James Wiseman (C, DET) - Fantasy Basketball Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 22

March 19, 2023

James Wiseman is worth considering as a fantasy basketball waiver wire pickup heading into Week 22 of the 2022-23 NBA season.

BALLER MOVE: Add in 14+ Team Leagues

ROSTERED IN: 23% of leagues

ANALYSIS: Make it 11 starts in a row through Saturday for James Wiseman since he went through a two-game testing period after arriving in Motown and sandwiching the AS break. The Pistons have been out since last Thursday and they have also welcomed Jalen Duren back a few days ago after he missed time after returning from the break.

For now, Wiseman is expected to keep the starting C role even with Duren present and playing 25+ minutes per game. Things could change, but even then a role reversal shouldn’t be very damaging for any of the two big men. Duren is excelling off the pine (three double-doubles in the last five games with the other two finishing at 9-8 and 8-9), and Wiseman is doing the same as a starter (three dub-dubs in his last five outings with the other two finishing at 16-9 and 14-9).

The usage rates are nearly the same for the two youngsters, so that’s also a positive considering they are part of two entirely different units. Interchangeable pieces in real and fantasy worlds? That’s a dream scenario for fantasy GMs out there mostly because you run no risk of gambling on the wrong asset. Win-win, and you might even want to consider landing and rostering (and starting, in deeper formats) both for the home stretch, let alone in any sort of dynasty-type league.

Wiseman has averaged a ridiculous 1.17 FP/min in the past two weeks (league average at 0.90) and has put together seven consecutive games of at least 25 FP while averaging 32+ FPPG and having three games above that mark, including a 43.5-FP explosion on Mar. 13 when he went for 18 points, 14 boards, three blocks, and one assist.

The shooting is always going to be good because Wiseman can hit the odd three but operates inside more often than not, and he’s taking around 12 FGA per game, something more than healthy to find him easily reaching 10-15 points every night he’s out there on a basketball court.

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