The key to winning your fantasy basketball league is not how well you draft, but the players you add off waivers. This is extremely important because securing hidden talent could replace those late-round selections that aren’t having the best season. Here at NFS, we provide the best picks for players you should grab off waivers now before it is too late. As always, both opportunity and performance are taken into consideration for these players. Learn to think like a NERD!
Guards
Cam Thomas, SG, Brooklyn Nets
One of the most underrated freshmen in college basketball last year, Cam Thomas slid to the 27th overall pick for his lack of defensive ability and lack of efficiency offensively. Nonetheless, his scoring has carried over into the pros, giving Brooklyn a much-needed scoring option with Kevin Durant and James Harden out. In his last 10 games, Thomas has averaged 15 points and three rebounds per game. He’s also improved from three compared to his season average at 27 percent. He’s hit 35 percent of his attempts over the same games. He’s a great option while the team continues to recover.
Coby White, PG, Chicago Bulls
Once a lottery pick for the Chicago Bulls, Coby White has found a specialized role with the team as a scoring sixth man. He’s been more important now with Zach LaVine and Lonzo Ball dealing with long-term injuries. In his last 10 games, White has averaged 15 points, four rebounds, and three assists. He’s also improved a ton in his shooting percentages, hitting 44 percent from the field and 42 percent from beyond the arc. One of the biggest flaws in his first two seasons was his shooting percentages so even if White becomes a permanent sixth man, he’s still worth picking up in most formats.
Tre Mann, PG, Oklahoma City Thunder
Selected with the 18th overall pick last summer, Tre Mann has shown some solid promise for the Oklahoma City Thunder. Mann carries a lot of length which converts to being a lethal attacker in the paint. He’s also proved to be a decent shooter as well. he recently finished with 30 points and two steals against the New York Knicks. He’s a solid complementary player alongside Josh Giddey and Luguentz Dort as another dynamic scorer.
Forwards
Darius Bazley, SF/PF, Oklahoma City Thunder
After choosing to skip college, Darius Bazley is still trying to prove why that’s a better path to the pros. He continues to show slow growth every season since being drafted. This season has been one of Bazley’s best defensively, becoming a reliable forward on both ends of the floor. In his last 10 games, Bazley has averaged 13 points, eight rebounds, 1.2 steals, and a block per game. He’s also shot 43 percent from beyond the arc during those same games.
Justice Winslow, SF, Portland Trail Blazers
After being in a fairly lopsided trade with the Los Angeles Clippers, Justice Winslow has actually shown some promise in his first four games with the Blazers. In those four games, he’s averaging 11 points, seven rebounds, three assists, and nearly two steals per game. He’s also shooting a decent 47 percent from the field, an improvement nonetheless from his time with the Clippers. He still has to prove he can be a consistent producer for the tea, but he’s showing early promise for a rebuilding Blazers team.
Johnathan Kuminga, SF/PF, Golden State Warriors
Being one of the first players to play for the G-League Ignite team, Johnathan Kuminga has shown some solid skill when playing significant minutes for an already loaded Golden State Warriors team. He’s already shown to be very promising for the future if they were to shuffle some players around in the offseason. In his last 10 games, Kuminga has averaged 13 points, four rebounds, and is shooting 57 percent from the field. And despite the loaded frontcourt, he’s already showing he can be reliable for deeper formatted fantasy leagues.
Centers
Steven Adams, C, Memphis Grizzlies
After being traded from the New Orleans Pelicans, Steven Adams has been a staple veteran for the Memphis Grizzlies who have made a major jump this season. He’s been a reliable center who doesn’t need a ton of touches, giving more for Ja Morant and Desmon Bane. In his last 10 games, Adams has averaged eight points, 11 rebounds, 1.1 blocks, and nearly four assists per game. His passing out of the post has been an underrated aspect of his success this season. He’s a create consistent center off the waivers who generally stays healthy throughout the season.
JaVale McGee, C, Phoenix Suns
After missing a few games earlier this season, JaVale McGee hasn’t missed a step in proving a critical backup center role for the Phoenix Suns. In only about 16 minutes per game over his 10 games, McGee has been able to average an impressive 10 points, seven rebounds, and 1.7 blocks per game while shooting 65 percent from the field. He’s proved to be even more dangerous when DeAndre Ayton misses games. He’s a perfect unpopular pick off waivers because of his simplistic playstyle and little minutes compared to other players. Yet, he is still able to produce better than some starters per 36 minutes.
Ethan Hartley 