It is Week 8 of fantasy basketball and the NBA season continues to be enjoyable and fascinating, because it all the time is.
So which participant has been one of the best waiver wire pickup of the season up to now?
Listed below are André Snellings, Eric Moody, Eric Karabell, Jim McCormick and John Cregan to supply their perspective.
Kelly Olynyk, PF/C, Utah Jazz: Fantasy managers had in all probability seen sufficient of Olynyk over time to maintain expectations low, whilst Utah touted him as their beginning heart. It is going exceedingly effectively, as Olynyk is, in my eyes, the Western Convention model of Milwaukee’s Brook Lopez. No one wished them, however simply take a look at these numbers! Lopez piles on the blocks and 3-pointers. Olynyk delivers steals and 3-pointers. They shoot effectively and contribute sufficient factors and rebounds. These are top-20 choices on the Participant Rater and reminders that it isn’t all about scoring conventional factors, however it’s about fantasy factors for us. — Karabell
Bol Bol, PF/C, Orlando Magic: It must be Bol Bol. Whereas I’ve loved rostering Trey Murphy III and De’Anthony Melton given interim bursts of worth not too long ago, it is Bol who’s a permanent impression contributor and league-altering power. In spite of everything, he is fourth within the league in block share and fifteenth in defensive rebounding share all whereas nonetheless obtainable in free company in 37% of ESPN leagues. Touchdown a singular participant like Bol again in late October is likely one of the joys of enjoying fantasy hoops. — McCormick
Cameron Payne, PG, Phoenix Suns and Malik Monk, SG/SF, Sacramento Kings: I would been eyeing Payne for the reason that preseason, even drafting him in one in every of my deeper leagues, as a result of I had critical questions on Chris Paul‘s sturdiness this season. As a result of I used to be preserving such an in depth eye on the state of affairs, I used to be capable of decide up Payne instantly after Paul’s harm was introduced and thus reap the advantages of his presently month-long stint as a starter. His worth drops when Paul returns, however Payne may very well be price holding onto in case this example arises once more. One other pickup that I like, from that very same league, was Monk. I preferred what he confirmed with the Lakers final season, and he flashed in restricted minutes within the Kings video games I watched early within the season. I picked him as much as begin November, and he is averaged 17 PPG, 4.4 APG, 2.1 3PG and 1.9 RPG in solely 23.7 MPG. I might see his function growing much more because the season goes alongside, making him an excellent guess to be an excellent higher pickup earlier than all is claimed and carried out. — Snellings
Lonnie Walker IV, SG/SF, Los Angeles Lakers: Walker is a superb AAAA-type (in baseball phrases) participant. Somebody who tends to be obtainable. Who has a talent set that runs cold and warm (his 3-point capturing.) Who I can name as much as the massive membership when wanted… supplied his 3-point shot is clicking. The minutes are there. There’s a function sitting for the taking that Walker might leverage right into a dependable top-100 Factors league participant. What I am searching for is the arrival of a secondary stat. One thing past factors and 3s that may maintain Walker by means of his tough capturing patches. — Cregan
Jalen McDaniels, PF, Charlotte Hornets: The Hornets have needed to cope with Miles Bridges’ off-the-court authorized state of affairs and LaMelo Ball‘s ankle harm which has given Jalen McDaniels a chance to morph into one in every of my favourite waiver wire pickups up to now this season in deeper codecs. Three of the final 4 video games have seen him rating 33 or extra fantasy factors. McDaniels is barely rostered in 6.5% of ESPN leagues. — Moody