Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Festivus, and Kwanzaa! ‘Tis the season to be jolly, cheerful, and festive. Yes, even if your fantasy basketball team stinks. But fear not! There’s plenty of time to make up ground and vault up the standings. Mining the waiver wire is one way to accomplish that goal. Below, I will highlight some players who can be of assistance in ascertaining fantasy glory.
Ownership percentages are from the Yahoo database, and only those players owned in fewer than 50% of leagues will be highlighted.
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Kevin Huerter (SG – ATL): 44% owned
Huerter missed 11 games due to injury in November. Since returning 10 games ago, it’s been slow and steady progress to get back into the groove. He played 15 minutes in his initial game back, then the playing time inched up into the mid-20s. Over the last four games, Huerter has averaged 33 minutes per game and been a top 60 player for fantasy. He’s baaaaaack! Huerter provides points, tres, and steals. The turnovers are low and he chips in on the glass. He’s not your typical 3-and-D player, though, as he possesses creation ability and averages close to four assists per game. The main bugaboo regarding his game is the low field goal percentage. He’s shooting 39% on the season and will most likely finish in the 42% area. The Hawks play at the fourth-fastest pace on offensive and, with Trae Young and John Collins receiving the opposing defense’s main attention, Huerter should get plenty of good looks and opportunities to make plays.
Troy Brown Jr. (SG/SF – WAS): 22% owned
The Wizards are dealing with a plethora of injuries. As a result, Brown Jr. has become the main scoring option off the bench for Washington. Over the past four games, he’s averaged 27.9 minutes, 16.5 points on 12 attempts, 1.3 three-pointers, 6.8 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 1 steal. The shooting efficiency has been an unsustainable 52%, so regression back to the mid-40s should be expected. With that said, he’s going to get plenty of opportunities to provide fantasy goodies for as long as the depth chart is in flux.
Damion Lee (SG – GS): 5% owned
If the Wizards are banged up, then I don’t know how to classify the Warriors. Regardless, Damion Lee has taken advantage of the opportunities afforded him. Over the past three games, Lee has averaged 29.3 minutes per game, 12.7 points, 2 three-pointers, 6.7 rebounds, and 3.3 assists. The field goal percentage has been a putrid 35% and he doesn’t provide much in the defensive categories, but he’s playing a ton of minutes. If you need points, three-pointers, rebounds, and/or some assists, then Lee could be viable for the short term.
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson (SF/PF – TOR): 21% owned
The Marc Gasol and Pascal Siakam injuries have opened up tons of playing time in the Toronto frontcourt. Over the past two games, Hollis-Jefferson has played 38 and 29 minutes. He will not provide any three-pointers. Instead, he operates primarily in the paint and will provide some points and rebounds. He also has the ability to rack up defensive stats, but they often come in bunches, rather than consistent, steady contributions.
Duncan Robinson (SG/SF/PF – MIA): 44% owned
Robinson has started the past 23 games for the Heat and is averaging 29.3 minutes per game. He is a three-point specialist and will deliver around three to four per game. Now, there is volatility to his game, as is with most shooters. He has 10 games scoring in single digits but has a 29 and 34 point game on his resume.
Kent Bazemore (SG/SF – POR): 28% owned
Since Rodney Hood succumbed to an Achilles injury, Bazemore has stepped into the starting lineup and averaged over 31 minutes per game. Now, Bazemore is going to tank your field goal percentage on most nights, so make sure he fits your build. If you can handle the tax, Bazemore can provide three-pointers and defensive stats.
Elfrid Payton (PG – NY): 31% owned
Payton looks to be the starting point guard of the Knicks now. Over the past two games, he’s played 30 and 27 minutes. The points have not been voluminous, but the assists have (10 and 12 respectively). The 33% shooting probably has something to do with the lack of points. He’s more like a 42% shooter, so regression is likely to come. Payton also provides close to 1.5 steals per game. If he continues to start and keeps receiving over 30 minutes per contest, I could see some triple-doubles being produced, as Payton has 16 career triple-doubles.
Derrick Jones Jr. (SF/PF – MIA): 15% owned
Jones is an athletic freak who can jump and dunk over the tallest of foes. That’s not his only skill, though. He’s also a maven on the defensive end and has improved his shot from beyond the arc. The field goal percentage is excellent, due to the dunks, but the good free throw percentage of 75% on the season shows that he indeed does have a decent shooting stroke. But those aren’t the most important things regarding Jones. Due to his defensive versatility, Jones has carved out a significant role on the Heat. As a result, he’s received over 30 minutes of playing time over the past seven games.
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