Michael Porter Jr. (SF, DEN): Week 12 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add In All Leagues

OWNED IN: 37% of leagues

ANALYSIS: Sometimes writing the waiver wire recommendations is difficult, but picking up Michael Porter Jr. and adding him to your fantasy basketball team is not a difficult recommendation to write about. The second-year forward just set his career-high in points twice in one week of basketball. He had his Head Coach Michael Malone saying, "When he’s out there hoopin’, good things happen." He ended 2019 with a 19-point performance against the Sacramento Kings and then started 2020 with a career-high 25 points on an 11-for-12 shooting night against Indiana.

In the four games before the Nuggets loss to the Washington Wizards, the 2018 lottery pick had averaged 15.5 points and 4.5 rebounds on 74.3 percent shooting in 19.5 minutes. Those are phenomenal numbers and it seemed like he was finally healthy and was earning the trust of Malone and ready to become the player that was considered a high lottery pick before his injury-plagued season at Missouri. That is the type of player that will win you a fantasy basketball season.

The only downside is that Michael Malone does tend to take one step forward with Porter Jr. and then two steps back. After a solid string of performances, Porter only saw 12 minutes of action against the Wizards on Saturday night. He still managed to have seven points, two rebounds, and a block in those 12 minutes and give owners something. The only thing standing in the way between MPJ and a full-fledge second-half breakout is Michael Malone. Once he trusts his prized asset 100% there is no limit to what Porter Jr. can bring to the Nuggets and your fantasy team for the rest of the season.