Fantasy basketball waiver wire: Melton, Wallace, Raynaud headline post-All-Star pickups
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With the NBA schedule down to roughly six weeks, fantasy managers face a sprint to the playoffs. Injuries and late-season shutdowns are creating fresh opportunities, especially on clubs headed for the draft lottery. The following low-rostered players, highlighted Monday, Feb. 23, 2026, could provide immediate help.
Point guards
Scotty Pippen Jr., Memphis Grizzlies (19.0% rostered) – Back from a long injury layoff, Pippen has reached double figures in three of four outings. He posted season highs in points, rebounds and assists in 21 minutes before an ejection in his most recent game. With Ja Morant (elbow) out, minutes should remain plentiful.
De’Anthony Melton, Golden State Warriors (4.0%) – Finally healthy, Melton has replaced the injured Stephen Curry in the starting lineup for six straight contests, putting up 14.5 points, 2.2 steals and 2.0 three-pointers per game.
Shooting guards
Cason Wallace, Oklahoma City Thunder (17.4%) – Wallace logged his first career double-double Sunday, finishing with 20 points and 10 assists against Cleveland. He has started nine consecutive games while Shai Gilgeous-Alexander recovers, averaging 12.8 points, 4.7 assists, 2.4 steals and 1.4 threes.
Brandin Podziemski, Golden State Warriors (35.4%) – Despite moving to the bench, Podziemski has delivered 15.0 points, 7.4 rebounds, 5.2 assists and 1.6 triples in 33.0 minutes over his past five appearances, all without Curry.
Small forwards
Bilal Coulibaly, Washington Wizards (8.1%) – Four consecutive double-figure scoring games have come with 13.8 points, 1.8 steals, 1.5 threes and 1.3 blocks per night as the Wizards lean into a youth movement after shutting down Anthony Davis.
Gui Santos, Golden State Warriors (14.4%) – Santos has started seven of his past eight games, supplying 14.8 points, 2.0 threes and 1.6 steals in 28.1 minutes. His role could shrink when Kristaps Porziņģis returns, but current production remains steady.
Power forwards
Kyle Filipowski, Utah Jazz (21.3%) – Often promoted when Jusuf Nurkić sits, the rookie averages 12.7 points, 8.4 rebounds, 1.2 steals and 1.1 threes across 20 starts, logging 27.1 minutes in those games.
GG Jackson, Memphis Grizzlies (18.8%) – Over the last nine contests, six of them starts, Jackson has put up 16.6 points, 5.8 rebounds and 1.0 block in 26.5 minutes.
Centers
Maxime Raynaud, Sacramento Kings (31.4%) – With Domantas Sabonis sidelined, Raynaud is expected to hold the starting job for the balance of the year. In six starts he has produced 14.5 points and 10.2 rebounds per game, strengthening his case for an All-Rookie nod.
Jay Huff, Indiana Pacers (15.5%) – The journeyman center has started the last four games while Ivica Zubac remains out indefinitely, contributing 14.3 points, 2.0 blocks and 1.5 threes a night.
The accelerated fantasy stretch run rewards managers who act quickly. These lightly claimed players are positioned for expanded roles as the NBA regular season winds down.
Source: ESPN
