Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
It doesn’t matter if you can’t spell the Milwaukee Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo‘s name, as long as you can can find him on the waiver-wire, that’s all that matters.
In today’s edition of “All Wired Up”, I’ll delve into the fantasy strengths of potential waiver wire gold like Antetokounmpo and the Denver Nuggets’ Timofey Mozgov.
» Giannis Antetokounmpo, SG/SF, Milwaukee Bucks (2.4 percent owned on ESPN.com)
11 points (4-7 FG, 4-5 FT), 1 three-pointer, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, 3 blocks, 0 turnovers vs Denver Nuggets.
I’ve been on the Greek Freak bandwagon from very early on. I wrote last month about his super-high potential for dynasty leagues. And maybe, just maybe, he’s starting to turn the corner in 2013-14.
Maybe Antetokounmpo gained confidence by participating the Skills Challenge and the Rising Stars game in New Orleans for All-Star Weekend. Because in the two games since NBA play resumed, Antetokounmpo has produced some really intriguing fantasy lines.
He only averaged 9.5 points, but it’s the other fantasy categories in which his value lies. He’s added 1.0 three-pointer, 6.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 2.0 steals and 2.0 blocks, numbers which are downright nasty.
If you hadn’t guessed from my article on Danny Green yesterday, I’m a big fan of players who can give you over a steal, a block and a three-pointer per game. And coincidentally, Antetokounmpo has the ability and potential to be one of those guys. Throw in the rebounds and handy assist numbers and you have a player who contributes in almost all nine categories.
There will be some lean nights, but the upside is undeniable. He could very well be the future in Milwaukee and with nothing to play for this year, there’s no reason he doesn’t continue getting upward of 25 minutes a game.
Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
» Timofey Mozgov, C, Denver Nuggets (2.6 percent owned):
14 points (3-6 FG, 8-10 FT), 0 three-pointers, 9 rebounds, 1 assist, 0 steals, 3 blocks, 2 turnovers vs Bucks.
Back when he was in New York as a member of the Knicks, people held very high hopes for Timofey Mozgov. But he’s seemed to have been lost in the shuffle since coming to the Mile High State in the Carmelo Anthony trade.
This season, however, he’s finding his feet. He’s no longer stuck behind Kosta Koufos. JaVale McGee is injured and out for the season. He is undisputedly the backup center behind J.J. Hickson. And it’s not like Hickson is an All-Star level talent that is completely shutting Mozgov out.
Mozgov is getting over 20 minutes a game, up from 9.2 and 15.6 the last two seasons. Even though the minutes are somewhat limited, Mozgov has been very productive. Over the last four games, he’s averaged 10.0 points, 7.5 rebounds and 1.8 blocks, which is good for number 142 in Basketball Monster.com’s rankings.
That ranking doesn’t scream at you as being overly impressive, but it places him as a must own guy for any leagues of 14 teams or larger and is someone to seriously consider in 12 team leagues.
Not that we’d want to wish an injury on anyone, but if something happened to Hickson at any stage, Mozgov could easily rocket into the top 100.