Playing the Waiver Wire: A little something for everyone
The Heat has not been on for most of the season. That's no newsflash. But the thermostat was completely turned off Monday morning when head coach Pat Riley decided to shut Dwyane Wade for the rest of the season.
How does this starting five sound? Jason Williams, Daequan Cook, Ricky Davis, Shawn Marion and Mark Blount. That's the reality Riley and the Heat face the rest of the way due to injuries, trades and other misfortunes that have plagued them. Luckily, Riley doesn't have to enter this bunch into a Fantasy league.
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| Daequan Cook has a chance to produce for the lowly Heat. (Getty Images) |
As for the points, that task has fallen to Davis for the moment. He's scored exactly 27 points in three straight games and has looked like the player he was last year in Minnesota when he averaged just under 17 points.
This season has been mostly a disaster for Davis in Miami, as he's averaged just 13.8 points while providing very erratic scoring all season long. Now, the Heat will have no choice but to plug him into a primary scoring role alongside Marion which could make him an unlikely Fantasy hero in the final month of the season.
But Davis won't be the only player to see a boost in the scoring department. Cook, the player who will directly replace Wade in the lineup for now, will get considerable minutes and he's played well when given ample playing time in his rookie season. He had 23 points while attempting 20 shots on Monday against the Clippers and has shown flashes of brilliance throughout the season.
Cook is available in 82 percent of leagues and is a very attainable source for double-digit scoring down the stretch. His Fantasy appeal hinges on the health of Marcus Banks, though. Banks is out with a hamstring injury and could be out for as much as two weeks. He stands to split minutes with Cook and Williams in the backcourt whenever he is able to return.
The 6.9 assists don't seem like much to replace, but the fact that Wade is no longer around to monopolize the rock on every trip down the floor should mean more dimes for the likes of Williams.
In case you haven't noticed ... Anderson Varejao has become a pretty consistent Fantasy center over the last two weeks. With Zydrunas Ilgauskas and Ben Wallace both out with back ailments, he's seen heavy minutes at the center spot. He's averaging 10.4 points and 10.2 rebounds over his last five games and could see that type of production down the stretch for Fantasy owners in a playoff run. Ilgauskas could end up missing the remainder of the regular season and that's even more likely with Varejao's solid play.
Add 'Em
Raja Bell, G, Suns
Owned: 64 percent of leagues
Analysis: His Fantasy appeal has been poor for the majority of the season despite the fact he starts for one of the most offensively potent teams in the league. Recently, however, Bell has begun to benefit from the presence of Shaquille O'Neal the way outside shooters have in the past -- think Damon Jones and Jason Kapono. He's hit at least one three-pointer in 10 straight games and is averaging 14.0 points in his last five games.
Reggie Evans, F, 76ers
Owned: 12 percent of leagues
Analysis: He's been a rebounding machine lately and even replaced Thaddeus Young in the starting lineup. He's not going to provide much scoring for Fantasy owners, but is a very solid source for cheap rebounds off the waiver wire in Rotisserie formats.
Brandon Bass, F, Mavericks
Owned: 6 percent of leagues
Analysis: He scored a career-high 19 points in Saturday's game against the Nets and has also been very active on the glass recently. He's been filling the void left by DeSagana Diop when the team traded him away to New Jersey and he's averaging 10.4 points with 5.6 rebounds over his last five games. That makes him useful in larger formats.
Rasho Nesterovic, C, Raptors
Owned:16 percent of leagues
Analysis: Seriously. We aren't kidding. Nesterovic has become a useful Fantasy option since the absence of Chris Bosh and it hasn't just been for his rebounding. He's actually averaging 13.2 points to go with 7.6 rebounds over his last five contests. As long as Bosh remains out, which could be for another week and possibly longer, Rasho is useful.
Spencer Hawes, C, Kings
Owned: 11 percent of leagues
Analysis: He's getting consistent playing time for the first time all season and has even begun to cut into Brad Miller's minutes. He's played 20-plus minutes in three straight games and has cracked double figures in two of those games. He also picked up eight boards in the same two games in which he cracked 10 points. He's worth taking a flier on.
Drop 'Em
Yi Jianlian, F, Bucks
Owned: 38 percent of leagues
Analysis: He's dealing with a wrist injury that is threatening to keep him out for an extended amount of time. In the meantime, Charlie Villanueva has taken a firm hold over the starting power forward job and has made it so that Yi will play a limited role even upon his return. His appeal is limited to long-term keeper leagues at this time.
Avoid 'Em
Nick Young, G, Wizards
Owned: 5 percent of leagues
Analysis: The rookie has seen a heavy dose of minutes recently and has averaged 15.5 points in four straight double-digit games. Still, the looming returns of Caron Butler and Gilbert Arenas will limit his potential output in the final weeks of the season.
Gordan Giricek, G, Suns
Owned: 1 percent of leagues
Analysis: He had a good game Tuesday against Memphis when he scored 18 points in 31 minutes off the bench. But he's still playing a very limited role and will have to battle Leandro Barbosa for minutes -- and that's a battle he's not likely to win.
Julian Wright, F, Hornets
Owned: 4 percent of leagues
Analysis: The rookie has seen increased playing time of late and he's looked pretty good. He's displayed some great athletic upside with flashy dunks and highlight-reel plays, but this came mainly because David West has been out with an injury. He had a career-high 20 points in Saturday's win over New Jersey, but played just 18 minutes when West returned on Wednesday night. Consider him only in keeper leagues once again.
Watch 'Em
Smush Parker, G, Clippers
Owned: 2 percent of leagues
Analysis: He was released by the Heat, which was the best possible thing for both sides involved. This cleared him up to sign with the Clippers, who desperately need a point guard with Sam Cassell now in Boston and with Brevin Knight not playing very well in his place. Parker could sneak right in and steal a majority of the minutes at the point.
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