Finding productive guys on the wire that are long term options at the forward spot is a difficult task after just a week. This list focuses on two sets of guys. The first two, Marvin Williams and Gerald Green, are guys that won't "wow" by any means but are consistently dependent. The next two, Jeremy Lamb and Derrick Williams, are maybe not worthy of a roster spot yet but are worth putting on your radar. They have all had hot starts to their respective seasons and if you're desperate for points or threes they should be considered as low-end bench options. Let's dive in.
Position Eligibility & Ownership Rate Based on Yahoo! Fantasy Basketball Player List
NBA Week 2 Waiver Wire: Forwards
Marvin Williams (CHA, SF/PF) - 46% Owned
Marvin Williams so far this season has been...Marvin Williams. In six of his previous 10 years he's averaged double digit points while consistently shooting near 45% with 5 boards. With Michael Kidd-Gilchrist looking to miss some time with a dislocated shoulder, Williams will be getting a more significant role on the team. He's used this opportunity to show off his three point range and has also looked a lot more aggressive on the boards (9.0 Reb/G). After seeing Williams for so many years I don't expect him to do much more than this, but until Kidd-Gilchrist comes back, Williams should be worth the add for forward depth.
Gerald Green (MIA, SG/SF) - 36% Owned
Gerald Green looked like a superstar during the preseason in what has to be the most "Gerald Green" move ever. Basically, when it doesn't count and there's no pressure on him, he can be the most athletic and skilled looking small forward in basketball. Then when people start paying attention to him, he looks like a guy who needs to leave the league and play in Russia just to get some burn. To be fair, Green has worked himself into more than just a freak athlete over the years and has earned his fair share of NBA minutes. I do not trust his night to night production on a deep Miami Heat team, but if you're looking for someone who will shoot/make some threes and definitely score some points then he might be worth the flier.
Jeremy Lamb (CHA, SG/SF) - 3% Owned
After being stashed on Oklahoma City's bench for three years, it finally seems like Lamb will be getting a serious opportunity at being a constant part of a rotation. The Hornets signed Lamb to a three-year, $21M contract extension and are invested on giving him a chance. Through two games he has flashed his ability to score and hit threes. Lamb is far from being a reliable fantasy option right now, but as the season progresses and lineups are more firmly established, he should be an interesting player to keep an eye on. As with Williams above, Lamb's role and contributions will change when Kidd-Gilchrist returns from injury.
Derrick Williams (NYK, SF/PF) - 15% Owned
Williams has found new life coming off the bench for the Knicks. The former 2nd overall pick was a preseason All-Star like Gerald Green, but I actually have faith in Williams being able to produce consistently. Right now he's clearly behind Kristaps Porzingis (a must own rookie in all leagues) so Williams' value will always be stunted by that. But it's very clear he is seen as a scoring option off the bench and has already logged a 24 point game this season. Williams' production and minutes will be interesting to watch as the season moves forward. Unlike Lamb, Williams might be worth picking up now and stashing as the season unfolds.
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