Hard as it maybe to believe, February is upon us. The NBA and fantasy trade deadlines are right around the corner. Of course, this all means that fantasy basketball is heading into the stretch run with about five weeks left in the season. Then, playoff excitement begins! Mangers need to make sure that their rosters are prepared with the best players available. To make that a reality, Belly Up and I present this fantasy basketball February waivers. Let the shopping begin! Please remember that all percentages owned are taken from ESPN.

Point Guards

Monte Morris, Denver Nuggets, 18.5% Owned

Without doubt, Monte Morris has really come on over the past couple of games. Over the past seven games, Morris has played over 30 minutes in five of them. Over that stretch, he is averaging 13.3 points, 5.5 rebounds and 5.5 assists. Morris has scored in double digits in eight of nine games. Additionally, he has had over seven assists four times. Best of all, he has bested 40 fantasy points in his last two games.

For the season, Morris plays 30 minutes per night with averages of 12.6 points, three rebounds and 4.2 assists. The rebounds especially don’t look impressive until it is realized what he has done lately. He has solidified his place as Denver’s starting point guard. That information alone should get managers rushing to the waiver bin and gain his services as quickly as possible.

Patty Mills, Brooklyn Nets, 25.2% Owned

Throughout this season, the Brooklyn Nets have had players shuffle in and out of their lineup. The one constant, though, has been Patty Mills. Last week, Mills was on the floor over 30 minutes in seven straight games. Additionally, Mills has scored exactly 21 points four times since January 12. Mills upped that point total to 24 Saturday against Golden State. For the season, he is averaging 13.9 points, 2.2 rebounds and 2.6 assists.

Whenever the Nets hit the floor, it is a guessing game which of their big three will be out there. There is no question, however, that Mills will answer the call. It has often been said that a player’s best ability is availability. Managers that have Mills on their roster need have no worries in that regard. At 25 percent owned, Mills would solve a lot of missing slots on a roster. Point guards have been hit hard with injuries and protocol issues this season. Any manager with problems at the position should immediately rush to the wire and add Mills. Certainly, Mills gets a high recommendation on this fantasy basketball February waivers adds edition.

Shooting Guards

Lugentz Dort, Oklahoma City Thunder, 23.1% Owned

Without question, players that have dual position eligibility increase their value over others that don’t. Fortunately for those that own Luguentz Dort, value is exactly what he has as he also qualifies at small forward. Of course, playing more than one position is only means something if said player is in fact on the court and producing. There are no worries here as Dort is averaging 32 minutes a night this year. Over the past week, that average has shot up to 36 minutes per game.

Additionally, Dort has the stats to support his presence on the court as he comes into February with averages of 16.1 points, four rebounds and 1.6 assists. However, best of all, Dort has averages of 21.5 points, 7.5 rebounds and three assists per game over the past seven days. There are few players like that on the wire at less than 25 percent owned. Managers need to scramble to the shelves and see if indeed Dort is available. If so, he gets a very high recommendation this week.

Malik Monk, Los Angeles Lakers, 16.1% Owned

Without question, the value that Malik Monk brings to the table goes up significantly when LeBron James is out of the lineup. Lo and behold, that is exactly the picture we see as James has missed the past three games with a swollen knee. James returned to Los Angeles while the Lakers were in Atlanta and his return to the lineup is unknown

Until James makes an appearance in a game, managers should fire up Monk with confidence. Monk has been hotter than a sidewalk in Phoenix in July over the past seven days. He has played 32.3 minutes on the court while averaging 22 points, 6.3 rebounds and four assists during that time. Sunday was a highlight reel of a night for Monk as he scored 33 points with 10 assists against the Hawks. Even when James does return to the lineup, there is no guarantee how long that will be the case. If on the wire, managers should make a B-line and pick up Monk with ASAPness involved.

Power Forwards

Herbert Jones, New Orleans Pelicans, 24% Owned

Although this season has been a complete disaster for the Pelicans, the same can’t be said about Herbert Jones. On a nightly basis, Jones brings home 9.5/3.8/2.0 for his fantasy managers. However, over the past week, like so many other players featured here, those stats jump to 12.8/5.3/3.3. Most importantly, Jones has been right around or bested the 30-fantasy point plateau in his last eight games.

Without question, those stats were truly unexpected for a rookie second-round draft pick. Jones has flown beneath the radar all season and that needs to change quickly. As Jones also qualifies at small forward, his value increases even further. As a young player, Jones should be a fixture in the Pelicans’ lineup until the end of the season. Given that, Jones absolutely belongs on this fantasy basketball February waivers edition.

Jarred Vanderbilt, Minnesota Timberwolves, 25.1% Owned

A player that has been operating under a cloud of invisibility up on the frozen Minnesota tundra has been Jarred Vanderbilt. That is especially true over the past week or so as his playing time has dramatically increased. In fact, Vanderbilt has seen his season court time of 26 minutes increase to 30. During that time, Vanderbilt has brought home averages of 8.5 points, 9.1 rebounds two assists and 1.8 steals. Vanderbilt has outperformed his points, assists and steals season averages of 7.0/1.4/1.6 while maintaining his 9.1 rebounds a night.

The Timberwolves has played themselves into playoff position in the Western Conference as they are currently in eighth place. It is clear that Vanderbilt will be on the court a majority of the time as the season winds down. Managers with issues at power forward would do well to look in his vicinity and add Vanderbilt. He clearly belongs on this fantasy basketball February waivers edition.

Small Forwards

Dorian Finney-Smith, Dallas Mavericks, 15.2% Owned

While injuries have been a problem for the Mavericks all season, they can rest assured that Dorian Finney-Smith will be on the court when the horn sounds. Dallas knows that Finney-Smith will play right around 32 minutes an evening and provide numbers throughout the stat sheet. Entering the shortest month on the calendar, Finney-Smith is averaging 10.1 points, 4.8 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.2 steals per game.

What will keep Finney-Smith on the roster playing starter’s minutes is Tim Hardaway and his left foot fracture. From all reports, it looks like Hardaway will be out until at least March. Obviously, with that information, a fantasy manager can know for certain that Finney-Smith can be counted on to produce consistent performances. Managers with small forward issues would be well advised to add Finney-Smith to the roster without delay.

Jae’Sean, Houston Rockets, 29% Owned

When it comes to consistent performers, Jae’Sean Tate ranks with the best of them. His season and seven-day stats are similar. His overall stats are 12.5/5.6/3.1 and his seven-day stats are12.0/4.3/3.0. Tate has scored in double figures in 12 of his last 13 games. Even better, Tate has scored at least 20 fantasy points in eight of his last 11. Included in that stretch are two 50-point explosions.

With so many players missing time with injuries and other concerns, it is great to have a player that can be counted to deliver valuable fantasy statistics night in and night out. That is where Tate excels like few other players. The Rockets are having a nightmarish season, but that hasn’t affected Tate much. Add in the fact that he also qualifies as a power forward and Tate only increases his value. In the end, Tate has certainly earned a place on this fantasy basketball February waivers edition.

Centers

Bismark Bitombo, Phoenix Suns, 12.6% Owned

Another player on the rise over the past week or so is Bismack Biyombo. For the year, Biyombo is averaging 11.1 points, 8.1 rebounds and 1.2 assists. Over the last week, though, he has bested all of those marks with a 13.0/10.5/2.0 stat line. In addition, Biyombo has bested his 22.8 average time on the court in six of his last seven games. He has also scored 22 or more fantasy points in six of seven.

The Suns have had some absentee issues with JaVale McGee and Deandre Ayton missing time. McGee returned Sunday but has played more than 20 minutes in only one of his last nine games. It seems clear that Biyombo will enjoy more playing time going forward than will McGee. Of course, Ayton will get the starter’s minutes, but he has missed seven straight games. Until Ayton is cleared for action, start Biyombo with confidence.

Mason Plumlee, Charlotte Hornets, 21.3% Owned

Without doubt, the center position is particularly bare at this time in the season. Fortunately, one of the players readily available and putting up reliable stats is Mason Plumlee. His points per game is an unimpressive 6.8, but his rebounding is very respectable at 7.4. His assists per night is a very acceptable for a big man 2.9. As with so many other players listed here, Plumlee has seen his stats rise over the past seven days.

His minutes per game is up 30.3 from 25.1. Plumlee’s points per game increased to 9.3, his rebounds to10 and his assists to 4.8. In fact, he has become somewhat of a rebounding machine with double digits in three of his last five games. Included in that stretch was an amazing game in which Plumlee pulled down 17 boards against the Lakers. Plumlee has also been extremely efficient fantasy wise, with at least 22 points in six straight games. Add it all up and Plumlee needs a fantasy home from coast to coast.

The Final Word

Thank you for joining me for this fantasy basketball February Waivers edition! As always, I welcome suggestions, questions and input from all of my readers. Follow me on twitter @kevin62wilsea. Please feel free to share this article. Be sure to turn to Belly Up Sports and Belly Up Fantasy Sports & Picks for all the latest NBA, NFL, NHL happenings and all the sports news!