Working the waiver wire is pivotal to succeeding in fantasy basketball. With so many games, injuries and endless shifts in rotations throughout the marathon campaign, we'll need to source stats from free agency to maximize imaginary rosters.
A willingness to entertain competition for the last few spots on your fantasy hoops roster can prove rewarding. When curating this fluid collective of statistical contributors, it helps to consider your end-of-bench players in direct competition with the talent floating in free agency.
The goal of this weekly series is to identify players available in at least half of ESPN leagues at each position. Some nominations are specialists capable of helping in one or two categories, while others deliver more diverse and essential statistical offerings.
In the breakdowns below, I've ordered players at each position with the priority of acquisition in mind, rather than roster percentage in ESPN leagues.
Point guard
Patrick Beverley, LA Clippers (Rostered in 20.8 percent of ESPN leagues): Over a growing sample, Beverley has quietly been one of the most underrated fantasy guards thanks to elite rebounding and defensive rates as the lead bulldog out of the Clippers' backcourt. During the past 19 games, Beverley is slashing for 9.9 MPG, 7.3 RPG, 4.2 APG, and 2.2 combined blocks and steals. The market is likely overlooking Beverley because of his modest scoring rate, but he's regularly flirting with triple-doubles these past few weeks and is one of my favorite additions for the fantasy playoffs.
Tomas Satoransky, Washington Wizards (37 percent): Even as his scoring has dipped, Satoransky remains a valuable contributor thanks to a Beverley-like statistical profile that still sees him averaging 11.2 combined assists and rebounds to help overcome just 11.3 PPG in his past nine games.
Deep additions: The Knicks seem happy to let Allonzo Trier (4.7 percent) find his shot at his discretion -- and the dude likes to shoot. Averaging 15.7 PPG the past six games in part due to stellar free throw production, Trier is a worthy streaming option for those in need of 3-point and scoring pop.
Shooting guard
Dwyane Wade, Miami Heat (30.8 percent): In the top 30 in the league in usage rate this season, which is an estimate of the team plays an individual player consumes, Wade isn't retiring quietly. You won't find much help in the shooting department from Wade, but a healthy blend of assists, rebounds, and scoring production supports streaming value for Wade as he concludes his Springfield-bound career.
Avery Bradley, Memphis Grizzlies (10 percent): In eight games with Memphis, Bradley has averaged 16.3 PPG, nearly double his clip with the Clippers (8.2) this season. This two-way vet found his stroke from beyond and is netting enough usage to merit attention in much more than his current ownership rate.
Deep additions: Wesley Matthews (14.3 percent) is playing heavy minutes (32.8 MPG) for the Pacers the past six games, all starts, while hitting an awesome 3.5 3PG in the process.
Small forward
Robert Covington, Minnesota Timberwolves (49.8 percent): Recently recalled from his G League assignment and nearing a return to action after missing all of 2019 thus far with an injury. No other player in the NBA is averaging Covington's blend of steals, blocks, and 3-point production this year, signaling must-add status as he returns to action.
Justise Winslow, Miami Heat (46.9 percent): Even with Goran Dragic back in the mix, the team is funneling distribution duties through Winslow. The results remain encouraging, with this point forward netting 4.8 dimes per the past 10 games.
Deep additions: Damyean Dotson (11 percent) of the New York Knicks is another scoring wing for the Knicks afforded rare freedom to create. Capable of posting more than 20 points when his shot is falling, Dotson could help in deep leagues.
Power forward
Dwight Powell, Dallas Mavericks (39.6 percent): The deadline saw Dallas streamline their roster with an eye on the future, affording Powell plenty of minutes and touches as a result. With 16.3 PPG and stellar defensive rates this past week, Powell is a powerful addition at a somewhat weak position this season.
Deep additions: Cheick Diallo (4.3 percent) is further proof power forward has been uniquely thin this season in regards to producing worthy waiver gems. Diallo might not bring a very high statistical ceiling to the court, but with Anthony Davis sidelined so often for New Orleans given this odd current arrangement, this forward has strong rebounding and steal potential in the coming weeks.
Center
Kelly Olynyk, Miami Heat (11.2 percent): This productive stretch big has been impressive from a fantasy perspective for a few weeks now thanks to a hot hand from the floor and regular usage as the team's endgame floor spacer. Olynyk has impressively slashed for 16.8 PPG, 5.8 RPG, 1.6 combined steals and blocks and 2.2 3PG the past eight games, all starts.
Joakim Noah, Memphis Grizzlies (9.4 percent): A surprising return to NBA action has Noah enjoying a revival of sorts, as his deft defense and playmaking are showing up in the box score with some regularity recently. With the Grizzlies willing to let Noah rebuild his stock as they chase lottery odds, he's a fun fantasy addition at a shallow center position.
