As we approach the midway point of the fantasy basketball season, ESPN recently released their list of most added players across leagues. While some of these players are simply hot streaks, others have shown potential to sustain their production and offer long-term value for fantasy owners. Here are some expert analyses on a few of the most added players and their potential going forward:
1. Shake Milton, Philadelphia 76ers (added in 50.5% of leagues): Milton has been on an absolute tear since being inserted into the starting lineup for the 76ers. He’s averaging 22.4 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 3.2 assists over his last five games, and shooting an incredible 58.2% from the field and 67.9% from beyond the arc during that span. As ESPN’s Andre Snellings points out, the 76ers have been searching for a consistent scoring option outside of Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons, and Milton has seized that opportunity. He may not continue to shoot at such a high percentage, but his scoring potential makes him a valuable asset for fantasy owners moving forward.
2. Daniel Theis, Boston Celtics (added in 40.8% of leagues): Theis has been a consistent force for the Celtics all season, averaging 9.4 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per game. However, he’s been particularly productive over his last five games, averaging 14.2 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks per game. As ESPN’s Jim McCormick notes, Theis has also been shooting well from beyond the arc this season, which gives him added value as a stretch big man. With the injury-prone history of Celtics center Enes Kanter, Theis is a solid option for owners in need of frontcourt depth.
3. Bruce Brown, Detroit Pistons (added in 32.1% of leagues): Brown has primarily been a defensive specialist for the Pistons this season, but has seen increased opportunities on the offensive end due to injuries to other guards. He’s averaging 10.0 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 4.3 assists over his last three games, and played a whopping 44 minutes in a recent game against the Atlanta Hawks. As ESPN’s Joe Kaiser points out, Brown is capable of offering value in steals, rebounds, and assists, which makes him a useful waiver wire pickup for owners in need of guard depth.
4. Dillon Brooks, Memphis Grizzlies (added in 31.9% of leagues): Brooks has been somewhat inconsistent this season, but has shown flashes of explosive scoring potential. He’s averaging 18.4 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.8 assists over his last five games, and has scored over 20 points in four of those contests. As ESPN’s Eric Karabell notes, Brooks has the potential to be a high-volume scorer for the Grizzlies, but he’ll need to improve his shooting efficiency in order to maintain that production. Nonetheless, Brooks is worth monitoring as a potential steal on the waiver wire.
Overall, these players have shown potential to offer value for fantasy owners moving forward, whether it be through scoring, rebounding, assists, or defensive stats. As always, it’s important to consider each player’s role on their respective teams and any potential injury risks before making a waiver wire pickup. But with the halfway point of the fantasy basketball season approaching, there’s still opportunity to find game-changing value from the waiver wire.