We back, baby! The squeaking of the shoes, bouncing of the ball, talking of the trash, and clanging off the rim are sounds that once again emanate from our televisions. Ah, music to my ears. Due to the Rona, though, we get fake cheers and boos, which aren’t great, but they offer enough background noise to differentiate it from a practice session. I don’t care. We have basketball back in our lives, and it’s glorious.
In this weekly piece, I will highlight some players who may be available on your waiver wires. The Yahoo database will be utilized, and only players rostered in less than 50% of leagues will be mentioned.
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George Hill (PG/SG – OKC): 20% rostered
Hill has played 24 minutes in one game so far, but the early results are encouraging. He notched 21 points, four three-pointers, four rebounds, three assists, and one steal on 88% shooting from the field. He’s not going to shoot over 80% from the field every night, but he shot 51% in 59 games last season. The usage rate of 18.8 was encouraging because he’s been a 15 usage player for the last few years. With not too many options on the Thunder and defenses collapsing on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Hill will get plenty of looks. To be fair, he’s a prime candidate to get traded at some point or moved to the bench to develop the young guys, but until those scenarios play out, Hill can be a viable contributor for three-pointers, rebounds, assists, and steals.
Alec Burks (SG/SF – NYK): 47% rostered
Burks isn’t starting for the Knicks, but that’s a good thing. The starting unit has R.J. Barrett and Julius Randle soaking up most of the usage, so Burks produces on the second unit. He’s garnering a usage rate of 25 right now and hoisting up 10.7 shots per game in 27.6 minutes per game. He’s scoring 20.7 points per game and contributing a little something in every category but blocks. That said, his shooting efficiency has been off the charts (53%), so expect regression down into the low 40 percent range. He’s a solid player to have on your squad regardless.
Luguentz Dort (SG/SF – OKC): 23% rostered
Accuracy will always be an issue for Dort, but if your team is built to withstand a barrage of bricks, then Dort could be a fine addition to the squad. He played 34.6 minutes in the opener, and playing time is half the battle. He was also aggressive on offense, hoisting up 12 shots and scoring 15 points with one three-pointer. Dort also grabbed five rebounds and assisted on two baskets. It’s about the defensive stats, though. He’s going to get steals and even had one block. I wouldn’t count on the blocks, but the steals are legit.
Mason Plumlee (PF/C – DET): 42% rostered
I’m surprised that Plumlee is only rostered in 42% of Yahoo leagues. So far in two games, he’s averaging 32.5 minutes, 10 points, 8.5 rebounds, 5.5 assists, and 1.5 steals while shooting 71% from the field. The rebounds, assists, and steals are real, and he will also contribute blocks. The main thing is that he’s playing a ton of minutes. The one bugaboo to his game is the poor free-throw shooting, as he will likely shoot around 55% on four attempts.
Kyle Anderson (SF/PF – MEM): 37% rostered
Mr. Anderson has been a top-50 player on a per-game basis through two games. He’s averaged 32.6 minutes, 13.5 points, 1.5 three-pointers, a whopping 12 rebounds, 1.5 assists, and 1 block while shooting 47% on 11.5 field goal attempts — and only one turnover per game as well. Now, Memphis is playing at the third-fastest pace in the league, so the possessions are flowing like the Nile River, but keep in mind that Jaren Jackson Jr. and Justise Winslow are both out. When they return, Mr. Anderson’s minutes will likely decrease. Until then, he can provide a little production in every category.
Keldon Johnson (SF – SA): 49% rostered
Johnson performed well in the Bubble, and he’s obviously garnered Gregg Popovich’s trust because he’s started all three games so far. Johnson has averaged 30.4 minutes, 14 points, 1 three-pointer, 8.3 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.7 steals, and 1 block. The shooting efficiency has been poor at 42%, but he shot 59% from the field in 17 games last season. He’s also a good free-throw shooter. So far, Johnson has garnered a usage rate of 20.7, so he’s not just standing in the corner. He should be rostered in most leagues, as he will contribute in every category but blocks.
De’Andre Hunter (SF/PF – ATL): 37% rostered
Hunter looks much improved from last season, especially on the offensive side of the ball. While I’m not sure we can trust his turnaround to last, he is still only 23 years old and was the overall fourth overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft. The important thing here is that he’s averaged 30.6 minutes per game. The Hawks have sustained some injuries, so that number could come down, but he is still likely to see around 28 minutes per game. Hunter can provide some points, three-pointers, and rebounds.
Tyrese Haliburton (PG/SG – SAC): 41% rostered
The usage rate has been low at 11.1, so don’t expect many points from Haliburton, but he’s played 30, 26, and 26 minutes to start the season. The game doesn’t seem too fast for him, and he’s earned the coaching staff’s trust. He’s contributing 1.7 three-pointers and a lovely five assists, which are a precious resource. As time goes on, production in the other categories, especially steals, could become evident.
Dorian Finney-Smith (SF/PF – DAL): 11% rostered
Finney-Smith isn’t the sexiest fantasy asset, as he will never win a week for you, but he provides three-pointers and steals. More importantly, he’s been averaging 27.7 minutes per game and will likely play in the low 30s as the season progresses. Minutes are half the battle. Yo, Joe!
Nicolas Batum (SF/PF – LAC): 26% rostered
Batum is a better real-life player than a fantasy one. He’s a good passer, doesn’t require a high usage rate, and his length allows him to switch on defense. That doesn’t mean he’s devoid of fantasy relevance, though. He won’t score many points, but he will contribute some three-pointers, grab some rebounds, dish out some dimes, and provide a little in the defensive categories. Now, he’s been averaging 28.7 minutes per game because Marcus Morris has been out. His minutes will come down when Morris returns, but there will be rest days for Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, and his overall versatility will keep him in the rotation for some form or fashion.
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