The Playlist: Week 13: Fantasy Basketball Waiver Wire Picks and Start/Sit Advice

Welcome to The Playlist: my weekly column that tells you who and what to play (when it comes to determining your lineup or music in my rotation) for the upcoming week in fantasy basketball.

Each week you’ll see a compilation of the pickups you need to make and a quick look at the schedule and lineup notes (who’s in and out of the rotations).

Press play and browse the latest fantasy basketball information.

🏀 Week 12 Wrap-up

• The stupid season has begun, with Walker Kessler (23) missing two games last week due to “rest”

• Brandon Miller (wrist) is out indefinitely

• Surprise —Trey Murphy III reached top-10 in 9-cat leagues after averaging 26/12/3 with 4 3s and 2 shares this week

🥇Top players for week 12 (until Saturday)

🎧 Who is in my rotation: exemption collections under 50% scheduled

Must additions

Nick Richards – C, Phoenix Suns (40%)

Richard getting dealt to Phoenix was the first midseason trade to impact fantasy basketball, and he’s officially a must-add across all leagues. In his first game with the Suns, he had a double-double off the bench, scoring 21 points (7-8 FG, 7-9 FT) and 11 rebounds in 30 minutes. He will be the starting center in the short term and with Jusuf Nurkić out of the rotation, Richards will be a big asset for fantasy managers who need FG%, rebounds and blocks the rest of the way.

Tari Eason – SF/PF, Houston Rockets (41%)

The per-min enthusiast is cooking again after an absence of thirteen matches. In two games since returning to action, Eason is averaging 17 points, 6 boards, 2 assists and 2 steals per game in 23.5 minutes. Jabari Smith is out for a while, so he will play a vital role in Houston’s frontcourt as long as he is healthy. FWIW, he’s averaging 1.23 fantasy points per minute this year – that’s the same as Trae Young.

Scoot Henderson – PG, Portland Trailblazers (43%)

The schedule looks good in Week 13, and Henderson finished in the second round last week. He’s been on a heater all month, averaging 15 points, 5 assists, 3 rebounds, 2 3s and 1.5 shares per game on 49/45/82 shooting splits. Scoot finally looks confident and he will continue to rise in fantasy as Portland loses more ballgames.

Cason Wallace – PG/SG, Oklahoma City Thunder (25%)

Wallace is up 12% from last week, but he hasn’t been included in enough leagues. He was a top-45 player the past two weeks and 65th in 9-cat the past month. The Thunder have started him consistently since the turn of the year and he will be a big asset for steals, but he has spread across the categories enough to be included in 10-12 team leagues.

Best streams

Cole Anthony – PG, Orlando Magic (31%)

Anthony is included in 90% of my leagues, so surprisingly he is under 35% in the overall Yahoo leagues. The longer Jalen Suggs and Franz Wagner are out, he will be the second option on offense for the Magic. The stream continues with the Magic facing the Raptors, Blazers and Pistons this week.

Toumani Camara – SF/PF, Portland Trailblazers (28%)

Camara was nearly a top-100 player in 9-cat leagues last month, with Jerami Grant and Deni Avdija out with injuries. His contributions, especially in stocks, would be a good streamer, with the Blazers having the best schedule this week (more on that later).

Spencer Dinwiddie – PG/SG, Dallas Mavericks (23%)

The veteran backup likely still has a few weeks left before Luka Dončić returns, so take advantage of that if you can. Dinwiddie has been in the round of 8 in the points and 9-cat competitions for the past two weeks, despite the return of Kyrie Irving. The Mavs play three games in four nights to start the week, so Dinwiddie is one of the better streaming options available. If he’s not available, go with Naji Marshall or Quentin Grimes.

Nikola Jović – PF/C, Miami Heat (34%)

Jović was Miami’s first player off the bench on Friday night, playing 31 minutes despite the return of Jimmy Butler. He has produced and provided ninth-round value in 9-cat leagues over the past two weeks. With the Butler saga far from over, fantasy managers should remain patient and roll with Jović as he and Jaime Jaquez Jr. will likely benefit from Butler’s every move.

Guerschon Yabusele – PF/C, Philadelphia 76ers (18%)

The Sixers are declining rapidly and the latest news that Joel Embiid will be re-evaluated in seven to 10 days due to swelling in his left knee (after missing several games with a foot injury) is concerning for fantasy managers. This makes Yabusele a valuable free agent. While Yabusele is averaging 10/6/2 in 28 minutes without Embiid on the court this season, he has increased those numbers to 13/7/3 in 35 minutes per game in his last six games. Add him because we don’t know when Embiid will play again.

Luke Kennard – SG, Memphis Grizzles (6%)

Taylor Jenkins got Kennard off to a good start on Friday, with Ja Morant (foot) out. He responded by scoring 17 points (6-9 FG, 2-4 3PT, 3-3 FT), grabbing 3 boards and scoring 4 dimes in 26 minutes. He’s made double figures with at least two threes in five of his last six games, so he offers some streaming appeal in a four-game week.

🗓️ Weekly game schedule

Here’s how the week is going in terms of the total number of NBA games played per day. Use this to determine when streaming options are most beneficial:

Prime Streaming Days: Tuesday, Friday and Sunday

Set your schedules early Monday as the games start at noon Eastern on MLK Day. Outside of Saturday, you should be able to stream at least three days this week, with the best opportunities on Tuesday, Friday and Sunday. Remember, as you get more games in for the lighter slates, you can make better use of your waiver moves.

🎯 Teams to target:

• 10 teams play four matches: Cavaliers, Celtics, Clippers, Grizzlies, Hawks, Hornets, Mavericks, Pelicans, Trail Blazers and Warriors. If you miss the players mentioned above, stream guys like Robert Williams, Quentin Grimes, Naji Marshall, Scotty Pippen Jr., Derrick Jones Jr., Amir Coffey, Buddy Hield, Gary Payton II and Al Horford.

• Teams play all three days: Trail Blazers

• Teams play two of those days: 76ers

• Teams of three matches in four evenings (Mon-Thu): Celtics, Clippers, Hawks, Mavericks and Warriors.

• Teams with three games in four evenings (Thurs-Sun): Trail Blazers

❌ Teams to avoid: The Pacers and Spurs only play two games this week, both against each other in Paris. Outside of your elite options, eliminate the lower tier guys and move into the waiver pool, since neither team plays before Thursday, and their second game on Saturday is on the tight 14-game slate.

Back-to-Back Sets:

• Monday-Tuesday: Knicks

• Tuesday-Wednesday: Nets

• Wednesday-Thursday: Bucks, Celtics, Clippers, Kings, Mavericks, Thunder and Warriors

• Thursday to Friday: Trailblazers

• Friday-Saturday: 76ers, Cavaliers, Grizzlies, Hornets and Pelicans

🚑Injury news

• The Dallas Mavericks are “hopeful” Luka Dončić can return before the All-Star break.

• Sixers C Joel Embiid (knee) will be reevaluated in 7-10 days

• Warriors F/C Draymond Green left Saturday’s match with a calf injury and will undergo an MRI on Sunday.

• Magic F Franz Wagner (oblique) has been upgraded to “return to league reconditioning.” Barring any misfortunes, he should return within the next fortnight

• Thunder F/C Chet Holmgren (pelvis) will be re-evaluated in 3-5 weeks

Latest injury reports for all NBA teams

NBA Injury Report – January 20

🔄 Rotation watchlist – weekly top 3

Hawks: Onyeka Okongwu is in hot water right now, averaging 18/16/3 with almost two blocks per game in his last three games. Clint Capela plays nine minutes less than Okongwu in that period. This is a nice sell-high-or-hold situation in hopes that Capela gets traded (he never does).

Wizards: Rookies Kyshawn George and Bub Carrington have quietly chipped in, and I recommend keeping an eye on these two players as the silly season approaches. The Wizards will likely have to sell some veteran assets, leaving consistent minutes available the rest of the time.

Pistons: According to Jake Fischer, the Pistons are expected to acquire “complementary players” at the trade deadline. Adding another ballhandler would be helpful with Jaden Ivey out, but any move could shake up the vets who are playing well (and have been streamable options) like Tim Hardaway Jr. and Malik Beasley.