The first week of the NBA season is in the books with every team playing three or four games. There are a lot of questions still left to be answered, but for those playing fantasy basketball, a major question is who to add off the waiver wire.
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Each week we will look at the best guards, forwards and centers, who are rostered on less than 50% of teams in Yahoo! Fantasy Basketball leagues. These are some players to get the waiver claims in on now, before your opponent does:
Guards
Malik Monk SG/SF (42% Rostered)
Getting Monk might be wishful thinking depending on the level of your league and the depth. He has been a major part of the Sacramento Kings offense early this season, making seven three-pointers and dishing out 16 total assists in three games.
Bones Hyland PG/SG (10% Rostered)
The Los Angeles Clippers guard rotation is effectively Russell Westbrook and Hyland. There are no other lead guard playmakers on the roster, which has led to Hyland filling up the stat sheet with 47 points, nine made three-pointers, five assists and five rebounds on 51.4% shooting.
Gary Payton II PG/SG/SF (5% Rostered)
The Golden State Warriors are a wildcard with their depth and how they play game-to-game. Over his last two games, GP2 has looked like a solid depth piece 25 points, eight rebounds, five made three-pointers, four steals and two blocks.
Forwards
De’Andre Hunter SF/PF (39% Rostered)
Early this season Hunter has found his rhythm with the Atlanta Hawks. Over his last three games specifically, Hunter has 58 points, 13 rebounds, five steals and four assists while shooting 60% or better from the field. With Trae Young and Dejuonte Murray making plays, Hunter is able to spot-up for open threes, attack in open space and make plays on the defensive end.
Isaac Okoro SG/SF (24% Rostered)
On the surface Okoro does not scream “fantasy starter,” but he is getting real starter minutes with Jarrett Allen out of the line-up. In his minutes Okoro has scored in double-figures every game, grabbed five or more rebounds and dished out two or more assists. Potentially even more valuable, Okoro has four steals and three blocks in three games.
Dorian Finney-Smith SF/PF (8% Rostered)
So far in his first three games, Finney-Smith has scored in double-figures every game with at least two made three-pointers and five or more rebounds. He is not creating turnovers at a high level, but with Cameron Johnson out with injury and defenses focused on Mikal Bridges and Cam Thomas, it leaves Finney-Smith alone for open three-pointers all game.
Centers
Naz Reid PF/C (44% Rostered)
If he is still available in your league Reid might be the ultimate waiver add this week. He is the third center in the rotation, but has been a consistent shooting threat making seven three-pointers, grabbing nine rebounds and scoring 38 points in his last two games. Reid can slot in as a forward too giving him versatility all season. In the event Rudy Gobert or Karl-Anthony Towns sits a game or is injured, that opens up even more playing time for Reid this season.
Christian Wood PF/C (38% Rostered)
One of the best surprises this season in fantasy basketball has been the play of Wood, who was signed by the Los Angeles Lakers as a flier. The journeyman is coming off the bench scoring with efficiency (55%), getting to the free-throw line (9/13) and rebounding the ball. Most importantly, Wood is closing games for Los Angeles giving him more opportunities.
Kelly Olynyk PF/C (20% Rostered)
Often just looked at as a shooter, Olynyk brings a lot of value from the center position with 15 assists and five steals in four games off the bench. Olynyk is also shooting 68.7% from the field, 40% from three and 89% from the free-throw line.
One More To Watch
Peyton Watson SG/SF (3% Rostered)
The Denver Nuggets are playing their young players early in the season, which has opened the door for Watson to carve out a niche. The second-year wing has had at least one block in every game. In four games he has 34 points and nine rebounds on 63.3% shooting. Watson has at least one made three-pointer in three games and at least one steal in two games. As he gets more comfortable he has the potential to be something in-between Aaron Gordon and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope off the bench for Denver.
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