Bogdan Bogdanovic
For college basketball, the madness is over. For the NBA fantasy managers, the madness is just beginning.
We are two weeks away from playoffs, and people are scrambling for solutions to their team's problems. Take a look at these waiver wire picks and see who will give you that final push you need to get into the postseason and avoid the humiliation of whatever fantasy punishment you may face.
Booms
Bogdan Bogdanovic Guard/Forward Atlanta Hawks
While one Bogdanovic struggles through a subpar season in Utah, another is thriving in Georgia. Bogdan, the younger of the unrelated pair, missed 25 straight games this season due to a knee injury and had trouble finding consistent minutes on this Hawks team. This past week, he caught fire with John Collins and De'Andre Hunter out with injuries.
The @ATLHawks set a new NBA record for threes made in a quarter without a miss, knocking down 11 of 11 in the 3rd q… https://t.co/Vsemb5lOV6— NBA (@NBA) 1617760124.0
He is averaging 37.1 minutes, 21.5 points on 51.6 percent shooting from the field, 4.3 made threes, 4.8 rebounds, 5.8 assists, 2.0 steals and 1.3 turnovers the last four games. He is only rostered in 74 percent of Yahoo leagues but should be rostered in 100 percent.
Robert Williams Center Boston Celtics
The Time Lord continues to impress, proving that Danny Ainge made the right choice at the trade deadline to deal Daniel Theis to the Chicago Bulls. In three games last week, Williams averaged 14.3 points on 82.6 percent shooting, nine rebounds, five assists, 0.7 turnovers, one steal and two blocks.
All eyes might be on Tatum and Brown as fantasy studs, but Williams is establishing himself as a legitimate seven-category contributor in 9-cat formats.
Gary Trent Jr. Guard/Forward Toronto Raptors
Trent might not have walked into a playoff-contending team in Toronto this season, but the opportunity for production has benefitted fantasy managers. After a rocky two games, he hit his stride, averaging 23.3 points on 51 percent shooting, five made threes, and 1.7 steals.
GARY TRENT JR. WINS IT AT THE BUZZER 🔥 https://t.co/L5GiM7SdeU— NBA on TNT (@NBA on TNT) 1617672392.0
Despite having a bad season, the Toronto Raptors are still within striking distance of a play-in spot. If they want to make it, they're going to look to Trent's shooting to help them get there.
Kelly Olynyk Forward/Center Houston Rockets
Gonzaga could've used the former Spokane stud in the National Championship Game on Monday. In the last four games, Olynyk is averaging 18.8 points on 57.4 percent shooting, 1.8 made threes, 5.8 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.3 blocks.
The Rockets may be playing for the future, but Olynyk has proven to be a dependable fantasy option for the present.
Busts
Moses Brown Center Oklahoma City Thunder
After spending last week rebounding like he was Dennis Rodman, he spent this past week looking a bit more human. After averaging 16.8 rebounds last week, Brown dropped down to 10.5 and the rest of his numbers slipped as well. He averaged 9.3 points on 42.3 percent shooting and only shot 60 percent from the foul line.
Moses Brown has been HOOPING recently... and the Thunder have awarded him with a multi-year contract. Love it. https://t.co/z0jFDmcbPR— Legion Hoops (@Legion Hoops) 1616970263.0
He is averaging about five fewer minutes a game than he did in the previous week, which could be contributing to his drop in production. With Al Horford completely shut down and Mike Muscala hurt, he will have plenty of chances to increase his numbers
Seth Curry Guard Philadelphia 76ers
Slumping shooters are the most at risk to be on this "bust" list and this week it's the younger Curry brother. He still contributed 2.5 made threes, but he only shot 38.1 percent from the field and 33.3 percent from the free-throw line.
If shooters aren't hitting, they're basically an empty slot in a fantasy lineup. Still, Curry isn't worth dropping because of his potential to get hot, but these are the rough patches managers are going to have to deal with.
Kyle Kuzma Forward Los Angeles Lakers
With LeBron James and Anthony Davis out, now would be the time for Kyle Kuzma to shine. His star is looking more like a lantern fantasy-wise.
He did average 17.3 points last week, but he only shot 44.4 percent and 63.6 percent from the free-throw line. He's also only making 1.7 threes, grabbing 5.3 rebounds and turning the ball over three times in that same time span.
Lebron watching Kyle Kuzma air ball free throws like https://t.co/jy0HzCWdu3— Rich (@Rich) 1617567541.0
If Kuzma wanted to prove himself a star, this period of time was not that moment.
R.J. Barrett Guard/Forward New York Knicks
The former Duke player's career season hit a speedbump this past week. In the last four games, Barrett has averaged 13.3 points on 41.7 percent shooting, 1.5 made threes, 3.3 rebounds and 2.5 assists. The Knicks have unsurprisingly lost three of those games.
Fantasy managers in a position to make the playoffs can be patient with Barrett, but those who are fighting for a playoff spot may need to look for other options.
Alec Burks
Depending on the trades (or non-trades) you made at the NBA trade deadline, you could be feeling like your roster is a container ship stuck in a canal.
Fortunately, there is no deadline for waiver pickups and drops. Here are some hot names and cold players to consider as you make your tweaks for a playoff push.
Booms
Enes Kanter Center Portland Trail Blazers
Enes the Menace has been on one the last week. In the four games, the Turkish big man has been throwing his weight around and averaging 15.5 points on 70.3 percent shooting, 14.5 rebounds, two assists and a block.
Thanos ? or maybe Jesus 🤔 https://t.co/xmd9BgFdBl— Enes Kanter (@Enes Kanter) 1616882996.0
However, his hot run may be short-lived as Jusuf Nurkic is back in the lineup after spending two months recovering from injury. Nurkic's return cut into Kanter's minutes significantly this past Sunday: a trend that will most likely continue as Nurkic gets back into game shape.
Alec Burks Guard/Forward New York Knicks
No Rose, no Randle, no Bullock, no problem. Alec Burks rode in like the Survey Corps rescuing Eren Jaeger, saving the Knicks from a drop in production with some of their main weapons out. Burks, who has played for six teams in three years, averaged 22.7 points, 3.3 made threes, 6.3 rebounds, 2.7 assists and one turnover the last three games—all wins.
Rose and Bullock are due back soon, so expecting him to sustain this level of production would be foolish. Picking him up after those two fully return to the rotation would be risky, but if either is out again, he has proven he can produce in a pinch.
Danny Green Guard/Forward Philadelphia 76ers
Revenge is a dish best Green. Buoyed by his 28-point effort against the Lakers, the three-point specialist averaged 18.7 points on 54.5 percent shooting from the field and 5.3 made threes in three games last week.
Danny Green and Caruso talking about the old days https://t.co/k5S62uzLe6— Josiah Johnson (@Josiah Johnson) 1616734239.0
Green won't contribute much else in fantasy, but this three-point make volume can win you the category most weeks. If you're sick of punting the category, there aren't many options that are better.
Derrick White Guard San Antonio Spurs
You will never know who will be surging on the Spurs on any given week outside of DeMar DeRozan, but Derrick White's managers were appreciative of his efforts last week. White hasn't been in the mix until recently because of a problematic toe injury, but in four games last week he averaged 15.3 points, 3.3 made threes, three assists and 1.5 blocks in 33.1 minutes.
He will need to improve his accuracy to be a little more valuable from a fantasy standpoint, but if he continues to get healthier, he will be an interesting player to track because he's definitely getting the minutes to be a good producer.
Busts
Jordan Clarkson Guard Utah Jazz
The Filipino Flame Thrower has been having a career year, but last week won't be going on the season highlight reel. Even with his 28-point game on Sunday, Clarkson averaged 15.3 points on 33.8 percent shooting, 1.8 assists and 0.5 steals.
Jordan Clarkson wanted no parts of contesting a Grayson Allen dunk. https://t.co/15KWJw8tY9— BlueDevilStop (@BlueDevilStop) 1616896700.0
If he's not scoring, Clarkson isn't contributing much to a fantasy managers team, so this week has been a big blow for people who were depending on him for his points and shooting percentage. He is still an important part of Utah's success, so he will have chances to improve, but he is too volatile to be depended on right now.
Keldon Johnson Forward San Antonio Spurs
One Spur thrives while another one dives. For Keldon Johnson, diving has become a more frequent occurrence.
In four games last week, Johnson averaged 9.3 points on 42.4 percent shooting, 4.5 rebounds, 0.8 assists and no steals. If you were hanging on to Johnson and hoping he would step up after LaMarcus Aldridge was benched and bought out, you can comfortably let him go.
James Wiseman Center Golden State Warriors
After missing three straight games prior to last week due to being in the NBA's health and safety protocol, Wiseman didn't do much to help fantasy managers when he returned. In three games last week, the Warriors' rookie averaged 11.7 points on 44.1 percent shooting, 5.7 rebounds and 0.3 blocks.
Steve Kerr after James Wiseman took a step back 3 https://t.co/rFCIpxjqlc— Josiah Johnson (@Josiah Johnson) 1616816584.0
Wiseman is finding out the talent level from college to pros is huge and he's having a tough time making the adjustment. He will get better, but whether he gets better this year may be a question fantasy managers aren't willing to wait around for.
Joe Harris Guard/Forward Brooklyn Nets
Harris has been a beneficiary of playing with three All-NBA players, providing efficient shooting when called upon. But even the best shooters have off weeks.
In three games, Harris only shot 39.1 percent from the field and made 1.7 threes per game. His 8.7 points didn't help his fantasy value either.
Like Danny Green, if he isn't shooting well and scoring, Harris doesn't have much else to contribute to fantasy rosters. But with him averaging 14.2 points with 3.3 made threes for the season, it's only a matter of time before he helps you win a couple of categories again.
March Madness is giving you the chaotic energy you crave, but don't forget about the other vice you need to satisfy.
The NBA trade deadline is approaching and that means a lot of fantasy fortunes may change with the sweep of a pen and the sending of a tweet. Here are the hottest and coldest players heading into this consequential point of the season.
Booms
Joe Ingles Guard/Forward Utah Jazz
Efficiency has always been Ingles' game and he's really flexed that last week. It only took him 32 shots to score 67 points in three games averaging 22.3 points while shooting 68.8 percent from the field, making 5.7 threes a game, grabbing five rebounds and swiping the ball 1.3 times.
Joe Ingles is on pace to have the highest single-season TS% in NBA history. He’s averaging 73.2 TS%, 54.0 FG%, 49.… https://t.co/05Ly043NP5— StatMuse (@StatMuse) 1616253837.0
Ingles is safely having a top-100 season in 9-cat but is only rostered in 54 percent of Yahoo leagues. He is a must-own if available.
Richaun Holmes Forward/Center Sacramento Kings
Holmes may want to stay in Sacramento, but his play is garnering a lot of interest from other teams. In four games this past week, Holmes is averaging 17.5 points on 57.4 percent shooting, 9.3 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 2.3 blocks and 0.8 turnovers.
A trade could change his opportunities to produce for his fantasy managers, but as of now, he is getting plenty of chances to excel.
Donte DiVincenzo Forward Milwaukee Bucks
He may not be a fantasy folk hero quite yet, but the man they call Big Ragu is quietly building his legend. He's providing top-100 production in 9-cat and had a very good week, averaging 14.7 points, 9.3 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 2.3 steals in the last three games. He also threw in 2.3 made threes to round out his stand-out week.
Delaware’s own Donte DiVincenzo wearing his Villanova jacket after his 20 point night at Wells Fargo Center where h… https://t.co/nsk4Nq2fdR— John Clark (@John Clark) 1616036723.0
He won't wow you consistently, but DiVincenzo will produce across all categories enough to keep you in the hunt for a win most weeks.
Danilo Gallinari Forward Atlanta Hawks
Two weeks in a row? Gallinari is (1) having a really good run and (2) not a lot of people believe in him on Yahoo. Gallo started the week strong with a 29-point performance and ended the week averaging 18.3 points on 54.3 percent shooting, three made three-pointers, one steal and 0.3 turnovers.
Gallinari is providing the young Hawks with a dependable veteran presence that they should continue to lean on for the foreseeable future.
Busts
Bojan Bogdanovic Forward Utah Jazz
While one shooter (Ingles) thrived in Utah this past week, another struggled to make any impact. Bogdanovic averaged under nine shot attempts the last three games, resulting in 9.3 points on 26.9 percent shooting, 0.7 made threes and 4.3 rebounds.
Over the past 5+ seasons, PJ Tucker has made 100 more corner 3s than anyone else in the NBA Most Corner 3s Last 5+… https://t.co/rranpR7xzH— Kirk Goldsberry (@Kirk Goldsberry) 1616074620.0
While he isn't the stud he was in Indiana, he is still averaging 15.1 points per game this season. He won't be putting up these dismal numbers for long.
Coby White Guard Chicago Bulls
Losing your starting job is never easy and Coby White has not responded well to the adversity. In his last four games, White is averaging 9.3 points on 36.8 percent shooting, 1.3 made threes, 2.3 assists and 2.5 turnovers; a far cry from his season averages.
Unfortunately for fantasy managers, the Bulls are winning games with White coming off the bench, so it's unlikely that he will be back to getting starters minutes for the time being. It's time to make the choice to hold White or ship him off.
Steven Adams Center New Orleans Pelicans
The Big Kiwi's role on the Pelicans is pretty clear: rebound the ball and don't hurt the team otherwise. In this case, one out of two is bad for the squad and fantasy managers.
Remember Steven Adams being in OKC and how much better the world was— chilliams (@chilliams) 1615945484.0
In the last three games, Adams has grabbed 9.3 rebounds, but he's only scoring at a 45.5 percent clip, resulting in 4.7 points per game. He's also turning the ball over twice per game in that same span.
If Adams isn't scoring efficiently and taking care of the ball, he is a one-category contributor. If you have the chance to unload him for a more versatile player, now is the time.
Kelly Oubre Jr. Guard/Forward Golden State Warriors
Oubre had a good February, but his March has been marred by injuries and inconsistent play. In four games last week, he averaged 11.8 points on 42.2 percent shooting, 0.8 made threes, four rebounds and 50 percent free-throw shooting.
With Klay Thompson out and Andrew Wiggins still struggling with inconsistency, there will be plenty of chances for Oubre to snap out of his slump.
Robert Williams
Spring brings new and wonderful things for us to enjoy.
WandaVision gives way to Falcon and the Winter Soldier; the first half of the NBA turns into the second half.
The All-Star Break gave fantasy managers a two-fer week to make up for the six-day absence of NBA games. Here some players who were able to keep their rhythm through the midway point siesta and others that even the break couldn't help.
Booms
Kelly Olynyk Forward/Center Miami Heat
Miami is starting to look like Bubble Miami and one of the factors is a more involved Kelly Olynyk. The former Celtic has filled the stat sheet the last two weeks, averaging 14.4 points, 7.8 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 2.2 steals and 2.4 made threes. He's also shooting 56.3 percent from the field and 85.7 from the charity stripe while only turning the ball over 1.4 times in that same time span.
That is eight categories (seven in 8-cat) that he is positively contributing to. With a firm grasp on a starting spot, logging 32.3 minutes the last five games and ranked 68 in 9-cat Yahoo leagues, he is worth a pickup. (44 percent rostered in Yahoo leagues)
Chris Boucher Forward/Center Toronto Raptors
The Raptors are trending towards irrelevant this season, but Chris Boucher's emergence has been a positive for the struggling team. The lanky Oregon product has averaged 22.0 points on 58.7 percent shooting, 6.4 rebounds, 1.8 made threes and 1.6 blocks.
While Toronto is last in the Atlantic Division, it can still make a push for the Play-In Tournament and they will need all hands on deck in order to accomplish it. Chris Boucher might be the one they lean on to answer the call.
Robert Williams Center Boston Celtics
The man Celtics fans affectionately refer to as Time Lord for his inability to show up on time to events early in his Boston stint is making the most of his minutes on the court. Williams has been all over the court the last four games, averaging 10.3 points on 76.2 percent shooting, 8.0 rebounds, 3.8 blocks per game. He's also been a surprising playmaker, throwing in a bonus 2.5 assists per game in the same stretch for his fantasy managers.
Williams is providing all of that production at just over 20 minutes per game. If he starts logging 30 or more minutes consistently, we could be looking at a blooming fantasy star.
Danilo Gallinari Forward Atlanta Hawks
Injuries and a new bench role have slowed Gallinari's integration into the Atlanta Hawks roster, but it looks like he's found his groove with his new team. He's averaging 17.2 points while making 3.4 threes, six rebounds and 1.2 steals the last five games.
The 32-year-old isn't going to outshine Trae Young or the other young stars on the team, but he is still looked to as one of the team's more consistent shot makers and will continue to get opportunities to put up numbers while De'Andre Hunter is sidelined with a knee injury.
Busts
Serge Ibaka Forward/Center Los Angeles Clippers
Despite posting his worst numbers since 2013, Ibaka has been a source of consistency for managers all year, but he's hit a bit of a skid midway through the season. He's been held scoreless in two of his last four games and averaged 5.8 points on 40 percent shooting, 5.8 rebounds and 0.5 made threes in that time. Granted, one of those games, he did leave early due to back spasms.
Long gone are the days of the Congolese dominating on the defensive end, but he's still capable of finishing in the top-100 in 9-Cat formats. Hold him despite this slump.
James Wiseman Center Golden State Warriors
Wiseman is starting to learn that being a rookie is tough. Sometimes, you play a lot and sometimes you don't. Unfortunately for him and fantasy managers, that can lead to uneven performances.
The last two weeks, Wiseman has averaged 20.3 minutes per game. Twice he was held under 12 minutes. In that time he has averaged 11.8 points, six rebounds, 0.5 blocks and shooting 40 percent from the free-throw line.
He's a promising rookie, but even he goes through the struggle. We'll see whether this is just a blimp or if the rookie wall has claimed another victim.
Bobby Portis Forward/Center Milwaukee Bucks
Portis stepped up while Donte DiVincenzo and Jrue Holiday were out, but since the team has gotten healthier, Bobby Buckets has taken a step back.
He's only averaged 18.3 minutes the last four games resulting in an average of 8.5 points, 4.5 rebounds and nearly nothing in every other category. Portis is able to step up when someone goes down, but if the Bucks are healthy, you should look for other options to roster.
Keldon Johnson Forward San Antonio Spurs
The Spurs put LaMarcus Aldridge on the shelf, opening things up for other players to perform well. Keldon Johnson, who has been a surprising contributor with some big games, was looked to as a player who could capitalize on the opportunity. He has yet to do that.
Since coming back from the health and safety protocols, Johnson has averaged 10.2 points, 2.8 rebounds and 0.8 made three-pointers. He has also only been playing 20.2 minutes per contest which could be impacting his chances to produce.
Gregg Popovich is still experimenting with post-Aldridge life and that could mean inconsistent minutes for everyone not named DeMar DeRozan. Proceed with caution when considering Johnson for your lineup.
