Joakim Noah (PF/C, MEM) - Week 21 Waiver Wire Pickups

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ANALYSIS: Joakim Noah has served in a sparing role for the Memphis Grizzlies for the majority of his 34-game run with the team this season in which he has averaged 6.7 points, 5.4 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and 0.8 blocks in 15.6 minutes per contest. However, the Marc Gasol trade to brought Jonas Valanciunas to town, who has thus far taken up a more conservative share of the front court PT than did Gasol. With rookie-standout Jaren Jackson Jr. sidelined indefinitely, a window of opportunity has opened up for the 34-year old Noah to step in, and he has used that opportunity to turn back the clock.

While the former Florida Gator is ninth on the Grizzlies in minutes, his efficiency has been near the top of the team across several categories. He is second on the team in rebounds per 36-minutes on the floor (12.3), as well as blocks (1.8), and impressively ranks fifth on the team in assists per 36-minutes with 4.3. His play has also picked up of late as his team continues to call his number with greater frequency. Over the last ten games he has averaged 12.5 points, 8.0 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 1.3 blocks in 22.0 minutes an evening. On top of that, he was also locked in from the field, as demonstrated by his field-goal percentage of .597 and true-shooting percentage of .664 through the month of February. Joakim Noah didn't become the Defensive Player of the Year and a two-time All-Star in the NBA on accident (which, by the way, happened just five years ago). He is an extremely skilled player on the defensive side of the floor, and imposing presence underneath, and a surprisingly proficient passer from the paint. With the Memphis Grizzlies consistently needing minutes out of him, these traits manifest into an asset of considerable value down the homestretch of the regular season.