Fantasy Basketball Waiver Wire: Young players on tanking teams present plenty of rest-of-season value
The NBA All-Star festivities are in the rearview mirror, signaling the arrival of the most volatile yet rewarding stretch of the fantasy basketball calendar: the “Silly Season.” As franchises near the bottom of the standings pivot from competitive basketball to lottery positioning, rotations undergo drastic overhauls. For savvy fantasy managers, the path to a championship now lies in aggressively targeting young talent on tanking teams who are suddenly flush with minutes, usage, and the freedom to make mistakes.
The Utah Jazz have emerged as the undisputed epicenter of waiver wire value. Following the organization's decision to shut down star acquisition Jaren Jackson Jr. for the remainder of the season, the rotation has been turned over to the youth movement. Kyle Filipowski is the immediate beneficiary in the frontcourt, offering a versatile skillset that includes scoring, rebounding, and valuable perimeter shooting for a big man. In the backcourt, Isaiah Collier has seized control of the offense. Over his last ten games, Collier has been a revelation, averaging over 30 minutes a night and stuffing the stat sheet with elite assist numbers and defensive stats.
Meanwhile, the Sacramento Kings have officially entered the race for lottery odds following Zach LaVine’s season-ending hand injury. This strategic pivot has cleared the runway for Nique Clifford. The rookie wing has seen his playing time skyrocket, providing defensive stats and efficient scoring that can swing categories. In the Eastern Conference, the Brooklyn Nets are offering similar value with Day’Ron Sharpe. With the Nets fully committed to development, Sharpe is finally receiving the extended run fantasy managers have clamored for, offering legitimate double-double potential every night.
Finally, do not overlook Ty Jerome of the Memphis Grizzlies. While the Grizzlies retool, Jerome has been putting up monster production in a starting role, providing elite assists and three-point volume. The strategy for the rest of the season is simple: ignore the name value of shut-down veterans and chase the guaranteed minutes of these hungry young players. In the fantasy playoffs, opportunity is the only metric that matters.
The Utah Jazz have emerged as the undisputed epicenter of waiver wire value. Following the organization's decision to shut down star acquisition Jaren Jackson Jr. for the remainder of the season, the rotation has been turned over to the youth movement. Kyle Filipowski is the immediate beneficiary in the frontcourt, offering a versatile skillset that includes scoring, rebounding, and valuable perimeter shooting for a big man. In the backcourt, Isaiah Collier has seized control of the offense. Over his last ten games, Collier has been a revelation, averaging over 30 minutes a night and stuffing the stat sheet with elite assist numbers and defensive stats.
Meanwhile, the Sacramento Kings have officially entered the race for lottery odds following Zach LaVine’s season-ending hand injury. This strategic pivot has cleared the runway for Nique Clifford. The rookie wing has seen his playing time skyrocket, providing defensive stats and efficient scoring that can swing categories. In the Eastern Conference, the Brooklyn Nets are offering similar value with Day’Ron Sharpe. With the Nets fully committed to development, Sharpe is finally receiving the extended run fantasy managers have clamored for, offering legitimate double-double potential every night.
Finally, do not overlook Ty Jerome of the Memphis Grizzlies. While the Grizzlies retool, Jerome has been putting up monster production in a starting role, providing elite assists and three-point volume. The strategy for the rest of the season is simple: ignore the name value of shut-down veterans and chase the guaranteed minutes of these hungry young players. In the fantasy playoffs, opportunity is the only metric that matters.
