This article is part of our NBA Waiver Wire series.
GUARD
Ron Baker, G, MIA - Baker has gotten plenty of run in the wake of Derrick Rose's season-ending knee injury, averaging 7.4 points, 4.8 assists and 2.8 rebounds on 45.7 percent shooting over the last five. He's averaged 2.0 made three-pointers per game as well and has been seeing a load of minutes, giving him some viability as an option for those needing points and assists.
Nicolas Brussino, G, DAL - Brussino can be deployed at either shooting guard or small forward and has played a lot of the former as the Mavs have started to rest players now that they're out of playoff contention. The 24-year-old has averaged 9.0 points, 3.8 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.5 made three-pointers over the last four games and should be in line for multi-category contributions in the last couple games of the season.
Quinn Cook, G, NOP - Cook impressed enough while playing out a pair of 10-day contracts for the Pelicans to ink him to a two-year deal Saturday. He tallied eight points, four assists and one rebound over 24 minutes Friday and came back with 22 points, three assists and one rebound over 28 minutes Saturday against the Warriors. Given those returns and his new contract, he figures to see plenty of minutes as the Pelicans wrap up the season.
FORWARD
Maurice Ndour, F, NYK - Ndour impressed in recent starts in place of Lance Thomas (hip) and Kristaps Porzingis (back), as he posted a
GUARD
Ron Baker, G, MIA - Baker has gotten plenty of run in the wake of Derrick Rose's season-ending knee injury, averaging 7.4 points, 4.8 assists and 2.8 rebounds on 45.7 percent shooting over the last five. He's averaged 2.0 made three-pointers per game as well and has been seeing a load of minutes, giving him some viability as an option for those needing points and assists.
Nicolas Brussino, G, DAL - Brussino can be deployed at either shooting guard or small forward and has played a lot of the former as the Mavs have started to rest players now that they're out of playoff contention. The 24-year-old has averaged 9.0 points, 3.8 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.5 made three-pointers over the last four games and should be in line for multi-category contributions in the last couple games of the season.
Quinn Cook, G, NOP - Cook impressed enough while playing out a pair of 10-day contracts for the Pelicans to ink him to a two-year deal Saturday. He tallied eight points, four assists and one rebound over 24 minutes Friday and came back with 22 points, three assists and one rebound over 28 minutes Saturday against the Warriors. Given those returns and his new contract, he figures to see plenty of minutes as the Pelicans wrap up the season.
FORWARD
Maurice Ndour, F, NYK - Ndour impressed in recent starts in place of Lance Thomas (hip) and Kristaps Porzingis (back), as he posted a pair of double-digit scoring efforts, including one double-double, and has averaged 8.3 points, 6.0 rebounds, 1.3 steals and 1.0 blocks in the last four games. He played 21 to 33 minutes in the last three games and should see similar opportunity the last couple games as both Thomas and Porzingis are likely done for the season.
Henry Ellenson, F, DET - Coach Stan Van Gundy has already said he'll give Ellenson extra run the last few games of the season, a practice that began with his first NBA start versus the Rockets on Friday night. The 20-year-old responded with 15 points, 11 rebounds and one block and should serve as the front-line power forward for the final three games, one of which will be against a team particularly vulnerable to fours in the Wizards.
Alex Poythress, F, PHI - Poythress has been productive since joining the Sixers on April 1 after a solid season in the D-League. He's averaged 8.3 points, 4.3 rebounds and 1.3 assists across 26.0 minutes over the four games since. Even though he's yet to show it at the NBA level, Poythress carries three-point upside, having drained 43 percent of his shots from behind the arc with the Fort Wayne Mad Ants this season. He figures to continue seeing solid minutes at small forward as the Sixers play out the string.
Revisiting:
Justin Anderson, F, PHI - We first mentioned Anderson on Feb. 25 based on speculation he'd see some decent run after coming over at the trade deadline from Dallas. Since Robert Covington was ruled out for the season with a knee injury, he's become much more relevant, receiving starts at small forward and producing with them. Anderson has averaged 11.6 points, 4.0 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.8 made three-pointers over the last five games, while shooting 51.3 percent from the field and 45.0 percent from three-point range. For those needing some multi-category production in the season's final days, he presents as an excellent option.
CENTER
Revisiting:
Boban Marjanovic, C, DET - Marjanovic, who we first mentioned Jan. 7, is the second player along with the aforementioned Henry Ellenson that coach Stan Van Gundy has opted to give extended run to as the season winds down. He parlayed his newfound opportunity into some meaningful production right off the bat Friday night versus the Rockets, as he posted a 27-point, 12-rebound double-double over 28 minutes. Assuming that Van Gundy remains true to his commitment to afford the seven-footer 20-24 minutes per contest at a minimum over the final three games, he serves as an excellent nab off the wire for those in need of points and rebounds to close out their season.
