NBA

10 Fantasy Basketball Waiver Wire Targets for Week 24

Thomas Bryant is back in the Wizards' starting lineup, giving him a huge boost in fantasy value. 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.

Thomas Bryant, C, Washington Wizards

Yahoo Ownership: 30%

Thomas Bryant has replaced Jeff Green in the Washington Wizards' starting lineup, making the big man a must-add in all fantasy formats.

Over his two games since rejoining the starting five, he's been the 38th-ranked player in nine-category leagues, averaging 19.5 points, 0.5 three-pointers, 9.5 rebounds, 0.5 assists, 0.0 steals, 1.0 block, and 1.0 turnover in a healthy 35.5 minutes per contest, while shooting a blistering 70.8% from the field and 80.0% from the free throw line.

Wizards head coach Scott Brooks plans to keep rolling with Bryant as a starter, and we saw him flirt with early-round value earlier this season when he was occupying that role. There's no reason for him to sit on any waiver wire going into a four-game week for the Wizards.

Mikal Bridges, SG/SF, Phoenix Suns

Yahoo Ownership: 30%

We mention Mikal Bridges a fair bit in this column, but since he remains unowned in 70% of Yahoo leagues, we might as well bring him up again.

Over his last 12 games, he's been the 70th-ranked player in nine-category leagues, averaging 8.9 points, 1.0 three, 3.9 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 1.8 steals, 0.3 blocks, and 0.8 turnovers in 32.2 minutes per contest, while shooting 48.1% from the field and 84.0% from the line.

He's never going to give you much in the popcorn stats like points, rebounds, and assists, but the triples, defensive numbers, decent shooting split, and low turnovers are what make him worth owning. The Phoenix Suns usually have an overabundance of wings to throw minutes at, but a bevy of injuries has left Bridges as the last man standing and the de facto starter. He's available for the stretch run in a whole lot of leagues if you're looking for a high-upside add.

D.J. Augustin, PG, Orlando Magic

Yahoo Ownership: 50%

D.J. Augustin is on a roll, ranking 29th in nine-category leagues over his last five contests.

Over that span, he's averaged 16.0 points, 1.8 threes, 3.0 rebounds, 7.6 assists, 1.0 steal, 0.0 blocks, and a mere 0.4 turnovers in 31.6 minutes per game, while shooting 48.3% from the field and a perfect 13-for-13 from the free throw line.

It's a four-game week for the Orlando Magic, and Augustin is posting numbers as good as just about any point guard in fantasy hoops at the moment. If you're looking for help at the one, he's available in 50% of Yahoo leagues.

Maxi Kleber, PF, Dallas Mavericks

Yahoo Ownership: 10%

Maxi Kleber is not starting for the Dallas Mavericks, but he's getting enough minutes and posting strong enough numbers to warrant ownership in standard fantasy leagues.

Over his last seven games, he's been the 66th-ranked player in nine-category leagues, with averages of 10.1 points, 1.3 threes, 8.6 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 0.6 steals, 1.0 block, and 0.9 turnovers in 28.5 minutes per contest, and a shooting split of 50.0% from the field and 83.3% from the free throw line.

Like any bench player, his value could dry up again at a moment's notice, but he's certainly worth rolling with while he's posting such a solid all-round line.

Nemanja Bjelica, PF, Sacramento Kings

Yahoo Ownership: 30%

Nemanja Bjelica got reinserted into the Sacramento Kings' starting lineup seven games ago, and despite a shaky first few games in that role, he's getting into a rhythm now.

Over his last four games, he's been the 63rd-ranked player in nine-category leagues, averaging 10.3 points, 0.8 three-pointers, 10.5 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 1.0 steal, 0.5 blocks, and 0.8 turnovers in 27.8 minutes per contest.

He's had a very up-and-down season, but he's definitely worth owning as he heads into a four-game week for the Kings on an upswing.

Maurice Harkless, SF, Portland Trail Blazers

Yahoo Ownership: 15%

Maurice Harkless has been flirting with top-50 value in nine-category leagues over the last month-plus, so it's about time we all stop sleeping on him.

Over his last 14 contests, he's averaged 10.5 points, 0.6 threes, 5.4 boards, 2.2 assists, 1.6 steals, 0.9 blocks, and 0.6 turnovers in 26.8 minutes per game, while shooting 55.4% from the field and 66.7% from the free throw line.

There's no one part of his line that stands out as a reason to add him, but the defensive numbers, low turnovers, and solid shooting percentage from the floor is enough to help any team heading into Portland's four-game week.

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, SG/SF, Los Angeles Lakers

Yahoo Ownership: 45%

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope is liable to put up a dud at any given moment, but he's playing lots of minutes off the bench for the lottery-bound Los Angeles Lakers, and putting up decent fantasy value in the process.

Over his last seven games, he's been the 39th-ranked player in nine-category leagues, averaging 17.0 points, 3.3 triples, 4.4 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 1.1 steals, 0.4 blocks, and 1.1 turnovers in 30.2 minutes per contest, while shooting 45.2% from the field and 95.2% from the charity stripe.

He could go back to being the guy that's posted 164th-ranked value on the season as a whole any minute now, but you might as well roll with the hot hand until that happens. It doesn't hurt that the Lakers go four times this week, either.

Miles Bridges, SF, Charlotte Hornets

Yahoo Ownership: 30%

As far as rookies named Bridges go, Mikal has been the one to own for most of the year, but Miles is making up some ground.

Over his last for games, Miles Bridges has been the 31st-ranked player in nine-category leagues, with averages of 13.8 points, 1.5 three-pointers, 8.8 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 2.0 steals, 0.3 blocks, and 0.8 turnovers in 31.8 minutes per contest, and a shooting split of 55.8% from the field and 50.0% from the line.

Bridges joined the Charlotte Hornets' starting lineup roughly a month ago and things are really starting to click for him after an up-and-down first dozen games in the role. Give him a look if you trust that his momentum from the last week will carry over.

Seth Curry, PG/SG, Portland Trail Blazers

Yahoo Ownership: 5%

C.J. McCollum is dealing with a strain in his left knee, and while Seth Curry hasn't taken over his starting spot (Jake Layman has had that honor with little to show for it), he has gotten a boost in minutes and subsequently in fantasy appeal.

Over his last three games, Curry has been the 56th-ranked player in nine-category leagues, averaging 15.7 points, 2.7 triples, 3.7 rebounds, 1.0 assist, 1.0 steal, 0.3 blocks, and 0.7 turnovers in 28.3 minutes per contest, while shooting 48.5% from the field and a perfect 7-for-7 from the charity stripe.

McCollum's knee issue will likely keep him out until the postseason, and that makes Seth Curry worthy of an add for Portland's upcoming four-game week and beyond.

Chandler Parsons, SF/PF, Memphis Grizzlies

Yahoo Ownership: 5%

I wasn't expecting to mention Chandler Parsons in this column at any point this season, but here we are.

He put up a bit of a dud on Saturday night, but he's been the 86th-ranked player in nine-category leagues over his last four games anyway, averaging 13.3 points, 2.0 threes, 4.8 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.0 steal, 0.3 blocks, and 1.3 turnovers in 24.7 minutes per contest off Memphis' bench, while shooting 47.6% from the field and 83.3% from the line.

He could disappear again just as quickly as he vaulted back into our collective fantasy hoops consciousness, but there's no harm in taking a flier on a guy who used to put up mid-round value pretty regularly back when he could stay healthy enough to do so.