Victor Claver News: Claver joined the starting five for the second contest in a row Friday, putting up nine points (4-8 FG, 0-2 3Pt, 1-1 FT), two rebounds, one assist, one steal, and one block in 27 minutes, during Portland's loss to Houston.

Claver joined the starting five for the second contest in a row Friday, putting up nine points (4-8 FG, 0-2 3Pt, 1-1 FT), two rebounds, one assist, one steal, and one block in 27 minutes, during Portland's loss to Houston.

Claver has replaced Nicolas Batum as a starter of late, as the latter is dealing with weakness in his right arm. There is the potential that Batum misses the remainder of the season, thereby keeping Claver in the starting lineup, though his production has failed to impress with expanded opportunity. In his three starts since the All-Star break, Claver has averaged 6.6 points (on 53.3 percent shooting), two boards, one assist, one steal, and 0.7 treys in 24.8 minutes, which doesn't make him much of a fantasy option even in deep formats.