Welcome to "Role Revolution," where we explore fantasy basketball players poised to break out due to recent roster changes and expanded opportunities.
With less than two weeks remaining in the NBA regular season, overlooked talents are seizing their moment as teams fight for playoff positioning or focus on player development. From veteran scorers finding new life to undrafted rookies making surprise impacts, this week's edition highlights eight week 23 waiver wire adds who can tip the scales in your fantasy playoffs. (Statistics as of April 1, 2025)
1. Drew Timme
(PF, Brooklyn Nets)
2024-25 stats: 13.0 PPG, 6.3 RPG
1.7 APG, 0.0 SPG, 0.3 BPG
60.7 FG%, 22.2 3P%, 75.0 FT%
The Nets signed former March Madness star Drew Timme to a multi-year deal last week and the big man quickly established himself in Brooklyn’s rotation, ranking third in minutes over his three games so far. Timme had been one of the best players in the G League this season, averaging 23.9 PPG, 10.3 RPG, and 4.2 APG for the Long Island Nets, and his production has largely translated over in his limited NBA floor time.
The Gonzaga product came out of the blocks hot with a double-double in his debut and backed that up with a 19-point performance in his second game against Washington. His production came down a bit in his third game at Dallas on Monday, but he had a highlight block of Anthony Davis despite not being known as a defender.
Given his immediate strong play and status as a fan-favorite from his college career, it appears likely that Timme (available in over 99% of ESPN leagues) will have every chance to keep this up as the Nets close out a rebuilding season.
2. Tim Hardaway Jr.
(SG, Detroit Pistons)
2024-25 stats: 10.7 PPG, 2.4 RPG
1.6 APG, 0.5 SPG, 0.1 BPG
40.4 FG%, 36.5 3P%, 84.3 FT%
Star guard Cade Cunningham has missed four straight games with a calf contusion and journeyman bucket-getter Tim Hardaway Jr. has filled Detroit’s scoring void nicely, helping keep the playoff-bound Pistons afloat in his absence. The 12-year veteran is averaging 21.3 PPG over his last three games while shooting 47.8% from beyond the arc. That includes a 32-point showing in a huge win over the conference-leading Cavaliers on Friday, in which Hardaway Jr. shot 10-18 from the field and 7-11 from deep, going toe-to-toe with Donovan Mitchell.
Hardaway Jr. has had his lowest scoring season since 2016, and this recent spell may be just what he needed to get back on track. While the production may dip slightly upon Cunningham’s return to the lineup, adding Hardaway Jr. (rostered in 4.6% of ESPN leagues) now could give you a crucial scoring edge in fantasy playoffs.
3. Keion Brooks Jr.
(SF, New Orleans Pelicans)
2024-25 stats: 7.3 PPG, 3.1 RPG
1.0 APG, 0.4 SPG, 0.9 BPG
54.1 FG%, 42.9 3P%, 62.5 FT%
On Monday, the 21-win Pelicans announced that injured veterans CJ McCollum and Zion Williamson would join Dejounte Murray, Herbert Jones, and Trey Murphy III on the shelf for the remainder of the season, opening the door for unheralded young pieces to make a name for themselves. Keion Brooks Jr., an undrafted rookie on a two-way deal with just seven NBA games under his belt, has been the one to take advantage, posting three straight double-digit scoring games since McCollum went down on March 23rd.
In his most recent outing against Charlotte on Sunday, Brooks Jr. glaringly outplayed established rotation players in Bruce Brown and Jose Alvarado, with a line of 17 points on 7-12 FG, eight rebounds, two steals, and three blocks. This career-best performance from Brooks Jr. (rostered in 0.1% of ESPN leagues) showed he can contribute in a number of areas as he plays for his NBA future over this final stretch.
4. Jared Butler
(SG, Philadelphia 76ers)
2024-25 stats: 10.5 PPG, 1.7 RPG
3.4 APG, 0.6 SPG, 0.2 BPG
45.6 FG%, 36.4 3P%, 81.0 FT%
It just wouldn’t be one of these lists without a young, unproven 76er making an appearance in a mess of a season for Philadelphia. This week, it’s Jared Butler breaking out with four straight excellent performances in the midst of the 76ers’ eight-game losing streak.
Over this span, Butler is averaging 16.8 PPG on 53.2 FG% and a scalding 14-22 from three-point range. He’s also shining as a facilitator, notching a double-double with 10 assists against Miami on Saturday, and dishing out six dimes the next day against Toronto. This combination of scoring and playmaking is a rare find in fantasy basketball, and despite Philadelphia’s lack of predictability rotation-wise, Butler is a worthy addition to any roster.
5. Ryan Rollins
(PG, Milwaukee Bucks)
2024-25 stats: 5.6 PPG, 1.8 RPG
1.6 APG, 0.7 SPG, 0.3 BPG
47.5 FG%, 38.1 3P%, 81.1 FT%
Last week, the Bucks announced that Damian Lillard was diagnosed with a blood clot in his calf and will be out indefinitely, at least missing the remainder of the regular season. Without another established point guard in its rotation, Milwaukee has turned to Kevin Porter Jr. and Ryan Rollins, a third-year player with just 75 career games, for playmaking duties.
Both have stepped up in Lillard’s absence, with Porter Jr. scoring 28 points against Atlanta on Sunday, but Rollins has been more consistent over this recent stretch. Despite four straight losses for the Bucks, Rollins has averaged 13.8 PPG in those games, while shooting a red-hot 66.7 FG% and 66.7 3P%. Porter Jr. may be the superior high-risk/high-reward option, but for solid scoring production and a handful of assists and rebounds per game, go with Rollins (rostered in 1.2% of ESPN leagues).
6. Jarace Walker
(SF, Indiana Pacers)
2024-25 stats: 5.8 PPG, 2.8 RPG
1.4 APG, 0.8 SPG, 0.3 BPG
46.3 FG%, 38.5 3P%, 66.7 FT%
Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle has more evenly spread out the power forward minutes among Pascal Siakam, Obi Toppin, and Jarace Walker over their past three games, allowing Walker, a defensive stalwart, the chance to showcase some of his offensive skill set. The second-year pro out of Houston has responded well, posting three consecutive double-digit scoring outputs on 53.6 FG% and 52.9 3P%, while remaining a pest defensively.
It remains to be seen whether Walker’s recent uptick in minutes will be a permanent change, but as Carlisle sorts out his rotation for Indiana’s postseason run, fantasy managers can profit from the power forward’s efficient scoring production.
7. Adem Bona
(C, Philadelphia 76ers)
2024-25 stats: 4.5 PPG, 3.6 RPG
0.4 APG, 0.4 SPG, 1.0 BPG
69.2 FG%, 0.0 3P%, 70.0 FT%
With Joel Embiid out for the season and Andre Drummond still managing a toe injury that will keep him sidelined at least a few more games, Adem Bona has been the next man up at the center position for Philadelphia. The rookie second-round pick has performed admirably, scoring double-digit points in six of his past eight appearances, including standout performances in a back-to-back over the weekend.
Bona recorded lines of 16 points, 10 rebounds, and three blocks against Miami on Saturday and 14 points, eight rebounds, and five blocks versus Toronto on Sunday, shooting a combined 13-16 from the field. The big man needs to cut down on turnovers (eight over those two games), but has demonstrated enough fantasy relevance and upside to merit starting consideration for both the 76ers and fantasy lineups over the final two weeks.
8. Orlando Robinson
(C, Toronto Raptors)
2024-25 stats: 6.4 PPG, 4.9 RPG
1.7 APG, 0.4 SPG, 0.4 BPG
44.7 FG%, 33.3 3P%, 78.3 FT%
Orlando Robinson brings up the rear among our week 23 waiver wire adds with some unique floor-stretching ability as a seven-footer. Jakob Poeltl’s backup in Toronto, Robinson has converted from beyond the arc in each of his last three games, bringing his NBA total to 20-57 3FG in limited action over three seasons, a more than respectable clip for a player of his size.
Robinson has also found other ways to score, recording a 23-point, 12-rebound performance against Brooklyn last Wednesday and 13 points on 5-7 FG versus Philadelphia on Sunday. Rostered in 2.6% of ESPN leagues, Robinson’s multidimensional skill set could move the needle for deep-league fantasy squads in need of a boost at center.