RADIO
Stan Son looks at some mid-week waiver wire options for fantasy basketball leagues. These players may be free agents to pick up off waivers in Week 14.
Our one and only, Milos Zvekic broke down the Week 14 streamers earlier this week and will continue to do so all season long. I will be chiming in mid-week to add some sprinkles and frosting onto the beautifully baked Zvekic cake.
For the rest of Week 11 (Thursday to Sunday), there are 15 teams with a back-to-back (ATL, CHA, DAL, GSW, IND, MIL, MIN, NOP, NYK, OKC, ORL, PHI, POR, SAC, and UTA), six teams play three games (ATL, CHA, GSW, NOP, ORL, and PHI), while two teams (PHX and TOR) play one game. Check out the schedule grid for a better picture. As usual, I will try and isolate players who are rostered in less than 50% of Yahoo leagues and could contribute.
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ATLANTA HAWKS
The Hawks travel to San Antonio on Thursday, to New Orleans on Friday, then host the Warriors on Sunday. SA is 16th in pace and 12th in defensive efficiency. NOP is 18th in pace and 28th in defensive efficiency. GSW is 2nd in pace and 8th in defensive efficiency.
BOSTON CELTICS
The Celtics host the Rockets on Friday then the Hornets on Sunday. HOU is 5th in pace and 12th in defensive efficiency. CHA is 14th in pace and 19th in defensive efficiency.
BROOKLYN NETS
The Nets host the Hornets on Thursday then travel to Chicago on Sunday. CHA is 14th in pace and 19th 12th in defensive efficiency. CHI is 8th in pace and 15th 12th in defensive efficiency.
CHARLOTTE HORNETS
The Hornets travel to Brooklyn on Thursday, to Indiana on Friday, then to Boston on Sunday. BKN is 13th in pace and 23rd in defensive efficiency. IND is 9th in pace and 11th in defensive efficiency. BOS is 19th in pace and 22nd in defensive efficiency. Malik Monk (PG/SG - 23% rostered) is dealing with a foot issue but he's worth the pickup for as long as LaMelo Ball is out. Since Ball went down, Monk has seen his playing time increase by almost 10 minutes per game, from the teens up to 26 mpg. He is the microwave off the bench for the Hornets and, when he's on the court, he's hucking and chucking. He's attempted 17, 10, and 15 shots while garnering a usage rate of 34.7, 25.1, and 26.9. He's gone for 32, 19, and 11 points. He will provide the points, three-pointers, and steals.
CHICAGO BULL
The Bulls travel to Utah on Friday then host the Nets on Saturday. UTA is 15th in pace and 3rd in defensive efficiency. BKN is 13th in pace and 23rd in defensive efficiency. Tomas Satoransky (PG/SG - 20% rostered) is starting and playing around 28 minutes per game. His main contribution is in assists but he provides some steals and is very efficient from the field, shooting over 50%.
CLEVELAND CAVALIERS
The Cavaliers host the 76ers on Thursday then travel to Miami on Saturday. PHI is 7th in pace and 2nd in defensive efficiency. MIA is 26th in pace and 6th in defensive efficiency.
DALLAS MAVERICKS
The Mavericks travel to New York on Friday then to Washington D. C. the following night. NYK is 30th in pace and 4th in defensive efficiency. WAS is 1st in pace and 26th in defensive efficiency. Maxi Kleber (PF/C - 20% rostered) won't provide many points but he does contribute three-pointers and blocks from the big man position. The field goal percentage isn't great, though, because most of his attempts are from the perimeter.
DENVER NUGGETS
The Nuggets travel to Los Angeles to face the Clippers on Thursday then host the Magic on Sunday. LAC is 26th in pace and 10th in defensive efficiency. ORL is 19th in pace and 17th in defensive efficiency.
DETROIT PISTONS
The Pistons host the Wizards on Thursday then the Knicks on Saturday. WAS is 1st in pace and 26th in defensive efficiency. NYK is 30th in pace and 4th in defensive efficiency. Hamidou Diallo (SG/SF - 31% rostered) isn't starting....yet, but I think that happens sooner than later. He missed his last 12 games in Oklahoma City before getting traded so he's still getting ramped up. Since joining the Pistons, he played 19 minutes in his debut and received 27 minutes in his most recent game. He garnered a usage rate of 24.3 and contributed 19 points, one three-pointer, 10 rebounds, three assists, one steal, and two blocks. The team thinks highly of him and he has displaced Josh Jackson completely from the rotation. Saddiq Bey (SF - 35% rostered) is playing over 32 minutes per game. He's attempting double-digit shots each game and averaging close to 15 points. He contributes three-pointers and rebounds. He doesn't provide much in the defensive categories, though, and the field goal percentage is poor (41% on the season). Still, he's been a top 65 player over the past seven games. Isaiah Stewart (PF/C - 13% rostered) has played 22 and 30 minutes in the last two games. Mason Plumlee was in foul trouble so he got extra run last game but there's a chance the Pistons start developing their young players. Stewart is one of those players. If he gets the minutes, Stewart can provide plenty of rebounds and blocks with an excellent field goal percentage. Saben Lee (PG - 5% rostered) has started the last two games and played 26 and 25 minutes. He's stuffed the stat sheet and garnered a 28.8 usage rate in the most recent game, scoring 19 points. Dennis Smith Jr. has been out so when he returns along with Killian Hayes, Lee will be a non-factor once again. Ride the wave before it crashes down.
GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS
The Warriors travel to Miami on Thursday, to Florida the following night to face the Raptors, then to Atlanta on Sunday. MIA is 26th in pace and 6th in defensive efficiency. TOR is 10th in pace and 18th in defensive efficiency. ATL is 22nd in pace and 23rd in defensive efficiency.
HOUSTON ROCKETS
The Rockets travel to Boston on Friday then host the Pelicans on Sunday. BOS is 19th in pace and 22nd in defensive efficiency. NOP is 18th in pace and 28th in defensive efficiency. Kelly Olynyk (PF/C - 48% rostered) has started the last two games and played 34 and 25 minutes. He's stuffed the stat sheet while scoring 25 and 16 points. Christian Wood has been out, but even when he returns, Olynyk should still be a significant part of the rotation. Just know that the highs can be high but the lows can be very low. Jae'sean Tate (SG/SF/PF - 41% rostered) is averaging over 32 minutes per game and averaging 12.1 points, 1.1 three-pointers, 6.3 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 1.5 steals, and 0.9 blocks over the last eight games. That's been good for top 65 value. Why isn't he owned in more than 50% of leagues? Crazy.
INDIANA PACERS
The Pacers host the Hornets on Friday then travel to San Antonio the following night. CHA is 14th in pace and 19th in defensive efficiency. SA is 16th in pace and 12th in defensive efficiency. T. J. McConnell (PG/SG - 48% rostered) has seen the playing time decrease down to 22 minutes per game. He's still providing plenty of assists and steals, though.
LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS
The Clippers host the Nuggets on Thursday then the Lakers on Sunday. DEN is 29th in pace and 20th in defensive efficiency. LAL is 17th in pace and 1st in defensive efficiency.
LOS ANGELES LAKERS
The Lakers travel to Sacramento on Friday then to Los Angeles to face the Clippers on Sunday. SAC is 10th in pace and 30th in defensive efficiency. LAC is 26th in pace and 10th in defensive efficiency.
MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES
The Grizzlies host the Timberwolves on Friday then travel to Philadelphia on Sunday. MIN is 3rd in pace and 27th in defensive efficiency. PHI is 7th in pace and 2nd in defensive efficiency.
MIAMI HEAT
The Heat host the Warriors on Thursday then the Cavaliers on Saturday. GSW is 2nd in pace and 8th in defensive efficiency. CLE is 25th in pace and 21st in defensive efficiency.
MILWAUKEE BUCKS
The Bucks travel to Portland on Friday then to Sacramento the following night. POR is 19th in pace and 29th in defensive efficiency. SAC is 10th in pace and 30th in defensive efficiency.
MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES
The Timberwolves travel to Memphis on Friday then to Philadelphia the following night. MEM is 6th in pace and 7th in defensive efficiency. PHI is 7th in pace and 2nd in defensive efficiency. Jaden McDaniels (PF - 23% rostered) has started the last four games and averaged 33.9 minutes, 12.5 points, two three-pointers, 4.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists, and two blocks. That's been top 40 production! He's starting and provides three-pointers from the big man position. Don't expect the hot shooting to continue, though, as he's shooting 43% on the season.
NEW ORLEANS PELICANS
The Pelicans host the Magic on Thursday, the Hawks on Friday, then travel to Houston on Sunday. ORL is 19th in pace and 17th in defensive efficiency. ATL is 22nd in pace and 23rd in defensive efficiency. HOU is 5th in pace and 12th in defensive efficiency. Nickeil Alexander-Walker (SG - 38% rostered) has started the last five games with Lonzo Ball out. He's averaged around 34 minutes per contest and been a top 75 player. Ball could miss some more time, so fire up NAW until he returns. NAW provides points, three-pointers, rebounds, and defensive stats. The shooting efficiency can be rough, though.
NEW YORK KNICKS
The Knicks host the Mavericks on Friday then travel to Detroit the following night. DAL is 24th in pace and 25th in defensive efficiency. DET is 22nd in pace and 16th in defensive efficiency.
OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER
The Thunder travel to Phoenix on Friday then host the Trail Blazers the following night. PHX is 28th in pace and 5th in defensive efficiency. POR is 19th in pace and 29th in defensive efficiency. Kenrich Williams (SF/PF - 4% rostered) should see significant playing time in the short-term because Aleksej Pokusevski is in health and safety protocols. In the last six games, Williams was averaging 22.6 minutes, 10 points, one three-pointer, 4.2 rebounds, three assists, 0.5 steals, and 0.3 blocks while shooting 59% from the field. The free-throw shooting is awful at 50% but he attempts fewer than one per game, so the impact is minimal.
ORLANDO MAGIC
The Magic travel to New Orleans on Thursday, to Utah on Saturday, then to Denver on Sunday. NOP is 18th in pace and 28th in defensive efficiency. UTA is 15th in pace and 3rd in defensive efficiency. DEN is 29th in pace and 20th in defensive efficiency. Chuma Okeke (PF - 43% rostered) has started the last three games since Operation Tank commenced in the Magic Kingdom. He's been a top 40 player, averaging 28.9 minutes, 17.8 points, three three-pointers, 4.8 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 1.3 steals. Now, the shooting efficiency has been otherworldly at 62% from the field and 83% from the line. On the season, he's shooting 43% from the field and 70% from the line, so expect some regression in those areas. With that said, he's going to play a ton of minutes and accumulate plenty of counting stats.
PHILADELPHIA 76ers
The 76ers travel to Cleveland on Thursday, host the Timberwolves on Saturday, then host the Grizzlies on Sunday. CLE is 25th in pace and 21st in defensive efficiency. MIN is 3rd in pace and 27th in defensive efficiency. MEM is 6th in pace and 7th in defensive efficiency. Danny Green (SG/SF - 47% rostered) has been a top 15 player over the last seven games. What a time to be alive. He's been shooting over 50% from the field, which has contributed to the spike in points. On the season, he's at 41% so expect to bubble to burst. Green will still be valuable, though, because it's the contributions in the defensive categories that elevate him.
PHOENIX SUNS
The Suns host the Thunder on Friday. OKC is 10th in pace and 14th in defensive efficiency.
PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS
The Trail Blazers host the Bucks on Friday then travel to Oklahoma City the following night. MIL is 4th in pace and 9th in defensive efficiency. OKC is 10th in pace and 14th in defensive efficiency.
SACRAMENTO KINGS
The Kings host the Lakers on Friday then the Bucks on Saturday. LAL is 17th in pace and 1st in defensive efficiency. MIL is 4th in pace and 9th in defensive efficiency.
SAN ANTONIO SPURS
The Spurs host the Hawks on Thursday then the Pacers on Saturday. ATL is 22nd in pace and 23rd in defensive efficiency. IND is 9th in pace and 11th in defensive efficiency.
TORONTO RAPTORS
The Raptors host the Warriors on Friday. GSW is 2nd in pace and 8th in defensive efficiency.
UTAH JAZZ
The Jazz host the Bulls on Friday then the Magic on Saturday. CHI is 8th in pace and 15th in defensive efficiency. ORL is 19th in pace and 17th in defensive efficiency.
WASHINGTON WIZARDS
The Wizards travel to Detroit on Thursday then host the Mavericks on Saturday. DET is 22nd in pace and 16th in defensive efficiency. DAL is 24th in pace and 25th in defensive efficiency.
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