Deni Avdija (SF, WAS) - Fantasy Basketball Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 10

BALLER MOVE: Add in 14+ Team Leagues

ROSTERED IN: 7% of leagues

ANALYSIS: First of all, I have to admit that I fell for Deni Avdija before he entered the NBA and ahead of the 2020 draft. I was high on him, and now that hype I built around his name if only inside my brain, might have been a little too big for what the forward has done to date on American soil.

All of that said, Avdija has been improving and he's now a kinda important part of the Wizards, with the upside to become an even larger figure of the franchise depending on which route the organization takes (delusional contention, or obvious rebuild).

Avdija, mind you, is the starting SF for Washington on a nightly basis. Kyle Kuzma has already said that he is entering free agency this summer no matter what. In other words, Avdija is going nowhere. The third-year forward has averaged 34 MPG in the past two weeks and seven games through Saturday.

Of course, the sky-high minutes are basically dropping his efficiency to below-ground levels. Avdija's 0.86 FP/min is below the 0.90 league-average figure, but the positive is that staying for such a large time on the court helps him make up for that on pure volume. Avdija has scored 10+ points in four of his last six games and 7+ points in seven consecutive games through Saturday.

Avdija's appeal comes from the shooting percentages and 3-point prowess more than his actual points scored (he almost never tops 10 FGA).

The rebounding is quite nice and he also dishes out dimes with a passion while keeping turnovers (mostly) at bay, in case that impacts outcomes in your league. In games with 10+ MP this month, Avdija is putting up a 10-8-4-1 line and he's stolen at least one possession in four of five of seven games in that span.

More Fantasy Basketball Waiver Wire Pickups

League Winners: Players To Stash For the Stretch Run - 2024 Fantasy Basketball

The All-Star Break is upon us and while it's nice to have some time off from setting lineups, making DFS lineups, and placing bets. It's also a nice time to look ahead and what moves you can make to put your team in the best position possible to win a fantasy basketball title. Remember, the […]

Dan Palyo 9 months ago

Trendon Watford (PF, POR) - Fantasy Basketball Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 23

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues ROSTERED IN: 7% of leagues ANALYSIS: According to Shams Charania of The Athletic (reporting on Sunday morning), the Portland Trail Blazers are leaning toward shutting down Damian Lillard for the remainder of the season. The Blazers, mind you, have been without Jerami Grant, Anfernee Simons, Lillard, and Jusuf […]

Antonio Losada 2 years ago

Xavier Tillman Sr. (PF, MEM) - Fantasy Basketball Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 23

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues ROSTERED IN: 7% of leagues ANALYSIS: With just a week and a half remaining in the regular season and Memphis sitting pretty in the no. 2 seed in the Western Conference, it's hard to envision Steven Adams returning before the playoffs and risking any sort of setback in […]

Antonio Losada 2 years ago

Deni Avdija (SF, WAS) - Fantasy Basketball Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 23

BALLER MOVE: Add in 14+ Team Leagues ROSTERED IN: 8% of leagues ANALYSIS: The surge of Deni Avdija in all fantasy leaderboards has a very easy-to-grasp reason and that's Kyle Kuzma missing time with an injury. Ruled out Sunday, that made it four consecutive outings missed by the Kuz, which has clearly opened the door […]

Antonio Losada 2 years ago

Nick Richards (C, CHA) - Fantasy Basketball Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 23

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues ROSTERED IN: 9% of leagues ANALYSIS: Rookie Mark Williams returned to the Charlotte Hornets' rotation on Friday and logged 21 minutes coming off the pine. Nick Richards started at center for the seventh consecutive time, but keep in mind Williams had done so for 12 straight games before […]

Antonio Losada 2 years ago