RADIO
Stan Son looks at some mid-week waiver wire options for fantasy basketball leagues. These players may be free agents to pick up off waivers in Week 15.
Our one and only, Milos Zvekic broke down the Week 15 streamers earlier this week and will continue to do so all season long. I will be chiming in mid-week to add some sprinkles and frosting onto the beautifully baked Zvekic cake.
For the rest of Week 11 (Thursday to Sunday), there are nine teams with a back-to-back (CLE, DET, GSW, HOU, LAC, MIL, PHI, POR, and WAS), five teams play three games (CLE, DET, LAC, MIL, and POR), while one team (BKN) play one game. Check out the schedule grid for a better picture. As usual, I will try and isolate players who are rostered in less than 50% of Yahoo leagues and could contribute.
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ATLANTA HAWKS
The Hawks host the Bulls on Friday then travel to Charlotte on Sunday. CHI is 8th in pace and 19th in defensive efficiency. CHA is 14th in pace and 19th in defensive efficiency.
BOSTON CELTICS
The Celtics host the Timberwolves on Friday then travel to Denver on Sunday. MIN is 4th in pace and 27th in defensive efficiency. DEN is 29th in pace and 18th in defensive efficiency.
BROOKLYN NETS
The Nets host the Lakers on Saturday. LAL is 15th in pace and 1st in defensive efficiency.
CHARLOTTE HORNETS
The Hornets travel to Milwaukee on Friday then host the Hawks on Sunday. MIL is 3rd in pace and 8th in defensive efficiency. ATL is 22nd in pace and 19th in defensive efficiency.
CHICAGO BULLS
The Bulls travel to Atlanta on Friday then to Minnesota on Sunday. ATL is 22nd in pace and 19th in defensive efficiency. MIN is 4th in pace and 27th in defensive efficiency. Tomas Satoransky (PG/SG - 36% rostered) has been a top 45 player over the last three games. The usage has ticked up to 16 from 14 and he's been shooting 57% from the field, which has contributed to the increase in points. Satoransky's primary contributions come in assists and steals, though, which he has been contributing at a decent clip. He's starting and playing close to 29 minutes per game. I'm surprised at the low roster percentage.
CLEVELAND CAVALIERS
The Cavaliers travel to Oklahoma City on Thursday, host the Raptors on Friday, then host the Pelicans on Sunday. OKC is 10th in pace and 22nd in defensive efficiency. TOR is 12th in pace and 12th in defensive efficiency. NOP is 15th in pace and 28th in defensive efficiency.
DALLAS MAVERICKS
The Mavericks host the Bucks on Thursday then the Spurs on Sunday. MIL is 3rd in pace and 8th in defensive efficiency. SA is 18th in pace and 13th in defensive efficiency. Dorian Finney-Smith (SF/PF - 11% rostered) is coming off a game in which he provided 23 points, five three-pointers, six rebounds, four assists, one steal, and one block. Kristaps Porzingis was out so the usage rate was 24. Don't expect this kind of production on the regular. In fact, this is probably the one outlier game this season. With that said, he does possess this ceiling but he's normally an 11 usage player, so the shot attempts and points won't be voluminous. He does grab rebounds, drains three-pointers, and racks up steals. He also plays 34-36 minutes per game.
DENVER NUGGETS
The Nuggets host the Spurs on Friday then the Celtics on Sunday. SA is 18th in pace and 13th in defensive efficiency. BOS is 21st in pace and 13th in defensive efficiency.
DETROIT PISTONS
The Pistons travel to Sacramento on Thursday, to Portland on Saturday, then to Los Angeles to face the Clippers on Sunday. SAC is 10th in pace and 30th in defensive efficiency. POR is 19th in pace and 29th in defensive efficiency. LAC is 27th in pace and 9th in defensive efficiency. Hamidou Diallo (SG/SF - 44% rostered) isn't starting....yet. There's a chance that happens sometime soon. Even if it doesn't, Diallo is playing 25 minutes per game and putting up top 90 production. The usage rate is a healthy 21 and he's providing points, three-pointers, rebounds, and a sprinkling of assists and defensive stats. The shooting efficiency numbers have been excellent as well. Killian Hayes (PG/SG - 24% rostered) has played two games since returning from a 41-game absence. He played 20 minutes and garnered a 9 usage in his return but received 25 minutes with a 20 usage rate in his most recent outing. The 7th overall pick is going to get as much run as he can handle down the stretch, as the Pistons want to give him experience and allow him to develop. Hayes will provide assists and steals with some three-pointers.
GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS
The Warriors host the Wizards on Friday then the Rockets the following night. WAS is 1st in pace and 26th in defensive efficiency. HOU is 5th in pace and 17th in defensive efficiency.
HOUSTON ROCKETS
The Rockets travel to Los Angeles to face the Clippers on Friday then travel to San Francisco the following night. LAC is 27th in pace and 9th in defensive efficiency. GS is 2nd in pace and 10th in defensive efficiency.
INDIANA PACERS
The Pacers travel to Orlando on Friday then to Memphis on Sunday. ORL is 20th in pace and 23rd in defensive efficiency. MEM is 6th in pace and 7th in defensive efficiency. Doug McDermott (SF/PF - 13% rostered) has averaged 26.1 minutes, 12.3 points, and 2.3 three-pointers over the last three games. He's a points and three-pointers specialist.
LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS
The Clippers host the Suns on Thursday, the Rockets on Friday, then the Pistons on Sunday. PHX is 26th in pace and 6th in defensive efficiency. HOU is 5th in pace and 17th in defensive efficiency. DET is 22nd in pace and 13th in defensive efficiency. Marcus Morris Sr. (PF/C - 26% rostered) will start and score for as long as the injury bug keeps biting the Clippers. In 11 starts this season, Morris has averaged 29.5 minutes, 16.9 points, 3.3 three-pointers, and 4.5 rebounds. He spaces the floor out well for Kawhi Leonard and Paul George.
LOS ANGELES LAKERS
The Lakers travel to Miami on Thursday then to Brooklyn on Saturday. MIA 27th in pace and 5th in defensive efficiency. BKN is 13th in pace and 25th in defensive efficiency. Markieff Morris (PF/C - 10% rostered) is a similar player to his twin brother. Shocker. He is just not as prolific. Due to injuries as well, Markieff has started 20 games and averaged 25.4 minutes, 10.1 points, 1.6 three-pointers, and 6.3 rebounds.
MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES
The Grizzlies travel to New York on Friday then host the Pacers on Sunday. NYK is 30th in pace and 4th in defensive efficiency. IND is 8th in pace and 11th in defensive efficiency. Grayson Allen (SG/SF - 13% rostered) has averaged 24.3 minutes, 15 points, 4.5 three-pointers, four rebounds, one steal, and one block over the last two games. Don't expect the blocks on the regular but points, three-pointers, rebounds, some assists, and steals are there.
MIAMI HEAT
The Heat host the Lakers on Thursday then travel to Portland on Sunday. LAL is 15th in pace and 1st in defensive efficiency. POR is 19th in pace and 29th in defensive efficiency.
MILWAUKEE BUCKS
The Bucks travel to Dallas on Thursday, host the Hornets on Friday, then travel to Orlando on Sunday. DAL is 24th in pace and 13th in defensive efficiency. CHA 14th in pace and 19th in defensive efficiency. ORL is 20th in pace and 23rd in defensive efficiency.
MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES
The Timberwolves travel to Boston on Friday then host the Bulls on Sunday. BOS is 21st in pace and 13th in defensive efficiency. CHI is 8th in pace and 19th in defensive efficiency. Jaden McDaniels (PF - 36% rostered) only played 20 minutes last game due to foul trouble. Prior to that, he was averaging 30.9 minutes over eight games and providing points, three-pointers, rebounds, and blocks. He's the starting power forward for the Timberwolves, who will likely want to allow him to continue developing.
NEW ORLEANS PELICANS
The Pelicans host the 76ers on Friday then travel to Cleveland on Sunday. PHI is 7th in pace and 2nd in defensive efficiency. CLE is 24th in pace and 23rd in defensive efficiency.
NEW YORK KNICKS
The Knicks host the Grizzlies on Friday then the Raptors on Sunday. MEM is 6th in pace and 7th in defensive efficiency. TOR is 12th in pace and 12th in defensive efficiency. Reggie Bullock (SG/SF - 16% rostered) is a three-point specialist and a good one at that. He's averaging 30 minutes, 16.5 points, and 4.3 three-pointers over the last four games. On the season, he's converting 40% of his attempts from beyond the arc.
OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER
The Thunder host the Cavaliers on Thursday then the 76ers on Saturday. CLE is 24th in pace and 23rd in defensive efficiency. PHI is 7th in pace and 2nd in defensive efficiency. Aleksej Pokusevski (SF - 32% rostered) has the ability to tank your field goal percentage and could lose some playing time with Darius Bazley returns to action, but the upside is sky-high. He's a seven-footer with guard skills who has range on his J. He has the ability to stuff the stat sheet and should get plenty of run as the Thunder will want to give him as much experience as possible. With that said, there's also Bazley and Isaiah Roby so there's some uncertainty in that regard.
ORLANDO MAGIC
The Magic host the Pacers on Friday then the Bucks on Sunday. IND is 8th in pace and 11th in defensive efficiency. MIL is 3rd in pace and 8th in defensive efficiency. James Ennis (SG/SF - 7% rostered) has been a top 70 player over the last four games, averaging 34.7 minutes, 11.8 points, 1.3 three-pointers, 4.3 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 1.8 steals. Ride the wave while it's there.
PHILADELPHIA 76ers
The 76ers travel to New Orleans on Friday then to Oklahoma City the following night. NOP is 15th in pace and 28th in defensive efficiency. OKC is 10th in pace and 22nd in defensive efficiency.
PHOENIX SUNS
The Suns travel to Los Angeles to face the Clippers on Thursday then host the Wizards on Saturday. LAC is 27th in pace and 9th in defensive efficiency. WAS is 1st in pace and 26th in defensive efficiency.
PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS
The Trail Blazers travel to Utah on Thursday, host the Pistons on Saturday, then host the Heat on Sunday. UTA is 17th in pace and 3rd in defensive efficiency. DET is 22nd in pace and 13th in defensive efficiency. MIA is 27th in pace and 5th in defensive efficiency.
SACRAMENTO KINGS
The Kings host the Pistons on Thursday then travel to Utah on Saturday. DET is 22nd in pace and 13th in defensive efficiency. UTA is 17th in pace and 3rd in defensive efficiency.
SAN ANTONIO SPURS
The Spurs travel to Denver on Friday then to Dallas on Sunday. DEN is 29th in pace and 18th in defensive efficiency. DAL is 24th in pace and 13th in defensive efficiency. Rudy Gay (SF/PF - 20% rostered) only plays around 21-24 minutes per game, but he's effective when on the court. Plus, he garners a usage rate of 23. He's scored double figures in six straight games and provides three-pointers, rebounds, and some defensive stats.
TORONTO RAPTORS
The Raptors travel to Cleveland on Friday then to New York on Sunday. CLE is 24th in pace and 23rd in defensive efficiency. NYK is 30th in pace and 4th in defensive efficiency. Malachi Flynn (PG - 27% rostered) has played 31 and 34 minutes the past two games. In his most recent game, he produced 16 points, two three-pointers, six rebounds, four assists, four steals, and three blocks. Now, Fred VanVleet was out and is dealing with a strained hip flexor. If he's out for an extended period of time, then Flynn is a must-add.
UTAH JAZZ
The Jazz host the Trail Blazers on Thursday then the Kings on Saturday. POR is 19th in pace and 29th in defensive efficiency. SAC is 10th in pace and 30th in defensive efficiency.
WASHINGTON WIZARDS
The Wizards travel to San Francisco on Friday then to Phoenix on Saturday. GS is 2nd in pace and 10th in defensive efficiency. PHX is 26th in pace and 6th in defensive efficiency. Davis Bertans (PF/C - 45% rostered) has been a disappointment this season as injuries have really derailed his season. He's played a full complement of minutes only a few times this season. With that said, he's still one of the best three-point shooters in the league. Over the last two games, despite playing only 24 and 20 minutes, Bertans has provided five and three three-pointers.
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