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Fantasy Basketball Waiver Wire Week 17 | Top Pickups, Free-Agent Sleepers, & FAAB Tips

Last Updated: Feb 8, 2022

Thanks for reading our fantasy basketball waiver wire report for Week 17! Every week, we’ll help you decide which fantasy basketball waiver pickups to make that could benefit your fantasy basketball teams for the upcoming Week 17 or for later in the season.

Note: Free-Agent Acquisition Budget dollar bid prices for NBA Week 17 are based on a season-long budget of $100. Adjust your percentage and scale accordingly for your league’s unique FAAB allotment and your remaining FAAB dollars.

Roster % is based on Yahoo! Fantasy leagues information as of Monday, February 7th.

2022 Fantasy Basketball Waiver Wire Week 17: Top Pickups

Davion Mitchell, PG, Sacramento Kings (49% Rostered)

Davion Mitchell has started the past six games for the Kings and the rookie has shown he is fully ready for the bigger role. In this span, he is averaging 34.3 minutes, 19 points, 5 assists, 2.8 threes, 2 rebounds, and 1 steal per game while shooting 49% from the field and 38% from 3PT range.

Mitchell has not been the most efficient shooter all season long, but that is possibly due to sporadic playing time. While De’Aaron Fox‘s return would certainly hurt his value, there is also the possibility that Fox isn’t in Sacramento beyond Thursday’s trade deadline.


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Grab Mitchell if he’s available and see what happens.

  • Davion Mitchell Waiver Wire FAAB Bid: 10-15%

Tre Mann, SG, Oklahoma City Thunder (11% Rostered)

Tre Mann‘s role is fairly secure with the Thunder as the starting guard next to Josh Giddey. OKC’s backcourt is very thin at the moment with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (ankle) sidelined until at least the All-Star Game and the Thunder will want to see what the 18th overall pick has in him.

Thus far, the results have been modest, but we have seen some flashes from the 21-year-old out of Florida. He scored 29 points in a win over Dallas last week while shooting 8-for-14 from the field and 6-for-9 from 3PT range.

Mann is still quite raw and won’t be an all-around producer anytime soon, however, he can already offer points, steals, and threes, if you can take the FG% hit.

  • Tre Mann Waiver Wire FAAB Bid: 5-8%

2022 Fantasy Basketball Waiver Wire Week 17: Best Players To Stash

Marvin Bagley III, PF/C, Sacramento Kings (17% Rostered)

Marvin Bagley III is such a disappointment year in and year out, but freeing him from the shackles of Sacramento’s poor player development might be just what he needs to return fantasy value.

Bagley’s real life issues will likely never be mitigated. He’s a limited big that can’t defend the rim or shoot from three. Not to say he doesn’t try, but he just can’t do those things at a league-average level.

To me, Bagley is reminiscent of early-career Julius Randle, which may seem like high praise until you remember how limited he was on both sides of the floor.

The important thing here is that we play fantasy and to aid that cause, Bagley can rebound and score efficiently if given the proper minutes to accrue volume. He has even blocked a shot per game in the past, which is huge to go along with that one three per game added on.

Bagley is currently dealing with an ankle issue but if you can hold on for the next week, the return may be worthwhile in a new organization.

  • Marvin Bagley III Waiver Wire FAAB Bid: 3-5%

Aleksej Pokusevski, SF/PF, Oklahoma City Thunder (7% Rostered)

Pokusevski is such an enigma. The lanky European big is skilled by all means. The issues lie in his size, which just leaves him on an island of sorts getting attacked off the dribble by guards and pushed into by bigs.

He needs a Kristaps Porzingis style workout plan to truly take that next step towards being an NBA contributor. His ability to shoot, block shots, and even occasionally create at his size are special, Poku just needs to add that mass to better his center of gravity and coordination.

Fantasy-wise, we witnessed him do a little bit of everything with just a harmful FG% last year. If he could find himself playing half the game again after this recent elevation from the G-League, there is value to be reaped.

  • Aleksej Pokusevski Waiver Wire FAAB Bid: 1-5%

2022 Fantasy Basketball Waiver Wire Week 17: One-Week Streamer Play

Jaxson Hayes, C, New Orleans Pelicans (39% Rostered)

Jaxson Hayes is back to being fantasy relevant thanks to Willy Hernangomez‘s absence (COVID-19). It’s likely Hernangomez misses half of this week too, which would keep Hayes balling due to his ability to maximize baseline minutes.

Unfortunately, Hernangomez’s return will dampen Hayes’s outlook, but we could see starting center Jonas Valuncianas traded before Thursday’s deadline. If Valuncianas is traded, it is possible Hayes slides in as the five and continues to start.

Even before his recent uptick in minutes, Hayes since January 11th has averaged 21.2 minutes, 12.3 points, 4.7 rebounds, 1 block, and 0.6 steals while shooting 77% from the field and 71% from the free throw line.

Grab Hayes as a stream and hope something happens before the end of the week.

  • Jaxson Hayes Waiver Wire FAAB Bid: 5-10%

Author

Kev Mahserejian

Kev Mahserejian is an NFL/NBA/MLB analyst at The Game Day, residing in Los Angeles, CA. He graduated from the University of Southern California in 2017 and began creating sports content soon after. Kev currently writes fantasy and betting pieces while also hosting his podcast The Operating Room with various guests from the sports industry to discuss topics primarily regarding fantasy. He also writes for RotoBaller and is quite active on his Twitter @RotoSurgeon.

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