Before discussing this week's waiver wire picks, let's give a moment of silence to everyone who panic-dropped Derrick White at the trade deadline, only for the new Celtic to continue producing on his new team. If you benefitted from someone panicking around the deadline, congrats to you!
We’re in for a bit of a weird stretch for fantasy basketball as the All-Star break stalls matchups for Head-to-Head leagues this week. There's a delicate balance around this time with the playoffs looming. Do you stay put with most of the guys that got you your wins or do you gamble on a potential league-winning late pick-up?
The following are some players who should still be available in your league, especially if you’re playing in standard-sized, nine-category Head-to-Head leagues.
Ayo Dosunmu
As of Valentine's Day, Dosunmu is still only rostered at around 50 percent in Yahoo! fantasy leagues, which should be rectified pretty soon.
The Bulls backcourt has been decimated by injuries and most of their regular starters aren’t tabbed to return until after the All-Star break. Even Zach LaVine, who guaranteed his participation in the All-Star festivities isn’t quite sure when he’ll next suit up for Chicago.
Ayo Dosunmu has soaked up those minutes admirably. He had played more than 35 minutes each game over the last two weeks, averaging 10.7 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 8.1 assists per game. Dosunmu and fellow Bull Coby White are some of the safest pickups in fantasy.
Devin Vassell
Another guard who’s inexplicably under-rostered is Devin Vassell, owned by just 50 percent in Yahoo! leagues.
With the aforementioned departure of White, Vassell finally got a chance to start and made his avid fantasy believers proud. In three games since the trade, Vassell has put up 17.4 points on 53.7 percent shooting.
It’s not always going to be roses for Vassell as he’s bound to run into a few walls as a sophomore who’s just getting a chance to start. But hold up 10 fingers and scream “Diamond hands!” Don’t lose faith on someone who could put up top-70 numbers for the rest of the season.
Cam Thomas
If you own any of Brooklyn’s remaining stars, you already know how bleak the Nets’ on-court prospects are. “Half Man, Half A-Season” Kyrie Irving only has eight games left this year if he stays unvaccinated, and therefore barred from playing in the state of New York. Kevin Durant has also been out of the lineup due to injury, and he still doesn’t have a clear timetable for return.
This murky situation has been fertile ground for rookie Cam Thomas to pop off. Thomas has been getting minutes and shots, dropping 15+ points over his last five games with a 30-point explosion against Utah.
The LSU product has never seen a shot he doesn’t like. He’s rostered below 40 percent so he should be available in your league. If you’re looking for someone more stable fantasy-wise, Minnesota’s Patrick Beverly is also very available at only 34 percent rostered.
Keep an eye on…
The Washington Wizards’ frontcourt situation has been interesting lately. Daniel Gafford should continue starting at center, but there might be some opportunity for Thomas Bryant to get some minutes. With newly-acquired Kristaps Porzingis’ knees being characteristically creaky, there could also be some minutes for the fabulous Deni Avdija.
There’s also been some reports on the return of Denver’s injured duo of Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. MPJ seems highly unlikely to return, but Murray seems to be doing well with rehab after his ACL tear.
Everywhere else, feel free to gamble on waiver wire All-Stars Danilo Gallinari, Kevin Huerter, and Aleksej Pokuševski.
