The Wire Troll: Brad Wanamaker Chipping in for Charlotte
Brad Wanamaker has been a great addition to the Hornets. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
Welcome back to another week of Fantasy basketball. We’re nearly three-quarters of the way through the season, so it’s really time to make your move by grabbing some help off the wire.
This week, the Clippers sent a message in again beating the upstart Suns; Raptor guard Fred VanVleet got slapped with a one-game suspension; and Kevin Durant looked sharp in returning from a 23-game absence because of a hammy strain.
And now, let’s get to this week’s…
Fantasy Basketball Waiver Wire Picks
Brad Wanamaker, PG, Charlotte Hornets (ESPN: 0.4 per cent; CBS: 1 per cent): Charlotte is dealing with some serious injury issues right now with Gordon Hayward (foot) out at least three more weeks and Malik Monk (ankle) out at least another week, opening the door for new Hornet Wanamaker to see more PT. He was acquired at the end of March from Golden State, and while it’s been over a year since we last recommended him, that pick turned out well as he shot brilliantly from downtown in February and then saw his biggest minutes of the season in March before the Covid pause. Now he’s back to seeing nice minutes periodically, and he’s responded with double digit points in two of the last three while adding six dimes, two boards and a steal on Wednesday. Wanamaker followed that up Friday with six points, three boards, two steals and a team-high seven dimes. Suddenly, he’s hoisting way more treys this month, and while his PT had been down with the Warriors, he’s taken on a bigger role in Charlotte even though his minutes will be inconsistent off the bench (see Tweet below for an idea of how much better he’s playing). Right now, Wanamaker is a decent value option in DFS play and a temporary add for deeper redraft formats. Coming out of the University of Pittsburgh as a college player, he was known as a strong defender with leadership skills who was NBA ready. However, Wanamaker is limited by his lack of athleticism and quickness, so it’s quite conceivable we’ve already seen the best he can offer. Still, for what it’s worth, he does bring some toughness to the Hornets (see video below).
Brad Wanamaker stats with the Warriors: 4.7 PTS, 2.5 APG ??????
Brad Wanamaker since joining the Hornets: 10.2 PTS, 4 APG ?????? pic.twitter.com/P8VlbnnkuM
— thomas ?? (@AllFlySZN) April 8, 2021
Quick Dribbles
- Jimmy Butler showed no mercy to an injury-ravaged Laker squad on Thursday, going off for 28 points with three steals. It’s his second straight 28-point effort as he’s been shooting the lights out in April so far (62.5 per cent from the field), although his touches are down. Even though Butler is getting to the line less often this season, he’s enjoying his highest scoring campaign since 2017-18.
- Rudy Gobert enjoyed another huge double-double on Thursday with 18 points and 21 points as the Jazz reeled off a franchise-record 23rd straight home win. He added two dimes in his third straight double-double and continues to pile up solid point totals this month despite fewer touches. Gobert’s bucket count is down for the second straight season, but he remains an incredible source of boards, and he’s even improved his passing.
- Markieff Morris scored 12 points with a block and a steal before getting ejected Thursday and now has hit double digit points six times in the last seven games. His defensive rebounding has slipped a bit this month, but he’s averaging a season-high 12.5 points so far in April and overall has been jacking up more treys this season.
- Damian Lillard was a bit better Thursday with 23 points and five boards, but he’s been in a bit of a scoring slump since last Saturday. He’s seeing a tad less PT this month, and overall his bucket count has dipped from last season’s career-best showing.
- Nikola Vucevic wasn’t at his best Thursday (22 points, seven boards), but he did manage four assists and a steal. He’s been seeing less action this month, but his shooting — which had improved this season with Orlando — has been even better since getting dealt to the Bulls.
- Mikal Bridges put up 20 points on Thursday, marking the third time in four games this month he’s scored 17 or more. He’s been inconsistent, but highly efficient given that his touches are down so far in April. We especially love how Bridges’ three-point shooting has improved every season; it’s clear the 10th overall pick from 2018 is developing into a fine-looking player.
- The Raptors may be falling apart with 15 losses in 18 games, but don’t blame Chris Boucher. He exploded for a career-high 38 points on Thursday, adding 19 boards, an assist and a steal. Boucher has scored at least 19 points in back-to-back games and his PT has soared this month. His shooting has gotten better and better as he’s gained experience in the NBA and he looks like he’s going to be studly down the stretch.
- Kawhi Leonard is heating up with at least 27 points in back-to-back games and at least five assists in three straight. The load management reins seem to have been removed as he’s seeing his most PT of the season so far in April and overall is enjoying a career season in terms of assists.
- Aaron Holiday has suddenly emerged as the top option off the Pacer bench. He poured in 20 points with six treys, three boards, two assists, a steal and a block on Friday, giving him double-digit points in four of five games this month. Holiday’s touches are way up in April, which is good to see considering he’s taken fewer three point attempts this season.
RotoRob Tune of the Day
In addition to playing the sax, American jazz great Ornette Coleman also played violin and trumpet. Here’s another track from the 1970 album The Art of the Improvisers, which features outtakes from the albums The Shape off Jazz to Come, Change of the Century, This is our Music, Ornette! and Ornette on Tenor. Here is “Harlem’s Manhattan,” featuring bass player Jimmy Garrison, best known for his work with John Coltrane.
