RADIO
Hopefully everyone enjoyed their Superbowl weekend. As we bring our attention back to the NBA, it's about to enter the last stretch of the season where owners should be looking at every realm of possibility to improve their team's chances of locking in a playoff berth. We are just a little over a month before we head into the fantasy playoffs in most formats. It's time to drop the dead weight and scout for the waiver wire for any production that would be helpful for your team. Looking into Week 17, there are a couple of must-add players that you shouldn't leave behind on your waiver wire.
It's never too early to explore trades to boost your team's chances, especially in head-to-head leagues. With that said, we're here to bless you all with everything you guys need to stay ahead of your opponents in all your fantasy leagues. Below are our recommended waiver wire pickups for Week 17 of the fantasy basketball season, for those looking to beef up their teams. We wish everyone the best of luck in your leagues and may the odds forever be in your favor!
It's the best time to start exploring trades, and get out ahead before it's too late! Sell high, buy low - trying to look for ways to improve your team despite where you are in the standings will go a long way for you in case injuries and cold streaks happen. As a reminder for most leagues, it's crucial to plan. Waiver wire adds, scheduling and player injuries are all things to consider. Drop the dead weight, make an effort to improve your team by maximizing your weekly adds and utilizing streamer spots via the waiver wire. Don't be attached to short-term pickups when there is a hot player on the horizon, especially if a hot player can stick with significant minutes the rest of the season. Be wary of weekly streaming options and stay ahead of your opponents. Our staff at RotoBaller has great insight and daily columns on how to improve your squad and tips to make your team successful, so be sure to check them out! Now let's get prepared for Week 17.
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Week 17 Schedule
4 Games - Wizards, Spurs, Kings, Suns, Magic, Pelicans, Bucks, Pacers, Hawks
3 Games - Nets, Celtics, Hornets, Bullets, Cavaliers, Mavericks, Nuggets, Pistons, Warriors, Rockets, Clippers, Lakers, Grizzlies, Timberwolves, Knicks, Thunder, Sixers, Trail Blazers, Raptors
2 Games - Jazz
Week 17 Standard Leagues - Waiver Wire Pickups
I write my columns based on H2H 9-category standard size leagues: *Week 16 > Week 17 pick ups has been much of the same*
Monte Morris - PG, NUGGETS (38% Ownership)
Morris continues to take advantage of the injured Jamal Murray (ankle) and is contributing enough to be owned in leagues until he cools off. Coach Mike Malone has said that Murray's ankle injury is serious, and that could mean a weekly absence compared to day-to-day. Morris has been tremendous in the last three games, averaging 18.3 points, 6.7 boards, 8.3 dimes, 1.7 steals, 0.7 turnovers and 2.3 treys in just over 39 minutes. He needs to be added until we hear more hears of Murray.
Malik Beasley - SG/SF, NUGGETS (45% Ownership)
Beasley continues to neutralize Will Barton in the rotation, and is firing on all cylinders, as he's scored 22 points with two rebounds, two steals and four 3-pointers in 29 minutes against the Wolves on Saturday. He's now averaging 22.2 points on a blistering 61 % percent shooting over the last five. The return of some of the Nuggets wings seems to have no impact on him, although we have to be expecting a level of regression in the hot shooting.
Jonathan Isaac - SF/PF, MAGIC (58% Ownership)
Congrats to those who held him, because he's been terrible for much of the year. He's finally turned his performances into expectations, as he's now averaging 10.8 points, 8.8 boards, 1.3 dimes, 1.8 blocks, 1.3 steals and 1.2 treys over the last six games. The Magic are rumored to be sellers at the trading deadline too, so that could mean more minutes down the stretch for Isaac.
Dwight Powell - PF/C, MAVERICKS (23% Ownership)
The departure of DeAndre Jordan means good things for Powell, as he's the only capable player who can man the middle for Dallas. The Mavericks could still try and get someone by the trading deadline, so be at a look out for that. Until then, he could be a top-125 player because his defensive stats and field goal percentages.
Jahlil Okafor - C, PELICANS (47% Ownership)
Anthony Davis (finger) has no timetable with all the trade rumors. Julius Randle (ankle) has missed five games is already ruled out Monday. Nikola Mirotic (calf) is looking to miss week 17 and he should be held until we hear more. With that said, Okafor is doing all he can and he's putting together one of the best stretches of his career by 19.8 points and 10.8 boards per game over the last four games. He's also shot over 70 percent in these contests with 2.8 swats as well. Needless to say, he's going to continue to put together elite value until Davis comes back and should remain owned until he completely falls off the map.
Mitchell Robinson - C, KNICKS (18% Ownership)
Enes Kanter (DNP-CD) is in the doghouse in New York and Luke Kornet (ankle) is out for two weeks as well, meaning Robinson and Noah Vonleh will be the main beneficiaries of this news. Robinson still has difficulties with fouls, so it continues to limit his upside. However, he should still be able to carve out decent value with his high field-goal percentages and his elite shot blocking rate. He has nine blocks in the past three games, all while just playing 16.3 minutes per game in that span. He can be viewed as a stash, where he can truly put a team over the top after the trading deadline.
Cedi Osman - SF/PF, CAVALIERS (40% Ownership)
Osman fell out of flavor from owners after a hyped summer and preseason, struggling with his shot in the beginning of the season. He's found his rhythm lately, putting together a career-high 29 points against the Heat on Friday. The Cavaliers are in a similar boat as the Knicks, so Osman should continue to see heavy minutes down the stretch.
Kenneth Faried - PF/C, ROCKETS (55% Ownership)
Faried showed his value with the Rockets this week, with three double-digit scoring, including a double-double on Friday where he ended up with 21 points, 14 boards, and two swats in 38 minutes. The Rockets are razor thin up front with Clint Capella (thumb surgery) out at least for another month or so, so not only Faried has a great chance to start with this Rockets team, he's looking at major minutes given that Coach Mike D'Antoni has never been shy to keep his rotations short. Faried is one of those must-add, think later waiver wire adds and he can boost a team's field-goal percentage and provide close to a double-double on a nightly basis.
Larry Nance Jr. - C/PF, CAVALIERS (69% Ownership)
Tristan Thompson (foot) is going to be out for the next two weeks, so Nance will probably be back in the starting lineup in no time. He was eased back into action on Friday with six points, six rebounds, one steal and one block in 21 minutes. He was terrific before his injury, producing top-50 value. So in the event he is still on the waiver wire in your league, it's not a bad idea to pick him back up and see where it goes. The Cavaliers have their sights on tanking their entire season to secure a high lottery pick this post season, so developing Nance should be one of the priorities the rest of the way.
Rajon Rondo - PG, LAKERS (67% Ownership)
The Lakers will be without Lonzo Ball (Grade-3 ankle sprain) for at least 4-6 weeks, so Rondo's return will likely insert him into the starting line up until Ball is healthy again. He was terrific in his return on Thursday, dishing out a season-high 13 assists with 15 points, six rebounds, one steal, two blocks and three 3-pointers in 37 minutes. He'll give owners a major boost in assists, which is one of the hardest categories to find on the wire. With LeBron James (groin) uncertain for a return date, Rondo is a must-own, must-start player even after James returns.
Shabazz Napier - PG/SG, NETS (10% Ownership)
Another case of injuries creating opportunities, Napier will now get a great opportunity with Spencer Dinwiddie (hand surgery) out for the next 3-6 weeks. Napier scored 18 points on Friday, including 11-of-12 from the line. He'll look at a sizable role with minutes in the upper 20s going forward until the Nets have some of their guys back from injuries.
Bobby Portis - C, BULLS (51% Ownership)
Wendell Carter Jr. (thumb surgery) will knock him out for nearly 2-3 months, which means he's a clear drop in almost all fantasy leagues, excluding dynasty settings. Bobby Portis figures to be the main beneficiary with this news and this just solidifies his role with the Bulls for the remainder of the season. Portis will not be shy hoisting shots out there , and with 28 + minutes going forward he's a must-roster player.
Kevin Huerter - SG/SF, HAWKS (31% Ownership)
He should be picked back up if he was dropped in your league, where he figures to have a major role down the stretch for the Hawks the rest of the way. The Hawks are looking to be sellers for assets this trading deadline, so Huerter shouldn't be on any waiver wires given his upside to contribute in multiple categories. Huerter has been a top-75 player in the past week.
Week 17 Deeper Leagues - Waiver Wire Pickups
Allonzo Trier - PG/SG, KNICKS (27% Ownership)
The Knicks lineup changes are difficult to predict, but Trier should see his minutes increase as the Knicks turn to their young guys as they will look to tank for the remainder of the season. Trier scored 13 points with one rebound, two assists, two steals and two 3-pointers in 24 minutes against the Nets on Friday, including a career-high 31 points with 10 rebounds on Wednesday. Emmanuel Mudiay (shoulder) is going to be out for the next two weeks, so Trier should see an uptick in production.
Darius Miller - SG/SF, PELICANS (9% Ownership)
The Pelicans are starving for some offensive production with all their main guys out, meaning Miller will continue to look to major minutes. He's scored in double-figures in the last five games and he can certainly help as a 3-point specialist, where he can add a trickle of assists and steals as well.
Jerryd Bayless - PG/SG, TIMBERWOLVES (9% Ownership)
Derrick Rose (ankle), Tyus Jones (ankle) and Jeff Teague (foot) continues to be hobbled with foot and ankle injuries, leaving only Bayless to be the only healthy point guard in the rotation. He's done a good job thus far filling in, having scored three straight double-digit scoring games. The most noticeable thing is his shot attempts, where he's attempted just over 15 shots per game over the last three. That should tell you that he's due for a big game if Rose and Teague continues to miss time. He's worth a short-term look at the moment.
Landry Shamet - PG/SG, SIXERS (2% Ownership)
This impressive rookie has been knocking down critical shots for the Sixers all season, and although he's benefited from some of the Sixers injuries, he's still doing enough to warrant more attention in deeper leagues. He's very similar to Bryn Forbes, where he is mainly a 3-points specialist who occasionally will get you some assists and steals, and not much else. Still, the 3-pointers are consistent and he can certainly help a team in need of that category.
Marco Belinelli - SG/SF, SPURS (28% Ownership)
Similar to Shamet and Korver, Belinelli is a 3-point specialist that can get you over the edge in a head-to-head match-up. He's putting together top-100 value over the last two weeks and can benefit a bit if DeMar DeRozan (knee, ankle) or Rudy Gay (ankle) misses some time.
Justin Holiday - SG/SF, GRIZZLIES (39% Ownership)
Kyle Anderson (ankle) is still likely out another couple of games, so Justin Holiday will continue to log heavy minutes with Garret Temple (shoulder) out as well. Holiday has played a lot better lately, putting up 16 points with one rebound, four assists, one steal and one 3-pointer in 39 minutes on Saturday. He's at least worth a consideration as a streamer spot.
Mikal Bridges - SG/SF, SUNS (23% Ownership)
Oddly, Bridges minutes goes down without Devin Booker but goes up with Booker in the lineup. He's still contributing in the defensive stats to be added in deeper settings. At this point, he's worth a look in all 14+ team leagues given his defensive contributions and 3-pointers (1.8 steals, 0.8 blocks, 1.2 3-pointers over the last five) Keep your eyes on him and the tanking Phoenix Suns.
More Fantasy Basketball Analysis
By popular demand, RotoBaller has aggregated all of our fantasy basketball NBA waiver wire pickups into a running list of NBA waiver options, so bookmark the page and check back often for updates.
