Bam Adebayo (PF/C, MIA) - Week 8 Waiver Wire Pickups

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OWNED IN: 39% of leagues

ANALYSIS: If you drafted Bam Adebayo in your fantasy league, there's a chance you did so under the assumption that Adebayo would supplant Hassan Whiteside at some early point in the year since it seems like we've been hearing whispers about how much Whiteside hates Miami for a long time.

Instead, Whiteside continued to lead that frontcourt and is averaging 27 minutes per game, leaving less room for the second-year Adebayo, but it's finally looking like he can start to deliver for fantasy owners despite some limited minutes.

In four games to end the month of November, Adebayo averaged 12.5 points and 12.3 rebounds per game while shooting 55.6 percent from the floor and 71.4 percent from the free throw line. He was blocking a shot per game as well. That's the kind of promise that Adebayo provides to fantasy owners: a double-double threat who shoots well to help in percentages and can be active on the defensive end.

Now, the inconsistent minutes -- he played under 20 in two of the past three games -- are an alarming issue, as is the fact that Adebayo and Whiteside are essentially unplayable together and have spent just 12 minutes together on the court...12 minutes despite appearing together on the floor in 15 games. Neither guy can really play the four, and so Adebayo's ceiling is lowered for that reason. (But hey, he still has PF eligibility in fantasy!)

Still, fantasy owners who are looking for someone who can contribute in a few categories can give Adebayo the call and he should respond, and that's without mentioning that he may be one of the best handcuffs in the league if Whiteside goes down. I know we don't talk handcuffs much in fantasy basketball, but Adebayo has the talent to make him an automatic start if Whiteside misses time.