Each week Fantasy Basketball Writer Sergio Gonzalez gives Fantasy owners his top choices by position for players to pick up for the upcoming scoring period based upon matchups and other factors.
Top Waiver Wire options for Fantasy Week 9 (Dec. 20-26)
The best waiver wire options available in 40-60 percent of CBSSports.com leagues.
Ty Lawson, G, Nuggets: Here is an add for daily-lineup leagues with the potential for more. Chauncey Billups announced on Tuesday that he would sit out a week to rest his ailing wrist. It is an issue that has been bugging him for a while. Lawson steps in as the starter and should put up very useful numbers. He averaged 15.5 points, 4.0 assists and 2.5 rebounds in two starts for Billups already this season. If Billups' self-imposed one-week timetable holds true, Lawson will not be of much help in Week 9. But if the 34-year-old suffers any setbacks, Lawson becomes an excellent play in weekly formats. (Availability: 57 percent)
George Hill, G, Spurs: Hill will not give you much outside of 3-point shooting and scoring, but he is doing both those things very well of late. He is averaging 17.2 points per game over his last five contests and is 10 of 15 from beyond the arc in that span. He is also on a Spurs team that is one of just three to play a full four-game week in Week 9. (Availability: 41 percent)
Brandon Rush, G, Pacers: Coach Jim O'Brien has carved out about 33 minutes per game for Rush. He has attempted an average of 13 shots per game over his last five contests and is good for mid-teens scoring on a pretty regular basis. He also offers premium 3-point shooting for category leagues. (Availability: 45 percent)
Marvin Williams, F, Hawks: It is taking longer than we anticipated, but Williams is starting to show signs of a payoff in the absence of Joe Johnson. His 15-0-7 stat line against the Spurs last Friday is evidence of his upside, but we would like to see some consistency before recommending him as a plug-and-play off the waiver wire. (Availability: 48 percent)
Avoid 'Em
Reggie Williams, G, Warriors: Williams is the most-added player in CBSSports.com leagues, but his increased appeal is a ticking time bomb. Averaging an impressive 21.0 points, 3.3 assists and 3.0 rebounds over his last five games, just about all of that production can be attributed to the absence of Stephen Curry, who is day-to-day with an ankle sprain. Williams' last stat line while Curry was healthy? An unimpressive 0-0-2. Barring an extended absence for Curry, Williams should be avoided in all weekly formats.
Quinton Ross, G, Nets: Ross has been declared a starter for the Nets at small forward. He replaces Damion James, who will miss up to two months. James, like Ross, was merely a place-holder in the starting lineup who was not being asked to play big minutes or take a lot of shots. Ross is serving in the same role.
Shawn Marion, F, Mavericks: Marion has been hit-or-miss this season. He looks like an attractive Fantasy option if you look at his last three games, averaging 12.7 points, 4.3 rebounds, 1.0 block and 1.7 steals. However, the Mavs will be facing one of the toughest schedules in the league in Week 9. They play just two games on the road against two of the top defensive teams in the league in Orlando and Miami.
Into the deep ...
Players available in over 60 percent of leagues.
Omri Casspi, F, Kings: Casspi is starting to roll. Coach Paul Westphal's ever-changing rotation seems to have found some steady contribution at small forward for really the first time all season. In his last three games, Casspi is averaging 17.7 points, 6.3 rebounds and he even picked up six steals on Dec. 8 against the Wizards. Make the most of it while it lasts. (Availability: 72 percent)
Brandon Bass, F, Magic: Bass has dealt with a fluctuating role for most of the season, but he has attempted at least 11 shots in five of his last six games and seems to have established himself up front for Orlando. He is averaging 13.9 points and 6.3 rebounds in seven December games and will have the benefit of a four-game week in Week 9. (Availability: 67 percent)
Nick Young, G, Wizards: Young seems to have found his niche as a 3-point shooter for the Wizards. He is shooting lights out from beyond the arc, going 11 of 24 from the land of three over his last four games. He has averaged an impressive 17.5 points per game in that span.If John Wall's knee injury lingers into Week 9, Young could be asked to carry a bigger load. (Availability: 72 percent)
Stash 'Em
These are players we recommend picking up for the long term, but are not worth activating yet.
Jerryd Bayless, G, Raptors: Bayless played so well in the absence of Jose Calderon on Saturday against the Pistons that the Raptors are thinking about an open battle for minutes when Calderon returns. Bayless showed massive upside with a 31-7-5 stat line against the Pistons, but it could take a few games for Bayless to take over once Calderon comes back. The Raptors are also the only team in the NBA to play just one game in Week 9, so while Bayless is worth an add in any league he will not be a suitable option for the upcoming scoring period outside of possibly larger average-based leagues. (Availability: 46 percent)
Josh Howard, F, Wizards: Howard is getting closer to making a season debut. His tentative target date for a return is Dec. 20 against Charlotte, so he could be back in Week 9. However, the former Fantasy stud has a ways to go to prove he can be a productive part of the Washington rotation after a nightmare season last year. At his best, Howard can offer high-teens scoring and about six rebounds per game. We still have to see how far from his best he is at this stage in his career, but the upside alone makes him worth stashing. (Availability: 52 percent)
Terrence Williams, F, Nets: Williams caused a bit of a stir in Fantasy leagues when he put up huge numbers in a brief NBDL stint that included a pair of triple-doubles. That caused the Nets to rush him back and while he was re-inserted into the rotation, his first couple of performances have left much to be desired because coach Avery Johnson still is not asking much of him. With the Nets going nowhere fast, at some point Johnson will have to see what he can get out of players like Williams and Derrick Favors, so Williams remains a solid long-term payoff option despite what may appear to be a let-down since his return. (Availability: 41 percent)
Need a center?
We know there isn't much out there at the center position, but here are your best bets.
Spencer Hawes, 76ers: Suddenly getting good minutes, Haws has begun to produce. He isn't the next Dwight Howard or David Lee by any stretch of the imagination, but he is averaging 8.0 rebounds and a block per game over his last five contests with the ability to chip in around 10 points per game. (Availability: 70 percent)
Robin Lopez, Suns: Lopez is back and the Suns could not wait to get his size back in the starting lineup. Earl Barron offered the team very little at center while Lopez was away and the Suns are starting to see Channing Frye as more of a power forward than a center. That leaves more playing time available for Lopez than he was getting earlier in the season. He is a decent rebounder and shot blocker and can surprise you with the occasional big night offensively as well. He is worth an add where center help is scarce. (Availability: 71 percent)
Shaquille O'Neal, Celtics: Shaq has gotten a couple of games off to rest his ailing calf and he seems to be ready to get back in the mix. Prior to getting hurt, Shaq had been on a solid run in late November, averaging 12.8 points and 7.6 rebounds during the month. (Availability: 46 percent)
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