With Week 17 approaching, the fantasy basketball landscape has shifted in a big way following a busy NBA trade deadline that reshaped rotations across the league. A flurry of moves has opened the door for new opportunities, with several players stepping into expanded roles overnight.
Injuries also continue to pile up around the NBA, adding even more volatility and making the waiver wire a critical tool for staying ahead of the competition. Managers willing to stay aggressive can gain a real edge by capitalizing on newly freed minutes and usage.
To simplify the process, this week’s waiver wire targets are grouped by roster percentage:
30–49%
15–29%
0–14%
We’ve also broken down the Week 17 schedule to help maximize games played. Let’s dive into the top priority adds for the upcoming week.
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Fantasy Basketball Waiver Wire Pickups (Week 17)
Three games:
LAL, MIL, OKC, POR, UTH
Two games:
ATL, BKN, CHA, CHI, CLE, DAL, DEN, DET, GSW, HOU, IND, LAC, MEM, MIA, MIN, NOP, NYK, ORL, PHI, SAC, SAS
One game:
BOS, TOR, WAS
Fantasy Basketball Waiver Wire Pickups
Rostered in 30-49% of Leagues
Kelly Oubre Jr. (SG, SF – PHI)
With Paul George suspended, Kelly Oubre Jr. has stepped up for the Philadelphia 76ers. In the five games George has missed, Oubre ranks third on the team at 15 points per game while adding 5.8 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 1.4 steals in 35.6 minutes.
He has settled into a consistent role in the starting lineup and should continue to see expanded usage moving forward, especially with George still facing 19 games remaining on his suspension.
Jerami Grant (SF, PF – POR)
Jerami Grant’s minutes restriction has gradually been lifted as he continues to work his way back from an Achilles injury, and the increased workload is beginning to show. After averaging just 23.7 minutes per game from January 15–30, Grant has seen his playing time climb to 30.5 minutes per game in February.
He has capitalized on the expanded role, producing 22.5 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game while looking increasingly comfortable offensively. Grant should continue to see extended run moving forward, particularly with Deni Avdija still nursing a back injury, making him a strong option for managers looking for scoring and volume.
Fantasy Basketball Waiver Wire Pickups
Rostered in 15-29% of Leagues
Jaden Ivey (PG, SG – CHI)
Jaden Ivey has wasted little time carving out a significant role with the Chicago Bulls, already logging two games since joining the team and seeing an immediate spike in playing time. After averaging just 16.8 minutes per game across 33 appearances with the Detroit Pistons, Ivey has jumped to 31.5 minutes per game in his first two outings with Chicago.
The increased run has translated into strong all-around production, as he’s averaging 11.5 points, five rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 2.5 steals during that stretch. With Josh Giddey (hamstring) sidelined without a clear timeline for return, Ivey is well-positioned to continue seeing heavy minutes, giving him meaningful value across multiple fantasy categories.
Moussa Diabate (PF, C – CHA)
Despite the Charlotte Hornets’ frontcourt being fully healthy, Moussa Diabate has carved out a consistent role and solidified his spot in the starting lineup. Through three games in February, he’s averaging 6.7 points, 12 rebounds, and 2.7 assists while logging around 30 minutes per night.
Diabate has hauled in double-digit rebounds in four of his last six games, including a 19-rebound outing and another with 15, continuing to assert himself as a force on the glass. While the scoring remains modest, his rebounding production and steady minutes make him a strong option for managers looking to bolster boards and efficiency.
Fantasy Basketball Waiver Wire Pickups
Rostered in 0-14% of Leagues
Julian Strawther (SG, SF – DEN)
With Peyton Watson (hamstring) and Aaron Gordon (hamstring) sidelined for Saturday’s matchup against the Chicago Bulls, Julian Strawther moved into the starting lineup and made the most of the opportunity, finishing with 19 points, five rebounds, and two steals across 33 minutes. The only other time he topped 25 minutes this season came January 23 against the Milwaukee Bucks, when he delivered 20 points, five rebounds, three assists, and one steal.
Both Watson and Gordon are expected to remain out until at least late February, opening the door for Strawther to continue seeing extended run. While the sample size is limited to just two games, the production in those opportunities is hard to ignore, especially for a player rostered in fewer than two percent of leagues across ESPN and Yahoo.
Marvin Bagley III (PF, C – DAL)
Marvin Bagley III is a player worth monitoring for the rest of the season after showing strong per-minute production earlier in the year with the Washington Wizards. In 19.2 minutes per game, he averaged 10.1 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 1.5 assists, routinely delivering useful fantasy lines whenever injuries pushed him into an expanded role.
Bagley was dealt to the Dallas Mavericks at the trade deadline and landed in a favorable situation. With starting center Daniel Gafford frequently in and out of the lineup due to injuries and Dwight Powell and Moussa Cisse offering inconsistent production, Bagley has a clear path to meaningful minutes. He logged 24 minutes in his Mavericks debut and posted 16 points, 12 rebounds, two assists, four blocks, and one steal. While he’s expected to settle into a 20-minute role, Bagley’s workload could push closer to 30 whenever Gafford is unavailable, giving him strong upside.