NBA Waiver Wire: Best Adds Heading Into the All-Star Break

This week's edition dives into the depths of the waiver wire, focusing on players rostered in less than one-third of Yahoo Fantasy leagues. Several players mentioned in last week's column remain widely available, as well, so be sure to double-check your league for players like Boston's Robert Williams and Houston's Jae'Sean Tate.

Looking ahead to the Week 11 schedule, the majority of the league plays only two games, as the All-Star break begins following Thursday night's slate. The Nuggets, Pacers, Pelicans, Trail Blazers and Spurs are all scheduled for three games, however, so players on those teams receive an inherent boost. Meanwhile, the Timberwolves are the lone team with one game (Wednesday vs. CHA), so Karl-Anthony Towns managers are at a bit of a crossroads. 

FULL SCHEDULE BREAKDOWN

Here are the top players to target on the waiver wire ahead of Week 11:

Playing the Long Game

Robert Williams, Celtics (38% rostered)

Now in his third NBA season, Williams has slowly and steadily improved over the years. Through 26 games, he's managing career-high averages in points (6.6), rebounds (5.7), blocks (1.4), steals (1.0) and minutes (15.6) — and he's still Boston's third big behind the more experienced duo of Daniel Theis and Tristan Thompson. But if coach Brad Stevens is to be taken at his word, Williams will see an uptick in playing time as the season progresses. If you need steals and blocks, or can afford to stash a player with long-term upside, Williams is an intriguing option. In Friday's win over Indiana, Williams played 22 minutes and posted 14 points, 11 rebounds, four assists, three blocks and a steal for his second double-double of the season.

Bad Teams, Good Players

Saben Lee, Pistons (21% rostered)

Detroit will be without Delon Wright (groin) through the All-Star break and Lee, a second-round pick out of Vanderbilt, has been making a name for himself during Wright's absence. In the last four games, Lee has combined for 54 points on 21-of-35 shooting from the field and four-of-five from beyond the arc, to go along with 13 assists and seven steals. Dennis Smith is coming off a pair of strong showings Wednesday and Friday, so there's a chance he could ultimately prove to be the better add. Nevertheless, Lee has played so well lately that it will be tough for Dwane Casey to move away from him.

Naz Reid, Timberwolves (26% rostered)

Reid has been both productive and efficient, regardless of his role this season (32 games, 13 starts). In 20.9 minutes per game, the 21-year-old sophomore is averaging 12.1 points (51.5% FG, 34.4% 3Pt, 73.2% FT), 4.8 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 1.2 blocks, 1.0 three and 0.6 steals. Off to a 7-27 start and with their own 2021 first-round pick owed to Golden State (top-three protected), the Timberwolves have every incentive to prioritize developing young, promising players like Reid as the campaign wears on.

Widely Available Wings

Derrick Jones Jr., Trail Blazers (30% rostered)

With Jusuf Nurkic (wrist) and Zach Collins (ankle) out, the 6-foot-5 Jones Jr. and 6-foot-7 Robert Covington are pacing Portland in blocks per game. Jones is chipping in 1.1 swats and 0.8 steals per game through 28 appearances. Moreover, he has logged at least 29 minutes in six of the last seven games while combining for 14 rejections during that same stretch. Jones has also scored in double figures in five of the last six contests while going 29-of-45 from the field and seven-of-17 from three. If that weren't enough, he's pulling down 6.5 rebounds per night across the last 10 games. It may not last long, but Jones is fantasy-viable for the time being.

Patrick Williams, Bulls (23% rostered)

Many first-year players hit the mythological "rookie wall", while a select few sprint right through it. Williams just might do the latter. He's only 19 years old, but at 6-foot-7, 227 lbs., he's already physically ready to survive the rigors of the NBA. He's reached double figures in scoring in 10 of the last 15 games and has played at least 30 minutes in 10 of the last 13. Furthermore, Williams has combined for six steals in the last six games and 10 blocks in the last 12. For as long as Otto Porter (back) and Lauri Markkanen (shoulder) remain sidelined, Williams is worthy of consideration in most formats.

Combo Guards to Consider

Immanuel Quickley, Knicks (28% rostered)

After combining for just 17 points across the previous three contests, Quickley poured in 25 points to go with three dimes and two steals in 20 minutes against the Kings on Thursday. He played just 13 minutes in Saturday's win over Indiana, but he still managed 10 points and three three-pointers. Despite a few duds, the rookie has found a way to stay relevant in New York's backcourt rotation, even after the arrival of veteran Derrick Rose. Elfrid Payton (hamstring) missed the Knicks' last two games, so Quickley becomes a more attractive fantasy option if Payton ends up sitting out multiple contests in Week 11.

Bruce Brown, Nets (17% rostered)

Brown has been superb over the last four games, combining for 68 points on 28-of-41 from the field, to go along with 25 boards, 10 dimes and five steals. He isn't a reliable deep threat but excels at just about everything else, from defense to pick-and-roll playmaking. Brooklyn needs all the help it can get on the defensive end, and Brown has now earned at least 20 minutes in 12 straight contests.

Shake Milton, 76ers (15% rostered) 

Following a five-game absence due to a sprained ankle, Milton has picked up where he left off. He hasn't shot the ball well, but he's still playing a major role as the Sixers' de facto sixth man. After combining for 59 minutes in his first two games back in the lineup, Milton accumulated 10 points, six assists and four rebounds in 19 minutes during Thursday's blowout victory over the Mavericks. Against the Cavs on Saturday, Milton saw 32 minutes off the bench - his most in any game since Jan. 16 -- and finished with 11 points, six boards, two assists, two blocks and a steal. He continues to struggle from three-point range, however, hitting just 25.6 percent of his attempts from downtown over his last 14 appearances.

Malik Monk, Hornets (27% rostered)

Devonte' Graham (kneecap) is already ruled out for Sunday's matchup versus the Kings, which will be his fifth straight absence. Meanwhile, Monk has scored at least 20 points in four of the last five games while maintaining impressive February averages of 16.3 points (46.6% FG, 47.6% 3Pt, 80.0% FT), 4.0 rebounds, 3.3 threes and 1.8 assists in 27.3 minutes per contest. Over the last three games alone, Monk has totaled 74 points, 13 rebounds and 14 made three-pointers.

Jalen Brunson, Mavericks (26% rostered)

Initially, it was difficult to decipher whether Brunson's recent hot streak was for real, but at this point it looks like he's firmly established as the top guard off the bench for Rick Carlisle. Brunson hasn't started a game since Jan. 25, but he's averaging 27.7 minutes over his last seven games, which he's translated to 15.9 points, 4.1 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 2.0 made threes, while shooting 54.8 percent from the field and 81.0 percent at the line. The downside is Brunson doesn't add much on the defensive end, but he's a solid add if you're in need of reliable scoring and outside shooting.

Lakers Fill-Ins

Marc Gasol, Lakers (22% rostered)

The lack of points and boards will understandably keep most from adding the former Defensive Player of the Year. However, those in deeper leagues who need some help in the assists, steals and blocks departments could do worse while Anthony Davis (calf) is out. In the eight most recent games the Lakers have played without Davis, Gasol has amassed 14 blocks. Over his last six games (all without Davis), Gasol holds well-rounded averages of 7.4 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.4 blocks, 0.8 steals and 1.9 made threes.

Talen Horton-Tucker, Lakers (4% rostered)

Horton-Tucker's value vacillates from game-to-game, but he's logged at least 20 minutes six times in the month of February. He's a versatile, two-way player who has repeatedly received ringing endorsements from LeBron James. Capable of creating offense for himself and others (nine assists over his last two games) while possessing the length and strength to cover multiple positions defensively, the sophomore wing seems likely to continue earning substantial playing time as the Lakers search for an offensive spark plug.

Keep an Eye on the Rockets

Danuel House Jr. (21% rostered) and David Nwaba (10% rostered), Rockets

House has scored in double figures in eight of his last 11 appearances, while Nwaba has reached double digits in four of his last six. Victor Oladipo (foot) recently returned to the lineup following a six-game absence. Still, if Oladipo doesn't stay healthy -- he'll miss another game for rest Sunday -- or doesn't remain in Houston beyond the March 25 trade deadline (a real possibility), House and/or Nwaba could see their fantasy value skyrocket, especially as the Rockets appear to be shifting toward a rebuild. As such, both players make for strong speculative adds, even if they don't pay off right away.