Could Matt Barnes be this years WW gem?

[Chrisy Moltisanti]

I balked at picking up Barnes due to history and variability of his Coaches rotations, but I cannot ignore what this player has done over the last month. 45/81/2.4/13/5.9/3.1/1.1/1.1/1.6 is a beautiful thing, good for 29th by average over the last month. Since he started getting play on Nov. 24, he's posted the 20th best overall numbers, including a 0.49 FG%. Add in his show capability of posting 30 and 25 pt nights and I see a high ceiling. If Nellie were a fantasy manager Barnes would be getting 40 minutes a night and we might be looking at second round numbers or better, but irl what are the possibilities of even what we've seen so far continuing?

[The Thrill]

I've reserved judgement on his consistency until I see him on the court with a healthy Warriors team (including, but not limited to J-Rich, Davis, Pietrus, Ellis, Murphy and Diogu). Oh wait, but that'll never happen! Yeah, he could be this year's WW gem...

[MissingOakley]

I passed because when he started busting out his PT seemed entirely dependent on the unavailability of Murphy and Pietrus. Oh well.

I'd say he's one of a handful of excellent WW pickups so far, along with some others like Head and Jefferson.

[Yilun]

I've reserved judgement on his consistency until I see him on the court with a healthy Warriors team (including, but not limited to J-Rich, Davis, Pietrus, Ellis, Murphy and Diogu). Oh wait, but that'll never happen! Yeah, he could be this year's WW gem...

That is a good point. It's really hard to tell because the Warriors are apparently in a perpetual state of injury. As long as one or two players are out, Barnes will consistently see minutes and should continue producing decent numbers.

However, in the case that Troy and Ellis comes back and the warriors lineup are in full swing, I see Barnes producing much more sporadic numbers and definitely won't be as consistent as he is playing now.

If you have someone good to drop for him, then I think its worth a shot, but don't hold your breath for too long.

[Irish]

I plugged him in for this week, but I don't have high hopes for down the line. Murphy/Ellis/J-Rich will eventually be good to go for solid minutes and Barnes will have the occasional solid game when they are in foul trouble or out with an injury. In a roto league I think he's someone you should have for the time being, but in my h2h I have no trouble dropping him for someone with more potential down the road. My eye is on the playoffs, and I can't see Barnes having solid consistent value by the time we get there.

[mbuser]

i think it all comes down to troy murphy, as barnes has been playing SF and PF for the most part. i just mentioned him in the most recent skinny -- his combination of stats is very unique

[Snakes Gould]

yeah i dont think so. i think hes just benefiting from an unhealthy team right now. nellie's rotations are so odd at times, that you never know who's starting, and who's getting what minutes.

[ed]

barnes is ok - I think pietrus has been a better pickup. On my good teams, I don't have anyone I would drop for barnes.

[Chrisy Moltisanti]

barnes is ok - I think pietrus has been a better pickup. On my good teams, I don't have anyone I would drop for barnes.

Impossible. So far there is no doubt barnes has been the better play in stnd leagues. (come on, play w/ the devils advocate)

[silentjim]

David Lee is hands down the best waiver wire pickup in my opinion. He's consistent, has excellent FG%, decent FT%, is averaging a double double, and gets a good amount of steal and blocks all while maintaining moderately low TO numbers.