Jaxson Hayes (C, NOP): Week 22 Waiver Wire Pickups

Jaxon Hayes is worth considering as a fantasy basketball waiver wire pickup heading into Week 22 of the NBA season.

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ANALYSIS: With the Blazers tanking and the Spurs incapable of doing a lot, it's possible that New Orleans ends making it all the way to the postseason with either the 9th or 10th seed depending on how erratically the Lakers play ROS. With Brandon Ingram and CJ McCollum missing games and the lineup flipping to a smaller bigger one, Hayes has found himself starting 12 games in a row and all 11 after the break. If you have followed my writing through the season, you know I'm a true Hayes believer, so you bet I'm all in for this move by the Pelicans.

Hayes is starting games and most importantly getting large runs of play averaging 26 MPG in this 12-game span and an even bulkier 30 MPG in the last week of play (four games). In those four: 16-5 with 1.5 blocks has been the line. Not bad if you ask me, even more considering Hayes is hoisting a low 8 FGA while getting usage rates below 16%. almost every day.

There is clear upside in the blocked-shot department for Hayes; he's swatted at least one shot in nine of the last 12 games he's started, averaging exactly one block per game in that span. The shooting is up at 65% from the field after the break, the turnovers are a bit high vs. the assists (0.9 to 0.8 ratio) but the rebounds are good enough at 5.7+ RPG... and somehow Hayes has found his three-point stroke of late with six treys in the past four games. Keep an eye on that late development because this can truly be a game-changer, folks.

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