The trade deadline provided a minor NBA fantasy shakeup with some intriguing names worth taking a chance on if you were quick enough to add them in your NBA fantasy league. Buddy Hield, Willie Cauley-Stein, Yogi Ferrell and Jusuf Nurkic all received minor boosts in their fantasy stock but if you missed out on them you could be interested in at least a couple of the names on this list. Here is a look at the top NBA fantasy waiver wire options for this week.
SF: T.J. Warren, Phoenix Suns
Phoenix is locked in to a youth movement down the final stretch for the second year in a row and that should lead to a small bump in Warren’s value. The Suns traded P.J. Tucker to the Toronto Raptors at the deadline, which means Warren will see more time along with players like Marquese Chriss and Alex Len. Warren has averaged 20.0 points, 6.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.5 steals in 38.5 minutes per game over his last two contests and there is reason to expect similar numbers from him as long as he stays healthy over the next couple of weeks.
SF: Terrence Ross, Orlando Magic
While Hield, Cauley-Stein and Ferrell were the obvious candidates for minute boosts following the trade deadline but Ross is a bit of a sleeper candidate whose fantasy stock could also receive a boost. Ross has averaged 18.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.5 steals, 1.5 assists and 3.0 three-point shots per game over his first two games with Orlando and as long as he continues to play big minutes he will continue to produce. The Magic went after Ross for a reason and the move appears to be a smart one early on as he has adequately filled a major need for guard help. Ross isn’t an elite option by any means but he could be a strong fantasy basketball league waiver wire pickup this week.
PF: Jon Leuer, Detroit Pistons
The fact that the Pistons didn’t make a trade at the deadline should help Leuer’s fantasy stock as he has been pretty hot of late. Leuer has averaged 13.7 points, 5.2 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 30.7 minutes per game over his last 10 contests and there isn’t any reason to expect a dip in his production now that he is locked in as the starter at the power forward position. Leuer won’t lead your fantasy basketball league team to a championship in his own but he could be a nice plug and play option over the next couple of weeks.
SF: Michael Beasley, Milwaukee Bucks
Beasley is another player that has heated up and should warrant consideration in deeper leagues. The veteran wing has already topped the 20-point mark in two of his last four games including 23 against the Detroit Pistons and 22 last Monday against the Utah Jazz on Friday. Beasley has averaged 19.0 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game over his last four outings so he could be worth taking a chance on if you need help at the small forward position this week.
Beasley had been red hot of late but keep an eye on his status after Monday’s game. He managed to play only nine minutes as the Bucks visited the Cleveland Cavaliers due to a knee sprain. He left early and did not return. Remember, originally the Bucks deemed Jabari Parker’s injury a knee sprain too before additional test showed he was out for the year. Beasley needed his teammates help to get to the locker room. If he’s fine, he’s an excellent pick up in NBA fantasy. If the injury proves to be serious in any shape or form, obviously you need to stay away.
SG: Nik Stauskas, Philadelphia 76ers
The 76ers need to see what they have in Stauskas and they are certainly giving him a chance to showcase his skill set of late as he has averaged 26.2 minutes per game over his last five contests. Stauskas has taken full advantage by averaging 11.6 points, 3.8 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.6 three-point shots per game over that span. The eighth overall pick from the 2014 NBA Draft is still just 23-years-old so he could be in line for a strong finish to this season as a capable NBA fantasy league waiver wire option.
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