The NBA has named its All-Star rosters which means we are approaching the trade deadline! This is a huge point for the fantasy basketball season because many real-life trades will have massive impacts on fantasy leagues everywhere due to new faces receiving new opportunities. I will be writing this edition of Working the Wire with the massive disclaimer that you should be saving your acquisitions for the deadline this Thursday. In reality, many moves that these NBA teams make will require immediate action on the waiver wire. More on that will come next week as a fallout, but there are already some guys to take a look at with the Kyrie Irving deal that is sending him to Dallas. As more big splashes hit the waves of the NBA shores, stay ready on the wire for your future gem as the fantasy playoffs approach.

In this edition of Working the Wire, I will revisit last week’s takes to see if there was a win or a loss for each player, while also introducing a few new names rostered less than 50% to look at after Week 16 due to new intel. Remember to take this list and use it how you need it. If an obvious surging player is already scooped up in your competitive league, then our hope is to help you find the next gem ahead of time. If managers are ignoring the more obvious value on the wire, then fire away without spilling the beans to your competition on these potential studs.

(Positions and rostered percentages are from Yahoo leagues.)

Win or Loss?

Daniel Gafford, C, Wizards (45% rostered last week)

Last week (two games): 9.5 PTS, 8.0 REB, 1.5 AST, 0.5 STL, 1.0 BLK, 0 3PM, .667 FG, .600 FT, 0.5 TO

Win. Still a hold with these numbers alongside Kristaps Porzingis, Gafford is a double-double threat who can also pad your field-goal percentage and boost your blocks. The free-throw punting build is the obvious play here, but any manager who can absorb some low-volume foul shooting can benefit here. Gafford is worth holding onto still for his strengths.

Alex Caruso, PG/SG, Bulls (44% rostered last week)

Last week (two games): 8.5 PTS, 2.5 REB, 2.0 AST, 1.5 STL, 1.0 BLK, 1.5 3PM, .833 FG, 1.00 FT, 1.0 TO

Win, but there was an injury. I mean, look at those numbers on defense from a guard and nearly perfect percentages. Caruso is an awesome role player from the Bulls, but health certainly has been an issue. If the injury keeps him out of both legs of the back-to-back set starting Week 17, then perhaps it will be time to drop for a trade deadline waiver claim.

Jeremy Sochan, PF, Spurs (39% rostered last week)

Last week (two games): 8.5 PTS, 1.5 REB, 2.5 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 0.5 3PM, .412 FG, .667 FT, 0.5 TO

Loss, plus an injury. Sochan (back) will start Week 17 on the bench and his last week was a huge disappointment compared to his amazing Week 15 performances. In general, he should be viewed as a luxury stash to hold if you are solid in the standings. Otherwise, this injury and slow play from Week 16 may be enough evidence to justify dropping him for a deadline acquisition.

Tyus Jones, PG, Grizzlies (39% rostered last week)

Last week (three games): 7.0 PTS, 4.0 REB, 4.3 AST, 1.7 STL, 0.3 BLK, 0.3 3PM, .304 FG, .857 FT, 2.7 TO

Small win, with a handcuff boost to end Week 16. With Ja Morant (wrist) out on Sunday, Jones went off with seven dimes and three steals. These specialized stats were enough to swing some managers’ matchups in contested Sundays. Though Jones does not usually score in double-digits, his counting statistics can be appealing for 12-team leagues with deep rosters.

Patrick Williams, PF, Bulls (38% rostered last week)

Last week (three games): 7.7 PTS, 5.3 REB, 0.7 AST, 0.7 STL, 0.7 BLK, 1.0 3PM, .360 FG, 1.00 FT, 1.3 TO

Small win, but I will admit the field-goal percentage was rough. The 1.4 combined defensive stats were likely helpful for anyone who grabbed the young power forward, but the hope here is the shooting can get better over time. With the Bulls teetering between a few season outcomes, Williams could end up being a very solid hold if Zach LaVine gets shipped out.

Jonathan Isaac, SF/PF, Magic (38% rostered last week)

Last week (three games): 5.7 PTS, 4.3 REB, 0 AST, 0.7 STL, 0.3 BLK, 0 3PM, .571 FG, 1.00 FT, 0 TO

Push, this one needs more time and needs the deadline to take place to see what the Magic do. Isaac continues to show flashes of being the gazelle of a defender that he once was in 2019-20, but the numbers are not necessarily flashy. If you are atop your league’s standings or near the top, you might as well hold for the potential. Otherwise, move on around the deadline.

Deni Avdija, SF/PF, Wizards (31% rostered last week)

Last week (three games): 16.7 PTS, 6.3 REB, 2.0 AST, 1.7 STL, 0.3 BLK, 2.0 3PM, .471 FG, .667 FT, 1.7 TO

Slam dunk win. Avdija had some awesome rebounding games and is starting to score while playing the passing lanes like the defensive presence the Wizards are trying to develop. Avdija is gaining a lot of minutes and touches after the Rui Hachimura trade, so try to capitalize here before others begin catching on. I would call Avdija a solid hold moving forward.

Larry Nance Jr., PF/C, Pelicans (25% rostered last week)

Last week (four games): 10.8 PTS, 10.3 REB, 1.8 AST, 0.8 STL, 0.5 BLK, 0.3 3PM, .720 FG, .600 FT, 0.8 TO

Big win. Take a look at the double-double average, 1.3 combined defensive stats and incredible field-goal shooting with nearly zero turnovers. Nance is a fan-favorite for managers who punt points, but honestly he is worth holding onto if any standard format team needs some big man contributions. Until Zion Williamson (hamstring) is even close to back, hold onto LNJ.

Delon Wright, PG/SG, Wizards (24% rostered last week)

Last week (three games): 3.7 PTS, 5.0 REB, 2.0 AST, 1.3 STL, 0 BLK, 0.3 3PM, .455 FG, 0 FT, 0.7 TO

Small win, but he still remains one of the best steals specialists on the wire right now. If you needed steals the past few weeks, Wright has been dependable in that regard. The 5.0 rebounds per game this week were nice, but the 2.0 dimes per game were subpar. Unless there is a major grab on your wire to supplant Wright from his spot, hold for now for the steals if needed.

Jericho Sims, C, Knicks (10% rostered last week)

Last week (four games): 2.0 PTS, 3.3 REB, 1.3 AST, 1.0 STL, 0.5 BLK, 0 3PM, .667 FG, .667 FT, 0.5 TO

Loss. I will take some blame here, as Isaiah Hartenstein figured to be a better option for all-around contributions. Take a look below for more on Hartenstein, but Sims could not take advantage of holding onto the starting center job this week. He can be dropped unless you are a manager in the deepest of formats; Sims is a highlight reel player but not quite fantasy viable.

Post-Week 16 Targets

Deni Avdija, SF/PF, Wizards (49% rostered)

Last call here in the minority rostered section, Avdija has shown quite some improvement since Hachimura has left town; if the steals and rebounds keep up for Avdija, then it will only be his shooting limiting him from being a premier 9-cat option.

Royce O’Neale, SG/SF, Nets (48% rostered)

As new teammates travel to Brooklyn in the now-infamous Kyrie Irving deadline trade, O’Neale will still be a consistent fill-in for Kevin Durant (knee); averaging over 2.7 combined defensive stats over the last seven days, things are looking up for O’Neale to take off even more.

Tari Eason, SF/PF, Rockets (46% rostered)

Despite having limited minutes on a regular basis, Eason continues to be an interesting prospect that has unlimited 9-cat potential for years to come; a 20-point and 13-rebound performance this past week with three steals in 19 minutes was mouth watering to say the least.

Donte DiVincenzo, PG/SG, Warriors (42% rostered)

With Stephen Curry (left leg) out for multiple weeks, DiVincenzo has an opportunity to return to standard format must-roster territory as a steals specialist who can fill up other counting stats as well; 10-3-3 with 1.8 steals per game last week is very appealing moving forward.

Isaiah Hartenstein, C, Knicks (39% rostered)

I’ll admit I missed with Sims for standard formats, but Hartenstein has been an actual rebounding streamer for 12-team leagues; grabbing a bunch of rebounds in four games this week (14, 11, 10 and 13), he can be counted on for decent big man production off of the Knicks bench.

Drew Eubanks, PF/C, Blazers (23% rostered)

Jusuf Nurkic (left calf) will be sitting out until at least the All-Star break, making Eubanks an attractive fill-in option; the young Eubanks has averaged 5.3 boards with 1.5 blocks coming off the bench over the last month, so the starting role will open things up for him.

Jonathan Isaac, SF/PF, Magic (23% rostered)

Once again, this is a luxury stash for managers who are very healthy in the standings and specifically searching for defense; however, the upside is real and I personally believe that he will be a prime defensive fantasy option once he gets to around 20-minute appearances.

Xavier Tillman, PF/C, Grizzlies (15% rostered)

Despite Brandon Clarke being 57% rostered, Tillman was able to put up 8.3 rebounds with 1.7 steals and 0.7 blocks per game last week; while head coach Taylor Jenkins toys with lineups based on size, Tillman is a serious option that is not being paid enough attention.

Delon Wright, PG/SG, Wizards (14% rostered)

Still a steals specialist more than anything, Wright has a bit more appeal than Alex Caruso (foot) due to health at the moment; 2.0 steals per game on the season is truly a gem off the waiver wire, and the hope ROS is that his assists and rebounds can get up towards 4.0-plus.

Josh Green, SG/SF, Mavs (7% rostered)

This is more of a shot in the dark, but after Spencer Dinwiddie and Dorian Finney-Smith were shipped out, Green seems primed to get some more minutes as a young role player; he has averaged 15.0 points, 1.2 steals and 2.0 3-pointers when playing more than 30 minutes this year.