Khem Birch (PF/C, TOR): Week 19 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12-Team Leagues

ROSTERED IN: 43% of leagues

ANALYSIS: The Orlando Magic definitely did Khem Birch a solid back in early April when they decided to cut him from their roster. Orlando didn't have room for the big man, so they chose to make him a free agent and in turn allowed him to go play for to an interested Raptors franchise. So far, so good for both Birch and the Raps. Lovely to see this type of move taking place and becoming a win-win for all parties involved, included us lucky fantasy GMs.

Truth be told, the Magic were right moving from Birch. Khem averaged almost 22 MPG in his first 28 games of the season for Orlando but in the span of games from Feb. 17 to his last Magic game on Apr. 7 he was just playing 17 MPG in 20 games while starting four. That has not been even remotely close to what is taking place in Toronto, where Birch is starting nightly, playing near 30 MPG, and putting up his best numbers of the 2021 campaign.

Birch has started every game but two (his debut and the following one) since he became a Rap. In those eight games, Birch has been able to put up a very respectable 11-7-1-1-1. He's keeping up a ridiculous 60% shooting from the floor and an even more impressive 66+ true shooting, which is no joke for a big man like he is. Toronto is pretty much done with contending for the play-in unless they pull off a miracle, and Birch is definitely a building block for the Raptors ROS, so they will need to keep playing him nightly whether they tank the rest of the year or keep pushing for that final play-in spot. A must-have big man in virtually every deep league, and even in those a little bit shallower given his role, playing time, and high upside on seemingly every cat.

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