Week 17 NBA Waiver Wire Adds: Malik Beasley Has New Role In Minnesota
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
Malik Beasley – Minnesota Timberwolves
PG, SG
26% Owned
Malik Beasley gets a change of scenery, and should play close to 28-30 minutes a night with Minnesota. He posted a terrific game against the Clippers in his debut, and was coming off a strong stretch in Denver. Beasley can play and he will get a more consistent chance to show it. That also means plenty of fantasy value. He is rather low owned right now, and my number one priority for anyone in need of a guard.
Christian Wood – Detroit Pistons
PF, C
52% Owned
With Andre Drummond out of town, Christian Wood is going to get more run and usage in the front court. Over the last ten games he is averaging 15-6-1 and really taking advantage with Drummond now gone. In the six games Drummond has been out/gone, Wood has put up 18-8-1. He has a 23% usage rate in that span as well. The ownership should really jump so get on it quick.
Thon Maker – Detroit Pistons
PF, C
11% Owned
Thon Maker isn’t going to be a high usage center, but will see a slight bump with Drummond gone. He averaged 25 minutes in the six games with Drummond out, putting up 9 and 6 with 1.2 blocks per game. Maker is more of a deep league add given the front court is filled with options still out there.
Marquese Chriss – Golden State Warriors
PF, C
19% Owned
Marquese Chriss has showed fantasy potential, but minutes, foul trouble, and sitting deep in rotations has always gave him trouble. Over the last ten games, he has averaged 12-6-1 with 1.5 blocks per game. Omari Spellman is out of town and Willie Cauley in Dallas, the front court is a bit thin. Chriss should continue to take advantage of minutes, and we saw the upside against the Lakers on Saturday night.
Shabazz Napier – Washington Wizards
PG, SG
34% Owned
It has been a busy week for Shabazz Napier being trade from Minnesota to Dallas and then to Washington. With Jordan McRae gone, this gets a body out of his way, and the same goes for Isaiah Thomas. He played 18 minutes in his debut, posting a 14-33 line with two steals and a block. Napier has been playing well the last few weeks, and I would expect him to have some value with the Wizards.
Rui Hachimura – Washington Wizards
PF
50% Owned
Still dwindling out there in over 50% of leagues, Rui Hachimura needs to be scooped up quickly. He missed some time, but has returned to 25+ minutes a night and picked up where he left off. He is shooting 49% from the field, averaging 13 and 6 on the season. Hachimura won’t add much defensive numbers, but has plenty of fantasy value. Look for the rookie to ramp things up after the break.
Nerlens Noel – Oklahoma City Thunder
PF, C
50% Owned
Nerlens Noel has always been productive in most categories when on the court. An injury plagued career and tossed around to a few different cities has made it tough to find consistency. Even in 20 minutes a night over the last ten games, he is averaging 10 and 6 with 1.2 steals and 1.6 blocks per game. Noel is also shooting 75% in that span. Not a bad guy to go grab right now for a big man, especially if you missed out on the Detroit wave.
Josh Hart – New Orleans Pelicans
SG, SF
40% Owned
Brandon Ingram’s injury isn’t too serious and he will have the break to rest up a bit. Josh Hart was playing over 25 minutes a night on average in the last ten game, and producing well. He isn’t a top look on this team, but has shot 46% from the field, and averages 1.9 threes made per game. Hart is averaging 10-7-2 with 1.2 steals per game over the last ten.
PG, SG, SF
22% Owned
The benefit of having the all-star break is that Kris Dunn has a week to get healthy. He hasn’t played since 1/31, and we are about to head into the break which gives him another week to get going. Dunn was playing very well before the break, and seeing plenty of minutes. I would expect him to return to a solid role, even if he has to get his legs under him a bit. He can contribute across the board, especially in the steals department.
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 |
