10 Fantasy Basketball Waiver Wire Targets for Week 18
We're here once again to look at 10 of the most interesting players to emerge off fantasy basketball waiver wires over the past week.
As always, make sure you're checking out last week's edition (and the week before for good measure). We try not to repeat ourselves, but there are always some high-priority options to be found in previous iterations of this column who should still be on your radar if they're out there.
All rankings come courtesy of Basketball Monster.
Now, let's hit the wire.
Bobby Portis, PF/C, Washington Wizards
Yahoo Ownership: 60%
Bobby Portis was traded to the Washington Wizards at the deadline, and it looks like he's ready to be unleashed by his new team.
He's come off the bench for both games he's played as a Wizard, but he's still managed 28.4 minutes per contest over that span, averaging 20.0 points, 2.0 three-pointers, 9.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 0.5 steals, 1.0 block, and 2.0 turnovers while shooting 55.2% from the field and 80.0% from the free throw line.
He was rolling before he left the Chicago Bulls -- he's been the 22nd-ranked player in nine-category leagues over his last five -- and it looks like he's ready to keep that going in Washington. He may be coming off the bench, but the minutes appear to be there anyway, and it's not like Jeff Green has an iron grip on the starting power forward spot, either.
Portis looks poised to put up at least mid-round value going forward, regardless of whether he starts or comes off the bench, so he should be owned in all standard leagues going forward.
Jabari Parker, SF/PF, Washington Wizards
Yahoo Ownership: 60%
Jabari Parker is another piece that went Washington's way in the deal that sent Otto Porter to the Bulls, and he's been solid so far in two games played in a Wizards uniform.
He's been the 19th-ranked player in nine-category leagues over that span, averaging 13.5 points, 0.5 threes, 8.0 rebounds, 7.5 assists, 2.0 steals, 1.5 blocks, and 2.0 turnovers in 29.0 minutes per contest while shooting 57.1% from the field and a perfect 2-for-2 from the charity stripe.
He might be coming off the bench (much like Portis), but the minutes and production are encouraging. If you're choosing between Portis and Parker, they're pretty well a toss-up at the moment, so follow your gut. Regardless, both are worth owning in standard leagues until further notice.
Ivan Rabb, PF, Memphis Grizzlies
Yahoo Ownership: 30%
Marc Gasol has been dealt to the Toronto Raptors, and Ivan Rabb has taken over as the Memphis Grizzlies' starting center.
In three games as a member of the starting five, Rabb has been the 56th-ranked player in nine-category leagues, averaging 14.7 points, 0.3 triples, 9.7 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 1.0 steal, 1.0 block, and 0.7 turnovers in 30.8 minutes per contest while shooting a blistering 72.0% from the field and 58.3% from the free throw line.
Jonas Valanciunas, the main piece that came back Memphis' way in the Gasol deal, has yet to play for the team, but word is that he'll come off the bench when he does. If Rabb can stick in the starting lineup and get a full complement of minutes, he should be able to maintain mid-round value. Go get him.
Delon Wright, PG/SG, Memphis Grizzlies
Yahoo Ownership: 10%
Delon Wright is another guy who the Grizzlies acquired in the Marc Gasol deal, and he should be much more valuable as a fantasy asset on his new team than he was backing up both Kyle Lowry and Fred VanVleet in Toronto.
Granted, he didn't make much of an impact in his first game with the Grizz, scoring seven points on 3-for-7 shooting from the field and 1-for-2 from the line while adding a rebound, two assists, a steal, and nothing else. Even so, the potential for production is there as the Grizzlies got fairly thin at guard at the deadline by dealing away both Shelvin Mack and Garrett Temple.
Wright is more of a speculative add or flier than anything, but he's got interesting upside if he can can squeeze his way into the starting lineup at some point or carve out a decent enough helping of minutes off the bench. Take a chance on him if you're hurting at either guard position.
Kenrich Williams, SF, New Orleans Pelicans
Yahoo Ownership: 30%
The recent six-game absence of E'Twaun Moore (quad) opened up a spot for Kenrich Williams in the New Orleans Pelicans' starting lineup, and he has run away with the job.
Over his last six games (including four consecutive starts), Williams has been the 50th-ranked player in nine-category leagues, averaging 13.7 points, 2.7 three-pointers, 8.3 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 0.3 steals, 1.2 blocks, and 0.8 turnovers in 35.4 minutes per contest while shooting 47.6% from the field and 66.7% from the free throw line.
Moore returned on Saturday, but Williams stuck in the starting lineup and had a great game to boot. Williams is worth an add right now to see if he can keep his new job and continue putting up solid fantasy numbers with the opportunity.
Terrence Ross, SG/SF, Orlando Magic
Yahoo Ownership: 60%
No one is treating Terrence Ross as an early-round asset in fantasy hoops, but that's exactly what he's been since the calendar flipped to 2019.
Over that 21-game span -- a sample size that is starting to mean something -- Ross has been the 48th-ranked player in nine-category leagues, averaging 17.3 points, 3.1 triples, 4.0 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 1.0 steal, 0.3 blocks, and 0.9 turnovers in 27.9 minutes per contest while shooting 44.1% from the field and 92.1% from the free throw line.
He's not starting in Orlando, but he's getting consistent enough minutes off the bench to make a top-50 impact. Throw in the fact that the Magic freed up some minutes on the wing by moving Jonathon Simmons at the deadline, and there's no reason why Ross should be available in standard-sized leagues at this point.
Mitchell Robinson, C, New York Knicks
Yahoo Ownership: 20%
Apparently the New York Knicks have no plans to buy out DeAndre Jordan, which means that Mitchell Robinson is destined to come off the bench for the team for the rest of the season.
No matter. He's been the 61st-ranked player in nine-category leagues in exactly that role over his last 11 games. Over that span, he's averaged 8.8 points, 0.0 three-pointers, 5.5 rebounds, 0.3 assists, 0.6 steals, a whopping 2.5 blocks, and 0.3 turnovers in only 18.0 minutes per contest while shooting 79.2% from the field and 50.0% from the free throw line (no, those are not reversed).
Enes Kanter being out of New York finally clarifies the Knicks' big man rotation, so Mitchell's path to the kind of minutes that can make him a top-tier specialist is much clearer now. He's not stuffing the stat sheet by any means, but he's available on nearly 80% of Yahoo waiver wires for owners in need of blocks and a boost to their field goal percentage.
Patrick Beverley, PG/SG, Los Angeles Clippers
Yahoo Ownership: 40%
Patrick Beverley had been rolling for the Los Angeles Clippers for a few weeks, but with Tobias Harris and Avery Bradley both traded elsewhere at the deadline, Beverley now has a lock on a starting job and mid-round fantasy value going forward.
Over his last eight games, he's been the 25th-ranked player in nine-category leagues with averages of 11.9 points, 2.7 triples, 7.1 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 1.1 steals, 0.8 blocks, and 1.1 turnovers in 32.0 minutes per contest, and a shooting split of 53.7% from the field and 95.2% from the line.
Don't be fooled by his 145th ranking on the season as he's consistently ranked between 59th and 97th for the last five seasons heading into this year. All he needs is a path to consistent minutes, which he didn't have prior to the deadline but absolutely does right now.
He doesn't score a lot of points, but the three-pointers, assists, steals, low turnovers, high free throw efficiency, and solid rebounding for a guard have always made him a valuable -- albeit underrated -- fantasy asset. Get him on your squad immediately if he's on your wire.
Ivica Zubac, C, Los Angeles Clippers
Yahoo Ownership: 35%
Ivica Zubac was traded from the Los Angeles Lakers to the Clippers at the deadline, right on the heels of the Clippers releasing Marcin Gortat. Zubac jumped right into the Clippers' starting lineup on Saturday and went to work.
In that game, he scored 12 points on 5-for-10 shooting from the field and 2-for-3 from the charity stripe while adding nine boards, three blocks, two turnovers, and nothing else.
He was starting for a bit with the Lakers before the trade and wasn't doing much with the opportunity, but it will be interesting to see if he manages to get things going on his new team. He's worth a flier to see if he can stick in the starting lineup and continue to build on the mid- to late-round value he has been flirting with all season.
Jake Layman, PF, Portland Trail Blazers
Yahoo Ownership: 10%
Jake Layman has generally been a fantasy non-factor through his first three NBA seasons with the Portland Trail Blazers, but he's suddenly posted top-100 value over his last 10 contests.
Over that span, he's ranked 88th in nine-category leagues, averaging 13.8 points, 1.7 threes, 4.1 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 0.4 steals, 0.6 blocks, and 0.9 turnovers in 26.3 minutes per contest while shooting 54.7% from the field and a perfect 5-for-5 from the charity stripe.
He could turn back into a pumpkin at any moment, but for now, he's a hot hand worth looking at on the waiver wire in deeper leagues.
