Fantasy Basketball Waiver Wire Pickups: Ranking the best adds for Week 15

Week 15 of the fantasy basketball season is upon us, and like every Monday, I’ll be breaking down several players who are listed in 50% or less of Yahoo leagues.

But before we get to this week’s waiver pickups, here are the games each team played in Week 15.

Four games: 13 teams (Bucks, Bulls, Cavaliers, Celtics, Clippers, Grizzlies, Hornets, Magic, Pacers, Pelicans, Rockets, Spurs and Timberwolves)

Three games: 14 teams (Hawks, Heat, Jazz, Kings, Knicks, Lakers, Mavericks, Nets, Nuggets, Pistons, Raptors, Suns, Trail Blazers and Wizards)

Two games: Three teams (76ers, Thunder and Warriors)

Okay, now that you know which teams to target for streaming, let’s get to the pickups.

Priority adds to shallow leagues (10 teams or less)

Caris LeVert, SG/SF, Cleveland Cavaliers (50% listed)

In eight games without Donovan Mitchell lineup this season, LeVert is averaging 19.0 points with 4.6 rebounds and 4.9 assists while logging over 33 minutes per contest. The Cavs play four games this week, and it looks like the Cavs will take one conservative approach to Mitchell’s returnso LeVert’s value should remain intact in Week 15.

Derrick White, PG/SG, Boston Celtics (50% listed)

The Celtics open up Week 15 with a back-to-back set against the Magic and Heat. Malcolm Brogdon (personal reasons) and Marcus Smart (ankle) has been ruled out for Monday’s competition. That leaves plenty of available minutes for White, the only Celtics player to have played in every game this season.

He’s struggled from the field lately, shooting 39% over the past two weeks, but he’s otherwise serviceable in sectional leagues for his high free throw percentage, assists, steals and threes, while being one of the best shot-blocking guards in the league. The Celtics play four games this week, and with a battered backcourt, White is worth streaming this week.

Boston Celtics guard Derrick White is an exciting fantasy pickup for Week 16. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

Priority Additions in Deep Leagues (12+)

Josh Richardson, SG/SF, San Antonio Spurs (33% listed)

Richardson has been a top-60 fantasy player for the past two weeks, and one could argue that he’s auditioning for a potential trade. He will be an unrestricted free agent this offseason, and his skills are undoubtedly coveted by contending teams. Either way, it’s good news for fantasy executives because he’s been incentivized to increase his value — not just for a chance to get off a lottery-bound team, but also to earn his next contract.

He has been an asset to both scoring and category leagues due to his efficiency, volume of threes, points and shares. He’s playing almost 25 minutes a night in January, and even if he doesn’t start, I’d prefer him to be played over Romeo Langford right now. The Spurs play four games against tough opponents, but Richardson should be a viable option for fantasy managers.

Kenyon Martin Jr., SF/PF, Houston Rockets (25% listed)

The Rockets are down two starts Kevin Porter Jr (foot) and Jabari Smith Jr. (ankle), and Martin’s minutes and production continue to rise. He is enjoying his best stretch of the season, playing over 27 minutes per game and averaging over 13 points and 6 rebounds. Those numbers also increased slightly this past week, averaging 14 points with 7 boards and 1.3 threes in Week 14. Fantasy managers should ride this out as long as the Rockets are short-handed, but if or when Eric Gordon is traded , there may be an appeal in the longer term.

Mid-tier Adds

Seth Curry, PG/SG, Brooklyn Nets (30% listed)

Kyrie Irving can only do so much to carry the nets without Kevin Durant, but even Curry steps up. Without KD in the lineup, Curry is averaging 14.7 points with two triples over the past two weeks while shooting nearly 51% from the field.

He won’t do much beyond points, threes and the occasional steal, but he’s playing a shade under 30 minutes a night in his last six contests and has been clutch so far in crunch time. Turnovers aside, he should be listed in more than 30% of leagues, especially in H2H, where you can take advantage of his shooting efficiency.

Alex Caruso, PG/SG, Chicago Bulls (47% listed)

Despite being listed in over 40% of leagues, I’ve seen Caruso available in several 12-team H2H leagues. But that should change before Week 15. The Bulls arguably have the best fantasy basketball schedule, playing the Hawks, Pacers, Hornets and Magic this week. And I’d like Caruso because he’s racked up a ridiculous amount of stock lately.

Last Thursday, he had four steals and three blocks against the Pistons. He’s also swiped at least two steals in each of his last three games, plus at least one block in four of his previous five games. Caruso has been a top 55 player the past two weeks, and if he’s on waivers, I’d even take the plunge in shallow leagues, given the Bulls’ fantasy-friendly schedule.

Short term but worth a look

Jericho Sims, C, New York Knicks (16% listed)

The debate is settled – Sims is the center of play in fantasy basketball while Mitchell Robinson (thumb) is out. At first I thought Isaiah Hartenstein would emerge as a winner (given that he signed a two-year/$16 million guaranteed deal this offseason), but he has fallen out of favor with Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau.

Sims has played 28 and 33 minutes in the Knicks’ last two games, compared to just 15 and 17 minutes for Hartenstein. Week 15 could be challenging for the Knicks’ bigs as they play the Cavs, Celtics and Nets. But if you want to take a flyer on a player who can rebound well, rack up shares and shoot a high FG percentage, go with Sims.

Delon Wright, PG/SG, Washington Wizards (16% listed)

The Wizards combo guard is 71st in value per game this season. He’s 256th in overall value because he’s only played in 17 games, but he’s been very productive in limited minutes. Since his return on December 23, Wright ranks 10th in total steals and 5th in steals per game in the NBA.

He’s averaged close to 22 minutes a night in the new year, and while he won’t light up the scoreboard, he’s reached double figures in his last two games. He’s good for assists and obviously steals and is worth streaming midweek when the Wizards play a Tuesday/Wednesday back-to-back set against the Mavs and Rockets.

Bradley Beal hasn’t played 30 minutes since returning from his latest hamstring injury, and Wright only needs limited minutes to provide value. Anyone looking for a quick midweek boost should consider scooping up Wright.

Watch list

Dyson Daniels, SG/SF, New Orleans Pelicans (3% listed)

The Pelicans were without Naji Marshall (and Brandon Ingram) on Sunday, and Daniels had his best game as a pro.

He had four turnovers, but he still showed a lot of appeal if he got more minutes. I doubt he’ll have much fantasy value, but he’s at least on my radar in deeper leagues. The Pelicans play a Tuesday/Wednesday back-to-back, and if either Marshall or Ingram misses the game(s), he could be a sneaky stream.

I don’t expect him to score much, but he’s a competent passer, and his size gives him an edge defensively against smaller guards.

Drew Eubanks, PF/C, Portland Trail Blazers (7% listed)

Jusuf Nurkic haven’t done much off the rebound lately and played just 16 minutes on Sunday without any glitches.

It may be too early to sound the alarm for Nurkic.

Still, Billups did indicates some lineup changes may be on the horizon after Sunday’s collapse against the Lakers. But for those looking for blocks, Eubanks might be the best option considering he’s taken a shot in seven straight contests, including a six-block performance Sunday night.