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 critical statistical offerings.
In the breakdowns below, I've ordered players at each position with priority of acquisition in mind, rather than roster percentage in ESPN leagues.
Point guard
Darren Collison, Indiana Pacers (Rostered in 42.9 percent of ESPN leagues): There is no way to fully replace Victor Oladipo's awesome blend of statistical contributions, yet Collison at least can cover the loss in steals and assists. Found at 14th on Player Rater among point guards the past 15 days, just ahead of John Wall, Kemba Walker and the Brooklyn guard below, Collison is a "pure" point guard worthy of your attention.
Spencer Dinwiddie, Brooklyn Nets (28.6 percent): Slashing for 18.6 PPG, 5.2 APG, and 1.8 3PG during the past 10 games with Caris LeVert sidelined, only 10 NBA players, including the likes of LeBron James, Damian Lillard, James Harden, and his teammate, D'Angelo Russell, are averaging at least these rates this season.
De'Anthony Melton, Phoenix Suns (0.0 percent): Like the GPA of the Delta Tau Chi fraternity, Melton's ownership rate sits at "zero point zero" in ESPN leagues. This despite averaging 13.3 PPG, 4.3 APG, 1.3 SPG, and 2.0 3PG the past three games. Melton has already usurped fellow rookie point guard Elie Okobo for the starting point guard role, signaling real value in the games ahead for this rising rookie.
Deep additions (players available in at least 90 percent of ESPN leagues): Denver's Monte Morris (0.2 percent) doesn't do much besides tally solid assist and steal rates, but he's getting enough playing time to support value in deeper leagues.
Shooting guard
Bogdan Bogdanovic, Sacramento Kings (34.1 percent): My top endorsement of the week, Bogdanovic is thriving as the Kings' complementary playmaker off the bench. Not to be confused with the Pacers' Bojan Bogdanovic, albeit he's a nice shooting specialist, the Kings' second-year wing is averaging 16.5 PPG, 3.8 APG, 3.1 RPG, and 2.3 3PG on stellar shooting rates the past 12 games for a competitive Sacramento team.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, LA Clippers (8.7 percent): Only Josh Hart, Tyler Johnson, John Wall, Kent Bazemore, and the Clippers' rookie guard are producing a steal percentage of at least 1.8 percent with a block percentage of at least two percent. This valuable blend of defensive rates helps fuel steady fantasy value even when Gilgeous-Alexander's scoring proves modest.
Dwyane Wade, Miami Heat (14.2 percent): One of 10 players in NBA history with 20,000 points, 5,000 assists and 1,500 steals, this guy might be good at playing basketball. These past five games, Wade has consumed a usage rate (estimate of team plays an individual player makes, such as shots, assists and turnovers) of 28.7 percent, a healthy clip often saved for superstars. If you can bear the variance of his scoring fluctuations, you'll find surprisingly strong 3-point production, assist rate and free throw volume from the Springfield-bound legend.
Marcus Smart, Boston Celtics (5.7 percent): The Celtics have won all five games since shifting Smart to the starting lineup. Smart has thrived statistically during this stretch, as well, with 2.8 combined blocks and steals to go with five assists and 1.6 3PG during this successful sample.
Deep additions: Arguably, the Cavs' won the Kyle Korver trade in getting Alec Burks (0.4 percent) and some draft assets. Burks has been a solid two-way wing thus far in Cleveland and merit attention in deeper leagues in the days ahead. ... Streaming the Lakers' Josh Hart (4.2 percent) until Brandon Ingram is at full strength should prove rewarding.
Small forward
Justin Holiday, Chicago Bulls (12.2 percent): New coach Jim Boylen has trusted Holiday to continue his busy role on the wing for the Bulls since taking over; thus there isn't stress over Holiday's role amid the coaching shift. The best way to promote Holiday is to mention he's third in the NBA behind only Harden and Stephen Curry in made 3-pointers and is third in the league in total minutes played.
Terence Ross, Orlando Magic (2.2 percent): Sinking 39.3 percent of his catch and shoot 3-point attempts on the season, Ross has become a valuable spacing weapon for the Magic and fantasy teams alike.
Kent Bazemore, Atlanta Hawks (5.9 percent): Taurean Prince is expected to miss the rest of 2018 with an ankle injury, affording Bazemore up to a month with increased usage and 3-point volume for a fast-paced Atlanta scheme.
Deep additions: It's worth speculating on Trevor Ariza (2.4 percent) landing in a more productive role when Phoenix eventually deals him. Players who signed to new teams over the summer can be moved after Dec. 15.
Power forward
Juan Hernangomez, Denver Nuggets (0.8 percent): It's not often you'll find the top player at a position in this column available in 99 percent of ESPN leagues, but the market is a little slow to pick up "Juancho" in the wake of Paul Millsap's injury. With Millsap expected to miss a good deal of time with a toe ailment, Hernangomez is going to flirt with double-double upside and increased shooting freedom on most nights.
Markieff Morris, Washington Wizards (9.1 percent): Along with Bradley Beal, Morris is the rare player for the Wizards playing well in the past several weeks and is yet another player worth acquiring ahead of a potential trade in the coming weeks.
Noah Vonleh, New York Knicks (5.4 percent): A "second draft" pickup by New York, this former lottery selection is now thriving as a stretch big and should help fantasy managers with rebounds and 3-pointers going forward.
Deep additions: A recent shift to the starting lineup in Utah for Jae Crowder (5.0 percent) should spell an increase in offensive efficiency for both the team and the player.
Center
Jaren Jackson Jr., Memphis Grizzlies (46.7 percent): Likely (and hopefully) the last week "JJJ" will stay below 50 percent roster rate in ESPN leagues, he's a force on defense already and is improving on offense in leaps during his rookie campaign.
Tristan Thompson, Cleveland Cavaliers (44.1 percent): A nice revival story during a rebuilding season for Cleveland, Thompson has averaged 14.1 PPG and 13.5 RPG during the past 17 games, proof he's fully back to his bully best on the boards.
Deep additions: Sticking in Ohio, Larry Nance Jr., (7.9 percent) is earning more exposure (27.4 MPG the past three outings) and should provide a nice blend of defensive rates and shooting efficiency in the weeks ahead. ... Boston's depth is shining once again, as Daniel Theis (0.1 percent) is proving capable of producing big splash games off the bench.