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Lance Roberson looks at some early-week waiver wire options for fantasy basketball leagues. These players may be free agents to target on waivers in Week 12.
After an exciting start, it's Week 12 of the 2023-2024 NBA season. While you want to have faith in the players you drafted, don't get too attached. You may feel confident about your draft decisions, but remember: stars are born and eroded every day. Take a moment to see what's on the other side of the waiver wire.
Most leagues limit how many players you can stream each week in daily leagues. If your league only allows three moves per week, you need to be very efficient with your moves and grab players who will help you maximize your games played and help you win an extra category or two of counting stats.
The goal of this article each Monday morning will be to help you plan your roster moves for the first half of the week. Planning is important, and I always include which teams play on optimal days for streaming in the very first section so you can look for additional players that I don't mention as well. All the rostered percentages used in this article are from Yahoo! Let's see who can help us start the week strong!
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Weekly Schedule: Monday to Thursday
Teams that play one game (AVOID): Atlanta, Brooklyn, Cleveland, Denver, Golden State, Memphis, New Orleans, Orlando, Philadelphia, San Antonio
Teams that play three games (TARGET): Boston, Oklahoma City
Shallow League Streaming Options
Norman Powell - SG, SF (36%)
Guess who's back? Tell a friend. Norman Powell is back, back again. Fantasy managers who need scoring at the end of their roster have Powell at their service for the umpteenth time. Playing the barely-hanging-on Phoenix Suns on Monday and the new-look Toronto Raptors on Wednesday, the Los Angeles Clippers have ample opportunity to unleash Powell. Scoring the ball comes naturally for Powell, but in his last five games, efficiency from the three-ball stands out in light of the 48 percent mark on five attempts per game.
🚨NORMAN POWELL BEATS THE BUZZER🚨 https://t.co/4aVmhIrTYJ pic.twitter.com/ZNNNkMNJ3g
— LA Clippers (@LAClippers) January 6, 2024
Nick Richards - C (34%)
As Mark Williams recovers from a lower back contusion, Charlotte Hornets backup center Nick Richards shifted to the starting lineup, provoking whispers in the fantasy basketball world. In his last 10 outings, Richards recorded four double-doubles and averaged a block per game, ultimately leading to a 25.8 fantasy points median. Richards' recent play warrants a rental for fantasy managers dealing with injuries to their frontcourt.
Regarding scheduling, the Hornets face the Chicago Bulls and the Sacramento Kings early in the week. Both teams lack a defensive presence in the paint, allowing a high possibility of another double-double for Richards.
Obi Toppin - PF (45%)
Once perceived as a dunk-only player, Obi Toppin has crushed such a narrative. Between Rick Carlisle's offensive genius and Tyrese Haliburton's assists-heavy game, the Indiana Pacers currently sit with the best offensive rating league-wide. Both taking advantage of his situation and helping the cause, Toppin's three-point shooting speaks volumes about the player he's become.
In Toppin's previous five games, the former New York Knick averaged an eye-opening 47 percent from the three-point line, in addition to 11.5 points, and impressively so, leading the Pacers in field goal percentage. Check for Toppin's availability, as his consistency merits a rental.
Donte DiVincenzo - SG, SF (47%)
Jalen Brunson isn't the only New York Knicks guard experiencing a performance burst this season. Fellow Villanova alum Donte DiVincenzo's last five performances reiterate the resurgence since the Knicks traded for OG Anunoby. Averaging 17 points on an out-of-this-world 72 true shooting percentage, the silent but deadly guard continues to impress. New York's Week 12 schedule presents some lesser defensive teams early in the schedule in the Portland Trail Blazers and Dallas Mavericks.
Donte steal and SLAM 🔒 pic.twitter.com/TawNU6bHso
— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) January 7, 2024
I highly suggest adding DiVincenzo to deeper league rosters, at least for Week 12.
Deep League Streaming Options
Cam Whitmore - SF (2%)
As a famous philosopher once said, "You only get one shot don't miss your chance to blow", and in only 14 minutes of action averaged through the last five Houston Rockets games, 2023 20th-overall draft pick Cam Whitmore indeed makes the most of his time on the court.
Cam Whitmore’s last 6 games in only 14.2 minutes per game:
11.5 PTS
55.3 FG% (26/47)
47.6 3P% (10/21)
67.7 TS% 🔥5th youngest (!!!) player to log #NBA minutes this season, and he’s already a legitimate rotational piece. pic.twitter.com/hYmVkRI8i1
— Bradeaux (@BradeauxNBA) January 7, 2024
Whitmore scored 55 points on 60 percent three-point shooting, allotting 82.9 total fantasy points in the aforementioned stretch. While nowhere near the talent level pre-draft scouting reports, Whitmore's decent production enables fantasy managers to kick the tires in deep league settings.
Corey Kispert - SG, SF (7%)
I don't know how many times we can say this, but the Washington Wizards stink. All is not lost, though. Withstanding causes of concern early in his career, Corey Kispert found a home in many of RotoBaller's streamer lists. Admittedly, Kispert's three-point shooting doesn't live up to his reputation.
Despite registering a 24 percent mark from the perimeter, Kispert managed an above-league-average 62 percent shooting clip. Producing 12 points a game in the aforementioned sequence, Kispert encourages fantasy managers to seek his services.
Trey Lyles - PF, C (3%)
Rostered in only three percent of Yahoo leagues, Sacramento Kings stretch big Trey Lyles earns his keep. Lyles does his job as a floor-opener by converting 60 percent of his three-point attempts. A roster can always use more three-point shooting, and Lyles will always be there for you, as evidenced by the lack of fantasy roster spots filled by the Kings "big".
Sacramento faces two lottery-bound opponents in the Hornets and lowly Detroit Pistons earlier in the week. I predict Lyles will receive ample playing time, as the two previously mentioned teams lack the talent to compete with the Kings.
T.J. McConnell - PG (8%)
While there is no such thing as a Hall of Fame for role players, Pacers second-string point guard T.J. McConnell has the career of a formidable candidate. Never flashy but consistently making the right play, McConnell's blue-collar game shined in his last five outings. The elite role player recently recorded a double-double, indicating he's worthy of streamer status in deeper leagues.
