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The All-Star weekend is done and the NBA is now on its way to the playoffs, which could mean a whole lot for those active on the NBA card market. There have been a lot of developments, both good and bad during the first half of this season, most notably the league’s ongoing efforts to keep everyone safe from Covid-19. A couple of big names have already switched teams, the biggest of which was James Harden joining the Brooklyn Nets from the Houston Rockets.
Those were just two of the countless headlines that transpired during the past few months. Things are expected to heat up as the race towards the postseason is now on. There will be new developments that can affect your favorite players and their stock in the NBA card market.
Looking ahead towards the future, there are certain players who have flown below the radar of card fans everywhere. These stars weren’t heard or seen that much but are gaining momentum towards the second half of the season. We examine the situations they’re in and how they can potentially affect their stock in the card market.
Jimmy Butler
No one could ever deny the herculean effort of Jimmy Butler in leading the Miami Heat to the NBA Finals. At times during the bubble in Orlando, Jimmy Buckets was doing everything on the court for his team to get the W. Sadly, the momentum he had last year hasn’t carried on during the early weeks of this season.
Due to injury and health protocols, Butler has missed 14 games out of the 37 Miami has played. There were some stretches when the Heat’s key players, such as Goran Dragic and Tyler Herro, were out for the same reasons. This led many to believe that Miami’s championship window has somehow closed on them.
Butler, it seems, has something different on his mind. Just right before the All-Star break, the 11-year veteran has gone into high gear by raising his numbers. He’s currently averaging 20.8 points, 7.6 rebounds, eight assists, and two steals per game. These numbers, along with the return of Miami’s key players, have placed the team tied in fourth place with the Boston Celtics. If Heat manage to replicate their run in Orlando, it will give a good kick to Butler’s card price in the market.
Jordan Clarkson
For most of his career, Jordan Clarkson has always been looked at as a trigger-happy guard with a questionable shot selection. After playing for the Lost Angeles Lakers and the Cleveland Cavaliers, Clarkson now has a solid chance to turn that reputation around in his second year with the Utah Jazz.
Unless you've been living under a rock, you'll know the Jazz are currently on top of the league with a 27-9 record. One good reason behind their success is Clarkson taking the leap as a bonafide Sixth Man of the Year frontrunner. He’s currently averaging 17.9 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 2.3 assists in 26 minutes per contest. Clarkson is also leading the league in free throw percentage with a 96% rating from the charity stripe.
In the event Clarkson runs off with the Sixth Man of Year award, his stock will enjoy an increase. This is perfect because his NBA rookie card prices are not that expensive and can be easily found on the market.
Blake Griffin
Blake Griffin has never been the same since his Lob City days with the Los Angeles Clippers. Since last season, his numbers have been trending down as the Detroit Pistons sunk to the Eastern Conference’s bottom tier. His per-game averages of 12.3 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 3.9 assists have caused card fans to sour on Griffin’s stock on the market.
That could all turn around during the second half of the season now that Griffin is playing for the Brooklyn Nets, which is the projected team to come out on top of the Eastern Conference.
As of the moment, his slabbed BGS 9.5 Topps rookie card can be had for a very tempting price. A recent sale on eBay shows that the aforementioned card is selling for $90. If the Nets go on a deep playoff run and win the title, Griffin’s value will surely skyrocket. Better stock up now because you can’t go wrong with those prices.
Butler, Clarkson, and Griffin are just some of the names that can rise big during the second half of this season. There are still a lot of young stars and veterans flying below everyone’s radar, waiting for the right catalyst to explode in the NBA card market.
As always, it pays to keep a close eye on the scoreboards and price movement in the market. Doing so will help you make an informed decision on which players to invest in and how to make a good profit out of them.
