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 17.
Our one and only, Milos Zvekic broke down the Week 17 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 seven teams with a back-to-back (BOS, CHA, DEN, HOU, IND, MIA, and MIL), three teams play three games (MIL, CHA, and BOS), while seven teams (LAC, NYK, OKC, SAC, TOR, UTA, and MIN) 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 Heat on Friday then the Bucks on Sunday. MIA is 29th in pace and 6th in defensive efficiency. MIL is 4th in pace and 8th in defensive efficiency.
BOSTON CELTICS
The Celtics host the Suns on Thursday, travel to Brooklyn on Friday, then go to Charlotte on Sunday. PHX is 27th in pace and 5th in defensive efficiency. BKN is 9th in pace and 19th in defensive efficiency. CHA is 14th in pace and 16th in defensive efficiency.
BROOKLYN NETS
The Nets host the Celtics on Friday then the Suns on Sunday. BOS is 22nd in pace and 14th in defensive efficiency. PHX is 27th in pace and 5th in defensive efficiency.
CHARLOTTE HORNETS
The Hornets travel to Chicago on Thursday, host the Cavaliers on Friday, then host the Celtics on Sunday. CHI is 15th in pace and 19th in defensive efficiency. CLE is 26th in pace and 19th in defensive efficiency. BOS is 22nd in pace and 14th in defensive efficiency. Jalen McDaniels (PF/C - 38% rostered) has been a top 50 player over the last seven games. He's averaged 32.1 minutes, 14.1 points, 1.9 three-pointers, 4.9 rebounds, two assists, 1.9 steals, and 0.6 blocks while shooting 51% from the field and 85% from the line. The usage rate has been a healthy 18.
CHICAGO BULLS
The Bulls host the Hornets on Thursday then travel to Miami on Saturday. CHA is 14th in pace and 16th in defensive efficiency. MIA is 29th in pace and 6th in defensive efficiency. Patrick Williams (SF/PF - 15% rostered) isn't exciting and will never win a week for you. What he does is contribute a little something in every category while playing 29 minutes per game.
CLEVELAND CAVALIERS
The Cavaliers travel to Charlotte on Friday then to Washington D.C. on Sunday. CHA is 14th in pace and 16th in defensive efficiency. WAS is 1st in pace and 22nd in defensive efficiency.
DALLAS MAVERICKS
The Mavericks host the Lakers on Thursday and Saturday. LAL is 18th in pace and 1st in defensive efficiency. Dorian Finney-Smith (SF/PF - 27% rostered) has been a top 85 player over the last seven games. He plays a ton of minutes (34.2 mpg) and contributes in every category. He provides upside when he shoots the ball well. Over the recent seven-game stretch, he's averaged 11.6 points, 2.6 three-pointers, 7.4 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 0.7 steals, and 0.9 blocks. That's valuable and it's baffling that he's only rostered on 27% of teams.
DENVER NUGGETS
The Nuggets travel to San Francisco on Friday then host the Rockets on Saturday. GSW is 3rd in pace and 9th in defensive efficiency. HOU is 5th in pace and 25th in defensive efficiency. Facundo Campazzo (PG - 9% rostered) played 35 minutes last game as Jamal Murray and Monte Morris were out with injuries. He had a poor shooting game but chipped in some rebounds, assists, and steals. I guess everyone has moved onto baseball because he should be rostered on way more than 9% of teams. Crazy.
DETROIT PISTONS
The Pistons travel to San Antonio on Thursday then to Indiana on Saturday. SA is 20th in pace and 12th in defensive efficiency. IND is 7th in pace and 13th in defensive efficiency. Killian Hayes (PG/SG - 22% rostered) played 34 minutes in his last game, the first time above 30 all season. The Pistons are going to want to develop their point guard of the future so he should get as much run as he can handle. He may not play back-to-backs, though. Hayes should provide plenty of assists and steals. Saddiq Bey (SF - 41% rostered) starts and has played 32 minutes per game over the last eight. The usage rate has been 20. He's inconsistent but can provide points, three-pointers, rebounds, and steals. He should get plenty of run down the stretch as the Pistons develop their youth.
GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS
The Warriors host the Nuggets on Friday then the Kings on Sunday. DEN is 30th in pace and 15th in defensive efficiency. SAC is 5th in pace and 30th in defensive efficiency.
HOUSTON ROCKETS
The Rockets host the Clippers on Friday then travel to Denver the following night. LAC is 25th in pace and 10th in defensive efficiency. DEN is 30th in pace and 15th in defensive efficiency.
INDIANA PACERS
The Pacers host the Pistons on Saturday then travel to Orlando the following day. DET is 24th in pace and 16th in defensive efficiency. ORL is 17th in pace and 26th in defensive efficiency.
LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS
The Clippers travel to Houston on Friday. HOU is 5th in pace and 25th in defensive efficiency.
LOS ANGELES LAKERS
The Lakers travel to Dallas for games against the Mavericks on Thursday and Saturday. DAL is 22nd in pace and 18th in defensive efficiency.
MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES
The Grizzlies travel to Portland to play the Trail Blazers on Friday and Sunday. POR is 16th in pace and 29th in defensive efficiency.
MIAMI HEAT
The Heat travel to Atlanta on Friday then host the Bulls the following day. ATL is 21st in pace and 22nd in defensive efficiency. CHI is 15th in pace and 19th in defensive efficiency. Trevor Ariza (SG/SF - 16% rostered) has averaged 30.5 minutes over the last five games and we know that minutes are half the battle. Yo, Joe! Over that span, Ariza has contributed 13 points, 2.8 three-pointers, 5.6 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 0.8 steals, and 0.6 blocks. Now, he's shot 52% from the field which is unsustainable since he's at 39% on the season. The points will come down but he should contribute in the rest of the categories.
MILWAUKEE BUCKS
The Bucks host the 76ers on Thursday and Saturday then travel to Atlanta on Sunday. PHI is 11th in pace and 2nd in defensive efficiency. ATL is 21st in pace and 22nd in defensive efficiency.
MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES
The Timberwolves travel to Utah on Saturday. UTA is 18th in pace and 4th in defensive efficiency.
NEW ORLEANS PELICANS
The Pelicans travel to Orlando on Thursday then host the Spurs on Saturday. ORL is 17th in pace and 26th in defensive efficiency. SA is 20th in pace and 12th in defensive efficiency.
NEW YORK KNICKS
The Knicks host the Raptors on Saturday. TOR is 8th in pace and 11th in defensive efficiency.
OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER
The Thunder how the Wizards on Friday. WAS is 1st in pace and 22nd in defensive efficiency.
ORLANDO MAGIC
The Magic host the Pelicans on Thursday then the Pacers on Sunday. NOP is 13th in pace and 28th in defensive efficiency. IND is 7th in pace and 13th in defensive efficiency. Cole Anthony (PG - 41% rostered) could tank your field goal percentage, as he's at 38% on the year. He has been at 48% over the last three games so there's some hope. The usage rate is 24 and he's playing 28 minutes per game. He should get the bulk of the point guard minutes down the stretch as the Magic tank and develop their youth. Anthony can provide assists, rebounds, points, and some three-pointers. Don't expect much in the defensive categories. Chuma Okeke (PF - 36% rostered) starts and has been playing over 29 minutes per game. His main contributions come from the defensive stats and rebounds.
PHILADELPHIA 76ers
The 76ers travel to Milwaukee to play the Bucks on Thursday and Saturday. MIL is 4th in pace and 8th in defensive efficiency.
PHOENIX SUNS
The Suns travel to Boston on Thursday then to Brooklyn on Sunday. BOS is 22nd in pace and 14th in defensive efficiency. BKN is 9th in pace and 19th in defensive efficiency.
PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS
The Trail Blazers host the Grizzlies on Friday and Sunday. MEM is 11th in pace and 7th in defensive efficiency.
SACRAMENTO KINGS
The Kings travel to San Francisco on Sunday. GSW is 3rd in pace and 9th in defensive efficiency.
SAN ANTONIO SPURS
The Spurs host the Pistons on Thursday then travel to New Orleans on Saturday. DET is 24th in pace and 16th in defensive efficiency. NOP is 13th in pace and 28th in defensive efficiency.
TORONTO RAPTORS
The Raptors travel to New York on Saturday. NYK is 27th in pace and 3rd in defensive efficiency.
UTAH JAZZ
The Jazz host the Timberwolves on Saturday. MIN is 2nd in pace and 27th in defensive efficiency.
WASHINGTON WIZARDS
The Wizards travel to Oklahoma City on Friday then host the Cavaliers on Sunday. OKC is 10th in pace and 24th in defensive efficiency. CLE is 26th in pace and 19th in defensive efficiency. Daniel Gafford (C - 26% rostered) only plays 16 minutes per game, but he's a per-minute stud. The usage rate is 21 and he can score, grab rebounds, and block shots. The field goal percentage is over 60% but the free throw shooting is poor. This is a gamble that he overtakes Alex Len at some point. If that happens, then Gafford could be a league winner.
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