Cavs Set A Boobie Trap

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Nicolas Batum Blazers

Batum was featured here a week ago and has been one of the hottest pickups over the last few weeks since Marcus Camby and Brandon Roy shut it down for the Blazers. He's now owned in 80 percent of leagues, which means he's available in about 20 percent of them. Don't look at the numbers and don't wait any longer. If he's available in your league and you don't have to cut one of your starters, pick him up. He's averaging 16 points, five boards and nearly two 3-pointers per game in January, and his 0.7 averages in steals and blocks should be up to at least 1.0 by the end of the month. The bad news is the Blazers only have two games this week.

Ryan Anderson Magic

Here's another guy I've had trouble not talking about and he has been too kind to us. He's averaging 15 points, six boards, three 3-pointers and a block in January. He has season highs of 20 and 21 in two of his last three, and averaged 17 points, seven boards, 3.5 threes and .75 blocks in four games last week. Add in the fact the Magic play four times a week until the All-Star Break, and it's tough not to love Anderson. Brandon Bass is also still worthy and averaged 13 points, seven boards and a block last week, but Anderson looks like a much better option right now.

Corey Maggette Bucks

Maggette, who is playing through a sore hand, was another guy featured here last week, about a day before he became a full-time starting small forward for Scott Skiles. Maggette had a very nice week, averaging 22 points, five rebounds, four assists and a steal in his four starts. Am I worried about the return of Carlos Delfino and the possibility he replaces Maggette as a starter? Absolutely, but I plan on riding the Maggette train until it runs off the tracks, which will hopefully not happen in the upcoming week. The Bucks play four times a week for the next three.

Omri Casspi Kings

Casspi took over starting duties for Francisco Garcia, who is out for at least another week with a calf injury, and is averaging 12 points, 10 boards, a steal and two 3-pointers over his last two games (one was off the bench). He's going to start for Paul Westphal until further notice, although that doesn't guarantee anything. But he looks like a nice pick up right now, at least for the upcoming week when the Kings play four times, but keep in mind they have a two-game week coming up in the following scoring period.

Mike Miller Heat

Miller caught fire in a start for the Heat on Saturday when Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh were out, scoring 32 points along with 10 rebounds, six 3-pointers, three assists and a steal. He's going to struggle to be consistent when Wade and Bosh are back, but we at least know he's healthy and capable of playing well again. I don't trust anyone on the Heat not named LeBron, Dwyane or Chris, but Miller probably deserves a look after Saturday's explosion.

Others To Consider: Andrei Kirilenko Jazz, Arron Afflalo Nuggets, Shawn Marion Mavericks, Shane Battier Rockets, Carlos Delfino Bucks, Ryan Gomes Clippers

Kirilenko shouldn't even be available, but he is in some leagues, Afflalo is coming off a 22-point, five-3-pointer night on Friday and has scored between 21 and 31 points in three of his last six games, and Marion is still worth a look despite recent struggles and a demotion out of the starting five. Battier played well in a couple games before struggling on Saturday, Delfino is working his way back from a concussion, and Gomes is quietly averaging nine points, 4.5 boards and 1.3 3-pointers per game in January.

Centers

J.J. Hickson Cavaliers – Don't look at the numbers, don't worry about who he plays for or why he's even relevant. He should be owned in all leagues until further notice. Period.

Marcin Gortat Suns

Gortat is still not starting, but I have a feeling it's only a matter of time. He's double-doubled in three straight games and should be picked up in all leagues, as the starting job should be his for the taking in the next 10 days or so, and he'll continue to dub-dub and block at least a shot per game, and maybe two. The Suns go four times this week, but have just two games in Week 15.

Darko Milicic Timberwolves

Darko practiced on Saturday with a sprained ankle, which should put him on track to play four times this week. Yes, he's pretty unreliable injury-wise, but has blocked 19 shots in his last six games, hit double figures in scoring in four of those and double-doubled in two of them. He's also shooting it much better over his last four, although turnovers are still a concern. If you're thinking about using him this week, go for it.

Jason Thompson Kings

Thompson looks like a much better option than Carl Landry and Samuel Dalembert right now, along with DeMarcus Cousins. Thompson averaged 14 points and eight boards last week, getting 35 minutes or more in three of those four games. Landry could emerge at any time, but for now, Thompson (along with Cousins) looks like the guy you want to own.

DeJuan Blair Spurs

Blair blew up last week and has posted three monster double-doubles in his last five games. He came back to earth on Saturday when Gregg Popovich limited his minutes, and will struggle to get a consistent 30 minutes a night when Matt Bonner is back from a knee injury. Why Bonner, or anyone else, limits Blair's minutes makes no sense to me, but that's how Pop rolls. But when Blair is getting minutes, he's a very solid fantasy forward. It's just impossible to predict how Pop is going to use him from night to night. He has four games this week, but just two in Week 15.

JaVale McGee Wizards

McGee is one of the most frustrating players to own in fantasy, as he simply isn't capable of consistent play or minutes. He's capable of a double-double with six blocks on any given night, but is also capable of four points, three boards and two blocks the next time out. The key is he's blocked at least one shot in every January game, which is the main reason you would put him in your lineup. Anything else is icing on the cake. His January averages are nine points, seven boards and three blocks, so it's hard to be too upset with him. The Wiz play four times in each of the next two weeks.

Others To Consider: Roy Hibbert Pacers, Serge Ibaka Thunder, Greg Monroe Pistons, Ronny Turiaf Knicks, Chuck Hayes Rockets, Kwame Brown Bobcats

Hibbert double-doubled against the Blazers on Saturday and he should still at least be held in most leagues. Starting him is another story. Ibaka was a beast on Saturday with 11 points, 15 boards and two blocks, but would be much more fun to own if he was a starter. Monroe has scored just five and six points in his last two, but is still crashing the boards. He's started seven straight games, but has just two blocks in January. Turiaf is getting run for the Knicks, Hayes is playing pretty well for the Rockets and Kwame Brown is a deep-league possibility for Charlotte. All are worth a look if you need a center.

Here you go. I don't know if the picks have just been obvious, or if I've got some good karma going, but I feel like Waiver Wired has been going pretty well lately, thanks to guys like Nicolas Batum, Ryan Anderson and Corey Maggette. Enjoy.

Games Played This Week

Trail Blazers – 2 Games
Hawks, Bulls, Mavericks, Pacers, Clippers, Lakers, Heat and Spurs – 3 Games
Everyone Else – 4 Games

Guards

Daniel Gibson Cavaliers

Not only is Gibson one of the best players left in Cleveland, but he's getting healthy while his teammates are dropping around him like flies. Both Mo Williams and Ramon Sessions went down last week leaving Gibson and Manny Harris as the main backcourt pieces for the Cavs. Williams could decide to shut it down for the rest of the season and "hop on over to Mamby Pamby land to find some self confidence," while Sessions is currently being reevaluated with an abdominal injury. I'm not a big fan of seeing the word 'groin' next to my injured guy's name, and along with 'knee surgery,' 'abdominal strain' is pretty high up on the list of bad hoops injuries.

Gibson is a must-own player at this point, while Harris is definitely worth a look as well. Just like J.J. Hickson is the only guy they've got to play center, these two are the only guys they've got to play guard right now. In fact, there's a decent chance I'll be recommending myself for a pickup here next week, as I might be the new point guard in Cleveland. Yeah, it's that bad. The real question is, when will they win another game? The good news is the Cavs play four times per week until the All-Star Break.

Lou Williams Sixers

Sweet Lou has scored between 12 and 26 points in his last nine games and is averaging 17 points, three rebounds, three assists and a 3-pointer per game in January. Need I say more? Williams and the Sixers play four games this week.

Keyon Dooling/Earl Boykins Bucks

Dooling has broken out of a nasty funk recently, while I'm still shocked every time I write Boykins' name in a fantasy column. It just makes no sense. Dooling had a nice week, recording his fourth career double-double, and has scored in double figures in four of his last five games. He double-doubled twice in the 2008-09 season, as well as posted a 20 & 10 game back in 2003-04. He's also hit at least one three in all but one January game, but outside of his assist explosion when he had 11 against the, ahem, Cavs last week, he's not a guy who's going to help you win assists every week. He's also going to lose all value the second Brandon Jennings comes back from foot surgery, but that could still be a month or so away.

Boykins was like a ping-pong ball last week, scoring 5, 19, 9 and 23 points, with the 23 coming in Saturday's finale, which I'm guessing won some fantasy games for owners. He hit five threes in the 'good' games and zero in the bad ones, and is as hit-or-miss as they come. He's far from a must-own player right now, but he is a guy who can help you out in a deep league. But again, like Dooling, he'll lose his fantasy value when Jennings is back.

The Bucks play four games a week until the All-Star Break.

Anthony Morrow Nets

Morrow finally returned from a hamstring injury last week and played in a couple games, scoring 10 in his first one and just two in the next. His minutes were limited in each as he's going to slowly work his way back into the mix, but don't be surprised if he's starting a week from now. He scored in double figures in six straight games and hit a ton of threes before going down in before Christmas, and there's a pretty decent chance he'll be back to form in the near future.

Rudy Fernandez Blazers

I've been hesitant to jump on the Rudy bandwagon, but it's clear he's becoming a prominent part of the Blazers' offense. He's scored between 11 and 17 points in his last four games, hitting nine 3-pointers over that stretch. He's also getting 30 minutes a game, and while I don't like him as much as teammates Nicolas Batum and Wesley Matthews, Fernandez looks like a decent pickup right now. Just remember the Blazers only have two games this week.

Others To Consider Corey Brewer Timberwolves, Reggie Williams Warriors, Tracy McGrady Pistons

Brewer is starting and should be a good source of steals and threes, Williams has been given the green light to shoot from coach Keith Smart, and helps fill in when Monta Ellis and Stephen Curry go down, while T-Mac continues to start for the Pistons. He's cooled off though, and his next injury is probably just around the corner.

Forwards

Nicolas Batum Blazers

Batum was featured here a week ago and has been one of the hottest pickups over the last few weeks since Marcus Camby and Brandon Roy shut it down for the Blazers. He's now owned in 80 percent of leagues, which means he's available in about 20 percent of them. Don't look at the numbers and don't wait any longer. If he's available in your league and you don't have to cut one of your starters, pick him up. He's averaging 16 points, five boards and nearly two 3-pointers per game in January, and his 0.7 averages in steals and blocks should be up to at least 1.0 by the end of the month. The bad news is the Blazers only have two games this week.

Ryan Anderson Magic

Here's another guy I've had trouble not talking about and he has been too kind to us. He's averaging 15 points, six boards, three 3-pointers and a block in January. He has season highs of 20 and 21 in two of his last three, and averaged 17 points, seven boards, 3.5 threes and .75 blocks in four games last week. Add in the fact the Magic play four times a week until the All-Star Break, and it's tough not to love Anderson. Brandon Bass is also still worthy and averaged 13 points, seven boards and a block last week, but Anderson looks like a much better option right now.

Corey Maggette Bucks

Maggette, who is playing through a sore hand, was another guy featured here last week, about a day before he became a full-time starting small forward for Scott Skiles. Maggette had a very nice week, averaging 22 points, five rebounds, four assists and a steal in his four starts. Am I worried about the return of Carlos Delfino and the possibility he replaces Maggette as a starter? Absolutely, but I plan on riding the Maggette train until it runs off the tracks, which will hopefully not happen in the upcoming week. The Bucks play four times a week for the next three.

Omri Casspi Kings

Casspi took over starting duties for Francisco Garcia, who is out for at least another week with a calf injury, and is averaging 12 points, 10 boards, a steal and two 3-pointers over his last two games (one was off the bench). He's going to start for Paul Westphal until further notice, although that doesn't guarantee anything. But he looks like a nice pick up right now, at least for the upcoming week when the Kings play four times, but keep in mind they have a two-game week coming up in the following scoring period.

Mike Miller Heat

Miller caught fire in a start for the Heat on Saturday when Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh were out, scoring 32 points along with 10 rebounds, six 3-pointers, three assists and a steal. He's going to struggle to be consistent when Wade and Bosh are back, but we at least know he's healthy and capable of playing well again. I don't trust anyone on the Heat not named LeBron, Dwyane or Chris, but Miller probably deserves a look after Saturday's explosion.

Others To Consider: Andrei Kirilenko Jazz, Arron Afflalo Nuggets, Shawn Marion Mavericks, Shane Battier Rockets, Carlos Delfino Bucks, Ryan Gomes Clippers

Kirilenko shouldn't even be available, but he is in some leagues, Afflalo is coming off a 22-point, five-3-pointer night on Friday and has scored between 21 and 31 points in three of his last six games, and Marion is still worth a look despite recent struggles and a demotion out of the starting five. Battier played well in a couple games before struggling on Saturday, Delfino is working his way back from a concussion, and Gomes is quietly averaging nine points, 4.5 boards and 1.3 3-pointers per game in January.

Centers

J.J. Hickson Cavaliers – Don't look at the numbers, don't worry about who he plays for or why he's even relevant. He should be owned in all leagues until further notice. Period.

Marcin Gortat Suns

Gortat is still not starting, but I have a feeling it's only a matter of time. He's double-doubled in three straight games and should be picked up in all leagues, as the starting job should be his for the taking in the next 10 days or so, and he'll continue to dub-dub and block at least a shot per game, and maybe two. The Suns go four times this week, but have just two games in Week 15.

Darko Milicic Timberwolves

Darko practiced on Saturday with a sprained ankle, which should put him on track to play four times this week. Yes, he's pretty unreliable injury-wise, but has blocked 19 shots in his last six games, hit double figures in scoring in four of those and double-doubled in two of them. He's also shooting it much better over his last four, although turnovers are still a concern. If you're thinking about using him this week, go for it.

Jason Thompson Kings

Thompson looks like a much better option than Carl Landry and Samuel Dalembert right now, along with DeMarcus Cousins. Thompson averaged 14 points and eight boards last week, getting 35 minutes or more in three of those four games. Landry could emerge at any time, but for now, Thompson (along with Cousins) looks like the guy you want to own.

DeJuan Blair Spurs

Blair blew up last week and has posted three monster double-doubles in his last five games. He came back to earth on Saturday when Gregg Popovich limited his minutes, and will struggle to get a consistent 30 minutes a night when Matt Bonner is back from a knee injury. Why Bonner, or anyone else, limits Blair's minutes makes no sense to me, but that's how Pop rolls. But when Blair is getting minutes, he's a very solid fantasy forward. It's just impossible to predict how Pop is going to use him from night to night. He has four games this week, but just two in Week 15.

JaVale McGee Wizards

McGee is one of the most frustrating players to own in fantasy, as he simply isn't capable of consistent play or minutes. He's capable of a double-double with six blocks on any given night, but is also capable of four points, three boards and two blocks the next time out. The key is he's blocked at least one shot in every January game, which is the main reason you would put him in your lineup. Anything else is icing on the cake. His January averages are nine points, seven boards and three blocks, so it's hard to be too upset with him. The Wiz play four times in each of the next two weeks.

Others To Consider: Roy Hibbert Pacers, Serge Ibaka Thunder, Greg Monroe Pistons, Ronny Turiaf Knicks, Chuck Hayes Rockets, Kwame Brown Bobcats

Hibbert double-doubled against the Blazers on Saturday and he should still at least be held in most leagues. Starting him is another story. Ibaka was a beast on Saturday with 11 points, 15 boards and two blocks, but would be much more fun to own if he was a starter. Monroe has scored just five and six points in his last two, but is still crashing the boards. He's started seven straight games, but has just two blocks in January. Turiaf is getting run for the Knicks, Hayes is playing pretty well for the Rockets and Kwame Brown is a deep-league possibility for Charlotte. All are worth a look if you need a center.