Monday NBA Tipps: 25 Bargain Roster Options for Week 6
We’re already a quarter of the way through the NBA season and the injuries just keep piling up. Fortunately, for us daily players, this creates opportunity rather than destroying our entire season. I’ve put together a list of some very undervalued players who could see solid action this week and make great roster filler to allow you to draft those higher priced studs. Here’s the bargain shopping list for week 6:
Joakim Noah (CHI) – Noah isn’t what I’d normally post in this column, but he’s played so bad for the first quarter of the season that his salary is abnormally low compared to his possible production. I’ve seen him in the same price range as guys like Serge Ibaka, Emeka Okafor and Marcus Camby, and that’s a huge bargain when you consider his upside.
Drew Gooden (MIL) – Andrew Bogut is probably done for the season with a fractured ankle, which will move Gooden into the starting center spot and provide him with solid minutes. He’s already shown the ability to be a fantasy stud with 32 and 42 fantasy points in his first two games with Bogut out.
Shaun Livingston (MIL) – Things just keep getting worse for Stephen Jackson. After getting a one game team suspension for missing the team bus, he also got hit with a one game league suspension for abusing a referee. I’d say his time in Milwaukee might be coming to an end soon. He’s already lost his job to Livingston and will keep coming off the bench. Livingston has been a decent, but inconsistent, fantasy option over the last six games posting 18,14,7,8, 21 and 27 fantasy points.
Avery Bradley / E‘Twaun Moore (BOS) – I’ve seen some rumors of Rajon Rondo being out until the all-star break, which could provide a couple weeks of good minutes for Bradley and Moore. Neither guy is going to consistently top 20 fantasy points, but both are near minimum salary and make good roster filler on nights with a small schedule.
Brandon Bass (BOS) – Jermaine O’Neal is having his normal injury plagued season and Brandon Bass has been the beneficiary of extra minutes. He logged 38 minutes Sunday night and that’s great value for his current salary.
Jerryd Bayless (TOR) – Toronto started Jose Calderon and Jerryd Bayless in the backcourt Sunday and the experiment had a pretty good outcome with Bayless posting 27 fantasy points in 34 minutes of action. He’s a great bargain if the Raps keep that lineup.
Chris Duhon (ORL) – Duhon will get at least a couple starts while Jameer Nelson is out with a concussion. He logged 33 minutes and put up 22 fantasy points Sunday, which is good production for his near minimum salary.
Gustavo Ayon (NOR) – Chris Kaman has picked up two consecutive DNPs and Ayon has been the beneficiary of those extra minutes. He posted 21 fantasy points in 25 minutes Sunday and could be a nice play if he starts getting 25-30 minutes a game.
Michael Beasley (MIN) – Much like Noah, Beasley is another guy who wouldn’t usually appear on this list, but his price is so depressed that there is a big upside to using him. He recently returned from an injury and showed last night that he’s still a fantasy option by posting 38 fantasy points in 30 minutes.
Nikola Pekovic (MIN) – Pekovic is another Timberwolf that you want to keep an eye on. He’s eventually going to replace Darko Milicic in the starting lineup. Darko missed Sunday’s game with an illness and Pekovic got the start and posted an impressive 22 fantasy points in just 20 minutes of court time.
Mo Williams (LAC) – The Crimson Tide alumni has settled into a solid 6th man role for the Clippers and he’s starting to get a dependable 27-30 minutes a night backing up Chris Paul and Chauncey Billups. He’s worth a look on nights with smaller schedules.
Andre Miller (DEN) – Ty Lawson has been having some ankle problems and Miller has taken over the starting PG spot. He has the ability to be a starter on most NBA teams, and being able to use him as a starter this week at a bench player salary is a great deal.
Brandon Knight (DET) – Ben Gordon continues to miss time with a shoulder injury, which means that Knight continues to start and see 35+ minutes at PG. It seems like sites have been very slow to adjust Knight’s salary, so keep using him until they adjust.
Lou Williams (PHI) – Williams is one of those guys that I never really think about, but he’s been on fire lately posting 26, 27, 24, 18 and 31 fantasy points in his last five games. He’s definitely worth a look at the right salary.
Boris Diaw (CHA) – Diaw has climbed back on the daily fantasy radar due to DJ Augustin and Gerald Henderson both being out with injuries. Diaw got a start Saturday and posted 33 fantasy points in 41 minutes. His salary has seen a huge drop over the last couple of weeks and he’s now attractively priced.
Matt Carroll (CHA) – Carroll is another Bobcat that you could take a look at with Gerald Henderson out. Carroll won’t put up huge numbers, but he should be able to get you 15-18 fantasy points at a minimum salary.
Bill Walker (NYK) – Walker has been starting while Carmelo Anthony sits with some nagging injuries. Melo will probably return soon, but Walker is an attractive minimum salary option if Anthony decides to sit a few extra games like Dirk Nowitzki did.
Courtney Lee (HOU) – Kevin Martin is dealing with serious foot injury and could miss a couple weeks. Lee has moved into the starting lineup and can light it up when he’s in the zone. He’s worth a look on small schedule nights.
Jimmer Fredette (SAC) – Marcus Thornton continues to miss time with a quad injury and Fredette continues to start at SG for the Kings. He’s getting 25-30 minutes a game and can usually get you 17-20 fantasy points.
CJ Miles (UTA) – Raja Bell could shut it down for a few games with some nagging injuries, which would give Miles the chance to start and get 30+ minutes a game. If that happens, he’s a very attractive play at a thin SG position.
Rodrigue Beaubois (DAL) – Jason Kidd is out again with an injury and Beaubois has moved into the starting PG spot. He logged 36 minutes Sunday and posted an impressive 29 fantasy points. Keep an eye on Kidd’s return and give Beaubois a play while he’s out.
Chase Budinger (HOU) – Budinger is trying to get his starting job back from Chandler Parsons and may have a golden opportunity to do so while Kevin Martin is out. Budinger outscored Parsons 19 to 0 on Saturday, so it wouldn’t be a huge surprise to see him starting again soon.
Tiago Splitter (SAS) – Splitter is finally starting to break out and it could just be a matter of time before he takes over the starting center spot for San Antonio. On Sunday he played 27 minutes, compared to only 23 for DeJuan Blair.
Linas Kleiza (TOR) – The loss of Andrea Bargnani should open up more minutes for Kleiza, who just recently returned from injury. Kleiza’s salary is still too low on most sites and is a true bargain if he can maintain 25-30 minutes of action.
Ronnie Brewer (CHI) – It seems like someone is always out for the Bulls and this week it’s Luol Deng. Brewer will continue to cover for Rip Hamilton at SG and Deng at SF. He won’t put up huge fantasy lines, but should get a dependable 15-20 fantasy points on most nights where he gets around 30 minutes of run.