Fantasy Basketball: Top Waiver-Wire Adds for Sunday, March 2nd
By Josh Lloyd
Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Courtney Lee has found a new lease of life since being traded to the Memphis Grizzlies and he can definitely breathe some life into a stagnant fantasy roster.
In today’s edition of “All Wired Up”, I’ll delve into the fantasy strengths of potential waiver wire gold like Lee and the Boston Celtics’ Brandon Bass.
» Courtney Lee, SG, Memphis Grizzlies (8.2 percent owned on ESPN.com)
19 points (7-11 FG, 0-0 FT), 5 three-pointers, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 2 blocks, 0 turnovers vs Cavaliers.
Courtney Lee was a fantasy afterthought during his time in Boston. He barely got 20 minutes off the bench in a backcourt that was missing Rajon Rondo. But a funny thing happened – a trade that benefits both teams.
When Lee was shipped to Memphis in the first week of January in exchange for Jerryd Bayless, both guys seemed invigorated and have produced some of their best basketball for years.
Lee has been around the block, beginning his career in Orlando, with stops in Houston and New Jersey along the way. Now on his fifth team in six season, it looks like he has finally found his role in the league.
Lee was inserted as the starting shooting guard in Memphis when Tony Allen went down with an injury and has stayed in that role, even though Allen is now back and healthy. He’s ended up starting all but two of the 25 games he’s suited up for in Memphis and has posted the best PER of his career, at an above average 15.4.
But what about his fantasy value, I hear you asking? I’m glad you enquired. Since arriving at the FedEx Forum, Lee is the 46th ranked player according to Basketball Monster.com, averaging 13.5 points, 1.3 three-pointers, 3.2 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.0 steals, while shooting 49.4 percent from the field and 91.8 percent from the line.
By looking at those numbers, it’s obvious where Lee can help as a shooting guard. He can score, he hits three-pointers, he gets steals and his percentages are insane! But what about since Tony Allen has returned?
Since Allen came back into the rotation, Lee has averaged 13.4 points, 2.2 three-pointers, 3.8 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 0.4 steals while shooting 49.0 percent from the field and 88.9 percent from the line. Almost identical.
Lee will retain this value all season and is a must-own player in all formats. Let him guide your fantasy squad into the playoffs and onto glory!
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»Brandon Bass, PF, Boston Celtics (26.0 percent owned)
Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports
16 points (7-13 FG, 2-2 FT), 0 three-pointers, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 0 blocks, 1 turnover vs Pacers.
Brandon Bass is flying under a lot of fantasy owners’ radars this season and for good reason. He’s not spectacular, he’s not flashy, but he is reliable and consistent — and in fantasy, that is something we all strive to obtain.
Bass has been the Celtics’ starter at power forward for the majority of the season, getting the nod in the last 15 contests. Over the last month, Bass is ranked 111th on Basketball Monster.com averaging 13.1 points, 6.2 rebounds and 0.8 blocks with 48.8 percent shooting from the floor and 91.7 percent from the charity stripe.
One of Bass’s strengths is the fantastic free throw shooting he brings from the power forward position. With guys like Blake Griffin and Andre Drummond killing your free throw percentage as power forwards, it’s a relief to have a guy hit over 90 percent of his shots.
But it’s not just percentages here Bass is providing value. He is scoring at a solid clip and providing decent rebounding numbers. He seems locked in as the starter for the remainder of the season, playing alongside Jared Sullinger. I think he can help in 12 team leagues and deeper