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 important statistical offerings. In the breakdowns below, I've ordered players at each position with the priority of acquisition in mind, rather than the roster percentage in ESPN leagues.
Point guard
Reggie Jackson, Detroit Pistons (Rostered in 32.5% of ESPN leagues): It's officially time to actively speculate ahead of the looming trade deadline. In Jackson's case, he could reap major opportunity rates if the Pistons deal Derrick Rose, who is enjoying a career-best streak of scoring at least 20 points. Jackson returned from injury this past week to average 18 PPG with solid peripherals and could become a key statistical force if Rose is wearing a different jersey by the conclusion of the deadline.
Shabazz Napier, Minnesota Timberwolves (21.9%): One of the most-added players in ESPN leagues during the past week, Napier is fresh from his first career triple-double and is enjoying surges in distribution and scoring duties in the wake of Jeff Teague being dealt to Atlanta last week.
T.J. McConnell, Indiana Pacers (9.9%): While his value is highly dependent on the availability of Malcolm Brogdon and the looming return of Victor Oladipo, McConnell makes for a helpful interim addition while the Pacers are missing their star backcourt. During the past week, for instance, McConnell has averaged an impressive 9.3 APG and 2.6 combined steals and blocks.
Shooting guard
Eric Gordon, Houston Rockets (32.5%): Up to 19 PPG thanks to sinking nearly four 3-pointers per game during the past week, Gordon's role as the Rockets' third scoring option has proved quite rewarding of late. With James Harden ailing, Gordon becomes an even stronger statistical force to consider.
Landry Shamet, LA Clippers (9.3%): Somewhat similarly to Gordon, Shamet is a shooting specialist enjoying a hot stretch from beyond the arc of late; he's averaged 18 PPG thanks to a gaudy 4.3 3PG during the past week. With Paul George still healing from a hamstring injury, Shamet is a fine addition.
Josh Hart, New Orleans Pelicans (23.2%): One of the league's best rebounding guards, it's been impressive to see Hart continue to get steady minutes off the bench even with the Pelicans getting their full starting lineup on the court. Just this past week, for example, Hart has produced 7.8 RPG to go with strong defensive rates.
Matisse Thybulle, Philadelphia 76ers (6.5%): Don't sweat the fact that Thybulle is averaged just 7.3 PPG during the past week and instead recognize the sheer silliness of his league-best 3.7 SPG during this sample.
Small forward
Bogdan Bogdanovic, Sacramento Kings (35.9%): A surprising shift to the starting lineup in place of Buddy Hield should help fuel strong usage for Bogdanovic, who has averaged 15 PPG with helpful shooting results during the past week.
Kris Dunn, Chicago Bulls (32.0%): A defensive specialist by trade, a rash of injuries to the Bulls' frontcourt has put more pressure on Dunn to produce on offense. The Notre Dame product has responded with double figures in scoring in five straight to complement the league's highest steal percentage.
Cam Reddish, Atlanta Hawks (10.8%): Steady minutes on a team that ranks second in the league in possessions per 48 minutes during the past week has helped Reddish average 14.0 PPG and 6.0 RPG during the past seven days.
Power forward
Jerami Grant, Denver Nuggets (38.9%): An injury to Paul Millsap has opened a big role for Grant in Denver's rotation. He's responded with a strong slash of 18.8 PPG, 6.8 RPG and 2.3 combined steals and blocks in 33.3 MPG during the past week. While this fun fantasy run appears dependent on Millsap's status, it's worth speculating with additional shares of Grant his week.
Thaddeus Young, Chicago Bulls (35.8%): Injuries to both Wendell Carter Jr. and Lauri Markkanen should support heavy minutes and increased opportunity rates for Young in the weeks ahead. With very little competition for minutes at power forward on Chicago's depleted frontcourt, Young makes for a great addition this week.
Dorian Finney-Smith, Dallas Mavericks (15.6%): The loss of Dwight Powell and his strong rebounding rate should see DFS continue to reap atypically strong rebounding opportunities as a combo forward in the weeks ahead. Finney-Smith has averaged 8.7 RPG during the past week and is especially helpful to fantasy managers now that his 3-point shot is falling with more consistency. Teammate Maxi Kleber (20.5%) is also a strong addition to target for defensive help, as he's produced multiple swats in four straight as of Monday.
Center
Daniel Theis, Boston Celtics (28.3%): Theis poured in 15 points and grabbed nine boards this past Sunday evening against the Pelicans and now has scored in double figures in three straight. With strong defensive rates and Enes Kanter ailing, Theis is a great addition at a shallow center position.
Kelly Olynyk, Miami Heat (9.7%): For those seeking some shooting and scoring pop at the center spot in deeper leagues, it's worth noting Olynyk has averaged 12.7 PPG and 1.3 3PG during the past week for Miami.
Mike Muscala, Oklahoma City Thunder (0.8%): Available in nearly every ESPN league, Muscala has tallied double figures in scoring in three straight appearances while averaging 22 MPG during the past week.