With the All-Star break now in the rear-view mirror, the focus of many fantasy managers will be to lock down a playoff spot in their leagues and put themselves in the best position possible to win their leagues. Crafting lineups and scouring the waiver wire for value becomes even more challenging, especially when some teams have made it clear they’re focused on the future.
For some teams, that means doing everything they can to improve their draft lottery odds. For others, that also means ensuring that their chances of losing their lottery pick are as slim as possible. By virtue of the trade at the deadline that landed them center Ivica Zubac, the Indiana Pacers are one of those teams.
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One of the picks sent to the Clippers was Indiana’s 2026, and it is heavily protected. As long as it lands within the first four picks or between 10 and 30, the Pacers will keep the pick, with the Clippers receiving an unprotected 2031 first-round pick instead. However, if the pick lands between fifth and ninth, it goes to the Clippers, who gave up their first-round pick to Oklahoma City as part of the Paul George trade.
Each of the last two draft lotteries has seen the team with the best odds of receiving the first pick fall outside of the top-4, so effectively punting on the rest of the season is clearly not guaranteed to work. However, with the Pacers holding the league’s fourth-worst record, reaching a spot outside the bottom 10 would take a lot of effort.
Not only does the approach the team takes the rest of the way affect Zubac, who has yet to debut due to a sprained ankle, but also players like Pascal Siakam, Andrew Nembhard, and T.J. McConnell. Add in the $100,000 fine handed down by the NBA regarding the team’s handling of player availability for a February 3 loss to the Jazz (Utah received a $500,000 fine for its player participation issues during February 7 and 9 games against the Magic and Heat), and pulling the plug completely will be difficult to do.
As always, rankings need to be taken with a grain of salt due to player availability questions. Due to season-ending injuries, Utah’s Jaren Jackson Jr. and Sacramento’s Zach LaVine are no longer ranked, pushing players like Brice Sensabaugh, Kyle Filipowski (Utah) and Nique Clifford (Sacramento) into higher-profile roles for the rest of the season.
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→ Watch the NBA on Peacock on Monday, February 23, as the Spurs take on the Pistons at 7:00 p.m. ET, followed by the Jazz visiting the Rockets at 9:30 p.m. ET!
NBA: Brooklyn Nets at Utah Jazz
Fantasy Basketball Waiver Wire: Nets’ Day’Ron Sharpe offers late-season lottery appeal
Day’Ron Sharpe has been excellent when given increased run for Brooklyn, and he could see that down the stretch of the 2025-26 campaign.
|
Rank |
Position(s) |
Player |
Team |
|
1 |
C |
Nikola Jokić |
Denver Nuggets |
|
2 |
PG |
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander |
Oklahoma City Thunder |
|
3 |
SF, PF |
Kawhi Leonard |
LA Clippers |
|
4 |
C |
Victor Wembanyama |
San Antonio Spurs |
|
5 |
PG |
Tyrese Maxey |
Philadelphia 76ers |
|
6 |
PG, SG |
Luka Dončić |
Los Angeles Lakers |
|
7 |
PG, SG |
Donovan Mitchell |
Cleveland Cavaliers |
|
8 |
SF, PF |
Trey Murphy |
New Orleans Pelicans |
|
9 |
PG, SG |
Jamal Murray |
Denver Nuggets |
|
10 |
SG, SF, PF |
Scottie Barnes |
Toronto Raptors |
|
11 |
PG |
Stephen Curry |
Golden State Warriors |
|
12 |
SF, PF |
Jalen Johnson |
Atlanta Hawks |
|
13 |
PG, SG |
Anthony Edwards |
Minnesota Timberwolves |
|
14 |
PG, SG |
James Harden |
Cleveland Cavaliers |
|
15 |
SF, PF |
Lauri Markkanen |
Utah Jazz |
|
16 |
PG, SG |
Cade Cunningham |
Detroit Pistons |
|
17 |
SF, PF |
Kevin Durant |
Houston Rockets |
|
18 |
SF, PF |
Mikal Bridges |
New York Knicks |
|
19 |
PF, C |
Chet Holmgren |
Oklahoma City Thunder |
|
20 |
PG, SG |
Austin Reaves |
Los Angeles Lakers |
|
21 |
SF, PF |
Michael Porter Jr. |
Brooklyn Nets |
|
22 |
PG, SG |
Kevin Porter Jr. |
Milwaukee Bucks |
|
23 |
PG, SG |
Derrick White |
Boston Celtics |
|
24 |
PF, C |
Anthony Davis |
Washington Wizards |
|
25 |
PF, C |
Karl-Anthony Towns |
New York Knicks |
|
26 |
C |
Joel Embiid |
Philadelphia 76ers |
|
27 |
PG |
Jalen Suggs |
Orlando Magic |
|
28 |
C |
Onyeka Okongwu |
Atlanta Hawks |
|
29 |
PG, SG |
Tyler Herro |
Miami Heat |
|
30 |
PF, C |
Evan Mobley |
Cleveland Cavaliers |
|
31 |
PG, SG |
Keyonte George |
Utah Jazz |
|
32 |
C |
Nikola Vučević |
Boston Celtics |
|
33 |
PG |
Jalen Brunson |
New York Knicks |
|
34 |
PF, C |
Julius Randle |
Minnesota Timberwolves |
|
35 |
C |
Zach Edey |
Memphis Grizzlies |
|
36 |
SG, SF |
Norman Powell |
Miami Heat |
|
37 |
SF, PF |
OG Anunoby |
New York Knicks |
|
38 |
PF, C |
Giannis Antetokounmpo |
Milwaukee Bucks |
|
39 |
PG, SG |
Immanuel Quickley |
Toronto Raptors |
|
40 |
SG, SF |
Nickeil Alexander-Walker |
Atlanta Hawks |
|
41 |
PF, C |
Alex Sarr |
Washington Wizards |
|
42 |
C |
Jalen Duren |
Detroit Pistons |
|
43 |
SF |
Kon Knueppel |
Charlotte Hornets |
|
44 |
SF, PF |
Paul George |
Philadelphia 76ers |
|
45 |
SF |
Cooper Flagg |
Dallas Mavericks |
|
46 |
PG, SG, SF |
Amen Thompson |
Houston Rockets |
|
47 |
C |
Donovan Clingan |
Portland Trail Blazers |
|
48 |
PG, SG |
De’Aaron Fox |
San Antonio Spurs |
|
49 |
SF, PF |
Franz Wagner |
Orlando Magic |
|
50 |
PF, C |
Alperen Şengün |
Houston Rockets |
|
51 |
SF, PF |
Brandon Miller |
Charlotte Hornets |
|
52 |
C |
Kristaps Porziņģis |
Golden State Warriors |
|
53 |
SG, SF |
Desmond Bane |
Orlando Magic |
|
54 |
PG |
Ryan Rollins |
Milwaukee Bucks |
|
55 |
PF, C |
Bam Adebayo |
Miami Heat |
|
56 |
C |
Mark Williams |
Phoenix Suns |
|
57 |
PG, SG |
Ty Jerome |
Memphis Grizzlies |
|
58 |
PG |
Collin Gillespie |
Phoenix Suns |
|
59 |
SF, PF |
Deni Avdija |
Portland Trail Blazers |
|
60 |
SG, SF |
Jaylen Brown |
Boston Celtics |
|
61 |
C |
Jarrett Allen |
Cleveland Cavaliers |
|
62 |
SG, SF |
Grayson Allen |
Phoenix Suns |
|
63 |
PF, C |
Kel’el Ware |
Miami Heat |
|
64 |
PF, C |
Naz Reid |
Minnesota Timberwolves |
|
65 |
SF, PF |
LeBron James |
Los Angeles Lakers |
|
66 |
SF, PF |
Keegan Murray |
Sacramento Kings |
|
67 |
PG, SG |
LaMelo Ball |
Charlotte Hornets |
|
68 |
SF, PF |
Andrew Wiggins |
Miami Heat |
|
69 |
SG, SF, PF |
Brandon Ingram |
Toronto Raptors |
|
70 |
SG, SF |
Donte DiVincenzo |
Minnesota Timberwolves |
|
71 |
PG |
Payton Pritchard |
Boston Celtics |
|
72 |
PG, SG |
Josh Giddey |
Chicago Bulls |
|
73 |
SF, PF |
Jaden McDaniels |
Minnesota Timberwolves |
|
74 |
PG, SG, SF |
Dyson Daniels |
Atlanta Hawks |
|
75 |
SG, SF, PF |
Josh Hart |
New York Knicks |
|
76 |
SF |
DeMar DeRozan |
Sacramento Kings |
|
77 |
PG, SG |
Devin Booker |
Phoenix Suns |
|
78 |
SG |
VJ Edgecombe |
Philadelphia 76ers |
|
79 |
SF, PF |
Jalen Wiliams |
Oklahoma City Thunder |
|
80 |
PF, C |
Jabari Smith Jr. |
Houston Rockets |
|
81 |
C |
Myles Turner |
Milwaukee Bucks |
|
82 |
PG, SG |
Tre Jones |
Chicago Bulls |
|
83 |
PG, SG |
Ajay Mitchell |
Oklahoma City Thunder |
|
84 |
C |
Neemias Queta |
Boston Celtics |
|
85 |
SF, PF |
Saddiq Bey |
New Orleans Pelicans |
|
86 |
PF, C |
Aaron Gordon |
Denver Nuggets |
|
87 |
SF, PF |
Matas Buzelis |
Chicago Bulls |
|
88 |
C |
Deandre Ayton |
Los Angeles Lakers |
|
89 |
SF, PF |
Miles Bridges |
Charlotte Hornets |
|
90 |
PG, SG |
Jrue Holiday |
Portland Trail Blazers |
|
91 |
PG, SG |
Anthony Black |
Orlando Magic |
|
92 |
PF, C |
John Collins |
LA Clippers |
|
93 |
SG, SF |
Kyshawn George |
Washington Wizards |
|
94 |
PF, C |
Pascal Siakam |
Indiana Pacers |
|
95 |
SG, SF |
Ayo Dosunmu |
Minnesota Timberwolves |
|
96 |
PG |
Trae Young |
Washington Wizards |
|
97 |
C |
Ivica Zubac |
Indiana Pacers |
|
98 |
C |
Robert Williams |
Portland Trail Blazers |
|
99 |
C |
Jay Huff |
Indiana Pacers |
|
100 |
C |
Domantas Sabonis |
Sacramento Kings |
|
101 |
PG, SG |
Reed Sheppard |
Houston Rockets |
|
102 |
C |
Luke Kornet |
San Antonio Spurs |
|
103 |
C |
Isaiah Hartenstein |
Oklahoma City Thunder |
|
104 |
C |
Wendell Carter Jr. |
Orlando Magic |
|
105 |
SF, PF |
Peyton Watson |
Denver Nuggets |
|
106 |
SF, PF |
Tari Eason |
Houston Rockets |
|
107 |
SF |
Jaylon Tyson |
Cleveland Cavaliers |
|
108 |
C |
Rudy Gobert |
Minnesota Timberwolves |
|
109 |
PG, SG |
Cason Wallace |
Oklahoma City Thunder |
|
110 |
C |
Nicolas Claxton |
Brooklyn Nets |
|
111 |
PF, C |
Santi Aldama |
Memphis Grizzlies |
|
112 |
SF, PF |
Kelly Oubre Jr. |
Philadelphia 76ers |
|
113 |
SG, SF |
Sam Merrill |
Cleveland Cavaliers |
|
114 |
SG, SF, PF |
Ausar Thompson |
Detroit Pistons |
|
115 |
SF, PF |
Dillon Brooks |
Phoenix Suns |
|
116 |
SG |
Cam Spencer |
Memphis Grizzlies |
|
117 |
C |
Ryan Kalkbrenner |
Charlotte Hornets |
|
118 |
C |
Derik Queen |
New Orleans Pelicans |
|
119 |
PG, SG |
Andrew Nembhard |
Indiana Pacers |
|
120 |
SF, PF |
Royce O’Neale |
Phoenix Suns |
|
121 |
PF, C |
Sandro Mamukelashvili |
Toronto Raptors |
|
122 |
SF, PF, C |
Zion Williamson |
New Orleans Pelicans |
|
123 |
SG, SF |
Devin Vassell |
San Antonio Spurs |
|
124 |
PG, SG |
CJ McCollum |
Atlanta Hawks |
|
125 |
C |
Dylan Cardwell |
Sacramento Kings |
|
126 |
SF, PF |
Naji Marshall |
Dallas Mavericks |
|
127 |
PF |
Tobias Harris |
Detroit Pistons |
|
128 |
SG, SF |
Julian Champagnie |
San Antonio Spurs |
|
129 |
SF, PF |
Derrick Jones Jr. |
LA Clippers |
|
130 |
PF, C |
Paolo Banchero |
Orlando Magic |
|
131 |
C |
Jusuf Nurkić |
Utah Jazz |
|
132 |
SG, SF |
Moses Moody |
Golden State Warriors |
|
133 |
PG, SG |
Miles McBride |
New York Knicks |
|
134 |
PG |
Darius Garland |
LA Clippers |
|
135 |
PF, C |
Al Horford |
Golden State Warriors |
|
136 |
SG, SF |
Max Christie |
Dallas Mavericks |
|
137 |
PG |
Ja Morant |
Memphis Grizzlies |
|
138 |
SG, SF |
Shaedon Sharpe |
Portland Trail Blazers |
|
139 |
SF, PF |
Keldon Johnson |
San Antonio Spurs |
|
140 |
C |
Daniel Gafford |
Dallas Mavericks |
|
141 |
C |
Moussa Diabaté |
Charlotte Hornets |
|
142 |
SF, PF |
Toumani Camara |
Portland Trail Blazers |
|
143 |
SG, SF |
Bennedict Mathurin |
LA Clippers |
|
144 |
PG, SG |
Jordan Goodwin |
Phoenix Suns |
|
145 |
SF, PF |
PJ Washington |
Dallas Mavericks |
|
146 |
SG, SF |
Quentin Grimes |
Philadelphia 76ers |
|
147 |
SG, SF |
Tim Hardaway Jr. |
Denver Nuggets |
|
148 |
SF, PF |
Jerami Grant |
Portland Trail Blazers |
|
149 |
C |
Goga Bitadze |
Orlando Magic |
|
150 |
PG, SG |
Brandin Podziemski |
Golden State Warriors |
|
151 |
PF, C |
Bobby Portis |
Milwaukee Bucks |
|
152 |
SG |
Cedric Coward |
Memphis Grizzlies |
|
153 |
PF, C |
Isaiah Stewart |
Detroit Pistons |
|
154 |
SF, PF |
Jake LaRavia |
Los Angeles Lakers |
|
155 |
PG, SG |
Russell Westbrook |
Sacramento Kings |
|
156 |
SG, SF |
Bilal Coulibaly |
Washington Wizards |
|
157 |
SF, PF |
Herb Jones |
New Orleans Pelicans |
|
158 |
SF, PF |
RJ Barrett |
Toronto Raptors |
|
159 |
PG, SG |
De’Anthony Melton |
Golden State Warriors |
|
160 |
C |
Jalen Smith |
Chicago Bulls |
|
161 |
PG |
T.J. McConnell |
Indiana Pacers |
|
162 |
SG, SF |
Jaime Jaquez Jr. |
Miami Heat |
|
163 |
PF, C |
Dominick Barlow |
Philadelphia 76ers |
|
164 |
PG, SG |
Stephon Castle |
San Antonio Spurs |
|
165 |
PG, SG |
Davion Mitchell |
Miami Heat |
|
166 |
PG, SG |
Kris Dunn |
LA Clippers |
|
167 |
SG, SF |
Duncan Robinson |
Detroit Pistons |
|
168 |
SG, SF, PF |
Cameron Johnson |
Denver Nuggets |
|
169 |
PF, C |
Collin Murray-Boyles |
Toronto Raptors |
|
170 |
C |
Mitchell Robinson |
New York Knicks |
|
171 |
C |
Jock Landale |
Atlanta Hawks |
|
172 |
SG, SF |
Aaron Wiggins |
Oklahoma City Thunder |
|
173 |
SF, PF |
Justin Champagnie |
Washington Wizards |
|
174 |
SG, SF |
Ziaire Williams |
Brooklyn Nets |
|
175 |
SG, SF |
Aaron Nesmith |
Indiana Pacers |
|
176 |
C |
Day’Ron Sharpe |
Brooklyn Nets |
|
177 |
SF, PF |
Sam Hauser |
Boston Celtics |
|
178 |
PG, SG |
Anfernee Simons |
Chicago Bulls |
|
179 |
PG, SG, SF |
AJ Green |
Milwaukee Bucks |
|
180 |
SG, SF |
Isaiah Joe |
Oklahoma City Thunder |
|
181 |
SG, SF |
Kevin Huerter |
Detroit Pistons |
|
182 |
PG, SG |
Marcus Smart |
Los Angeles Lakers |
|
183 |
C |
Jakob Poeltl |
Toronto Raptors |
|
184 |
PG, SG |
Dru Smith |
Miami Heat |
|
185 |
PG |
Egor Dëmin |
Brooklyn Nets |
|
186 |
PF |
Kyle Anderson |
Memphis Grizzlies |
|
187 |
PG, SG |
Collin Sexton |
Chicago Bulls |
|
188 |
PG, SG |
Luke Kennard |
Los Angeles Lakers |
|
189 |
SG, SF |
Alex Caruso |
Oklahoma City Thunder |
|
190 |
SF, PF |
Rui Hachimura |
Los Angeles Lakers |
|
191 |
PF, C |
Draymond Green |
Golden State Warriors |
|
192 |
C |
Andre Drummond |
Philadelphia 76ers |
|
193 |
SG, SF |
Vit Krejčí |
Portland Trail Blazers |
|
194 |
PF, C |
Kyle Filipowski |
Utah Jazz |
|
195 |
PF, C |
Noah Clowney |
Brooklyn Nets |
|
196 |
PG, SG |
Coby White |
Charlotte Hornets |
|
197 |
PF, C |
Marvin Bagley III |
Dallas Mavericks |
|
198 |
SG, SF |
Luguentz Dort |
Oklahoma City Thunder |
|
199 |
SG, SF |
Javonte Green |
Detroit Pistons |
|
200 |
PG, SG |
Jeremiah Fears |
New Orleans Pelicans |
