Fantasy basketball waiver-wire finds – Look to Malik Monk, Jordan Poole
Baseball is back, and so is fantasy! Get the gang back together, or start a new tradition.
Join or start a league for free >>
Prepare with rankings & analysis >>
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 roughly half of ESPN leagues at each position (although I will make some exceptions). 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 roster percentage in ESPN leagues.
T.J. McConnell, Indiana Pacers (Rostered in 46.3% of ESPN leagues): One of the best options in the league for steals in addition to being a strong source of assists, McConnell has somehow become a high-floor fantasy option from Indiana’s bench.
Jordan Poole, Golden State Warriors (25.5%): Averaging 19.7 PPG during his last 10 games, Poole will need to prove he can sustain some measure of starting fantasy value once Stephen Curry is back to full force. The key lesson might just be that Poole is a must-start option whenever Curry is sidelined.
Michael Carter-Williams, Orlando Magic (5.9%): The Magic simply don’t have many initiators rostered. Carter-Williams can create for others and doesn’t mind getting his own shot off the drive. The numbers are always a bit old school in the lack of shooting prowess, but there might be plenty of touches for this former cornerstone of the Process.
Alec Burks, New York Knicks (44.3%): Averaging nearly 21 points the last six games, Burks has been a playmaking force for the Knicks while helping fantasy managers with strong rebounding and defensive contributions.
Malik Monk, Charlotte Hornets (12.3%): A certified bench bucket, Monk recently missed a game due to a foot injury, but put up 32 points in 25 minutes in a win over the Heat on Friday evening.
Terrence Ross, Orlando Magic (45.7%): In the wake of the Magic dealing off three key starters, Ross could become a premier shooting and scoring specialist once he’s healthy.
Jae’Sean Tate, Houston Rockets (27.5%): Kevin Porter Jr. might be a league-winning waiver addition this season, but even Tate can help teams with his versatile blend of production. Capable of producing multiple blocks, atypically high assist rates, and strong rebounding performances, Tate is a undervalued by managers at the moment.
Dillon Brooks, Memphis Grizzlies (44.4%): Putting up 20.6 PPG during his last five games, Brooks is a hot hand to target. He doesn’t do much beyond scoring, but that’s acceptable when the scoring is this prolific.
Terance Mann, LA Clippers (3.9%): Stellar rebounding rates and now a surging scoring prowess have surfaced for Mann in a recent uptick in opportunities. The Clippers could rely on Mann’s playmaking off the pine more in the final weeks.
Chuma Okeke, Orlando Magic (21.0%): One of the quiet winners of the trade deadline, Okeke has a real chance to play a big role for the Magic in the final weeks of the season. Okeke has averaged 17.7 PPG with stellar shooting results during his last three games. As the resident stretch forward, Okeke should see enough minutes to deliver fantasy value.
Jae Crowder, Phoenix Suns (26.2%): Forgive some of the uglier shooting performances for the face Crowder can build strong fantasy lines via defensive and rebounding production. The Suns do well with Crowder spacing the floor, setting up a strong finish for the veteran wing.
Marcus Morris Sr., LA Clippers (12.3%): Averaging 15 PPG during the last six games, all starts, Morris has been a productive scoring forward for the Clippers. With Lou Williams in Atlanta, the scoring burden on the forward only rises.
Moses Brown, Oklahoma City Thunder (43.3%): Fresh from a career performance against the Celtics and with news that Al Horford won’t play against this season, Brown is in an ideal spot to drive fantasy value going forward. The Thunder will afford their new starting center every opportunity to produce in the weeks ahead.
Jakob Poeltl, San Antonio Spurs (35.0%): A consistent source of swats and an emerging rebounder, Poeltl has become a viable fantasy force at a relatively shallow fantasy position.
Wendell Carter Jr., Orlando Magic (42.6%): While he didn’t start in his debut with the Magic, Carter did almost net a double-double and could become a more important building block for the team given the lack of frontcourt depth on the roster.