Top Fantasy Basketball Waiver Pickups for the Week of Nov 30th
These are the top 10 waiver wire trends for the week of November 30th. This week includes C.J. Miles, Ish Smith, T.J. Warren, Tristan Thompson, Mason Plumlee, Tyreke Evans, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, Bismack Biyombo, Gorgui Dieng, Isaiah Canaan. These Waiver Alerts have already gone out to our members over the past past week as soon as we spotted them.
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Indiana Pacers forward Paul George thinks his team doesn't get enough attention. With more nights like Tuesday, the Pacers will. George scored a season-high 40 points and made seven 3-pointers to lead Indiana to a 123-106 victory over the Washington Wizards. C.J. Miles added 32 points, his most since joining ...Merry Thanksturkey day Razzballers!I would like to start by saying, C.J. Miles is a god. Period. No, you are not allowed to argue. He's an inconsistent god, but a god nonetheless! He is unowned in 56% of Yahoo leagues. SHAME ON THOSE LEAGUES!!! Yes I'm league shaming, and no, all the social activists out there can't do a thing about it!Not a whole lot has changed in terms of pickups lately, but a few names have stood out in the past week:
INDIANAPOLIS — Paul George scored 33 points, C.J. Miles had 16 and the Indiana Pacers beat the Chicago Bulls 104-92 on Friday night.The Pacers (10-5) have won a season-high four straight and 10 of 12 overall. Monta Ellis had 14 points, and George Hill finished with 10 assists.Nikola Mirotic scored a season-high 25 points for Chicago (9-5), and Jimmy Butler added 16. The Bulls lost for only the second time in six games.Indiana controlled this one almost all night.
Own Percentage Change Compared to Last Week: +56.31%
Ish Smith was special yet again during a 120-114 win over the Suns on Wednesday, scoring 20 points with five rebounds, 11 assists, one steal and two 3-pointers in 36 minutes.
How can coach Alvin Gentry take this guy out of the lineup when Tyreke Evans comes back? He was 9-of-16 from the field tonight and has been marvelous over his last five, averaging 17.0 points, 4.8 boards, 9.2 assists, 1.0 steals and 0.8 treys on 51.4 percent from the field and 90.0 percent from the line. If you have him, you can't cut him until he slows down. Will that even happen?
Ish Smith poured in 15 points (7-20 FG, 1-3 FT), 10 assists, four rebounds and two steals over 38 minutes in Friday's 111-90 loss to the Clippers.
It was the third double-double performance in four games for the New Orleans Pelicans point guard, who continues to receive an abundance of playing time irrespective of Jrue Holiday's status. Smith's night would have been even more prolific had he not slogged through a 7-for-20 performance from the field but as customary, the sixth-year pro filled out the stat sheet nicely in other categories anyhow. With six consecutive games of 30 minutes or greater of playing time--and productive outings in all of those contests--Smith is currently an appealing option in all fantasy formats.
Ish Smith stayed hot on Friday with 15 points, four rebounds, 10 assists, two steals and one turnover in Friday against the Clippers.
The Pelicans have a back-to-back set coming up on Saturday, so expect Smith to get a start against the Jazz. It's a sub-par matchup, but Smith is just too good to bench. In his last five, he averaged 17.4 points, 5.0 boards, 9.6 assists, 1.2 steals and 0.6 treys. Even though his outlook isn't quite as rosy, he's a must-own player until further notice.
Own Percentage Change Compared to Last Week: +30.07%
T.J. Warren set career-highs on Sunday with 11 rebounds and three blocks, while scoring 15 points with one steal and zero turnovers in 30 minutes of action.
Warren made 7-of-13 shots and is worth a speculative pickup at this point -- he dropped 28 points vs. the Warriors on Friday and is averaging 19.3 points in his previous four games. He has 3-point range yet is shooting at a 53.7 percent clip this season, and chips in enough rebounds and steals to qualify as a late-round value with upside.T.J. Warren erupted for a career-high 28 points on 12-of-16 shooting during Friday's blowout loss to the Warriors, adding six boards, two assists, two steals, two treys and two turnovers through 35 minutes of action.
Warren's been en fuego over his past three outings, with averages of 20.7 points on an unsustainable 61.4 percent shooting from the field, but the problem is he's not bringing much else to the stat sheet (3.3 boards, 1.3 assists, 0.7 triples, 0.7 steals). He's worth an add in deep leagues for those looking to ride the hot streak, but just know his limitations and that he's not going to be shooting 61.4 percent from the field for an entire season. He does, however, make for an intriguing addition in points formats.
T.J. Warren scored 18 points on 8-of-13 from the field against the Pelicans on Wednesday with one rebound in 27 minutes.
He was up to his usual tricks of cutting to the basket and getting easy looks. Unfortunately, Warren just doesn't do much else on the stat sheet outside of scoring, so he's not a particularly strong pickup in standard leagues. If you're in a points league, he's worth a look.
Own Percentage Change Compared to Last Week: +93.59%
Thompson scored nine points (4-9 FG, 1-2 FT) with 16 rebounds, five assists and two blocks in 40 minutes during Saturday's win over the Hawks.
He was one point shy of his second consecutive double-double in his first start of the year, as Thompson got the nod in place of the injured Timofey Mozgov (shoulder). Mozgov could be out for a couple of weeks, so Thompson becomes a great short-term play if you need help in boards, but his offensive contributions will likely be inconsistent.Thompson scored 10 points (4-11 FG, 2-5 FT) while adding 11 rebounds and two assists in 32 minutes off the bench during Saturday's win over the Nets.
Timofey Mozgov is back in the starting lineup but played only 17 minutes while he tries to get back up to speed from a shoulder injury, leaving plenty of court time for Thompson. The fifth-year big is capable of averaging a near double-double even off the bench, but if Mozgov continues to struggle with injuries, Thompson's value gets a definite boost.
Tristan Thompson notched nine points (3-4 FG, 3-4 FT), 14 rebounds, and one assist over 34 minutes in Monday's win over the Magic.
The four shots are a paltry total given how many minutes Thompson played, but given his lack of natural feel on the offensive side of the ball, it's probably in the Cavs' best interest that he limits his involvement mostly to high-percentage put-backs and alley-oops. Instead, Thompson is most valued for his ability to clear the glass, which he does better than just about anyone in the league on a per-minute basis. Now that he's getting sizable swaths of playing time as a starter in place of the injured Timofey Mozgov (shoulder), Thompson should routinely haul in 10-plus boards per game. He's already collected 30 rebounds over his first two starts.
Own Percentage Change Compared to Last Week: +17.24%
Plumlee recorded 17 points (6-9 FG, 0-1 3Pt, 5-6 FT), 11 rebounds, four assists, one steal, and one block in 30 minutes during the Blazers' 107-93 win over the Lakers on Sunday.
Plumlee has played well since teammate Meyers Leonard suffered a dislocated shoulder, and he is making the most of his uptick in minutes thus far. With Leonard likely sidelined for at least a few more games, Plumlee should continue to receive extra minutes, especially if he's able to provide such efficient output on both ends.Mason Plumlee scored 18 points against the Clippers on Friday with 10 rebounds, one assist and two steals in 39 minutes.
He took it to DeAndre Jordan tonight and protected the paint nicely on defense. Plumlee had his first double-digit scoring game since Nov. 9, so his fantasy owners shouldn't be expecting that to happen too often. He has 10th-round value on the season so far.
Plumlee collected 18 points (6-9 FG, 6-9 FT), 10 rebounds, an assist and two steals over 29 minutes in Friday's 102-91 victory over the Clippers.
Plumlee posted his second double-double of the season and got his fair share of boards versus DeAndre Jordan, not always an easy proposition. Plumlee has generally been a pleasant surprise at center for Portland and has been logging solid playing time, averaging 31 minutes a game over his last seven contests. Although he is not very aggressive offensively on most nights, Plumlee has been making positive contributions on the glass, averaging 7.9 rebounds per outing over the Blazers' first 14 games.
Own Percentage Change Compared to Last Week: +17.52%
Tyreke Evans (knee) participated in some 2-on-2 action on Saturday.
Evans is targeting a return to the court next week, but it's important to note that his minutes will likely be limited to the 20s in the early going. Still, this is exciting news for a team that has been decimated by injuries, so Evans shouldn't be sitting on any waiver wires. Evans' return will dampen the fantasy value for players such as Ish Smith and Eric Gordon.Evans (knee) went through a full practice Monday and could play as early as Wednesday against the Suns, Jon Reid of the New Orleans Times-Picayune reports.
Evans has yet to play this season after undergoing an arthroscopic knee procedure on Oct. 20, but he's been progressing quickly in his recovery, and didn't appear to be limited during Monday's session. The combo guard looked to be moving and elevating well, and wasn't experiencing any pain or swelling in the right knee, according to Reid. The 3-11 Pelicans would certainly welcome Evans back as soon as possible, especially since he's coming off of a season in which he posted excellent averages of 16.6 points, 6.6 assists and 5.3 rebounds in more than 34 minutes per game. If Evans is ultimately held out Wednesday, his next opportunities to return will come Friday against the Clippers and Saturday against the Jazz.
Tyreke Evans (knee) is listed as doubtful for Wednesday's game vs. Phoenix.
An earlier report indicated that Evans will be a game-time decision, but it's still great news that he has a shot to play considering he is way ahead of his original timetable. We should know more regarding his status after the team's shootaround. His potential return could dampen the value of guys like Eric Gordon, Ish Smith and Dante Cunningham.
Own Percentage Change Compared to Last Week: +16.37%
If, like me, you tend to focus more on the NBA game than it college counterpart, you might not have been especially familiar with Rondae Hollis-Jefferson before June, when the Portland Trail Blazers took him with the 23rd overall pick in the 2015 NBA draft before flipping him to the Brooklyn Nets in a draft-night deal. The 6-foot-7 small forward has been an early bright spot for Lionel Hollins' Nets, impressing with his larcenous work on the defensive end (fourth in the NBA in steal percentage, averaging an impressive 2.6 thefts per 36 minutes of floor time), his rebounding acumen (pulling down 21.1 percent of available defensive rebounds, a very strong mark for a wing) and his willingness to try to make plays for his teammates
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson posted 11 points (4-7 FG, 3-3 FT), 11 rebounds, and one assist in 28 minutes Wednesday against the Thunder.
Hollis-Jefferson notched his second double-double in three games, and he's slowly starting to see a consistent role on the Brooklyn Nets . He's now averaging 9.0 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 2.0 steals over the last five games. While those numbers don't pop off the box score, he's still worth a speculative add in deeper formats.
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson racked up a career-high five steals vs. Boston on Sunday, adding nine points (2-of-3 FGs, 5-of-6 FTs), seven rebounds, four assists and one block.
RHJ has at least one steal in five straight games and he's well worth a look for specialist value. He committed only one turnover in 31 minutes tonight and his role could be on the rise, but don't expect much scoring from the 20-year-old swingman.
Own Percentage Change Compared to Last Week: +228.14%
Bismack Biyombo started the second half on Friday against the Lakers, finishing with one point, four rebounds and one block.
Jonas Valanciunas broke his hand today, so Biyombo is in line for more minutes. As promising as that sounds, he's almost always a rarely used center on offense and the Raptors probably won't play him more than minutes in the high 20s. He's more of a 14-team guy or someone to look at if you really need blocks.Biyombo scored six points (3-5 FG) to go along with a team-high 14 rebounds in 31 minutes during Sunday's win over the Clippers.
Getting the start at center in place of the injured Jonas Valanciunas (finger), Biyombo provided the Raptors with energy on the glass, with four of his boards coming on the offensive end. He won't supply much more than the occasional put-back offensively, and Toronto's defensive scheme doesn't lead to big block totals, but he should be useful in deeper leagues while Valanciunas is sidelined if you need rebounding help.
Bismack Biyombo hauled in 14 rebounds during his first game as a starter for the Raptors on Sunday, but he didn't bring much else to the stat sheet with just six points on 3-of-5 shooting, one turnover and zero blocks through 31 minutes.
Some blocks would have been nice, but this was an admirable performance from Biyombo who did his best to replace what the Raptors lost in Jonas Valanciunas (hand, out roughly six weeks). Bismack should see a nice boost in minutes going forward, and he’s worth a look in deep leagues for owners seeking some help in the shot blocking and rebounding categories.
Own Percentage Change Compared to Last Week: +120.88%
Gorgui Dieng played 27 minutes against the Kings on Friday with eight points, eight boards, two assists and two steals.
Even though his minutes have really spiked in his last three games, he hasn't played a second next to Karl-Anthony Towns in that span. In his last three, Dieng averaged 10.0 points, 7.7 boards, 1.7 blocks and 27.3 minutes. If you think the Towns' benching is going to continue, give him a look in any league. That seems unlikely, though.Gorgui Dieng racked up 10 points, 11 rebounds, three assists, two steals and three blocks in 26 minutes of action vs. the Hawks on Wednesday.
We've been talking about his per-minute potential since the preseason, and Dieng has finally crept north of the 25-minute in recent games, and it's no coincidence that Karl-Anthony Towns (22 minutes) was limited tonight. Run Dieng out there as long as he's getting the playing time, but don't be surprised if Sam Mitchell drags his minutes down in the near future.
Wolves coach Sam Mitchell said that he isn't worried about who will finish games between Gorgui Dieng and Karl-Anthony Towns.
"He has a little bit more experience than Karl," ÂMitchell said of Dieng. "He has seen a little more than Karl. {Rajon] Rondo is tricky with the ball. I have a great comfort level with Karl and [Dieng] together. I like those two. It doesn’t matter to me who finishes the game." Dieng has played down the stretch over KAT in the Wolves' last two games, but it doesn't sound like it will become a trend and Mitchell will likely go with the hot hand in future games. Dieng and KAT still aren't playing any minutes together which could limit their upside moving forward if this becomes a timeshare.
Own Percentage Change Compared to Last Week: +29.46%
Isaiah Canaan will start at point guard on Friday against the Rockets with T.J. McConnell moving to the bench.
Revenge game for Canaan? He's played a lot better these days and the 76ers seem desperate enough to try anything on the road. Canaan was not great as a point guard, so the move to that starting spot doesn't mean he'll have more value. If you have some dead weight, feel free to give him a look.Isaiah Canaan and Robert Covington will start on the wings against the Celtics.
With Nik Stuaskas (knee) out, the 76ers will look for some extra spacing on the floor with Canaan and Covington. Canaan should be getting plenty of minutes at the two, which also means Phil Pressey should get a few more minutes. Canaan is one of the most inconsistent players around, so start him at your own peril.
Isaiah Canaan scored a team-high 16 points with four 3-pointers on Sunday, but he shot just 5-of-15 from the field and committed four turnovers in 35 minutes.
Canaan chipped in one rebound, three assists and two steals. It was a decidedly mixed bag for fantasy purposes, but the key takeaway for fantasy owners is that he's dominating minutes at PG ahead of T.J. McConnell (22 minutes) and Phil Pressey (16 minutes). Canaan is hit-or-miss on a nightly basis, but he's worth riding as the Sixers' starter.
Own Percentage Change Compared to Last Week: +95.08%
These are just some of the trends over the past week. We have plenty more real-time Waiver Trends for you to check out.