10 Fantasy Basketball Waiver Wire Targets for Week 19
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.
Joe Harris, SG/SF, Brooklyn Nets
Yahoo Ownership: 60%
Fresh off being crowned the 2019 Three-Point Contest champion, Joe Harris is a hot add in fantasy hoops right now.
Over his last four games, he's been the 25th-ranked player in nine-category leagues, averaging 21.3 points, 4.3 three-pointers, 3.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 0.3 steals, 0.0 blocks, and 1.3 turnovers in a healthy 35.3 minutes per contest while shooting a blistering 63.8% from the field and a perfect 8-for-8 from the free throw line.
The Brooklyn Nets have a pretty stacked wing rotation now that everyone in it is pretty well healthy. But Harris has a starting job, a full complement of minutes locked down, and is producing well enough that he should be owned in all standard leagues.
Cody Zeller, PF/C, Charlotte Hornets
Yahoo Ownership: 30%
Cody Zeller recently returned from a hand injury that cost him 16 games. He hasn't exactly torn it up in his five games back, but his production has been solid enough to make him worth a look in standard leagues.
Over that span, he's been the 135th-ranked player in nine-category formats, averaging 11.2 points, 0.0 threes, 9.6 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 1.0 steal, 0.6 blocks, and 0.8 turnovers in 27.6 minutes per contest while shooting 52.9% from the field and 66.7% from the free throw line.
The Charlotte Hornets whiffed on landing Marc Gasol at the trade deadline, so they look set to start Zeller in the middle from here on out. He's not going to put up many monster lines, but the consistent rebounding, low turnovers, decent defensive stats, and strong field goal percentage make him one of the more reliable late-round options available on the majority of waiver wires right now.
Jahlil Okafor, C, New Orleans Pelicans
Yahoo Ownership: 45%
Jahlil Okafor was a fantasy beast during Anthony Davis' recent hiatus due to injury and trade possibilities, but Okafor got dropped in a lot of leagues when an ankle issue cost him two games at the exact same time that AD returned from injury.
Scoop him up if that's the case in your league.
Over his last 11 games, Okafor has been the 33rd-ranked player in nine-category leagues, averaging 16.7 points, 0.0 triples, 9.4 rebounds, 0.9 assists, 0.6 steals, 1.6 blocks, and 1.7 turnovers in 30.0 minutes per contest while shooting 66.4% from the field and 64.3% from the free throw line.
Granted, the majority of those games were played without AD in the lineup, but Okafor's done more than enough to earn minutes and a look in standard leagues, even as Davis' backup. If nothing else, he's a premium stash just in case the New Orleans Pelicans decide to wrap Davis, their big trade asset, in bubble-wrap as their lottery-bound season winds down.
Jordan Clarkson, PG/SG, Cleveland Cavaliers
Yahoo Ownership: 60%
As a bench player for the lowly Cleveland Cavaliers, Jordan Clarkson is not exactly the sexiest fantasy asset on the market. That said, he's been scoring in bunches lately and is -- at the very least -- worth a look for owners seeking a boost in points.
Over his last four games, he's been the 57th-ranked player in nine-category leagues, averaging 24.8 points, 3.3 triples, 5.5 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 1.0 steal, 0.3 blocks, and 2.8 turnovers while shooting 42.4% from the field and 93.3% from the charity stripe.
Even as a reserve, Clarkson is getting a starter's share of minutes (34.6 per game over that four-game stretch), so don't let his role fool you too much. He doesn't typically give you much outside of scoring, but he's still a decent bet for late-round value the rest of the way.
Landry Shamet, PG, Los Angeles Clippers
Yahoo Ownership: 15%
Rookie Landry Shamet has been solid in his first three games as a member of the Los Angeles Clippers and should be on your fantasy radar as a result.
In three games since joining the team as part of the Tobias Harris deal, he's been the 62nd-ranked player in nine-category leagues, averaging 13.3 points, 3.0 triples, 2.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.3 steals, 0.0 blocks, and 1.0 turnover in 27.9 minutes per contest while shooting 50.0% from the field and 87.5% from the free throw line.
In the Clippers' last game before the All-Star break, LA coach Doc Rivers went with Shamet in the starting lineup over Garrett Temple, and that could very well stick going forward. If it does, you're about to see his ownership skyrocket. Owners in need of a boost in triples should snatch him up before that happens.
Luke Kennard, SG, Detroit Pistons
Yahoo Ownership: 5%
When the Detroit Pistons traded Reggie Bullock to the Los Angeles Lakers, it opened up a spot in the starting lineup for Luke Kennard.
He's not about to light the league on fire or anything, but Kennard been fairly decent over his last three (including one start), ranking 114th in nine-category leagues with averages of 12.7 points, 2.7 three-pointers, 3.0 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 0.3 steals, 0.3 blocks, and 0.3 turnovers in 31.2 minutes per contest, and a shooting split of 40.0% from the field and 85.7% from the line.
His value going forward will mostly come from his triples, low turnovers, and high free throw percentage, but owners looking for help in either of those areas could do worse than Kennard in his new role. He's available in a whopping 95% of leagues, so deep-leaguers should especially take notice.
Reggie Bullock, SG/SF, Los Angeles Lakers
Yahoo Ownership: 15%
Speaking of Reggie Bullock, he's slipped right into a starting role on the Lakers after vacating one for Kennard on the Pistons.
Bullock has gotten a full complement of minutes and put up solid numbers in both games he's played in Laker purple and gold, but he's got a hot streak going now that spans five contests and both of his teams. Over that span, he's been the 32nd-ranked player in nine-category leagues, averaging 13.2 points, 3.2 threes, 4.2 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 1.4 steals, 0.6 blocks, and 1.2 turnovers in 32.2 minutes per contest while shooting 51.1% from the field and 4-for-4 from the charity stripe.
He might not get quite so many minutes once Lonzo Ball (ankle) and Josh Hart (knee) get healthy, but for now, streamers looking for a hot hand should give Bullock a look.
Dion Waiters, SG/SF, Miami Heat
Yahoo Ownership: 20%
Dion Waiters never has been and likely never will be a consistent standard league asset, but he's always a decent streaming option when he gets on a heater.
That's precisely what he's on now, ranking 78th in nine-category leagues over his last three contests. Over that span, he's averaged 18.3 points, 4.0 triples, 3.3 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 0.7 steals, 0.3 blocks, and 1.7 turnovers in 34.0 minutes per contest while shooting 48.8% from the field and 60.0% from the line.
He's had a very lackluster, injury-plagued season, but he's been doing well since joining the Miami Heat's starting lineup four games ago. He's not a league-winning add, but he's one of the hotter hands around at this very moment if you're in the business of chasing that.
Marquese Chriss, PF/C, Cleveland Cavaliers
Yahoo Ownership: 10%
The Cleveland Cavaliers' acquisition of Marquese Chriss at the trade deadline was not much of a needle-mover in real life, but it is making a few waves from a fantasy perspective.
In four games as a Cavalier, Chriss has been the 82nd-ranked player in nine-category leagues, averaging 14.3 points, 2.3 triples, 6.3 rebounds, 1.0 assist, 1.0 steal, 0.0 blocks, and 1.3 turnovers in 24.2 minutes per contest while shooting 53.7% from the field and 80.0% from the free throw line.
He's part of a fairly loaded big-man rotation in Cleveland, but considering their full commitment to the tank, he could get a fair share of minutes after falling out of the rotation for his last two teams. Chriss can provide owners with plenty of threes, boards, and blocks when he's getting a healthy helping of playing time, so owners in deep leagues can give him an add to see where this goes.
Kadeem Allen, SG, New York Knicks
Yahoo Ownership: 10%
The New York Knicks have had a highly unstable rotation all season, and that has been a nightmare for trying to figure out where to find fantasy value on their roster. The team's add du jour is Kadeem Allen, but be aware that no Knick comes with a guaranteed path to long-term fantasy value these days.
Even so, Allen has been the 85th-ranked player in nine-category leagues over his last four contests, averaging 16.5 points, 1.3 threes, 3.0 rebounds, 6.3 assists, 1.5 steals, 0.0 blocks, and 1.8 turnovers in 26.9 minutes per contest.
He's not starting for the team and could be a distant memory by this time next week, but if you're grasping for straws in a deep league, he's doing enough to be worthy of at least short-term consideration until the wheels inevitably fall off.
