Kevin Huerter (SG, ATL) - Week 23 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add In 12-Team Leagues

OWNED IN: 26% of leagues

ANALYSIS: It would be easy to say that Kevin Huerter has spent the 2018-2019 season in the shadow of Atlanta teammate and Rookie of the Year candidate Trae Young. However, by putting up 9.6 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 0.9 steals, and 1.8 three-pointers made out of 4.6 attempts (39.4% conversion rate) in a robust 27.2 minutes per contest, no one can say that it hasn't been a highly successful and eye-opening rookie campaign for the former 19th overall pick out of Maryland. Even alongside such established shooting guards and small forwards like Kent Bazemore, Deandre Bembry, and of course the legendary Vince Carter, "Red Mamba" has established himself as a prominent force for the non-contending Hawks to the tune of 30.8 minutes per game and 42 starting-lineup appearances over the 42 games since the start of December.

Though he has seen a slight reduction in PT through the month of March, his on-court efficiency has continued to shine for the youth-centered Atlanta Hawks. In eight games to the mid-point of March, Huerter has been putting up 13.0 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 2.6 assists on a nightly basis next to "Ice" Trae. Not only that, but "Red Velvet" (I just had to use both of his nicknames) has also drained 39 shots from downtown out of 93 attempts since the beginning of February for dialed-in success rate of 41.9%. While he may not be running the offense enough to compile a high volume of assists, and his perimeter defense has left a little to be desired in terms of steals accumulated, Kevin Huerter's 6-7 frame allows for him to grab a solid amount of boards and maintain a noticeable advantage on offense when it comes to getting shots up from long-range. Though he may be Atlanta's second-best rookie, he holds considerable value in standard leagues moving forward into the postseason.