With the NBA All-Star weekend right around the corner, the sense of urgency is ramping up in fantasy basketball leagues with the focus on the stretch run. While the top teams will only go as far as their star players take them, the reality is that supplementing off the waiver wire could help put your team over the top and help you contend for a championship. Here is a look at the top NBA fantasy waiver wire options for this week.
PG: T.J. McConnell, Philadelphia 76ers
McConnell hasn’t been very strong in terms of scoring production this season with an average of 5.6 points per game but he has averaged 13.5 points in his last two outings while raising the bar with his assists totals. McConnell has registered 10 assists or more in four of his last five games, averaging 10.2 points, 10.8 assists and 1.6 steals while shooting 52.5-percent from the floor over that span. McConnell’s recent production definitely warrants him being a strong waiver wire option for this week as one of the top potential waiver wire pickups available.
SG: Seth Curry, Dallas Mavericks
While Stephen Curry continues to dominate in fantasy circles, it seems as though his brother Seth has become a very reliable option at the shooting guard position this season. Curry has averaged 16.8 points including 2.6 three-point shots with 4.2 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.4 steals per game over his last five contests. Curry’s three-point shooting in particular make him an attractive option if you need help in that area so consider adding him off the waiver wire this week.
The Mavericks have played some of their best basketball of the season in the month of January. While they are still a long ways away from the playoffs – they enter the week in 13th place in the NBA standings – and are just 17-30 overall, they have still won six of their last 10 games. Curry is one of the reasons why. With the Mavs not having a whole lot to play for, look for them to try and give Curry more time in an effort to develop him into a future foundational piece.
SF: Jaylen Brown, Boston Celtics
Brown is another player that has stepped up his production of late although there may be a smaller window to capitalize on his availability since his numbers could dip once Al Horford is back healthy. Brown has averaged 29.0 minutes per game in his last two outings and he has delivered with 14.5 points, 8.0 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.5 three-point shots per game. Brown will only continue to produce for as long as he continues to get decent minutes but with Boston set to play four games this week it’s worth considering him as a waiver wire option at small forward.
With the Cleveland Cavaliers and Toronto Raptors struggling, Boston has moved up to the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference. They are now a half-game up on Toronto and 3.5 back of the Cavaliers.
PF: Jon Leuer, Detroit Pistons
Leuer is coming off an average performance on Saturday but he averaged 12.5 points in his previous two games and his shooting percentage has been up since returning from a knee injury. As long as he continues to play decent minutes he should be a decent source for points, rebounds and three-point shots. The Pistons play four games this week so it might be worth it to add Leuer at the power forward position in NBA fantasy.
C: Jusuf Nurkic, Denver Nuggets
Nikola Jokic is set to miss at least one more game with a hip injury and with Denver set to play four games this week it only makes sense to jump on Nurkic as a capable replacement at center. Nurkic has been in and out of the lineup all season for the Nuggets but he played 15 minutes against the Phoenix Suns and finished with five points and four rebounds. Nurkic could receive more playing time with Denver matched up against the Los Angeles Lakers and Memphis Grizzlies in their next two games. The Nuggets will need Nurkic’s size and strength in those two NBA matchups so he could be a decent fantasy waiver wire option.
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