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Max Kulish looks at some mid-week waiver wire options for fantasy basketball leagues. These players may be free agents to target on waivers in Week 14.
If you're one of those fantasy basketball players that sets a lineup at the beginning of the week, checks out, and then comes back seven days later to see how things shook out, this post is not for you.
This is for those who are grinding through each day and keeping track of categories as the days tick off. Maybe you need a handful of assists to get you over and win the week, or maybe a key injury is forcing you to rethink a category you previously considered stable. The goal is here to is target specific players who are rostered in less than half of Yahoo! leagues who will help you get you into the winner's circle. Mostly we're looking at players who might be available in 12-team leagues, but there will be some deeper options too when available.
As is always the case when streaming, it's possible that some of these recommended options are worthy of a longer-term add. But in order to hold long term, you first have to make the pickup. Regardless of where you're deficient, here are some names to consider to help you make up ground in the short term. Be sure to check out my Twitter (@Maxadelphia) for my nightly NBA plays, as well. Let's get into it!
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Points - Streaming Options
Eric Gordon - SG/SF - Houston Rockets (33% rostered)
Gordon is an obvious candidate to be traded for the rebuilding Rockets prior to the February 10th deadline. That means we could potentially have 3 more weeks of Gordon playing these minute totals (27+ minutes in 6 of the last 7 games, double-digit scoring in all 6). Once traded, he will probably lose some value, but this article usually focuses on quick-fix situations, so a pickup with even some form of longevity has increased value.
Other streamers:
- Max Struss - SG/SF - Miami Heat (20% rostered)
- Devin Vassell- SG/SF - San Antonio Spurs (25% rostered)
- Terrence Ross - SG/SF - Orlando Magic (33% rostered)
- Patty Mills - PG/SG - Brooklyn Nets (42% rostered)
Assists - Streaming Options
Patrick Beverley - PG/SG - Minnesota Timberwolves (41% rostered)
Assists are looking weak this week, so Pat Bev makes his return to the feature spot. Beverley has done a fine job in terms of accumulating assists since his return from injury, but as always his value lies in his defensive upside. Locked in firmly as the Timberwolves' #2 point guard, Beverley has a solid floor, which can be particularly hard in this stat given how players who are ball handlers are viewed as fantasy assets.
- Facundo Campazzo - PG - Denver Nuggets (18% rostered)
- Eric Gordon - SG/SF - Houston Rockets (33% rostered)
- Eric Bledsoe - PG/SG - LA Clippers (31% rostered)
Rebounds - Streaming Options
LaMarcus Aldridge - PF/C - Brooklyn Nets (48% rostered)
This almost feels like cheating given how close to the 50% threshold Aldridge is, but I'm gonna take my layups when I see them. The Nets just ruled out Kevin Durant for 4-6 weeks, and those are some massive offensive holes to fill. Aldridge fell to waivers in almost 75% of leagues during his long injury absence, but if he is available in your league make him priority #1.
Other streamers:
- Precious Achiuwa - PF/C - Toronto Raptors (16% rostered)
- Nassir Little - SF - Portland Trailblazers (18% rostered)
- Onyeka Okongwu - PF/C - Atlanta Hawks (18% rostered)
Blocks - Streaming Options
Nassir Little - SF - Portland Trailblazers (18% rostered)
With the Blazers season dependent on them treading water until Damian Lillard returns, they're asking key rotation pieces to play big minutes. Little has become part of that rotation, averaging nearly double his minutes per game from last year, and playing 31+ minutes in five straight games. Think of Little as the best all-around option with blocks upside, not the most consistent source for the stat.
Week 2: The Blazers continue to play with limited frontcourt depth, and Little continues to play big minutes. As long as Norman Powell and Larry Nance Jr. remain out, Little will remain my top add for blocks.
Other streamers:
- Kevon Looney - PF/C - Golden State Warriors (16% rostered)
- Onyeka Okongwu - PF/C - Atlanta Hawks (18% rostered)
Steals - Streaming Options
Jae Crowder - SF/PF - Phoenix Suns (28% rostered)
Crowder has been a prototypical "3 and D" player in the NBA for his whole career, and this year is a great example of a guy living up to his reputation; Crowder is averaging 1.2 steals per game, and 1.9 made 3's per game. After returning from another absence (a bit of a theme for Crowder this year), he has registered 10 steals in his past 5 games.
Other streamers:
- Gary Payton II - PG/SG - Golden State Warriors (15% rostered)
- Josh Richardson - SG/SF - Boston Celtics (6% rostered)
- Darius Bazley - SF/PF - Oklahoma City Thunder (20% rostered)
Threes - Streaming Options
Patty Mills - PG/SG - Brooklyn Nets (42% rostered)
Double-dipping on the Nets here because an injury as impactful as Durant's does not come along every week. Mills has been a sniper all year, shooting 42% from 3 on outrageous volume (7.6 attempts per game). Mills is an elite waiver add this week, regardless of our sub-50% rostered criteria.
Other streamers:
- Max Struss - SG/SF - Miami Heat (20% rostered)
- Furkan Korkmaz - SG/SF - Philadelphia 76ers (5% rostered)
- Nicolas Batum - SF/PF - LA Clippers (18% rostered)
- Jae Crowder - SF/PF - Phoenix Suns (28% rostered)
Field Goal Percentage - Streaming Options
Onyeka Okongwu - PF/C - Atlanta Hawks (18% rostered)
Okongwu has the potential to be a very high upside waiver find. He has been the main beneficiary of Clint Capela missing time, and the 2nd year USC product has been taking advantage. His stats aren't eye-popping but Okongwu has been pounding the offensive glass during this recent stretch of play, and as I've discussed before; that's the easiest path to a high FG%.
Other streamers:
- Nicolas Batum - SF/PF - LA Clippers (18% rostered)
- Gary Payton II - PG/SG - Golden State Warriors (20% rostered)
- Derrick Favors - C - Oklahoma City Thunder (19% rostered)
Free Throw Percentage - Streaming Options
Danilo Gallinari - SF/PF - Atlanta Hawks (19% rostered)
Gallinari is certainly not who I expected to feature here, but his numbers back it up. Gallinari is shooting an impressive 92.5% from the free-throw line so far this year, which shouldn't be surprising given his reputation as a shooter. However, I was surprised to see that he averages 2.4 attempts per game. Gallinari can be a bit streaky, but with the Hawks recently trading Cam Reddish, some minutes have opened up on the wings in Atlanta.
Other streamers:
- Furkan Korkmaz - SG/SF - Philadelphia 76ers (9% rostered)
- Brandon Clarke - SF/PF - Memphis Grizzlies (20% rostered)
- Max Struss - SG/SF - Miami Heat (20% rostered)
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