Time for fantasy basketball -- that never-ending search for players who are healthy and producing to replace guys who aren’t healthy and not producing. It's a happy (or hapless) cycle that fans like to indulge in search for the best collection of players. Here's a list of names who might aid your dream team.
Willy Hernangomez
Zion Williamson's return from injury is on the horizon. He's been recently cleared for full team activities, but there's still no timetable for his return. That being said, there's still room to invest in a big from the Pelicans.
Willy Hernangomez hasn't played much to begin the season but two things led to him getting more playing time: a minor knee contusion to starting center Jonas Valaciunas and head coach Willie Green. Hernangomez gradually occupied the minutes of Jaxson Hayes, and when Valanciunas eventually returned, he still had a place as a backup center.
In the last four games, he's logged in at least 18 minutes a game and always mingled with a double-double. If you need a big who can score and rebound or simply a guy to temporarily fill a slot, he's your man.
Before you pick him from the waiver wire, note that Willy is listed as Guillermo in Yahoo! Fantasy Leagues. And he should not be confused with his younger brother Juancho who plays for the Boston Celtics.
Danny Green
Fantasy managers know the love and hate feeling when acquiring Danny Green. When he gets hot, he'll give you 3s. When he's on defensively, he'll give you steals and blocks. The inverse of course is that there will be days when he will hardly give you anything on the stat sheet. Plus, injuries make him a tough pick for most managers.
But Green is coming off two solid performances versus the Warriors and Timberwolves. He totaled 21 points and eight steals, returning from a four-game absence because of hamstring tightness.
Green will not likely jump out of the stat sheet, but he's a good source for 3s and defensive numbers. You'll just have to temper your expectations with the seasoned veteran.
Tyus Jones
It's unfortunate that Ja Morant will be sidelined for a while, but at least we breathe a sigh of relief when it wasn't diagnosed as a serious knee injury. However, he is expected to sit out for a "couple of weeks" according to coach Taylor Jenkins.
With no official timetable for Morant's return, the starting point guard will be filled up by Tyus Jones. In his first game as a starter versus the Kings, he collected six points, three rebounds, and eight assists. Even though he won't be a constant source of points, the dimes might help you out. The Grizzlies have a lot of scorers and at this point in the season, guys like Brandon Clarke, Desmond Bane, Dillon Brooks, De'Anthony Melton, and of course Jaren Jackson Jr., might have already been added by most teams. Jones will be the one handing out the ball to these guys so he'll be a worthy pickup.
Marvin Bagley III
The Kings have a lot of figuring out to do with a new head coach at the helm. Player roles and minutes distribution might be a doozy until things settle down. Will Marvin Bagley be in coach Alvin Gentry's long-term vision? His 35-minute output in the triple-overtime win against the Lakers, including seeing him in crunch time, is a good sign.
If he does get consistent minutes, he's a solid find for points and rebounds. Last season, he averaged 14.1 points on 50.4 percent shooting and 7.4 rebounds in over 25 minutes per night. The free throw percentage (66 percent for his career) and turnovers (1.4) might be tough to swallow, but he's a steady big if he can get the playing time.
Malik Monk
The rollercoaster season of the Lakers continues. There are as many questions for this championship-seeking team as there are superstars. Consistency is the name of the game and not a lot of Lakers have it right now.
However, you might want to consider Malik Monk for your squad. He's been getting a lot of burn as a backup guard, mostly providing shooting. Before his 2-point dud versus the Pistons in his last game, he knocked down four treys en route to 20 points against the Kings. In Indiana, he had 17 points and eight rebounds. He can probably give you two or three 3s a game while the rebounds and assists categories are extra gravy. Of course, the star-studded Lakers have enough firepower on paper so proceed with an err of caution when picking up this guy.
That's another edition of Waiver Watcher and to quote one of our All-Star analysts, coach Sandy Arespacochaga, may the adds be in your favor.
