Top 5 Fantasy Basketball Waiver Wire Pickups
Boban Marjanovic
The Serbian’s minutes have been ticking up recently and Marjanovic is showing what he can so with increased playing time. Marjanovic backs up Marcin Gortat, who the Clippers may look to preserve as the season progresses if they are in competition for a playoff spot. Playing 22 minutes in his last game, Marjanovic went for 15 points and 11 rebounds. Where Boban can really contribute is in blocks. Marjanovic is an efficient player who does not need many minutes to make a large contribution to your team. If he can get 20 minutes a night, he is a valuable addition to your fantasy team.
Mikal Bridges
Bridges is a speculative add whose value to your team will increase as the season progresses. The Phoenix Suns are not very good at the game of basketball and will be playing to maximize their draft position in a loaded class. This will mean giving more minutes to Bridges, in whom the Suns have a lot of confidence. Bridges is an intelligent player who is an effective shooter. If his minutes continue to increase, his areas of value will be steals and three-point shooting. Bridges’ minutes have been increasing as he has gained the trust of the coaching staff.
Dante Exum
Exum has never fully received the chance to live up to his immense potential as the injury bug has bit him hard in the early part of his career. Now finally healthy, Exum is earning real minutes backing up Ricky Rubio. Exum has flashed his scoring potential, but his peripheral stats have been more limited. With Rubio off to a slow start this season and injury-prone himself, Exum figures to get increasing opportunities as the season unfolds. There are stats to be had running the suddenly potent Utah offense which Exum will do more often.
Noah Vonleh
So far in his career, Vonleh has been a rebound first shoot last type of player. He has so far been a bench piece, but recently has moved into the starting lineup for the Knicks. Even if Vonleh is hardly going to light up the offensive side of the stat ledger, his rebounding makes him worth a spot on your fantasy squad. Vonleh has become a sneaky contributor who can also add to your bottom line in stats and rebounds. The Knicks do not have many options in the frontcourt right now and it appears that Vonleh’s extended minutes are not a fluke.
Alex Len
Even though the Phoenix Suns have already gave up on Len, it is hard to remember that Len is still only 25 years old. Len entered the season behind Dewayne Dedmon on the depth chart, but seems to be well on his way to surpassing Dedmon. Len has potential to average close to a double-double each game if he gets the necessary minutes. The situation in Atlanta is wide-open and promises to give Len his fairest shot yet at competing for starter’s minutes in the league. Len scored 22 points his last game.