Albeit the first week, you want to take notice of the small sample size, just not read too much into it. There will be a few guys who go off for about five games and come February, those games will be a distant memory. Though, every year at least three to four guys completely kick open the door to fantasy relevance. At the end of your season usually one or two of these players are on the winning squad. Acquiring these assets takes awareness, and frankly, a touch of luck. Because let’s be honest, if we knew mid round production was possible from these sources, they would have been drafted. Here are some guys I think have a strong shot to become fantasy darlings for the 2014/15 NBA season.
Early waiver predictions for 2014-2015 fantasy basketball
Ed Davis, LAL PF/C
With the injury sustained to Julius Randle, the door has crept open a little wider for Davis. Now behind the likes of Carlos Boozer and Jordan Hill, he is exactly one inevitable affliction away from finding himself at 30+ minutes a night. His rebounding and scoring may not be as prominent as the ability to block shots, but he can certainly find a low range double double on most nights-adding a few blocks and a steal, if those minutes come his way. Blocks are a sought after commodity, being able to add two per game off the wire would get any fantasy basketball enthusiast excited.
Mason Plumlee, Bkn PF/C
Once again a case where inevitable injury is the only thing holding him back from being a real waiver find for the entire season. Obviously we know that KG is old, and Brooke Lopez has the worst foot ever, but what most do not know is that Mason really made a name for himself late last year and continued it into the FIBA World Games. His putrid average of 18 minutes per game last season is sure to take a leap north, bringing his boards closer to 8/9 a game, rather than the 4.5 last year.
Tim Hardaway Jr., NYK SG
The Knicks are a mess! Someone is going to have to provide the slightest production and it appears all signs are pointing to the Michigan product. With the triangle offense, there has to be a lethal wing shooter to keep the defense for the other team from closing out the middle.
Whether it is in a starting or sixth man gig, he will be instant offense pulling from beyond the arc. Sure he will shoot around the same 42% from the field, but expect his minutes (23.1) three’s (1.6), points (10.2), and steals (.05) to see a very noticeable increase.
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Aaron Brooks, Chi PG
Evidently Coach Tibs has the knack for getting the most out of his backup point guards. We all saw D.J. Augustine flourish last season to the tune of 13/4 with a touch under two treys per game. Granted it was because of Rose going down, but who is to say he will not again. I will bank on the side of caution here and assume he does. If Brooks gets the gig, expect him to surpass the numbers for DJ last season-somewhere in the 14/5 range.
Mason Plumlee top banner photo credit: Keith Allison
