Every single team in the NBA plays at least three games this week with a good number of teams playing four games. While that means the players on your NBA fantasy league roster should get their fair share of opportunities to produce, there will still be opportunities to improve your outlook in specific categories by making one or two smart additions this week. Here is a look at the top waiver wire pickups that could still be available in your NBA fantasy league this week.
PG: J.J. Barea, Dallas Mavericks
The Mavericks gave Barea a day off to rest on Wednesday and while no fantasy GM ever wants to see that it could pay off for those willing to invest in his stock this week. Barea’s production has been outstanding early on and yet he is owned in less than 60-percent of NBA fantasy leagues. Barea has averaged 17.3 points, 5.6 assists and 4.0 rebounds in 33.9 minutes per game this season and with Dallas set to play four games this week now is an excellent time to grab him.
The Mavericks have been one of the worst teams in the NBA so far this season, so it looks like guys like Barea may continue to get a good usage rate. The Mavericks are just 2-7 through nine games, which makes them the second-worst team in the Western Conference.
SG: Sean Kilpatrick, Brooklyn Nets
Injuries to Jeremy Lin and Isaiah Whitehead opened the door for Kilpatrick to play upwards of 30 minutes in his last game against the Phoenix Suns on Saturday night. Kilpatrick rewarded his team’s faith in him with 19 points, nine rebounds, four assists and three three-point shots in a 122-103 win. Kilpatrick’s minutes will be tempered when Lin and Whitehead are healthy but his excellent production so far should keep him fantasy relevant with the Nets set to play four games this week.
The youth movement is fully on in Brooklyn and guys like Kilpatrick are going to get plenty of opportunity. They are 4-5 so far this season, though, which is better than most people thought they’d be at this point. They’re only a half-game outside of the playoffs.
SF: C.J. Miles, Indiana Pacers
Speaking of injuries creating opportunity, Miles started both games with Paul George sidelined for Indiana and while his production wasn’t outstanding in those starts, he has a chance to put up some decent numbers this week if George remains at less than 100-percent. Miles has averaged 14.3 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.4 three-point shots per game this season so if you need help on the wing with a boost in the three-point category in particular than Miles could be the perfect fit.
PF: Trey Lyles, Utah Jazz
Derrick Favors is expected to play this week but he left Saturday’s game with knee soreness and if he is hurting it could lead to more playing time for Lyles. The 2015 first-round pick has averaged 7.5 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.0 block/steal per game over his last three contests but his production could see a significant bump if he plays more than the 19.3 minutes per game that he averaged over that span. It might not make sense to grab him right away but keep an eye on Favors’ injury status. He was able to suit up on Monday but this is still a fluid situation. His minutes could be down or maybe he’s not fully healthy. At any rate, Lyles has become a very valuable handcuff/backup.
C: Lucas Nogueira, Toronto Raptors
It’s very easy to overlook Nogueira based on his situation in Toronto, but he has quietly put up decent numbers as the Raptors’ backup center of late. Nogueira has averaged 8.3 points, 7.3 rebounds, 2.5 blocks and 1.8 steals while shooting 88-percent from the floor over his last four games and he has played upwards of 25 minutes in three of them. Nogueira certainly isn’t an elite option but considering his recent production and the fact that he is available in 80-percent of fantasy basketball leagues, he could definitely be a sneaky good pickup for this week’s action. For whatever reason, the Raptors still don’t fully ride Jonas Valanciunas as much as possible – he only played 22 minutes in the Raptors’ latest contest – so there is some room for Nogueira to be an NBA fantasy contributor.
