Above the Rim: Injury Pick-Ups for the Second Half

As the season continues, the games begin to wear some players out and lead to injuries. Sometimes the key to winning a fantasy league is picking up the right injury replacement. Recent pick-ups suggested on this blog have included the Cavs’ Anderson Varejao and Sasha Pavlovic, both of whom have been averaging double figures as starters. Look for these three players to contribute on a similar level as long as their playing time remains consistent.

Von Wafer, Houston Rockets
I was at the McDonald’s All-American game in Cleveland in 2003 when LeBron James, Chris Paul, Charlie Villaneuva, and Shannon Brown all looked like future stars. Leon Powe, Brandon Bass, and Travis Outlaw all looked good as well. Luol Deng did not play in the game, but was also there. Von Wafer (along with Aaron Brooks and Kendrick Perkins) was overshadowed. Now in his fourth year, Wafer is finally getting a chance to show why he was one of the top 25 prep players in the country that year. After playing just 228 minutes in his first 3 seasons, Wafer is getting some solid playing time as the Rockets are hit with injuries to Ron Artest and Tracy McGrady. Wafer has started 11 games, including the last 10, this season. In those starts, he has contributed 16.4 points in 33 minutes. His shooting percentages have been solid as well at 49.7%, including 38.5% from behind the arc. Wafer also contributes 2.7 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and 1.4 steals from the shooting guard position; not great stats, but solid when added to his scoring ability. In the month of January, which included 10 starts in 11 games, Wafer is averaging 16.6 points and shooting above 50% (50.7%) and almost 40% on threes (39.6%). The consistent playing time has allowed Wafer to get into a rhythm. His lowest output in January has been 12 points and he has topped out with 2 games over 20 points. For the season, Wafer is averaging 10.6 points on 47% shooting with 38.7% on threes, so he will still be a solid play when McGrady comes back. If Wafer is available, pick him up and play him at least until the Rockets are healthy. After that, he may still be a solid option off the bench for the Rockets so what and see how he is used because he could still be a contributor.

Steve Novak, LA Clippers
The Clippers front court is currently decimated with injuries to Marcus Camby, Chris Kaman, and Zach Randolph. In a recent win over the Thunder, Brian Skinner, who had started every game in January, was scratched with flu-like symptoms which led to Cheikh Samb playing 22 of the 56 minutes he has played all season. With all of these injuries, Novak has become one of the guys in coach Mike Dunleavy’s big man rotation behind DeAndre Jordan, Al Thornton, and Skinner. Novak, a 6’10” forward who shoots like a CIA sniper, has seen his playing time nearly triple to 19 minutes a game in January. Novak has responded with 9.2 points on 51.4% shooting from the floor and an impressive 51.1% on threes (23 of 45) and 100% from the free throw line (only 6 attempts). Despite the increased playing time, Novak’s contributions have been almost exclusively in scoring and shooting. Even though he is almost 7 feet tall, Novak’s season high in rebounds is 4 and he has blocked just 2 shots this season. However, if you are looking for someone to score and bring your team’s shooting and 3-point percentages up, Novak is worth a look. With time, he may begin to develop a nose for rebounds and improve upon his average of 1.1, but for now, most owners will take the 9 points and deadly accuracy from the outside.

Monta Ellis, Golden State Warriors
Ellis made his season debut in a one point loss to the Cavs on Friday night and looked as though he never missed a game. His signature quickness was still there despite his off-season ankle injury and he almost led (with Stephen Jackson) the Warriors to an upset over Cleveland. The Warriors struggled to fill Ellis’s shoes in the first half of the season, and it showed as Ellis filled the stat sheet. Ellis finished with 20 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block in his debut. His shooting percentage was only 42.1%, but that was probably due to playing the league’s number one defense more than Ellis being off his game. If Ellis is available in your league due to his suspension and injury at the beginning of the season, pick him up now. Ellis will average 20 points for the rest of the season and should contribute around 5 assists as well. He may be the missing piece for the Warriors this season, and while they may be too far back to make the playoffs, the team should be improved in the second half. Jackson, Ellis, and Corey Maggette should provide consistent scoring with Jamal Crawford, Andris Biedrins, and Anthony Morrow supplementing their efforts. Ellis could be the pick up to put your team over the top; there aren’t many all-stars available as free agents in most fantasy leagues, so take advantage if he is.

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