November 29, 2016

Milos Zvekic looks at NBA players to target on the waiver wire when punting FT%, assists, and/or threes. Follow RotoBaller for more fantasy basketball strategy.

Is your team is big heavy? Do you own DeAndre Jordan or Andre Drummond? Your first few picks can't shoot from distance or pass very well? Did you decide to punt any or all of those categories at which usually guards excel?

If so, here are a few players who might fit your team like a glove, and could still be sitting on your league's waiver wire.

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Waiver Wire Guard for Punting Small Stats

P.J. Tucker, SG/SF, PHO (8% owned in Yahoo! leagues)

On a healthy Phoenix team P.J. Tucker is a deep league option for owners in need of solid rebounding and steals. He averages 5.9 REB and 1.1 STL in 23 minutes of action per game. He adds 5.2 PTS, 0.9 AST and 0.2 BLK and does it on poor shooting of 38.5% from the field and 73.7% from the charity stripe this season. So he is not spectacular when the Suns are complete.

But in six games since T.J. Warren got injured, P.J. is getting 31 minutes and averaging 8.1 PTS, 7.5 REB, 1 AST, 0.8 STL and, yes, even 1.2 3PM. And it's worth mentioning that in his last game, when Jared Dudley was out too, Tucker went off for 21 PTS, 8 REB, three 3PM, one assist and one steal on 60 FG% and hit 6 of his 7 free throws in 42 minutes on the court.

The Suns' general manager Ryan McDonough said a few days ago that T.J. Warren will probably miss a couple of weeks and there is little information on Dudley's injury. So even though P.J. Tucker isn't worth owning in most leagues in normal circumstances, he might just be worth the add for your matchup this week. Maybe even next week, and the week after, and the week after in the odd case some of these injuries linger on longer than expected. And do keep in mind that the Suns' frontcourt duo of Eric Bledsoe and Brandon Knight missed almost a whole season (81 games) between them last season. Any injury to the Suns frontcourt means more minutes and more relevance to P.J. Tucker.

Other guard options: Jeremy Lamb, SG/SF, CHA (8% owned), Seth Curry, PG/SG, DAL (34% owned), Thabo Sefolosha, SG/SF, ATL (16% owned)

Waiver Wire Forward for Punting Small Stats

Maurice Harkless has been on a tear since Al-Farouq Aminu got hurt. He scored in double digits in his last 7 games averaging 14.4 PTS, 6.4 REB, 0.8 STL, 0.4 BLK and 1.4 3PM on 52.5% field goals. And he has been getting 32 minutes a night, and that includes his 22 minutes in a blowout win against the Brooklyn Nets. Now those are some pretty stats for a guy owned in only half the leagues.

He found his place in Portland. It's a place where he fits well, plays well, and serves his fantasy owners well. Even when Aminu returns, Harkless is sure to get minutes in the high 20s and produce similar stats to what he is producing at the moment. Portland will give him room to develop and grow as a player in hopes that he will justify the four year $40 million contract they gave Maurice this past off season. Judging by his recent level of play, seems like money well spent. And it will cost you a lot less to pick him up if he is sitting on your waiver wire.

Other wing options: Brandon Ingram, SF, LAL (48% owned), Andre Iguodala, SG/SF, GSW (24% owned), Larry Nance Jr., PF, LAL (26% owned)

Waiver Wire Center for Punting Small Stats

Andrew Bogut, C, DAL (50% owned in Yahoo! leagues)

This is Andrew Bogut's 12th season in the NBA. He is an experienced veteran and you know exactly what you can expect from him. He will get you around 10 rebounds, one block, out of position assists-about two a night, and a steal here and there. He is averaging 10.5 REB which is good enough for number 11 in the NBA. He is a career 53.4% shooter from the field, although he is only hitting 42.6% of his field goals so far this season, scoring only 3.8 PTS a game. That is well below his averages from previous seasons, even in Golden State, where he had to share the ball with the likes of Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green, so it is probable that he will get his points average closer to ten than to zero.

Owners looking into adding Bogut should be aware that he will be getting a rest day here and there and with the Mavs currently at league's worst 3-13 he might be getting even less run as the season draws to a close. But for the time being, if you need elite rebounding with a splash of blocks and assists from your center, Bogut can be found on the wire in half of leagues, and is a great option if you're punting free throws.

Other center options: Joakim Noah, PF/C, NY (48% owned), Tyson Chandler, C, PHO (45% owned), Cody Zeller, PF/C CHA (43% owned)