Thomas Bryant (C, LAL) – Fantasy Basketball Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 13
Thomas Bryant #ThomasBryant
ROSTERED IN: 27% of leagues
ANALYSIS: The Lakers won’t have Anthony Davis back and playing for at least two more weeks, judging by the latest updates on his recovery. They might not really need him, or at least not in the role he freed upon getting injured. The main reason, of course, is the extraordinary play of big man Thomas Bryant.
Davis agreed to take on and play a full-time five-center role for the first time in his career at the start of this year. Considering Bryant’s exploits, though, it might make sense for him to slide down to the power forward slot when he returns. Bryant has started the last 12 games playing 30 MPG and averaging almost 35 FPPG.
Bryant, though, has grown as the season has advanced and he’s been given a larger role in the Lake Show. In games played after Christmas, Bryant is averaging a monster 19.7 PPG, 12.2 RPG, and shooting 73.8% from the field. Bryant has played seven games in that span and has dub-dubbed in five of them. In the two he didn’t he still finished with double-digit points and 8 or 9 boards.
It’s been seven games in a row for Bryan scoring 11+ points and grabbing 8+ rebounds. His 3-point scoring has gone down a bit compared to the first half of his starting run (he scored nine 3-point shots in his first five starts but has hit only one in his last six), but that long-range-prowess is keeping defenses honest and it’s not that hoisting three-pointers is lowering his overall shooting percentages.
Not a lot of upside outside of the points/rebounds categories though, with Bryant averaging a measly 1+ APG, 0.5 SPG, and 0.5 BPG as a starter on the Lakers.