The NBA landscape is going to change once the NBA trade deadline passes. With All-Star break coming up, teams will be a bit more generous with their rotations and lesser-known players will get more playing time. Look for players who are in the trade rumors. Look at that player’s competition at their position on their team because that player will likely be impacted if changes are made. This is where fantasy meets reality in the league thus giving more opportunity on the waiver wire. 

Jamal Murray SG DEN-24% Ownership: With Danilo Gallinari hurt, there are more than enough shots to go around and Murray has scored in double figures in five of his last seven games and has scored from the perimeter in each of those games. The Nuggets have there inside game squared away, but it’s the outside game that needs help and consistent shooting weapons are rare in the Mile High City. Murray has also grabbed at least three boards in each of his last five games. The fact that he can rotate to both guard spots will give him more playing time down the stretch. Murray has ups as well and is a good defender compiling four blocks total in his last two games.

C.J. Miles SG/SF IND-27% Ownership: Miles has been getting the rotation commitment from the Pacers and he has been a big perimeter threat. Miles scored 23 points in his last game hitting 6 treys in the process. Since the end of January, he has scored in double figures in every other game. Even though he mainly is a scorer, he has been a consistent help on the glass as well. Miles has grabbed at least three rebounds in each of his last five games and he can rotate to multiple positions. Miles has clearly been one of the most on and off the wire players this year and for now, he has a consistent locked in rotation spot and as long as he is hitting double digits frequently, he’s a good last guy off the bench player.

Willie Cauley-Stein PF/C SAC-17% Ownership: Cauley-Stein is starting to make more of an overall impact and as raw as he looks on the court, his scoring potential has blossomed lately. He has scored in double figures in five of his last seven games and has been rebounding consistently. Cauley-Stein and Kosta Koufos are in a major position battle and Koufos is generally the go-to for the Kings if they need a scoring boost, but if Cauley-Stein (the better defender) can continue putting points on the board, he will secure more playing time. The Kings are decimated by injuries and as good as DeMarcus Cousins is, he draws triple teams and that should leave the other big man open in the paint.

Andre Roberson SG/SF OKC-15% Ownership: Sometimes you have to play the hits! This certainly isn’t the first nor last time Roberson makes this list because he has a major rotation spot, he is a good defender, and the Thunder lack depth. Roberson’s strong defense has resulted in rebounding. He grabbed 11 boards twice in his last 3 games. Roberson’s game revolves around sneaking into the lane when defenders have there back turned. Roberson has shown improvement in his shot selection and has developed a consistent mid-range game. Roberson does not frequently score in double figures, but he helps enough in other categories to make up for it. He has four multi-block games in his last six. Roberson helps consistently with steals as well.

Larry Nance Jr. PF LAL-21% Ownership: Nance has been getting back into rhythm since returning from injury and he has two double-digit rebound games in his last three. Lance’s offensive game isn’t pretty, but, like his Father, his grit and never say die attitude in the lane gives him inside scoring opportunities. Nance is a good defender with quick hands and has three three-steal games in his last four games. Even though Nance’s direct competition for playing time is Julius Randle, he can absolutely carve out more time down the stretch. Nance’s playing time is hovering around that 20-minute mark. If you start seeing consistency in playing time and those minutes increase to the mid-to late 20’s on average, he becomes a must-add. Nance hustles, bangs in the lane, fights for rebounds and will continue to develop his game further. 

Matt Barnes SG/SF SAC-31% Ownership: Barnes has been on a tear as he has four double-digit rebounding games in his last five. His aggressiveness in the lane has given him positive results. He has played 30 minutes or more in five straight games. His stat-trends SCREAM commitment in the Kings rotation. Barnes has scored in double figures in his last three games and has hit eight three’s combined in those three games. Rudy Gay going down is a massive blow, and the Kings look like they have found their replacement. Barnes has been a big assist and steals help. He has at least four dimes in three of his last four games. Barnes is a very safe player to add.

C.J. Watson PG ORL-2% Ownership: Watson’s defense has impressed the Magic’s Coaches to the point that he is getting starts. Watson has scored in double-digits in four of his last seven games. He has grabbed three rebounds and dished four assists in three of his last four games. Watson also has recorded at least one steal in eight straight games. Watson is also an outside scoring threat. As quick as teammate Elfrid Payton is, he is not as mature as Watson and Watson’s overall game trumps Payton’s speed and passing ability. The Magic struggle to score points and if Watson can keep his turnovers down, he will continue to get time.

John Henson PF/C MIL-16% Ownership: John Henson is back from injury just as Jabari Parker’s season ends after he tore his ACL. A lot of people are focused on Michael Beasley and Mirza Teletovic as the main beneficiaries of the playing time Parker is leaving behind, but what about Henson? Due to the lack of confidence the Bucks have in Greg Monroe, Henson can see more time rotating at both PF and C. Unlike Beasley and Teletovic, Henson plays defense and has grabbed at least five rebounds in his last three games. Henson had a four-block game in one of those three games. Henson can also help grab cheap steals in the lane off of loose balls. Expect his minutes to improve as he hasn’t played under 25 minutes in his last 3 games. Defense is often your best offense and with Khris Middleton back, the offense will be there and they will need Henson’s help to compliment them defensively.

Joe Johnson SG/SF UT-18% Ownership: Short-term pick up alert! Whenever a Jazz guard or wing player is hurt, Johnson will be a safe candidate to add and Rodney Hood is still a bit banged up. Johnson has played over 20 minutes in his last 6 games and has scored in double figures in three of them. As Johnson has aged, he has become way less trigger-happy with his shot and waits a bit longer from the cutter because he creates from the post. When players create from the post, it often slows down his journey to the basket and gives other players the opportunity to cut inside. Johnson has dished at least four assists in four of his last five games. Johnson has also had two six-rebound games in his last five. Don’t get it twisted, Johnson still WILL shoot from long range and hit six three-pointers in a game earlier this week. Once Hood is back in full form, you can return him to the wire.

WILD CARD PICK UP: Rodney McGruder SG MIA-1% Ownership: The Heat have been streaking upward and partly without Dion Waiters. Rodney McGruder is starting to get some serious rotation consideration as he has played over 30 minutes in 3 of his last five games. McGruder has scored in double figures in four of his last seven games and has grabbed at least five rebounds in three of his last five games. McGruder is quick, and will find openings from mid-range and from beyond the arc. McGruder has also dished at least three assists in three of his last four games. Once Waiters is at full strength, it will hurt McGruder’s minutes, but the Heat have been dangling Goran Dragic to other teams and other guards and wings on the Heat have suffered injuries this season. Also, if their current rotation has brought them this far up the standings, why change it up?