NBA Waiver Wire: Pick-Ups and FAAB for Week 18

By now, you've hopefully gotten your head around the craziness that was the NBA trade deadline. Both Marc Roberts and J.J. Calle have written their thoughts on the madness, and I encourage you to check both of those articles out. Now the dust has settled slightly, I'm going to be looking at who may be available on your wire, in the aftermath of the busiest 15 minutes in, perhaps, the history of the NBA.

Point Guards:

Isaiah Canaan: (all leagues); (FAAB: $12)

I can't come out and tell you that Canaan is a great player. But what he is, is a player in a great situation. He will be the Sixers' starting point guard, and holding that position has catapulted Michael Carter-Williams and Tony Wroten into fantasy darlings, when in reality, they aren't very good players, especially Wroten. As a starter in Houston, when he filled in occasionally for Patrick Beverley this season and last, Canaan averaged 12.6 points, 2.7 three-pointers, 2.7 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 1.2 steals per game on 44 percent shooting from the field and 69 percent from the line. But those numbers were tempered, as he was playing alongside James Harden, Houston's true point guard. Even if he put up those numbers in Philadelphia, he'd be worth looking at in 12-team leagues, but with the best player currently being a D-League call-up, Robert Covington, Canaan is going to have the ball in his hands a lot and should give us top-80 value for the rest of the season. Adding Canaan may be a little risky, but it's a risk I think everyone should attempt to take.

Elfrid Payton: (season-long); (FAAB: $6)

Payton is owned in just 58 percent of Yahoo leagues. That is too low. He has his downfalls, which are his low scoring, poor percentages and non-existent three-point game, but that shouldn't detract from what he can do. His play mirrors that of Rajon Rondo, but his percentages are actually better than what Rondo gives you, and over the last two weeks, so are his rebounds, assists and steals. Payton had a good field goal percentage in college because he didn't shoot jumpers, but he is starting to figure it out in the NBA now, shooting 46 percent in the last two months and a whopping 53 percent in his last four games. His free throw shooting will likely never be great, but he appears to be a guy who can be a triple-double threat, plus adding in multiple steals, and players like that shouldn't be wasting away on as many waiver-wires as he currently is. If you can absorb the free-throw hit, Payton will be a solid contributor the rest of the season.

Jordan Clarkson: (season-long value); (FAAB: $2)

While Clarkson has been starting for a while, the hesitancy in some owners stems from Byron Scott's seemingly-random rotational decisions. If you are considering Clarkson, breathe a little easier, as Scott, who said he will be tweaking the starting lineup Sunday, also mentioned that Clarkson is the only player whose starting job is safe. In his 11 career starts, the rookie is averaging 13.3 points, 0.8 three-pointers, 3.1 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 1.2 steals per game on 41 percent from the field and 84 percent from the line. Those numbers aren't mind blowing, but they are solid and set to improve as Clarkson gets himself used to starting in the NBA.

Others to consider: If for some reason Reggie Jackson hasn't been snapped up, he is the must-own of must-owns after his move to Detroit. I'm not sold on his long-term value, but for the rest of the season, he could be a top-50 player.

Shooting Guards:

Langston Galloway: (season-long value); (FAAB: $2)

This may seem odd, as Galloway has been slumping significantly lately, but with Carmelo Anthony thankfully shutting it down officially this week, the Knicks need somebody, anybody, to step up, and based on the game Friday, Galloway could be that guy. In that game against the Heat, Galloway scored 19 points with three rebounds and four assists, adding two steals, one block and three three-pointers. He's not going to be a great shooter, hitting just 38 percent of his shots this season, but he'll be starting, playing minutes and having to produce, all of which add up to fantasy value. Making a move in a 12-team league is a justifiable one.

Louis Williams: (standard leagues); (FAAB: $5)

Before the news that Lou Williams would miss Saturday's game with an ankle injury, he was someone who should be owned in all standard leagues. I don't think that changes too much with this out-of-nowhere injury, unless we hear that it is a significant issue. In the last month, Williams is averaging 16.3 points, 2.3 three-pointers, 2.2 assists, and 1.7 steals per game with 86 percent shooting from the line. I think those numbers speak for themselves.

Others to consider: I wrote about Gerald Hendersonlast week and my thoughts haven't changed. With how he's playing, he deserves a spot on a team in most leagues.

Small Forwards:

Khris Middleton: (all leagues); (FAAB: $12)

Middleton has been a must-own guy for a while, but with the Bucks replacing Brandon Knight with Michael Carter-Williams, I think the offensive responsibilities of Middleton grow even more. He is around in some leagues, currently owned in just 62 percent of Yahoo leagues at the time of writing, and that is criminal. Over the last two months, Middleton has been a top-50 player, and there is no reason to think that will change. His averages in that time: 13.3 points, 1.5 three-pointers, 5.1 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 2.0 steals per per game with a 51 percent field-goal percentage and 85 percent shooting from the line. This is a no-brainer add, but it appears than 38 percent of leagues are not as switched on to what is happening in Milwaukee as they should be.

P.J. Tucker: (deeper leagues); (FAAB: $2)

With a thinning out of the Phoenix backcourt occurring Thursday, some minutes are definitely opening up for the likes of Tucker. Not that he needed it, as Tucker was already averaging 30 minutes per game over the last two months, but now with Brandon Knight replacing both Isaiah Thomas and Goran Dragic, someone will need to absorb the playing time. It'll be Tucker, along with Gerald Green and Marcus Morris, but Tucker is probably the most fantasy-relevant player. Averaging 11.7 points, 1.7 three-pointers, 7.7 rebounds, and 1.0 steals in his last three, Tucker is a player who can get unconventional stats, including big rebound numbers as a shooting guard eligible player. His skill set doesn't fit all fantasy teams, but it will fit some, so keep an eye of the Phoenix backcourt/wing rotation and be ready to pounce.

Danilo Gallinari: (standard league flier); (FAAB: $4)

With Arron Afflalo now in Portland, Gallinari has been anointed the starting shooting guard in Denver and going by the first outing, he is in line for some big minutes. On Friday, the Rooster played 36 minutes and was very productive, scoring 10 points, but adding two three-pointers, five rebounds, and four steals. When he's been healthy, Gallinari is a lock as a top-100 player, and we may just get that guy for the remaining two months of the season. In any case, it's worth a risk to add him.

Others to consider:Jared Dudley is continuing to start at power forward for Milwaukee and is averaging 29 minutes over his last 13 games. He's worth a look in slightly deeper than standard leagues, while Iman Shumpert has been slowly increasing his production in Cleveland and should be looked at in 14 team leagues. His triple position eligibility on ESPN is an added bonus.

Power Forwards:

Andray Blatche, FA: (deeper leagues); (FAAB: $1)

This is purely a speculative pickup, but with Chris Bosh sadly ruled out for the rest of the season with blood clots in his lungs, the Heat are in desperate need for someone to play next to Hassan Whiteside. Currently, they are running with Udonis Haslem, but he won't get it done and there are whispers that they are looking at Blatche who just finished a successful season in China. If he is signed, he'd likely start and could be a player who can change the fortunes of a number of deeper leagues. I know it's China, but Blatche averaged 31.1 points, 14.6 rebounds and 5.1 assists per game, while shooting 56 percent from the field, during his time out in the Far East.

Kelly Olynyk: (long-term value); (FAAB: $3)

Olynyk is still sidelined after suffering an ankle sprain Jan. 22, but his return is imminent. With the news on Jared Sullinger's stress reaction in his foot, the Celtics have gone from a glut of big men to an apparent shortage. When he was playing, Olynyk was a fantasy star in the making. Season averages of 11.1 points, 0.9 three-pointers, 5.4 rebounds, 1.0 steals and 0.7 blocks per game aren't that impressive, but the fact that those numbers came in fewer than 25 minutes is. If Olynyk can keep his fouling down and play big minutes, which he should, given the lack of bodies, his all-around ability should be able to help many fantasy teams.

Jason Smith: (long-term value); (FAAB: $3)

Another player likely to benefit from the Carmelo Anthony injury and the buy-out of Amar'e Stoudemire, Smith should continue to be the starting power forward for the remainder of the season. He's not going to be spectacular, but his 11.3 points, 6.4 rebounds and 3.0 assists that he was averaging in his last 11 games can certainly be helpful to a number of fantasy teams. Smith can also stretch the floor a little, averaging 0.5 triples in that stretch as well.

Others to consider: With Enes Kanter now plying his trade in Oklahoma City, Trevor Booker moves into the first-big-man-off-the-bench role for the Jazz and should see his value rise significantly for deeper leagues. He's not an add in standard leagues, but I'd be surprised if he didn't get over 20 minutes per game behind Derrick Favors and Rudy Gobert, particularly with Gobert's propensity for accumulating fouls.

Centers:

Alexis Ajinca: (short-term value); (FAAB: $1)

At the time of writing, the Pelicans have just lost both Anthony Davis and Ryan Anderson in their game against the Heat on Saturday. Davis re-aggravated his shoulder injury and Anderson went down clutching his knee and all we know for now is that both had been ruled out of the game. That means the Pelicans will have to rely more on Ajinca, along with Dante Cunningham, who started the second half in place of Davis. The Pelicans have used Ajinca as the starter to replace Davis this season though, starting six times already and averaging 8.5 points, 6.0 rebounds and 0.8 blocks in just 21 minutes per game. In the last month, he has had games of five, four and three blocks, and if you need a bump in boards and blocked shots while Anderson and Davis are hurt, Ajinca is a speculative add, just don't expect the world from him.

Andrea Bargnani: (deeper leagues); (FAAB: $1)

This is a hard one to write, but if Bargnani is going to play 24 minutes, score 11 points and grab six rebounds on a regular basis, deep-league players need to take note. He is not a great basketball player, but he plays on a team full of not-good basketball players and opportunity is one of the key ingredients in working out fantasy success. If you can stomach clicking add on Bargs, you may get some value for your deep league squad now that he is finally back on the court.

Others to consider: If no-one has grabbed Jusuf Nurkic and Alex Len, both players should be owned in standard leagues. Have a quick look at your waiver-wire to make sure they are not still around.