December 30 Fantasy Basketball Waiver Wire: Bruce Brown, Scoot Henderson, Jordan Clarkson and Max Christie

All 30 NBA teams were in action last week. Each game provided valuable insight for fantasy basketball owners.

Let's hop straight into the top performances that caught my eye from waiver wire players.

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Max Christie Fantasy Outlook

Los Angeles Lakers guard Max Christie has finally tapped into the potential many people thought he had. Under his previous coach, Darvin Ham, Christie received little to no playing time. His role was very undefined and sporadic, to say the least.

But in the offseason he was extended with a somewhat rich contract, so it showed that the Lakers had a good amount of trust in him. In his last three games combined, Christie has totaled 49 points. Coming into the league, Christie was deemed as a 3-and-D player, so it’s nice to see him fulfilling that role.

I would say that Christie, for now, is a lower-end waiver wire target. I would take more precaution to see if he is just on a hot streak or if this is how he can produce consistently. I trust his ability to shoot and find open spots, but I just don't know if there are enough shots for him on a game-to-game basis.

After the D'Angelo Russell trade, his role has definitely expanded, though. On the season, he's averaging 7.2 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 1.2 assists on 21 minutes per game. Right now, Christie only has an 11% own mark, so he should be widely available for any interested owners.

Bruce Brown Fantasy Outlook

Toronto Raptors guard Bruce Brown has finally returned to the lineup after recovering from arthroscopic knee surgery in the offseason. Brown’s name has been hot on the trade market for about two years now, and many people around the league expect it to be only a matter of time before he is shipped elsewhere.

He and Toronto are on two different timelines, and I would expect him to see a bigger role wherever he plays next. But in his return on Sunday, Brown put up 12 points, three rebounds, and one assist in just 19 minutes of play. All that performance did was show me that he was progressing very well and should be back to full health very soon.

I would say Brown is a high-end waiver target simply because of two reasons. One, he is widely available in most leagues, and two, he has a great track record of producing no matter the situation.

Last year for the Raptors, he averaged 9 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 2.1 assists on 24 minutes per game. He currently has an own percentage of 9, so he should not be hard to acquire if you are interested. His next team will be a big factor in his production, but I believe it will be a good situation.

Jordan Clarkson Fantasy Outlook

Utah Jazz guard Jordan Clarkson has been stellar this season, even though he’s in a terrible situation right now. He’s been in trade talks for what seems like forever now. He could be traded this year, but nonetheless he hasn’t slowed down at all this year.

He has been an elite shot creator and maker once again. He’s instant offense whenever he touches the floor. Clarkson could potentially benefit from a change of scenery, though the Jazz currently have a logjam at the guard spot. Another bright spot from Clarkson is his secondary playmaking. He has shown that he can create for others without turning the ball over.

He is averaging 15.8 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 4.1 assists on 26 minutes per game. Clarkson has an own percentage of 57, so he’s not widely available, but he also shouldn’t be super difficult to acquire. I would definitely consider Clarkson a high-end waiver wire target, someone that you should be very interested in getting on your team.

Scoot Henderson Fantasy Outlook

After a widely disappointing rookie year, Portland Trail Blazers guard Scoot Henderson has seemed to find a bit of a rhythm. The Blazers have been the opposite of a positive environment for young guards. To be honest, they have been dysfunctional and confusing in their direction in terms of the rebuild.

But, Henderson hasn’t helped his case either in terms of being inconsistent. In his last two games, he has put up a combined 37 points and 16 assists. He is finally tapping into the unreal athleticism and playmaking that got him selected in the lottery.

On the season, Henderson is averaging 11.5 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 5 assists on 25 minutes per game. He has a 54% own mark, so you shouldn't go through much trouble to acquire him. I would say he is a high-end waiver wire target simply because of the upside he has shown. I trust that he can string along enough good performances to be valuable.