Fantasy Basketball Waiver Wire Week 19, 2023-24: Kelly Olynyk in Demand
We’re absolutely in the stretch run of the season and making some fantasy football waiver wire additions and subtractions could win you a championship. Let’s dive into the top fantasy basketball waiver wire adds this week as we reference Yahoo! Fantasy for their roster percentages.
Fantasy Basketball Picks: Top Waiver Wire Adds
Kelly Olynyk, Toronto Raptors (48% Yahoo!)
After losing Scottie Barnes last game, Olynyk was the Raptors biggest beneficiary playing 28 minutes and he notched a double-double with 16 points, three assists, and three steals. Olynyk has always been an elite fantasy point producer when extended, which is likely the case moving forward. There’s a reason why he’s been added to 17% of Yahoo teams just in the last day.
Isaiah Stewart, Detroit Pistons (47% Yahoo!)
Upon returning from his suspension and injury, he has played 33 and 34 minutes while starting at power-forward. He’s fallen one rebound shy of a double-double in both games and has blocked four shots combined. He’s someone who can space the floor and help you in the three-point department as well. He’s a solid rest-of-season add if he’s going to continue to play this much.
Royce O'Neale, Phoenix Suns (37% Yahoo!)
Phoenix has had a lot of volatility within their lineup lately and their latest injury is Devin Booker’s sprained ankle. Anytime we’ve seen anyone missing lately it’s been O’Neale being extended. He’s topped 27 or more minutes in three straight games and has really done it all. He has 11+ points in four of five, six or more rebounds in five of six while notching at least one steal in eight straight games. He’s a very good floor spacer, too.
Fantasy Basketball Streamers: Best Options
Jordan Goodwin, Memphis Grizzlies (9% Yahoo!)
It’s hard to ignore what Goodwin’s done lately. He’s not someone who’s going to help your ratios in really any capacity. He’s shot extremely poorly lately, but he’s been amazing peripherally. So long as Derrick Rose is out and Luke Kennard is limited, Goodwin should continue to start and play as many minutes at point-guard as he can handle for this non-contending team.
Moses Moody, Golden State Warriors (12% Yahoo!)
As long as Andrew Wiggins is going to miss time, the Warriors will use Moody in the starting lineup, and that presents streaming opportunities. Moody’s played 23-plus minutes in three straight and has scored double-figure points in two of three. He’s also benefitted from Brandin Podziemski being out the last two games too. Stream him while Golden State is at less than 100%.
Player News
Buddy Hield had 15 points (5-of-14 FGs), three rebounds, one assist, one steal and four three-pointers against the Timberwolves in Game 2 on Thursday.
Hield moved into the Warriors’ starting lineup in the first round and the team became somewhat reliant on his scoring. With Stephen Curry (hamstring) out in Game 2, Hield started and played 29 minutes. The 32-year-old shooting guard led the Warriors in field goal attempts, though no one in a Golden State uniform was able to reach 20 points. The Warriors weren’t able to overcome a double-digit first half deficit. Despite the four made three-pointers, they’re going to need more from Hield as the series shifts to Golden State, especially if Curry remains out.
Jimmy Butler had 17 points (6-of-13 FGs), seven rebounds, four assists, one steal and two three-pointers against the Timberwolves in Game 2 on Thursday.
Butler couldn’t get it done without Stephen Curry (hamstring) on the road in Game 2. The Warriors fell behind by double-digits early and never recovered. Butler had 17 points on 13 shots, which wasn’t far off from the 20 points he had in Game 1. Still, the Warriors have to regroup as they head home for Games 3 and 4 as they try to figure out a way to keep this series close until Curry can return to the court.
Nickeil Alexander-Walker had 20 points (7-of-13 FGs), two rebounds, three assists, one block and four three-pointers in Game 2 against the Warriors on Thursday.
Alexander-Walker was a key scorer off the bench in Game 2. He, Naz Reid and Donte DiVencenzo combined for 10 made three-pointers off the bench. In a game where the Warriors were desperate for scoring without Stephen Curry (hamstring), those bench points were too much to overcome as the Timberwolves won by 24 points.
Julius Randle had 24 points (10-of-17 FGs), seven rebounds, 11 assists and one three-pointer in Game 2 against the Warriors on Thursday.
Randle led the Timberwolves in scoring in the Game 2 victory. The 30-year-old power forward was just three rebounds away from a triple-double. He was a steadying presence in his 33 minutes as Anthony Edwards dealt with an ankle injury towards the end of the first half. Edwards recovered from his injury to play 34 minutes, but Randle is still the next most important player in this series for the Timberwolves.
Anthony Edwards had 20 points (6-of-13 FGs), nine rebounds, five assists, three steals, one block and two three-pointers in the Timberwolves’ 117-93 victory over the Warriors in Game 2 on Thursday.
Edwards appeared to suffer a sprained left ankle towards the end of the second quarter as the Warriors’ Trayce Jackson-Davis landed on his foot. Edwards turned the same ankle in the first round against the Lakers and appeared to re-aggravate the injury. The 23-year-old shooting guard would go on to start the second half and play a team-high 34 minutes in the Game 2 victory. Edwards will only have one full day off before the series resumes in Golden State for Game 3 on Saturday.
Warriors will start Brandin Podziemski, Buddy Hield, Jimmy Butler, Draymond Green and Quinten Post in Game 2 against the Timberwolves on Thursday.
No surprise here as Curry was always a long shot to make it back for Game 2 after leaving Game 1 with hamstring injury. While there has been a report that the 37-year-old point guard is expected to miss a week, there is no firm timetable for his return. The Warriors will go big with their starting lineup for Game 2 with center Quinten Post entering the lineup in Curry’s absence.