Wired: Top NBA Pickups Week 15

Games Played for Week 15

4 Games: ATL, BOS, BRK, CHA, CLE, DAL, DET, GSW, LAC, MEM, MIL, MIN, NOP, OKC, ORL, PHI, PHX, POR, SAC, TOR, UTA, WAS

3 Games: CHI, DEN, HOU, IND, LAL, MIA, NYK, SAS

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Point Guards

Jordan Clarkson - Lakers 11 percent owned in Yahoo! leagues – JC has scored 18 points in back-to-back games and is averaging 13.8 points, 2.5 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 1.0 steals over his last five, and had hit a 3-pointer in each of his last two games. The Lakers have no reason not to run him into the ground for the rest of the season.

Brian Roberts - Charlotte 22% - In two starts since Kemba Walker went down, Roberts had 17 points and three assists last Saturday, and eight points, six assists and three steals on Wednesday. He’s hit three 3-pointers in those games and his team is in action again on Saturday night, although he hasn’t been able to get his shot to fall in that one. He should get plenty of action for the rest of the season, as Walker could be done for the year.

Langston Galloway - Knicks 34% - After scoring double figures in five straight games, Gallo posted a true dud on Thursday with four points on 2-of-10 shooting. However, he still easily led his team in minutes that night and is still averaging 11.8 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.4 3-pointers over his last five games, despite Thursday’s disaster.

Jerryd Bayless - Bucks 4% - Bayless has quietly scored either 15 or 19 points in each of his last three games, while also racking up 3-pointers, steals and assists during that stretch. His low minutes (22 per game) are a concern, but if he plays well again on Saturday night, it’s probably time to think about grabbing him.

Devin Harris - Mavericks 10% - Rajon Rondo left Saturday’s game after taking a shot to the nose and it could be broken, while a concussion is also a possibility. If Rondo’s going to miss time with the injury, Harris will get the starting job in his absence. He had 12 points, five assists and three 3-pointers on Saturday night and played 30 minutes after Rondo went down.

Shooting Guards

Wayne Ellington - Lakers 27% - I seem to put Ellington on this list every week and he’s suddenly producing. He’s scored in double figures in five straight games and has dropped 23 and 28 in his last two. His five-game averages are 17.4 points, 4.6 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.2 steals and 1.6 3-pointers, and Kobe’s done for the year.

Mario Chalmers - Heat 61% - Dwyane Wade’s hamstring is keeping him at home for the Heat’s four-game road trip and Chalmers was already starting to play well when he was healthy. You know the drill with Wade, which means Chalmers is now a must-own player. He’s averaging 13.6 points, 3.0 rebounds, 4.4 assists, 1.0 steals and 1.0 3-pointers over his last five games, but with Wade on the shelf, I expect those numbers to rise.

Lou Williams - Raptors 58% - Sweet Lou is averaging 19.4 points, 2.2 steals and 2.4 3-pointers over his last five games, and scored 27 and 25 points in two straight games before ‘cooling off’ with 19 on Saturday night. He’s become a must-own player for the Raptors, and I’m just surprised he’s available in 42 percent of Yahoo! Leagues.

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope - Pistons 15% - A lot of people thought it would be Jodie Meeks who would step up (along with must-own D.J. Augustin) with Brandon Jennings’ season-ending Achilles injury, but KCP is the starter and went nuts for 28 points, five rebounds, four assists, a steal, three blocks and six 3-pointers on Saturday night, while Meeks didn’t even score. KCP had just four points in his previous game, but after Saturday’s all-you-can-eat buffet, he’s the guy I’d want to own.

Evan Fournier - Magic 14% - Fournier had 11 points, five boards, three steals and a 3-pointer on Thursday, and then had 15 points, three boards, two steals and another 3-pointer on Saturday. He’s going to start for Victor Oladipo as long as he’s out with his sore Achilles, meaning Fournier is at least worth using in DFS. We don’t know how much time Dipo is going to miss, but if it’s going to be several more games, Fournier might be worth a look in your standard league, as well.

Corey Brewer - Rockets 32% - James Harden left Saturday’s game with a sore knee (but later returned) and Brewer has now hit double digits in scoring in seven straight games. He was already a borderline player to own with Harden healthy, and will likely become a must-own player if Harden is going to miss time.

Small Forwards

Jared Dudley - Bucks 7% - Dudley’s been starting at power forward for the banged up Bucks and has scored in double-figures in five of his last six games. He’s also hit a 3-pointer in six straight games and is having another good night on Saturday (18 points, 6 rebounds, 3 3-pointers). It’s time to pick him up. Khris Middleton is also worth a look, but I’d rather own Dudley right now.

Matt Barnes - Clippers 47% - Barnes is having a bad game against Kawhi Leonard and the Spurs on Saturday, which is to be expected, and had just six points on Friday against the Pelicans. Prior to that, he had 14 points and a full stat line on Wednesday, and 18 points with two steals, blocks and 3-pointers on Monday, so I don’t expect his mini-slump to last long.

Alan Anderson - Nets 2% - Anderson is the next man up to start at small forward for the Nets, but got into foul trouble on Friday, finishing with just seven points in 18 minutes. Bojan Bogdanovic played 40 minutes and had a nice line in that one (keep an eye on him), but I’m guessing Anderson will keep the job for now. He had 15 points, six assists and two 3-pointers in Wednesday’s start, so I’m not overly concerned about Friday’s foul-induced dud.

Joe Ingles - Jazz 6% - Ingles might be the most unlikely candidate to be included in Waiver Wired this season. He doesn’t even really look like an NBA player and can’t score, but is playing well for the Jazz. He’s averaging 8.8 points, 3.6 rebounds, 5.2 assists, 2.0 steals and 1.8 3-pointers in his last five games, while getting 31 minutes a night. Numbers don’t lie.

Lance Thomas - Knicks 4% - Thomas scored 16 or 17 points in three straight games before dropping just eight against the Pacers on Thursday. Over his last five, the numbers come in at 12.6 points, 4.8 rebounds and 2.2 assists, but inconsistency will be an issue going forward, as well as his lack of 3-pointers, steals and blocks.

Power Forwards

John Henson - Bucks 26% - Henson is the new starting center for the Bucks with Zaza Pachulia and Larry Sanders out, and has scored in double figures in four of his last five games. He had a 12 & 11 double-double on Thursday and had another nice line on Saturday night against the Blazers with 14 points, eight rebounds and four blocks. We don’t know how long Pachulia will be out, but Henson’s playing well enough to be grabbed, even if Zaza returns sooner than later.

Terrence Jones - Houston 67% - Jones now has value due to Dwight Howard’s knee injury, which could keep him out for an extended time period. Jones struggled on Saturday with just three points and five rebounds on 1-of-5 shooting in 19 minutes. He was in some foul trouble and is still not at 100 percent. In his two previous games, he totaled 17 points, seven rebounds and five blocks, and he should only get better as he works his way back into playing shape. But I’d still rather own Donatas Motiejunas, and I’m surprised that Jones is owned in so many leagues.

Jason Smith - Knicks 6% - Smith is starting and quietly averaging 10.2 points, 6.6 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 0.8 steals and 1.2 blocks over his last five games. He also hit three 3-pointers last Friday night, and could end up being this year’s version of Josh McRoberts.

Aaron Gordon - Magic 12% - Gordon was mysteriously starting over Tobias Harris, which makes no sense to me, but was joined by him in the starting unit on Saturday. If his starting trend continues, Gordon might be worth a deep-league look, as he had 11 points, five rebounds and two 3-pointers on Saturday against Dallas. He’s averaging just 7.2 points, 3.6 rebounds and 0.6 3-pointers over his last five games, and while he’s clearly not a must-own player, he’s at least worth keeping an eye on as long as he’s starting for the Magic.

Al-Farouq Aminu - 2% - Aminu has quietly played well in three straight games, averaging 8.7 points, 7.7 rebounds, 3.0 steals and 0.7 3-pointers in 28 minutes during that stretch. Again, he’s not a must-own player, but is worth keeping a close eye on as long as he’s getting heavy minutes off the Mavs’ bench.

Centers

Hassan Whiteside - Heat 66% - The Whiteside train is still rolling along and he’s averaging a ridiculous 15.3 points, 17.7 rebounds and 4.3 blocks over his last three games, since returning from an ankle injury. Look at those numbers and then explain to me how he’s still available in 34 percent of Yahoo! leagues. Crazy.

Jusuf Nurkic - Nuggets 27% - Nurkic had 15 points, nine rebounds, a steal and two blocks on Wednesday, then disappeared on Thursday after missing all seven of his shots, and isn’t doing much better on Saturday (in progress). He’s not really trustworthy at this point, but should continue to start in Denver. He’s hit just one of his last 13 shots (and counting), but my guess is he’ll break out of the funk sooner than later.

Marreese Speights - Warriors 26% - Speights still has scoring and minutes issues, but is usually relevant for the Warriors. He’s averaging 9.0 points, 5.8 rebounds and just 0.4 blocks over his last five games on 39 percent shooting, but my guess is he gets back on track Saturday night. With Andrew Bogut’s health always an issue, Speights is probably worth hanging onto in most leagues, even if he doesn’t start for your fantasy team.

Lou Amundson - Knicks 1% - Amundson is starting at center for the Knicks and blew up for 17 points, three rebounds and a block on 8-of-10 shooting in a revenge game against the Pacers on Thursday. He’s averaging 7.0 points, 6.6 rebounds and 1.8 blocks over his last five games, and those numbers could get better as long as he keeps starting for the Knicks. Deep-leaguers should take notice.

Robert Sacre - Lakers 1% - Sacre is suddenly starting for the Lakers and has played between 21 and 30 minutes in four straight games. He’s averaging 6.75 points, 8.0 rebounds and 1.0 blocks over that stretch and could be useful in two-center leagues as long as he continues to start. Jordan Hill went nuts for the Lakers on Thursday with 26 points, 12 rebounds, a steal and two blocks against the Bulls (of all teams), and is obviously the preferred big man to own in L.A. right now.