At this point in the NBA season the reality is that there aren’t many top players remaining on the waiver wire. However, different circumstances including injuries and improved opportunity has opened up more playing time for several players and that has led to some potential impact players being available. Here is a look at the top guards available on the NBA waiver wire right now.
Zach LaVine, Minnesota Timberwolves
It is somewhat ridiculous that Timberwolves’ head coach Sam Mitchell has made LaVine alternate starts with Tayshaun Prince. However, it is LaVine that has received upwards of 35 minutes per game and his production reflects the increased opportunity of late. LaVine has averaged 14.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 2.0 three-point shots and 1.0 steal per game over the last week of action so make sure you scoop him off the NBA waiver wire before somebody else jumps on him.
Gary Harris, Denver Nuggets
Harris has put up some decent numbers of late but what we’re banking on here is opportunity. The fact that Danilo Gallinari is out indefinitely with a sprained ankle could boost his production even more. Harris has averaged 12.7 points, 3.7 rebounds, 2.0 steals, 2.0 three-point shots and 1.3 assists per game over the past seven days. He’s a player that doesn’t necessarily give you a whole lot of action across the board but he does provide a steady source of points, threes and steals (the steals in particular have been good). Right now he is a worthy NBA waiver wire addition in NBA fantasy if you need some help at the guard position.
Jose Calderon, New York Knicks
New head coach Kurt Rambis has shown he has no problem trusting Calderon with more than 30 minutes per game, which might be bizarre in reality but it’s valuable information in NBA fantasy. As a result of the minutes increase, Calderon’s production has gone up since the Knicks fired Derek Fisher. We’re talking about a player who played just 19 minutes per game in October, 28.5 in November, 26.1 in December, 30.5 in January and 27.6 in February. However, over his last five games of action, the Knicks have fed Calderon at least 31 minutes of work – including 40 in the loss to Miami on Sunday.
That appears to be in part because it appears as though Rambis might actually prefer Calderon to fellow point guard Langston Galloway. He’s a savvy veteran whereas Galloway hasn’t really taken that next step in his development. Calderon has averaged 10.3 points, 2.5 assists, 2.3 rebounds and 1.3 three-point shots per game over the last week of action and he should be a serviceable option at the guard position for as long as he continues to play upwards of 30 minutes per game.
Cory Joseph, Toronto Raptors
The Raptors already have a pair of All-Star guards that have hogged the spotlight this season in Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan, but that doesn’t mean they are the only quality options in NBA fantasy leagues. Joseph has played just over 22 minutes per game of late, but he has managed to make the most out of that playing time with some decent production. Joseph has averaged 11.8 points, 4.5 assists, 1.3 rebound and 1.0 three-point shot per game over the last seven days, which is right around his averages for the month of February. The Raptors are trying to get him more involved to keep Kyle Lowry and DeMarr DeRozan fresh for the playoffs. In deeper leagues, the assists and threes make him worth considering in NBA fantasy as we head down the home stretch.
Norris Cole, New Orleans Pelicans
Like a number of other players on the Pelicans’ roster, Cole has been very inconsistent this season, but he is hot right now and he is worth taking a chance on. Cole has averaged 12.3 points, 5.7 assists, 4.3 rebounds and 1.3 three-point shots per game over the past seven days and right now it is worth riding the hot hand and adding him to your roster.
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