NBA

10 Fantasy Basketball Waiver Wire Targets for Week 20

Tyler Johnson's production has started to match the big minutes he's playing with the Suns. Which other waiver wire adds should be on your radar?

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.

Tyler Johnson, PG/SG, Phoenix Suns

Yahoo Ownership: 30%

When the Phoenix Suns acquired Tyler Johnson at the trade deadline, it looked like he'd have a clear path to minutes and fantasy production. He has indeed started four of his five games in a Suns jersey, and has gotten a healthy 30.7 minutes per contest as expected, but the production hasn't quite followed suit.

That was, of course, until he broke the heck out on Saturday night. In 34.6 minutes, Johnson scored 29 points on 10-for-16 shooting from the field and 5-for-6 from the free throw line, while adding four triples, five boards, four assists, two steals, a block, and not a single turnover.

He's not going to put up Stephen Curry-esque lines like that every night, but he's now the 44th-ranked player in nine-category leagues over his last three games, and that makes him one of the hottest adds available this week.

He's going to have some down nights, but Johnson should get all the minutes and usage he can handle as he plays out the string on the lottery-bound Suns. If he's available in your league, and you're in need of some help at point guard, pick him up and see where this goes.

Derrick White, PG/SG, San Antonio Spurs

Yahoo Ownership: 50%

Derrick White recently missed five games due to a heel issue, returned in quiet fashion on Friday, then sat out again on Sunday. That's not usually how one starts a waiver wire add recommendation, but White was playing strongly enough before the injury to make him worth adding anywhere he was dropped, even as he works his way back into shape.

Over his most recent six games played before sustaining the injury, he was the 38th-ranked player in nine-category leagues, averaging 14.7 points, 0.8 three-pointers, 4.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.3 steals, 0.8 blocks, and 1.2 turnovers in 28.9 minutes per contest, while shooting 53.2% from the field and 85.0%.

And that early-round patch is not an anomaly either. Over the last two months (20 games), White has been the 44th-ranked nine-cat player with averages that are pretty darn close to that six-game sample.

White is essentially a mid- to early-round asset just sitting on half of the waiver wires in Yahoo leagues. If he's available in yours, and you can tolerate a few games of uncertainty, you should really be looking to add him.

Cheick Diallo, PF/C, New Orleans Pelicans

Yahoo Ownership: 10%

Predicting the New Orleans Pelicans' rotation from here until the end of the season is not going to be all that easy. Between our only giving them a 2.3% chance of making the postseason, and all the Anthony Davis drama, it's going to be hard to predict who's in, who's out, and how many minutes anyone's going to be playing on any given night.

With that caveat in mind, it is worth noting that Cheick Diallo is rolling over his last three (albeit in limited minutes), ranking 43rd in nine-category leagues over that span with averages of 13.3 points, 0.0 threes, 11.3 rebounds, 0.7 assists, 0.3 steals, 1.3 blocks, and 1.3 turnovers in 21.0 minutes per contest, and a ridiculous shooting split of 84.2% from the field and 88.9% from the line.

He might vanish never to be heard from again by this time next week, but with Davis always a threat to sit or be shut down, and the rest of the Pelicans' regulars likely to see their minutes reduced as the season wears on with less and less to play for, Diallo could very well carve out a decent role for himself.

If you're looking for a hot hand and decent flier for rest-of-season value, Diallo's got a chance to pay off down the line.

Elfrid Payton, PG, New Orleans Pelicans

Yahoo Ownership: 45%

Elfrid Payton's season has been plagued by injuries, and he's only played 21 of a possible 61 games for the Pelicans this year as a result. He's back now from a recent ankle injury, however, and he's done enough over his last couple games to make him worth a look for owners in need of help at point guard.

Over that span, he's been the 92nd-ranked player in nine-category leagues, averaging 14.5 points, 1.5 threes, 3.5 rebounds, 6.5 assists, 1.0 steal, 1.5 blocks, and 3.5 turnovers in a healthy 32.2 minutes per contest, shooting 60.0% from the field and 50.0% from the charity stripe.

He's been a late-round asset each of the last two seasons, and he should have an opportunity to repeat that from here on out. Give him a look and see how long he can stay healthy this time.

Wesley Matthews, SG/SF, Indiana Pacers

Yahoo Ownership: 30%

Wesley Matthews has been a good fit for the Indiana Pacers in two weeks with the team, at least partially filling the void left by Victor Oladipo when he was ruled out for the year following knee surgery a month ago.

Over his last three games, Matthews has been the 87th-ranked player in nine-category leagues, averaging 15.3 points, 3.0 triples, 2.0 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 1.0 steal, 0.0 blocks, and 1.0 turnover in 31.7 minutes per contest, while shooting 46.7% from the field and 90.0% from the line.

There's not a lot of popcorn in that line, but the scoring, threes, free throw percentage, and low turnovers can pay the bills, so if you're in need of those stats, get Matthews on your squad.

Kent Bazemore, SG/SF, Atlanta Hawks

Yahoo Ownership: 45%

Kent Bazemore has quietly been the 93rd-ranked player in nine-category leagues on the season, but most of the heavy lifting for that ranking took place before the calendar flipped to 2019. Baze missed 14 games due to an ankle injury to start the new year, and had lost his starting job by the time he returned. He's been back in the starting five over his last two for the injured Kevin Huerter, however, and is suddenly back on track.

Over his last three, Bazemore has been the 84th-ranked player in nine-category leagues, averaging 17.0 points, 2.3 triples, 6.0 rebounds, 0.7 assists, 1.3 steals, 0.3 blocks, and 1.3 turnovers in a healthy 31.0 minutes per contest, while shooting 48.8% from the field and 66.7% from the line.

Baze might slip out of relevance when Huerter eventually returns, but he's worth an add now while his minutes are guaranteed, since he tends to be a good source of threes and steals whenever he's getting consistent playing time.

Robin Lopez, C, Chicago Bulls

Yahoo Ownership: 25%

You wouldn't think that a veteran north of 30 years of age would be getting much playing time on the tanking Chicago Bulls, but here we are. Over Robin Lopez's last four games, he's averaged 30.8 minutes per contest, and has been the 46th-ranked player in nine-category leagues in the process.

Over that span, he's averaged 19.3 points, 0.0 three-pointers, 5.3 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 0.0 steals, 1.5 blocks, and 1.3 turnovers, while shooting a blazing 65.3% from the field and 86.7% from the charity stripe.

He might vanish from the rotation at any given moment if the Bulls decide to go full-on youth development, but injuries and the trade deadline left them pretty thin up front anyway. RoLo might luck into some decent rest-of-season value if they keep playing him.

Ivan Rabb, PF, Memphis Grizzlies

Yahoo Ownership: 10%

Ivan Rabb looked like he might've been in for a boost in fantasy value following the Marc Gasol trade, but then Jonas Valanciunas had to go and immediately be an impactful player for the Memphis Grizzlies. With Jaren Jackson Jr. out indefinitely with a quad injury, however, Rabb looks to be back in the standard league conversation.

Since joining the starting lineup seven games ago, Rabb has been the 97th-ranked player in nine-category leagues, averaging 10.4 points, 0.3 threes, 6.4 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 0.9 steals, 0.6 blocks, and a mere 0.3 turnovers in 22.9 minutes per contest, while shooting 62.5% from the field and 68.8% from the free throw line.

He's not getting very consistent minutes, and his production is likely to see some ebbs and flows, but Rabb is set up to provide late-round value for at least as long as JJJ is on the shelf.

Joakim Noah, PF/C, Memphis Grizzlies

Yahoo Ownership: 10%

I never expected to be saying this in 2019, but Joakim Noah is a guy you might want to consider adding in standard leagues.

Over his last five games, he's turned back the clock, ranking 31st in nine-category leagues for his averages of 14.6 points, 0.0 triples, 7.8 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 0.8 steals, 1.2 blocks, and 0.6 turnovers in 24.4 minutes per contest, and shooting split of 57.1% from the field and 80.6% from the line.

That line is very reminiscent of when he was a sure-fire early-round guy, but that was five whole seasons ago. This little renaissance is fun, and you're welcome to stream Noah while he's red hot, just don't expect this kind of production to last forever.

Thomas Bryant, C, Washington Wizards

Yahoo Ownership: 30%

Thomas Bryant is rapidly getting dropped after ceding his starting spot to Bobby Portis on Saturday night, but don't hesitate to swoop in and snatch him up if that's the case in your league.

He had one of his best games of the season of the bench in that one, and is still the 38th-ranked player in nine-category leagues over his last seven. Over that span, he's averaged 14.0 points, 1.0 three-pointer, 7.7 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 0.4 steals, 1.4 blocks, and 0.9 turnovers in 21.6 minutes per contest, while shooting 59.2% from the field and 70.0% from the line.

He's not the hot add he would've been a month and a half ago, but he's still far more serviceable than his ownership percentage suggests right now.