This article is part of our NBA Waiver Wire series.
GUARD
C.J. Watson, G, ORL - Watson has offered solid production off the bench in recent games, and he's averaging 7.5 points (on 52.4 percent shooting), 1.3 rebounds, 1.0 assists and 1.0 three-pointers over the last four. He's still averaging just 16.6 minutes per game, so expectations should be tempered, but he's capable of offering serviceable returns in scoring and three-pointers in deep formats.
Tyler Ulis, G, PHO - Ulis had already been registering solid production prior to coach Earl Watson's recent decision to shut down Eric Bledsoe (knee) for the season. Now he's the starting point guard on a team that plays at a fast pace and in plenty of high-scoring games, making him an immediate grab off the wire. He's scored in double digits in three straight and is averaging 12.5 points, 8.0 assists, 2.5 rebounds and 1.0 steals over the last four, and he's sporting a 21.5 percent usage rate over his first two games as a starter, as well.
Tyler Ennis, G, LAL - Ennis is the "other" Tyler that's more likely to still be floating around your league's wire. He makes for a decent pickup in his own right, though his playing time can be somewhat of an issue at times. However, he's averaged 6.0 points (on 53.8 percent shooting), 1.7 assists and 1.3 rebounds across 12 minutes per contest over the last six and recently came off a five-game stretch where he scored six to eight points. Naturally, he's almost exclusively
GUARD
C.J. Watson, G, ORL - Watson has offered solid production off the bench in recent games, and he's averaging 7.5 points (on 52.4 percent shooting), 1.3 rebounds, 1.0 assists and 1.0 three-pointers over the last four. He's still averaging just 16.6 minutes per game, so expectations should be tempered, but he's capable of offering serviceable returns in scoring and three-pointers in deep formats.
Tyler Ulis, G, PHO - Ulis had already been registering solid production prior to coach Earl Watson's recent decision to shut down Eric Bledsoe (knee) for the season. Now he's the starting point guard on a team that plays at a fast pace and in plenty of high-scoring games, making him an immediate grab off the wire. He's scored in double digits in three straight and is averaging 12.5 points, 8.0 assists, 2.5 rebounds and 1.0 steals over the last four, and he's sporting a 21.5 percent usage rate over his first two games as a starter, as well.
Tyler Ennis, G, LAL - Ennis is the "other" Tyler that's more likely to still be floating around your league's wire. He makes for a decent pickup in his own right, though his playing time can be somewhat of an issue at times. However, he's averaged 6.0 points (on 53.8 percent shooting), 1.7 assists and 1.3 rebounds across 12 minutes per contest over the last six and recently came off a five-game stretch where he scored six to eight points. Naturally, he's almost exclusively a deep-league option, but one that could potentially help in a pinch.
Deron Williams, G, CLE - Williams has mostly hit his stride in Cleveland, as he's now averaged 7.4 points (on 48.7 percent shooting), 3.7 assists and 2.4 rebounds over the last seven, and 8.0 points on 50 percent shooting over the last four. He plays more than 20 minutes a game despite playing behind Kyrie Irving and makes for a solid nab off the wire for those who need of a boost across multiple categories.
Tim Frazier, G, NOP - Frazier is another productive reserve that's capable of helping owners in a variety of ways, and he's averaged 6.5 points (on 45.5 percent shooting), 4.5 assists, 3.5 rebounds and 1.0 steals across 18.5 minutes over the last four. As Jrue Holiday's primary backup, he can be counted on to continue seeing plenty of run for the balance of the campaign.
Revisiting:
J.J. Barea, G, DAL - We talked up Barea in early February, and now that he's returned from an extended absence, he's definitely worthy of consideration. The diminutive point guard is averaging 6.6 points, 6.2 assists and 1.6 rebounds in the five games since his return, and has already posted one game apiece with double-digit scoring and double-digit assists. He's boasting a 25.6 percent usage rate as well over that span, and with Deron Williams no longer in Big D, Barea should be heavily involved for the balance of the campaign.
Keep An Eye On:
Taurean Prince, G, ATL - Prince has shown up nicely on the stat sheet recently, scoring 17 and 16 points, respectively, in two of his last three games. However, those point totals have come with some atypical playing time, as Prince played 31 and 29 minutes in those contests. Therefore, he's certainly worth monitoring to see if he continues seeing something close to that level of opportunity. He was solid toward the end of February as well, when he scored eight to 11 points in four games, while also hauling in between four and 12 rebounds over that span.
FORWARD
Quincy Acy, F, BRO - Acy is a multi-category producer who always seems to see a solid allotment of playing time, and he's averaged 8.4 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.6 made three-pointers over the last 10 games while shooting 46.6 percent overall. That stretch includes four double-digit scoring efforts and rebound totals of four to eight in six of those games. He is the primary backup at the four and sees the occasional start as well, furthering his case.
Juancho Hernangomez, F, DEN - Although brother Willy has rightly gotten more pub, Juancho is making some nice strides in his own right. He's averaged 9.3 points and 4.0 rebounds in the last three with some extra playing time due to injuries on the Nuggets, but he's also contributed a solid 6.6 points and 4.0 rebounds on 58.3 percent shooting over the last seven overall. He's capable of contributing across multiple categories and could be in line for a few more starts if Danilo Gallinari's knee bruise is slow to heal.
Noah Vonleh, F, POR - Vonleh has the relative misfortune of playing on an offense with alpha-scorers Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum, while recent arrival Jusuf Nurkic is also seeing plenty of usage. However, the 21-year-old is finding a way to make his mark, as he's averaged 6.1 points (on 59.3 percent shooting) and 6.3 rebounds over the last seven games. While you have to be realistic about what his potential production might be, Vonleh is certainly capable of lending a hand in scoring and rebounding in deeper formats.
Luc Mbah a Moute, F, LAC - Mbah a Moute is in a similar situation to Vonleh, as he's far behind the rest of his first-unit teammates as far as an offensive option. However, he's also capable of providing modest but consistent returns in scoring and rebounding, averaging 6.0 points and 2.3 boards over the last four games.
Revisiting:
Dante Cunningham, F, NOP - We first spotlighted Cunningham in mid-February, and although conventional wisdom might dictate that there isn't much room for anyone else on an offense that features Anthony Davis, DeMarcus Cousins and Jrue Holiday, the forward is finding ways to contribute. He's averaged 9.5 points and 7.0 rebounds over the last four, while shooting a white-hot 73.9 percent from the field. He's even rattled off three double-digit scoring efforts in the last nine contests and could well be available in a good amount of leagues despite his recent production.
Shabazz Muhammad, F, MIN - Muhammad, who we originally highlighted in late December, is averaging 10.6 points (on 49.2 percent shooting) and 3.3 rebounds over the last seven and is worth a quick refresher given Nemanja Bjelica's recent season-ending foot injury. That should open up a bit more usage for Muhammad on the second unit, considering Bjelica had been heavily involved relative to playing time before his injury. Accordingly, he's taken double-digit shot attempts in the two games since his teammate's injury and produced 21 and 15 points, respectively. Muhammad definitely comes up a bit short in non-scoring categories, but has plenty of offensive upside to offer.
Keep An Eye One:
Nicolas Brussino, F, DAL - Brussino played 12 to 23 minutes in his last three games and flashed some potential with 11 points, nine rebounds and two steals against the Wizards on Wednesday. He bears watching, particularly if the Mavs' rather remote postseason hopes are extinguished for good in the near future and coach Rick Carlisle opts to give some of the youngsters extra run as the season winds down.
CENTER
John Henson, C, MIL - Henson never sees a ton of playing time but provides decent returns in multiple categories when on the court. He's averaging 6.8 points, 6.8 rebounds and 2.2 blocks over the last five while playing 13 to 21 minutes in those contests. If you're in dire need of some rebounding and blocks at this stage of the season, Henson is a viable option in deep formats.
Revisiting:
Zaza Pachulia, F, GSW - Pachulia first caught our eye in early February, and with Kevin Durant's recent knee injury, he merits our attention again. The veteran big man is sporting a 19.2 percent usage rate since March 2 (the Warriors' first full game without Durant), with three double-digit scoring efforts over that span. He's averaging 8.3 points, 6.3 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.0 steals over the last 12 overall and can offer plenty of value as an add off the wire in the stretch run.
Ivica Zubac, C, LAL - We were on to Zubac in late January when he'd started to make some inroads into Timofey Mozgov's playing time, but with the recent announcement that he'll start for the remainder of the season, he's right back in the crosshairs. Factoring out Wednesday's game against the Rockets in which foul trouble limited him to 19 minutes, Zubac has four double-digit scoring efforts in the other four games in the last five, including an 18-point, eight-rebound effort on Friday evening. The big man stays heavily involved on the offensive end when he's on the floor, as most recently evidenced by the 13-15 shot attempts he's taken in three of the last five contests. He should see plenty of run as long as he avoids the ref's whistle, making him an outstanding pickup if you're lucky enough to still grab him.
