Fantasy basketball acquisitions: Bulls’ backcourt ranks among leading waiver-wire choices
The fantasy basketball playoffs have commenced in numerous leagues, elevating the significance of each game as the stakes increase. This coincides with the conclusion of the NBA season, where every injury poses a risk of prematurely ending a player’s season. Monitoring the nightly injury report is as crucial as reviewing the box scores, and recognizing the next player stepping up is vital for enhancing your rosters at this pivotal moment.
Therefore, in this section, we will identify players with low roster percentages who are currently taking on significant roles for their teams and delivering fantasy-relevant performances.
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Point Guard
Isaiah Collier, Utah Jazz (50.4% rostered in ESPN leagues): Collier has been performing at a high level for over a month, regardless of whether he is in the starting lineup. In his last 14 games, comprising 10 starts and four appearances off the bench, Collier has averaged 17.8 PPG, 9.0 APG, and 2.0 SPG. He missed Saturday’s game due to personal matters but is expected to return on Monday.
Tre Jones, Chicago Bulls (22.6% rostered): Jones has been a starter for the Bulls in the last five games while Josh Giddey and/or Anfernee Simons have been unavailable. He has scored in double digits in each of those five games, averaging a commendable 16.0 PPG and 4.4 APG in 28.4 MPG during this period.
Shooting Guard
Collin Sexton, SG/PG, Bulls (31.1% rostered): Sexton was enjoying an impressive four-game run when he sustained a lower leg contusion and had to exit Sunday’s game prematurely. At the time of his injury, he had tallied 28 points in 22 minutes. He still averaged 25.0 PPG during those four games. If the injury is minor, Sexton has evidently found his offensive rhythm with the Bulls. Should he need to sit out, Rob Dillingham (1.6% rostered) would be the next option as the “instant offense” choice in the backcourt.
Brandin Podziemski, SG/PG, Golden State Warriors (48.3% rostered): Podziemski entered the starting lineup five games ago due to his strong performances amid the Warriors’ injury challenges. Overall, in his last seven games, Podziemski has averaged 18.1 PPG, 9.6 RPG, 4.9 APG, and 2.4 3PG in 35.1 MPG.
Small Forward
Tristan da Silva, Orlando Magic (8.7% rostered): Da Silva is a shooter who has increasingly been granted the freedom to shoot for the Magic. He has made at least one 3-pointer in 13 consecutive games and, over his last eight games, has averaged 12.0 PPG, 5.5 RPG, and 2.4 3PG in six starts and two games off the bench.
Kelly Oubre Jr., SF/SG, Philadelphia 76ers (50.3% rostered): Oubre returned from a two-game absence to score 24 points, grab five rebounds, and provide four assists in 36 minutes. With Tyrese Maxey joining Joel Embiid on the sidelines and VJ Edgecombe listed as questionable after missing the last two games, Oubre and Quentin Grimes (27.9% rostered) are positioned to shoulder a significant portion of the 76ers’ offense in the near term.
Power Forward
Kyle Filipowski, Jazz (30.8% rostered): Filipowski has emerged as a reliable double-double threat as a starter for the Jazz. He has started nine consecutive games, scoring in double figures in each contest. In his last three games, he has accumulated 36 rebounds. Overall, in the nine games, he has averaged 14.7 PPG, 8.4 RPG, and 2.1 SPG in 27.2 MPG.
Precious Achiuwa, PF/C, Sacramento Kings (37.3%): Achiuwa has become a significant contributor as the starting power forward for the Kings. He has recorded three 20/10 double-doubles in his last nine games and is averaging close to a double-double during that stretch with 17.0 PPG, 9.6 RPG, and 2.3 stocks per game. Achiuwa’s playing time is on the rise, and in his last three games, he has approached an average of 40 MPG.
Center
Al Horford, C/PF, Warriors (10.2% rostered): Horford has established himself as a steady contributor for the Warriors when he is on the floor. He occasionally misses games due to his age (he will sit out on Monday), but in his last six appearances, he has recorded three games with at least 17 points, three games with six or more rebounds, and three games with four or more assists, totaling 15 3-pointers and 13 stocks.
Robert Williams III, Portland Trail Blazers (5.2% rostered): Williams typically misses about one game per week, but when he plays, “The Timelord” has become a nightly double-double candidate with strong defensive stats. In his last five games, Williams has averaged 11.8 PPG, 9.2 RPG, and 3.0 stocks per game in 21.2 MPG off the bench.
