Gerald Henderson (SG/SF, Por) - NBA Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add for Upside in Deep Leagues

OWNED: 7% of Yahoo! Leagues

ANALYSIS: Henderson, a key piece in the blockbuster deal that sent Nicolas Batum to the Charlotte Hornets early in the offseason, is still recovering from hip debridement surgery which took place in July. According to the initial timetable, he was expected to play opening night, but he has had a slow recovery and, as a result, has dropped off of most fantasy players' radars.

He is expected to have a large role upon his return from injury, as the suddenly-rebuilding Trailblazers are lacking in tried-and-true veterans. Henderson averaged 12.9 PPG to go along with 3.4 RPG and 2.6 APG for the Hornets last season.  This season, with little in the way of competition for minutes as the reserve guard for the Trailblazers behind Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum, he should be expected to match those numbers at least.  Once healthy, he should see 25-30 minutes a contest (he averaged 28.9 last season and 33.3 in 2011-12), which bodes well for his potential fantasy production.

It is important to remember that Henderson is a gamble, one that most likely needs to be undertaken in deep leagues (over 12 teams). He will take time to get back into the flow of the offense upon returning to the lineup, and he has tended to disappear on occasion over his six year career.

He does not offer much in the way of assists or rebounds, but what he lacks in those statistical categories can be made up in potential lineup flexibility, as he qualifies as both a SG and SF.  His ceiling is 15 PPG, 4 RPG, and 3 RPG, which are decent numbers for a player owned in only 7% of Yahoo! leagues.

Bottom line:He will not provide immediate results and may have a slow start, but come January and the meat of the NBA season, Henderson will provide consistent fantasy production in any number of potential positions.