Trevor Ariza (SG/SF, POR): Week 18 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add In 12-Team Leagues

OWNED IN: 26% of leagues

ANALYSIS: Did you know Ariza was still an NBA player when the season started and up to his trade to Portland? Chances are you didn't if you were not a very very hardcore NBA fan. Even in a talent-barred team such as Sacramento and with plenty of minutes going his way, Ariza wasn't doing a lot in California. As many as 32 games did he endure there with not-so-encouraging averages of 6 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per game. But with Portland in dire need of help--remember, the Blazers had already gone the distance before to sign Carmelo Anthony!--they pulled the trigger and traded for Ariza. Talk about improvement since then.

No one is going to argue Damian Lillard is the clear no. 1 player in Portland. And CJ McCollum his second fiddle. And Melo or Hassan Whiteside the third and fourth bananas. But for what he brings to the table, Ariza has been quite useful and valuable in Portland. He has started every single game for the Blazers (11 already), is playing more than 33 mpg, and his average line reads 11-5-2-2. The sample is small, sure, but Ariza's averages in those 11 games are in line with what only eight players are averaging on the season and their names are astounding: Drummond, Anthony Davis, Ben Simmons, Chris Paul, Harden, Butler, Kawhi, and Westbrook.

It'd be unfair to put those on par with Ariza as they have kept up their level of excellence for much longer than the veteran, but you get an idea of the level of the game he's playing at these days. Just a few days ago on Feb. 9, Ariza has his best game of the season against Miami: 21 points, 4 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals, and a block while shooting 70% from the floor and hitting two triples along with his five attempts from the charity stripe. With an ownership rate approaching the 30%, you'd be smart getting him before he keeps putting up big numbers and improving his season-long stats (remember, he's a surefire starter in Portland) no matter the type and size of league you play in.