Top Ten Fantasy Basketball Waiver Wire Pickups-December 7, Week 6

Jordan Crawford (15) is one of a pair of Washington Wizards who lead our sleepers list to look for on the waiver wire this week as they have an extremely favorable schedule. Find out who else you should target on the waiver wire below. Photo by Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

As the fantasy football season starts to wind down, the fantasy basketball season is just heating up. If your hoops team is in need of a tune-up or suffering from full-scale neglect, there’s still plenty of time and some great value on most leagues waiver wires. Here’s five players in the frountcourt and five in the backcourt that are unowned in over 50% of ESPN leagues who can help your fantasy basketball team as we head into the middle of the NBA season. This is going to be BIG…

5 Frontcourt Additions to Consider

December 4, 2012; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Wizards power forward Kevin Seraphin (13) shoots the ball over Miami Heat center Chris Bosh (1) in the fourth quarter at Verizon Center. The Wizards won 105-101. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

1. Kevin Seraphin-Washington Wizards: (27.2%) The Wizards big-man has put up three double-doubles in a row and scored in double-digits in six of his last seven games. He’s getting 30+ minutes per game and is adding about a block a game as well. He even contributed four steals last Monday against the Spurs although that’s not a category to count on him contributing regularly in. If you need points and rebounds though, Seraphin is one of the few double-double threats available on the wire. Next week he plays four games against the Hornets, Rockets, Lakers, and Heat making him the top option available in most leagues to bolster your bigs.

2. Andray Blatche-Brooklyn Nets: ( 34.0%) Blatche is another double-double threat you can add, but the reason he’s not above Seraphin is that he’ll eventually be supplanted by Brook Lopez at some point. The only knock on Blatche is that Lopez is returning from a foot injury probably this week. Even when he does, Blatche could be a solid option since he’s been putting up big numbers in his last four games. Blatche has averaged 15.0 points, 1.5 stelas, and 10.25 rebounds making him another good pickup as he faces the Knicks, Raptors, Pistons, and Bulls in his four games this week.

December 3, 2012; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Detroit Pistons center Andre Drummond (1) blocks the shot by Cleveland Cavaliers center Anderson Varejao (17) in the fourth quarter at The Palace. Detroit won 89-79. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

3. Andre Drummond-Detroit Pistons: (3.0%) In deeper leagues where Seraphin and Blatche are gone already, Drummond makes a solid pickup as he and the Pistons take on the Sixers, Nuggets, Nets, and Pacers this week. The key to Drummond’s contributions is his playing time. He played a season-high 31 minutes last time out against Golden State and showed his potential by scoring 15 points on 6-8 shooting with 12 boards and a pair of blocks. Drummond’s averaging almost 10 points per game and has 13 blocks in his last eight games. If blocks and boards are what you need, Drummond makes a nice speculative pickup whose ownership could skyrocket if he gets consistent minutes.

4. Steve Novak-New York Knicks: (23.9%) Novak may not get the boards and blocks of the above options, but his unique skill-set has serious fantasy value. He’s made three or more three-pointers in each of the last five games while averaging 13.4 points. If you’re looking for three’s from a forward, Novak is the way to go although New York only has three games (Brooklyn, LA, Cleveland) this coming week.

5. Kyle Singler-Detroit Pistons: (19.2%) Singler struggled in his last game scoring just three points on 1-6 shooting. Before that game though, Singler had had nine or more in each of his last six games. During lost six he averaged just under two three-pointers, over 4.5 rebounds, and over a steal along with his 13.3 points. He’s emerged as a big part of the Pistons lineup and should continue to see plenty of playing time. His well-rounded game fits nicely at small forward as he can contribute across the board in multiple categories.

5 Backcourt Additions to Consider

1. Jordan Crawford-Washington Wizards: (19.8%) Another big pickup getting a boost from the Wiz’s stat-friendly schedule (see Kevin Seraphin above), Crawford has been a big part of the Wizards’ offense the last four games scoring 19, 19, 17, and 22 points. In his last 10 he’s averaging 15.4 points, 4.0 assists, and 3.4 rebounds. Crawford is a volume scorer, which means you may need to sacrifice some of your FG% if you pick him up. If you’re looking on the wire for straight scoring this week, Crawford is the best option who’s widely available.

Dec 5, 2012; Charlotte, NC, USA; Charlotte Bobcats guard Gerald Henderson (9) drives to the basket as he is defended by New York Knicks forward Ronnie Brewer (11) during the game at Time Warner Cable Arena. Mandatory Credit: Sam Sharpe-USA TODAY Sports

2. Gerald Henderson-Charlotte Bobcats: (5.0%) Henderson returned from his foot injury this week and in just his second game back he poured in 18 points with a pair of threes, a block, and 6 boards. He was Charlotte’s leading scorer last year and will give a big boost to their firepower . Henderson has a full four-game set this week as Charlotte hosts the Clippers, Warriors, and Magic and travel to Atlanta on Thursday night. He won’t be available for long once he’s back in the lineup so add him soon if you have room on your roster.

3. Marco Belinelli-Chicago Bulls: (0.3%) In place of the injured Richard Jefferson, Belinelli started and played 40 minutes in the Bulls’ game Wednesday. He finished with 23 points, a steal, and three rebounds. Belinelli is most likely not a long-term option, but he’s worth a look if you need a burst for the coming week.

4. Alexey Shved-Minnesota Timberwolves: (16.4%) The young Russian has emerged as the shooting guard of the future in Minnesota according to coach Rick Adelman. He’s still coming off the bench but can expect to see plenty of floor time with praise like that. Shved has scored in double-figures in each of the last four games while averaging over three three-pointers, 2.5 rebounds, and 2.25 assists. He isn’t quite lighting it up yet but is contributing with a ton of upside for the rest of this season and beyond. He and the ‘Wolves have three games this week (Den, @NO, Dallas) but his value is tied to his long-term potential not his short-term numbers. Know your team to know if he’s the way to go.

5. Carlos Delfino-Houston Rockets: (1.3%) Delfino has stepped into the sixth man role beautifully. He played 31 minutes in Houston’s win over the Lakers hitting three triples and adding four rebounds, three assists, and a steal to his 15 points. He’s a solid source of three’s points, and about three assists a game if he continues to get the playing time off the Rockets bench. Houston has a trio of home games this week as they welcome in San Antonio, Washington, and Dallas before finishing with their fourth game of the week in Toronto next Sunday.