Games Played for Week 14
4 Games – Chicago, Detroit, Golden State, Lakers, Milwaukee, New Orleans, Orlando, Sacramento, Toronto, Utah, Washington.
3 Games – Brooklyn, Boston, Charlotte, Cleveland, Dallas, Denver, Houston, Indiana, Clippers, Memphis, Miami, Minnesota, New York, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Portland.
2 Games – Atlanta, Oklahoma City, San Antonio.
Check out last week's Waiver Wired column and Saturday's Dose for more of my ramblings, and take a look at me on Twitter for the latest lineup changes on game nights that I'm working (and some that I'm not). Click here to follow me on Twitter.
Guards
Avery Bradley Celtics 32% owned in Yahoo! Leagues
Rajon Rondo is out for the season due to a torn ACL, which was announced just as I was posting this column on Sunday. Bradley could become another version of Eric Bledsoe, only better, while it's also possible that Doc Rivers could end up leaning on Courtney Lee to play the point instead. Leandro Barbosa and Jason Terry will also see big bumps in playing time, meaning all four of these guys are going to be worth a look in many leagues. I'd rank them Bradley, Lee, Terry, Barbosa, but we'll have to see what Rivers has in mind going forward. Tough break for the Celtics, and you have to wonder if they'll try to make a play for a guy like Jose Calderon if Bradley and Lee don't get it done. And CBS' Ken Berger is suggesting that Paul Pierce could be traded because of Rondo's injury.
And on another Celtics note, PF Jared Sullinger started over Brandon Bass on Sunday, and while he’s not guaranteed to keep the job, or be able to stay out of foul trouble, he’s at least worth keeping a close eye on in case he keeps the job.
Raymond Felton Knicks 84% and J.J. Redick Magic 73% owned
Felton was terrible in his return on Saturday but immediately moved into the starting lineup and saw heavy minutes for the Knicks. Redick has started at shooting guard for the Magic in two straight games and could stick there for the rest of the season, or until he gets traded. These two aren’t available in many leagues, but if they’re available in yours, it’s either a very small one, or you should pick them up. And the same goes for Atlanta's Kyle Korver, too.
Alan Anderson Raptors 19% owned
Landry Fields is starting but Anderson is the one playing well for the Raps. He’s scored between 13 and 27 points in each of his last six games and is averaging 16.4 points, 2.8 rebounds, 3.6 rebounds, 1.2 steals and 1.8 3-pointers over his last five. Fields could turn it on at any time and hurt Anderson’s value, but the Raptors play four games this week and Anderson looks like a great way to use one of your pickups.
Luke Ridnour Timberwolves 49% owned
Ridnour put up a ridiculous line on Saturday with 22 points, seven boards, seven assists, a steal, a block and three 3-pointers, and is averaging 15.4 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 1.2 steals and a 3-pointer per game over his last five. Ricky Rubio finally had a solid game last night, as did J.J. Barea, but for now, Ridnour hasn’t show any signs of slowing down.
Eric Bledsoe Clippers 26% owned
The Clippers keep saying Chris Paul’s knee isn’t a big deal, but try telling that to his owners, who locked him in for five games this week and got one exhibition that featured him just kind of hobbling around. No, Bledsoe hasn’t played like an All-Star, but did have 11 points, nine boards, five assists and two steals on Saturday night, and will continue to start for as long as CP3 is out. In other words, he’s worth owning until we see Paul come back and make it through an entire week.
Jarrett Jack Warriors 62% owned
Jack just keeps churning along for the Warriors and has double-doubled in four of his last six games, despite playing with Stephen Curry and coming off the bench. We touted him as a hot pickup for most of the season and he’s responded, even with Curry healthy, and is averaging 15 points, four boards, nine assists, a steal and a 3-pointer over his last five games, and 13 points and seven assists for the entire month of January. As usual, I still don’t understand why he’s not owned in more leagues, especially with the Warriors going four times this week.
Nate Robinson Bulls 20% owned
Robinson also keeps plugging along despite a bench role and has even been playing well on the same nights that Kirk Hinrich somehow gets hot. Robinson scored 11 points in four straight games, then had 22 on Friday and 19 more on Saturday. He’s averaging 15 points, 4.4 assists and 1.6 3-pointers over his last five, and just 2.4 TOs, which isn’t bad for Lil’ Him. He’s also shooting it at a 47 percent clip over that stretch, but just know that he’ll cool off once Derrick Rose is back in action. More on Rose, and other injured players, at the end of the column.
Gerald Henderson Bobcats 28% owned
Henderson looks to finally be over his back injury and had 15 points, four boards, two assists, a block and a 3-pointer on Saturday. He’s scored in double figures in six of his last eight games and is starting at shooting guard for the Cats right now. He’s not a lock for success, but I do get the feeling that he’s ready to get hot again.
Nick Young Sixers 17% owned
Young started at shooting guard on Saturday and 20 points, four boards, four assists, a steal and three 3-pointers on 5-of-12 shooting, and also had 20 points, three boards, three assists and two 3-pointers in his previous game on Tuesday off the bench. With Jason Richardson’s knee a mess and Dorell Wright not even on Doug Collins’ radar, it looks like Young could continue to start going forward. And if you’re in a deep league, he might be the best player available on your wire.
Forwards
Michael Beasley Suns 55% owned
I don’t trust Beasley much at all, but he’s at least seeing some new life under his new coach, scoring a season-high 25 points with six boards and a 3-pointer on 11-of-16 shooting in 23 minutes on Saturday. He’s played 22 or 23 minutes in each of his last three games, and checks in at 14 points, six boards and nearly a 3-pointer over his last five games. He’s still not a must-own as long as he’s not starting, but is at least worth a look now that he’s relevant again in Phoenix. Jared Dudley and Shannon Brown are also playing pretty well for the Suns, and both players are worth owning in most leagues.
Carlos Delfino Rockets 30% owned
Delfino has managed to stay healthy lately and has finally shown some consistency, scoring between 13 and 17 points in eight of his last nine games, and has drained 27 3-pointers, an average of three per game, over that stretch. I see no reason that he shouldn’t be owned right now in all leagues, and the Rockets play three times this week.
Kawhi Leonard Spurs 50% owned
As you know, I’m not a huge Leonard fan, but he’s healthy again and starting to rack up some serious steals and 3-pointers lately. In his last four games he’s averaging nearly 12 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.3 steals and 1.8 3-pointers as the starting small forward for the Spurs, and he could just be getting ready for takeoff.
Carl Landry Warriors 45% owned
Landry had a double-double on Saturday with 13 points and 14 rebounds, and is averaging 11 points, 8.4 rebounds and nearly a steal per game over his last five, despite coming off the bench. Starter Harrison Barnes might be hitting a wall, or is just falling out of favor, and Landry appears to be coming on. With four games this week he looks like a good player to roll the dice on right now.
Thomas Robinson Kings 21% owned
T-Rob had 10 points and 10 rebounds in garbage time on Saturday and has double-doubled in two of his last three games. Garbage time is a factor and came into play on Saturday, but Robinson is a guy deep-league owners should have their eye on right now. He’s averaging just 5.6 points, 6.6 boards and 0.2 blocks over his last five games, but those numbers jump to nine points and nine boards over his last three. Jason Thompson isn’t playing well and Robinson could see a boost in minutes the rest of the way for the lowly Kings. And we still don’t know whether they’ll be playing in Sacramento or Seattle next season.
Games Played for Week 14
4 Games – Chicago, Detroit, Golden State, Lakers, Milwaukee, New Orleans, Orlando, Sacramento, Toronto, Utah, Washington.
3 Games – Brooklyn, Boston, Charlotte, Cleveland, Dallas, Denver, Houston, Indiana, Clippers, Memphis, Miami, Minnesota, New York, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Portland.
2 Games – Atlanta, Oklahoma City, San Antonio.
Check out last week's Waiver Wired column and Saturday's Dose for more of my ramblings, and take a look at me on Twitter for the latest lineup changes on game nights that I'm working (and some that I'm not). Click here to follow me on Twitter.
Guards
Avery Bradley Celtics 32% owned in Yahoo! Leagues
Rajon Rondo is out for the season due to a torn ACL, which was announced just as I was posting this column on Sunday. Bradley could become another version of Eric Bledsoe, only better, while it's also possible that Doc Rivers could end up leaning on Courtney Lee to play the point instead. Leandro Barbosa and Jason Terry will also see big bumps in playing time, meaning all four of these guys are going to be worth a look in many leagues. I'd rank them Bradley, Lee, Terry, Barbosa, but we'll have to see what Rivers has in mind going forward. Tough break for the Celtics, and you have to wonder if they'll try to make a play for a guy like Jose Calderon if Bradley and Lee don't get it done. And CBS' Ken Berger is suggesting that Paul Pierce could be traded because of Rondo's injury.
And on another Celtics note, PF Jared Sullinger started over Brandon Bass on Sunday, and while he’s not guaranteed to keep the job, or be able to stay out of foul trouble, he’s at least worth keeping a close eye on in case he keeps the job.
Raymond Felton Knicks 84% and J.J. Redick Magic 73% owned
Felton was terrible in his return on Saturday but immediately moved into the starting lineup and saw heavy minutes for the Knicks. Redick has started at shooting guard for the Magic in two straight games and could stick there for the rest of the season, or until he gets traded. These two aren’t available in many leagues, but if they’re available in yours, it’s either a very small one, or you should pick them up. And the same goes for Atlanta's Kyle Korver, too.
Alan Anderson Raptors 19% owned
Landry Fields is starting but Anderson is the one playing well for the Raps. He’s scored between 13 and 27 points in each of his last six games and is averaging 16.4 points, 2.8 rebounds, 3.6 rebounds, 1.2 steals and 1.8 3-pointers over his last five. Fields could turn it on at any time and hurt Anderson’s value, but the Raptors play four games this week and Anderson looks like a great way to use one of your pickups.
Luke Ridnour Timberwolves 49% owned
Ridnour put up a ridiculous line on Saturday with 22 points, seven boards, seven assists, a steal, a block and three 3-pointers, and is averaging 15.4 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 1.2 steals and a 3-pointer per game over his last five. Ricky Rubio finally had a solid game last night, as did J.J. Barea, but for now, Ridnour hasn’t show any signs of slowing down.
Eric Bledsoe Clippers 26% owned
The Clippers keep saying Chris Paul’s knee isn’t a big deal, but try telling that to his owners, who locked him in for five games this week and got one exhibition that featured him just kind of hobbling around. No, Bledsoe hasn’t played like an All-Star, but did have 11 points, nine boards, five assists and two steals on Saturday night, and will continue to start for as long as CP3 is out. In other words, he’s worth owning until we see Paul come back and make it through an entire week.
Jarrett Jack Warriors 62% owned
Jack just keeps churning along for the Warriors and has double-doubled in four of his last six games, despite playing with Stephen Curry and coming off the bench. We touted him as a hot pickup for most of the season and he’s responded, even with Curry healthy, and is averaging 15 points, four boards, nine assists, a steal and a 3-pointer over his last five games, and 13 points and seven assists for the entire month of January. As usual, I still don’t understand why he’s not owned in more leagues, especially with the Warriors going four times this week.
Nate Robinson Bulls 20% owned
Robinson also keeps plugging along despite a bench role and has even been playing well on the same nights that Kirk Hinrich somehow gets hot. Robinson scored 11 points in four straight games, then had 22 on Friday and 19 more on Saturday. He’s averaging 15 points, 4.4 assists and 1.6 3-pointers over his last five, and just 2.4 TOs, which isn’t bad for Lil’ Him. He’s also shooting it at a 47 percent clip over that stretch, but just know that he’ll cool off once Derrick Rose is back in action. More on Rose, and other injured players, at the end of the column.
Gerald Henderson Bobcats 28% owned
Henderson looks to finally be over his back injury and had 15 points, four boards, two assists, a block and a 3-pointer on Saturday. He’s scored in double figures in six of his last eight games and is starting at shooting guard for the Cats right now. He’s not a lock for success, but I do get the feeling that he’s ready to get hot again.
Nick Young Sixers 17% owned
Young started at shooting guard on Saturday and 20 points, four boards, four assists, a steal and three 3-pointers on 5-of-12 shooting, and also had 20 points, three boards, three assists and two 3-pointers in his previous game on Tuesday off the bench. With Jason Richardson’s knee a mess and Dorell Wright not even on Doug Collins’ radar, it looks like Young could continue to start going forward. And if you’re in a deep league, he might be the best player available on your wire.
Forwards
Michael Beasley Suns 55% owned
I don’t trust Beasley much at all, but he’s at least seeing some new life under his new coach, scoring a season-high 25 points with six boards and a 3-pointer on 11-of-16 shooting in 23 minutes on Saturday. He’s played 22 or 23 minutes in each of his last three games, and checks in at 14 points, six boards and nearly a 3-pointer over his last five games. He’s still not a must-own as long as he’s not starting, but is at least worth a look now that he’s relevant again in Phoenix. Jared Dudley and Shannon Brown are also playing pretty well for the Suns, and both players are worth owning in most leagues.
Carlos Delfino Rockets 30% owned
Delfino has managed to stay healthy lately and has finally shown some consistency, scoring between 13 and 17 points in eight of his last nine games, and has drained 27 3-pointers, an average of three per game, over that stretch. I see no reason that he shouldn’t be owned right now in all leagues, and the Rockets play three times this week.
Kawhi Leonard Spurs 50% owned
As you know, I’m not a huge Leonard fan, but he’s healthy again and starting to rack up some serious steals and 3-pointers lately. In his last four games he’s averaging nearly 12 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.3 steals and 1.8 3-pointers as the starting small forward for the Spurs, and he could just be getting ready for takeoff.
Carl Landry Warriors 45% owned
Landry had a double-double on Saturday with 13 points and 14 rebounds, and is averaging 11 points, 8.4 rebounds and nearly a steal per game over his last five, despite coming off the bench. Starter Harrison Barnes might be hitting a wall, or is just falling out of favor, and Landry appears to be coming on. With four games this week he looks like a good player to roll the dice on right now.
Thomas Robinson Kings 21% owned
T-Rob had 10 points and 10 rebounds in garbage time on Saturday and has double-doubled in two of his last three games. Garbage time is a factor and came into play on Saturday, but Robinson is a guy deep-league owners should have their eye on right now. He’s averaging just 5.6 points, 6.6 boards and 0.2 blocks over his last five games, but those numbers jump to nine points and nine boards over his last three. Jason Thompson isn’t playing well and Robinson could see a boost in minutes the rest of the way for the lowly Kings. And we still don’t know whether they’ll be playing in Sacramento or Seattle next season.
Centers
Emeka Okafor Wizards 57% owned
Okafor has managed to stay relevant for some time now and had 15 points and 16 boards on Saturday. He’s averaging 9.6 points, 13.2 rebounds, 1.0 steals and 1.4 blocks over his last five, and I’m surprised he’s not owned in more leagues right now. Especially given the Wizards’ four-game schedule this week.
Tiago Splitter Spurs 39% owned
Splitter is hot and finally looks like a reliable option despite playing for the Spurs. He’s locked in as the starting center in San Antonio and has scored in double figures in 10 straight games. He’s averaging 12.4 points, 7.9 rebounds, 0.8 steals and 0.8 blocks over those 10 games while shooting a magnificent 62 percent from the floor, and 80 percent from the line. The downside is that the Spurs only have two games this week, but Splitter should be owned in a lot more leagues, regardless.
Elton Brand Mavericks 59% owned
Brand started at center for the Mavericks on Friday, sending Chris Kaman to the bench, and had eight points, 13 boards and two blocks. He’s been playing well for a couple weeks and is averaging 12.6 points, 9.6 rebounds and a block over his last five. Dallas is another three-game team this week, but it’s clearly time to move on Brand if he’s still available.
Andre Drummond Pistons 30% owned
Drummond is seemingly on this list every week and is still available in 70 percent of leagues, despite averaging 10.4 points, 8.4 rebounds, 1.8 steals and 1.6 blocks over his last five, while hitting 69 percent of his shots (not a typo). Yeah, he’s only at 50 percent from the line over that stretch, but also hit 6-of-8 from the line last Sunday. The Pistons are going nowhere and I still think of him as a serious breakout candidate for the second half, if Lawrence Frank is going to cooperate. Here’s to hoping he does.
Spencer Hawes Sixers 50% owned
Hawes moved into the starting lineup on Saturday and disappointed with just four points and five rebounds, but also had four blocks. He had 21 points and 12 boards in his previous game and is averaging 11.6 points, 6.0 rebounds and 1.6 blocks over his last five on 57 percent shooting. If he sticks in the starting five for Philly, he’s going to be worth grabbing in many leagues, at least until Andrew Bynum finally shows his face.
Bismack Biyombo Bobcats 17% owned
Biyombo had a big game against Greg Stiemsma and the Wolves on Saturday with 10 points, 13 rebounds and two blocks, but is still averaging just 3.6 points over his last five games. But he’s also averaging 7.8 rebounds and 2.8 blocks over that stretch, and has gotten between 27 and 36 minutes in each of his last three games. I don’t trust him, nor do I enjoy owning players who can’t score, but Biyombo might be able to help your team if you’re dying in blocks and boards.
Marreese Speights Cavaliers 7% owned
Speights is coming off the bench in Cleveland, and should continue to do so for the rest of the season, but he’s played very well in his two games for his new team. He had 17 points, five boards, a steal and a block in 27 minutes on Saturday, and had 10 points, six boards and two steals in 18 minutes in his Cavs’ debut on Friday. He’s far from a must-own player, but is a guy owners in 20-team leagues will want to take a serious look at.
Injured Players
Derrick Rose Bulls 83% owned
I still don’t think Rose will be back before the All-Star break, which means the first game I think he could play in would be February 19 at New Orleans. And it’s also possible he may not be ready until March. Either way, the bulk of his rehab should be behind him and this may be one of the last weeks that he’ll still be available in a few leagues. If you’ve been thinking about making a move for him, now is probably the time.
Danny Granger Pacers 77% owned
Granger’s rehab from knee surgery is also progressing, but his target date is still up in the air. He’s another guy I’d be surprised to see before the All-Star break, so a return date of Feb. 20 against the Knicks could be a possibility. It’s hard to predict what kind of shape he’ll be in, or if he’ll even be a focal point of the Pacers’ offense, but he’s another player owners might want to start thinking about stashing.
Byron Mullens Bobcats 21% owned
Mullens is hoping to return this week and the Bobcats are desperate to put him back in the power forward spot. His ankle injury was no ordinary sprain and he’s still not in game shape. I’ll predict a return date of Feb. 6 at Cleveland, and once he’s back, if he can stay healthy, he’s going to be a player you’ll want to grab.
Andrea Bargnani Raptors 52% owned
Bargnani is still a week or two away from returning from his elbow injury and wasn’t exactly a beast when he went down. Amir Johnson and Ed Davis have both filled in very well in his absence, but Bargnani will still be worth a pickup in most leagues once he’s back. And now is the time to start thinking about stashing him.
Andrew Bogut Warriors 48% owned
Bogut is still at least a month away from returning from his ankle injury and has seen such limited action over the past year, I would just leave him on waivers and let someone else deal with him.
Andrew Bynum Sixers 76% owned
As of our last update, Bynum still hasn’t done any lateral movement, and while all the chatter has him returning sooner than later, I’m not sure I believe it. He is hoping to play around the All-Star break, but it will all depend on how things go once he starts working on his lateral movement. His conditioning was a huge concern even before the injury and my gut tells me this will be a lost season for the big man who was taken in Round 1 of many drafts. Grab and stash him if you want, but be prepared for a bumpy ride the rest of the way.