Rodions Kurucs (SF/PF, BKN) - Week 10 Waiver Wire Pickups

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ANALYSIS: It's about that time of the season where injuries and other factors start to lead to more minutes for some of the lesser-known rookies in the NBA. That's true right now in Brooklyn, where Latvian rookie Rodions Kurucs has entered the team's starting lineup and is performing well in his expanded role.

With Allen Crabbe sidelined by a minor knee issue, Nets head coach Kenny Atkinson decided to give Kurucs the start rather than move Spencer Dinwiddie, DeMarre Carroll, or Jared Dudley into the lineup. Over his last three games, including two starts, Kurucs has looked like a hidden gem for the Nets, averaging 13 points per game. In two games as a starter, he's recorded a pair of six rebound games, and on Sunday he finished with four assists as well. He's shot 60 percent from the floor over those two games -- it's a very small sample size, but Kurucs has played surprisingly well and has been able to take highly efficient shots on a Nets offense that has a lot of options for defenses to deal with.

Kurucs keeping the starting job when Crabbe is back would be a surprise, but Atkinson has shown a willingness to experiment with lineups this year. Joe Harris wasn't expected to be a starter. Jared Dudley was a surprise part of the starting unit to open the year and he kept that role longer than many expected. If Kurucs continues at this level of play, he'll have a key role on this team.

For now, he's a good add for fantasy owners in deeper leagues because of his upside. If he can sustain his current play, he's a great fill-in option if you need some points, some help in field goal percentage, and if you believe that his three-point shot (currently at 29 percent for the year) will start to rise. He's shown a dedication to shooting the three, including taking 3.3 per game during his G-League stints this year, and Kenny Atkinson is a coach known for getting the most out of his three-point shooters. Get a few more of those to fall, and Kurucs becomes an even more enticing fantasy option.