Malaki Branham (SG, SAS) - Fantasy Basketball Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 19

Malaki Branham is worth considering as a fantasy basketball waiver wire pickup heading into Week 19 of the 2022-23 NBA season.

BALLER MOVE: Add in 14+ Team Leagues

ROSTERED IN: 31% of leagues

ANALYSIS: The Spurs are going nowhere. Well, they are obviously headed toward Wamby Station, but that's going nowhere in the current NBA season. In other words: San Antonio has all reasons and then some to play as many kids as they can, for as much as they are able to, if only to know more about what they have and have not in their roster for the rebuilding years ahead of them: enter rookie Malaki Branham.

Branham started a couple of games at the beginning of November but even then he only logged 14 and 23 minutes, respectively, to not-so-great results. He did it again in December, but things didn't really get any better. That, though, has changed in February after spending the better part of the two months before that playing around 20 MPG off the pine.

The rookie went into the All-Star break having started all last seven games with the Spurs. He didn't start on February 1 against the Kings but he played a (then) season-high 32 minutes, so you can pretty much count that as another start on his game log and baby pro resume.

Looking exclusively at February statistics, Branham has been able to nearly keep up an extraordinary 18-4-3 per-game line while also adding a stock per game to it and hitting 2.3+ 3PM a pop. Barring a dreadful outing against Toronto on February 8, Branham has scored at least 2+ three-point shots in each of the other seven matchups he's played this month.

Through the break, among rookies, Branham ranks ninth in PPG and eighth in APG. Looking strictly at his February numbers and assuming he can stay in possession of his current role in SAS, if he can keep up with his stat line, he'd rank second in PPG, 12th in RPG, and fourth in APG.

He'd also be one of only 30 players in the NBA as a whole averaging 18-4-3 lines with 2+ 3PM per game.

More Fantasy Basketball Waiver Wire Pickups

Fantasy Basketball Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 15 (2024-25): February 3 - February 9

If you're like me, you woke up to one of the biggest trades in recent NBA history (Luka for AD) and are still trying to make sense of it. It will likely be the biggest trade of the week, but it won't be the only deal made this week as Thursday's NBA trade deadline looms. […]

Dan Palyo February 2, 2025

League Winners: Second-Half Trade Targets and Stashes - 2025 Fantasy Basketball

Things have not gone as planned for fantasy basketball managers who drafted players like Joel Embiid or Jimmy Butler. But there's plenty of basketball left to be played and it's time to reassess how we view players going forward. If you want to win that fantasy basketball league championship, worry less about where your players […]

Dan Palyo January 30, 2025

Fantasy Basketball Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 14 (2024-25): January 27 - February 2

We flip the calendar to February this week and edge closer to both the All-Star break and the NBA trade deadline. Some of the moves you can make in the next few weeks could greatly impact your team's ability to compete for a fantasy championship in March or April! Most leagues have a weekly moves […]

Dan Palyo January 26, 2025

League Winners: Players To Stash For the Stretch Run - 2024 Fantasy Basketball

The All-Star Break is upon us and while it's nice to have some time off from setting lineups, making DFS lineups, and placing bets. It's also a nice time to look ahead and what moves you can make to put your team in the best position possible to win a fantasy basketball title. Remember, the […]

Dan Palyo February 19, 2024

Trendon Watford (PF, POR) - Fantasy Basketball Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 23

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues ROSTERED IN: 7% of leagues ANALYSIS: According to Shams Charania of The Athletic (reporting on Sunday morning), the Portland Trail Blazers are leaning toward shutting down Damian Lillard for the remainder of the season. The Blazers, mind you, have been without Jerami Grant, Anfernee Simons, Lillard, and Jusuf […]

Antonio Losada March 27, 2023