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 16.
Our one and only, Milos Zvekic broke down the Week 16 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 six teams with a back-to-back (CHI, DET, MEM, SAS, UTA, and WAS), zero teams play three games, while two teams (DEN and PHI) 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 host the Timberwolves on Thursday then the Pacers on Sunday. MIL is 3rd in pace and 8th in defensive efficiency. IND is 7th in pace and 11th in defensive efficiency.
BOSTON CELTICS
The Celtics travel to Los Angeles to face the Lakers on Thursday then host the Warriors on Saturday. LAL is 16th in pace and 1st in defensive efficiency. GS is 2nd in pace and 9th in defensive efficiency.
BROOKLYN NETS
The Nets host the Hornets on Friday then travel to Miami on Sunday. CHA is 14th in pace and 16th in defensive efficiency.
CHARLOTTE HORNETS
The Hornets travel to Brooklyn on Friday then host the Trail Blazers on Sunday. BKN is 13th in pace and 24th in defensive efficiency. POR is 19th in pace and 29th in defensive efficiency. Jalen McDaniels (PF/C - 40% rostered) is a low-usage player so don't expect many points. He has been starting, though, and playing over 36 minutes in the last three games. His main contributions come from rebounds, steals, and blocks. He will also drain the occasional three-pointer. Brad Wanamaker (PG/SG - 2% rostered) has been soaking up most of the backup guard minutes due to injuries for LaMelo Ball, Malik Monk, and Terry Rozier. For as long as any of them are out, Wanamaker will get significant minutes. Over the past six games, he's averaged 22.6 minutes, 10 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 4.7 assists. The usage rate has been a healthy 20.3 as well. If you need assists, Wanamaker could be viable.
CHICAGO BULLS
The Bulls host the Grizzlies on Friday then the Cavaliers the following night. MEM is 6th in pace and 7th in defensive efficiency. CLE is 24th in pace and 21st in defensive efficiency. Daniel Theis (PF/C - 40% rostered) has played 27 and 29 minutes in the last two games. He's scored double-digits in both and can provide rebounds and blocks.
CLEVELAND CAVALIERS
The Cavaliers host the Warriors on Thursday then travel to Chicago on Saturday. GS is 2nd in pace and 9th in defensive efficiency. CHI is 10th in pace and 17th in defensive efficiency.
DALLAS MAVERICKS
The Mavericks host the Knicks on Friday then the Kings on Sunday. NYK is 30th in pace and 3rd in defensive efficiency. SAC is 9th in pace and 30th in defensive efficiency. Dorian Finney-Smith (SF/PF - 26% rostered) plays 35 minutes and minutes are half the battle. Yo, Joe! DFS contributes a little in every category without hurting you anywhere. Jalen Brunson (PG/SG - 29% rostered) has played at least 29 minutes in five of the last six games. He provides points with a sprinkling of rebounds, assists, and three-pointers.
DENVER NUGGETS
The Nuggets travel to Houston on Friday. HOU is 5th in pace and 19th in defensive efficiency. With the injury to Jamal Murray, Facundo Campazzo (PG - 11% rostered) and Monte Morris (PG/SG - 17% rostered) become viable pickups. They will likely split the minutes right down the middle. The usage rate is low for Campazzo but he will provide some three-pointers, assists, and steals. Morris garners a higher usage rate but won't provide much outside of some points, assists, and three-pointers.
DETROIT PISTONS
The Pistons host the Thunder on Friday then travel to Washington D.C. on Saturday. OKC is 10th in pace and 21st in defensive efficiency. WAS is 1st in pace and 26th in defensive efficiency. Saddiq Bey (SF - 32% rostered) has been a top 30 player over the last three games. He's averaged 31.5 minutes, 17 points, three three-pointers, 4.3 rebounds, and 2.3 steals. The usage rate has ticked up to 20.9. He's a rookie so there will be inconsistencies, but he's getting as much playing time as he can handle and he may have figured out some things. Cory Joseph (PG - 16% rostered) has played over 30 minutes in each of the last three games. The usage rate has been over 20 in two of those contests. There have been injuries to the Pistons' backcourt, so it remains to be seen how the rotations will shake out then, but for now, Joseph is getting the minutes and producing points, assists, and steals. Josh Jackson (SG/SF - 21% rostered) has started the last eight games and averaged 24.7 minutes. The usage rate has been 25.1 and he will provide points, three-pointers, and a sprinkling of defensive stats, rebounds, and assists.
GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS
The Warriors travel to Cleveland on Thursday then to Boston on Saturday. CLE is 24th in pace and 21st in defensive efficiency. BOS is 21st in pace and 13th in defensive efficiency.
HOUSTON ROCKETS
The Rockets host the Nuggets on Friday then travel to Orlando on Sunday. DEN is 28th in pace and 18th in defensive efficiency. ORL is 19th in pace and 25th in defensive efficiency.
INDIANA PACERS
The Pacers travel to Utah on Friday then to Atlanta on Sunday. UTA 17th in pace and 4th in defensive efficiency. ATL 22nd in pace and 19th in defensive efficiency.
LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS
The Clippers travel to Philadelphia on Friday then host the Timberwolves on Sunday. PHI is 8th in pace and 2nd in defensive efficiency. MIN is 3rd in pace and 27th in defensive efficiency. Reggie Jackson (PG/SG - 28% rostered) has started the last two games and will be starting for the next few weeks due to the Patrick Beverley injury. The usage rate has been above 2o and he's dished out seven assists in both games in both games. He grabs some rebounds and has 20 real point upside. Marcus Morris (PF/C - 28% rostered) has started the last six games and averaged 29 minutes per. The usage rate has been 20 and he's attempted over 10 shots per game. Morris provides points, three-pointers, and rebounds.
LOS ANGELES LAKERS
The Lakers host the Celtics on Thursday then the Jazz on Saturday. BOS is 21st in pace and 13th in defensive efficiency. UTA is 17th in pace and 4th in defensive efficiency.
MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES
The Grizzlies travel to Chicago on Friday then to Milwaukee the following night. CHI is 10th in pace and 17th in defensive efficiency. MIL is 3rd in pace and 8th in defensive efficiency.
MIAMI HEAT
The Heat travel to Minnesota on Friday then host the Nets on Sunday. MIN is 3rd in pace and 27th in defensive efficiency. BKN is 13th in pace and 24th in defensive efficiency.
MILWAUKEE BUCKS
The Bucks travel to Atlanta on Thursday then host the Grizzlies on Saturday. ATL is 22nd in pace and 19th in defensive efficiency. MEM is 6th in pace and 7th in defensive efficiency.
MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES
The Timberwolves host the Heat on Friday then travel to Los Angeles to face the Clippers on Sunday. MIA is 27th in pace and 5th in defensive efficiency. LAC is 28th in pace and 10th in defensive efficiency.
NEW ORLEANS PELICANS
The Pelicans travel to Washington D.C. on Friday then to New York on Sunday. WAS is 1st in pace and 26th in defensive efficiency. NYK is 30th in pace and 3rd in defensive efficiency.
NEW YORK KNICKS
The Knicks travel to Dallas on Friday then host the Pelicans on Sunday. DAL is 25th in pace and 15th in defensive efficiency. NOP is 14th in pace and 28th in defensive efficiency.
OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER
The Thunder travel to Detroit on Friday then to Toronto/Florida on Sunday. DET is 22nd in pace and 21st in defensive efficiency. TOR is 12th in pace and 12th in defensive efficiency. Kenrich Williams (SF/PF - 7% rostered) should get back into the starting lineup with Aleksej Pokusevski now injured. In 10 games as a starter, Williams has averaged 31.2 minutes, 9.7 points, one three-pointer, seven rebounds, four assists, and 1.6 steals. The usage rate has been 15.
ORLANDO MAGIC
The Magic travel to Toronto/Florida on Friday then host the Rockets on Sunday. TOR is 12th in pace and 12th in defensive efficiency. HOU is 5th in pace and 19th in defensive efficiency. Cole Anthony (PG - 29% rostered) has played four games since returning from injury. He's averaged 24.8 minutes, 12.5 shots, five rebounds, and five assists. The usage rate has been 25.1. As he plays more games, the minutes could uptick into the 30s.
PHILADELPHIA 76ers
The 76ers host the Clippers on Friday. LAC is 28th in pace and 10th in defensive efficiency.
PHOENIX SUNS
The Suns host the Kings on Thursday then the Spurs on Saturday. SAC is 9th in pace and 30th in defensive efficiency. SA is 17th in pace and 14th in defensive efficiency.
PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS
The Trail Blazers travel to San Antonio on Friday then to Charlotte on Sunday. SA is 17th in pace and 14th in defensive efficiency. CHA is 14th in pace and 16th in defensive efficiency.
SACRAMENTO KINGS
The Kings travel to Phoenix on Thursday then to Dallas on Sunday. PHX is 25th in pace and 6th in defensive efficiency. DAL is 25th in pace and 15th in defensive efficiency. Moe Harkless (SF/PF - 2% rostered) has started the last three games and averaged 28.5 minutes. He's scored double figures in the past two games. That won't happen on the regular, though, He does have the ability to contribute a little something in every category but you'd roster him for the contributions in the defensive categories.
SAN ANTONIO SPURS
The Spurs host the Trail Blazers on Friday then travel to Phoenix on Saturday. POR is 19th in pace and 29th in defensive efficiency. PHX is 25th in pace and 6th in defensive efficiency.
TORONTO RAPTORS
The Raptors host the Magic on Friday then the Thunder on Sunday. ORL is 19th in pace and 25th in defensive efficiency. OKC is 10th in pace and 21st in defensive efficiency. Malachi Flynn (PG - 30% rostered) has averaged 31.3 minutes over the last seven games. Kyle Lowry and Fred VanVleet have been out so when one or both return, Flynn's value will likely dissipate. With that said, the Raptors could rest both Lowry and VanVleet since this season is done for them. If so, then Flynn could get plenty of run and provide three-pointers, rebounds, assists, and steals. The shooting efficiency could be a problem tho0ugh.
UTAH JAZZ
The Jazz host the Pacers on Friday then the Lakers on Saturday. IND is 7th in pace and 11th in defensive efficiency. LAL is 16th in pace and 1st in defensive efficiency.
WASHINGTON WIZARDS
The Wizards host the Pelicans on Friday then the Pistons on Saturday. NOP is 14th in pace and 28th in defensive efficiency. DET is 22nd in pace and 21st in defensive efficiency.
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