NBA Waiver Wire: Pick-Ups and FAAB for Week 22

The stars are falling like flies, and while that is as annoying a gum on your shoe, what it does mean is that your fantasy league that got a whole lot more interesting. Think you didn't have a chance because you were up against Kevin Durant, Serge Ibaka and Terrence Jones? I'd reconsider that notion. With all these injuries, the opportunities have opened for a number of players who may be floating around on your waiver-wire. A shrewd move here or there may be just the ticket for fantasy glory.

Point Guard

Alexey Shved: (all leagues); (FAAB: $8)
I was shocked to read that Shved is owned in just 45 percent of leagues on Yahoo. The new Knicks' starting point guard is averaging 21.0 points, 2.5 three-pointers, 4.5 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 1.8 steals per game in his last four, and with no one on the horizon to usurp his role, Shved should continue to be one of the premier good-stats, bad-team players in the league. If he's not owned, you need to grab him, especially with the Knicks playing four games next week.

Jordan Clarkson, : (standard leagues); (FAAB: $4)
Despite the curious comments from Byron Scott stating that Jeremy Lin will start the final 10 games of the season, leaving Clarkson's role a bit up in the air, the rookie point guard will be the starter up until at least the end of March, perfect for this round of the fantasy playoffs. The Lakers are another team with four games for the week, so Clarkson's averages of 11.8 points, 5.5 rebounds, 5.2 assists per game over the past six should be useful. Now, if it's three-pointers or steals that you want, you may want to look elsewhere given that Clarkson has averaged just 0.6 three-pointers and 0.7 steals per game for the season, but his 82 percent free throw percentage should also help.

Others to consider: The Warriors are an interesting team, especially with Klay Thompson's status up in the air for the coming week. They play four games, but three of those games come on days when there are less than 10 games being played, meaning the opportunity to slot a Warriors waiver-wire pickup into your lineup is very good. Shaun Livingston could benefit in a number of ways. He may replace Steph Curry if the Warriors decide to rest him at all during one of their two back-to-back sets, but if Curry plays, Livingston has still averaged 24 minutes per game over the past two weeks, averaging 3.5 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 0.9 steals in that time. Most teams could use that sort of bump, especially on the light schedule days.

Shooting Guard

Tony Allen: (most leagues); (FAAB: $3)
If you need steals, there aren't many better options than the Grindfather. Allen has been averaging 3.0 steals in his last seven games, but that's not all he offers. Definitely not an outside shooter, averaging just 0.3 three-pointers in his last seven, but the 11.7 points, 6.0 rebounds and 53 percent shooting from the field make Allen someone who can be added in most formats, especially now that he has reclaimed his spot in the starting five.

Rodney Hood: (deeper leagues,); (FAAB: $2)
It took a while, but Hood has reclaimed the starting shooting guard job that he lost when he suffered a foot injury back in January. There have been some good games and some poor games, but in the last six, Hood is averaging 13.8 points with 2.2 three-pointers, 2.5 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.0 steals, while shooting 47 percent from the field. The role appears relatively secure for Hood, and the Jazz play a healthy four games, including three at home.

Others to consider: If someone dropped Jimmy Butler, which is entirely possible given the fight in the playoffs, you should absolutely be adding him. His return appears imminent and getting yourself a free top-30 player could be a bonanza.

Small Forward

Anthony Morrow: (most leagues); (FAAB: $4)
The disappointing news about Kevin Durant and his troublesome foot has opened a permanent role on the Thunder's wing. Morrow has stepped up of late, averaging 16.3 points, 4.0 three-pointers, 3.0 rebounds and 0.8 steals in his past four games. Morrow, while he is a great shooter, is hitting an unfathomable 55 percent of his shots from deep in those games and that is destined to come down, but if your team is crying out for a contribution in points and three-pointers, Morrow has the ability and the opportunity to be that guy. Throw in the fact that the Thunder play three games next week on days with fewer than 10 games, the most of any team, and Morrow should be a solid add.

C.J. Miles: (categorical specialist); (FAAB: $1)
Some additional run may have opened up for Miles after Rodney Stuckey was forced to leave Saturday's contest due to a sore calf, and that could be something you can benefit from this week. Like the Thunder, the Pacers play three games next week on lighter schedule days, so if you add Miles, you'll get the most out of him and the 2.5 three-pointers he is averaging in his past six games. There's not a lot else that Miles helps with, aside from his 80 percent shooting from the line, but as the playoffs are upon us, strengthening individual categories is the name of the game.

Others to consider:Wesley Johnson has found himself a more solid role of late, playing over 31 minutes per game in his last six, and with four games on deck, leagues slightly deeper than usual should consider Johnson. While his numbers don't scream productivity, Johnson is a bit of a hidden gem, putting up nice numbers in low volume categories, averaging 1.0 three-pointers and 1.0 steals in his last six contests, along with 11.3 points and 0.5 blocks.

Power Forward

Donatas Motiejunas: (standard leagues); (FAAB: $10)
The Rockets are struggling for bodies, with no Terrence Jones and Dwight Howard for the immediate future. That means that Motiejunas will be forced to play big minutes. Saturday, the first game without Howard and Jones, Motiejunas was on the court for 38 minutes and scored 18 points with three rebounds, six assists and one block. He is a must-add player.

Josh Smith: (all leagues); (FAAB: $7)
Just like teammate Motiejunas, Smith will have to play larger minutes with Jones and Howard out. He only got 24 minutes Saturday, but scored in double-digits for the third straight game and is hitting a super-efficient 56 percent of shots in his last four games. Smith will still murder your free throw percentage, but his counting stats should all received decent increases with his bigger role and can help a lot of teams.

Others to consider:Brandon Bass is someone, who despite Kelly Olynyk's return, has retained most of his playing time in the frontcourt in Boston. The Celtics are pushing to hold onto a playoff spot, so head coach Brad Stevens will likely keep going with the trusted veteran, and he is averaging 13.9 points, 6.5 rebounds and 2.9 assists in his last eight games, playing over 30 minutes per night. He may not be a must-own player, but most teams should at least be considering Bass.

Center

Steven Adams: (all leagues); (FAAB: $7)
Before his hand injury, Adams was far from a must-own player. However, with the Thunder missing Serge Ibaka and Kevin Durant for what likely amounts for the rest of the regular season, Adams has a huge role to play. The big Kiwi has played 34 minutes in his last four games, averaging 13.8 points, 12 rebounds, 1.3 steals and one block on 54 percent shooting, numbers which deserve a spot in all leagues. He's also played 34 minutes per game and that number isn't likely to abate, especially with recent news of Nick Collison's ankle injury, leaving the Thunder extremely thin in the frontcourt. The three quality games the Thunder play next week helps his value as well.

Enes Kanter: (all leagues); (FAAB: $7)
The same reasons that make Adams a must-own apply to Kanter, except that Kanter will be relied upon even more for his offensive output, given the Thunder's lack of talented players on that side of the court. Battling his own ankle problem, Kanter will be pushing to return Sunday, and if he does, the Thunder's schedule, his role and recent production -- 19.7 points, 13.7 rebounds, 0.7 steals and 0.7 blocks in his last three -- will make Kanter a hot commodity on waiver-wires. Throw in his 59 percent shooting from the field and that he has hit his last 14 consecutive free throw attempts over four games, Kanter is someone who should not be available in fantasy leagues.

Others to consider: It's hard to rely on Byron Scott too much, but Jordan Hill has shown himself useful enough for most fantasy leagues, with two double-doubles in his last four games. In fact, in his last six games, Hill has averaged 11.3 points and 8.5 rebounds in only 27 minutes, and if his 44 percent shooting reverts to career levels, we could see more output for the Lakers' big man.