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 priority of acquisition in mind, rather than roster percentage in ESPN leagues.
Point guard
Tomas Satoransky, Washington Wizards (Rostered in 0.1 percent of ESPN leagues): As ESPN's Brian Windhorst and Adrian Wojnarowski reported, John Wall will miss the rest of the season to undergo surgery to alleviate issues with bone spurs in his heel. During a long injury-induced absence for Wall last season, we saw Satoransky vault into a starting role with real success. During a notable 26-game sample that lasted from late January until late March last season sans Wall, Satoransky posted a strong slash of 10.4 PPG, 5.9 APG, 4.2 RPG, 1.2 SPG, all while sinking half of his 3-point attempts. On Saturday night, Satoransky scored 20 points on 11 shots to go with 10 combined boards and dimes. With size, length, and shooting savvy on his side, Satoransky is potentially a top-75 asset going forward and merits much more attention from managers in the weeks ahead. In addition to Satoransky, check to see if Trevor Ariza is on the wire in your league, as his steal and 3-point volume should also rise sans Wall.
Emmanuel Mudiay, New York Knicks (11.2 percent): Using per-36 minutes splits, Mudiay's season grades out very well compared to Utah's Donovan Mitchell. The Knicks' guard has averaged 20 PPG, 5.8 APG, and 3.2 RPG the past nine games, all starts. It's time to buy into Mudiay's breakout.
Deep additions (players available in at least 90 percent of ESPN leagues): Tyus Jones (0.2 percent) has been productive in place of an ailing Jeff Teague and Derrick Rose the past few games and is a worthy streaming target until he shifts back to a lesser role.
Shooting guard
Malcolm Brogdon, Milwaukee Bucks (38.5 percent): I'll stop endorsing Brogdon when the market appreciates his efficient scoring and strong peripheral numbers. During the past month, the Bucks' combo guard has been particularly productive in averaging 16.3 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 3.3 APG, 2.2 3PG, all while shooting 50.7 percent from the floor and 45.6 percent from beyond the arc.
Marcus Smart, Boston Celtics (7.0 percent): Fifth in the NBA in total steals, Smart provides strong value as a specialist in roto leagues and is even helpful in head-to-head formats since becoming a starter in late November; he's averaging 4.3 assists and 1.5 3-pointers to go with an incredible 2.7 steals during this sample.
Deep additions: Derrick White (0.1 percent) has been busy out of the Spurs' backfield the past few weeks, with his fantasy stock tied to his stellar steal rate the past five games. The second-year combo guard is impressively averaging four assists and 3.1 combined blocks and steals the past five games and could be of help in deeper leagues.
Small forward
Justise Winslow, Miami Heat (0.9 percent): Point Winslow is a real thing. Coach Erik Spoelstra recently tabbed Winslow as the team's point guard with Goran Dragic sidelined for several months, and the statistical response from the 6-7 wing has been impressive; he's averaging 22.3 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 5.3 APG, and 2.3 SPG during the past seven days.
Bogdan Bogdanovic, Sacramento Kings (24.3 percent): Not only can you go double Bogdan in acquiring this savvy shooter, but you'll also net one of the league's best bench scorers. Don't sweat the fact Bogdanovic doesn't start, as he is a closer for the Kings, confirmed by his clutch game-winning 3-pointer against the Lakers last week.
Deep additions: Mikal Bridges (0.9 percent) is yet another gem available in almost every ESPN league, Bridges is ranked seventh among small forwards on the Player Rater the past 15 days. With stellar steal and block production, steady minutes and freedom to shoot on a young Suns roster, Bridges in an excellent spot to break out in the second half of the season.
Power forward
Thaddeus Young, Indiana Pacers (18.5 percent): A hot stretch has turned into a hot month for Young, who is not only scoring in bunches lately but also has sustained his elite defensive profile (two combined blocks and steals per game this year).
Marcus Morris, Boston Celtics (17.5 percent): Already enjoying a career season, Morris has been additionally productive these past few weeks, with 20.4 PPG, 5.8 RPG, and 3.0 3PG on stellar shooting rates (49 percent from 3-point range) these last seven games. The Celtics under this coaching staff have a way of supporting career offensive efforts, adding to the legitimacy of this breakout season from Morris.
Kyle Anderson, Memphis Grizzlies (39.7 percent): "Slow Mo" has been a solid fantasy option of late, with a whopping four combined blocks and steals per game the past week and a useful blend of rebounds and assists from a wing.
Deep additions: An awesome statistical showing this past Saturday saw Jeff Green (0.6 percent) deliver five combined blocks and steals and compile a season-high seven assists. No single player will consume all the usage and touches left by Wall, so Green is a savvy addition to consider even upon Otto Porter's return. Sacramento's Nemanja Bjelica (3.0 percent), meanwhile, is back to blocking shots and sinking 3-pointers after a sustained slump, making this stretch forward.
Center
Montrezl Harrell, LA Clippers (47.9 percent): This is hopefully the last time I mention Harrell in this piece this season, as he's inching toward being rostered in half of ESPN leagues, but still isn't quite there. This uber-efficient scoring maven from the bench is like the Lou Will of centers, as he's averaged 17 PPG in 25.5 MPG the past seven days.
Larry Nance Jr., Cleveland Cavaliers (34.7 percent): With atypically strong assist and steal production for a player eligible at both power forward and center, Nance is among the best additions you can make to your roster this week.
Dewayne Dedmon, Atlanta Hawks (1.7 percent): Up to 16 PPG, 11 RPG, and two combined blocks and steals per game this past week, Dedmon's utility as both a real and fantasy force remain quite underrated.
Deep additions: Found at 13th on the Player Rater among centers the past two weeks, Washington's Thomas Bryant (0.2 percent) is another prime pick-up from this Wizards roster.