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Fantasy Basketball: Returning Magic stars to prioritise

Orlando Magic guards Terrence Ross and Cole Anthony are two relatively commonly available players who could boost your fantasy team. Pictures: Getty Images
Orlando Magic guards Terrence Ross and Cole Anthony are two relatively commonly available players who could boost your fantasy team. Pictures: Getty Images

We know how important it is to use the waiver wire to your advantage in fantasy basketball.

Yet, so many people don’t realise how many gems are around to be added to their squads. I’m here again to highlight some exciting adds for your squads to lead you to glory, hopefully.

Under 70% Rostered (10 Team League Targets)

Kevin Porter Jr. - Barely sneaks under the cutoff, but amazingly, Porter is still available in over 30% of leagues despite averaging 30 fantasy points this season. If he is on the wire, don’t snooze; add him immediately.

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Terrence Ross - Ross has had some issues with his knee, but he is back now, and he is going to take a lot of shots for the Magic. He may be inefficient, but the volume will be significant, and he should not be sitting on any waiver wire.

Chuma Okeke - Ross’ Magic teammate, rookie Chuma Okeke, has stepped up with Aaron Gordon gone. He is averaging almost 35 fantasy points since the deadline, so people are sleeping to leave Chuma available in 47% of leagues. A must roster player if I ever saw one.

Under 50% Rostered (12 Team League Targets)

Cole Anthony - As I’m writing this, Anthony is making his return to the court after a long absence with a rib fracture. He came off the bench, but I don’t imagine it takes long for Anthony to start again and put up top 100 value. I’ve been mentioning him for a while as a pre-emptive pickup, and now it’s no longer pre-emptive.

Jaden McDaniels - McDaniels is the Wolves’ starting power forward, and I don’t see that changing. Somehow, he is available in 65% of Yahoo leagues, despite averaging 25 points per game over the last two weeks.

He can be inconsistent, but the minutes and blocks are very appealing, and he has shown some real offensive growth.

Hamidou Diallo - Diallo’s shooting isn’t as good as he has shown in Detroit so far, but I think there is a lot more upside in his minutes’ totals over the last six weeks of the season than what he has currently been playing. He is averaging a point per minutes so far, so if we expect him to push to 28-30 minutes, his value could vault into the top 100.

Under 30% Rostered (14 Team League Targets)

Théo Maledon - I have no idea if Shai Gilgeous-Alexander returns at all this season. Still, I feel pretty confident that Maledon will be the starting point guard all season, regardless. Maledon has some issues with his shooting consistency, but the volume of minutes and increase in usage makes him appealing even in 12 team leagues.

Tony Bradley - recently, Bradley has been cutting into Moses Brown’s minutes and producing well. In games where Brown gets into foul trouble, Bradley may see extra run, and while his upside in the current setup isn’t exceptionally high, he still may be a 14 team option.

Isaiah Roby - another Thunder player, Roby has been dropped in many leagues due to his absence because of a concussion. But he can play centre and power forward and has been pretty impressive all season. I wouldn’t rush in a 12 team league, but I think he is worth holding and grabbing for deeper formats.

Other notable names

Killian Hayes - Hayes is back, and Saben Lee is not the Pistons’ answer at point guard. Dennis Smith Jr. is out of favour, and I don’t think it takes long for Hayes to be starting. He could very well have some 12 team value.

Tomáš Satoranský - I don’t think Coby White will take the starting point guard job back off Satoranský, so the BUlls new point has value in Yahoo points leagues for the rest of the season.

Aleksej Pokuševski - let’s go with another Thunder player in Pokuševski. We don’t know exactly where he will fit when Darius Bazley returns, but Pokuševski, for the short-term, has value for even 12 team points leagues.

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