Fantasy Basketball Waiver Wire Pickups: Week 13

Every week, we’ll look at players you should consider picking up who are rostered in four different rostership tiers.

50-60%
30-49%
15-29%
0-14%

Four games:

BKN, BOS, CHI, CLE, DEN, DET, GSW, HOU, PHI, SAC, SAS

Three games: 

ATL, CHA, DAL, IND, LAC, MEM, MIA, MIL, MIN, NOP, NYK, OKC, ORL, PHX, TOR, UTA, WAS

Two games:

LAL

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Rostered in 50-60% of leagues

Malik Monk (PG/SG -LAL) 57%

I wrote about Monk in this week’s category analysis. Before I get into what I said, it’s worth noting that the Lakers only have two games this week, making Monk more of a long-term pickup than immediate help for Week 13. Monk has been lights out for the Lakers of late, averaging 19.9 points per game as a starter. His latest standout performance came Friday night as he dropped a season-high 29 points on the Hawks. His performance gives him three straight games with 22 points or more scored, and he’s scored 20 or more points in five of his last seven games.

Herb Jones (SF/PF – NOP) 51%

With all the talk of the rookies this year, Jones isn’t getting the respect he’s earned so far this season. He’s the 71st-ranked player in fantasy on the season, and he’s been the 16th-ranked player over the last two weeks. Jones has 13 steals over his last four games, including a five-swipe game his last time out against the Warriors. The kid is legit, and he’s going to continue to play in the mid-30s for minutes.

Rostered in 30-49% of leagues:

Hassan Whiteside (PF/C – UTA) 33%

Time is a full circle with Ruby Gobert landing in the league’s health and safety protocols. With Gobert in protocols, it was the perfect time for Whiteside to return to the Jazz. It’s worth noting that in his first two games back from a concussion, he was pretty bad in 55 minutes on the floor. He’s combined for 15 points and 15 boards with two blocks. Even with the bad line, he’s not only a must-add player, but he’s a must-start player while Gobert is out. He’s hoping he was shaking off the rust in his first two games back.

Max Strus (SG/SF – MIA) 32%

Like Whiteside, Strus also returned two games after a two-week absence. While it looked like the Heat were getting healthy while he was out, he suddenly sees a path to playing time once again. Be it Tyler Herro‘s tough-guy act, Jimmy Butler‘s 68th injury concern of the season, or Duncan Robinson just not being good, Strus should see regular rotation minutes on a nightly basis. In his first game back for the Heat, he scored 25 points with six rebounds, five assists, and seven made three-pointers. He may just be their new Robinson, but, like, good.

Rostered in 15-29% of leagues:

Tyus Jones (PG – MEM)19%

The Grizzlies are red hot, winning eight straight games and owning the best record in basketball since the start of December. They’ve battled their own injuries and absences, and while it’s not time to worry yet about Ja Morant, he did sit out Saturday with a thigh injury. Jones has been a consistent scorer even with Morant in the lineup, hitting double-digits in points in five straight games. Without Morant in the lineup this year, Jones has posted a 10.3/3.6/6.1/1.3 line, which would make him a must-roster player,

Danilo Gallinari (SF/PF – ATL) 15%

Gallinari isn’t sexy. But he’s been getting spot starts as the Hawks deal with injuries during this waste of a season for them. With John Collins in the health and safety protocols, Gallo stepped up as a starter for Atlanta, scoring 16 points in a start against the Kings. Collins is back now, but Gallo still scored 13 points off the bench. There’s talk that the Hawks could look to upgrade by trading Gallinari and Cam Reddish (who could be in this column but I wanted to switch some names up to talk about some new players) for a bigger name. If so, Gallinari could flourish in his potential new landing spot with an increased role.

Rostered in 0-14% of leagues:

Lance Stephenson (SG/SF – IND) 12%

I never thought I’d write about Stephenson again. But after scoring 30 points against Brooklyn’s big three Wednesday night, Stephenson followed up that performance Saturday night with a 16-point, 14-assist effort in a win over the Jazz. What year is this, anyway? We don’t expect this to continue, of course, but if you need some short-term help, you can at least pick him up in deeper leagues to see if the hot streak continues.

Onyeka Okongwu (PF/C – ATL) 10%

Okongwu was my fifth-ranked player in the 2020 draft behind LaMelo Ball, Anthony Edwards, Tyrese Haliburton, and Killian Hayes. A year later, that doesn’t change. Well, maybe over Hayes, that is (woof). He’s better than Clint Capela, and that’s why it was maddening that he just had to land in Atlanta instead of a place where he could make an immediate impact. He’s posted top 75 value over the last month, and though he’s struggling to find consistent minutes, he’s making his time on the court felt by contributing across the board. He’s going to be a star, and it’s just a matter of time before everyone else realizes it.