Waiver Wire: Never too late to tweak
Each Week, Fantasy Basketball Writer Sergio Gonzalez gives Fantasy owners his top choices by position for players to pick up for the upcoming scoring period based upon matchups and other factors.
Top Guard Free Agent options for Week 23
1. Toney Douglas, Knicks (@UTA, @POR, @GS, @LAC):The rookie has carved himself out a very prominent role in Mike D'Antoni's high-powered offensive system. He's getting around 35-40 minutes per game and is shooting the ball anywhere from 13-20 times. That has resulted in him averaging a 19-5-4 line in his last five games. Matchups against the Warriors and Clippers in a four-game week should allow him to maintain this type of production. Not only is he a nice fill-in, he's ready-made to plug into your lineup as a No. 2 caliber guard in standard formats. (Availability: 41 percent)
2. Rasual Butler, Clippers (@MIL, @TOR, @DEN, NY): The Clippers have been giving Butler around 35 minutes per game on a consistent basis ever since Al Thornton left town in a trade. He sees double-digit shot attempts in the offense, which usually leads to scoring in the low-to-mid teens. This week, he'll face three of the worst defensive teams in the league in the Raptors, Nuggets and Knicks in what should be high-scoring affairs. Expect a little inflation in his numbers. (Availability: 47 percent)
3. Beno Udrih, Kings (@IND, @MIN, POR):The way Beno is playing right now, one might think he'd be higher on this list. The only reason he is not is because his recent Fantasy boost has been a result of the absence of Tyreke Evans, whose concussion has ruled him out through the weekend. Evans will be re-evaluated on Monday and after that, his status for Week 23 will be known. If Beno is able to get another Tyreke-free week, he could sustain the 20.1 points, 10.1 assists and 5.5 rebounds he has managed since Evans' injury. Otherwise, he could still be useful as a player who can contribute low-to-mid teens scoring and chip in around 4-5 assists per game. (Availability: 30 percent)
Also consider: Jrue Holiday, Courtney Lee, Earl Watson
Avoid: Mike Bibby, Kyle Lowry, Francisco Garcia
Top Forward Free Agent options for Week 23
1. Terrence Williams, Nets (SA, PHO, NO, @WAS): Be careful here because Williams is dealing with a foot injury. However, indications are that he should be ready to play a full, four-game week in Week 23 and the numbers he'd been putting up prior to getting hurt warrant use as a low-end starter in just about any format. The matchups he'll face add to his appeal. The Suns, Hornets and Wizards all allow over 100 points per game and Williams has been playing an active role in the Nets' offense. Prior to the game in which he was hurt, Williams had scored at least 13 points in seven straight. He is averaging a 14-5-7 stat line in March. (Availability: 46 percent)
2. Reggie Williams, Warriors (@UTA, NY, @TOR): Now that Cornell has been eliminated from the NCAA Tournament, the biggest Cinderella story in basketball might just be this guy. Rescued from the NBDL in early March due to all the injuries the Warriors are dealing with, he's been playing big minutes over the last two weeks. He is averaging 20.8 points, 5.6 rebounds and 2.6 assists over his last five games and has been getting more minutes and touches than Corey Maggette in recent games. Beware of Don Nelson's fickle rotations, but Williams is showing no signs of going away. The extra game makes us go with T-Will over R-Will in standard Head-to-Head cumulative formats, but in average-based leagues Reggie may be the better option. (Availability: 73 percent)
3. Grant Hill, Suns (@GS, @NJ,@DET, @MIL): This old man is quietly averaging 13.3 points, 6.9 rebounds and 3.3 assists with nearly a steal per game in March. Matchups against the Warriors and Nets could lead to even better numbers than that. Hill just played the Warriors on Monday, scoring 11 points with nine rebounds, three assists and a steal. (Availability: 43 percent)
Also consider: Anthony Tolliver, Taj Gibson, James Singleton
Avoid: Marvin Williams, C.J. Miles, Marreese Speights
Top Center Free Agent options for Week 23
1. Anthony Tolliver, Warriors (@UTA, NY, @TOR): Reggie Williams may be the biggest Fantasy darling in the Golden State rotation right now, but Tolliver is not too far behind -- especially when you consider his center eligibility. Games against the Knicks and Raptors feature good matchups for Tolliver this week and maintaining the 17.0 points, 7.4 rebounds and 3.0 assists with over a block and steal per game seems realistic. (Availability: 35 percent)
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2. Spencer Hawes, Kings (@IND, @MIN, POR): It may be hard to trust Hawes considering his tumultuous season, but he has scored at least 12 points in five straight games and is averaging a respectable 13-6-4 stat line. If he continues to see 30-35 minutes and more than 10 shots per game, he could do better than that even against the Pacers and Timberwolves this week. (Availability: 26 percent)
3. Brad Miller, Bulls (PHO, @WAS, CHA):Yes, Joakim Noah is back. But he is not able to play big minutes and has not been cutting into Miller's productivity. Miller has scored in double figures in nine of 12 games in March and is averaging 12.1 points, 6.4 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game. He usually sees around 30 minutes per night and with Noah able to play only around 15 minutes per game, he should remain a viable stopgap center option going forward. We like the matchups against Phoenix and Washington for Miller. (Availability: 47 percent)
Also consider: Channing Frye, Robin Lopez, J.J. Hickson
Avoid: Hasheem Thabeet, Joakim Noah, Zydrunas Ilgauskas
Top scrapheap free agents for Week 23*
1. Luke Ridnour, Bucks (LAC, @CLE, @CHA, PHO): The Bucks are giving Ridnour anywhere from 20-30 minutes off the bench. He'll be inconsistent, but can offer 10-15 points with around four assists on any given night and can also chip in with a three per game. He could see a boost in numbers against the Clippers and Suns this week. (Availability: 68 percent)
2. James Singleton, Wizards (@HOU, @NO, CHI, NJ): Singleton is available in most leagues. He's posted a couple of huge double-doubles in the last week with 10 points and 16 boards against the Blazers on March 19 and 19 points with 21 rebounds (that's right, 21 rebounds) against the Pacers on Wednesday. His scoring will be erratic, but the rebounding will be consistent as long as he continues to see 30-35 minutes per game. (Availability: 83 percent)
3. Ronald Murray, Bulls (PHO, @WAS, CHA): Murray has been getting around 10 shots per game in the offense. He won't be a savior by any means, but Fantasy owners in deeper leagues looking for cheap double-digit scoring can get that from Murray. He should definitely crack double digits against the Suns and Wizards if get gets anywhere around 25-30 minutes as he has been for the most part this month. (Availability: 90 percent)
*owned in less than 35 percent of leagues
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