Working the waiver wire and sifting through free agency is crucial to succeeding in fantasy basketball. With so many games, injuries and endless rotation shifts throughout the marathon NBA season, we need to source stats from free agency in order to maximize our imaginary rosters.
In this weekly series, we identify players available in more than half of ESPN leagues at each position. Some nominations are purely specialists capable of helping in one or two categories, while others deliver more diverse and important statistical offerings. Either way, we believe the names below -- ordered by descending ownership rates in ESPN leagues at each position -- can contribute positively to fantasy rosters.
Point Guard
Tim Frazier, New Orleans Pelicans (Owned in 48.5 percent of ESPN leagues at press time): As the starting point guard in the Big Easy as Jrue Holiday attends to a family health scenario, we find Frazier third in the NBA in passes and frontcourt touches per game and sixth in assists. Even upon Holiday's eventual return, we expect Frazier to sustain around 25 minutes per game as the team's complementary distributor.
Ty Lawson, Sacramento Kings (18.9): Another substitute starter to consider, Lawson is a fine rental until Darren Collison returns from an eight-game suspension. The Kings lead the league with five games this coming week, and Lawson rates eighth in the league in dimes per game, so this could be a strong stretch of passing production.
Sergio Rodriguez, Philadelphia 76ers (10.7): With Jerryd Bayless expected to miss multiple weeks with a wrist ailment, this Spanish vet is averaging 30.5 minutes per game and ranks fifth in frontcourt touches per game as the team's ball-dominant distributor.
J.J. Barea, Dallas Mavericks (7.2): Afforded 34 minutes per game as the lead distributor of Dallas' second unit and also as a key complementary shooter -- he's lofted 27 shots and 10 3-pointers through two games -- Barea is a fine utility option in deeper leagues.
Shooting Guard
Will Barton, Denver Nuggets (42.0): It's essentially déjà vu as Barton was widely available early last season as the team's top backcourt scoring option. With 38 minutes and 12.5 shots per game to go along with the league's most amazing headshot on his player profile, Barton is again a top fantasy free agent.
Justise Winslow, Miami Heat (39.5): While shooting just 37.9 percent from the field is a bit troubling, it's also nice to see Winslow lofting 14.5 shots along with 33 minutes per game for the Heat. With real upside as a defensive asset and quality rebounding resource at a thin shooting guard position, Winslow is a strong early addition to target.
Sean Kilpatrick, Brooklyn Nets (1.3): With at least 13 points in each game thanks to lofting 12 3-point attempts and 33 field goal attempts overall in the first three outings, it's clear Kilpatrick could provide Barton-like support in the scoring department for managers in deeper leagues.
Small Forward
T.J. Warren, Phoenix Suns (21.7): We love minutes first and foremost when sifting for free agents, as increased exposure is the key to earning consistent opportunities. Warren is sixth in the NBA so far in minutes, averaging a robust 38.5 after having led the Suns in minutes in the preseason. A gifted natural scorer with a steady midrange game, Warren is a must-add early this season.
Wilson Chandler, Denver Nuggets (7.7): Whenever we find a player averaging 30 minutes and double-digit field goal attempts, we should take notice. Chandler is doing just that, while he also has a strong history in steals, blocks and 3-point production.
James Ennis, Memphis Grizzlies (4.0): A 3-and-D asset earning steady minutes (27.5 per game) for a Memphis team seeking to pick up the pace this season, Ennis could prove reminiscent of the valuable production James Posey once provided for the Grizzlies.
Andre Roberson, Oklahoma City Thunder (3.2): Best used as an option in deeper leagues (as in at least 12 teams), we like that Roberson is averaging 9 boards, 36 minutes and an elite 3.5 steals per game.
Power Forward
Marcus Morris, Detroit Pistons (37.9): Just like Phoenix's Warren, Morris a player driven by a strong exposure rate: He was 12th in the league last year with 35.7 minutes per game and is now seeing 30.5 per night for the Pistons. With Reggie Jackson's high-usage game sidelined, Morris has averaged 15.5 shots so far, helping buoy a high floor for this widely available stretch big.
Taj Gibson, Chicago Bulls (21.9): While he's yet to record a swat this season, Gibson has averaged at 1.3 blocks over his career and has never dipped below 1.1 per game in a season. In a new-look frontcourt affording him steady minutes, Gibson can help with boards and blocks.
JaMychal Green, Memphis Grizzlies (13.2): Like Ennis, Green is seeing steady minutes as a complementary forward for Memphis. With a strong rebounding rate and freedom to shoot from beyond the arc, Green merits increased attention as a fantasy commodity.
Trevor Booker, Brooklyn Nets (8.3): Brooklyn's thin roster means a steady vet like Booker could earn meaningful minutes throughout the season. The sixth-year Clemson product has enjoyed his role as the team's garbage man so far, cleaning up the boards to the tune of 10.7 rebounds per game to go with helpful steals and shooting percentages.
Center
Clint Capela, Houston Rockets (38.8): We'll eventually see some awesome block production emerge from Capela given the increased exposure and usage we're seeing for the third-year pivot. As the rim protector on a team likely to challenge for the league lead in pace, Capela could enjoy really nice numbers at a scarce center position.
Tyson Chandler, Phoenix Suns (11.4): As long as he's healthy and averaging 30 minutes -- which he is at the moment -- Chandler offers elite shooting from the field and strong rebounding rates.
Justin Hamilton, Brooklyn Nets (6.0): A stretch center averaging 28 minutes, six shots from 3-point range along with a block and a steal per game, Hamilton is another asset on Brooklyn enjoying a quietly strong start to the season.