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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 21.
After an exciting start, it's already Week 21 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.
This article's goal each Monday morning is 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 first section so you can look for additional players that I don't mention. 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, Los Angeles Clippers, Los Angeles Lakers, Oklahoma City, San Antonio, Toronto
Teams that play three games (TARGET): Sacramento, Utah
Shallow League Streaming Option
Dillon Brooks - SG, SF (32%)
Whether you think Dillon the Villian is a cool nickname or not, one thing is for sure: Brooks makes for a decent shallow league streaming option. While many league managers fight through the fantasy basketball playoff race, Brooks's 12.9 points per game average in his last five games is good enough for 21.4 fantasy points in the allotted time.
The Houston Rockets' weaker strength of schedule alludes to a positive early-period Week 21 performance from Brooks. Houston plays the Washington Wizards and the Chicago Bulls to start the week. While Brooks remains a master of nothing but decent at a myriad of basketball statistical categories, indicative of his modest point average and adequate shooting percentages, at least the irritating wing accumulates rebounds and assists.
Harrison Barnes - SF, PF (35%)
Harrison Barnes makes his second consecutive appearance on the early-week streamer list, as he didn't disappoint last time. Barnes shot a stunning 52 percent from deep on a high volume of eight attempts in his previous three games. During the three-game stretch, Barnes averaged 18 points, accumulating 18.8 fantasy points per game in the process.
Harrison Barnes gets to the lane and throws it down with one!
LAL-SAC Live on ESPN pic.twitter.com/KKQvsI1HP2
— NBA (@NBA) March 14, 2024
As the Sacramento Kings face the lottery-bound Memphis Grizzlies and the Toronto Raptors in Week 20, Barnes is primed for another stellar stretch of basketball.
Aaron Nesmith - SF, PF (41%)
Aaron Nesmith is bubbling as a shallow-league streamer option; his rostered percentage increases every week. The Vanderbilt alum's previous four games reiterate the case for continuing to trust the Indiana Pacers forward. Averaging 15 points on 45 percent three-point shooting, accruing a steal, and 1.5 blocks per game in the four-game stretch, Nesmith's worth as a rental could make a difference in your fantasy team winning its second-round playoff matchup.
Dereck Lively II - C (44%)
Although Dereck Lively II hasn't contributed to the same levels as earlier in the 2023-2024 season, the rookie center remains vital to the Dallas Mavericks defense. Between injuries, the infamous rookie wall, and the acquisition of Daniel Gafford, there are numerous reasons why Lively II's numbers dropped. However, despite the dip in production, in only 19 minutes per contest, the rookie center averaged 1.5 blocks and 26.5 fantasy points in his previous four games.
That Kyrie to Dereck Lively II connection 😮💨 pic.twitter.com/aQ3nq6vcX3
— NBA TV (@NBATV) March 17, 2024
Admittedly, Lively II has quite the matchup on March 19 as the Mavericks are on the road against the Victor Wembanyama-led San Antonio Spurs. Nonetheless, the Duke alum doesn't scare easily, as evidenced by his 7-for-8 field goal shooting against the Denver Nuggets on March 17. Look for Lively to supplement your rebound and block needs as a convenient rental, whether your fantasy team is in the playoffs or the season's final stretch.
Deep League Streaming Options
Jalen Smith - PF, C (8%)
Regardless of the bigs lined up against the Indiana Pacers, both centers of the darling Eastern Conference team will stretch out their opposition. Backup center Jalen Smith keeps second units honest thanks to his three-point shooting. In the last four games, Smith's 40 percent mark from deep makes him an intriguing streamer option for deep league fantasy managers. Smith will have his turn against the Cleveland Cavaliers and the lowly Detroit Pistons early in the Week 21 schedule.
Luke Kennard - PG, SG (13%)
Unsurprisingly, fantasy managers should seek Luke Kennard for an uptick in three-point shooting. However, shockingly, Kennard's recent accumulation of assists turned heads. Over the last three games, the Duke alum's six assists average set a new precedent for what to expect of Kennard. While a team can never get enough three-point shooting, consider Kennard's recent burst in playmaking a bonus for fantasy managers scrambling for stats at the end of their lineup.
Isaac Okoro - SG, SF (22%)
Despite Isaac Okoro's three-point shooting dip, there is more to fantasy basketball than outside shooting. Okoro's previous three games showcased defense in the counting stats, as the three-and-d wing averaged 1.3 steals. In what should be a fun matchup, Monday's game vs. the Pacers will likely act as a shooting elixer for Okoro. Indiana's pace is a double-edged sword, as it scores a lot of points, but so do its opponents.
I picture Okoro's three-point shooting ascending closer to his 2023-2024 season 39.5 percent mark in light of the matchup against Indiana.
Cole Anthony - PG (25%)
Cole Anthony's shooting stats don't display much efficiency, as he averages 31.6 percent from distance. However, Cole's confidence level, in addition to the aesthetics of his jump shot, leads me to believe he'll turn up against the Charlotte Hornets early in Week 21. Even if Anthony's three-point shooting doesn't convert, I predict Anthony will record double-digit points as the Hornets lack resistance on defense.
