The Playlist: Week 6 fantasy basketball waiver wire pickups and start/sit advice

On November 26, 2024By Littum

Welcome to The Playlist: my weekly column that tells you who and what to play — when it comes to music or other things in my rotation — for the upcoming week of fantasy basketball.

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

Press play and shuffle through the latest fantasy basketball information.

Who should fantasy basketball managers add and join their lineups this week?

End of week 5:

LaMelo Ball dropped a 50 ball on the Bucks
Franz Wagner hit a game-winner plus, was the second leading scorer in point leagues
Brandon Miller averaged 33.0 points, 7.0 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 2.3 steals on 56/56/100 shooting splits – and tied for second in leagues with 9 cat.
Kristaps Porzingis (ankle) beat his timeline to return and is likely on Monday!
The Terror Twins Have Arrived (Tari Eason and Amen Thompson)

Top players:

Who is in my rotation: Collections

Note: I will add virtually every player currently 40% to 50% listed in Yahoo leagues, except Mike Conley.

GNX – Kendrick Lamar

Rui Hachimura – PF, Los Angeles Lakers (46% lined up)

The Lakers play five games over the next eight days, so check your waiver wire pool to see if Hachimura landed there after missing four games with an ankle injury. He returned on Saturday and got fewer minutes than popular waiver pickup Dalton Knecht in a blowout loss to the Nuggets. But Hachimura started and played 33 minutes a night when healthy, so I expect him to return to that role this week.

Hachimura isn’t a must-list pick, but given LA’s schedule from Week 6 to Week 7, fantasy managers could use his points, 3s and rebounds. This of course assumes that Knecht hasn’t passed him on the depth chart.

TJ McConnell – PG, Indiana Pacers (23% lined up)

I should have been more bullish on McConnell last week, but he continues to be a streamable asset with Andrew Nembhard out and Tyrese Haliburton struggling. McConnell delivers if you’re looking for assists or steals from the guard spot.

Over his previous five contests, he is averaging 12.2 points, 5.6 assists and 2.4 steals per game. game while shooting 57% from the field. He works in just 20 minutes a night.

Malcolm Brogdon – PG/SG, Washington Wizards (28% listed)

For whatever reason, the Wizards benched Bub Carrington in favor of Brogdon — a nine-year veteran despite being in the middle of a rebuild. Brogdon is a significant injury risk, but when he’s active, he’s also productive. In his last three games, he is averaging 13 points, four rebounds and two assists in 24 minutes.

This is a short-term play as Washington is likely trying Brogdon (along with Kyle Kuzma) as a potential trade. The Wizards play four games, two of which are on easier boards, so Brogdon has some streaming appeal in Week 6.

Nick Richards – C, Charlotte Hornets (27% listed)

Okay, I might be taken because the Hornets’ injury report is suspect, but Richards (ribs) was cleared to contact and has been participating in practice. He has already been ruled out on Monday, but one would assume he is nearing a return to the lineup. Moussa Diabaté (17%) has been a reliable rebounder and shot blocker in Richards’ absence, but he doesn’t match Richards’ offensive output when healthy. For those who forgot, Richards averaged over 31 fantasy points per game. match before he hit IL. Grant Williams (knee) is out for the season, so we could see Richards back in action as early as this week. If you pick up Richards now, he will automatically go into any open IL location. The Hornets play four games this week and I’m more confident that Richards will suit up than Mark Williams.

Royce O’Neale – SF/PF, Phoenix Suns (15% listed)

The Suns have one of the best schedules in Week 6 after playing just two games in Week 5. O’Neale’s roster is down 10% since Sunday, but fantasy managers want to use him with the Suns playing four games this week, including a Tuesday – Wednesday back-to-back where we’ll likely see one of their stars rest. Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal (calves) are on the way up to Tuesday. However, O’Neale will still factor into the rotation. He is averaging 23 fantasy points per game. game this season, and while he’s an ineffective shooter, he hits 3s, rebounds well for his position and can generate shares. He’s a guy I only brought in for this week.

Schedule highlights:

No games on Thursday (Thanksgiving)
Best streaming days: Tuesday (5 games) and Saturday (5 games)
Teams playing on Tuesday and Saturday: Bucks, Jazz, Suns and Wizards
Four games: Blazers, Clippers, Grizzlies, Hawks, Heat, Hornets, Jazz, Kings, Knicks, Lakers, Magic, Mavericks, Nets, Pacers, Pelikans, Pistons, Raptors, Thunder
Three games: Bulls, Cavaliers, Celtics, Nuggets, Rockets, Spurs, Suns, Timberwolves, Warriors, Wizards
Two games: 76ers, Bucks
Notable back-to-backs:

Injury news:

Notable injuries in Week 4

Stamps G Cade Cunningham (sacroiliac sprain) is everyday
Sixers C Joel Embiid (knee) is day-to-day
Pelicans F Zion Williamson (hamstring) out indefinitely
Blazers C Donovan Clingan (knee) is day-to-day
Hornets F/C Grant Williams (knee) is out for the season
Warriors G De’Anthony Melton (knee) is out for the season

Latest injury reporting for all NBA teams

NBA Injury Report – Monday, November 25

Rotation Notes:

Cleveland Cavaliers: The piece: Ty Jerome (20%) has been one of the most effective bench players in the league through the first month of the season. His resurgence is absolutely shocking. He has the highest true shooting percentage in the NBA and uses 21% in a reserve role. Week 6 isn’t great scheduling wise because the Cavs are off until Wednesday and play on bigger boards all week (Wed/Fri/Sun). But if you can afford to get him, do it because he’s in zone.

Detroit Pistons: The piece: Add Isaiah Stewart (21%) if you need a big man who can rebound and block shots effectively. He has been the Pistons’ best defender, and he is timeshared with Jalen Duren. Also save Ausar Thompson (46%). He logged a DNP-CD on Saturday, but he will get minutes in short order. He’s a threat defensively, and his refined jump shot should help him stay on the floor when he gets back into the rotation.

Los Angeles Clippers: The piece: Clippers leading scorer Norman Powell (hamstring) will travel with the team on their five-game road trip, and while he didn’t suit up Sunday, there’s a chance he could play at some point in Week 6. Until that happens, Derrick Jones Jr . (12%) is worth streaming. Over his last four games with Powell out, DJJ averaged 12.5 points, four boards and 1.8 steals on a 56/37/92 shooting split.

Portland Trail Blazers: The piece: Donovan Clingan (knee) is out and Deandre Ayton (finger) is unlikely to play Monday, meaning Robert Williams III (27%) is in a (potentially) big game with no competition for center minutes. Williams was rested on Sunday, so he looks like a good streaming option in point or 9-cat leagues.

Sacramento Kings: The piece: The Kings aren’t getting consistent play from Kevin Huerter or Keon Ellis, so if Malik Monk (29%) is available, it might be time to get him. His injury designation changed a few times on Sunday, but he’s closer to returning and it wouldn’t surprise me to see him back in Week 6. He’s a bucket and will be a much-needed offensive spark for the Kings and the fantasy leaders.

Utah Jazz: The piece: I love the Jazz schedule this week. The problem is that your streaming options aren’t ideal. Check if anyone panicked Keyonte George, and if not, Johnny Juzang and Jordan Clarkson are streamable guys because they play on all the easier days in Week 6.