NBA Play Returns Thursday: 5 Waiver Wire Targets to Consider

The NBA returns tonight after being off since Friday due to the All-Star break. We discussed a couple fantasy basketball waiver wire options over the break, plus hit on some of the biggest adds today injury-related stories, but I wanted to highlight some more waiver wire options here.

I have five players I want to discuss, so let's dive right into things!

Waiver wire options can be found all season on FantasySP!

Day'Ron Sharpe: Doing More in Expanded Role

Sharpe is up 7.13% today, bringing his overall mark to 47.8%.

Nicolas Claxton is out for the Nets, so Sharpe should have an expanded role, at least for Thursday's game. With Claxton out in the team's last game, Sharpe delivered 19 points, 12 rebounds, five assists and two blocks and steals over 30 minutes of play.

Sharpe has come off the bench for 47 of his 51 appearances this season, but should start or at least play more without Claxton around. Sharpe is averaging 8.5 points, 6.7 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.1 steals and 0.4 blocks over 18.5 minutes a night this season, while shooting 61.1% overall and 21.9% from deep.

Sharpe is worth streaming in deeper leagues tonight, and I don't think it's crazy to want to stream him in standard leagues too. The return of Claxton will make Sharpe just a deep-league asset, so keep tabs on Claxton's injury to know when to move away from Sharpe - utilize him in the meantime though.

Christian Braun: Settling In After Return

Braun is rostered in 64.86% of leagues after a 3.98% increase so far today.

He has only played in 19 games this season, but he looked to be settling in just before the All-Star break. Braun scored 10, 20 and 14 points in the three games before the break, plus combined for 16 rebounds, 10 assists and one steal and block in those contests.

Braun has started all 19 games he's played in this season. He's averaging 9.9 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 0.5 steals and 0.4 blocks over 30.3 minutes a night, while shooting 48% overall and 25% from deep.

He hasn't been healthy for long enough to settle in, but he's definitely on the rise of late. Braun would be owned in all leagues if he had been healthy and producing all season. I expect the production to come now that he's healthy.

I'm all for adding Braun in fantasy leagues. I'd definitely want to pick him up in deeper fantasy setups, and I'd also consider adding him in a standard league. If he stays healthy the rest of the way, he could be a big-time fantasy asset, so don't wait too long to add him.

Dylan Harper: Rookie On the Rise

Harper has been added in 3.74% of leagues, bringing his overall mark to 54.26%.

The rookie is averaging 10.9 points, 3.4 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 0.8 steals and 0.3 blocks over 21.7 minutes a night this season. He's come off the bench for all 43 of his appearances, and has shot 46.7% overall and 25.2% from deep.

Harper has been in a good groove over the past seven contests, scoring nine or more points in each game. He's averaging 14.3 points, 4.4 assists, 4 rebounds, 0.9 blocks and 0.6 steals over 24.4 minutes a night, while shooting 62.3% overall and 31.3% from deep.

Harper won't keep shooting that well overall, but in a few more minutes, he should be able to produce more than his season averages. That makes him worth adding in deeper leagues, and watching in standard leagues.

A few more productive nights on the court after the break should get Harper into more and more standard leagues.

Grayson Allen: Chance to Shine With Teammate Out

Allen is up 3.41% and now is rostered in 85.79% of fantasy leagues overall.

He's played in 35 games, starting 26 of them. Allen is averaging 17 points, 4 assists, 3 rebounds, 1.4 steals and 0.3 blocks over 30.3 minutes a night. Allen is shooting 41.8% overall and 36.9% from deep.

Allen missed the final three Phoenix games before the All-Star break. He scored 20+ points in the three games before that. Allen is expected back, so he should be on the rise.

Allen is definitely worth rostering and utilizing in all deeper leagues for sure, and he should be owned in most standard leagues too. Definitely look into adding him, especially if you have an open roster spot.

Tristan Vukcevic: Big Man Quietly Producing

Vukcevic has been added in 3.34% of leagues - he's up to 13.7% overall now.

Vukcevic has started three times over his 33 appearances so far this season. He's averaging 7.5 points, 2.5 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 0.7 blocks and 0.3 steals over 11.9 minutes a night. Vukcevic is shooting 46.7% overall and 27.4% from deep.

He missed the team's final game before the break, but logged 20 minutes in the two before that. Vukcevic has scored 14 points in three straight, and added in a few rebounds, assists, steals and blocks too.

Washington is dealing with a bunch of injuries, most notably to Anthony Davis and Alexandre Sarr, so Vukcevic should be playing and producing more. Davis is out for the rest of the season, while Sarr is expected to miss a couple weeks - utilize Vukcevic until Sarr is back, at least.