RADIO
It's Week 4 of the NBA season, and it is a good week to pick up some big man talent that will help for the next few weeks as injuries are starting to play a factor in who's hot and who's not.
In a twist, we will be listing two players not because of why you should get them but because of why you should avoid them.
Position Eligibility & Ownership Rate Based on Yahoo! Fantasy Basketball Player List
NBA Week 4 Waiver Wire: Centers
Standard League Adds
Gorgui Dieng (MIN, PF/C) - 52% Owned
The fact that 52% of Yahoo! Fantasy players already own Dieng is a little confusing to me, but that's what happens with auto-drafters. With Karl-Anthony Towns starting off like an All-Star (I'm talking this year, not the future) and Nikola Pekovic getting paid the most on the team of anyone not named Rubio, it is difficult to figure out Dieng's role. Right now, Pekovic is hurt so Dieng is getting 18 minutes per game and is averaging 6 points and 5 rebounds. I can see owning Dieng until Pekovic gets back but not beyond that. The Minnesota front court still has Kevin Garnett getting 16 minutes per game so rostering Dieng when they're all healthy just isn't an option. If you're desperate pick him up for now but I don't see the season ending with Pekovic and Dieng on Minnesota's roster. Dieng's best hope for relevance is a trade or (and I hope this doesn't happen) and injury to Towns.
Meyers Leonard (POR, PF/C) - 52% Owned
Leonard has a shoulder injury that has sidelined him for over a week now. As a result, many owners have been slowly dropping him because of his low production even when healthy. Their loss might be your gain if you can find a place to stash Leonard until he fully recovers. The Blazers frontcourt is extremely thin with Al-Farouq Aminu and Chris Kaman both picking up minutes in Leonard's absence. When he was healthy he scored double digits in four out of seven games and even contributed one three pointer a game. The Blazers are looking to fill the LaMarcus Aldridge void with young talent, and at just 23 years old Meyers fits that bill perfectly. He is a potential stash player with a high upside as the season goes on.
Deep League Adds
Cody Zeller (CHA, PF/C) - 5 % Owned
Although 20% more fantasy players own Zeller's teammate Frank Kaminsky, there really is no doubt that Zeller is the better player right now. Zeller is getting double the minutes of Kaminsky. Zeller's solid 25 minutes per game might still increase even more as the season goes on. Everyone falls in love with the most recent lottery pick, but Zeller was also a Charlotte lottery pick that they really hoping blossoms into a player they can rely on. Right now, Zeller gives the Hornets a better chance to win than Kaminsky, and he is worth the roster spot over many big guys with much higher ownership rates.
Jordan Hill (IND, PF/C) - 16% Owned
Hill is the most appealing waiver wire pick up this week. He's always shown an ability to produce when given the chance (currently averaging 8 points and 8 rebounds in 23 minutes a game). Last year Hill put up 12 and 8 in 26 minutes a game for a horrible Los Angeles Lakers team. Because the Pacers have playoff aspirations, Hill won't get the free reign he did in LaLa Land. However, with rookie center Myles Turner injured for the next few weeks Hill looks to get consistent minutes as the back up center, where he is guaranteed to put up decent to good numbers. Hill will be worth the roster spot until Turner comes back and if he plays well in this opportunity, he could solidify a role going forward.
Players to Avoid
Brandan Wright (MEM PF/C) - 11 % Owned
Usually this column deals with players you want off the waiver wire, but this time I think it's important to caution to stay away from Brandan Wright. He is a big man who has had knee problems the last year or two and it is beginning to look like a long term problem. Wright might come back this season and have a few good games for this aging Memphis team but do not be tempted to take him under any circumstances.
Nikola Pekovic (MIN, PF/C) - 10% Owned
Another injured player that is best to avoid in all formats. When he returns from an Achilles injury he will still likely be behind Dieng and Garnett in minutes. While his return could hurt their minutes (though if he does take one minute away from KAT, everyone in Minnesota needs to be fired), he just doesn't have the game to come back and force his way into the starting line up.
