RADIO
Hello and welcome to another week of NBA matchups and another week of untapped waiver potential. I hope the holidays were kind to you and your team, and once again this week, there is another group of three forwards owned in 65-69% of Yahoo leagues who have been producing at a solid and under appreciated rate. If you decide to hit the waivers hard this week, you wouldn't be disappointed as a Fantasy Basketball Manager to take advantage of these three forwards.
Be sure to check out RotoBaller's other Week 10 NBA coverage, including our Week 10 Waiver Wire Guards and Week 10 Waiver Wire Centers.
Position Eligibility & Ownership Rate Based on Yahoo! Fantasy Basketball Player List
NBA Forwards: Week 10 Waiver Wire Pickups & Sleepers
P.J. Tucker (SG/SF, PHO) - Owned in 31% of leagues
After spending 2007-2012 playing basketball in countries such as Ukraine, Greece, Israel, and Germany, P.J. Tucker has spent four straight seasons with the Phoenix Suns. In that time he has averaged 28.3 minutes, 5.8 rebounds, 1.2 steals, 0.8 three pointers, and eight points per game along with a 35.2% three point percentage. This season, in 26.9 minutes per game while starting 30 of 32 games; Tucker has averaged 5.4 rebounds, 5.9 points, 0.6 three pointers, and one steal a game. Tucker has a 31.7% three point percentage while averaging 2.0 three point attempts per contest.
Per 36 minutes Tucker would be averaging 7.2 rebounds, 8.0 points, 0.8 three pointers on 2.6 attempts, and 1.3 steals; as well as career averages in Phoenix of 7.3 rebounds, 10.2 points, 1.0 three pointer, and 1.5 steals per 36 minutes. Tucker has averaged 7.5 points and 8.0 rebounds per game in the last four contests, has had four games with more than one steal since November 23rd, and has only had three games without a takeaway since the same date. Tucker is rebounding and playing defense at a consistent rate and his shooting/scoring is bound to improve compared to his career averages.
Stanley Johnson (SF, DET) - Owned in 34% of leagues
Stanley Johnson, the talented rookie out of Arizona, hasn't exactly gotten prime opportunity on the floor to make an impact for Fantasy Basketball Managers. In 31 games played Stanley Johnson has been in the Piston starting lineup zero times and has averaged just 21.9 minutes per game. At 17-14 and sitting in tenth place in the Eastern conference, Detroit may be looking to cycle some fresh talent into the starting lineup for greater court time. If that happens, keep a sharp eye out for Stanley Johnson. In the little amount of time he has received; Johnson has averaged 0.9 three pointers in 2.6 attempts (33.3%), 3.8 rebounds, 0.7 steals, and 8.4 points per game. In 36 minutes those figures are equivalent to 1.4 three pointers, 6.3 rebounds, 1.1 steals, and 13.8 points per game. That is mighty all around production for a rookie who has barely seen the light of day in the Motor City. Johnson is producing respectable totals already, but if he receives more playing time, don't miss out.
Aaron Gordon (SF/PF, ORL) - Owned in 35% of leagues
Despite my partiality towards the Wildcats of the Kentucky variety, the Wildcats of Arizona (and the state of Arizona in total for that matter) seem to be very well represented on this list today. Aaron Gordon is a 6-9 220 pound specimen of a Power Forward most known for his ability to fill highlight reels with alley-oop finishes. However, this season, Gordon may be the most slept on well rounded performer at his position. So far this season Gordon has played in 29 games for the 17-13 Orlando Magic (8th place); in that time he has averaged 0.4 three pointers in 1.2 attempts (33.3%), 4.6 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 0.7 steals, 0.8 blocks, and 6.7 points per game. However, Gordon was able to do this in just 18.4 minutes per game. Per 36 minutes these figures are all equivalent to fantastic figures of 0.8 three pointers, 9.0 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.4 steals, 1.6 blocks, and 13.2 points per contest.
What is even more impressive is that Gordon has improved on every aspect of his game from his rookie season in which he played in 47 games (starting 8), averaged 17.0 minutes per game and produced a 27.1% three point percentage; and averaged 0.6 three pointers, 7.6 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 0.9 steals, 1.0 block, and 11.0 points per 36 minutes. Gordon is a rapidly improving player that produces greatly in every single statistical category and will be a must have asset for Fantasy Basketball Managers going forward if his playing time increases by even the slightest of margins.
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