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Each week is going to bring a new batch of waiver wire pickups, alongside some reoccurring faces depending on ownership. There are various scoring systems for fantasy basketball, but one thing remains certain, you are going to need to key in on specific categories at times. While I will look for the overall producers, I will highlight some names that contribute heavily within a few categories.
Waiver Wire Adds
Nemanja Bjelica
– Sacramento Kings
PF
47% Owned
Marvin Bagley continues to battle the injury bug, and this dates back to last season. Between this year and last, Bagley has missed 44 games. In those 44 games, Nemanja Bjelica has averaged 11-7-2, compared to 9-5-2 with him out. His minutes take a tick upwards as well, averaging 27 per game with him out. This season alone, he is averaging 27 minutes per game with a 12-6-2 line, and notching one steal per game.
Troy Brown – Washington Wizards
SG, SF
34% Owned
Troy Brown had a lot to like coming into the season. He is on a young Wizards team that was going to open up minutes and run at a high pace. With the injuries going around in Washington, Brown is a pickup worth grabbing. Over the last ten games he has averaged 29 minutes per game, and has averaged 11.3 field goal attempts per game. He is shooting 47% from the field in that span, and 34.5% from three. Brown will chip in with steals and rebounds as well, averaging 6.2 boards and 1.5 steals per game.
Derrick Jones Jr.
– Miami Heat
SF, PF
14% Owned
Miami has been one of the top teams in the league this season, and they are getting strong play from all around. One of those names is Derrick Jones. He is shooting over 50% from the field, averaging 10.8 points per game, and 1.2 steals per game. Jones is getting plenty of run right now, averaging 30.3 minutes per game, and that should continue for the foreseeable future. Miami also has a four game week coming up.
Damion Lee
– Golden State Warriors
SG
47% Owned
Another quarter goes in the carousel for the Golden State fantasy value. Damion Lee is the newest member of fantasy relevance. He is shooting 43% from the field of late, but averaging 11 field goal attempts per game. He is also getting plenty of threes up, shooting 37%. Lee has also shown the ability to grab some boards, averaging 6.4 in the last ten games. However he won’t bring in many other stats. The other positive is that he is a strong free throw shooter as well.
Gorgui Dieng
– Minnesota Timberwolves
PF, C
31% Owned
For those who have been around the last few years playing fantasy, you know about Gorgui Dieng. With Karl-Anthony Towns dealing with an ankle injury and continuing to miss games, Dieng has been an immediate fantasy value. Dating back to last season, Dieng has averaged 13-8-1 with 2.6 blocks + steals in 11 games. He has seen upper 20s in minutes, compared to the lower teens with Towns active.
Glenn Robinson III
– Golden State Warriors
SG, SF
25% Owned
Another Warrior bringing some fantasy value is Glenn Robinson III. He is shooting over 40% from three, averaging 1.4 threes made per game. Robinson can bring some steals, averaging 1.2 in the last ten games. He is playing over 30 minutes per game in that span, averaging 12 points and five rebounds per game. Heading into Week 12, the Warriors have a four game week, which boosts the value of Warriors waiver wire options.
Chris Boucher
– Toronto Raptors
PF, C
26% Owned
With Marc Gasol and Pascal Siakam out, Serge Ibaka has been the one soaking up all the minutes. Chris Boucher has seen a small bump, and has had big returns when called upon. Over the last five games he has averaged just 20 minutes, but has produced 13 and 5 lines with 1.6 blocks per game. Boucher should continue to at least stick in this role, but there is room for more minutes.
Kevin Porter Jr.
– Cleveland Cavaliers
SG
6% Owned
Kevin Porter is a deeper league add, or deeper roster add. He has played over 20 minutes in six of the last eight games. He has reached double digit points in four of those eight games. Cleveland shipped out Jordan Clarkson, and more names should go. Porter was considered one of the better steals of the draft, and has a lot of potential to grow now that the minutes are heading his way. I wouldn’t mind stashing this young talent in hopes he grows into a larger more stable role.
Elfrid Payton
– New York Knicks
PG
30% Owned
The Knicks backcourt has been a mess for a while now, especially with consistent minutes and rotations. Of late, Elfrid Payton has averaged 25 minutes per game over the last ten games. His shot has been below his career norm of late, but is averaging 7.1 assists and 1.2 steals per game. Payton is a strong peripheral producer, and has triple-double upside at times.
Shallow League Pickups
- Tyler Herro, Miami Heat, 62%
- Willie Cauley-Stein, Golden State Warriors, 54%
- Alex Burks, Golden State Warriors, 59%
- PJ Washington, Charlotte Hornets, 56%
- Dario Saric, Phoenix Suns, 53%
Schedule Grid
| TEAM | W21 | W22 | W23 | W24 | W25 | W26 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta Hawks | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 |
| Boston Celtics | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 |
| Brooklyn Nets | 4 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 2 |
| Charlotte Hornets | 4 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 2 |
| Chicago Bulls | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 |
| Cleveland Cavaliers | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 2 |
| Dallas Mavericks | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 |
| Denver Nuggets | 4 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 2 |
| Detroit Pistons | 2 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 |
| Golden State Warriors | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 |
| Houston Rockets | 3 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 2 |
| Indiana Pacers | 2 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 2 |
| Los Angeles Clippers | 3 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 |
| Los Angeles Lakers | 3 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 2 |
| Memphis Grizzlies | 3 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 2 |
| Miami Heat | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 2 |
| Milwaukee Bucks | 3 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 1 |
| Minnesota Timberwolves | 3 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 2 |
| New Orleans Pelicans | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 |
| New York Knicks | 3 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 |
| Oklahoma City Thunder | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 2 |
| Orlando Magic | 3 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 |
| Philadelphia 76ers | 2 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 |
| Phoenix Suns | 2 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 2 |
| Portland Trail Blazers | 3 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 2 |
| Sacramento Kings | 2 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 2 |
| San Antonio Spurs | 3 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 2 |
| Toronto Raptors | 2 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 2 |
| Utah Jazz | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 2 |
| Washington Wizards | 3 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 |
