Fantasy Basketball Streaming Targets: Monday’s Waiver Wire Guide
Streaming players from three NBA teams with good matchups on Monday.
It's a short day on the NBA schedule today, with just four games on the docket. Fantasy owners have been lucky, as there haven't been many days like this, but this is when the best and most dedicated owners can find value.
Let's look at streaming players from three NBA teams with good matchups on Monday. We'll focus on the guys who get on the court and are widely available in fantasy leagues. Most stats are from NBA.com.
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Charlotte Hornets vs. New Orleans Pelicans
New Orleans plays at the 11th-fastest pace and has the fourth-worst defensive rating. The Pelicans are in the midst of their second-best stretch of the season, having won three of their past five, but they are still 13-38 and far from even sniffing average.
The Hornets have a better outlook, though they still need a superstar to pull everything together. Maybe that player emerges from the current roster, but more likely, that guy will come from a lucky bounce of the ping pong balls or a trade if Charlotte continues collecting valuable assets.
Guard
Sexton is the best streamer Chalotte has to offer, as he's averaging 14.4 points per game. He doesn't offer much else, but Sexton is coming off a game in which he scored 21 points in 18 minutes and made all five 3-point attempts. Green is a lower-level backup who isn't on the fantasy radar, and he's questionable for this game.
Forward
Williams missed the first several months before making his debut on January 10. He has only reached 20 minutes twice and hasn't put up many stats, so Williams isn't yet on the radar, but he could get there once he plays his way into shape. James is another reserve who doesn't do nearly enough to be worthy of consideration.
Center
Diabate has been playing starter minutes essentially every game since before Christmas, reaching 25 minutes in all but two games since December 22. Some of that time coincided with Kalkbrenner being out of the lineup, but even since he returned, Diabate has been leading the way at center and putting up decent stats, averaging 9.8 points, 9.3 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks in January.
Kalkbrenner has mostly been in a reserve role since returning, not part of our fantasy plan.
Houston Rockets @ Indiana Pacers
Indiana plays at the ninth-fastest pace and has the 11th-worst defensive rating. The Pacers are among the worst in the league, but there is some hope of a quick bounceback if Tyrese Haliburton returns next year looking like himself and the team adds a high pick in the draft.
The Rockets remain among the contenders in the West, just two games back of second place in the conference. Houston has the fourth-best offensive rating and the sixth-best defensive rating, marks that point to them as a championship-level team. They have won four of their past five and seven of the last nine after a small cold streak.
Guard
Sheppard is the top option here, averaging 12.7 points, 2.4 3-pointers, and 1.4 steals per game. His production is inconsistent, but when he hits, Sheppard has a nice ceiling. Kevin Durant is out today, so Sheppard could get a few extra chances with the ball. Okogie isn't much of a statistical guy, more of a role player who makes a defensive impact.
Forward
Everyone here gets a nice boost from Durant's absence. Smith is owned in more than half of fantasy leagues, not quite a streamer, but still with enough availability to make it worth checking. He averages 15 points, seven rebounds, and close to one block and one steal while making more than two 3-pointers per game.
Eason is another guy who does a little of everything: 12.1 points, 6.2 rebounds, 1.4 steals, and 2.2 3-pointers per game. With the good matchup and maybe a little more opportunity today, Eason is a decent streamer. Finney-Smith is a deeper backup player who doesn't put up many numbers.
Center
With Steven Adams out for the season, Capela is now the main backup center for the Rockets. He still hasn't played many minutes or put up many stats, but there is a chance that Capela could work more into the lineup in the future.
Minnesota Timberwolves @ Memphis Grizzlies
The Grizzlies generally aren't one of our main target teams, but with the short schedule today, they fit in as our third option. Memphis plays at the 12th-fastest pace and is just a hair worse than average in defensive rating. With only eight teams in action, that will have to do.
Minnesota is another team hanging around with the West contenders who won't get a chance to show their real ceiling until the playoffs. The Wolves are fourth in defense and ninth in offense; they could make a return to their third straight Western Conference Final.
Guard
Donte DiVincenzo was the best streamer from Minnesota most of the season, but he is owned in too many leagues to really fit the bill anymore. Pick him up if you can while knowing you probably can't. That doesn't leave much for streamers at any position, though Anthony Edwards and Julius Randle are both questionable, which could open some minutes.
Conley doesn't do much statistically at his advanced age, never on our radar. Hyland has a bigger ceiling but just as low of a floor; he only reached double figures four times in January (though that is four more than Conley). Hyland has a little intrigue if Edwards is out.
Forward
Clark is another guy who doesn't do much statistically. He would benefit from the absences of the stars if they are out, but Clark is unlikely to put up many numbers regardless of who is in the lineup.
Center
- None
Rudy Gobert and Naz Reid handle almost all the minutes here, and they are both owned in most fantasy leagues.
