This article is part of our NBA Waiver Wire series.
The NBA schedule is a little more diverse this week, with teams playing two, three and four games, meaning that waiver-wire adds for this week will be influenced to some degree by the games played. The Spurs and Hornets both play only two games, while the Timberwolves have the most fantasy friendly schedule, playing four games including matchups against the Thunder, the Celtics, the Sixers and the Cavaliers.
Point Guard
D.J. Augustin, DET: (potential long-term add); (FAAB: $13)
Augustin could have an expanded role starting Sunday if Brandon Jennings' leg injury holds him out for a prolonged period of time. It's believed Jennings may have torn his Achilles in Saturday's game, which would mean Jennings would be out for the season. Augustin's per-36 minutes stats this season are: 14.6 points, 2.9 rebounds, 7.1 assists, 0.8 steals, and 1.2 three-pointers on 39 percent shooting from the field and 83 percent from the free-throw line. If the Pistons don't add another point guard, they could run Augustin ragged, but coach Stan Van Gundy usually limits his starting point guard to under 32 minutes per game, meaning the averages above should be considered a better-than-best-case scenario.
Dante Exum, UTA: (speculative add with upside); (FAAB: $9)
Exum was moved into the starting lineup over Trey Burke two games ago, and both players are excelling in their new roles. The Australian rookie's relaxed style allows him to facilitate to better players as a member of the starting lineup, while Burke is allowed
The NBA schedule is a little more diverse this week, with teams playing two, three and four games, meaning that waiver-wire adds for this week will be influenced to some degree by the games played. The Spurs and Hornets both play only two games, while the Timberwolves have the most fantasy friendly schedule, playing four games including matchups against the Thunder, the Celtics, the Sixers and the Cavaliers.
Point Guard
D.J. Augustin, DET: (potential long-term add); (FAAB: $13)
Augustin could have an expanded role starting Sunday if Brandon Jennings' leg injury holds him out for a prolonged period of time. It's believed Jennings may have torn his Achilles in Saturday's game, which would mean Jennings would be out for the season. Augustin's per-36 minutes stats this season are: 14.6 points, 2.9 rebounds, 7.1 assists, 0.8 steals, and 1.2 three-pointers on 39 percent shooting from the field and 83 percent from the free-throw line. If the Pistons don't add another point guard, they could run Augustin ragged, but coach Stan Van Gundy usually limits his starting point guard to under 32 minutes per game, meaning the averages above should be considered a better-than-best-case scenario.
Dante Exum, UTA: (speculative add with upside); (FAAB: $9)
Exum was moved into the starting lineup over Trey Burke two games ago, and both players are excelling in their new roles. The Australian rookie's relaxed style allows him to facilitate to better players as a member of the starting lineup, while Burke is allowed to use his aggressive shooting style off the bench when the Jazz have their weaker offensive players in the game. Add Exum in all 12-team leagues or larger on a flier, but don't be surprised if he ends up struggling for a stretch at some point and gets put back into a bench role. Exum is only 19 years old, and before this two-game stretch in the starting lineup, he looked like a fish out of water a lot during his first three months in the league..
Mo Williams, MIN: (short-term add); (FAAB: $2)
This may be the last week we can use Mo Williams in standard leagues with a potential Ricky Rubio return around the corner, but that doesn't mean he shouldn't be snapped up and benefitted from in his four games this week. Don't spend big, but as a starter this season, Williams is averaging 17.2 points and 7.9 assists. Those numbers may just swing a weekly matchup. His poor numbers the last week are almost entirely due to the fact that he is hitting just 23 percent of his field goal attempts. When that normalizes, you should get solid output from Williams.
Greivis Vasquez, G, TOR: (short-term, flier); (FAAB: $2)
Recently moved into the starting lineup, Vasquez has been played over 30 minutes in two of those three contests playing alongside Kyle Lowry. Terrence Ross hasn't shown enough in a reserve role to be rushed back into the starting five, so Vasquez should be able to hold onto the job for a few weeks at least. In his three recent starts, Vasquez has averaged 8.3 points, 3.0 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 0.7 steals, but has shot just 38 percent from the field. If he can get it back to the 42 percent he shot last season, his scoring will come up and you have a nice end of your bench option, with the potential to explode if Lowry goes down.
Others to consider:George Hill is back from injury and he should be owned everywhere, as should Elfrid Payton. Check your wire. Marcus Smart is another player with more long-term than short-term potential, but his minutes have been relatively consistent in a bench role and could help your considerably come fantasy playoff time. Jordan Clarkson was moved into the starting lineup for the Lakers on Friday, and with Kobe Bryant (shoulder) possibly out for the season, Clarkson may become the team's focal point of their hopes for the future, making him an interesting flier player to pick up this week in standard leagues.
Shooting Guard
Evan Turner, BOS: (long-term add); (FAAB: $4)
As frustrating as Brad Stevens has been this season, especially in managing his frontcourt rotations, he's been fairly consistent in giving Turner minutes, beginning all the way back in the preseason. Turner continues to run the point for the Celtics, and even if Smart were to find his way into the starting five, Turner could comfortably slide over to the three, replacing the struggling Jae Crowder. Turner won't score a bunch for you, but he is averaging 5.8 rebounds and 6.5 assists over his past six games, and assists can be mighty tough to find on the wire.
Langston Galloway, NYK: (long-term, flier); (FAAB: $4)
The Knicks are a dumpster fire, but from the ashes often rises a phoenix, and that phoenix may be named Langston Galloway. He's still only playing on a 10-day contract, so he may have zero long-term value, but the fact the Knicks are starting him, makes me think a season-long deal is just around the corner. In his seven-game NBA career, Galloway is averaging 12.3 points, 1.6 three-pointers, 4.0 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 1.1 steals and has actually played over 30 minutes in his last three games. It's a slightly risky move, but the Knicks need contributors and Galloway could be that guy.
Others to consider: If Eric Gordon hasn't been snapped up, you should do that, pronto, especially with the injury news on Jrue Holiday. Lou Williams has also been a fairly solid source of points this season and he can provide nice value in a four-game week as well.
Small Forward
Matt Barnes, LAC: (all leagues); (FAAB: $5)
Minutes are very important in fantasy basketball, and with exactly zero competition for his starting small forward job, Matt Barnes has been turning in a number of fantasy-useable performances of late. In his last six games, Barnes is averaging 12.0 points with 2.3 three-pointers, 5.7 rebounds and 1.2 steals, playing 35 minutes a night. He only played 24 minutes in the Clippers' blowout of the Nets on Thursday, but prior to that, he played over 30 minutes in seven consecutive games. Forget about the shell of a player we saw at the start of the season, his divorce was weighing heavily on his mind. Barnes has turned it around and should provide solid value for most teams from here until April.
K.J. McDaniels, PHI (long-term add); (FAAB: $4)
The ACL injury to Tony Wroten should allow McDaniels to see some solid playing time next to Michael Carter-Williams and allow him a huge opportunity to fulfill his enormous potential. He seems entrenched in the starting lineup, and we know we are going to get the out-of-position blocks (1.4 per game in just 26 minutes), but his offensive game could flourish with more reliance on him, as we've seen with double-digit scoring in the past two outings. He's also started hitting three-pointers, knocking in 1.0 per game in his last seven contests.
Others to consider: If someone dropped Jeff Green after his trade to Memphis, he's an automatic pickup, and judging by his 80 percent ownership on Yahoo, he is available in some places. Green was moved into the starting lineup two games ago. Khris Middleton is also someone with a lot of value moving forward, even though there will be some up and downs. He is taking advantage of Jabari Parker's injury and is an elite source of steals.
Power Forward
Brandon Bass, BOS: (short-term add); (FAAB: $4)
All of the league scuttlebutt has been pointing to a trade of Celtics big man Brandon Bass, and while any move may impact his fantasy value, if you are playing for the here and now, the newly-installed starting center in Boston is a worthwhile pick-up in a lot of formats. In his last three games, Bass is averaging 31 minutes, 15.7 points, 7.0 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 1.7 steals and is one of the better free-throw shooting big men, hitting 78 percent of his free throws for the season. With Kelly Olynyk's ankle injury possibly keeping him out until the All-Star break, the minutes in the frontcourt will be split between Bass, Tyler Zeller and Jared Sullinger for the immediate future.
Robert Covington, PHI: (long-term add); (FAAB: $13)
Is Covington still available in your league? I hope not, but it appears that not everyone is buying into the production of the former D-Leaguer. Recent reports said the Sixers were viewing Covington as a long-term asset, not as a trade chip and we could be seeing the sophomore as a fixture on the wing in Philadelphia for beyond this season. The shooting percentage is ugly at 40 percent, but a player hitting 2.2 three-pointers with 4.4 rebounds and 1.3 steals is valuable in anyone's language. Also, let's not forget he hits his free throws at 84 percent.
Others to consider:Jason Smith appears to be the Knicks' starting power forward du jour, playing 35 minutes a night in his past three games, averaging 13.0 points, 4.7 rebounds and 2.0 blocks, even contributing 1.0 three-pointers in those games as well. He's probably a deeper league option or a streaming candidate, but he's someone to keep your eye on. With the Raptors playing four games, Patrick Patterson is someone who may fit into your team's build, considering he is averaging 10.5 points, 1.3 three-pointers and 9.5 rebounds in his last four.
Center
Timofey Mozgov, CLE: (all leagues); (FAAB: $16)
Free from the shackles of Brian Shaw's mad-scientist rotations, Mozgov has settled into a key role on the Cavaliers, and fantasy owners need to make sure his ownership percentage skyrockets. Mozgov has double-doubled in three consecutive games, adding five blocks in that time as well and is a solid free throw shooter to boot. There is almost no league where Mozgov should be available.
Enes Kanter: (long-term add); (FAAB: $8)
Many people see Kanter as expendable given the emergence of Rudy Gobert, but the only person whose opion matters, Quin Snyder, doesn't appear to think that way at the moment. Kanter has had back-to-back 20 point, 10 rebound games, even adding eight steals in his previous six contests, something which is not a usual area of contribution for the big Turk. While Gobert is obviously superior defensively, Kanter is the most offensively skilled big man on the roster, and there will be minutes for him going forward. He's a great help for your percentages as well as the points and rebounds categories and should be owned in many more leagues than he currently is.
Others to consider: If anyone preemptively dropped Gorgui Dieng with Nikola Pekovic's return, you need to address that folly and add him to your team, stat. Also, if anyone dropped Hassan Whiteside after his ankle injury, he's a player you can't afford to miss out on a second time around.
