NBA Waiver Wire: Pickups of the Week

GUARD

D.J. Augustin, G, ORL - Augustin has shuffled in and out of the Magic starting five this season and has provided serviceable production for the most part. Although he most recently headed back to the second unit due to Elfrid Payton's solid play, he's now in line for an uptick in opportunity once again with Jodie Meeks out the next several weeks with a thumb injury, and Evan Fournier still sidelined with a sore heel. Augustin has averaged 8.2 points, 5.0 rebounds, 0.5 assists on 43.2 percent shooting over the last five games while seeing at least 30 minutes in all but one of those contests. The Magic's backcourt situation and his ability to offer modest but consistent production in multiple categories should keep his minutes up for the foreseeable future.

Isaiah Whitehead, G, BRO - The rookie has been a pleasant surprise in what has been a dismal season for the Nets, and he's seen more opportunity than initially expected with Jeremy Lin missing extended time this season with a hamstring injury. Whitehead fills out the stat sheet nicely and is averaging 6.8 points, 3.1 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 0.8 blocks and 0.6 steals over the last 12 games. Even a slight improvement in his 39.9 percent shooting, which is bound to come, would make him a more viable commodity. However, even at his current level of play, he makes for a serviceable option for those scouring the waiver wire for help at guard in deep formats.

Devin Harris, G, DAL - I originally had both Harris and teammate J.J. Barea penciled in for this week, and while the latter's injury on Friday night against the Jazz knocks him out of consideration for the time being, it also opens up more opportunity for the former. Harris had already compiled four double-digit scoring efforts over the eight games prior to Friday, and he accomplished the feat once again against Utah over an 18-minute stint. Harris is now the primary back-up to veteran Deron Williams due to Barea's injury, and given his past body of work, he stands to offer solid production across the stat sheet with the extended run he figures to receive for the foreseeable future.

Langston Galloway, G, NOP - Despite a crowded Pelicans backcourt, Galloway continues to hold on to the top backup point guard spot behind Jrue Holiday and typically see minutes in the high teens at a minimum. He's averaged a solid 9.1 points, 2.5 rebounds, 0.8 assists, 0.5 steals and 0.2 blocks and 2.2 made three-pointers per contest across 22.2 minutes over the last 13 games, and has a 19.5 percent usage rate overall on the season. Given his consistent level of performance and the Pelicans' penchant for high-scoring affairs, Galloway presents as a viable option for those looking for multi-category production at guard.

Justin Holiday, G, NYK - Holiday is heating up, having rattled off four straight double-digit scoring efforts and averaging 13.0 points (on 56.3 percent shooting), 3.5 rebounds, 0.8 assists, 0.5 steals and 0.5 blocks across 22.3 minutes over that span. He's carved out a seemingly secure swath of playing time in the Knicks' backcourt, and could even potentially be in for a move up the depth chart in the near future. Veteran Courtney Lee was recently demoted from his starting two-guard spot in favor of rookie Ron Baker, but the latter has underwhelmed so far in that role, which could eventually lead to Holiday being given a whirl with the first team. Irrespective of whether that comes to pass, the 27-year-old figures to continue generating strong numbers with whatever allotment of playing time he receives.

FORWARD

Joe Ingles, F, UTA - Rodney Hood remains sidelined for the time being with a knee injury, which has given Ingles extended run over the last two games. However, he was seeing at least 20 minutes off the bench on most nights previously, and is posting career highs in points (6.6), rebounds (2.6), assists (2.3), steals (1.0), three-pointers (1.3), shooting percentage (48.1) and three-point percentage (46.1) across 20.8 minutes. The 29-year-old makes for an excellent waiver-wire addition at this point that can clearly offer production across all categories of the stat sheet.

Solomon Hill, F, NOP - Hill continues to hold down the small forward spot on the Pelicans. Although his upside is undoubtedly capped, he represents the rare starter that could potentially be had at this stage of the season on the wire. The 2013 first-round pick has averaged 6.7 points, 4.0 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1.0 steals and 0.4 blocks across 27.7 minutes in the last seven games, and given Anthony Davis' constantly fluctuating health, he stands to see even more opportunity from time to time.

Raymond Felton, F, LAC - Felton (and Austin Rivers, whom we covered here) is one of the beneficiaries of Chris Paul's thumb injury, as he now figures to be in for an extended run in the starting five. He's already started paying dividends, posting three straight double-digit scoring efforts and upping his assists in each successive game. He's been solid across the stat sheet all season, and is averaging 11.0 points (on 55.3 percent shooting), 4.6 assists, 3.8 rebounds, 1.0 steals and 0.6 blocks across 28.0 minutes in the last five games, rendering him an excellent waiver pick-up at this point in the season.

David Lee, F, SAN - Lee has been productive off the bench throughout his first season in a Spurs uniform, and now has a chance to up his returns significantly while Pau Gasol (finger) remains sidelined. Gasol does not have a timetable for return, and Lee could therefore be poised to generate more outings along the lines of the 10-point, 16-rebound double-double he posted in emergency duty against the Nuggets on Thursday. A strong shooter throughout his career, Lee also offers plenty in the area of rebounds, and lesser but solid production in the area of assists as well.

CENTER

Lucas Nogueira, C, TOR - The 23-year-old is sidelined with a concussion, but is worth an add for those desperate for some help at either center or forward. Nogueira has started to slightly up his production, averaging 6.2 points (on 71.4 percent shooting), 5.0 rebounds, 1.0 assists, 1.5 blocks and 1.2 steals over the last six games he's been active for. One of the more notable factors in his recent uptick has been the playing time, as he saw 30 and 35 minutes, respectively, in the two games prior to getting hurt. Although Jared Sullinger's recent season debut figures to eat into his overall opportunity in the frontcourt, Nogueira remains the primary backup to veteran Jonas Valanciunas at the five, essentially insuring his continued involvement.

Dewayne Dedmon, C, SAN - Along with David Lee, Dedmon stands to see some extra run for the time being with Pau Gasol (finger) sidelined. Dedmon has already been posting career bests across the stat sheet off the Spurs bench across 15.7 minutes this season, and has averaged 6.7 points , 7.2 rebounds and 19.3 minutes over the last six games. He's also posted double-digit rebounds in two of his last six games despite playing no more than 23 minutes in either contest, and could be line for even better returns.

Willie Reed, C, MIA - Reed flashed some significant upside during a brief starting stint in early January in Hassan Whiteside's stead, posting a pair of double-doubles that consisted of matching 22-point tallies and respective totals of 18 and 12 rebounds. While Whiteside has returned to action, Reed has still averaged 4.5 points, 5.8 rebounds, 0.8 blocks and 0.5 steals over the last four contests while coming off the bench, and slots in as his unquestioned primary back-up. While Reed's playing time is capped, he can certainly be of help for those seeking some help in scoring and rebounding in deeper formats.