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Fantasy Basketball Waiver Wire Pickups: Week 3 (2021)

Fantasy Basketball Waiver Wire Pickups: Week 3 (2021)

We are six games into the season. The sample size is small, yet that’s 12% of the season. I’d still give the high draft picks more time, but you should still mine the wire for potential adds and maximize streamers every week. Every stat counts.

In this weekly piece, I will highlight some players who may be available on your waiver wires. The Yahoo database will be utilized, and only players rostered in less than 50% of leagues will be mentioned.

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Bobby Portis (PF/C – MIL) – 24% rostered
Portis has not started a game this season and is only averaging 23 minutes per game, but the Bucks play four games this week, and three of those games have a chance of being laughers. There are two games versus the Pistons and one against the Cavaliers. In blowout games, Portis has played at least 25 minutes in each one. In competitive games, he still sees 16 to 17 minutes, so there is a floor. Portis can provide some points and rebounds, with some contributions in three-pointers, steals, and blocks. The percentages are also outstanding.

Raul Neto (PG – WAS) – 2% rostered
The Wizards have so far been resting Russell Westbrook on back-to-backs. They have another one this week, as they travel to Boston on Thursday and then host the Heat on Friday. In two games as a starter, Neto has averaged 27.3 minutes, 17 points, two three-pointers, two rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 2.5 steals. He’s shot 62% from the field, so don’t expect that kind of efficiency every outing, but 12 field goal attempts is a healthy amount.

Justin Holiday (SG/SF – IND) – 9% rostered
The role hasn’t changed much for Holiday after it was announced that T. J. Warren would be out indefinitely, but he’s still playing 23 to 28 minutes per game. If you need some three-pointers and steals, he’s not the worst option. Just don’t expect much in any of the other categories.

De’Andre Hunter (SF/PF – ATL) – 50% rostered
The Hawks are one of eight teams that only play three games this week, so that’s a bummer. There are no back-to-backs, though, and Hunter has started the season extremely well. He’s averaging 31.5 minutes per game and has shown improvements in his offensive game, scoring in double figures in each of the six games and surpassing 20 points in one. Now, he won’t continue shooting 51% from the field, but he’s averaging 10.3 shots per game and will contribute three-pointers and rebounds. The defensive stats aren’t great, at 0.5 for both blocks and steals, but he’s not a complete zero in those areas.

Naz Reid (C – MIN) – 25% rostered
Since Karl-Anthony Towns succumbed to injury, Reid has started three games and averaged 24 minutes, 13 points, 4.7 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 1 three-pointer, and 0.7 blocks. Is that earth-shattering? No, but it’s pretty, pretty good. Reid can score from all three levels and be a 1/1/1 player (1 three-pointer, 1 steal, and 1 block). Only three players accomplished that feat last season: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Robert Covington, and Anthony Davis.

Jordan Clarkson (PG/SG – UTA) – 45% rostered
The Jazz play four games this week: @BKN, @NYK, @MIL, and home against the Pistons. Both Brooklyn and Milwaukee are top 10 in offensive pace. Now, Clarkson is only averaging 22.3 minutes per game, but he’s providing plenty of points off the bench and garnering a 26.5 usage rate for the second unit. Expect three-points and rebounds as well, with a smattering of steals.

George Hill (PG/SG – OKC) – 26% rostered
The Thunder play four games this week with no back-to-backs. This season, Hill has started four games and averaged 15.3 points, 2.3 three-pointers, 2.5 rebounds, 4 assists, and 1.3 steals. In only 25.2 minutes! The usage rate has been a respectable 21.2, and he’s been converting 56% of his 10.3 field goal attempts. The efficiency will likely come down, but he’s getting a ton of open looks as teams collapse on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

Tyus Jones (PG – MEM) – 15% rostered
Since Ja Morant went down with an injury, Jones has started and averaged 25.9 minutes, 6 points, 1.5 rebounds, 7 assists, and 2 steals. The usage rate has been a paltry 11.1, as Kyle Anderson has seen the biggest spike with Morant gone, but Jones provides those precious assists and puts up gaudy steal numbers. Don’t expect much outside of those two categories.

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Stan Son is a featured writer at FantasyPros. To read more from Stan, check out his archive and follow him @Stan_Son.

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