Just another Wednesday in the NBA. The Heat have dropped 5 straight games (even prompting Chris Webber to rip on them), Kobe Bryant jumps to 6th on the all-time NBA Scoring List, and the lowly Cavaliers lose again.
Fantasy teams should be securing playoff spots at this point in the season, so owners in the hunt would be wise to tune into this column every day. Tuesday Night in the NBA was a slow one compared to the hectic news of the weekend and Monday where it seemed every player and his mother was out with an injury of some sort. Some intriguing names went off in Tuesday's games: Kyle Lowry, Vince Carter, Monta Ellis, Andrew Bynum and a few players mentioned in the pickup section below. All of these players could have an impact on the fantasy playoffs. A few can be had for cheap, after the jump to find out whom...
This week I'm going to attempt to highlight players not mentioned in the Waiver Wire Column before. If I had mentioned them in past columns and they are still peforming well, then obviously pick that player up (I'm looking at you Gerald Henderson, Chase Budinger and Samuel Dalembert)!
When I mentioned Channing Frye in yesterday's injury column, I foolishley mentioned fellow teammate Marcin Gortat as his logical replacement in the world of fantasy. While Gortat did have himself a big game: 13 points, 16 rebounds and 3 blocks, I thought Gortat would assume Frye's starting position. Gortat did earn himself 35 minutes of burn in last night's win against Houston, but it was the more available Hakim Warrick (owned in only 20% of Yahoo! Leagues) that jumped into the Suns' starting lineup. Warrick responded with an astounding line that filled the stat sheet: 32 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists and 1 steal. In that dynamic Phoenix offense, Warrick could shine if he keeps up this play. As long as Frye is out, I reccomend Warrick as an immediate pickup that could seriously impact teams down the stretch. Run to the wire to grab him.
Speaking of yesterday's column, how is it that Randy Foye is only 41%-owned in Yahoo! Leagues?!?! With the news that Eric Gordon is out indefinitely and at least 7-10 days, Foye should be option 1A on the waiver wire (next to Warrick) if he's somehow available. Foye routinely went for 20 points/night as starting SG filling in for Gordon and can contribute everywhere. Grab him immediately.
In the wake of Chris Paul's scary head injury, I hope his owners went out and grabbed Jarrett Jack (40%-owned). With the Hornets signing D-Leaguer Jerel McNeal to a 10-day contract, it looks like Jack will be the starter for at least the next week or so. Jack rewarded smart owners with a 23-4-3 line on Monday Night. If his play against Chicago was any indiciation, then Jack is a few assists away from doing his best Chris Paul imitation. Jack makes for an excellent pickup in case Paul's injury lingers.
Although his line may go relatively unnoticed in Washington's lost season, newly-acquired PG/SG Jordan Crawford of the Washington Wizards had himself a nice night going for 22 points (1 3-pointer), 4 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals. Granted it came during the absence of Josh Howard and Rashard Lewis, but those guys aren't the epitome of healthy. If the Wizards go with a youth movement down the stretch, make a move on the 2%-owned Crawford.