A Dozen Dimes: 2014-15 Fantasy Basketball Awards

Waiver Wire Pickup of the Year

Winner: Hassan Whiteside

Hassan Whiteside was one of the most interesting fantasy stories of the year. After having played only a total of 19 games in his first two NBA seasons (from 2010-12), he returned to the league this year and joined the Miami Heat with little fanfare. He was little more than a garbage time player until January, when he suddenly became one of the best centers in fantasy hoops.

Whiteside finished the season 34th overall in nine-category leagues, averaging 11.8 points, 10.0 rebounds, and 2.5 blocks per game, while shooting 62.8% from the field. If you were lucky enough to grab him off the waiver wire before anyone else in your league, congratulations are in order. If you somehow were clairvoyant enough to draft him...who am I kidding, no one drafted him. If anyone tells you they did, they're lying.

All-Waiver-Wire Team

PG - Lou Williams
SG - Robert Covington
SF - Khris Middleton
PF - Hassan Whiteside
C - Rudy Gobert

Of these five guys, Middleton had the highest O-Rank in Yahoo leagues at 176, followed by Lou at 220 and Gobert at 389. Covington and Whiteside, meanwhile, weren't even listed. Despite the lowest of expectations to start the year, all five of these guys finished the season as early- to mid-round values and could all have top-50 ADPs next season. Whiteside and Gobert (particularly post-Enes Kanter) rewarded savvy pickup artists with rebounds, blocks, and a high shooting percentage, while Williams, Covington, and Middleton made a big difference in points, threes, steals, and free throw percentage. Grabbing one or multiple guys from this list off the wire was likely a championship move for many people this season.