The waiver wire is key to success in fantasy basketball. We’ll be playing so many games, sustaining injuries, and changing rotations during the marathon campaign, it will be necessary to obtain stats from free agencies to maximize our fantasy rosters.
You can find satisfaction in allowing competition to take over the last few slots on your fantasy hoops roster. It is important to compare your end-of-bench players with those available in free agency when curating this dynamic group of statistical contributors.
This weekly series has the goal to identify players at every position that is available in free agency in at minimum a third ESPN leagues. Some nominees can help in just one or two categories while others provide more comprehensive and valuable statistical information. In the following breakdowns, I have placed players at each position in order of priority. This is not to reflect ESPN league roster percentage.
Point Guard
Eric Bledsoe, LA Clippers(Rostered by 62.9% ESPN leagues) Although time travel is still not known, Bledsoe’s final week admirably echoes his prime production. In the wake Paul GeorgeBledsoe is now a key player for the Clippers, despite his elbow injury. Since December’s early December slump, Bledsoe averaged 17 points and 6.2 assists. He also had a record 2.6 combined blocks-and-steals during his six last outings.
Josh Giddey, Oklahoma City Thunder (47.9%): Giddey made history by becoming the youngest player to record a triple double and the only teenager ever to lead all players in scoring and rebounds. While scoring and shooting can be difficult at times, the young Aussie still enjoys a fantasy life with countless assists and rebounds.
Shooting Guard
Josh Hart, New Orleans Pelicans (39.7%):Villanova’s product boasts a robust statistical profile thanks to an impressive rise in scoring. Hart’s ability as a distributor and shooting guard to make big shots on the court shows that he has a stable fantasy floor.
Dillon Brooks, Memphis Grizzlies (34.5%):Brooks will resume his role as a critical perimeter scorer for Grizzlies due to a looming return to health and safety protocols.
Small Forward
Desmond Bane, Memphis Grizzlies (67.1%)Given his effectiveness and power as a Memphis perimeter scorer, it’s absurd that Bane is still available in fantasy leagues.
Franz Wagner, Orlando Magic (57.6%):It is rare for a rookie wing member to be a positive fantasy contributor. But Wagner is doing it; he has emerged as a valuable source of steals, blocks and a better scorer.
Power Forward
Saddiq Bey, Detroit Pistons (61.2%):Bey is an ascendant scoring forward, who has scored at least 21 points in each of the last four games. This clearly shows that he has overcome a long shooting slump. Bey has been elevated to a prominent role on both ends of the floor because of the depleted Pistons rotation.
Marcus Morris Sr., LA Clippers (20.8%).Morris has emerged as an offensive cog after George’s injury, much like Bledsoe. Morris is an essential addition to any team, with 22.3 points and 10.7 rebounds as well as assists during the past week.
Center
Chris Boucher, Toronto Raptors (59.5%):Boucher, another elite rim protector has recorded a monster line in the last week against Joel EmbiidIn addition, he also produced multiple steals in the three previous games.
Daniel Gafford, Washington Wizards (24.4%):Gafford, who is ranked fifth in blocks per season, has seen increased playing time that has fueled strong lines recently. He should be an asset to an undersized Washington roster.