Fantasy Basketball: NBA waiver wire adds for Week 15

By Gabe Allen, RotoWire

Special to Yahoo Sports

The injuries continue to pile up, with the Pacers, Bulls, and Warriors being among the NBA teams feeling the pain the most over the last week or so. Fair warning: Nearly half of my suggested waiver wire adds heading into Week 15 play for one of the aforementioned injury-riddled clubs.

As usual, I’ve recommended several short- and long-term options, as well as a few players who fall into both camps. Without further ado, here are 14 players to consider snagging.

Cameron Johnson, Phoenix Suns (48% rostered)

Having just returned from a three-game absence due to an ankle injury, Johnson has been quiet lately, combining for 15 points in 40 minutes during the last two games. Nevertheless, prior to the last two outings, Johnson had scored in double figures in 19 consecutive contests, dating back to late November. Possessing one of the purest shooting strokes in the league, Johnson probably won’t be this widely available for long, so scoop him up now while you still can.

Chris Duarte, Indiana Pacers (47% rostered)

With the Pacers down several starters, Duarte has been one of their go-to guys over the last few games. After supplying 24 points, seven boards, six dimes, three steals, and two treys in Monday’s loss to the Clippers, Duarte struggled offensively against the Lakers on Wednesday before leading Indiana to victory against the Warriors on Thursday, as he poured in 27 points, seven boards, three assists, three steals, and two treys across 39 minutes. Boasting considerable short- and long-term upside, the rookie wing is worth adding in most leagues.

Jonathan Kuminga, Golden State Warriors (42% rostered)

Kuminga is coming off a snoozer: five points, five boards, and three assists in 15 minutes in Thursday’s loss to the Pacers. Still, he has stepped up with Draymond Green (back) sidelined lately, averaging 15.2 points, 6.4 boards, 1.6 assists, 1.2 threes, 0.6 steals, and 0.6 blocks in 23.6 minutes over the last five games. Green is expected to miss at least another week, so Kuminga should be a viable option in most leagues for at least one more matchup period.

Justin Holiday, Indiana Pacers (43% rostered)

Holiday has reached double figures in scoring in seven straight showings, with averages of 15.6 points, 3.9 threes, 2.9 boards, 2.4 dimes, 1.1 steals, and 0.7 blocks across 31.3 minutes during that same stretch. With Indiana extremely shorthanded and a four-game slate on tap for Week 15, Holiday is a solid streaming option.

Ayo Dosunmu, Chicago Bulls (42% rostered)

With Lonzo Ball (knee) expected to miss at least a month, and perhaps even two, Dosunmu is suddenly a must-add player in most formats. The rookie guard is astoundingly averaging 18.0 points, 8.0 dimes, 5.7 rebounds, 2.3 steals, 2.3 treys, and 0.7 blocks in 38.0 minutes across the last three games.

Assuming Zach LaVine (knee) returns in the near future, it’s safe to say Dosunmu won’t be able to maintain his recent level of production or involvement offensively. Nevertheless, he has flashed an incredible skill set that should earn him ample minutes going forward, even as the Bulls get closer to full strength.

Marvin Bagley, Sacramento Kings (36% rostered)

Despite finally earning a consistent role, Bagley has mostly been up-and-down this season. With that being said, he is averaging 19.7 points, 10.3 boards, and 1.0 block in 29.3 minutes during the last three games. If you’re searching for reliability you may want to look elsewhere, but if you want to gamble on someone with more significant upside, Bagley isn’t a bad bet.

Kevin Huerter, Atlanta Hawks (34% rostered)

Over the last nine games, Huerter is averaging 13.7 points, 4.1 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 1.7 threes, and 0.7 steals in 32.1 minutes. It’s still the Trae Young show in Atlanta, with the vast majority of the offense running through the All-Star point guard. Still, Huerter has been more involved of late and looks like one of the more obvious adds, both for the short- and long-term.

Joe Ingles, Utah Jazz (28% rostered)

Starting in place of Donovan Mitchell (concussion) on Wednesday, Ingles registered 10 points, six assists, five boards, two treys, and one steal in 31 minutes of action. In 10 starts this season, Ingles is averaging 10.5 points, 3.8 boards, 3.2 dimes, and 2.7 treys in 28.6 minutes. Those already rostering Mitchell may want to think about adding Ingles for the short-term. In the event that Mitchell is forced to miss some time, Ingles would project as a strong streaming option given that Utah has four games on its Week 15 schedule.

Onyeka Okongwu, Atlanta Hawks (29% rostered)

The Hawks are hopeful that Clint Capela (ankle) will be ready to return this weekend. However, Okongwu has been doing a decent job holding down the fort during Capela’s absence. In particular, Okongwu has been stellar during the last two games, combining for 29 points, 16 boards, eight blocks, four assists, and two steals across 70 minutes. Capela was banged up to begin the campaign but hadn’t missed many games prior to this recent stretch. Still, those already rostering Capela might be wise to add Okongwu in case Capela is sidelined more often during the second half of the season.

Kevon Looney, Golden State Warriors (26% rostered)

Kuminga has been the more popular waiver wire addition, but Looney has been doing his best Draymond Green (back) impression of late. With averages of 6.5 points, 11.1 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.3 steals, and 0.5 blocks in 22.8 minutes during the last eight contests, Looney is worth a look, especially in deeper formats, while Green remains sidelined.

Goga Bitadze, Indiana Pacers (22% rostered)

With Indiana’s big man rotation dwindling due to injuries, Bitadze has delivered two solid outings in his last three games. In Monday’s matchup versus the Clippers, he cooked up 17 points, eight boards, two dimes, two blocks, and one trey in 25 minutes. Moreover, in Thursday’s victory over the Warriors, Bitadze contributed 13 points, nine rebounds, five assists, one block, and one trey in 31 minutes. Assuming Domantas Sabonis (ankle) is forced to sit out a few games, Bitadze is an intriguing add heading into Week 15.

[So many reasons to play Yahoo DFS: Learn more now and get in on the fun]

Precious Achiuwa, Toronto Raptors (19% rostered)

With Khem Birch (nose) sidelined over the last three games, Achiuwa has averaged 10.7 points, 10.0 boards, 1.3 blocks, 1.0 assist, and 0.7 steals in 36.3 minutes. All three of those were against playoff-caliber opponents (Bucks, Heat, Mavericks), so those in need of a streaming option in deeper leagues could do a lot worse than Achiuwa, at least while Birch is out for the next couple weeks.

Danilo Gallinari, Atlanta Hawks (15% rostered)

Gallinari (Achilles) is questionable heading into Friday’s matchup versus the Heat. Still, in the aftermath of Atlanta trading Cam Reddish, Gallinari has been among those to benefit. Sporting averages of 16.5 points, 4.5 boards, 2.8 treys, and 1.8 assists in 29.0 minutes during the last four contests, Gallinari is minimally worthy of deep-league consideration.

Cory Joseph, Detroit Pistons (11% rostered)

Never forget that players on teams with losing records put up stats, too. Over the last six games, Joseph is turning in averages of 12.5 points, 5.8 assists, 2.8 boards, and 2.2 treys in 27.2 minutes. Especially if Killian Hayes (hip) is held out for a few games, Joseph makes for a solid under-the-radar pickup, at least until Jerami Grant (thumb) rejoins the rotation.

Recent recommendations rostered in less than 50 percent of leagues: Alec Burks, Royce O’Neale, Monte Morris, Brandon Clarke, Hamidou Diallo, Amir Coffey, Jonathan Isaac, Patrick Beverley, Nicolas Claxton, Eric Gordon, Brook Lopez, Terance Mann, Nassir Little, Markelle Fultz