Thanks for reading our fantasy basketball waiver wire report for Week 6! Every week, we’ll help you decide which fantasy basketball waiver pickups to make that could benefit your fantasy basketball teams now, later in the season, or just for the upcoming Week 6.
Note: Free-Agent Acquisition Budget dollar bid prices for NBA Week 6 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 Friday, November 19.)
2021 Fantasy Basketball Waiver Wire Week 6: Top Pickups
Kevin Love, PF/C, Cleveland Cavaliers (43% Rostered)
With Evan Mobley (elbow) out for the next 2-4 weeks, the Cavaliers frontcourt has a major hole to fill with minutes and production. Kevin Love was playing relatively well prior to his placement on the COVID List and seems to have bounced back from the virus well. Love’s last 2 games have been productive averaging 14 points, 8 rebounds, and 2 assists in 21.5 minutes.
The return of Lauri Markkanen looms for Cleveland as well but there’s no telling how ready he is given how COVID affects everyone differently. The assumption for Love should be that his recent production is fairly median in terms of the outcomes until Mobley returns as the lead in this frontcourt.
Love is essentially being showcased for the next few months until the trade deadline and will be rewarded if he continues playing well.
Fantasy-wise, his production is a stark drop-off from year’s past but still worth rostering in 12-plus-team leagues where his rebounding and FT% can really help a team.
- Kevin Love Waiver Wire FAAB Bid: 15-20%
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Larry Nance Jr., PF/C, Portland Trail Blazers (43% Rostered)
Larry Nance Jr. has really found his footing in Portland these past few games. Head coach Chauncey Billups announced that he will primarily be utilized as a small-ball center moving forward while occasionally getting minutes at PF to spell the others.
Nances’s season-long stat line is quite mediocre with just 6.9 points, 5 rebounds, and 1.6 assists in 19 minutes per game. However, the past 5 games tell a different story.
His 11.2 points, 5 rebounds, and 2.4 assists in 22.9 minutes are much more palatable, especially knowing that he hasn’t been stealing the ball much yet. Nance averaged 1.7 steals per game last year and typically averages just over 1 per game but this season he is below that mark.
If Nance’s scoring remains in the double digits along with those steals rolling in, he will be a worthwhile fantasy asset ROS.
- Larry Nance Jr. Waiver Wire FAAB Bid: 10-15%
2021 Fantasy Basketball Waiver Wire Week 6: Best Players To Stash
Chuma Okeke, PG/SG, Orlando Magic (18% Rostered)
Chuma Okeke is a talented wing who has had unfortunate injury issues to start his career. His entire rookie year was lost to a torn ACL in college, and he started this season with a bone bruise to his hip.
Okeke’s slow start thus far can be excused to a lack of conditioning and need for real-time action.
We witnessed Okeke’s flashes last season and it was quite promising for fantasy, but managers should only hold on so long. He will be ready at some point, and if he cannot force the issue for more play-time and usage, then that is more telling than anything.
- Chuma Okeke Waiver Wire FAAB Bid: 1-3%
Though injuries have derailed his young career, Orlando Magic Chuma Okeke has potential to break through with more playing time, making him an interesting fantasy basketball stash. (Image: USA TODAY Sports)
Deni Avdija, SG/SF, Washington Wizards (11% Rostered)
Deni Avdija has become a very good basketball player but that has not yet translated to fantasy.
Avdija’s on-court impact is primarily on the defensive end where his savviness and versatility allow him to play inside and out while creating havoc with his length. Avdija’s blocked nearly as many shots this year (13) in 15 games as he did last year (15) in 54.
His steals have remained stagnant, as have points, rebounds, and assists but at least he’s shooting more efficiently from the field. There remains a bit of growth before Avdija becomes a viable fantasy player.
His past 4 games have been promising with 8.5 points, 7 rebounds, 1 block, and 0.8 steals per game however, that is not going to sustain unless his minutes increase or other bigs miss time.
For now, stash Avdija if you can and hope this recent uptick has some sustainability.
- Deni Avdija Waiver Wire FAAB Bid: 1-3%
2021 Fantasy Basketball Waiver Wire Week 6: One-Week Streamer Plays
Joe Ingles, SG/SF/PF, Utah Jazz (36% Rostered)
Ingles has been very mediocre for fantasy this season but he does get a 4-game week and can give you a little bit of everything, particularly assists and threes. This pickup is more so recommended for points leagues or a point category punt.
- Joe Ingles Waiver Wire FAAB Bid: 1-2%
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, SG/SF, Washington Wizards (16% Rostered)
KCP is having a very KCP season. For the most part, his stats across the board reflect what he did the past 2 seasons as a Laker which isn’t great but can have some fantasy impact. He gets a 4-game week and is widely available for anyone needing threes and steals.
- Kentavious Caldwell-Pope Waiver Wire FAAB Bid: 1-2%
