Nick Richards (C, CHA) - Fantasy Basketball Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 21

March 12, 2023

Nick Richards is worth considering as a fantasy basketball waiver wire pickup heading into Week 21 of the 2022-23 NBA season.

BALLER MOVE: Add in 14+ Team Leagues

ROSTERED IN: 2% of leagues

ANALYSIS: Nick Richards is not Mark Williams, just in case you're confused. Yes, both of them are young guys stuck in Charlotte, and both of them happen to play the four and the five positions, but one (Williams) is starting games after Mason Plumlee got traded away while the other (Richards) is still coming off the pine and playing some 20 minutes per night.

Williams is already past the point of being a bargain WW target. His rostership is approaching 20% and it will only skyrocket higher and higher as the season comes to a close. Richards, on the other hand, can still be found in pretty much very league out there while available for nothing.

Williams sprained his right thumb against Detroit on Mar. 9 and that allowed Nick Richards to get a little bit more of playing time (29 MP) in which he was supremely fantastic putting up his ninth double-double of the season and the first since Dec. 19. Richards finished Thursday's game with 13 points, 10 rebounds, 2 blocks, one dime, and one steal.

From the start of February, Richards has played 13 games averaging per-game stat lines at 6-6 with 1.4 BPG. That is, actually, in just 19 MPG. On a per-36-minute basis, though, that average would jump up to a very healthy 11-11 with 2.5+ BPG. Those numbers are on par with the ones put up by Clint Capela, Rudy Gobert, and Ivica Zubac this season.

Williams should be back available and healthy more often than not ROS, but Richards should at least get some 20+ MPG going forward if only for the Hornets to see what they have in him and whether or not he will merit a roster spot in the future.

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