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It’s Easter Sunday, and April Fool’s Day, with the NBA and fantasy basketball seasons winding down.
But for those of you that are still playing for something in your fantasy league, here are my waiver wire adds for the coming week.
All stats are through games on March 31.
Richaun Holmes, PF/C, Philadelphia 76ers
When Joel Embiid (orbital fracture) left last Thursday night’s game against the Knicks, and with Amir Johnson out, Holmes stepped in and delivered 15 points with seven rebounds and one assist.
Johnson returned and started in Embiid’s place Friday night against the Atlanta Hawks, but Holmes played more (23 minutes) with marginally better overall production (seven points, three rebounds, two assists).
A 50-50 split of playing time between Johnson and Holmes may be coming in Embiid’s stead, which diminishes the fantasy potential of both guys over what’s left of the season. But Holmes has better upside, and he’s a worthy stash in deeper leagues.
ESPN Ownership: 4.4% Yahoo! Ownership: 18%
Buddy Hield, SG, Sacramento Kings
Over his last nine games (one start), Hield is averaging 19.9 points, 5.0 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.4 steals per game while jacking up over 14 shots and close to seven (6.8) three-pointers per contest.
But that shot volume has not brought diminished efficiency, as Hield is shooting over 52 percent from the floor and over 49 percent from beyond the arc over those last nine games.
As the Kings play out the remainder of another lost season, Hield should get plenty of playing time in a sixth-man role along with free reign to be a volume shooter. Fantasy owners in need of a scoring boost in the playoffs have to notice.
ESPN Ownership: 56.1% Yahoo! Ownership: 67%
Quinn Cook, SG/PG, Golden State Warriors
Cook has started 10 of the Warriors’ last 11 games with Stephen Curry out, averaging 16.3 points, 3.9 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game. Narrowing in on the last nine games, where he has scored in double-figures in each, Cook looks even better (18.6 points, 4.4 assists and 4.2 rebounds per game).
Golden State plays the Phoenix Suns on Sunday. The last time to two teams played, on March 17, Cook had 28 points (11-for-17 from the floor; 5-for-7 from beyond the arc) with four assists, four rebounds and two steals.
Curry will not play again in the regular season, so Cook has been a popular waiver wire add. But there’s still ample room to add him.
ESPN Ownership: 55.3% Yahoo! Ownership: 50%
Isaiah Taylor, PG, Atlanta Hawks
Taylor has started four of the last five games for the Hawks, with at least 18 points and/or six assists in three of those four starts.
Now that Dennis Schroder (ankle) is out for the season, Taylor has the starting point guard spot in Atlanta to himself the rest of the way.
Taylor’s ownership rate has risen some, but he seems to be far off the fantasy radar with the Hawks having little interest in winning games at this point. That brings an opportunity for owners that are without Schroder, Kyrie Irving or Steph Curry in the fantasy postseason.
ESPN Ownership: 6.7% Yahoo! Ownership: 6%