Alex Len (C, PHO) - NBA Waiver Wire Pickups

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ANALYSIS: Suns center Alex Len was used sporadically for much of the first half of the month before missing three games with a hand injury. Understandably, he was jettisoned by many fantasy owners. However, since returning from his hand injury, he's gained new value from latest experiment coming out of the hopeless train wreck that is the 2015-16 Phoenix Suns -- he's playing power forward alongside Tyson Chandler, and performing fairly well in the process.

In Thursday's game against the Spurs, Len played 35 minutes, including 23 minutes alongside Chandler, a pairing that hadn't happened nearly at all in any previous games. In the process, he scored 13 points with 8 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal, and 2 blocks. His shooting was inefficient in the game -- it was the Spurs defense afterall -- but it's really the playing time and the fact he can credibly play alongside Chandler that's the point to take home here.

Previously with Len, it was always about waiting for his opportunity to get a starting role at center once Chandler got hurt or traded. But now, if he can play significant minutes at 4 alongside Chandler in addition to the the minutes he gets at the 5 with Chandler on the bench, he can have value now for his rebounds and blocks while you wait for Chandler to get hurt or traded. Better yet, he may gain extra positional eligibility at PF in the process. Grab him now, since he should have solid value for the remainder of the season.