Waiver Wire: Time for reinforcements
The playoffs have arrived for most Fantasy owners so let's make those waiver wire moves count. With such little margin of error, grabbing guys early -- instead of waiting for Monday to roll around -- could make the difference between getting bounced out in the first round and hoisting the championship trophy.
Keep in mind also that some roles have changed post-trade deadline and teams that are out of contention will look to see what they have moving forward.
This week we are looking at Mike Dunleavy.
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Dunleavy is having a resurgent campaign in his first season with the Bucks and has really picked up his scoring in recent weeks. He scored 15 points against the Trail Blazers on Tuesday, which was the sixth straight game he scored in double figures. He averaged 19.3 points with 4.7 assists and 3.5 rebounds over that span while seeing some solid minutes off the bench.
Even with the addition of Monta Ellis, the 31-year-old has not seen at dip in his production and should be able to keep things going heading into Week 14 (March 26-April 1).
With New York, Atlanta, Cleveland and Memphis on the schedule for the upcoming scoring period, consider Dunleavy a worthwhile addition in the majority of Fantasy formats.
Guards
Add 'Em
Roddy Beaubois, Mavericks
Owned: 35 percent
Analysis: Beaubois has picked up his production again in Dallas and is looking good heading into the Fantasy playoffs. He averaged 15 points with five rebounds, 3.4 assists and 1.6 steals during a five-game span that ended on Monday and shot an impressive 55 percent from the field over that span. While he continues to struggle from beyond the arc, the 24-year-old is back to seeing 30-plus minutes a game and his all-around production should be helping out more owners at this point. The return of Delonte West will cut into his playing time but since that is not expected for another week or so, Beaubois can be utilized in many Fantasy formats heading into Week 14.
Courtney Lee, Rockets
Owned: 12 percent
Analysis: Lee has played well in place of the injured Kevin Martin and is putting up some of his best point totals of the season. His 23-point performance against the Lakers on Tuesday capped off a five-game stretch in which he averaged 16 points with 4.4 rebounds and a steal. The former Hilltopper also shot 43 percent from beyond the arc over that span and should be able to see some solid run down the stretch. Martin is expected to return to the starting lineup once healthy but with the way he has struggled all season long, Lee still should be able to help out owners in deeper Fantasy formats.
Avoid 'Em
Landry Fields, Knicks
Owned: 55 percent
Analysis: Fields showed some signs of life by scoring in double figures in three straight but since then has not done much for the Knicks. He posted just six points against the lowly Raptors on Tuesday, which ended a five-game stretch in which he averaged seven points with 3.8 rebounds and 1.8 steals. New York is loaded with a ton of players who can create on their own and the 23-year-old has seen his minutes go down since J.R. Smith arrived in New York. While he is a decent source for steals and has the potential to put together a couple of decent performances, owners should leave Fields on waivers heading into the Fantasy playoffs.
Randy Foye, Clippers
Owned: 25 percent
Analysis: After starting 21 straight games for the Clippers, Foye did not play at all on Monday against the Pacers as he gave way to the newly-acquired Nick Young. He had scored in double figures in the two games prior but apparently coach Vinny Del Negro felt like shaking up the lineup. This could be a problem for the 28-year-old down the stretch as Young proved in his days with the Wizards that he can score in bunches, so owners should keep a close eye on the situation. Foye is averaging a career-low 9.2 points this season so leave him on waivers in all but deeper formats at this point.
Forwards
Add 'Em
Wilson Chandler, Nuggets
Owned: 64 percent
Analysis: Chandler made his season debut for the Nuggets on Monday and did a solid job of filling up the stat sheet. He scored 13 points with four rebounds, two assists, two steals and a block in 28 minutes off the bench. The 24-year-old has jumped to the starting lineup since then and should be able to post numbers similar to what owners saw over the last three seasons. Chandler averaged 15.3 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.7 assists with the Knicks and Nuggets last season, so consider him a solid addition in most Fantasy formats.
Richard Jefferson, Warriors
Owned: 41 percent
Analysis: Jefferson struggled in his Warriors' debut but showed with his 19-point performance on Monday that he could be a solid fit for his new team. He is expected to see a ton of playing time in Golden State and should be able to improve on the numbers he posted in San Antonio. The 31-year-old has become a better shooter from 3-point land the last few seasons and that is likely how he will get most of his points down the stretch. He will also face off against the Lakers (twice), Hornets and Nets during Week 14, so owners in need of some help at forward should considering grabbing Jefferson.
Avoid 'Em
Gustavo Ayon, Hornets
Owned: 26 percent
Analysis: Ayon has struggled since returning from a foot injury and is not putting up the numbers he had earlier in the month. His 8-and-9 performance on Saturday capped off a five-game stretch in which he averaged just 7.6 points with 5.4 rebounds and 1.4 steals. While he continues to see about 30 minutes per contest, the 26-year-old needs to pick up his scoring and start rebounding on a more consistent basis to make a difference in Fantasy. The playoffs are not the time to take a chance on a player, so leave Ayon on waivers.
Udonis Haslem, Heat
Owned: 35 percent
Analysis: Haslem scored a season-high 15 points with nine rebounds on Tuesday against the Suns but owners should not get too high on the Miami native just yet. While it was the second time in three games he scored in double figures, most teams post big numbers against Phoenix. The 31-year-old has yet to show any kind of consistency in Fantasy so far this season as the 'Big Three' account for most of the production for the Heat. Haslem also has some tough matchups in Week 14 with Indiana, Dallas, Toronto and Boston on the schedule, so leave him for the deepest of Fantasy formats.
Centers
Add 'Em
Zaza Pachulia, Hawks
Owned: 70 percentAnalysis: Pachulia has made multiple appearances in this column throughout the year as his up-and-down play has driven some owners crazy. But the 28-year-old is playing well again for the Hawks and should be able to keep things going with Milwaukee, Chicago, New York and Philadelphia on the schedule for Week 14. Pachulia has recorded six double-doubles so far in March, including posting a 16-and-13 line against the Celtics on Monday. That ended a five-game stretch in which he averaged 10.6 points with 11.6 rebounds and 1.4 steals, so owners in need of some help at center should definitely grab Pachulia for the playoffs.
Ian Mahinmi, Mavericks
Owned: 10 percent
Analysis: Mahinmi has slid back into the starting lineup with Brendan Haywood injured and is starting to show some life in Fantasy again. His 11-point contest against the Nuggets on Monday capped off a five-game stretch in which he averaged 7.8 points and 6.2 rebounds. While he got into a bit of foul trouble in those contests, the 25-year-old shot 62 percent over that span and appears to be trending up in Fantasy. He proved earlier in the year that he can be a low-end producer, so owners in deeper formats should consider adding Mahinmi, especially at such a thin position.
Avoid 'Em
Marcus Camby, Rockets
Owned: 65 percent
Analysis: Camby was shipped to the Rockets at the trade deadline and will now split time at center with Samuel Dalembert down the stretch. He scored a combined 12 points with 12 rebounds and one block in his first two games in Houston and is not expected to do a ton for owners. It appears as though the 37-year-old has had his long run in Fantasy come to an end,.
Byron Mullens, Bobcats
Owned: 20 percent
Analysis: With the Bobcats trying to salvage any win they can this late in the season, Mullens continues to see an inconsistent role off the bench as the team has turned to Bismack Biyombo. With his 4-point performance on Monday, Mullens is averaging just 5.2 points and 2.2 rebounds in his last five contests while shooting 40 percent over that span. The 23-year-old has shown flashes of being a viable option in Fantasy this season and could be on the rise in the years to come but for the rest of the 2011-12 campaign, leave Mullens on waivers in the majority of Fantasy formats.
