Nick Richards (C, CHA) - Fantasy Basketball Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 3

BALLER MOVE: Add in 14-team Leagues

ROSTERED IN: 9% of leagues

ANALYSIS: Nick Richards got drafted by the Pelicans in the summer of 2020 but he only played 430 total minutes in his first two seasons (already with the Hornets after a draft-day trade) while appearing in 68 games and starting five of those. We're barely one week into the 2023 campaign and Richards has already played 127 minutes in six games while averaging a sizable 21 MPG (he averaged 3.5 and 7.3 in his first two years as a pro).

Richards and Hornets' starting-center Mason Plumlee are virtually the same player this season. They have racked up 145 and 142 FP over the first six games of the year respectively, are playing 21 and 24 MPG, and are both averaging 24 FPPG early. Digging a bit deeper, though, Richards should be the better target and the one with the brighter future and higher upside.

The third-year man out of Kentucky is averaging 1.16 FP/min compared to Plumlee's 1.00. Both are outperforming the league-average 0.90 FP/min, but Richards' figure is way above Plumlee's. That comes down to 1) not turning the ball at all (0.2 TOPG) and 2) putting up tons of points shooting almost 69% from the floor and 82% from the charity stripe.

The only thing Richards might improve on is his paltry assists (five total in six games) but other than that there is nothing to hate about this young man. Three games of 14+ points (including a 20-burger), two dub-dubs, another 9-8 outing in his most recent game last Saturday against the Dubs (on the second night of a back-to-back), and a very serious chance of usurping Plumlee's starting role if the production of both big men stays the same--that is, Richards outperforming Mason.

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