The NBA Trade Deadline has passed, and quite a few faces are on new teams, which could affect the fantasy value of your players. With COVID protocols and plenty of injuries across the league, you must stay active on the fantasy basketball waiver wire each week to help fill any voids on your team. There are some hidden gems moving forward that are worth the consideration, with new opportunities forming on many teams due to injury.
Here are the top fantasy basketball waiver wire pickups for Week 15 of the NBA season. In order to be included in the weekly waiver article, players must be rostered in less than 60 percent of ESPN fantasy basketball leagues.
All stats are gathered on the morning of Apr. 4 and do not take into account Sunday night’s results.
Week 15 Fantasy Basketball Waiver Wire Pickups
Bogdan Bogdanovic, Hawks (59.1%)
Since being named starter over Kevin Huerter, Bogdan Bogdanovic has been on fire. Over the past three games, he’s scored 22+ points and has been contributing more than usual in the rebounding and passing game. Bogdanovic has been streaky his whole career. But he seems very comfortable with the new Hawks coach Nate McMillan, and has been nothing but consistent. The Hawks are sitting at fifth seed right now and, as long as Bogdanovic stays on fire, he’ll be producing viable fantasy numbers to help push your team in the right direction.
Jakob Poeltl, Spurs (50.7%)
Jakob Poeltl has been the Spurs saving grace this past month, as they are lacking true consistency in the frontcourt. I’ve mentioned Poeltl a few times throughout this series, but over the past seven games, he’s registered nearly 37 minutes per contest and has dropped four straight double-doubles. When given the opportunity, Poeltl will produce relevant fantasy numbers. Usually a major rebounding threat, his recent points surge make him very intriguing in category-based fantasy basketball leagues. But with his high ownership tag, it’s likely that he’ll only be available in deeper leagues at this point. If you’re in need of a consistent double-double threat, consider making a move for Poeltl, since his minutes aren’t going anywhere.
Gary Trent Jr., Raptors (41.2%)
Gary Trent Jr. is the definition of streaky in fantasy. However, since being traded to the Raptors, he seems to be adjusting to his new role quickly. Coming from a team that chucked up three-pointers all game to a team that prioritizes scoring inside the paint with a mix of good shooters might be what Trent Jr. needs. Over the past three games, he’s scored double-digit points and has been decent in rebounding and stealing. Trent Jr. has always been a sneaky add for steals in category-based leagues but his play has become more well-rounded since joining the Raptors, meaning he can supply a little bit of everything with his normal double-digit points.
He will be frustrating to own in points-based fantasy basketball leagues because some nights he is out of rhythm. Still, he’s worth the look if you’re in need of points and steals.
Terance Mann, Clippers (15.0%)
Despite coming off the bench, Terance Mann has been a nice surprise for fantasy owners. He’s averaging over 30 minutes a game over the past seven days, has scored double-digit points in six of his last eight games and supplies solid rebounding stats on the side. Mann is definitely a player you want to monitor moving forward, considering he’s coming off the bench on one of the deepest teams in the league. But with injuries galore, he has plenty of opportunity to solidify his role on the offense. He takes care of the basketball and supplies solid shooting, rebounding and passing stats. This makes him a must-add this week at such lower ownership.
Other considerations for all-league types: Jalen Brunson, DAL (18.3%); Hamidou Diallo, DET (24.4%); Shake Milton, PHI (20.8%); Theo Maledon, OKC (10.4%); Doug McDermott, IND (10.9%)
