X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Weekly Rankings
Compare Any Players
Stats & Leaders
Starts and Sit
Daily Fantasy
Who To Pickup
24x7 News and Alerts

NBA Waiver Wire: Deep League Options (Week 1)

By Keith Allison (Flickr: Trevor Booker) [CC-BY-SA-2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

The waiver wire can be a gold mine. A player that a Fantasy Basketball Manager picks up from the wire can be the difference in that close battle for the playoffs, or even in the Fantasy Finals. So if you are not very happy with the guy you picked up at the end of your draft don't get too attached.

Here are a few players who can bring that little something to your team to tip you over the bar and get you that Fantasy Champions Ring. All position eligibility and ownership percentages are based on Yahoo! fantasy leagues.

Editor's Note: New users that sign up on FantasyAces, make a $20 deposit, and enter any game will receive our full season NBA (or NFL) Premium Pass for free (includes DFS Cheat Sheets). Just email [email protected] with your new FantasyAces username - and boom, that's it! We will email you with your Premium Pass.

 

Deep League Add

Matt Barnes, SG/SF, SAC (17% owned)

Matt Barnes is a guy who won't hurt you (at least not too bad) in any cat, will get you multiple category production and is very consistent. Looking back at his last 10 seasons, you know what you're getting with him. Around 8-10 points, 4-5 REB, 2 AST, a couple of threes, combined 1.5 steals and blocks.  His FG% last year was 38.1% but in his 9 seasons before that it was never under 42.3%, and that with a guy who attempts 4-5 threes a night. FT% is around 75% but shoots 1.5-2 a game which is too low to be relevant and 1-1.5 TO for a guy playing 25-30 MIN is pretty nice.

He has changed a lot of teams, four in his last six seasons, but his production stays the same. That proves that he adjusts well to new situations. And don't forget he is on a disgruntled Sacramento team now. Rudy Gay trade rumors are heating up and if that goes down Barnes could be in line for an even bigger role, more minutes and more fantasy basketball goodies for his Fantasy Owners.

He will not win you your league single handedly but when you beat your buddy by that one REB, STL, BLK or AST and win your weekly matchup you will praise the stable and reliable name that is Matt Barnes.

 

Super Deep League Add

Trevor Booker, PF, BKN (10% owned)

Trevor Booker. No chills down your spine? Yeah, his name doesn't really give you goosebumps now, does it? Well, there is an opportunity this year for that to finally change.

His career averages of around 6-7 PTS, 5-6 REB, 1 AST and 1 combined STL/BLK aren't really fantasy relevant. Even with his high FG% (51%) and low TO (0.9). But consider his previous situations -- For years he has been a backup to the likes of Nene Hilario and Marcin Gortat in Washington and then Derick Favors and Rudy Gobert in Utah. He hasn't averaged more than 25 MIN in his career, and that was in his second year in the NBA five years ago.

But this year he is in Brooklyn. He has been named the starting PF. That should give him close to 30 MIN per game, plenty of time to better his career averages, even set season bests in most of his counting cats. He will be a constant double double threat, will get you a few steals and blocks and, if you don't mind his 61% FT shooting, he could prove to be that spark of your wire to set your team on fire and help you scorch your fantasy basketball league opponents.

 

Insanely Deep League Add

Nemanja Bjelica, PF, MIN (2% owned)

Now this is for all of you who, like me, have a big fantasy basketball loving bunch of friends and play in a deep, deep league. I'm talking 20 teams and more. Nemanja Bjelica is entering his second NBA season. He is just 2 years removed from winning the Euroleague MVP title. His rookie season didn't go as well as he'd hoped. 5 PTS, 3.5 REB, 1.4 AST, 0.4 STL and 0.4 BLK in only 17 MIN is not a great line.

But he has been used the wrong way in Sam Mitchell's system. He was more-or-less a catch and shoot, 3 and D guy. While he does get defensive stats and hits threes at 35-40%, he can also penetrate, get rebounds and run the floor pretty well. With Tom Thibodeau replacing Sam Mitchell as head coach, Bjelica could see an improved role in this new system.

Gorgui Dieng is the starting PF at the moment, but he is a big who can't spread the floor and is very limited on offense. Karl-Anthony Towns could use Bjelica spreading the floor more for his post game. Bjelica can fill the SF slot too when Andrew Wiggins needs a breather. And if Wiggins and Zach LaVine are not on the floor, there is no one else to shoot from distance. Furthermore, we all know Thibodeau likes to play his experienced players. There's Bjelica's chance.

If he can get his minutes up to the mid 20s and if Thibodeau's system includes him playing his game his way, Bjelica could be a breakout candidate flirting with a double double, getting 1-1.5 combined BLK/STL 2-3 ast and hitting a three pointer per game. It's a long shot, but in a league this deep, that sort of upside is worth considering.


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.



POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Weekly Rankings
Compare Any Players
Stats & Leaders
Starts and Sit
Daily Fantasy
Who To Pickup
24x7 News and Alerts

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Las Vegas Raiders10 hours ago

Maxx Crosby Confirms His Season Is Over
David Njoku11 hours ago

"A Gametime Decision" For Week 15
Josh Downs11 hours ago

Likely To Play On Sunday
Tony Pollard11 hours ago

Expected To Play Versus Cincinnati
Jared McCain13 hours ago

Out Indefinitely
De'Anthony Melton13 hours ago

On The Move To Brooklyn
Dennis Schröder14 hours ago

Dennis Schroder Heading To Golden State
Breece Hall14 hours ago

Expected To Suit Up For Week 15
Tyler Toffoli15 hours ago

In Danger Of Missing Saturday's Game
NHL15 hours ago

Will Smith Back In Sharks Lineup Saturday
Dustin Wolf15 hours ago

Takes On Prolific Panthers Saturday
Andrei Kuzmenko15 hours ago

Will Not Play On Saturday
Jesús Luzardo15 hours ago

Cubs Showing Interest In Jesus Luzardo
Kevin Lankinen15 hours ago

Unavailable On Saturday
Matt Canterino15 hours ago

Expected To Operate Out Of The Bullpen
Elias Lindholm15 hours ago

Good To Go Saturday
Cam Fowler15 hours ago

Blues Pick Up Cam Fowler In Trade With Ducks
Michael Fulmer15 hours ago

Could Be Deployed As A Starter
Will Simpson16 hours ago

Traded To Tampa Bay
Jacob Watters16 hours ago

Shipped To Tampa Bay
Aidan O'Connell18 hours ago

Questionable Against Atlanta In Week 15
Las Vegas Raiders18 hours ago

Maxx Crosby Ruled Out For Week 15
Dallas Cowboys19 hours ago

Trevon Diggs Out For Season With Knee Injury
Jalen Johnson19 hours ago

Will Suit Up For Saturday's Game
Bogdan Bogdanovic19 hours ago

Playing Against Milwaukee
Trae Young19 hours ago

Available On Saturday
Khris Middleton19 hours ago

Active Versus Atlanta
Giannis Antetokounmpo19 hours ago

Good To Go Against Atlanta
Kevin Huerter19 hours ago

Suffers Another Shoulder Injury
20 hours ago

Pistons Waiving Paul Reed
Paolo Banchero20 hours ago

Spotted Shooting On Saturday
D'Andre Swift20 hours ago

Questionable For Monday Night
Roschon Johnson20 hours ago

Ruled Out For Week 15
Matt Shaw21 hours ago

Could Make Opening Day Roster
Nestor Cortes21 hours ago

Has Had "Fully Healthy Offseason"
Nolan Arenado21 hours ago

Astros Serious About Trading For Nolan Arenado
Joe Boyle22 hours ago

Rays Land Joe Boyle In Trade With A's
Jeffrey Springs22 hours ago

A's Acquire Jeffrey Springs From Rays
Deshaun Watson22 hours ago

Expected Back In Cleveland In 2025
Harrison Butker23 hours ago

Chiefs Releasing Matthew Wright, Harrison Butker Expected To Return
Samuel Ersson1 day ago

Faces Wild On Saturday
Marc-Andre Fleury1 day ago

In Wild Net For Saturday's Matchup
Linus Ullmark1 day ago

Records 10th Career Shutout
Nick Jensen1 day ago

Continues Prolific Month In Friday's Win
Shane Pinto1 day ago

Ends Dry Spell With Two-Goal Effort
Evan Bouchard1 day ago

A Game-Time Call On Saturday
Donovan Clingan2 days ago

Returning On Friday
Marquise Brown2 days ago

Expected Back Before Postseason
Bradley Beal2 days ago

Downgraded To Out
Jamal Murray2 days ago

Upgraded To Available
Christian Braun2 days ago

To Play On Friday
Aaron Gordon2 days ago

Available On Friday
Joel Embiid2 days ago

Won't Return On Friday
Bradley Beal2 days ago

Now Questionable Versus Utah
LeBron James2 days ago

JJ Reddick Doesn't Know When LeBron James Will Return
Anthony Davis2 days ago

Available Against Minnesota
Austin Reaves2 days ago

Upgraded To Available On Friday
Christian Walker2 days ago

Seattle Would "Love" To Sign Christian Walker
Carson Kelly2 days ago

Agrees To Two-Year Contract With Cubs
Anthony Santander2 days ago

Eyeing Five-Year Contract
Nick Raposo2 days ago

Let Go By Toronto
Houston Astros2 days ago

Cam Smith Traded To Houston
Hayden Wesneski2 days ago

Shipped To Houston
Alec Martinez2 days ago

Added To Injured Reserve
Anthony Stolarz2 days ago

Day-To-Day With A Lower-Body Injury
K'Andre Miller2 days ago

Placed On Injured Reserve
Dan Vladar2 days ago

Considered Day-To-Day
Ladd McConkey2 days ago

Officially Questionable For Week 15
Cam Talbot2 days ago

Re-Aggravates Lower-Body Injury
Matt Dumba2 days ago

To Remain Out On Saturday
Linus Ullmark2 days ago

Seeks Fourth Straight Win Friday
Bub Means2 days ago

Ruled Out For Week 15
Derek Carr2 days ago

Listed As Doubtful, Not Starting
Josh Downs2 days ago

Questionable For Week 15
Kenneth Walker III2 days ago

Listed As Doubtful For Week 15
Tyler Higbee2 days ago

Expected To Make Season Debut In Week 16
D'Andre Swift2 days ago

Roschon Johnson Miss Another Practice
Trey McBride2 days ago

Good To Go, Remains A Must-Start In Fantasy
Isaac Paredes2 days ago

Shipped To Houston
Kyle Tucker2 days ago

Cubs Acquire Kyle Tucker From The Astros
Dan Altavilla2 days ago

White Sox Sign Dan Altavilla To Minor-League Deal
Kyle Tucker2 days ago

Cubs Close To Acquiring Kyle Tucker From The Astros
Kyle Tucker2 days ago

Isaac Paredes, Cam Smith Being Discussed In Potential Kyle Tucker Trade
Adrian Yanez2 days ago

An Underdog At UFC Tampa
Daniel Marcos2 days ago

Looks To Remain Undefeated At UFC Tampa
Vitor Petrino2 days ago

Looks To Return To Win Column At UFC Tampa
Dustin Jacoby2 days ago

A Big Underdog At UFC Tampa
Cub Swanson2 days ago

Searching For 30th Career Win At UFC Tampa
Billy Quarantillo2 days ago

Faces A Legend At UFC Tampa
Joaquin Buckley2 days ago

Looks For His Sixth Win In A Row
Colby Covington2 days ago

Looks To Get Back In The Win Column
Bruno Silva2 days ago

Looks To Extend His Win Streak
Manel Kape2 days ago

A Favorite At UFC Tampa
Tuco Tokkos2 days ago

Looks For His First UFC Win
Navajo Stirling2 days ago

Set To Make His UFC Debut
Kevin Lankinen2 days ago

Frustrates Panthers With Shutout Performance
Alexandre Pantoja6 days ago

Gets Second-Round Win At UFC 310
Kai Asakura6 days ago

Submitted At UFC 310
Alexander Volkov6 days ago

Takes Split-Decision Loss
Ciryl Gane6 days ago

Edges Out Split Decision At UFC 310
MMA6 days ago

Doo Ho Choi Scores TKO Win At UFC 310