If you couldn’t already tell, the Warriors (13-14) have had some ups and downs this season. They’re not where they want to be, whether it’s the Draymond Green suspension or the lessening of Klay’s once authoritative shooting power. But all is not lost for the team by the Bay, in scoring or threat level. Players like Jonathan Kuminga, Andrew Wiggins, and Brandin Podziemski are filling the gap.
While the Warriors struggled all November (5-15) and early December (a shocking 0-6), they’ve managed to put together three daring wins in a row. Things look good though for the Warriors, with the reeling Wizards (4-22) up next followed by a Portland team that came up short taking down the house that Curry built just last week.
Short Term Pickups:
Andrew Wiggins – 65% owned in Yahoo Leagues. Wiggins fell behind the lofty expectations he himself set, but good news is on the way. While he hasn’t been incredibly effective as a starter this season, playing only 26 minutes per game, his metrics have all gone up coming off the bench. That might be due to a decreased stress load, but more likely he wants to prove himself. The only way to do that is to lock-up on both ends of the court, which would be beneficial to the Warriors and fantasy players alike. And if he once again gets a starting spot on the rotation, there’s no way he’s taking his foot off the gas.
Jonathan Kuminga – 34% owned in Yahoo Leagues. While Kuminga has always been an asset, he hasn’t shown up with his usual hungry spirit this season. But those times are over, with Kuminga becoming more efficient on offense and engaged on defense. He’s starting games again, so look past his 21 minutes per game to an upbeat future. With Kuminga scoring on average 15 points in his last seven games, he’s a solid bet.
Long Term Pickups:
Klay Thompson – 90% owned in Yahoo Leagues. To all those who wanted Klay relegated to the bench, a Christmas present comes early in the form of a resurgence. Though he started slow, Klay has been a shining beacon in the Warriors troubled times, coming up clutch in games when Steph wasn’t able to. With his win over the Celtics, Klay jumped ahead of Vince Carter (2,290) for the eighth spot in all-time three-pointers. Trade for him now, because this man’s team value is only going up.
Brandin Podziemski – 36% owned in Yahoo Leagues. Look past the injury report; Brandin’s not out for long, if at all. And as long as Draymond Green is out, it looks like Brandin will be in. That comes in the form of 10+ points scored, six out of his past nine games. It’s incredibly hard to look at the work Dray has put in for the Warriors and expect the team to move on, but equally hard to watch him struggle with constant on-court issues. An aging core means that at some point the Warriors have to look towards the future, and right now that looks like Brandin Podziemski.
