Talking Hoops: Week 9 Waiver Pickups

Posted by Tom Blaz on 12/24/2012 | 4 Comments

Tags: Jarrett Jack, Andre Miller, Marcus Thornton, Jared Dudley, Gustavo Ayon, Derrick Favors, Spencer Hawes, Andre Drummond, Talking Hoops

The NBA takes Christmas Eve off, then returns with five televised games back to back, running from Noon Eastern all the way to midnight! What does your fantasy team need? If you are in a roto style league, the categories should be taking shape. Is it time to bail on certain categories?  Much can be said about head to head leagues.... can you pickup in deficient areas? enough to compete? As always, developing rookies, opportunity created by injury and now... anticipating NBA trades are the key to finding fantasy nuggets.

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Which teams benefit from this week's schedule? Boston, Brooklyn, Denver, Houston, Miami and the Clippers play four games. Memphis and Minnesota only have a pair of contests.

Now on to this week's free agency/waiver wire cheat sheet.....

G

Jarrett Jack/Golden State- Already high on all free agent lists (and a repeat on our's from last week), Jack had his biggest game of the season over the weekend. Jack had 28 points on Wednesday, then did one better with 29 points on Saturday night. As a sixth man, backing up starters Klay Thompson and Stephen Curry, imagine if Jack was receiving starter minutes!

Andre Miller/Denver- Ty Lawson has a strained achilles tendon and is being rested as a "precaution". Miller already averages 5.5 assists per game over 24 minutes. Expect double digit dimes if Lawson continues to sit. Thursday night's line of 12 points, nine rebounds and seven assists, may be the norm if Miller's minutes are bumped to the mid-30's per contest.

Marcus Thornton/Sacramento- Tyreke Evans is clearly not healthy, with only three appearances since Thanksgiving. Thornton had been injured as well, missing four games, but now appears poised to assume Evans' minutes. In his last three games, Thornton is averaging more than 17 points, nearly four rebounds and two assists. He is also a 3-point  threat.

F

Jared Dudley/Phoenix- Dudley is easily the most popular waiver wire pickup of the week. Over his past seven games, Dudley is averaging 17 points, 4.5 rebounds and 4.5 assists. The former Boston College star is averaging nealry 40 minutes per game and qualifies at both guard and forward. Dudley's emergence has come at Michael Beasley's expense.

Gustavo Ayon/Orlando- Somebody has to fill the giant void created by the injury to "Big Baby", right? Acquired by the  Magic from New Orleans in the Ryan Anderson transaction, Ayon is already staking his claim with a double-double in the first game without Glen Davis. Keep an eye on rookie Andrew Nicholson, who could also be a factor in Davis' absence.

Derrick Favors/Utah- Since returning from a foot ailment, Favors is averaging better than 20 and 10, based on 48 minutes of play. Jazz management insists it will move Al Jefferson and/or Paul Milsap and when than happens, Favors is going to go off in a big way. In limited minutes, Favors is averaging 13 points and five rebounds over his past four games.

C

Spencer Hawes/Philadelphia- Hawes was quiet on Sunday, but is making every effort to secure his spot in the depth chart with Andrew Bynum still sidelined. In the 76ers last seven games prior to Sunday, Hawes averaged nearly 15 points, and 7 rebounds off the bench. Hawes disappointed in '11, but appears to be returning to his breakout form of '10.

Andre Drummond/Detroit- With back to back blowouts of Washington, Drummond received some decent playing time and showed some of his enormous potential. Over his past five games, Drummond is averaging 16 points, 20 rebounds and more than five blocks.... projected to 48 minutes. If Detroit moves Jason Maxiell, watch out!

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Tom Blaz is a writer for Fantasy Alarm and co-owner of The Recruiting Eagle a website focusing on Auburn University Athletics.