NBA Fantasy Weekly Streamers for Week 18 (Apr 26 - May 2)

Milos Zvekic's fantasy basketball waiver wire streamers for head-to-head leagues. He reviews the Week 18 NBA schedule (4/26 - 5/2) and streaming options to pick up.

The fantasy NBA playoffs are in full swing. I hope you're still going strong! Perhaps you'll need to cut some of your weaker players if they play on days you already have a full roster on, especially with so many days with 8+ games this week.

If that's the case, you're in the right place!

I've taken a look ahead and here are my thoughts on the fantasy basketball streamers for Week 18. 

NBA Schedule Guide - Week 18

Here's the low-down:

Teams with 5 games:
Dallas Mavericks
Oklahoma City Thunder
Toronto Raptors

Teams with 4 games:
Atlanta Hawks
Boston Celtics
Brooklyn Nets
Charlotte Hornets
Chicago Bulls
Cleveland Cavaliers
Denver Nuggets
Houston Rockets
Los Angeles Lakers
Memphis Grizzlies
Miami Heat
Milwaukee Bucks
Minnesota Timberwolves
New Orleans Pelicans
Orlando Magic
Philadelphia 76ers
Phoenix Suns
Portland Trail Blazers
Sacramento Kings
San Antonio Spurs
Utah Jazz
Washington Wizards

Teams with 3 games:
Detroit Pistons
Golden State Warriors
Indiana Pacers
Los Angeles Clippers
New York Knicks

Number of teams playing each day:
Monday: 22
Tuesday: 12
Wednesday: 20
Thursday: 12
Friday: 16
Saturday: 20
Sunday: 16

Back-to-Backs (beware of older or banged-up players who might rest):
Monday/Tuesday: DAL, MIN, OKC, TOR
Tuesday/Wednesday: BOS, CHA, POR
Wednesday/Thursday: DEN, NOP
Thursday/Friday: BKN, MIL
Friday/Saturday: ATL, CHI, CLE, MEM, ORL, UTA
Saturday/Sunday: CHA, DAL, HOU, MIA, OKC, TOR
Sunday/Monday the following: LAL, NYK, PHI, POR, SAS

Days with SIX or fewer games:
Tuesday: 6 games
Thursday: 6 games

Teams playing on both days:
Dallas Mavericks (5 games - Mon, Tue, Thurs, Sat, Sun)
Oklahoma City Thunder (5 games - Mon, Tue, Thurs, Sat, Sun)
Toronto Raptors (5 games - Mon, Tue, Thurs, Sat, Sun)
Brooklyn Nets (4 games - Tue, Thurs, Fri, Sun)
Houston Rockets (4 games - Tue, Thurs, Sat, Sun)
Milwaukee Bucks (4 games - Tue, Thurs, Fri, Sun)
Minnesota Timberwolves (4 games - Mon, Tue, Thurs, Sat)
Golden State Warriors (3 games - Tue, Thurs, Sat)
Indiana Pacers (3 games - Tue, Thurs, Sat)

Teams with a GOOD START to the week (three games from Monday to Thursday)
Dallas Mavericks (5 games - Mon, Tue, Thurs, Sat, Sun)
Oklahoma City Thunder (5 games - Mon, Tue, Thurs, Sat, Sun)
Toronto Raptors (5 games - Mon, Tue, Thurs, Sat, Sun)
Minnesota Timberwolves (4 games - Mon, Tue, Thurs, Sat)
Denver Nuggets (4 games - Mon, Wed, Thurs, Sat)
New Orleans Pelicans (4 games - Mon, Wed, Thurs, Sat)

Teams with a GOOD END to the week (three games from Thursday to Sunday)
Dallas Mavericks (5 games - Mon, Tue, Thurs, Sat, Sun)
Oklahoma City Thunder (5 games - Mon, Tue, Thurs, Sat, Sun)
Toronto Raptors (5 games - Mon, Tue, Thurs, Sat, Sun)
Brooklyn Nets (4 games - Tue, Thurs, Fri, Sun)
Houston Rockets (4 games - Tue, Thurs, Sat, Sun)
Milwaukee Bucks (4 games - Tue, Thurs, Fri, Sun)

Teams with a POOR START to the week (one or no games from Monday to Thursday)
-

Teams with a POOR END to the week (one or no games from Thursday to Sunday)
Los Angeles Clippers (3 games - Mon, Wed, Sat)
New York Knicks (3 games - Mon, Wed, Sun)

Baller Streaming Strategy for Week 18

With only Tuesday and Thursday (both with six games) having fewer than eight games played, our full attention will go to teams that play on both of these days. There are nine such teams:

• Playing five games: Dallas, Oklahoma City and Toronto
• Playing four games: Brooklyn, Houston, Milwaukee and Minnesota
• Playing three games: Golden State and Indiana

Our options will be limited to players from these nine teams, as they have the most potential to help fantasy GMs fill out their rosters on days we need help to do so.

Streaming Options for Week 18

Shallower League Streaming Adds for the Week (Rostered in 25-75 % of Yahoo leagues):
Tim Hardaway Jr., SG/SF, DAL, (55% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, PTS
Josh Richardson, SG/SF, DAL, (43% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, FT%, STL
Dorian Finney-Smith, SF/PF, DAL, (31% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, STL, REB
Jalen Brunson, PG/SG, DAL, (27% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, AST
Luguentz Dort SG/SF, OKC, (54% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, PTS, STL
Darius Bazley, SF/PF, OKC, (51% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, PTS, REB
Moses Brown, C, OKC, (39% Rostered) - Strong Cats: REB, BLK/STL, FG% - buyer beware: his playing time has dropped significantly
Gary Trent Jr., SG/SF, TOR, (60% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, PTS, STL
Joe Harris, SG/SF, BKN, (71% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, PTS, FG%
DeAndre Jordan, C, BKN, (49% Rostered) - Strong Cats: FG%, REB, BLK - buyer beware: poor FT%
Blake Griffin, PF/C, BKN, (46% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, REB, AST - buyer beware: plays limited minutes and is far from the old Blake Griffin
Bruce Brown, SG, BKN, (42% Rostered) - Strong Cats: REB, STL, FG%
Landry Shamet, PG/SG, BKN, (26% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, PTS, FT%
Kelly Olynyk, PF/C, HOU, (73% Rostered) - Strong Cats: FG%, 3PM, REB, a bit of everything
Kevin Porter Jr., SG/SF, HOU, (67% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, PTS, AST - buyer beware: is currently in health and safety protocols
Jae'sean Tate, SG/SF/PF, HOU, (64% Rostered) - Strong Cats: REB, STL, a bit of everything
Donte Divincenzo, PG/SG, MIL, (64% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, REB, AST, STL
Bobby Portis, PF/C, MIL, (47% Rostered) - Strong Cats: FG%, 3PM, REB, STL/BLK
Ricky Rubio, PG, MIN, (59% Rostered) - Strong Cats: AST, STL, FT%
T.J. McConnell, PG/SG, IND, (62% Rostered) - Strong Cats: AST, STL, FG%
Justin Holiday, SG/SF, IND, (38% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, STL
Oshae Brissett, SF/PF, IND, (25% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, REB, STL/BLK

Shallower League Add

Darius Bazley, SF/PF, OKC, (51% Rostered)

Strong Cats: 3PM, PTS, REB

Let me start this one off by saying Bazley is definitely an acquired taste. He is pretty good at several stats but can be quite hurtful in others, so if you're fond of your percentages and turnovers, you might want to look elsewhere.

So, now that we got that out of the way, let's look at what Bazley offers. Over the past two weeks, he has averaged 19.4 PTS with 1.4 3PM on 41.4 FG and 75.0 FT%, 6.6 REB, 1.3 AST, 1.0 STL, 0.1 BLK and 2.1 TO  in 33 minutes a game. As I mentioned before, the counting stats are nice, but his inefficient shooting and turning the ball over quite a lot for a forward has kept Bazley out of even the top 200 for this period.

With the five-game week coming up, Bazley can really contribute to your points, boards and three-pointers made totals, while giving a slight push in dimes, steals and blocks. He will, however, put a dent into your efforts to win both FG% and FT%, as well as turnovers, so tread lightly if you're trying to be competitive in these categories next week.

Deeper League Add

Khem Birch, PF/C, TOR, (18% Rostered)

Strong Cats: STL/BLK, REB

Positive Circumstance: is seeing increased minutes with Chris Boucher out

After being waived by the Orlando Magic, Khem has found his new home in Toronto (well actually Tamba Bay) and, being Canadian himself, he has gotten accustomed to it quite quickly. After his first game when he played just 18 minutes, he went on to get a larger role and has played 24+ minutes in six straight games averaging 9.5 points with 0.5 threes on 56.1% from the field and 61.5% from the charity stripe, 6.5 boards, 1.3 dimes, 0.8 steals, 1.7 blocks and 1.0 turnovers in almost 28 minutes a night.

For any team that doesn't focus on points, threes and free throws, Khem can be worth gold if he can keep up his current form in a five-game week. Especially with Chris Boucher out with a sprained MCL and Aron Baynes seemingly out of the rotation.

Birch is looking at around 30 minutes a night, and as he has been pretty healthy, he shouldn't be in much risk of being rested on the two back-to-backs next week. If he can keep going at the speed he has lately, Khem could be on track to get you around 50 points, 30 boards and 10 combined steals and blocks during Week 18. Not too shabby for a guy rostered in less than 1/5 of Yahoo leagues.

Insanely Deep League Add

Dwight Powell, PF/C, DAL, (3% Rostered) 

Strong Cats: REB, FG%, STL

I was planning on writing about Maxi Kleber here, but changed my mind in the last second for one simple reason: I think Kleber could get a rest or two next week. He has just returned from a one-game absence due to a back injury, and was missing games here and there a few weeks ago as well, so with two back-to-backs in Week 18, he is quite a risk.

On the other hand, Powell has played in 13 straight games, and even though he eclipsed the 20 minute mark just twice, that just might be a positive thing here, as he wasn't overplayed and might just be one of the fresher and healthier guys on the Mavs roster (which is weird to say about Powell given his injury history).

Over the past 14 days, Powell has averaged 8.1 PTS on 82.9 FG% (yup, you read that correctly and no, I haven't made a typo) and 70.0 FT%, 4.1 REB, 9.8 AST, 1.0 STL, 0.3 BLK and 1.0 TO in just under 16 minutes a night. Not that great is it? No wonder he is rostered in just 3% of the leagues.

So what makes me think he can be of help next week?

Here is the current state of Dallas' power forwards and centers:

Kristaps Porzingis - missed the last game due to a sprained ankle
Maxi Kleber - played in eight out of the previous 12 games
Willie Cauley-Stein - played in five out of the previous 12 games
Boban Marjanovic - no love for Boban 🙁 .... played in just two out of the previous 12 games

With so many injuries to the Mavs' frontcourt and two back-to-backs coming up in the upcoming five-game week, some rests are coming, and this could mean more minutes for Dwight. A sneak preview of what might happen during the next week could be seen in the last game against the Lakers, as Powell played 28 minutes with the Unicorn out, going 11-of-12 from the field and 3-of-3 from the line for 25 points with nine boards to go along with it.

If you're looking for some help in boards and stocks, with decent percentages and low turnovers from a guy who is available in most leagues and should take the court five times next week, Powell just might reward those who believe in him.

Other Deep League Options for the Week

Rostered in less than 25% of Yahoo leagues

Maxi Kleber, PF/C, DAL, (13% Rostered) - Strong Cats: REB, FT%, 3PM, STL/BLK
J.J. Redick, SG, DAL, (6% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, FT%
Willie Cauley-Stein, PF/C, DAL, (3% Rostered) - Strong Cats: REB, FG%, BLK
Dwight Powell, PF/C, DAL, (3% Rostered) - Strong Cats: REB, FG%, STL
Aleksej Pokusevski, SF, OKC, (22% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, PTS, REB, BLK/STL
Theo Maledon, PG, OKC, (14% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, PTS, AST, STL
Isaiah Roby, PF/C, OKC, (7% Rostered) - Strong Cats: REB, STL/BLK
Kenrich Williams, SF/PF, OKC, (5% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, REB, STL
Tony Bradley, C, OKC, (5% Rostered) - Strong Cats: REB, FG%, BLK
Svi Mykhailiuk, SF, OKC, (3% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, PTS, STL
Ty Jerome, PG/SG, OKC, (3% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, STL, AST
Khem Birch, PF/C, TOR, (18% Rostered) - Strong Cats: STL/BLK, REB - positive circumstance: is seeing increased minutes with Chris Boucher out
Malachi Flynn, PG, TOR, (20% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, AST, STL - buyer beware: his playing time has dropped with the Raptors' guards returning from injuires
Yuta Watanabe, SF/PF, TOR, (1% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM
Freddie Gillespie, SF, TOR, (1% Rostered) - Strong Cats: REB, BLK
Jeff Green, SF/PF/C, BKN, (17% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, REB, a bit of everything
Nicolas Claxton, C, BKN, (5% Rostered) - Strong Cats: REB, BLK/STL, FG% - buyer beware: is currently out due to health and safety protocols
Timothé Luwawu-Cabarrot, SG/SF, BKN, (0% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM - buyer beware: is only an option when the Nets have a few players out
KJ Martin Jr., SF, HOU, (3% Rostered) - Strong Cats: REB, STL/BLK
Armoni Brooks., PG, HOU, (1% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM
Avery Bradley, SG/SF, HOU, (1% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, STL - buyer beware: is currently out due to an illness (not Covid)
Anthony Lamb, SF, HOU, (0% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM - buyer beware: is only an option when the Rockets have a few players out
Jeff Teague, PG, MIL, (17% Rostered) - Strong Cats: AST, STL
Pat Connaughton, SG/SF, MIL, (8% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, REB, STL
Bryn Forbes, PG/SG, MIL, (2% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM
P.J. Tucker., PF/C, MIL, (10% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, STL
Naz Reid, C, MIN, (1% Rostered) - Strong Cats: REB, FG%, BLK
Jaden McDaniels, SF/PF, MIN, (9% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, BLK
Jarred Vanderbilt, SF/PF/C, MIN, (9% Rostered) - Strong Cats: FG%, REB, STL/BLK
Josh Okogie, SG/SF, MIN, (1% Rostered) - Strong Cats: STL
Jordan McLaughlin, PG, MIN, (1% Rostered) - Strong Cats: AST, STL - buyer beware: plays very limited minutes lately
Juancho Hernangómez, PF/C, MIN, (1% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, REB
Kevon Looney, PF/C, GSW, (5% Rostered) - Strong Cats: REB, FG%, STL/BLK - positive circumstance: should get more minutes due to both James Wiseman and Eric Paschall being out
Juan Toscano-Anderson, SF/PF, GSW, (2% Rostered) - Strong Cats: REB, STL/BLK, FG% - positive circumstance: should get more minutes due to both James Wiseman and Eric Paschall being out
Jordan Poole, PG/SG, GSW, (10% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, PTS, FT%
Doug McDermott, SF/PF, IND, (9% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, PTS, FT%
Jeremy Lamb, SG/SF, IND, (9% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, STL, FT% - buyer beware: missed three straight games due to a sore knee
Edmond Sumner, PG/SG, IND, (3% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, AST, STL

Good luck guys and may the fantasy Gods smile upon you!

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