Knowing what players are available at all times is essential in being a good fantasy hoops General Manager. It’s still very early in the season and teams are still are figuring out which rotations work best. Watch out for those tease-players! There will be times in the early-going in which you see a player get playing time, and even if he thrives, he could still be the ninth man in the rotation. Don’t drop a player who you drafted with more potential until you see them long at least 20 minutes in multiple games. Don’t drop players prematurely.

PERCENTAGES: Yahoo! Sports

D.J. Augustin PG ORL-26% Ownership: Taking advantage of injuries is key when making an add off the waiver wire and the veteran Augustin has been getting starts with Elfrid Payton in and out of the lineup. As good as Payton is at passing and leading the break, Augustin can do the same thing and hit pull-up jumpers consistently. Augustin has always been a reliable three-point shooter. Augustin has dished 21 assists in his last 3 games. He’s also scored in double figures in each of those games. Will his playing time take a hit when Payton returns? Likely, but the Magic have been dealing with injuries and need the support on offense and Augustin has even been a defensive help on the steals front. He’ll be productive even in the Magic’s second unit.

Domantas Sabonis PF IND-30% Ownership: Sabonis has been getting a bit more love in the Pacers offense with Myles Turner out of the lineup, but it’s sink or swim time for the big man. The playing time commitment should still be there for at least the next week, but the shots may not be. Sabonis has been a proactive rebounder and he’s a good compliment to Thad Young. Young is more of an attacker and Sabonis can hit from the elbow. Also, because Sabonis plays from the elbow, he’ll have a decent amount of opportunities to provide assist help when getting the chance to hit the cutter inside. His rebounding numbers should give him a chance to hit that 20-minute mark. He can move and spread the floor, but Turner could be too big of a part of the offense with Sabonis getting a minimal amount of shots. He could very well be a short-term solution at this point.

Marco Belinelli SG/SF ATL-24% Ownership: Belinelli is a perfect example of why I stressed not to chase scoring early in your drafts. Not only is Belinelli an excellent three-point shooter, but he also moves well on the court. He constantly sets screens and then pops out on the key quickly and gets a good amount of open looks. Even with Dennis Schroder in the lineup, he’s been able to score in double figures in just about every game this season. Belinelli’s movement on the court and ability to make defenses focus on the perimeter has given him security in playing time. He’ll also provide a bit of help with assists. Belinelli won’t stand exclusively at the arc as when he’s given space, he’ll dribble inside the arc and take closer jumpers. It adds another element to his game.

J.J. Barea G DAL-23% Ownership: The scrappy Barea will get the job done. Even though he won’t be the top producer of the night, he’ll help out (even if it’s a small amount) by producing in most standard fantasy basketball categories. Barea is an attacker who sacrifices his body in the paint. He’ll fight for rebounds and even dive for loose balls. Barea will help out with steals on the defensive end and even with blocks occasionally. The best part about Barea is that he can rotate to both guard spots and he’ll compile assists consistently. He’s very familiar with the scheme on both sides of the ball and even when the Mavericks are at full strength, he should still be able to carve out 20 minutes per game.

Jakob Poeltl C TOR-22% Ownership: This situation SCREAMS short-term solution, but Poeltl getting the opportunity to prove himself early could earn him extra minutes moving forward. Jonas Valanciunas and Lucas Nogueira have been out with Ankle injuries and Poeltl has been picking up the pieces. From game one, Poeltl has come close to hitting that 20-minute mark. He’s scored in double figures in each of his last three games and has even blocked seven shots in his last three games. Poeltl was already starting to make an impact even before Nogueira got hurt. Poeltl has been able to help out with steals as well. He’s been a bull in the lane and has shown promise with footwork making it easier for him to gain positioning in the post. Add him, but keep an eye out for the next big thing!

Caris LeVert SG/SF BKN-35% Ownership: With Jeremy Lin out for the season and D’Angelo Russell banged up, LeVert picks up a ton of playing time and shots. He’s a must-add at this point and even when Russell is healthy again, LeVert will eventually be a more reliable offensive weapon than Allen Crabbe. He’s been getting a healthy amount of playing time all season and has scored in double figures in four of five games. LeVert is a small outside shooting threat. LeVert has shown that he can run the point and has dished at least four assists in four of five games. LeVert will be a steals contributor and should definitely be a stash option even when Russell returns. LeVert has shown rebounding potential and has had two games in which he grabbed six and eight rebounds in them. The Nets are still trying to figure out their rotation post-Lin and LeVert’s playing time restrictions from last season have been lifted and should be a mid-court help off your bench all season.

Jerian Grant G CHI-24% Ownership: Kris Dunn is ready to return and should takeover as the Bulls starting point guard, but being that the injury Dunn suffered is a finger injury and that he hasn’t played in a bit, this gives Grant a little bit of life to show what type of impact he can make even as a back up. Grant’s shooting is a bit all over the place but he has scored in double figures in his last three games. Grant has a quick step to the basket and the Bulls need that change of pace option because they lack serious depth. Grant has been a major help with assists as he’s dished at least five in every game thus far. Grant has two multi-steal games and has grabbed at least four rebounds in three of four games. Again, Dunn is coming back and after a few games, he’ll likely be inserted in the starting lineup, but now’s the time for Grant to have that chip on his shoulder to protect his playing time and we have to ride that wave out.

Tyson Chandler C PHX-29% Ownership: The Suns are an absolute mess and are about to get a couple of new pieces once Eric Bledsoe is traded so the key is familiarity and Tyson Chandler has been hitting that 20-minute mark all season. Chandler (as always) has been a big rebounding help for fantasy players. He’s hit double figures in rebounding in each of his last three games. Chandler will be a minor scorer in the offense and will take advantage of weaker defenses inside. He’ll help a bit with steals and blocks, but it’s the rebounding that you’re adding him for. Chandler often taps the ball back outside when going up for contested rebounds. The Suns are one of the weaker defensive teams and will need all the help they can get protecting the rim and Chandler has been THAT guy for well over a decade. He’s a safe pick up for boards FOR NOW.

Tyreke Evans SG/SF MEM-20% Ownership: The Grizzlies lack serious mid-court depth and even with JaMychal Green out, the offense will have to come from the back and mid-court for the majority of the time. Evans has proven (when healthy) he can help in most fantasy basketball categories and with the Grizzlies depth issues, Evans has been able to get a secure amount of playing time to start the season. He’s scored in double figures in four of five games and has hit a three-pointer in each game. Evans has grabbed at least four rebounds in each game and has stolen the ball in all but one of them. He’ll dish a couple of assists as well. The Grizzlies are already without Green, Ben McLemore and Chandler Parsons is on playing time restrictions and Evans should continue to see a handful of shots in the Grizzlies offense.

WILD CARD PICK UP: Jameer Nelson PG NO-4% Ownership: This is a great situation for Nelson. He’s a veteran Guard and it allows Jrue Holiday to be able to play at SG, which was the original plan going into the season. When Rajon Rondo eventually returns, Nelson will likely lose a good amount of playing time, but that return date hasn’t been determined and for now, Nelson could be seeing playing time in the 30’s consistently until Rondo returns. Nelson dished at least five assists in two of his first three games as a member of the Pelicans. Nelson has scored in double figures in his last two games. Nelson is a quick guard and is good at finding those opening in the lane and will attack the basket. Nelson will also cut back door off the ball to give his team second chance scoring opportunities. He’ll find a way to get open right under the basket when defenses fall asleep and he’s aggressive defensively on the perimeter. He’s a reliable three-point shooter and will see a lot of open shots outside when the Pelicans big men are doubled inside.