RADIO
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 13.
After an exciting start, it's Week 13 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): Charlotte, Denver, Los Angeles Clippers, Milwaukee, Phoenix, Portland
Teams that play three games (TARGET): Oklahoma City, New York, Toronto, Utah
Shallow League Streaming Options
Dillon Brooks - SG, SF (32%)
Missing in action since December 26, Hoston Rockets veteran wing Dillon Brooks returned from an oblique injury against the Boston Celtics on January 13. Brooks finished the game with 12 points on 56 percent true shooting. Despite missing nine games, Rockets head coach Ime Udoka assured his pesky wing defender isn't on a minutes restriction.
On the season, Brooks averages a career-high 40 percent from deep. As Brooks plays two games in the early-week schedule, and Houston needs a bounce-back performance following its 32-point loss at the hands of Boston, I suggest taking a flier on Brooks.
Jonathan Kuminga - PF (42%)
Perhaps calling out Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr coach wasn't a completely idiotic idea for Jonathan Kuminga. Coming off two performances in which he averaged 26 points, the former seventh-overall pick also showcased a three-point stroke, shooting a miraculous 85 percent on seven total attempts. Aside from the seemingly possessed shooting numbers, Kuminga's athletic ability presents an opportunity to accumulate blocks and steals -- recording at least one block or steal in four consecutive outings.
Jonathan Kuminga
RANGE.📺 @NBCSAuthentic pic.twitter.com/g7w1PUzDDG
— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) January 14, 2024
Despite Draymond Green's imminent return to the team following another lengthy suspension, I believe Kuminga's minutes won't suffer significantly. While the astronomical three-point shooting will go down, the minute-hungry forward's recent performances pressure Kerr to reward such performances with more playing time.
Andre Drummond - C (39%)
There are a slew of center injuries throughout the league. As fantasy managers scramble for a replacement, two-time All-Star Andre Drummond comes with a recent five-game stretch in which he averaged 23 fantasy points. Never confused for an adequate shooting big, especially from the free throw line, Drummond's rebound ability keeps his streamer candidacy afloat. Martin Luther King Jr. Day presents a potential revenge game for Drummond as he faces his former team, the Cleveland Cavaliers.
I firmly believe in not buying the "this is just another game" shtick we typically get from players. Look for Drummond to cause havoc on the boards, enabling fantasy managers needing rebounds to rent the former Detroit Piston's services.
Goga Bitadze - C (30%)
The Orlando Magic and Wendell Carter Jr. experiment may be nearing its end. Despite Carter Jr.'s multiple injuries, currently battling a knee ailment, Orlando sits at a surprising 21-18 record thanks to holding the second-best defensive rating league-wide. Instead of allowing such an injury issue to wreck their season, the Magic looked to Moritz Wagner and Goga Bitadze for support.
Bitadze averaged 8.8 rebounds and 1.7 blocks in his last five games, with an impressive median of 26 fantasy points. In only 22 minutes averaged through the stretch, Bitadze showcased why he's vital for Orlando's playoff aspirations. Bitadze is a fitting supplement for the fantasy managers whose teams suffer from dependable rebound big deficiency.
Deep League Streaming Options
Derrick Jones Jr. - SF, PF (21%)
Derrick Jones Jr. is quietly becoming a rather dependable streamer option. Through Jones Jr.'s previous 10 games, a double-double occurred for the Dallas Mavericks summertime minimum signee. Although not the marquee free agency acquisition for Dallas in 2023, Jones Jr.'s recent play encourages more playing time and opportunity than Grant Williams, who can't find consistency on either side of the ball.
Malaki Branham - PG, SG, SF (2%)
On the heels of a 14-point performance vs. the Chicago Bulls, a familiar face to our streamer list readers, Malaki Branham, showcased why he's worth a rental occasionally. Despite shooting 2-8 from distance, aggression is key. Besides, the Spurs stink, and aside from Victor Wembanyama, it's hard to find a consistent performer on San Antonio's roster. With that said, Branham makes for an intriguing rental as the Spurs face the struggling Atlanta Hawks on Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
Lonnie Walker IV - SG, SF (8%)
Before missing 17 games with a hamstring ailment, Lonnie Walker IV earned quite the fantasy stock regarding streamer status. Walker IV scored 20 or more points in five games, leaving fantasy managers scrambling to sign the Pennsylvania native. Like his pre-injury productivity, Walker IV achieved another 20-point game against the Cleveland Cavaliers on January 11 -- shooting 80 percent from distance on five attempts.
The Cam Thomas steal leads to the Lonnie Walker IV SLAM 🔨 #NBAParis pic.twitter.com/uhFISIe8Q2
— NBA TV (@NBATV) January 11, 2024
Look for Walker IV's rostered percentage to spike this week; stay ahead of the curve and add him before it's too late.
Caleb Martin - SG, SF (16%)
Caleb Martin, AKA Mr. Boston, returned from his second injury stint of the season on January 12, recording 11 points against the Orlando Magic. The Miami Heat's next two opponents might as well be valet drivers in how they help the Heat find their favorite spots. Playing the Nets and the Toronto Raptors in the early-week schedule, I forecast Martin to add to his 38 percent three-point shooting mark.
