Fantasy Basketball Waiver Wire Pickups-12/11/14
The NBA has only a pair of games tonight on the schedule in the two TNT featured games tonight. Just because there is such a limited schedule, though, doesn’t mean there is nothing of value on the fantasy basketball waiver wire.
More from Cleveland Cavaliers
- NBA insider: Cavaliers should consider trading Donovan Mitchell
- Predicting NBA’s Christmas Day Schedule: Lakers, Warriors highlight slate of postseason rematches
- NBA Rumors: 3 teams that should trade for Joel Embiid
- NBA rumors: How Donovan Mitchell could wind up on the trading block
- The new NBA flopping rules explained
The 8:00 tip off features two of the NBA’s biggest stars facing off in the OKC as Kevin Durant and the Thunder host LeBron James and the Cavaliers. The Thunder are actually 2 1/2 point favorites despite the Cavs eight-game winning streak.
Later tonight, expect a high-scoring game as the Rockets visit the Kings. Both teams are missing key big men as the Rockets will be without Dwight Howard again, and the Kings won’t have DeMarcus Cousins. With both teams considering defense as an optional activity at times, look for both teams to top 100 in this one and provide fantasy hoops goodness to their owners.
If you’re hitting the fantasy basketball waiver wire before tonight’s action, here are the top five names to look for as a streaming option or a value play in daily leagues: (As with all our waiver wire posts, all players are owned in less than 50% of ESPN leagues)
20.7% owned. Donatas Motiejunas. 1. player. 169. In the absence of Howard and Terrance Jones, Motiejunas has emerged as a solid big-man option for the Rockets and his fantasy owners. He has played 33.2 minutes per game over his last five games while shooting a healthy 58% from the field. He’s averaged 16.4 points, 7.6 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 1.0 blocks over those five games. Earlier this season, on November 26, Motiejunas scored a season-high 21 points against the Kings. Look for the seven-footer from Lithuania to have another solid line tonight scoring solid points while shooting a good percentage and adding some decent rebounding numbers as well.. PF
Patrick Beverley. 2. player. 169. After struggling with several injuries earlier this season, Beverley appears to be back to full strength and played a season-high 40 minutes in the Rockets loss in their game last night in Oakland. He finished with 12 points, six rebounds, and five assists to go with a pair of three-pointers and a pair of steals. Beverley typically offers a balanced line with some solid three-point production and decent peripheral stats from his place in Houston’s starting backcourt.. PG. 43.3% owned
156. In the early game, the stars are bigger and the fantasy options fewer, but one player to not overlook is Tristan Thompson who is emerging into a larger role for Cleveland. He’s played almost 30 minutes a game over his last five games and averaging 10 points and eight boards per game. His final stat line is dependent on how long he’s on the floor, and when he gets the time he usually produces. Anderson Varejao has been limited lately, so look for Thompson to get enough run to make him an interesting streaming option in your frontcourt. PF/C. 20.9% owned. Tristan Thompson. 3. player
67. Another Thompson to take a look at, Jason Thompson always enjoys a bump in his numbers when DeMarcus Cousins is sidelined. In his last four games, Thompson has had at least eight rebounds, and he won’t hurt your percentages at all since he doesn’t typically take a ton of shots. He has even been dishing assists in the last three games, and he probably represents the best pure rebounding option on the waiver wire. If you can’t get Motiejunas and need rebounding more than scoring, look at Jason Thompson as he takes on the Rockets tonight.. PF/C. 5.2% owned. Jason Thompson. 4. player
Ben McLemore. 5. player. 67. McLemore is a guard worth checking out if Beverly is off the board. He dropped three three-pointers and 15 points in the Kings last game which was a loss to the Lakers. His shot can come and go making him a threat to your percentages, but he does offer scoring and three-point upside while chipping in marginal numbers of steals, assists, and rebounds since he usually logs plenty of floor time for Sacramento as he continues to hold off rookie Nik Stauskas as the Kings starting SG.. SG. 14.8% owned