Welcome back to The Playlist: my weekly column that lets you know who can add to the waiver wire and make your fantasy basketball lineup next week.
Every league is different – sometimes 75% of players are waived, either because of mistakes or because they hit an intolerable slump. If they fit your body type, buy them. But in this column, we’re focusing on the players in the lower 50th percentile of the roster who can help and are ready to help in the playoffs for the vast majority of Yahoo leagues starting in Week 20 or next week.
Fantasy basketball pickups and advice.
🎧 Who’s in my rotation: All leagues
Quentin Grimes – G/FC, Philadelphia 76ers (32%)
While the schedule advantage is negated in high-scoring games, I’d still add Grimes. The Sixers have five games to play and could lose Tyrese Maxey (finger), VJ Edgecomb (guard) and Joel Embiid (slash) for the next two or more games. Grimes had his best game since November on Saturday, finishing with 26 points, six rebounds, three assists and one steal (41 points).
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The 76ers have two back-to-back games this week, and Grimes (along with Kelly Oubre Jr.) will have a busy week as their top three scorers will be out of the lineup starting in Week 20, so he’ll see increased usage and shooting volume. If he gets starting minutes as early as Monday, he has a 40-point fantasy advantage.
Isaiah Stewart – PF/C, Detroit Pistons (15%)
Goulash is a live option for the weekend, with the Pistons playing three of four games from Thursday through Sunday. I’d rather add him to the deeper 9-cat and points leagues than the high-scoring leagues, since his top results depend on Jalen Duren being active. Despite this, he has performed well since returning from suspension, averaging 14 wins, 5 draws and 1 loss per game, making 2 three-pointers, and performing well on the bench. I think there’s a chance Jalen Duren will be rested for the second leg of the Pistons’ back-to-back against the Grizzlies on Friday. If that happens, Stewart will truly be rewarded on top of volume this weekend.
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Cam Spencer – PG/SG, Memphis Grizzlies (16%)
Coming back again, it is recommended to choose Spencer in point or 9 cat format because (surprise) The Grizzlies have a very favorable schedule in Week 20. Playing four games in five nights, Monday through Friday, sounds exhausting. This is definitely not good news if you’re recruiting Ty Jerome, Scottie Pippen Jr., or any other returning veteran who doesn’t play B2B or isn’t on a time limit.
Fortunately, neither scenario applies to Spencer, who has only missed two games all season. He has been a top-100 player in nine games over the past two weeks, averaging 11-3-4 on 52 percent shooting. You can waive him after Friday’s game since Memphis doesn’t play on the weekend.
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Tristan Da Silva – Small Forward/Power Forward, Orlando Magic (13%)
If you can, try to catch or catch Da Silva in midweek. The Magic don’t play until Wednesday, but have three games in four nights from Wednesday to Saturday. I would add him to a variety of formats because even on a non-shooting night like Sunday (5 points on 2-for-5 shooting), he still contributes in other categories.
Da Silva averaged 12 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 three-pointers and 1 steal in the last seven games of the starting lineup, with a shooting percentage of 54/52/100. He’ll be locked into 30 minutes a night until Franz Wagner returns, which should make it easy for Week 20.
Cam Payne – PG/SG, Philadelphia 76ers (1%)
Penn is a pure schedule game. He joined the 76ers on February 16 and planned to play point guard after injuries to Philadelphia’s backcourt. That’s a deep cut, but I’d at least pick him to start at 12-14 team points and 9-9 in the Cats league on Monday and Tuesday, and if he fails, cut him before Thursday’s game against the Pistons.
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Still, I think he’ll provide enough assists, steals, and 3-pointers to make up for his poor shooting. He also doesn’t turn the ball over too often, which is nice. If you’re looking to increase volume, it makes sense to start the week with Payne.
Brice Sensabaugh – SG/SF, Utah Jazz (16%)
The Jazz are another team with a good schedule that fantasy managers should consider. Utah will play four games this week on Tuesday and Thursday while avoiding its biggest rivals. Sensabaugh has averaged 15 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 three-pointers and 1 steal over the past seven games, playing 24 minutes a night during that period. He’s not as efficient as he was at the beginning of the season, but he’s a great addition for those in points leagues trying to increase their volume on easier days.
Adem Bonnar – PF/C, Philadelphia 76ers (4%)
I know it’s a broken record, but schedule advantage matters and you need to catch any Sixers who move up due to injuries. I don’t trust Andre Drummond, so with Embiid out, Bonner becomes the guy on the roster. He started Saturday’s loss to the Eagles, and while he didn’t put up much statistically, he played 29 minutes in back-to-back games.
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The team will get that opportunity at some point, and he is the energy and cleanup guy for the 76ers. Considering the situation in Philly’s frontcourt, an enrollment rate of less than 5% is too low.
Ziaire Williams – SG/SF, Brooklyn Nets (3%)
This wouldn’t be a silly season if we didn’t have another random NBA player thrown into the mix. Over the past three games, Williams has ranked 54th in nine games, averaging 18 points and nearly two steals per game. You could start him on Monday as a test case since there are only five games on the schedule. I’ll probably stick with the back to back games against Detroit as MPJ and others will most likely be rested as we go That Points in the season. I prefer his points alliance, but if you’re missing out on other higher-priority exemption options, 9-cat is definitely an option. Noah Clowney and Nolan Traore are also good choices in the points league.
