Mike Muscala (PF/C, ATL) - NBA Waiver Wire Pickups

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ANALYSIS: The Hawks traded Jeff Teague this summer and have just completed a trade sending Kyle Korver to Cleveland, so it seems Atlanta is in rebuild mode. Its star player, Paul Millsap, can opt out of his contract at the end of this season and will soon turn 32, so the Hawks are expected to try to trade him before the deadline. If Millsap were to be traded, that would open up a lot of space and minutes in the Atlanta frontcourt. The primary beneficiary would arguably be Mike Muscala. His averages so far this season are 7.9 PTS with 0.8 3PM on 52.7% from the field and 76.2% from the line, 3.7 boards, 1.5 dimes, 0.6 steals, 0.6 blocks and 1.0 turnovers in 21 minutes per game. If the 25-year-old were to slide into the starting gig and his minutes were to rise to high 20s or even low 30s, fantasy owners who had the foresight to pick him up could be looking at a real nice contribution.