Fantasy Basketball Waiver Wire: Add these players well before the NBA trade deadline

By Gabe Allen, RotoWire

Special to Yahoo Sports

The NBA trade deadline (Feb. 10) is still a couple of weeks away, but that doesn’t mean it’s too early to start gearing up for it. The importance of playing the waiver wire wisely in the leadup to and immediately following the annual deadline can’t be overstated, even if very little happens.

As such, this week’s column focuses in part on a handful of players who are worth adding in anticipation of potential trades that would theoretically improve their respective fantasy stocks. Without further ado, here are a dozen players to consider picking up heading into Week 16.

Otto Porter Jr., Golden State Warriors (43% rostered)

Unless Draymond Green (back) returns sooner rather than later. which seems increasingly unlikely, Porter is a strong pickup in most formats. Over his last 10 appearances, he is averaging 9.7 points, 6.2 rebounds, 2.3 dimes, 1.8 steals, 1.4 threes, and 0.4 blocks in 23.0 minutes. Through the first several months of the season, Porter has proven capable of excelling in Golden State’s offensive system, which requires constant ball and player movement and the ability to make rapid reads as a passer and cutter. Furthermore, he’s a versatile defender with quick hands, capable of covering multiple positions. Add him now while you still can.

Dorian Finney-Smith, Dallas Mavericks (41% rostered)

Finney-Smith is already contributing career highs in scoring (10.3 PPG), assists (1.9 APG) and steals (1.2 SPG) while flirting with career-high averages in blocks (0.5 BPG), made threes (1.9 3PM) and minutes (31.9 MPG). Moreover, the extended absence of Tim Hardaway (foot) means the Mavericks will rely even more heavily on Finney-Smith going forward. While he’s not a superb source of any one specific stat, his versatility enables him to effectively slot in at several positions and provide solid production regardless of his role in any given lineup.

Hassan Whiteside, Utah Jazz (41% rostered)

Rudy Gobert (calf) is expected to return prior to the All-Star break, which begins on Feb. 18. However, having combined for 26 points, 20 boards, three blocks, two steals, and two dimes in 67 minutes while starting in place of Gobert during the last two games, Whiteside is a wonderful streaming option until the three-time Defensive Player of the Year rejoins Utah’s rotation. The only caveat is the Jazz have just two games in Week 16.

Matisse Thybulle, Philadelphia 76ers (40% rostered)

With the odds of Ben Simmons being traded prior to the deadline seemingly dwindling, Thybulle becomes an intriguing add for those in need of defensive production. Boasting career highs in scoring (5.7 PPG), rebounding (2.5 RPG), steals (1.9 SPG), blocks (1.1 BPG), minutes (26.1 MPG), field-goal percentage (48.5% FG) and free-throw percentage (71.4% FT), Thybulle could build on this progress during the second half of the season and carve out an even more demanding role heading into the playoffs.

Luke Kennard, Los Angeles Clippers (38% rostered)

Kennard’s four-point play with 1.9 seconds remaining capped the Clippers’ 35-point comeback versus the Wizards on Wednesday. Nevertheless, his impressive play of late has gone somewhat under-the-radar. Having recently missed a substantial stretch of games, Kennard has caught fire over the last three contests, averaging 18.7 points, 6.0 boards, 3.7 threes, and 3.3 assists across 30.0 minutes.

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Given the increasingly murky outlook of star forward Paul George (elbow), Kennard is worthy of consideration in most formats, thanks to his ability to play on and off the ball offensively and not only score but also set the table for teammates.

Devin Vassell, San Antonio Spurs (34% rostered)

Vassell has reached double figures in scoring 11 times in his last 12 appearances. With January averages of 14.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, 2.4 threes, 1.4 dimes, 0.8 steals and 0.6 blocks in 27.9 minutes, the sophomore is making the case that he deserves even more playing time going forward. Though it’s possible that the presence of fellow wings such as Doug McDermott and Lonnie Walker will prevent that from happening, the Spurs could (and should) prioritize the development of Vassell, given his youth and palpable potential.

Alperen Sengun, Houston Rockets (31% rostered)

Sengun has earned more than 16 minutes only once in the last five games. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the one exception came during a blowout defeat, in which Sengun totaled 14 points, five boards, three blocks, one assist, and one steal in 24 minutes. A consistently demanding role simply may not be in the cards for the rookie — until suddenly it is.

Those who can afford to stash Sengun, both in the short- and long-term, could be handsomely rewarded. Even if a blockbuster deal involving Christian Wood doesn’t come to fruition before the deadline, Sengun remains a player to keep an eye on down the stretch as the campaign winds down given that he’s on a losing team that’s likely to prioritize ping-pong balls at some point.

Nicolas Batum, Los Angeles Clippers (29% rostered)

Batum got off to a good start this season before missing a bunch of games in November and December due to injuries and illness. It took a while, but he’s apparently back on track, with January averages of 10.0 points (48.7% FG, 44.4% 3PT, 83.3% FT), 5.2 boards, 2.2 threes, 1.8 assists, 0.9 steals, and 0.8 blocks across 24.1 minutes. Those in need of a well-rounded contributor could do a lot worse than Batum, especially if Paul George (elbow) needs surgery.

Thaddeus Young, San Antonio Spurs (21% rostered)

Those who can afford to stash a player in the leadup to the trade deadline should absolutely consider snagging Young. If he is still a Spur beyond the deadline, then he can probably be dropped in all formats. But if a deal does go down, he will be a popular add. He’s not part of San Antonio’s regular rotation, but he did log 12 points, three boards, one dime and one steal in 12 minutes during Tuesday’s blowout victory over the Rockets. There’s only so much one can take away from that showing, but it does provide a reminder that Young doesn’t need much playing time to make an impact, which he illustrated just last season by averaging 12.1 points, 6.2 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 1.1 steals and 0.6 blocks in 24.3 minutes for the Bulls.

Jeff Green, Denver Nuggets (21% rostered)

Those in deep leagues shouldn’t overlook Green, who is sporting January averages of 14.8 points (58.4% FG, 37.5% 3PT, 77.8% FT), 4.1 boards, 1.6 assists and 0.9 threes across 25.6 minutes. That level of efficiency will be nearly impossible to maintain. Nevertheless, at 35 years of age, Green is impressively registering a career-high field-goal percentage (52.1% FG) on the season, this after just setting a career-high in that category last year (49.2% FG in 2020-21).

Goran Dragic, Toronto Raptors (3% rostered)

Dragic (personal) has appeared in only five games for the Raptors this season — and the last time he saw the floor was back on Nov. 13, when he dropped 16 points, five rebounds, three assists, two threes and two steals in 28 minutes against the Pistons. Regardless, like Thaddeus Young, Dragic is certainly worthy of consideration for those who can afford to stash a player heading into the trade deadline. Having averaged 13.4 points (43.2% FG, 37.3% 3PT, 82.8% FT), 4.4 dimes, 3.4 boards, 1.8 threes, and 0.7 steals in 26.7 minutes for the Heat in 2020-21, there simply aren’t many players available on the waiver wire with that much upside.

Isaiah Jackson, Indiana Pacers (3% rostered)

Domantas Sabonis (ankle) could be rejoining the rotation as soon as this weekend. Still, Jackson has played well enough lately to warrant a spot on your watch list, at the very least. Personally, I have my doubts that the Pacers will make any significant trades prior to the deadline. However, if a path to real minutes is cleared for Jackson, he has displayed the potential to stuff the stat sheet. In merely 84 minutes of action in the month of January, he has combined for 50 points, 23 boards, eight swats, six dimes, four steals and one trey. Moreover, he has logged double-digit minutes in five consecutive contests, with averages of 11.0 points, 4.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.3 blocks and 1.0 steals in 17.0 minutes across the last four.

Recent recommendations rostered in less than 50 percent of leagues: Cameron Johnson, Monte Morris, Royce O’Neale, Goga Bitadze, Mason Plumlee, Kevin Huerter, Jonathan Isaac, Brandon Clarke, Amir Coffey, Kevon Looney, Brook Lopez, Nicolas Claxton, Patrick Beverley, Trey Lyles, Hamidou Diallo, Onyeka Okongwu, Terance Mann, Danilo Gallinari, Corey Joseph