Post-Trade Deadline Fantasy Basketball Waiver Wire Pickups: Forwards and Centers

In our weekly look at the waiver wire in fantasy basketball, RotoBaller Brad Leibfried gives us some in-depth NBA analysis about which forwards and centers to target off the waiver wire, and which frontcourt players to continue scouting. RotoBaller covers the best fantasy basketball waiver wire pickups each week, so stay tuned!

Waiver Wire Pickups for the Frontcourt

Now that we are past the trade deadline, new players are finding key roles, making them solid additions to your fantasy team.

Elton Brand: With Paul Millsap missing the last few games, Brand has turned back the block on his fantasy value.  Over the Hawks' last five games Brand has averaged 9 points, 9.2 rebounds, and 2.4 blocks a game.  The veteran from Duke will not wow you in a ton of categories but his all-around game can be a great help in a roto league.  When Millsap returns Brand will lose some value, however his defensive prowess means he should still be owned in nearly all leagues.

Kyle Singler: Another former Duke player, Singler has taken advantage of the coaching change in Detroit.  Now starting for the Pistons, he has averaged 37 minutes a game over the last week and put up solid numbers.  He is scoring 15 points, pulling down 3.8 boards and making 2 three pointers a night.  Also surprising is that Singler is currently on a 6 game streak of at least one steal.  He is playing the best basketball of his career and is giving the new coaching staff in Detroit no reason to decrease his minutes.

Trevor Booker: There are not a ton of numbers that support picking up Booker, he is only scoring 6 points and getting 6 rebounds a game on the year.  However, the biggest reason to pick up Booker is the loss of Nene in Washington.  The Wizards were thin upfront to start with and now without their starting power forward, Booker may be forced into 30 minutes a night.  He will not be a source of blocks or steals, but late in the season Booker will have the highest upside on nearly all waiver wires.

Frontcourt Players to Keep Your Eye On

Byron Mullens: Mullens is a great example of a player whose fantasy value skyrockets on a bad team.  With Spencer Hawes gone, the Sixers are woefully short at center.  In just his second game with the team, Mullens played 17 minutes and shot 11 times.  If he can get into the rotation, Mullens should be a great source of shooting from the center position.

Steven Adams: The Thunder rookie has an opportunity to prove why he was a lottery pick last season now that Kendrick Perkins is out.  Adams is only averaging 3 points and 4 rebounds a game on the year, but has shown flashes of brilliance.  He hasn’t been great recently but if he can find his role in Oklahoma City, he could be a valuable source of rebounds and blocks.