This article is part of our NBA Waiver Wire series.
Add Stephen Curry to the ever-growing list of fantasy superstars that have apparently ruled out any chance of a return this season. But it seems at least a couple of big names are going to buck the trend... and maybe play a game or two.
Amar'e Stoudemire hasn't played since March 24 due to a bulging disk in his back, but he could return as soon as this Friday in Cleveland. That would give him four games to work his way back into shape before the playoffs. His percent owned has dropped to 74% in Yahoo! and 65% in ESPN/NBA.com leagues.
Al Horford is an iffier proposition. Atlanta's center has been sidelined since January with a pectoral injury, and has just been approved for contact drills in practice. There's an outside shot that he'll see some action before the season's end, but the playoffs seem a more likely target. Same goes for Dwight Howard, who will be re-evaluated in ten days or so to see whether or not he'll be able to return for a playoff series.
Picks for the Week:
The first set of picks is for players in standard leagues - guys who may be available in your average 10 team/15 player roster league. The second group is for owners in very deep leagues, and will be based more on speculation than actual numbers.
I'll give percent owned stats for both Yahoo! and ESPN/NBA.com leagues with each pick - first number is Yahoo, ESPN/NBA is second. If
Add Stephen Curry to the ever-growing list of fantasy superstars that have apparently ruled out any chance of a return this season. But it seems at least a couple of big names are going to buck the trend... and maybe play a game or two.
Amar'e Stoudemire hasn't played since March 24 due to a bulging disk in his back, but he could return as soon as this Friday in Cleveland. That would give him four games to work his way back into shape before the playoffs. His percent owned has dropped to 74% in Yahoo! and 65% in ESPN/NBA.com leagues.
Al Horford is an iffier proposition. Atlanta's center has been sidelined since January with a pectoral injury, and has just been approved for contact drills in practice. There's an outside shot that he'll see some action before the season's end, but the playoffs seem a more likely target. Same goes for Dwight Howard, who will be re-evaluated in ten days or so to see whether or not he'll be able to return for a playoff series.
Picks for the Week:
The first set of picks is for players in standard leagues - guys who may be available in your average 10 team/15 player roster league. The second group is for owners in very deep leagues, and will be based more on speculation than actual numbers.
I'll give percent owned stats for both Yahoo! and ESPN/NBA.com leagues with each pick - first number is Yahoo, ESPN/NBA is second. If you play some other league/format, let me know in the comments and I'll do what I can to accommodate.
Standard Leagues
Klay Thompson (64%/92.4%) - He started the season buried in a deep guard rotation, but he may end it as Golden State's primary backcourt scorer.
Brandon Knight (60%/92%) - Has topped the 20 point barrier twice in his last three games.
Nate Robinson (29%/50.9%) - Krypto-Nate has always been streaky... and right now he's riding a hot streak (30 points against San Antonio on Monday).
J.R. Smith (44%/65.2%) - With Stoudemire hurting and Jeremy Lin on the shelf indefinitely, Smith has emerged as the Knicks number two scorer.
Metta World Peace (30%/23.8%) - He and Matt Barnes (see below) have been putting up very nice numbers in Kobe Bryant's absence.
MarShon Brooks (34%/35.3%) - Someone has to score baskets for the Nets, right?
Deep Leagues
Matt Barnes (18%/8.8%) - Part of the committee that is filling in for Kobe Bryant, Barnes just missed a triple-double on Sunday.
Anthony Randolph (20%/42.5%) - I know... we've been waiting for Randolph to play to his potential for years now. I don't think it will ever happen either. But with Kevin Love, Darko Milicic and Nikola Pekovic out of action, this could be Randolph's final chance to shine.
Delonte West (9%/2.9% ) - Getting extra run with Roddy Beaubois sidelined by a calf injury.
Derrick Favors (32%/20.8%) - Posted three-straight double-doubles last week.
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