This article is part of our NBA Waiver Wire series.
A much lighter week in the NBA this week, with only 12 teams playing four games, 14 teams with three games, two teams with just the pair of contests and two teams, the Bucks and the Knicks with only one game, against each other in England. Thankfully, the Bucks and Knicks sport two of the least fantasy-interesting rosters there are.
The Pelicans have potentially the best schedule, taking on the struggling Celtics and Sixers, as well as the Pistons and Raptors, who although are playing well on the court, yield above average numbers to oppositions. The Spurs play four games, but the quality is a lot different. Games against the Wizards, Hornets, Trail Blazers and Jazz round out their week including an early back-to-back which always leads to the Pop factor, with players potentially rested.
The Nuggets play only three games, but they are high-quality games, against the Mavericks twice and the Timberwolves, while there will be no waiver wire love for guys on the Suns, Hornets, Bucks or Knicks, obviously.
Point Guard
Jarrett Jack, BKN: (medium-term add); (FAAB: $12)
Jarrett Jack was starting for the Nets even when Deron Williams returned from his calf injury, but was beginning to lose a little momentum with Williams stringing together some solid performances. But, the fractured rib cartilage for Williams has him out indefinitely, which is more likely to be in the multiple weeks category rather than season-ending. While Williams is out, Jack is basically the only point guard on the
A much lighter week in the NBA this week, with only 12 teams playing four games, 14 teams with three games, two teams with just the pair of contests and two teams, the Bucks and the Knicks with only one game, against each other in England. Thankfully, the Bucks and Knicks sport two of the least fantasy-interesting rosters there are.
The Pelicans have potentially the best schedule, taking on the struggling Celtics and Sixers, as well as the Pistons and Raptors, who although are playing well on the court, yield above average numbers to oppositions. The Spurs play four games, but the quality is a lot different. Games against the Wizards, Hornets, Trail Blazers and Jazz round out their week including an early back-to-back which always leads to the Pop factor, with players potentially rested.
The Nuggets play only three games, but they are high-quality games, against the Mavericks twice and the Timberwolves, while there will be no waiver wire love for guys on the Suns, Hornets, Bucks or Knicks, obviously.
Point Guard
Jarrett Jack, BKN: (medium-term add); (FAAB: $12)
Jarrett Jack was starting for the Nets even when Deron Williams returned from his calf injury, but was beginning to lose a little momentum with Williams stringing together some solid performances. But, the fractured rib cartilage for Williams has him out indefinitely, which is more likely to be in the multiple weeks category rather than season-ending. While Williams is out, Jack is basically the only point guard on the Nets' roster, save for Darius Morris, but Morris' impact is minimal at best. As a starter, Jack has averaged 14.3 points, 3.8 rebounds, 5.9 assists and 1.3 steals in 35 minutes, and that sort of production is a huge possibility for not only the week ahead, but perhaps for the rest of the month.
Patrick Beverley: (long-term add); (FAAB: $12)
Not only do the Rockets play four games this week, but Beverley has long-term value beyond the next seven days, as I detailed last week. In fact, since last week, Beverley has seen his ownership drop again, which is baffling, considering the numbers he has been putting up. In his last four games, Beverley has averaged 11.3 points, 1.8 three-pointers, 4.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 1.0 steals, numbers which belie his low ownership. If he is still available in your league, Beverley should be owned.
Others to consider:Elfrid Payton and his Magic teammates play four games, and he's someone you can look at in head-to-head leagues only. Consider him Rajon Rondo lite. With so few teams playing four games, D.J. Augustin's quartet of matchups makes him have a bit of value in deeper formats or for teams looking to maximize their game totals. With all the early trades happening in the NBA, it's time to start looking at the players who get left behind on teams. Jeff Green and Brandan Wright have been traded from the Celtics this week, just three weeks after they jettisoned Rondo. When Danny Ainge is all done, the Celtics, particularly Marcus Smart, should have a much more firm rotation to rely on. Also, in the same vein, with the trade deadline approaching, and the consternation growing from Reggie Jackson in Oklahoma City, it seems he might get moved for being a curmudgeon if nothing else. It's worth considering stashing Jackson for the next month in most leagues on the off chance that he gets moved to a team that would have him start.
Shooting Guard
Jodie Meeks, DET: (short-term add); (FAAB: $2)
With four games for the Pistons, Jodie Meeks makes an attractive add at a shallow position, despite his subpar performances of late. Shooting at just 29 percent in his last five games, Meeks is due to start hitting some shots, and when he does, the three-pointers should start raining in. Outside of three-pointers and free throw percentage (95 percent on the season), Meeks doesn't offer much else, so his long-term value is limited somewhat, but throwing a few dollars onto him for this week isn't a crazy move.
Eric Gordon, NOP: (short-term, flier); (FAAB: $2)
No-one denies Eric Gordon's talent, but unfortunately for him, injuries have curtailed his ability to maximize his potential, and it feels like he will never become the player he could be. He was putrid to begin the season before his shoulder injury, but is back now and looking significantly better. In his first three games back, Gordon is playing 33 minutes a night as the starter in New Orleans, averaging 11.0 points, 2.0 three-pointers, 2.7 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 0.7 steals and 0.7 blocks on 43 percent shooting, which is streets ahead of how he began this campaign, hitting only 40 percent of his shots throughout November. Interestingly, Gordon is averaging 12.3 points on the road this season and only 7.0 points at home, and all four of the Pelicans games this week are on the road. If Gordon gets back to his best, it's a solid investment, but if he regresses to November Eric Gordon, you can move on from him fairly easily, without having wasted to much of your precious budget.
Others to consider: If Danny Green is somehow still available in your league, he is the number one add. Remarkably owned in less than 70 percent of leagues on ESPN, he could be out there in your league. J.R. Smith and Dion Waiters are great flier candidates this week as they get acclimated to their new teams. Don't let them sit on the wire.
Small Forward
DeMarre Carroll, ATL: (all leagues); (FAAB: $14)
We should just name the section the DeMarre Carroll memorial waiver-wire add paragraph, because it feels like I'm going to be talking about him each week. Sure, there's nothing really sexy about his numbers, but they are solid, dependable and useful - three things fantasy owners should be enthralled by. Perhaps a better rotisserie player than head-to-head, Carroll should be owned in all 12-team leagues, if not for the 2.0 three-pointers he averaged last week, but for the 1.7 steals and 5.0 rebounds he pairs with it.
K.J. McDaniels, PHI: (long-term add); (FAAB: $4)
K.J. McDaniels has worked his way back into the starting lineup of late, being on the court for the tip in five of the last six games, and while the numbers haven't been wowing anyone, they are solid and the increase in playing time is encouraging as we add McDaniels, not just for this week, but for the rest of the season. In his last four games, McDaniels is averaging 10.5 points, 1.0 three-pointer, 0.8 steals and 1.3 blocks on 56 percent shooting. The shooting is an anomaly, as he is shooting just 41 percent on the season, but the other numbers are trending in the right direction, and he could be a player on the terrible Sixers, who shapes many fantasy leagues throughout March.
Others to consider: With four games, Terrence Ross is an interesting guy if you need three-pointers, but he offers very little else. He is hitting 2.0 three-pointers a game, so that could be valuable for your team.
Power Forward
Amir Johnson, TOR: (short-term add); (FAAB: $3)
Johnson has been limited by a number of factors this season - persistent ankle issues which look likely to plague him through the rest of this season and possibly his career, Dwane Casey's lack of patience with his frontcourt as a whole and the improved play of Patrick Patterson. Even with those factors, Johnson and his Raptors play four games and his 65 percent shooting from field over the last six games can be of use to any fantasy teams. He has double-double potential and can average a block a game as well (currently at 0.9 per season), so Johnson may be someone to look at, particularly if you want to solidify your field goal percentage.
Robert Covington, PHI: (long-term add); (FAAB: $15)
Did people miss the memo on Covington? He's still owned in less than 40 percent of leagues on ESPN, despite averaging 15.0 points, 3.0 three-pointers, 4.5 rebounds and 2.3 steals in his last four games. The 42 percent shooting is a little harmful, but it's not Brandon Jennings level bad and those counting stats could make an owners mouth salivate, especially if he is sitting on the wire, like he is in many leagues.
Others to consider: Johnson's teammate, Patrick Patterson, is also someone to consider, but offers different stats than Amir. Patterson can be a stretch four for your fantasy team if you need three-pointers from non traditional positions. Channing Frye reclaimed the starting power forward job from Kyle O'Quinn on Saturday, and if he continues to take more shots this time around as a starter, we should see Frye finally prove he's worth the contract the Magic signed him to this offseason.
Center
Gorgui Dieng, MIN: (all leagues); (FAAB: $14)
While Gorgui Dieng's ownership rose last week, it was marginal, meaning you can still snag the Minnesota big man in a lot of shallow leagues. News of Nikola Pekovic's potential return filtered through over the last couple of days, but he is still slated to return through the D-League, and that may not be until next weekend at the earliest. Even when he does return, there is no guarantee he displaces Dieng from the starting role, given how well Dieng has played and how unreliable Pekovic is. Dieng should be owned until there is a reason not to, and for the time being, I don't see that reason.
Jusuf Nurkic: (long-term add); (FAAB: $12)
Timofey Mozgov is gone from Denver, Jusuf Nurkic has been anointed the new starter. This could get very exciting. If the Bosnian rookie can reduce his foul rate, super impressive numbers appear to be a fait d'accompli. In the two starts since becoming the starter, Nurkic has averaged 12.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, 1.0 steal, and 2.5 blocks in just 22 minutes, limited by the 4.5 fouls he accumulated. Even in 22 minutes, Nurkic's numbers mean he should be owned in all leagues. If he stays on the court, we could be seeing something incredible, fantasy wise, a player who could truly swing fantasy leagues in the second half of the season. For now, if he hasn't been snapped up, Nurkic needs to owned and stashed until we see how this plays out.
Others to consider: Nene, despite his innate fragility, is someone to look at owning given his strong play over the last few weeks and the fact that the Wizards play four games this week. Be prepared to drop him at the first sign of injury, but there is some value in a player who averages 13.0 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 1.2 steals.Timofey Mozgov may not be available in most leagues, but if he is available, he needs to be added in all standard leagues. The Cavaliers spent two first-round picks trading for Mozgov this week, and all other "key" players in their rotation get big minutes. LeBron James, Kyrie Irving, and Kevin Love all play 36 minutes or more per game. They have no other rim protectors on the team, opening the possibility that Mozgov could see his value rise quickly on the Cavs. Rudy Gobert is another must-add this week. There seems the possibility that he could be in the midst of stealing the starting job from Enes Kanter. If that holds true, Gobert needs to be owned in all leagues. This is non-negotiable given his elite blocks numbers.
