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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 15.
After an exciting start, it's Week 15 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, Detroit, Golden State, Toronto
Teams that play three games (TARGET): Boston, Cleveland, Los Angeles Lakers, Philadelphia, Utah
Shallow League Streaming Options
Kelly Oubre Jr. - SF (37%)
Coming off a 25-point performance vs. the Denver Nuggets, Kelly Oubre Jr. dusted off a three-game streak in which he failed to register double-digit points. Admittedly, Oubre Jr. benefited from multiple Philadelphia 76ers starters not suiting up for action. Nonetheless, considering the momentum for the three-game early-week schedule for Philadelphia, Oubre Jr. will have ample opportunity to build on a positive night. Of the three games, Monday night's matchup with the Portland Trail Blazers sticks out as the weakest opponent, which alludes to another solid performance from Oubre Jr.
Kelly Oubre Jr. throws down the two-hand jam 💥 pic.twitter.com/YWLexOyYQM
— NBA TV (@NBATV) January 23, 2024
Norman Powell - SG, SF (42%)
Unless the Los Angeles Clippers only play one game in the early-week schedule, always look for Norman Powell as a streaming option. Averaging 10 points in his last five games, Powell's recent four-point performance slimmed an otherwise consistent scoring run. The one game focus that merits renting Powell is Wednesday's matchup with the habitually unserious Washington Wizards. For fantasy managers who need scoring on the margins and a dash of rebounds, consider the RotoBaller streamer all-star Powell a valuable option.
Aaron Nesmith - SF, PF (38%)
While the Indiana Pacers' feel-good story provided a much-needed jolt in the Eastern Conference, Tyrese Haliburton's hamstring injury appeared to be the roadblock to the built momentum. However, as good teams do, the Pacers continue to weather the storm without their All-Star teammate with a 5-5 record. Indiana forward Aaron Nesmith's scoring may not explain the valiant effort, but it does warrant a rental while Haliburton recovers. Averaging 13.8 points on a whopping 48 three-point shooting percentage in his last five outings, I suggest seeking Nesmith's services as a valid streamer in shallow leagues.
Aaron Nesmith too tough 😮💨 pic.twitter.com/aPsM1Epay7
— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) January 27, 2024
Dillon Brooks - SG, SF (38%)
Heat check artist Dillon Brooks only has two types of games, groan-inducing or "wow this guy can shoot," and frankly, his recent performances lean toward the former. However, as a decent rebound accumulator and an occasional looting fest, Brooks instills the fantasy manager's faith. Averaging 15 points in his past five games, albeit on a 51 true-shooting percentage, Brooks managed a median of 15 fantasy points in such a stretch. Although expecting marvelous performances from Brooks renders as foolish, on the margins, the overconfident wing can help your fantasy team.
Deep League Streaming Options
Simone Fontecchio - SF (11%)
Between the Utah Jazz's consecutive year of surprising basketball analysts and Simone Fontecchio's version of a coming out party, there are plenty of positive vibes for fantasy managers looking to rent talent from the Will Hardy-coached team. As the Jazz play three games in Week 15, the Brooklyn Nets illuminate as the weakest link. Regardless of who Fontecchio faces, his three-point shooting won't shy from a challenge, as evidenced by the stellar 44 percent mark from such distance in the aforementioned five-game streak.
Ayo Dosunmu - PG (20%)
While the Chicago Bulls continue their trek to mediocrity, a few bright spots on the guard depth chart allude to better times once they rid themselves of Zach LaVine's lofty contract. One of those diamonds in the rough is 2020's 38th-overall pick, Ayo Dosunmu. Averaging 14 points in his past games, including a 20-point performance, Dosunmu presents deep-league fantasy managers with a solid point guard who shoots an above-average .559 effective field goal percentage.
Ayo Dosunmu scored one of the fastest buckets to start a game you'll ever see 👀
Bulls-Trail Blazers | Live on the NBA App
📲 https://t.co/zJbhen8L3j pic.twitter.com/uxT9UYaF3E— NBA (@NBA) January 29, 2024
The two early-week games Chicago plays are against subpar opponents in the Toronto Raptors and Charlotte Hornets. With LaVine recovering from injury, Dosunmu's usefulness as a streamer option for deep-league fantasy managers remains in the green.
Mason Plumlee - C (12%)
As Ivica Zubac recovers from injury, the otherwise small-ball Clippers require presence in the paint. Despite playing as one of the more demanding defensive positions in the NBA, at 33, Mason Plumlee provides the Clippers with a soft landing spot while Zubac ramps up for his return. Notching a double-double in the last five games, for a fantasy manager dealing with many injuries to their big man depth chart, Plumlee is an adequate option in deeper leagues for a rental.
Jarred Vanderbilt - PF (17%)
The once-perceived integral piece to the Los Angeles Lakers hasn't exactly blossomed from a fantasy standpoint. Jarred Vanderbilt, a trade-deadline acquisition from the 2022-2023 season, averages 4.8 points and 0.2 blocks a game. Despite accumulating such a forgettable production line, Vanderbilt's recent performances warrant a second chance for the defensive talent. In the last five games, Vanderbilt averaged 11.8 points and 2.4 steals. Although far from a fantasy must-have, such an uptick is a sign of the 2018 41st-overall draft pick finding more opportunity in the offense.
As the Lakers play three games in the early week, the history-making defense of the Atlanta Hawks leads the bunch as the ideal opponent for a struggling team. Look for Vanderbilt to make a splash against the Hawks, making for an interesting streamer candidate in deeper leagues.
