Alex Len (PF/C, PHO) - NBA Waiver Wire Pickups

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ANALYSIS: Alex Len is averaging 7.3 PTS on 50.5 FG%, 6.3 REB and 1.3 BLK so far this season for the Suns. Those numbers are a bit underwhelming for those who had high expectations for him this season. The main reason for that is his low playing time. Len has been battling it out with Tyson Chandler for minutes at the five spot in Phoenix this season— and he has been losing that battle. Len has played 20 minutes a game compared to Chandler’s 28, which says a lot about the current situation in Phoenix. But there are several scenarios where that could change.

First of all, Chandler has had his share of injury woes, having played more than 66 regular season games in only two of his last eight seasons, and has already missed 10 games this year. Secondly, Phoenix is dead last in the Western Conference, so there are no hopes of a playoff spot this season whatsoever. They might decide to try and develop their talent, instead of pushing their more experienced and injury prone players. In his last two games, in which Chandler played only 12 total minutes due to an ankle injury, Len played 24.0 minutes a night, scoring 12.0 points on 62.5% from the field and 60.0% from the charity stripe with 6.5 rebounds, 1.0 assists and 1.5 blocks. If Len takes the advantage of the opportunity that has presented itself, he might just take over the starting gig.