turner, but if Turner is traded then Jackson is ready to break out. So far this season, Jackson has 23 or more fantasy points in three of five games.

LA Clippers: Fantasy managers took on a lot of risk when they drafted Kawhi Leonard. His minutes are restricted and he is coming off the bench. As if that weren’t enough, Leonard’s surgically-repaired right knee has already stiffened up on him, forcing him to miss the two games in Oklahoma City. This positions John Wall to handle a larger role for the Clippers. He’s still available in 37% of ESPN leagues and has averaged 14.7 PPG, 2.3 RPG and 3.7 APG in the early going. This season, the veteran Wall has scored 20 or more fantasy points in every game.

Los Angeles Lakers: Lonnie Walker IV is a great option in deeper formats. He has scored 26 or more fantasy points in three out of four games this season, logging a robust 32.0 MPG. With LeBron James playing power forward and Anthony Davis at center, he should continue to see steady minutes. Walker IV is available in 85.7% of ESPN leagues.

Memphis Grizzlies: Fantasy teams should add Santi Aldama (available in 76.8% of ESPN leagues) to their rosters. Aldama has averaged 12.8 PPG, 7.5 RPG, and 1.3 BPG in 30.8 MPG this season while filling in for Jaren Jackson Jr., whose return is still a ways off. Additionally, Ziaire Williams will miss another four to six weeks due to knee issues, which should allow Aldama to maintain a key role for a while.

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Miami Heat: Caleb Martin returned from his one-game suspension to play his best game of the season. He scored 16 points, grabbed eight rebounds, had three assists and had four steals. Martin’s value comes from his ability to contribute in multiple areas. Averaging 27.3 MPG, he’s available in 96.5% of ESPN leagues.

Milwaukee Bucks: Those who drafted Giannis Antetokounmpo in the first round of fantasy drafts must be smiling after his recent performance. He is the first player since Karl Malone in 1990 to record 85 points, 25 rebounds and 70% shooting over a two-game span. This season, Antetokounmpo has scored 64 or more fantasy points in every game. Is that good? Yes, yes that is good.

Minnesota Timberwolves: Jaylen Nowell is available in 94.4% of ESPN leagues and is someone to pick up in deeper formats. He’s averaged 16.2 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 2.0 APG and 1.0 SPG in 22 MPG. A former second-round pick out of Washington, Nowell has adjusted to the NBA game in his fourth season and should continue to thrive in fantasy even as a bench player.

New Orleans Pelicans: Trey Murphy III is available in 79.8% of ESPN leagues and should be added in most of them. With Brandon Ingram, Zion Williamson and Herbert Jones injured, Murphy has a clear path to playing time. So far this season, he has averaged 15.5 points and 6.5 rebounds per game. Lots to like there.

New York Knicks: Jalen Brunson only needed four games with the Knicks to record his first with at least 25 points and 10 assists with the team. That’s tied for the fewest games played with the franchise at time of first such game. In all areas of the game, Brunson has been impressive, averaging 20 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 8.5 APG, and 1.0 SPG. Those who drafted him should sit back, relax and enjoy the ride.

Oklahoma City Thunder: Tre Mann is an excellent short-term streamer while Josh Giddey recovers from an ankle injury. He’s available in 90.5% of ESPN leagues, and has scored 20 or more fantasy points in three out of four games. He’s averaged 15 PPG, 3.3 RPG, 3.3 APG and 1.0 SPG in 28.8 MPG, showing an ability to score and impact the game offensively in many ways.

Orlando Magic: Wendell Carter Jr. has been the Magic’s starting center this season and has been very effective, putting up 14.3 PPG and 10.5 RPG in 33.8 MPG and has scored 33 or more fantasy points in three of four games. Before the season began, his average draft position was 114.2 and he is rewarding fantasy managers who waited to address the center position in drafts. Bol Bol, the backup center, has also been impressive in 16.3 minutes per game. The former Nuggets second rounder is available in 90.4% of ESPN leagues, so managers in deeper formats should consider him. He has averaged 9.8 PPG, 5.8 RPG and — surprise, surprise — 2.6 BPG per game so far this season.

Philadelphia 76ers: The 76ers rank 25th in points allowed per 100 possessions played and their transition defense has been a major issue. As a team, the 76ers allow the most points in transition in the NBA — 1.66 per possession. A staggering 106 fast break points have also been allowed by Philadelphia.

Phoenix Suns: Chris Paul has had a slow start to the season, but he recently made league history. After John Stockton and Jason Kidd, he becomes the third player in NBA history to accumulate 11,000 assists. Paul is off to a slow start offensively, but is averaging an impressive 10.3 APG and 2.3 SPG to make up for it. Meanwhile, Devin Booker has scored 30 or more points in three consecutive games. It makes sense for him to take on more responsibilities this season.

Portland Trail Blazers: Damian Lillard is off to a strong start with an improved supporting cast but he left Wednesday’s game midway through the third quarter due to a right calf strain and didn’t return. That’s something to watch closely in the days ahead, as an extended absence would lead to more shots by Anfernee Simons and Jerami Grant, among others.

Sacramento Kings: Fantasy managers expected Domantas Sabonis to get off to a strong start given his average draft position of 26.3 in ESPN leagues. So far this season, that hasn’t been the case, as he has averaged 14.3 PPG, 9.3 RPG, 5.3 APG, 1.0 SPG and 1.3 BPG. When playing fantasy basketball, patience is key, and that’s what managers will need to have here. If you have a manager in your league with Sabonis on their roster who is impatient, now would be a great time to trade for him. Much better statistical days are ahead for the Kings big man.

San Antonio Spurs: Keldon Johnson has matured as a scorer, facilitator and leader this season. He’s averaged 35.0 fantasy points per game thus far, contributing in multiple statistical areas. Johnson has averaged 21.8 PPG, 5.8 RPG, 3.4 APG and 1.2 SPG with a healthy usage rate is 27.3%, and is in much better playing shape than previous seasons.

Toronto Raptors: Otto Porter Jr. has yet to play this season due to a hamstring injury, but now he will be out even longer due to a personal matter. Precious Achiuwa and Chris Boucher are the top candidates to fill the Raptors’ frontcourt void.

Utah Jazz: It’s safe to say Lauri Markkanen has exceeded expectations so far this season. He had an average draft position of 84.9 and has averaged a whopping 21.5 PPG, 8.8 RPG and 3.0 APG thus far. Markkanen is a versatile player who contributes in a number of statistical areas, which makes him a valuable fantasy player, and he’s carried over his EuroBasket tournament momentum into the NBA regular season.

Washington Wizards: Kristaps Porzingis is an absolute monster when he’s healthy. Playing 31 MPG thus far, he has scored at least 30 fantasy points in all four games. Porzingis has averaged 16.8 PPG, 7.8 RPG and 2.5 APG. The question that will follow him all season is whether he can stay healthy.

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