With the NBA trade deadline now less than a week away, I wanted to do a special Waiver Wired column to focus specifically on some players that could gain some fantasy value in the coming days. This could mean a player is traded to a better situation or it could simply be a young player who finds himself with a larger role after a stud or veteran role player is moved elsewhere. But first, a quick look at the upcoming schedule for all you streamers out there:
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Week 17 Schedule: Games Played
4 Games: CHA, CHI, GSW, MIN, NYK, OKC, PHX, TOR
3 Games: ATL, BKN, BOS, CLE, DAL, DEN, DET, IND, LAC, LAL, MEM, MIA, NOR, ORL, PHI, POR, SAC, SAS, UTA, WAS
2 Games: HOU, MIL
Week 17 Back-to-backs:
Sunday (Feb. 6th)-Monday: CHI
Monday-Tuesday: NYK, PHX
Tuesday-Wednesday: LAL, MIN, POR, SAC
Wednesday-Thursday: GSW, TOR
Thursday-Friday: DET
Friday-Saturday: CHA, CHI, CLE, DEN, OKC, ORL, PHI, SAS
Saturday-Sunday: N/A
Waiver-Wire Adds, Stashes and Watch-List Candidates:
Alperen Sengun (28%)- After weeks of low workloads, coach Stephen Silas finally caved and let Sengun share the floor with Christian Wood on Wednesday. The result? Sengun played 25 minutes with nine points, eight rebounds, three assists and one block as the Rockets snapped a four-game losing streak. This isn’t rocket science, so I’m not sure what has taken so long for Sengun to get consistent run. With a number of Rockets on the trade block, including Christian Wood, Sengun has the look of a fantasy-league winner down the stretch with a per-36 line of 17.2 points, 9.2 rebounds, 4.9 assists, 1.6 steals, 1.7 blocks and 0.6 triples.
Recommendation: He is a MUST-ROSTER player heading into the deadline.
Kenyon Martin Jr. (8%)- The Rockets will be sellers at the deadline with both Christian Wood and Eric Gordon on the block. Martin Jr. has logged minutes at positions 3-5 this season, so only one of those guys needs to make way for the second-year forward. The Rockets figure to play their younger guys more down the stretch anyways, regardless of the deadline. Martin Jr. has been trending up in recent games and was a silly-season hero in 2020-21, posting 5th round fantasy numbers in the final 10 games of the campaign with 16.8 points, 8.1 rebounds, 2.6 dimes, 0.8 steals, 0.9 blocks and 2.1 triples.
Recommendation: I’m not adding in standard leagues until I see the Rockets make a trade first (he’s fine to stash in deeper leagues though).
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Thaddeus Young (22%)- Young has wasted away on the San Antonio bench for most of the season as the rebuilding Spurs don’t seem interested in giving him minutes. He still has some good basketball in him though, and his expiring contract will be coveted by contenders at the deadline. Young has only played 20+ minutes in eight games this season, averaging 11.3 points, 5.6 rebounds, 4.3 dimes, 1.6 steals and 0.8 blocks in only 24 minutes. I can picture of a number of teams that could use Young’s two-way versatility, and if he lands a 25-minute role he could offer mid-round fantasy upside.
Recommendation: I think you can wait until he’s actually moved before adding. If you’re in a deeper league, you could probably stash him 24 hours prior to deadline.
Willy Hernangomez (23%)- Willy showcased his monster upside when Jonas Valanciunas missed three games recently, averaging 20.3 points, 10.3 boards, 2.0 dimes and 1.3 blocks. The Pelicans could go either direction at the deadline based on reports, though I’m expecting them to be sellers. Valanciunas could net them a lucrative return, and that would open the door for Willy to feast down the stretch.
Recommendation: A Valanciunas trade is still unlikely in my opinion, and with Willy in the protocols, he’s only worth stashing in deeper leagues for now. But if a J-Val trade does go down, Willy could instantly become a mid-rounder.
Jaxson Hayes (4%)- Hayes has had a rough season with some uninspired play combined with some off-court problems. He hit rock bottom when he was demoted to the third-string center, but he has clawed his way back into relevancy in recent games. He has even been used as a four lately, widening his path to minutes down the stretch. In his last six games, Hayes averaged a respectable 12.0 points, 5.2 rebounds and 0.7 blocks in 21 minutes.
Recommendation: I would prioritize Willy first if Valanciunas was traded but would definitely add Hayes too if I have another roster spot. Just like Willy, I don’t think you need to pick him up until there’s an actual trade. A stash in a very deep league is viable though.
Davion Mitchell (44%)- What was supposed to be a “minor” ankle issue has turned into a 7-game absence for De’Aaron Fox. Is that just a coincidence with the deadline less than a week away and Fox constantly linked elsewhere? That remains to be seen. I could easily see the Kings turning the page on the Fox era and moving forward with a Mitchell-Haliburton backcourt, and the rookie has shown that he has some upside. In his last six games, Mitchell averaged 17.2 points, 5.0 assists, 2.0 rebounds, 0.7 steals and 2.3 triples.
Recommendation- Based on his recent play, I think Mitchell is worth holding as long as Fox is out. If Fox ends up getting moved, Mitchell moves into must-roster territory for the rest of the season.
Daniel Gafford (54%)- Gafford is rostered in most leagues again after Thomas Bryant’s ankle injury. I’m still convinced that Bryant only moved into the starting lineup so the Wizards could showcase him for the deadline, as Gafford is their best center by a mile. I’m expecting the Wizards to move one of either Montrezl Harrell or Bryant (Gafford recently signed an extension and can’t be moved), and that’s good news for a player who has been a 10th-round (per-game) value in 21 minutes per game.
Recommendation: Gafford is a must-roster player heading into the deadline. If Bryant is moved elsewhere and lands a 25+ minute role, he becomes a solid pickup.
Deni Avdija (4%)- Deni isn’t the most exciting player in the world, but he’s just scratching the surface and has flashed some two-way upside. He’s starting to become a lockdown defender, and I think he has some decent playmaking ability that he doesn’t get to put to use in Washington. But that could all be about to change. Bradley Beal has not signed his extension and could walk in free agency this offseason, assuming he turns down his player option. If you’re the Washington front office, do you risk letting him walk for nothing?
If Beal does end up elsewhere, Avdija becomes much more interesting. With Beal off the court this season, Avdija is rocking a per-36 line of 13.3 points, 7.8 rebounds, 1.8 dimes, 1.2 blocks, 1.1 steals and 1.7 triples.
Recommendation: I wouldn’t stash him outside of deeper leagues, but I definitely think he becomes an intriguing pickup the second we get wind of a Beal trade.
Isaiah Jackson (38%) and Goga Bitadze (9%)- Myles Turner is targeting a March return, so the likelihood of a trade is through the roof again. Domantas Sabonis is also on the trade block, but a move for him is far less likely because while he is a star, he’s not someone you can plug into a rotation without having to make a ton of adjustments to the offense. As for Turner, his 3-point shooting and rim protection will fit like a glove almost anywhere.
But even if Sabonis stays in Indiana, I’m expecting a massive tank down the stretch which means the Pacers could dial back Sabonis and potentially shut him down. Jackson is currently sidelined by an ankle injury, but he’s the priority stash here after showcasing his monstrous upside in recent weeks. I think he could be a fantasy-league winner. As for Goga, he flopped the last time Sabonis was out and will likely be behind Jackson down the stretch.
Recommendation: Jackson is a MUST-ROSTER player right now, while Goga doesn’t need to be scooped up unless there’s a big trade.
Isaiah Hartenstein (5%)- With the unfortunate Kawhi Leonard (knee) news and Paul George (elbow) still weeks away from a possible return, a lot of people are expecting the Clippers to be sellers at the deadline. Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer recently reported that guys like Serge Ibaka and Marcus Morris could be on the way out. Hartenstein has been Los Angeles’ best center on a per-minute basis this season, and as one of the few young players on this roster, we could be looking at a big finish.
Recommendation: Hartenstein is one of my favorite stashes in deeper leagues but will be a must-roster player if the Clippers free up a path to 22-26 minutes.
Dennis Schroder (59%)- He’s not available in a ton of leagues but his roster percentage has been dropping like a rock. The Celtics are expected to be one of the most active teams at the deadline, and a recent report indicated that they could move Schroder who is on a one-year deal. The Cavaliers have been mentioned as a possible suitor, and we know they are willing to use a lot of two-PG lineups. If Schroder lands a 28+ minute role in Cleveland or anywhere else, a top-100 finish could be on the table.
Recommendation: Schroder is a low-end hold in standard leagues as the deadline approaches.
Devin Vassell (35%)- A Waiver-Wired favorite, Vassell finds himself on this list because Derrick White is reportedly on the block. Dejounte Murray is someone that several teams have asked about to according to ESPN’s Zach Lowe, but I can’t imagine them trading their star PG. Vassell has been an 11th rounder in 25 minutes this season and he’s not even shooting the ball well by his standards, so a White trade could give him the push he needs to be a mid-rounder.
Recommendation: Vassell is a must-roster player in standard leagues.
Grant Williams (3%)- The Celtics are open to moving the fossil of Al Horford at the deadline, and with no notable depth other than Robert Williams, we could see a lot of Grant down the stretch. His ability to play positions 3-5 helps his case too. With Horford off the court, Grant is an interesting fantasy option with a per-36 line of 11.8 points, 5.2 rebounds, 1.9 dimes, 1.2 blocks, 0.9 steals and 2.6 triples.
Recommendation: A worthy grab in deeper leagues if Horford is moved and Boston doesn’t any rotation bigs.
Trey Lyles (30%)- This one is pretty simple. Jerami Grant is one of the most likely players to be moved at the deadline and the Pistons have some very underwhelming frontcourt depth. Lyles has run circles around Isaiah Stewart and may be the most interesting big they have not named Kelly Olynyk.
Recommendation: Worth holding in deeper leagues for the time being.
Garrison Mathews (17%)- Houston fans are tired of watching Eric Gordon isos, but the Rockets are trying to squeeze every bit of trade value out of the veteran. Garry Bird has been one of the best pure shooters in the West and is averaging 3.3 triples per game.
Recommendation: He’s worth picking up as a 3-point specialist if/when Gordon is moved elsewhere.
Cam Reddish (15%)- He has been buried on the New York bench, but it sounds like they could move a number of veterans including Alec Burks. That being said, Cam would need a 30-minute role to make me interested.
Recommendation: He’s strictly a watch-list candidate in deeper leagues.
Jalen Smith (1%)- The Suns surely regret not picking up his option before the season. Jalen is an exciting young prospect that could be the piece the Suns move to upgrade their depth on the wings. If Jalen lands on one of the five or six bottomfeeders, he could be a silly-season hero. Imagine him on a team like the Thunder…
Chimezie Metu (4%)- Harrison Barnes is one of the best trade chips Sacramento has and he’s been linked to teams like the Jazz and Pelicans. Metu can play as a four or five, so a potential Richaun Holmes move could help him as well.
Recommendation: Metu is a hold in deeper leagues.
Damian Jones (2%)- Richaun Holmes has been uninspiring lately and may be on the move with the Kings expected to be sellers. Jones is a freak athlete for his size but has his flaws on the basketball side of things, but he’s certainly a lot more intriguing than Alex Len. Jones played 24 minutes on Wednesday and outplayed Holmes, scoring 17 points (6-of-8 FG, 4-of-5 FT) with four rebounds, five assists, one 3-pointer, one steal and two blocks.
Recommendation: Worth grabbing in deeper leagues already, and a definite pickup in standard leagues if Holmes is moved.
Obi Toppin (4%)- Julius Randle is eligible to be traded and just unfollowed the Knicks on social media… He’s been at odds with the fanbase for weeks and a move seems like it’d be in the best interest of both sides. He’s been linked to the Kings in a potential De’Aaron Fox swap, and if that happens, Toppin suddenly becomes a priority pickup.
Recommendation: Just throw Toppin on your watch list because I still think a Randle trade isn’t the most likely outcome.
