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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 20.
After an exciting start, it's already Week 20 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, Los Angeles Lakers, Miami, Minnesota, New York, New Orleans, Orlando, Utah, Washington
Teams that play three games (TARGET): Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Portland
Shallow League Streaming Option
Norman Powell - SG, SF (48%)
How can a fantasy basketball streamer list not include Norman Powell? Before the season ends, I will count how many times I've suggested using the Los Angeles Clippers wing's tendency to score in bunches. Unshockingly, Powell's recent scoring average exceeds the numbers for the season. In his last five games, Powell averaged 13.8 points on 41.2 percent three-point shooting. Week 20 has the Clippers facing the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Chicago Bulls in the early-week schedule.
Although the Timberwolves currently hold the best defensive rating league-wide, Powell averaged 18 points in his last three games against them for the season. On the other hand, the Bulls undoubtedly expect Powell to clean up quite nicely against.
Amen Thompson - PG, SG, SF (37%)
At least for now, Houston Rockets rookie Amen Thompson may have found a fitting role in the NBA. Off the bench against the Portland Trail Blazers last Friday night, Thompson scored 17 points, grabbed eight rebounds, dished three dimes, rejected an amazing five shots, and netted two steals. That's possibly one of the best all-around games from a bench player for the 2023-2024 season.
Amen Thompson 16-8-3-2-5 off the bench in the win at Portland
Might be the most athletic player in the NBA pic.twitter.com/oKIecrj7wm
— Brett Usher (@UsherNBA) March 9, 2024
Thankfully, for Thompson, Houston's Week 2o's early-schedule slot of games includes the San Antonio Spurs and the Washington Wizards. Perhaps he doesn't duplicate last Friday's stat line. However, such a momentous performance warrants a rental for the versatile positioned rookie.
Harrison Barnes - SF, PF (35%)
It's a loaded week for the Sacramento Kings, to say the least. Starting the Week 20 schedule, Sacramento faces the Milwaukee Bucks and the Los Angeles Lakers. Whether the Kings keep either game close, I envision Harrison Barnes receiving ample opportunities to help your fantasy lineup. At the same time, the shooting metrics don't look great for Barnes.
However, I see a positive week for Barnes, as the Lakers and Bucks don't have great defenses, as indicated by the 28th-ranked defensive rating for the former and the outside-of-the-top-ten defense rating in the latter team. I say to take a chance on Barnes for Week 20.
Isaac Okoro - SG, SF (29%)
Despite missing Donovan Mitchell due to injury, the Cleveland Cavaliers earned wins over the Boston Celtics and the Minnesota Timberwolves. While the wins over significant competitions were not all on Isaac Okoro, his recent uptick in offense certainly helped. Over his last five appearances, the once-proposed three-and-d wing averaged 14 points on 44 percent three-point shooting. Aside from the surprising offense production, Okoro averaged a block and a steal during the stretch.
Isaac Okoro with an example of insane defensive instincts to intercept this pass and turn it into 2 points. He reads the pass right before the ball pick-up, which is just ridiculous in reading the play before it happens #LetEmKnow pic.twitter.com/BQoTY0HZuV
— Rich (@MavsDraft) March 7, 2024
Okoro rarely shoots efficiently from distance, but I suggest picking him up for the next few games.
Deep League Streaming Options
Andrew Nembhard - PG, SG (14%)
Rick Carlisle will need support as Bennedict Matthurin misses the duration of the 2023-2024 season due to a season-ending shoulder surgery. Thankfully, the Indiana Pacers have Andrew Nembhard. While Nembhard isn't the isolation threat as Mathurin, his efficient three-point shooting, albeit in sprinkles, helps the Pacers - shooting 40 percent on three attempts.
Although I do believe Nembhard has a positive effect on the Pacers, admittedly, he won't spike the numbers on your fantasy team. However, for struggling fantasy managers seeking help, the Mathurin injury provides a dark hope for Nembhard supporters.
Jalen Smith - PF, C (8%)
Jalen Smith is one of the more intriguing players in the league. On the first look, Smith appears ordinary. However, with a decently quick first step for his position and a surprisingly adequate stroke from deep, the former Phoenix Suns center deserves a look for at least a few games on your fantasy roster. On a heater in his last two games, Smith averaged 12.5 points on 66 percent three-point shooting, accruing a mean of 21.5 fantasy points.
The Pacers battle the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Bulls earlier in Week 20, and despite the outcome of either, I guarantee Smith will contribute a decent line for a deep league streaming option.
Richaun Holmes - PF, C (16%)
Although he didn't get the $1.8 million trade kicker last summer, Richaun Holmes is receiving significant playing time with the Washington Wizards following his head-scratching stint with the Dallas Mavericks. Holmes averaged 30.5 minutes in his last two games, in which he shot a remarkable 95.3 true shooting percentage. Let the good times roll, I say. Washington plays the Memphis Grizzlies and the Rockets for the early portion of Week 20.
Now, no schedule is a breeze for the unserious Wizards. Still, in light of Holmes's tremendous stretch, I think fantasy managers will earn a victory courtesy of the former Sacramento Kings center.
Davis Bertans - PF, C (8%)
Drum roll, please: Davis Bertans makes his first appearance on the early-week streamer list. Since suiting up for the Charlotte Hornets, the lottery-bound team instilled a surge in Bertans's career. In 11 games, Bertans averaged 9.8 points on an outstanding 43 percent from deep, living up to the Latvian Laser moniker.
DAVIS BERTANS IS IN HIS BAG!
pic.twitter.com/F2QiOEYEj2— Pikkit (@pikkitsports) March 6, 2024
I know this seems like a bad joke, but it's true. For your three-point shooting needs, I suggest deep-league fantasy managers rent Bertans's services this week.
