Welcome to The Playlist: my weekly column that tells you who and what to play — when it comes to music or other things in my rotation — for the week ahead in fantasy basketball.
Each week you’ll see a compilation of the pickups you need to make, a quick look at the schedule, and lineup notes (who’s in and out of the rotations).
Press play and browse the latest fantasy basketball information.
📝My approach for week 7, part 2
If you saved your trades for this week (they won’t reset for Week 7), I’d focus on teams playing in the NBA Cup, and you should expect to advance beyond the first game.
The eight participants in the NBA Cup (ATL, MIL, NYK, ORL, OKC, GSW, HOU, DAL) play on Tuesday or Wednesday. The winning teams advancing in the single-elimination tournament will play on Saturday (two games), and the losing teams will play on Sunday (seven games).
So to maximize your trade, pick teams and players you think will move on so you can get a new game on a lighter slate.
Finally, several teams play alone one game during the next seven days:
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76ers, Bulls, Cavaliers, Clippers, Heat, Hornets, Jazz, Kings, Nets, Nuggets and Pistons.
🎧 Who’s in my rotation: Waiver Pickups
Players from NBA Cup teams under the 50% roster:
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Tari Eason (if back), Lu Dort, Cason Wallace, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Buddy Hield, De’Andre Hunter, Zaccharie Risacher, Taurean Prince, Gary Trent Jr., Wendell Carter Jr. and Quentin Grimes.
Miles McBride – PG/SG, New York Knicks (19% ranked)
The Knicks are the only team with the potential to play three games this week, which gives McBride an advantage in counting stats over most of the available waiver pool in points or category leagues. McBrides is the best option off the bench and has been both efficient and productive over the past two weeks, averaging 12 points with three rebounds, three assists and two threes per game on 50/50/94 shooting splits in 25 minutes per night . He’s a must-add this week.
▶️ “Rubberband of Life” (feat. Ledisi) – Miles Davis
Ayo Dosunmu – SG/SF, Chicago Bulls (41% ranked)
Looking beyond Week 7 (the Bulls only have one game), Dosunmu has been playing phenomenally well lately and should be included in all competitions. He posted his first triple-double against the Spurs last week (10/27/11) and has provided second-round value for fantasy managers in 9-cat leagues over the past two weeks. The trade deadline is less than two months away and if something were to happen to the Bulls, Ayo would likely benefit. Dosunmu’s production and opportunities are increasing.
Royce O’Neale – SF/PF, Phoenix Suns (27% on list)
The Suns have two games against the Jazz and Blazers this week, so things don’t get much better for O’Neale, who will get a boost in playing time without Kevin Durant (ankle). Without Durant on the floor this year, O’Neale is averaging 11 points, six rebounds, 2.6 3s and 1.8 shares per game. He’s coming off a career-high 23 points on Saturday night, and with Durant expected to miss the rest of the week, O’Neale will get another run as a streamer in points and 9-cat leagues. Grayson Allen (19% scheduled) is also a good option.
Brandon Boston Jr. – SG/SF/PF, New Orleans Pelicans (18% on list)
Brandon Ingram (ankle) is out indefinitely, giving Boston new life for fantasy managers. His roster has shrunk, but there isn’t much depth left on the wing, even after Herb Jones returned to the lineup. Boston’s minutes have fluctuated over the past five games, but he is averaging 14 points while recording at least a pair of rebounds with a steal and a three-pointer. With Ingram out, his minutes remain in the 25-26 range, which could be enough for fantasy managers in 12-team leagues to stream for a few weeks.
▶️ “Code of the Streets” – Gang Starr
Obi Toppin – PF, Indiana Pacers (9% selected)
I talked about TJ McConnell over the past few weeks, so if you missed it, Toppin is going to be a fun streamer by the end of the week. Toppin has played at least 20 minutes in four of his last five games and has been a steady contributor for Indy off the bench. He is averaging 15.3 points, 7.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.8 3s per game, with an impressive 62/39/86 shooting split in December. With such a thin frontcourt, Toppin’s role in the rotation is secure, so fantasy managers may want to throw him into the mix against Philly and a defeated Pelicans team to close out Week 7.
▶️ “Top of the Morning” – Rook Dza
Julian Champagnie – SF/PF, San Antonio Spurs (27% selected)
How come he has only been included in five percent more competitions than last week? He dropped a career-best 30 points with six threes on Saturday and will continue to help fantasy managers with points, threes and rebounds as he has become a mainstay in the starting lineup.
Players who are less than 50% of the players I would include in all competitions regardless of week 7:
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Alex Sarr, Yves Missi, Nick Richards, Bilal Coulibaly, Gradey Dick, Goga Bitadze and TJ McConnell.
🗓️Plan highlights:
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The Yahoo Week 7 scoring period lasts two weeks: December 2-15
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Daily schedule: Monday (1), Tuesday (2), Wednesday (2), Thursday (3), Friday (8), Saturday (2) and Sunday (7).
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19 teams play two matches: Bucks, Celtics, Grizzlies, Hawks, Knicks, Lakers, Magic, Mavericks, Pacers, Pelicans, Raptors, Rockets, Spurs, Suns, Thunder, Timberwolves, Trail Blazers, Warriors and Wizards
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11 teams play one match: 76ers, Bulls, Cavaliers, Clippers, Heat, Hornets, Jazz, Kings, Nets, Nuggets and Pistons
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The Knicks will play three games. If they win, they will play on Saturday. If they lose, they play on Sunday.
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Back to back: No
🚑 Injury news:
Notable injuries in week 7 (outside of daily life)
Latest injury reports for all NBA teams
NBA Injury Report – Monday, December 9
▶️ “Patience” – NaS & Damian Marley
🔁 Rotation Notes:
Cleveland Cavaliers
The play: Evan Mobley sprained his ankle in Sunday’s loss to the Heat and was unable to return to the game. Georges Niang came on for Mobley and finished with 15 points (5-7, 3-4 3PT,1-1 FT) with six rebounds, two assists and one steal in 31 minutes. Hopefully Mobley’s ankle injury won’t sideline him for too long, but the Cavs still have one game remaining in Week 7.
Warriors of the Golden State
The play: Draymond Green has come off the bench in favor of Jonathan Kuminga in the last two games for the Warriors. For now, Andrew Wiggins and Kevon Looney strengthen the rest of the frontcourt. In another interesting move, Steve Kerr inserted Gary Payton II into the starting unit, and Buddy Hield came in for Wiggins (ankle) on Sunday. It’s something to keep an eye on as the week progresses, as Payton II could provide some shares and rebounds for fantasy managers, with Hield providing points and 3s.
Philadelphia 76ers
The play: Joel Embiid is back, so Guerschon Yabusele and Andre Drummond could be cut from fantasy teams, especially since the Sixers only play one game in the latter part of Week 7.
Washington Wizards
The play: Washington’s injury report is extensive, with Malcolm Brogdon (hamstring), Kyle Kuzma (rib), Kyshawn George (ankle), Corey Kispert (ankle) and Alex Sarr (back) all missing Sunday’s game. Bub Carrington can be streamed when Brogdon is out, and if you’re in a deep league, Marvin Bagley III is a possibility, though I don’t recommend it.
▶️ “Can it all be that simple” – Wu-Tang Clan
