HOOPSWORLD | Basketball News & NBA Rumors

With the All-Star break right around the corner, basketball fantasy owners need to step it up now.  Time is not on your side.  This is the point in the game to take a critically hard look at your team and determine which players are hurting your chances of victory.  HOOPSWORLD wants to help you out, so we’ve put together a list of "best value" players that may be hanging on your waiver wire.  Consider some roster changes with the following players:

Ryan Anderson – Orlando Magic

Anderson has been a nice surprise off the bench in the past month.  His season averages are 10.3 ppg/4.7 rpg/0.7 blocks, but over the last eight games, he’s averaged 16.0 points, 6.25 rebounds and 1.0 block at just over 26 minutes playing time (versus an average 18.8 mpg for the season), but the real bonus for fantasy owners is Anderson’s impressive playing beyond the arc.  The 6’10" forward has averaged an unreal 3.4 three-pointers per game at .424 efficiency over those eight games.

J.J. Hickson – Cleveland Cavaliers

Hickson was expected grab a big chunk of now-departed LeBron James’ minutes which, theoretically, would lead to a stellar fantasy season.  He sure looked great in the summer league and the preseason games.  While he started off strong at the beginning of the season (16.0 ppg/5.7 rpg at 27.7 minutes in the first nine games), his scoring and playing time plummeted (8.6 ppg and 5.04 rpg at 20.06 minutes) during the next 25 games.  Shortly after Anderson Varejao’s season-ending injury (torn tendon), Hickson was inserted back into the starting lineup and has posted an average 14.1 ppg and an eye-popping 12.3 rpg since then.  Surely he’s not lingering on your wire (as so many dropped him earlier), but go ahead and make darn sure.

Mario Chalmers – Miami HEAT

Point guards are difficult to come by this deep into the season, but give Chalmers another look.  His minutes have spiked in the past seven games, and he’s logged 10.1 points, 3.4 assists, 1.3 steals and even 2.4 boards.  Coach Erik Spoelstra pronounced Chalmers the starting point guard just three games ago (he rewarded us with nine dimes on that first starting game).  He could turn into a surprisingly solid pick-up while carving out a useful role.

Kendrick Perkins – Boston Celtics

At long last, Perkins has returned…ahead of schedule even.  It will take him a couple weeks to get back to game shape, but owners should pick him up now, especially with two unreliable O’Neals on the roster.  He’s not going to light up your stat sheet, but he’s proven to be solid; last year he posted an average 10.1 points, 7.6 rebounds, .602 field goal percentage and 1.7 blocks in 27.6 minutes.  In his first game back after seven months off the court, he played 17 minutes with 7 points, 3 assists and 6 boards.  The blocks should come.

Lou Williams – Philadelphia 76ers

Williams has posted 17.0 points over the past eight games, playing over 27 minutes.  In fact, he’s scored in double-digits in 11 of the past 12 games, and five of those were 20+ efforts.  He had been very inconsistent the previous several weeks, but it looks like Sweet Lou is carving out a valuable niche as the sixth man spark off the bench.

Randy Foye – Los Angeles Clippers

With Eric Gordon ruled out for the next three to four weeks, Foye has assumed his starting position.  In his first starting game, he posted 15 points at 5-of-9 shooting; in the second game, he posted 20 points at 7-of-17 shooting.  He also chipped in two three-pointers each night and was 100% at the foul line.  Turnovers are a consideration, but Foye looks like a good pickup in the while Gordon is sidelined.

Chuck Hayes – Houston Rockets

{AUTHOR_BOX}Hayes has been putting up some nice numbers since his return from injury.  His scoring isn’t anything too special, but he’s been doing so much more.  In the past six games, he’s logged 9.7 ppg at .645 efficiency, 8.8 rpg, 1.7 steals, 1.2 blocks, plus an improbable 3.7 assists.  Take a quick look to see if the all-around contributor is available in your league.

Players to Monitor Closely:

Paul George – Indiana Pacers

Reason:  Possible increased role.  Coach Jim O’Brien said a few days ago that George could bump Brandon Rush as the first wing off the bench or as a starter (depending on match-ups).  Now that Rush is sidelined two weeks with an ankle injury, it seems the rookie has taken this opportunity to shine, with his eye focused on a claiming a bigger role.  George has played nearly 28 minutes over the last three games, leading the bench averaging 14.0 points and 1.7 steals.  His season average playing time is 16.1 mpg at 7.1 ppg.

J.J. Barea – Dallas Mavericks

Reason:  Jason Kidd.  As we inch toward the playoffs, Dallas is going to want to preserve Kidd as much as possible.  Barea had two pretty incredible lines the last two games, playing and average of just over 28 minutes:

Date       Opp    Min    Pts    Reb    Ast    3PT    TO    Stl    Blk    FT      FT%      FG       FG%

1/27/11 HOU    24      19       3        4      0 – 1      1      0       0    3 – 3   100.0   8 – 10   80.0

1/25/11 LAC      32      25        1       4     3 – 4       0      0       0    4 – 4   100.0   9 – 12   75.0

Marcus Thornton – New Orleans Hornets

Reason:  Increased playing time.  After Thornton’s semi-breakout rookie year last season (14.5 ppg at 25.6 mpg), this season has been a letdown at 7.4 ppg/15.9 mpg.  However, Thornton has been playing more minutes lately (challenging Marco Belinelli, perhaps?), and has posted 12.8 ppg over the past five games, plus added 1.6 three-pointers and 3.6 boards.

Peja Stojakovic – Dallas Mavericks

Reason: New team; no Caron Butler.  No firm date is set for Stojakovic’ appearance in a Mavs jersey, but it probably won’t be long (provided the knee has healed).  Last season with the Hornets, he averaged 12.6 points and 2.1 three-pointers; this season (six games in New Orleans/two in Toronto), he logged 10.0 ppg and 2.0 threes in a fraction of the playing time (13.9 mpg).  He may be worth stashing if you have room.

C.J. Miles – Utah Jazz

Reason:  Stepped it up.  Miles’ starting job was short-lived (just one game vs. the Lakers on 1/25), but check out his numbers the past three games: 16.3 ppg, 2.3 steals and 2.7 three-pointers at .500 shooting versus averages of 12.2 ppg/1.1 steals/1.5 threes over the whole season.

Kwame Brown – Charlotte Bobcats

Reason: Increased playing time.  Granted, a couple recent stand-out games do not a waiver wire gem make….but you can’t ignore Brown right now.  He averaged 12.3 points and 11.0 rebounds in over 32 minutes in the last three games.  Interim coach Paul Silas positively glows about the development of different parts of his game, but, as we know, he is famously inconsistent.  Keep watching Brown to see if the minutes remain at this level; if so, there could be real fantasy value.

Here are some quick hits for you to consider; these players have probably been snapped up with their recent good numbers, but you should verify it:  Amir Johnson, Tyler Hansbrough, Thaddeus Young, Omri Casspi, Anthony Morrow and Rudy Fernandez.  Again, you’re probably too late, but just make sure.

We hope this information helps you out in your bid for victory this season.  Keep watching that waiver wire; the rewards can be critical to your success.