TAKE 5: Top Injured Fantasy Basketball Players in the Free Agent Market

Welcome back y’all for the second edition of fantasy basketball TAKE 5. Free Agent Market needs to be discussed and there are injured players that need your tender love and care. Let’s debate, discuss and argue!

There are HOT free agent players out there that can benefit your fantasy team, probably not a lot of gems. There are potential players that can take off, those players are injured. So, if you have an IR spot available you may want to add those free agent players.

Those IR players coming back, are set to come back this week, next week, this month, next month. Which, isn’t far away and can change your fantasy season, based on them starting right away.

There are a couple of other players that are currently injured in your free agent market and would need to be traded to have high fantasy value or remain of importance. There are 4 players worth considering and 3 that would need trades to happen to be worth considering.

I’m going to get one out-of-the-way now, if Nicolas Batum is available, pick him up immediately. Batum should be owned in all leagues, plus he is set to come back today. You have player you can afford to drop a player, trust me and he needs to be dropped for Batum. He’s a great addition for point and standard leagues.

It’s insane if Batum or Rajon Rondo are available. If both are available pick them up. If you are in a point’s league, may want to hold off Rondo because you may not know what you’re going to get. For standard leagues and need assists like me I’m picking them both up.

These guys weren’t my topics but may be available as free agents in your leagues, so do something about that, as for the rest of you there are other players worth considering.

Fantasy Basketball Waiver Wire Target – JaMychal Green (PF/C)

HOT free agent JaMychal Green, is set to be Marc Gasol’s right hand man during this season. Hayward lasted a little longer than Green (I’m sorry that was too soon), Green’s injury was a sprain and you know about Hayward.

Green is set to come back today. Like Batum, Green also needs to be picked up right away. Rumors said he was supposed to be out longer, but they were all wrong he is set to come back today Based off this video below kind of had a feeling he would be back sooner:

And, Green is guaranteed to start right away. He will be contributing through points, rebounds, field goal percentage and free throw percentage.

Last season Green averaged 8.9 ppg and 7.1 trb, .780 free throw percentage and .500 field goal percentage. He does throw up the occasional 3 pointer here and there and averaged .379 3 point percentage which isn’t bad since big men are expected to take 3’s now. Without that, Green is averaging .549 2p%.

You’d think those numbers would go up. The potential is there, Zach Randolph is gone and Jarrell Martin hasn’t been getting it done for fantasy. So, Green right now has the biggest green light from the Grizzlies to take off. PF is Green’s position and his position to lose. I need a big man for my fantasy team, and I’m going in on Green.

If Green is available in your free agent market pick him up now, hoping you have a player to get rid of, which you should. My team is pretty good, but could be better with Green.

Fantasy Basketball Waiver Wire Target – Seth Curry (PG/SG)

With a very crowded backcourt this Dallas Mavericks team will have a lot of depth at shooting guard and point guard when Seth Curry returns. Mavs have decisions to make when Curry returns. If he is a free agent in your league, Curry could maybe picked up doesn’t have to be picked up right away, but if you have room for him then go ahead.

Curry will be getting minutes, not right away, but a go to sixth man for sure. No guarantee to start either, given how well Dennis Smith Jr. has been playing this season. Wesley Matthews playing decently good. Yogi Ferrell and J.J. Barea have been showing up when giving the opportunity.

Curry will be going back and forth from shooting guard to point guard to start then who knows. He’s coming off a career year. Curry can score and distribute when needed. But, has the capability of scoring.

Last season Curry’s averages were 12.8 ppg, 2.7 ast, 2.6 trb, .850 ft%, .425 3p% and .481 fg%. Scoring won’t be an issue, it will be the minutes, since they will fluctuate. Curious to see what the Mavs do for him.

Curry is a help your percentages type of player for standard leagues that need their shooting percentages to get a little boost. He’s your guy. As for points, Curry is an above average point producer. He also flies under the radar and was somewhat consistent last year. So, this year I can only hope for the same.

If Seth Curry is a free agent and you have availability to add him on your roster to get Curry. Sure, go for him. But, I’d rather do a wait and see, and hope no one else gets him. Then pick Curry up later. But, there are teams out there that need everybody.

Fantasy Basketball Waiver Wire Target – Tony Parker (PG)

How could anyone forget about this guy? Tony Parker, more than likely an available free agent in your leagues is on his way back. The Spurs have been far too inconsistent at point guard this season. It’s a perfect time to stash Tony Parker on the IR. Not sure which Tony Parker we will get but he fluctuates as the season goes. He is one of the better options for point guard.

If you’re in a points league he may or not be the guy for you, given we won’t know what we will get. He is older, but can still distribute the basketball, so if you’re needing assists still in your standard league Parker is your guy.

Parker will up your assists field goal percentage with additional points here and there. Going off last year where his numbers were low. But, given how the backup point guards have been performing lately, the Spurs cannot wait for Parker to get back.

Dejounte Murray started off hot, since then has cooled off a bunch. Patty Mills has yet to take over and show the grit. He’s a good off the bench and playoff point guard rather than starting. Murray has all the tools, but not too sure what’s going on inside his head. Why, Parker will be the starting again when he returns.

Tony Parker is your guy if you’re in desperate need of assists and a point guard. He’s expecting to make his return around the end of November. Pick him up and add him to your IR for standard leagues. As for points leagues keep in the free agent market and wait to see which Tony Parker you’re going to get.

Fantasy Basketball Waiver Wire Target – Milos Teodosic (PG/SG)

Another guard (I know), a free agent nonetheless. Milos Teodosic has the tools to be better than Seth Curry and Tony Parker right now. Teodosic is 30, his game right now is better, that’s if he can transfer those tools and stats from European league to the NBA.

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Teodosic played in two and half games this year until he got hurt. Teodosic has professional experience, was starting for the Clippers until he got hurt. I think he continues to start when he is able to return.  Teodosic is looking to return sometime in December.

What Teodosic brings given his game translates to the NBA, he will bring assists, scoring and up percentages with turnovers here and there, same for 3 pointers. But in standard leagues if you’re not going for turnovers you’re doing standard leagues wrong. Point’s league this guy has the tools to be above average in your leagues.

Going off only two games for Teodosic, there is not much to go off of or to tell how he will fair. What can be said, he will be starting when he returns and this will affect Patrick Beverley’s value. May not want to give up a player yet for him especially his return isn’t until December. But, keep an eye out for when it’s getting closer to his return date.

It will be a while before he starts when he comes back, Doc Rivers will eventually hand the reins back over to Teodosic. Just a heads up for those who need a solid guard off the free agent market, Teodosic could be your guy.

Fantasy Basketball Waiver Wire Targets

Yes, three free agents are last here. Reason being, only way these guys remain relevant this season is if trades happen for them. They are all injured and looking to come back. All of starting capability but none are in ideal situations.

Greg Monroe (PF/C)

I’ll start with Greg Monroe, since the Bulls situation with them off sets. Right now Greg Monroe is in purgatory with the Suns. After being traded to the Suns, he won’t have relevance this season if he stays with them, their front court is so crowded. Which is unfortunate for Monroe right now, since he’s a good rebounder and scorer down low.

Monroe’s free throw percentage is not terrible and pretty good. Standard leagues and point leagues right now, no need to pick up Monroe right now unless trade moves happen for him or if he starts for the Suns. Right now keep him until you hear otherwise. As soon as I hear Monroe is traded or guaranteed starter in Phoenix I’m picking him up.

Nikola Mirotic (SF/PF) & David Nwaba (SG/SF)

This brings me to the Chicago Bulls situation with Nikola Mirotic and David Nwaba. Both are injured and both are starters for this team. However, given the Bobby Portis and Mirotic altercation in practice, both are unlikely to coexist in the foreseeable future. One of them needs to go if this is the case according to Mirotic.

This affects Nwaba, because he was playing Mirotic’s position at small forward, starting and looked pretty good. Mirotic leaves, doesn’t affect Nwaba he will return to his starting role. However, if Portis is out, expect Mirotic to slide to power forward and Nwaba stay at small forward. Not sure what the Bulls do here, but they need to do something to get rid of the tension between Mirotic and Portis.

This is all just speculative for now until Zach LaVine’s return, in which he will be worked back slowly to a starting role. For now Mirotic until he gets traded is a strong consideration and Nwaba’s value will take a hit with LaVine’s return.

Next: FanDuel NBA Picks and Pivots – Wednesday November 15

Other free agent players I missed? Comment below, these are the injured guys available on my free agent market and everyone’s is different. These guys are solid injured guys that are worth consideration if not then at least an add to the IR.