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Fantasy Basketball Category Analysis & Waiver Wire Pickups: Week 17

Fantasy Basketball Category Analysis & Waiver Wire Pickups: Week 17

It’s Week 17. Hopefully, by the time you’re reading this the Philadelphia Eagles are World Champions once again. If not, well, congratulations to Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs for making that 10-year contract worth every penny.

This past week we witnessed some of the most electrifying, unpredictable and emotionally charged moments in sports history.

Here are some of my favorite moments as captured by the one and only X:

Relief.. .by way of the arrival of trade season:

And we are back:

But we are back to finish strong:

If you’ve been following along, you were ready. You saw the shifts, the waves, the trends. You adapted. And now, as we step into the final stretch before the playoffs, we find ourselves standing at the doorstep of the endgame.

This is where everything changes. This is what we’ve been preparing for. We made it.

Check out the latest fantasy basketball expert consensus rankings partner-arrow

NBA prop bet cheat sheet

No one is safe. No one is guaranteed a championship.

The NBA has been chaotic this season — rosters shifting, unexpected trades, rising stars emerging from nowhere. In both the East and the West, teams are fighting for survival. If they decide to lock in for a postseason push, things could get even wilder than they already are.

Think about this: Outside of the Wizards, every single team in the Eastern Conference could still make a push for the playoffs. Read that again. Every. Single. Team.

Right now, teams sitting in the fourth through 10th seed are essentially in a game of musical chairs. One night, you’re safe — the next, you’re fighting for a play-in spot. The Detroit Pistons sitting in sixth is proof the unexpected is not just possible — it’s inevitable.

Yes, the Cavaliers, Celtics, Thunder and Nuggets are currently positioned as favorites, but this season has shown us time and time again that anything can happen. A key injury, a surprise run or a sudden team chemistry breakthrough can shift the landscape overnight.

No Fear. All Embrace.

Here’s the best part: We don’t fear change — we embrace it.

Whether we know or simply understand, one thing is clear: We will continue to learn, grow and thrive.

This week’s article is packed, and for good reason. It’s meant to inspire, prepare and equip you with everything you need to stay ahead of the game. Consider it your guide through the storm — the foundation you’ll need to dominate the weeks ahead.

When you return, we take it to the next level.

As we head into the All-Star break, take a moment to breathe. Enjoy the chaos. Enjoy the process. Enjoy the journey.

Thank You From FantasyPros

To everyone who has been part of this journey — thank you.

For your engagement, your passion, your trust in the process and your commitment to elevating your game. We appreciate you.

A huge shoutout to the FantasyPros team for the constant support, dedication and drive to push the limits. We’re locked in and ready to take this to the next level.

And to the FantasyPros community, you are the reason we do this. Much love. Your energy, feedback and support fuel the game, and we’re honored to be part of your fantasy journey.

This is just the beginning.

See you in the endgame.

Fantasy Basketball Category Analysis & Waiver Wire Pickups (Week 17)

Post-Trade Deadline Things to Consider 

Just because the trade deadline has come and gone doesn’t mean the war is over. With the All-Star Break upon us, it could be good to keep the same approach when evaluating options and potential talent to add or remove to maximize your roster construction.

Bold moves and sharp strategies are the name of the endgame. Considering these elements as you prepare can help you navigate it as it separates the contenders from the pretenders:

  • Target talent-rich teams in transition.
  • Experimentation is a good thing; think differently.
  • Revisit rookies poised for impact.
  • Look for role players who will become main players.
  • Adopt a weekly “0-0” record mindset.

What’s on the Horizon: Building Towards Week 17 and Beyond

As we approach Week 17, let’s take a moment to set the stage for what’s ahead.

Post-All-Star Adjustments: Sharpening the Strategy

After the All-Star break, we’ll level up with a new approach article, look, feel and recommendations:

  • Matchup summaries and grades
  • Strategic player acquisition frameworks
  • Less talk and more show

New This Week: New Category and Roster Build Terms

As we prepare and move toward the second half of the season, we will begin to implement some new terms and frameworks to support your continued success as a fantasy basketball player. This is taken from the article Fantasy Basketball Draft Advice: 8 Must-Have Players to Draft (2024). This week, we introduce the roster build frame code (BFC).

The roster build frame is a strategic framework for fantasy basketball managers, operating on two key spectrums: Specialist vs. Generalist (X-axis) and Hold vs. Stream (Y-axis) — the Manager Plane (see below).

  • X-axis: Specialists excel in one or two categories, while Generalists contribute across multiple.
  • Y-axis: Hold managers prioritize stability, while Stream managers adapt frequently to maximize opportunities.
  • Key Terms: Generalist (G), Specialist (Sp), Hold (H), Stream (St), Build Frame Code (BFC). Terms and their Definitions can be found here.

About the Roster Build Frame Code (BFC)

For example, “GsHs” signifies a player suited for a Generalist, Hold strategy. A lowercase letter in the descriptor implies the player has secondary strengths in that area.

This framework helps managers define their style and build competitive, flexible teams.

A visual, you ask? Of course, friend…

manager plane fantasy basketball

Articles to revisit for preparation (familiarity with possible terms/format of upcoming articles):

Fantasy Basketball Category & Waiver Wire Analysis

Our focus will continue to shift to deeper, tactical moves as we head into the second half of the season, where we’ll lean into matchup contexts, multi-week schedules and thoughtful player and roster management to give you an edge. It’s almost time when getting cute could be the best thing.

Fantasy Format

Scoring Type:

Head-to-Head (Most Categories)

Player Stat Categories:

  • Points Scored (PTS)
  • Total Rebounds (REB)
  • Assists (AST)
  • Steals (ST)
  • Block Shots (BLK)
  • 3-Point Shots Made (3PTM)
  • Field Goal Percentage (FG%)
  • Free Throw Percentage (FT%)

Roster Positions:

  • Point Guard (PG)
  • Shooting Guard (SG)
  • Guard (G)
  • Small Forward (SF)
  • Power Forward (PF)
  • Center (C) x 2
  • Utility (UTIL) x 2
  • Bench (BN) x 2
  • Injured List (IL) x 3

Data Sources

  • NBA Player Stats: NBA.com (2024-2025) – Stats taken on Sunday, February 9th, 2025 (Data subject to change.)
  • Yahoo! Sports – Player List
  • NBA G-League Site

Note“On The Radar” considerations are replaced with the “Acquire…?” chart for this article

FantasyPros: The One-Stop Shop

In addition to this article, FantasyPros provides a wide range of tools and resources designed to support your strategic needs throughout the season.

From daily lineup optimizers to weekly matchup analysis and monthly trend reports, these tools offer critical insights that help you stay a step ahead.

Integrating these resources into your daily, weekly and monthly planning can give you the competitive edge needed to achieve your fantasy goals.

Now, let’s dive into this week’s analysis and identify the key players who can take your lineup to the next level and set the stage for a winning season.

PrizePicks $5 for $50

Points

“Acquire…?” Players PPG Secondary Auxiliary BFC
“Of course…” Shaedon Sharpe (SG, SF – POR) | 43% Rostered 17.3 REB FG%, FT%, 3PTM SpHst
“Probably should…” Keon Johnson (PG, SG – BKN) | 24% Rostered 10.0 REB STL SpSth
“Let’s Go…” Quentin Grimes (SG, SF – PHI) | 9% Rostered 10.3 REB STL, AST SpSt

Keon Johnson (PG, SG – BKN) | 24% Rostered | 10 Points Per Game – Rank: 176th

Acquisition Details

  • League Level: Shallow
  • Acquisition Type: Stream – Hold (Sth)
  • Priority: Medium-High
  • Stream/Hold Period: 3-4 Weeks (Week-to-Week)

Category Build

  • Primary: Points
  • Secondary: Rebounds
  • Auxiliary: Steals
  • Category Class: Singular-Realist
  • Roster Class: Specialist (Sp)

Week 17 Opponent Overview

  • Total Games: 2
  • Opponents: CHA, PHI

Stats Last 5 Games (Minimum 25 Minutes Per Game) | Avg. OPP PTS Rank: 12.4

Keon Johnson has averaged 32.6 minutes, 20 points, 5.0 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 1.8 steals, 0.6 blocks with 2.4 three-pointers made on 6.6 attempts per game, with 4.4 free throws made on 5.0 attempts per game while shooting 41.2% from the floor, 36.3% from three and 88% from the line.

Johnson’s Brilliant Opportunity

Johnson has come along strong in recent contests. With the Nets granting Ben Simmons the opportunity to find new avenues, things are seemingly beginning to shift for this organization.

It appears they are poised to make a more deliberate and lateral move to capitalize on their brilliant rebuilding position. With the absence of Simmons and the off-and-on play of D’Angelo Russell, there is now an opportunity for Johnson to step in as an invaluable asset for this talented, albeit underrated, backcourt.

Scoring Force Waiting

While his NBA career hasn’t necessarily done well to overtly highlight his potential, he is in a great position to not only contribute as a foundational piece to this Nets team but also to our evolving roster builds during the back end of the season.

While he is just averaging 10.0 points per game this season, this number could be a result of timing, opportunity, and overall development. When taking a closer look at his stats during a time in which he received consistent minutes, a more reliable picture of his scoring potential can be seen. During his time in the G-League, he averaged 28.4 minutes, 17.8 points, and 1.8 three-pointers made per game while shooting 45.3 percent from the floor and 36.6 percent from three.

Differentiated Scoring Threat

While the return of Cam Thomas is going to require some adjustments due to the heavy volume of his scoring, Johnson not only has promise as a scorer but also brings with him a lot of potential, as he offers a more complete value proposition than the electric Cam.

In his time in the NBA G League, he averaged six rebounds, 3.4 assists, one steal and 0.7 blocks per game. This kind of versatility could prove invaluable for the Nets as they look to build a competitive roster while maximizing the uniqueness of their current core.

Outside of Russell, the Nets have no one who can step into that facilitator role while being able to consistently add value in scoring, as well as in other ways that could benefit the team and its synergy.

Should Johnson be in a position where he can begin tapping into these aspects of his game — due to him moving into a more formal role where he is forced to do so — he could become an acquisition who lends himself more to a multi-categorical asset, serving as a timely wave that can lift all boats sitting on the waters of your roster’s potential.

Assists

“Acquire…?” Players APG Secondary Auxiliary BFC
“Of course…” Isaiah Collier (PG – UTA) | 33% Rostered 5.6 STL PTS SpSth
“Probably should…” Dennis Schroder (PG, SG – DET) | 45% Rostered 5.5 PTS STL, 3PTM SpgSth
“Let’s Go…” Vasilije Micić (PG, SG – PHX) | 3% Rostered 3.5 REB STL, AST SpSt

Dennis Schroder (PG, SG – DET): 45% Rostered | 5.5 Assists Per Game – Rank: 40th

Acquisition Details

  • League Level: Shallow
  • Acquisition Type: Priority Stream – Hold (Sth)
  • Priority: Medium-High
  • Stream/Hold Period: 3-4 Weeks

Category Build

  • Primary: Assists
  • Secondary: Points, Three-Pointers Made
  • Auxiliary: Steals
  • Category Class: Singular-Realist
  • Roster Class: Specialist-generalist (Spg)

Week 17 Opponent Overview

  • Total Games: 2
  • Opponents: @CHI (Back-to-Back)

Stats Last 5 Games* | Avg. OPP AST Rank: 14.8

Dennis Schroder has averaged 29.2 minutes, 15.2 points, 2.6 rebounds, 4.4 assists, 1.8 steals with 2.2 three-pointers made on 6.0 attempts per game, and 1.4 free-throws made on 1.8 attempts per game while shooting 43.9% from the floor, 36.7% from three and 77.8% from the line.

*Excluding February 9

Good Player With Promise

Schroder is a very good basketball player who was in the process of “turning back the clock” and having one of the most, if not the most, successful seasons since both his 2017-2018 season with the Hawks and his 2019-2020 season with the Thunder. That, however, seemingly came to a halt when he was dealt to the Warriors earlier this season.

Demonstrating the upside that once made him an electric and promising face of the league, it was good to see him start to regain some of that momentum he seemingly lost following his short stint with the Rockets.

Schroder’s early play, particularly with the Hawks, along with his signature blonde streak, made him one of the hottest acquisitions of the season. With seemingly nothing but opportunity in front of him, it appeared — at least for now, in this stage of the Nets’ rebuild — that he could be the guy for their franchise in the long term, pairing with a rapidly growing and dynamic Brooklyn squad.

To Warrior or Not to Warrior

When it was announced he’d be joining the Warriors, the potential for this high-riding wave was still there, especially since he’d be going to one of the best organizations in the league. However, after a short while, it proved to be a detrimental step, which did a sizable job of limiting his upside. Still, despite this, he was able to maintain positive marks and played well enough to be moved to what could be a perfect match for him, the Pistons and our rosters.

Long-Term Success Trends

Since entering the league, Schroder has been able to build and sustain long-term success with teams he has been privileged to play with for more than one season.

This gradual trend of improvement across most, if not all, categories year after year was seen in his early years with Atlanta and the Thunder and recently experienced with the Nets, where he was able to show tremendous growth in several key areas. That made him one of the most promising early-season bets, especially when looking at his volume, the demand and the talent he carried with him when a part of those teams.

Exciting Opportunities for Fun

Being on an exciting Pistons team that just “ran through” the Sixers without a traditional point guard could point to signs of the coming of a mid-season Phoenix, if you will, for this talent. Detroit finally has the depth they have desired for so long to build and sustain wins, especially when going against some of the other mega-teams coming out of both the East and West. The addition of Schroder is going to create the opportunity for them to focus on maximizing the contributions of Cade Cunningham.

Schroder is joining a Pistons team having fun right now — a team that could truly embrace his understated leadership and production, leading to some post-All-Star clarity that might have been lost had he not been put back into an ideal situation.

Reliable When on the Floor

Schroder is one of the league’s most reliable players when healthy and on the floor. He is ready to compete, bringing another level of facilitation and overall offensive play that should complement most, if not all, of the young, hungry talent Detroit has.

Rebounds

“Acquire…?” Players RPG Secondary Auxiliary BFC
“Of course…” Kel’el Ware (PF, C – MIA) | 52% Rostered 5.7 FG%, BLK PTS SpgH
“Probably should…” Moussa Diabaté (C – CHA) | 29% Rostered 7.1 FG% STL, BLK SpSt
“Let’s Go…” Nick Richards (C – PHX) | 33% Rostered 8.5 BLK, FG% PTS SpSt

Moussa Diabaté (C – CHA) | 29% Rostered | 7.1 Rebounds Per game – Rank: 50th

Acquisition Details

  • League Level: Shallow
  • Acquisition Type: Stream (St)
  • Priority: Medium
  • Stream/Hold Period: 3-4 Weeks (Week-to-Week)

Category Build

  • Primary: Rebounds
  • Secondary: Field-Goal Percentage,
  • Auxiliary: Steal, Blocks
  • Category Class: Singular-Realist
  • Roster Class: Specialist (Sp)

Week 17 Opponent Overview

  • Total Games: 2
  • Opponents: @BKN, @ORL

Stats Last 5 Games* | Avg. OPP REB Rank: 5.5

Moussa Diabaté has averaged 31.6 minutes, 9.6 points, 12.2 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 1.0 steals, 0.4 blocks and 2.2 free throws made on 3.4 attempts per game while shooting 57.4% from the floor and 64.7% from the line.

*Excluding February 9

“Blank Check” Voided? Or Endorsed?

Diabaté has had a breakout season and finally seemed to have done enough to earn his chance to not only demonstrate his upside and talent but to do so in an environment that would allow him to play with almost a “blank check” kind of feel. It also seemed like a situation that could have led to the birth of yet another contender emerging out of the East.

With the team finally making some incredible moves to take the next step in their rebuild — clearing up their frontcourt by moving Nick Richards and Mark Williams — it looked like the young talent out of Ann Arbor was set to make his shift into one of the league’s next dominant bigs.

Until — Ray William Johnson voice — we got word that the trade for Dalton Knecht was rescinded due to certain “conditions” not being met. While this is unfortunate for the team, players and fans alike, it also puts a slight hiccup in our plans, as we had high hopes for all parties involved, especially Diabaté.

“Health-Demic” Strikes Again – Put the Contract on the “INJ” List

While the team has seemingly reverted to the kind of congestion that has stifled a lot of young, promising talent, Diabaté is still worth investing in. The team has made its intentions clear for the future, and that includes a key role for him. If he handles it better than I did when the news hit.

Hailing from France and coming out of his single season with the Wolverines in 2022, he showed tremendous promise, averaging 24.9 minutes, 9.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, 0.9 blocks and 0.3 steals per game while shooting 54.2% from the floor, 21.5% from three and 61.9% from the line.

During his time in the NBA G League from 2022-2025, he elevated those numbers, averaging 31.5 minutes, 15 points, 11.7 rebounds 2.2 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.5 blocks per game while shooting 56% from the floor and 56.5% from the line.

The Popular Back-End Bet

There are a lot of popular options to satisfy our rebounding needs, but if there’s a talent who could be in a great situation to blossom in the back end of the season, Diabaté is a solid bet. With the potential for some post-All-Star magic, he could be an asset for both the Hornets and many of our lineups.

DraftKings Sportsbook Promo

Blocks

“Acquire…?” Players BPG Secondary Auxiliary BFC
“Of course…” Goga Bitadze (C – ORL) | 41% Rostered 1.6 FG% STL, PTS SpSth
“Probably should…” Moussa Diabaté (C – CHA) | 29% Rostered 0.7 FG% STL, BLK SpSt
“Let’s Go…” Matas Buzelis (SF, PF – CHI) | 26% Rostered 0.9 PTS, REB STL, FG% SpgSth

Matas Buzelis (SF, PF – CHI) | 26% Rostered | 0.9 Blocks Per Game – Rank: 57th

Acquisition Details

  • League Level: Shallow
  • Acquisition Type: Stream – Hold (Sth)
  • Priority: Medium-High
  • Hold Period: 3-4 Weeks

Category Build

  • Primary: Blocks
  • Secondary: Points, Rebounds
  • Auxiliary: Points
  • Category Class: Singular-Realist
  • Roster Class: Specialist-generalist (Spg)

Week 17 Opponent Overview

  • Total Games: 2
  • Opponents: DET (Back-to-Back)

Stats Last 5 Games | Avg. OPP BLK Rank: 19.8

Matas Buzelis has averaged 28.2 minutes, 15.6 points, 5.8 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 0.6 steals and 1.8 blocks with 1.8 three-pointers made on 4.0 attempts per game, and 2.2 free-throws made on 3.0 attempts per game while shooting 61.7% from the floor, 45% from three and 73.3% from the line.

Buzelis and the “Big Bang” Baller Alliance

Buzelis has been another pleasant surprise this season in what could become one of the most historic seasons of all time in the league. Not just because of the trades or the health-demic, but because this rookie class could be filled with talent that serves as the next “Big Bang” of future stars. The next evolution of this art we call a sport, which we call ball, which is life — the Big Bang Baller Alliance, if you will.

Was this justified? Well, if you want to see what the future could potentially look like and why this could be possible, take a look and confirm what some, if not many, of you may be seeing even clearer than I could at the time here.

A Talented “G” Whose Last Name Starts With a B

This talent joined the league by taking a path that is understood, known and appreciated but may be the saving grace of the league as it looks to shift and pivot how it identifies, develops and introduces new talent to the world via the NBA G League.

Buzelis was a heralded high school talent, starting in Illinois and making his mark at Brewster Academy in New Hampshire, where he was named New Hampshire Gatorade Player of the Year. He averaged 11.4 points, 5.9 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.3 blocks, and 1.2 steals per game, earning a spot on Team World in the 2022 Nike Hoops Summit.

Story Time — Spoiler Alert: Stop Playin’ With’Em

Once again, this talent was on the move, transferring to Sunrise Christian Academy in Kansas for his senior year, where he averaged 15.7 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game while shooting 54% from the floor, 42.4% from three and 80% from the line.

He was destined to make college ball even more exciting as he considered taking his talents to Kentucky, North Carolina, Florida State and Wake Forest. However, he took a different route, heading straight to the NBA G League, where he averaged 31.1 minutes, 18.7 points, 7.8 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 0.7 steals and 0.7 blocks per game while shooting 50.9% from the floor, 24.6% from three and 81.3% from the line.

Now, we bring it full circle. He’s made it to the pros, and well, let me reiterate this for a unique form of alliteration: He’s averaging 28.2 minutes, 15.6 points, 5.8 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 0.6 steals, 1.8 blocks and 1.8 three-pointers per game while shooting 61.7% from the floor, 45% from three and 73.3% from the line.

The Bulls’ Vision and a Future Taking Shape

The Bulls have a chance to make some great moves and are showing they’re committed to doing just that. They’ve made waves by moving Zach LaVine and acquiring solid pieces in Tre Jones, Zach Collins and Kevin Huerter. They’ve also chosen to stick with Lonzo Ball, taking a page from Orlando’s playbook by staying committed to their talent.

The Bulls are slowly positioning themselves as one of the next up-and-coming teams in the league, capable of shifting the landscape and reinvigorating fan engagement for years to come. Not only that, but this team is also starting to separate and solidify itself as a potential threat to many in the postseason picture.

Shoulders for a Legacy and a New Energy we Call ‘Big B’

Their frontcourt is stacked with established stars like Nikola Vucevic, emerging talents like Patrick Williams, wild cards with high ceilings like Jalen Smith and newly arrived Zach Collins. Yet, the fact that they’ve moved Buzelis into the starting lineup speaks volumes. This could be the official start of a new era.

He is strong enough to carry the weight of the opportunity and serve as a foundational piece of the legacy of this historic franchise and city with a new energy we will now call “Big B.”  That kind of intangible greatness shouldn’t come as a surprise. He comes from a family of decorated coaches and athletes hailing from Lithuania.

Just as he’s honored his rich family legacy — engraved in Lithuanian sports history and beyond — he’s poised to do the same in a city with equally storied and strong sports legacies.

While he is going to have some growing opportunities, he can do something special, especially since the Bulls can gift their fans and franchise the kind of glorious rebuild era fans could only hope for.  The kind where you see the potential in great wins, promising losses and eventually a powerful feat in runs that can end in post-season podium presentations of the Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy (yeah I said it).

Let’s go Bulls.

Ending

Stop playin’ with’em.

Steals

“Acquire…?” Players SPG Secondary Auxiliary BFC
“Of course…” Jaden McDaniels (SF, PF – MIN) | 56% Rostered 1.4 PTS, FG%, REB BLK, AST, 3PTM GH
“Probably should…” Toumani Camara (SF, PF – POR) | 37% Rostered 1.4 REB PTS, 3PTM SpgHst
“Let’s Go…” Brandon Boston Jr. (SG, SF, PF – NOP) | 3% Rostered 1.3 PTS REB, AST SpgSt

Brandon Boston Jr. (SG, SF, PF – NOP): 3% Rostered | 1.3 Steals Per Game – Rank: 49th

Acquisition Details

  • League Level: Shallow
  • Acquisition Type: Stream (St)
  • Priority: Medium
  • Hold Period: 3-4 Weeks (Week-to-Week)

Category Build

  • Primary: Steals
  • Secondary: Points
  • Auxiliary: Rebounds
  • Category Class: Singular-Realist
  • Roster Class: Specialist-generalist (Spg)

Week 17 Opponent Overview

  • Total Games: 3
  • Opponents: @OKC, SAC (Back-to-Back)

Stats Last 5 Games | Avg. OPP BLK Rank: 19.8

Brandon Boston Jr. has averaged 27.6 minutes, 11.4 points, 3.8 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 0.6 steals and 0.4 blocks with 1.2 three-pointers made on 3.2 attempts per game, and 1.8 free-throws made on 2.2 attempts per game while shooting 43.8% from the floor, 37.5% from three and 81.8% from the line.

Bad Boy Boston Not From Boston

Boston is a bad boy. Yes, I may have used “boy” instead of “man” for alliteration purposes, but hear me out — there is more. While he is still quite young in his career years, his potential is far from immature, and something worthy of being titled a bad “man.” However, it is so promising and ridiculous that it could be as childish, immature and borderline irresponsible as an adolescent boy — just how promising it can be.

Story Time Part 1: A Hero’s Journey Told Through “Belief” … Well, Rostership Belief

I wrote about our guy back in Week 4 (19% Rostered), Week 5 (41% Rostered) when he was a promising streaming option with hold potential on a Pelicans team looking to successfully tread water. At the time, he made it onto our radar by way of being highlighted in the free-throw percentage category.

By Week 6 (31% Rostered), he was inserted as an ‘On The Radar’ consideration but found himself in multiple categories: points, steals and free-throw percentage.

By Week 8 (15% Rostered), he was added back to our list in the free-throw category. By Week 9 (19% Rostered), in the Steals category. However, with the Pelicans getting healthy and testing the depth of their options, his ownership dwindled substantially. Still, the quality of his impact couldn’t be undermined.

He didn’t re-enter this article series until last week as part of my Branch in Week 16 (4% Rostered) and is now officially back on the list in Week 17 (3% rostered) for our Steals category. As you can see, we are invested in this journey.

Story Time Part 2: The Once and Future “Kid”

Not going to lie, many may not appreciate this, but I’ll tell you who will. My 10th-grade Honors English teacher does. Anyways, along his journey, he took on menial roles; however, he did much like he has done up to this point and made a solid impact.

While, on the surface, his numbers seemed unimpressive. Looking beyond them, though, what numbers?  Week 13, we find that there is more to this story.

This Season (Pelicans – 23 minutes per game):

  • 11.4 points
  • 3.8 rebounds
  • 2.0 assists
  • 0.6 steals
  • 0.4 blocks
  • 1.2 three-pointers made on 3.2 attempts
  • 1.8 free throws made on 2.2 attempts
  • Shooting Splits: 43.8% FG | 37.5% 3PT | 81.8% FT

First Three Seasons (Clippers – 12.3 minutes per game):

  • 6.1 points
  • 1.7 rebounds
  • 0.8 assists
  • 0.4 steals
  • 0.2 blocks
  • 0.5 three-pointers made on 1.7 attempts
  • 1.1 free-throws made on 1.4 attempts
  • Shooting Splits: 40.2% FG | 31.4% 3PT | 78.0% FT

Now, why is this interesting? Well, I’ll tell you.

Post-Bubble season, the Clippers went through a series of transformations, ascending to a level of competitive dominance fueled by explosive acquisitions that were sure to set the team up for years: James Harden, Paul George, Kawhi Leonard, Russell Westbrook and the emergence of Norman Powell, along with other players who terrorized our fantasy waiver wires.

His introduction into the league as a kid came during a time of great promise but uncertainty. The fact he was able to sustain these numbers with a roster filled with once and present — hopefully future — Hall of Famers is pretty impressive.

Even if you double his time and, in essence, double his production for a raw picture, that would mean he would roughly produce the following per game in 24.0 minutes of play:

  • 12.2 points
  • 3.4 rebounds
  • 1.5 assists
  • 0.8 steals
  • 0.4 blocks
  • 1.0 three-pointers made on 3.4 attempts
  • 2.1 free-throws made on 2.7 attempts

On a team with so many mouths to feed and pressures at that particular time in their franchise, that’s impressive, considering what he is doing now on the Pelicans (23.0 minutes per game).

NBA G-League Career (16 Games, 2021-2024) – 34.9 minutes per game:

  • 23.0 points
  • 6.1 rebounds
  • 3.3 assists
  • 1.0 steals
  • 0.3 blocks
  • 1.6 three-pointers made on 5.3 attempts
  • 2.7 free throws made on 3.4 attempts
  • Shooting Splits: 46.2% FG | 30.6% 3PT | 78.2% FT

Are you starting to see the “irresponsibility” of the potential here?

Story Time Part 3: Opportunity to Pull the Sword

While he may not have a round table, and while his name isn’t Arthur, let’s hope he can get himself a Lancelot and a crew that can take his potential and put him in a position to go through his developmental journey i.e., the health-demic and the uncertainties of rotation play, so that he can earn a shot to pull his sword and show himself worthy of being a king, head of the table or let’s just say starter of his team one day.

Maybe he can steal his next opportunity and solidify his legacy in stone.

Betting Systems: Find and tail the most profitable bets

Three-Pointers Made

“Acquire…?” Players 3PTM Secondary Auxiliary BFC
“Of course…” Malik Beasley (SG, SF – DET) | 40% Rostered 3.8 PTS STL, REB SpH
“Probably should…” Max Christie (SG, SF – DAL) | 25% Rostered 1.4 REB PTS, 3PTM SpgSt
“Let’s Go…” Corey Kispert (SG, SF – WAS) | 8% Rostered 1.9 PTS, REB FG% SpSt

Malik Beasley (SG, SF – DET): 40% Rostered | 3.8 3PTM Per Game – Rank: 5th

Acquisition Details

  • League Level: Shallow
  • Acquisition Type: Hold
  • Priority: High
  • Hold Period: 3-4 Weeks

Category Build

  • Primary: Three-Pointers Made
  • Secondary: Points
  • Auxiliary: Steals, Rebounds
  • Category Class: Singular-Realist
  • Roster Class: Specialist (Sp)

Week 17 Opponent Overview

  • Total Games: 2
  • Opponents: @CHI (Back-to-Back)

Stats Last 5 Games* | Avg. OPP 3PM Rank: 13

Malik Beasley has averaged 29.2 minutes, 18.8 points, 1.8 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 1.4 steals per game, with 5.0 three-pointers made on 12 attempts per game while shooting 47.5% from the floor and 41.7% from three.

*Excluding February 9

See and Read About the Michiganders

I was going to go with Max Christie, but I need to take this time to emphasize a point. However, Max Christie yeah, you probably should.

Read about Malik Beasley:

This week is the first week he’s hit 40% rostership… I guess just like the city of Detroit is realizing and appreciating, it’s better late than never. Be well and God bless.
Stop playing with this man.

Field-Goal Percentage

“Acquire…?” Players FG% Secondary Auxiliary BFC
“Of course…” Christian Braun (SG, SF – DEN) | 59% Rostered 57.1% PTS, REB, STL FT%, 3PTM GH
“Probably should…” Ochai Agbaji (SG, SF – TOR) | 15% Rostered 50.8% PTS 3PTM, REB SpSt
“Let’s Go…” Dante Exum (SG, SF – WAS) | 1% Rostered 48.6% PTS AST SpSt

Christian Braun (SG, SF – DEN): 59% Rostered | 57.1% FG% Per Game – Rank: 55th

Acquisition Details

  • League Level: Shallow
  • Acquisition Type: Hold (H)
  • Priority: High
  • Hold Period: 3-4 Weeks

Category Build

  • Primary: Field-Goal Percentage
  • Secondary: Points, Rebounds
  • Auxiliary: Steals
  • Category Class: Synergy-Realist
  • Roster Class: Generalist (G)

Week 17 Opponent Overview

  • Total Games: 2
  • Opponents: POR (Back-to-Back)

Stats Last 5 Games | Avg. OPP FG% Rank: 13th

Christian Braun has averaged 36.4 minutes, 18.4 points, 8.2 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 1.8 steals and 0.4 Blocks with 0.8 three-pointers made on 3.4 attempts per game, with 3.2 free-throws made on 3.8 attempts per game and shooting 56.8% from the floor, 23.5% from three and 84.2% from the line.
He’s “Floating Like a Butterfly and Stinging Like a Bee” Now
Be well and God bless.
Stop playing with this man.
Honoring a Legacy and its Essence

Just because “0” hasn’t played doesn’t mean his spirit is showing up… he may not be averaging a triple-double or double-double for overall season-long averages. His production in spirit, in essence, well in a five-game average are close to the same production trajectory as Wesbrook’s as he was heading into his second and third seasons with the Thunder… however, this may be the last time I make this comparison.

In looking at Westbrook’s stats…this dude was and is built differently… my gosh.

Stop playing with both of these men.

NBA DFS Lineup Optimizer

Free-Throw Percentage

“Acquire…?” Players FT% Secondary Auxiliary BFC
“Of course…” De’Andre Hunter (SF, PF – CLE) | 42% Rostered 85.8% PTS, FG% REB, STL SpgH
“Probably should…” Gradey Dick (SG, SF – TOR) | 35% Rostered 88.6% PTS, 3PTM REB, STL SpgSth
“Let’s Go…” Dalton Knecht (SG, SF – LAL) | 22% Rostered 82.5% PTS REB SpSt

De’Andre Hunter (SF, PF – ATL): 45% Rostered | 85.8 FT% Per Game – Rank: 107th

Acquisition Details

  • League Level: Shallow
  • Acquisition Type: Hold (H)
  • Priority: High
  • Hold Period: 3-4 Weeks

Category Build

  • Primary: Free-Throw Percentage
  • Secondary: Points, Three-Pointers Made, Field-Goal Percentage
  • Auxiliary: Rebounds, Assists, Steals
  • Category Class: Singular-Realist
  • Roster Class: Specialist-generalist (Spg)

Week 17 Opponent Overview

  • Total Games: 2
  • Opponents: MIN, @TOR

Stats Last 5 Games | Avg. OPP FT% Rank: 13th

De’Hunter has averaged 31.8 minutes, 17.4 points, 5.6 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 0.8 steals and 0.2 Blocks with 2.4 three-pointers made on 7.2 attempts per game, with 3.8 free-throws made on 4.4 attempts per game while shooting 40.3% from the floor, 33.3% from three and 86.4% from the line.

They “Stop Playing With This Man”…by Choosing to “Play and go Hunting With This Man”

Read about De’Andre Hunter here, here, here and here.

Be well and God bless.
But wait… He’s traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers… and opportunity… and? Womp. Womp.
He went 100% from the free-throw line on 12 attempts and put up 25 points on the road against Cleveland back on January 30th. Now he’s about to do that and more with Cleveland at home in Cleveland.
The team gave Caris LeVert new life when he joined back in 2021, and while health could be a similar obstacle he will have to navigate. Like LeVert and the rest of the League, but LeVert to keep it in alignment with the projection of the frontcourt, this guy’s ceiling is going to wild). 
Stop playing with this man.
Go hunting with this man.

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