The Wire Troll: Reggie Jackson Rolling in the Rockies
Reggie Jackson is enjoying basketball again for the Nuggets. (Isaiah J. Downing/USA Today Sports)
Welcome back to another week of Fantasy basketball. November is nearly done, meaning we’re almost a fifth of the way through the season. Now’s the time to use the waiver wire to its fullest potential.
This week, injuries continue to wreak havoc in Memphis; former Spur Kawhi Leonard got a rude reception in San Antonio; and Chris Paul insists that referee Scott Foster has an issue with him.
And now, let’s get to this week’s…
Fantasy Basketball Waiver Wire Picks
Reggie Jackson, PG, Denver Nuggets (ESPN: 7.5 per cent; CBS: 40 per cent): Just under a year ago, Jackson was doing his part to keep the Clippers afloat, and now he’s getting another chance in Denver with Jamal Murray (hamstring) hurting, and he’s again delivering in an impressive manner. Before a dud on Friday, Jackson had scored at least 14 points in six of seven games while averaging 1.5 treys this month, making him worth grabbing all in formats. He’s no spring chicken and is seeing a lot of PT right now, but so far he’s remained healthy this season while continuing to flash the swagger he’s always been known for — and even making the GOAT look sick (see video below).
Malik Beasley, SG, Milwaukee Bucks (ESPN: 6.2 per cent; CBS: 32 per cent): We touted Beasley at the beginning of last season as we expected his PT to rise once the Jazz made some deals. It wasn’t a bad pick, as he was a beast from downtown for a while, but surprisingly saw less and less action down the stretch after he was traded to the Lakers. Now with Milwaukee, Beasley is starting full-time, his three-point game has never looked better and his overall shooting touch is at a new career-best level. His performance has been much more impressive than expected (he just missed a double-double on Friday), so grab him while you can.
Jaime Jaquez Jr., SF, Miami Heat (ESPN: 7.6 per cent; CBS: 41 per cent): This rookie out of UCLA is really starting to prove he belongs and that he can be a special player in time. Jaquez has scored double digit points in eight of the last nine games and is being more aggressive in hoisting up shots from downtown in November, including back-to-back games with four attempts before trying six on Friday (which wasn’t one of his better shooting games, yet he still found ways to contribute). Assuming he stays healthy, he’s going to at least be in the discussion for ROY (not that he has a chance to win it unless Chet Holmgren, Victor Wembanyama and a host of others all share a fish taco that’s been lying in the sun for a couple of days).
Ziaire Williams, SG, Memphis Grizzlies (ESPN: 1.0 per cent; CBS: 14 per cent): As we alluded to in the intro above, things are so bad health-wise for Memphis that the team had to sign a couple of players to 10-day hardship deals. All these injuries had opened up PT for Williams, and the 10th overall pick from 2021 was taking advantage, scoring double digits in three of the last four before seeing next to no action on Friday for some reason. He’s actually seeing less PT this month, and his shooting touch continues to regress, but as long as the Grizz are wounded and he’s providing contributions, he’s worth considering in deeper formats, assuming he gets back into the rotation next game.
Goga Bitadze, C, Orlando Magic (ESPN: 6.7 per cent; CBS: 25 per cent): The last time we checked in on Bitadze, he was hurt; now he’s been getting a chance to start with Wendell Carter Jr. out, and he’s really delivering, flirting with double-doubles on a nightly basis (although he was somewhat held in check Friday thanks to foul trouble). If you need rebounding help, Bitadze is pulling down 7.5 per game in November and he’ll also provide a nice boost in blocks (15 in the last seven games). He’s already just five shy of matching his career high in games started, and is proving that he can be a useful player when given the opportunity.
Nassir Little, SF, Phoenix Suns (ESPN: 0.4 per cent; CBS: 1 per cent): Little is another player that was hurt the last time we discussed him but is now benefiting from injuries on his team. And with Kevin Durant (foot) added to the Suns’ injury list, Little should be in line for even more PT (although that didn’t materialize in a very quiet game for him on Friday). Before that, Little had picked up the pace with his Fantasy points in recent games, responding to an uptick in minutes by scoring 10 or more in three straight games prior to Friday’s dud. He’s seeing a bit more action this month overall despite taking several DNP-CDs a couple of weeks ago, so while he’s getting the burn, consider him a decent option in deeper leagues.
Dyson Daniels, PG/SG, New Orleans Pelicans (ESPN: 12.6 per cent; CBS: 48 per cent): Just 20, the eighth overall pick in last year’s draft has taken a huge step forward in his sophomore season. Daniels is seeing over 25 MPG over the last couple of weeks, and while his production has been inconsistent, he’s definitely shown flashes (on Friday, for instance, he really displayed across-the-board skills). His bucket count is up this month and he’s been fully healthy this season after dealing with an ankle woe as a rookie. New Orleans may have a rising star on its hands in Daniels, so jump on his train while you can.
RotoRob Tune of the Day
Daniel Balavoine was so hugely popular among Francophones that he inspired many French singers in the 1980s. Here’s “Souleve-Moi,” from the 1992 compilation Master Serie, Vol. 2, a track that was originally the third single from his sixth album, Vendeurs de Larmes, released in 1982.
