Oklahoma City Thunder guard/forward Aaron Wiggins has been named a starter for Tuesday's contest against the Chicago Bulls, Justin Martinez of The Oklahoman reports. The defending champions are banged up right now, giving fringe players like Wiggins an opportunity to step up. In his previous starts this season, Wiggins has averaged 13.8 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 1.5 steals. It could be another busy night on offense for Wiggins, as Chicago has one of the worst defensive ratings in the league.

Oklahoma City Thunder guard/forward Aaron Wiggins will join the starting lineup on Tuesday against the New Orleans Pelicans, replacing Cason Wallace (hip). Across 11 previous starts this season, Wiggins has contributed 13.4 points, 4.9 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 1.3 steals, and 1.4 blocks per game. He has a favorable fantasy matchup on Tuesday, as the Pelicans own the fourth-worst defensive rating in the league. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Luguentz Dort, Jaylin Williams, and Chet Holmgren will also start for the Thunder.

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Aaron Wiggins (groin) is available to play ahead of Sunday's game against the Toronto Raptors. Wiggins is back in the mix after missing each of the last two games due to a lingering groin issue. He figures to have a full workload, given Wiggins only missed two games. This month, Wiggins is averaging 10.5 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 1.7 assists in 25.1 minutes per game. Cason Wallace and Isaiah Joe would likely see reduced roles with Wiggins back in the mix. Given the injuries to this roster, Wiggins does have decent streaming appeal with the Thunder banged up.

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Aaron Wiggins (groin) has been ruled out ahead of Friday's game against the Indiana Pacers. This marks the second straight game that Wiggins has been held out due to right groin soreness. The absence of Wiggins should mean increased playing time for Cason Wallace and Isaiah Joe. The extended playing time should make Wallace more appealing heading into Friday's slate. He finished with nine points, two assists, and four steals across 31 minutes of action on Wednesday. The expectation is that he'll play a similar role once again with Wiggins sidelined.

Oklahoma City Thunder guard/forward Aaron Wiggins (adductor) has been upgraded to available for Tuesday's matchup against the San Antonio Spurs. He was initially listed as questionable for the game. Wiggins has missed two contests due to an adductor injury. His return comes at a good time, as the Thunder have lost Ajay Mitchell (concussion) from the rotation for Tuesday night. While Wiggins' numbers tend to fluctuate, he has done a decent job for his team, averaging 11.9 points and 3.1 rebounds for the season, with 40.7 percent shooting from beyond the arc.

Oklahoma City Thunder forward Aaron Wiggins (adductor) is listed as questionable for Tuesday's matchup with the San Antonio Spurs. Wiggins is in danger of missing his third game in a row due to right adductor soreness. The fifth-year forward has been a vital part of the Thunder's rotation this season, averaging 11.9 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 1.8 assists in 24 minutes per game. If he is sidelined once again, Isaiah Joe, Alex Caruso, and Cason Wallace will see an uptick in minutes on the floor during this evening's contest.

Oklahoma City Thunder forward Aaron Wiggins (adductor) has been ruled out for Monday's game against the Memphis Grizzlies. Wiggins is set to miss his second straight game due to right adductor soreness. The fifth-year forward has been a vital part of the Thunder rotation this season, averaging 11.9 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 1.8 assists in 24 minutes per game. With Wiggins and multiple other key pieces out for the game against the Grizzlies, expect the Thunder to play a lot of "small-ball," with center Branden Carlson and power forward Kenrich Williams seeing more minutes. The Thunder travel to face the San Antonio Spurs on Tuesday, where Wiggins should be considered questionable to play.

Oklahoma City Thunder guard/forward Aaron Wiggins (adductor) has been ruled out for Saturday's game against the Charlotte Hornets, marking his fifth straight absence. Before the injury, Wiggins was enjoying a strong start, averaging 14.8 points, 3.7 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 2.8 three-pointers in 27.6 minutes on 45.9% shooting. With Wiggins sidelined, Oklahoma City has leaned more on Isaiah Joe, Alex Caruso, Ajay Mitchell, and Cason Wallace on the wing, while Shai Gilgeous-Alexander continues to dominate usage. Fantasy managers, especially in deeper leagues, should try to hold Wiggins, as his scoring and efficiency profile still project as rest-of-season value once he returns.

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Aaron Wiggins (groin) is out for Tuesday against the Warriors after missing the past two games, a notable loss given his strong start at 14.8 points on 41.7 percent from deep. With Luguentz Dort (shoulder) and Jalen Williams (wrist) also sidelined, wing minutes condense around Cason Wallace, Isaiah Joe, and Ajay Mitchell. Wallace is the safest standard-league streamer for steals, efficiency, and low turnovers, while Joe offers instant threes if you need a specialist. Mitchell flashed real playmaking juice with double-digit assists in Sacramento and remains a viable short-term addition for dimes and a bit of scoring. In 12-team formats, prioritize Wallace, then Joe. In deeper leagues, Mitchell is firmly in play until Wiggins returns and the rotation normalizes.

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Aaron Wiggins (left adductor strain) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Memphis Grizzlies, his second straight absence. Wiggins had carved out a key role in OKC's rotation, starting several games and averaging 14.8 points on 46 percent shooting and 41 percent from three before the injury. With him sidelined, Cason Wallace, Isaiah Joe, and Ajay Mitchell all have a chance to step up if given extra minutes. Wallace provides efficient scoring and defensive versatility, Joe offers elite shooting that can help in threes and percentages, and Mitchell brings playmaking and hustle that fit well with OKC's pace. All three can be worth streaming in deeper formats, depending on how minutes are distributed. Wiggins should be stashed where possible, as his scoring and efficiency have been valuable when healthy.

According to Clemente Almanza of USA Today, Oklahoma City Thunder guard/forwardAaron Wiggins(thigh) will miss Friday's game against the Sacramento Kings. Despite posting 27 points, two rebounds, two assists, and three steals on Wednesday versus the Trail Blazers, Wiggins sustained a left adductor strain during the contest. With Wiggins out and Luguentz Dort (shoulder) possibly sidelined, Isaiah Joe and Cason Wallace will likely see extended minutes on the floor Friday evening.

Oklahoma City Thunder guard/forward Aaron Wiggins (Achilles) will skip a second consecutive game on Thursday night against the Memphis Grizzlies. He remains unavailable due to left Achilles tendinitis. Wiggins' absence has allowed Alex Caruso, Isaiah Joe, and Kenrich Williams to be more involved in the action. However, the rotation may change significantly against Memphis, as Jalen Williams (hip) and Cason Wallace (knee) could be back in the mix. Wiggins' next chance to return will be on Saturday against the Indiana Pacers.

Oklahoma City Thunder guard/forward Aaron Wiggins (illness) has overcome a questionable designation and will play in Sunday's intriguing matchup against the Milwaukee Bucks. He has been cleared to return to the lineup after missing Saturday's game against the Detroit Pistons due to an illness. Wiggins was a starter in his most recent appearance and could return to the first unit against Milwaukee after Luguentz Dort (hip) was injured in Saturday's contest. In 21 starts this season, Wiggins has averaged 13.3 points, 4.5 rebounds, 1.6 assists, and 1.0 steals.

It's funny that every year at the NBA Draft, once the end of the guaranteed money and live appearances arrives at the end of the first round, everybody tunes out and refers to the 60th pick as "Mr. Irrelevant." That's not very accurate though, is it?Speaking historically, the title of "Mr. Irrelevant" could just as easily be applied to each pick in the draft, as organizations differ greatly in their evaluation of talent and their own needs, particularly in a year without the NCAA tournament. The nickname just doesn't reflect how basketball works anymore. Executives strategically stockpile second-round draft picks for the less burdensome financial obligations, and organizations in rebuilding mode get super creative to field a respectable team on a budget.Particularly in the NBA where worldwide talent is plentiful and positional lines continue to fade, the opportunity is everything: in the right situation, the right under-the-radar player can make an immediate, poignant statement. With professional development leagues for 16-18-year-olds, an ever-expanding set of domestic/international opportunities due to the sheer growth of basketball, and widespread NIL rights for college athletes, players of all levels and localities are starting to get their due exposure and now have enough freedom to hone their skills in a place, and at a pace, that fits best with their path to the NBA. 

Introduction

I am inherently skeptical and distrusting of scouting from the high school level to pre-Draft. That's why in this annual article, I tend to favor overlooked college players (love the mid-majors/non-power conferences) with either well-rounded, polished games or specific statistical specialties.We are going to discuss a handful of 2023 second-round picks and undrafted free agent signees who, given their individual skillsets and circumstances, warrant the attention of Fantasy Basketball Managers as potential high-impact rookies for the 2023-24 campaign who can quietly be acquired on clearance once they start showing signs of emergence.As I will frequently emphasize and reiterate: in 2023, there is very little difference between the vast majority of second-round draft picks and undrafted free agents--it always all comes down to the skillsets they possess, their capacity for growth, and the situations they've landed in.Seasons will be made and broken with early identification of the diamond-in-the-rough rookies. I used to list out the many examples from the past season in this introduction portion, but we are now in a beautiful era where there are just too many to count. There is also very little separating the featured players below and those dubbed "Honorable Mentions"--so put in the work and keep an eye out throughout the regular season for who is receiving and seizing their opportunities. 

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It's funny that every year at the NBA Draft, once the end of the guaranteed money and live appearances arrives at the end of the first round, everybody tunes out and refers to the 60th pick as "Mr. Irrelevant." That's not very accurate though, is it? Speaking historically, the title of "Mr. Irrelevant" could just as easily be applied to each pick in the draft, as organizations differ greatly in their evaluation of talent and their own needs, particularly in a year without the NCAA tournament. The nickname just doesn't reflect how basketball works anymore. Executives strategically stockpile second-round draft picks for the less burdensome financial obligations, and organizations in rebuilding mode get super creative to field a respectable team on a budget.Particularly in the NBA where worldwide talent is plentiful and positional lines continue to fade, opportunity is everything: in the right situation, the right under-the-radar player can make an immediate, poignant statement. With professional development leagues for 16-18-year-olds, an ever-expanding set of domestic/international opportunities due to the sheer growth of basketball, and widespread NIL rights for college athletes, players of all levels and localities are starting to get their due exposure and now have enough freedom to hone their skills in a place, and at a pace, that fits best with their path to the NBA.Plus, I am inherently skeptical and distrusting of scouting from the high school level to pre-Draft. That's why in this annual article, I tend to favor overlooked college players (love the mid-majors/non-power conferences) with either well-rounded, polished games, or specific statistical specialties.We are going to discuss a handful of 2022 second-round picks and undrafted free agent signees who, given their individual skillsets and circumstances, warrant the attention of Fantasy Basketball Managers as potential high-impact rookies for the 2022-23 campaign who can quietly be acquired on clearance once they start showing signs of emergence. ... [More]

It's funny that every year at the NBA Draft, once the end of the guaranteed money and live appearances arrives at the end of the first round, everybody tunes out and refers to the 60th pick as "Mr. Irrelevant." That's not very accurate though, is it? Speaking historically, the title of "Mr. Irrelevant" could just as easily be applied to each pick in the draft, as organizations differ greatly in their evaluation of talent and their own needs, particularly in a year without the NCAA tournament. The nickname just doesn't reflect how basketball works anymore. Executives strategically stockpile second-round draft picks for the less burdensome financial obligations, and organizations in rebuilding mode get super creative to field a respectable team on a budget.Particularly in the NBA where worldwide talent is plentiful and positional lines continue to fade, opportunity is everything: in the right situation, the right under-the-radar player can make an immediate, poignant statement. With professional development leagues for 16-18-year-olds, an ever-expanding set of domestic/international opportunities due to the sheer growth of basketball, and widespread NIL rights for college athletes, players of all levels and localities are starting to get their due exposure and now have enough freedom to hone their skills in a place, and at a pace that fits best with their path to the NBA.Plus, I am inherently skeptical and distrusting of scouting from the high school level to pre-Draft. That's why in this annual article, I tend to favor overlooked college players (love the mid-majors/non-power conferences) with either well-rounded, polished games, or specific statistical specialties.We are going to discuss a handful of 2022 second-round picks and undrafted free agent (UDFA) signees who, given their individual skillsets and circumstances, warrant the attention of Fantasy Basketball Managers as potential high-impact rookies for the 2022-23 campaign who can quietly be acquired on clearance once they start showing signs of emergence.... [More]

It's funny that every year at the NBA Draft, once the end of the guaranteed money and live appearances arrives at the end of the first round, everybody tunes out and refers to the 60th pick as "Mr. Irrelevant." That's not very accurate though, is it? Speaking historically, the title of "Mr. Irrelevant" could just as easily be applied to each pick in the draft, as organizations differ greatly in their evaluation of talent and their own needs, particularly in a year without the NCAA tournament. The nickname just doesn't reflect how basketball works anymore. Executives strategically stockpile second-round draft picks for the less burdensome financial obligations, and organizations in rebuilding mode get super creative to field a respectable team on a budget.Particularly in the NBA where worldwide talent is plentiful and positional lines continue to fade, opportunity is everything: in the right situation, the right under-the-radar player can make an immediate, poignant statement. With professional development leagues for 16-18-year-olds, an ever-expanding set of domestic/international opportunities due to the sheer growth of basketball, and widespread NIL rights for college athletes, players of all levels and localities are starting to get their due exposure and now have enough freedom to hone their skills in a place, and at a pace, that fits best with their path to the NBA.Plus, I am inherently skeptical and distrusting of scouting from the high school level to pre-Draft. That's why in this annual article, I tend to favor overlooked college players (love the mid-majors/non-power conferences) with either well-rounded, polished games, or specific statistical specialties.We are going to discuss a handful of 2022 second-round picks and undrafted free agent signees who, given their individual skillsets and circumstances, warrant the attention of Fantasy Basketball Managers as potential high-impact rookies for the 2022-23 campaign who can quietly be acquired on clearance once they start showing signs of emergence. ... [More]

Oklahoma City Thunder small forward Aaron Wiggins (illness) has been ruled out for Monday's game vs. Charlotte, marking his second consecutive absence. Prior to his illness, Wiggins had cracked the starting rotation with consistency and logged a career-high 25-point performance last Wednesday. Without him on the wing, Aleksej Pokusevski should continue to see a significant minutes uptick, while Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Tre Mann are set to see all of the shot attempts that they can handle. Wiggins' next chance to return to action comes Wednesday against the Spurs.

Oklahoma City Thunder shooting guard Aaron Wiggins (illness) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Memphis Grizzlies with an illness. The timing of the illness is unfortunate as the rookie is coming off of one of his best games of the year. On Wednesday against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Wiggins scored a career-high 25 points while shooting 9-for-19 from the field, including 5-for-8 from three-point range. He also had nine boards and five assists in the game. Wiggins should see heavy usage the rest of the way this year when active. He's worth rostering in most standard fantasy leagues. With his absence on Sunday, Theo Maledon and fellow rookie guard Vit Krejci could see some extra minutes.

Oklahoma City Thunder forward Aaron Wiggins (ankle) was unable to finish out Monday's game against the Sacramento Kings. Wiggins was only able to play nine minutes before exiting the game and being unable to return due to an ankle issue. Vit Krejci started in the second half in place Wiggins on Monday. He'll likely pick up additional playing time, assuming Wiggins is forced to miss time. Krejci could have low-end streaming appeal if he's asked to play a bigger role going forward.