This article is part of our NBA Waiver Wire series.
So here it is, the last waiver-wire article of the season, and if you're still reading, that means that your season is still going, which I implore you to talk to your league commissioner about, as all head-to-head leagues should finish Sunday. But some leagues, including rotisserie ones, run through until the end of the regular season, and it pays to be extra vigilant ons the wire, as players will be resting, D-League call-ups will get big minutes on some teams and rookies may just start figuring it out.
Point Guard
Zach LaVine
: (all leagues); (FAAB: $3)
With Ricky Rubio (ankle) now officially shut down for the season, the starting job is all LaVine's. The Timberwolves have six more games, the same as most teams, so an add of LaVine makes sense for most squads. In his last eight games, LaVine is averaging 17.1 points, 1.5 three-pointers, 4.4 rebounds and 4.6 assists in 40 minutes per game. That minutes-total isn't likely to drop, so you can lock LaVine into weekly lineups without too much concern.
Jordan Clarkson
: (all leagues); (FAAB: $8)
There is one player on the Lakers who is a part of the future of the storied franchise, and that is Clarkson, a second-round draft pick last year. Like LaVine, Clarkson plays six more games this season and has been tearing it up of late. In the last four games, Clarkson is averaging 22.3 points, 6.5 rebounds and 8.3 assists per game. That's not just good, that's
So here it is, the last waiver-wire article of the season, and if you're still reading, that means that your season is still going, which I implore you to talk to your league commissioner about, as all head-to-head leagues should finish Sunday. But some leagues, including rotisserie ones, run through until the end of the regular season, and it pays to be extra vigilant ons the wire, as players will be resting, D-League call-ups will get big minutes on some teams and rookies may just start figuring it out.
Point Guard
Zach LaVine: (all leagues); (FAAB: $3)
With Ricky Rubio (ankle) now officially shut down for the season, the starting job is all LaVine's. The Timberwolves have six more games, the same as most teams, so an add of LaVine makes sense for most squads. In his last eight games, LaVine is averaging 17.1 points, 1.5 three-pointers, 4.4 rebounds and 4.6 assists in 40 minutes per game. That minutes-total isn't likely to drop, so you can lock LaVine into weekly lineups without too much concern.
Jordan Clarkson: (all leagues); (FAAB: $8)
There is one player on the Lakers who is a part of the future of the storied franchise, and that is Clarkson, a second-round draft pick last year. Like LaVine, Clarkson plays six more games this season and has been tearing it up of late. In the last four games, Clarkson is averaging 22.3 points, 6.5 rebounds and 8.3 assists per game. That's not just good, that's elite. If, for some reason, people in your league haven't caught onto Clarkson, please, I implore you, add him immediately. This guy is good, especially on a team which is so far from it.
Others to consider: Some deeper league guys to consider are Ray McCallum of the Kings and Pablo Prigioni of the Rockets. McCallum has value in standard leagues, but is inconsistent, while Prigioni will be splitting minutes with Jason Terry in Houston. Prigioni is averaging 4.8 assists in his last four games, which could the difference between a win and loss in that hard to find statistical category.
Shooting Guard
Wesley Johnson: (most leagues); (FAAB: $3)
Johnson is far from spectacular, but there are a number of things going in his favor for fantasy owners. One is triple-positional eligibility, being able to play him at shooting guard, small forward and power forward. Two, the Lakers have six games left. Three, Johnson is one of a handful of players who can average over one three-pointer, one steal and one block, something he did all of last season. He's not quite at those heights this season, but he's played 36 minutes per game in the last four, averaging almost a double-double in that time, with 1.3 blocks. He is a well-kept secret and is coming good at the right time of the season.
Anthony Morrow
: (some standard leagues); (FAAB: $2)
We all know that Morrow is an elite three-point shooter. The fact that he is hitting 53 percent of his triples in the last month is testament to that. But in the last week, he is also averaging 18.7 points, 4.3 rebounds and 1.3 steals to go with the 3.3 three-pointers, and he hasn't missed a free throw since Feb. 27. The Thunder aren't getting healthier any time soon, so Morrow's role should remain consistent and he could be a key addition.
Others to consider:Markel Brown of the Nets is locked in as the starting shooting guard, and despite some fluctuations, he has been averaging over 30 minutes in his last five games. He's more a deeper-league guy, but he can definitely help out, especially with Alan Anderson sidelined. Don't forget Gerald Henderson as well, but he's likely owned in most leagues.
Small Forward
Andre Iguodala
: (deeper standard leagues); (FAAB: $2)
Quietly, Iguodala is having a useful fantasy season. His last six games have yielded averages of 11.0 points, two three-pointers, 3.2 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 0.7 steals, even shooting free throws at 77 percent, way above his season numbers. With the Warriors already locking up the No. 1 seed in the playoffs, players may rest, Iguodala included, but he could also see an increased role in some games.
P.J. Tucker
: (standard leagues); (FAAB: $3)
Tucker and the Suns have five more games, but importantly, three of those fall on lighter days in terms of volume of teams playing. With Brandon Knight struggling to get back on the court, Tucker is playing nice minutes -- 33 per game over his last four -- averaging 11.3 points, 0.8 three-pointers, six rebounds and 1.8 steals. Also eligible at shooting guard in most leagues, it's hard to find someone to grab as many boards as Tucker can, without even considering his triples and steals.
Others to consider:Ryan Kelly is locked into a starting role for the Lakers for the rest of the season and he will be up and down, but he is someone for deeper leagues who can put up big numbers on occasion. Also, we heard yesterday that Paul George will return Sunday against the Heat, but the likelihood of George playing meaningful minutes to impact fantasy leagues is low, in my opinion. Add him at your own risk, but I think there are enough options aside from him to leave George waiting on your wire for now.
Power Forward
Boris Diaw
: (deeper leagues); (FAAB: $2)
It's very hard to trust a lot of the Spurs, despite them not missing games, as Gregg Popovich is limiting the minutes of players as soon as the result of a game is decided. One player who that isn't applying to is Bobo. Diaw has not played fewer than 22 minutes in his last 13 games, but he also hasn't exceeded 31, meaning his role is rock solid. He has hit at least one three-pointer and scored in double-digits in six straight, averaging 13.5 points, 1.3 three-pointers, 4.0 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game on 53 percent shooting over the last two weeks. He's not all that valuable for 10-team leagues, but in a league rostering 160-180 players, Diaw is a smart addition.
Marvin Williams
: (standard leagues); (FAAB: $4)
The Hornets are decimated up front. Al Jefferson is probably done for the season. Cody Zeller has missed the last nine games with a shoulder issue, and Saturday, Bismack Biyombo suffered a broken nose which may cost him time. Williams is the only constant, and since he's already getting 34 minutes per game over the last nine, and pulling down 6.8 rebounds and hitting 1.6 three-pointers, along with 0.9 steals and 0.8 blocks, if there ever was a time to look at Williams, it's now.
Others to consider:Tyler Hansbrough and Patrick Patterson could be intriguing if Amir Johnson misses more time. Hansbrough hit every shot Saturday, while Patterson missed all of his, but that will balance out both ways. If I had to pick someone, it's Patterson.
Center
Brandan Wright: (all leagues); (FAAB: $5)
As long as Alex Len remains out with a broken nose, Wright is a superb option. Known mainly as a highly efficient player, Wright is cranking up the heat in the counting stats of late, averaging 9.3 points, 6.3 rebounds and, importantly, 1.1 steals and 1.6 blocks in just 26 minutes per game over his last 15. His last two starts have been even better, totaling 30 points, 15 rebounds, five steals and six blocks, to go with his trademark high field goal percentage. Add him and don't look back.
Justin Hamilton: (standard leagues); (FAAB: $1)
Nikola Pekovic is done. Gorgui Dieng is ailing with a concussion. Kevin Garnett is struggling to remain in our collective consciousness. So it's all Hamilton for the time being. The Wolves have six games left and Hamilton figures to play a big role down the stretch. He is averaging 12.3 points, five rebounds, 1.3 steals and one block in his last four, and as a center, he shows surprisingly good range on his shot, hitting 0.3 three-pointers. When Dieng returns, he'll be reduced in his output, but for now, I like Hamilton to be useful in standard leagues.
Others to consider: If Biyombo doesn't miss time with his broken nose, he is an awesome guy to look at, provided all you need are blocks and boards, but if he misses, aside from Williams as detailed above, Jason Maxiell becomes a sneaky guy for some blocks. Already with one seven-block game this season, if he plays decent minutes in the six remaining games, you could easily get nine or 10 blocks from the veteran.
