Next week will be Week 9 in Fantrax and ESPN leagues, but it will be Week 8 in Yahoo due to their decision to combine the previous two for Week 7. That’s the format we’ll use in this week’s Waiver Wired column, with teams playing two or three games in the final week before Christmas. The two Emirates NBA Cup semifinal winners will also play three times in Week 8, which features two heavily congested days (Thursday and Saturday), with three games scheduled for Friday and Sunday.
With most of the league not playing its first game until Thursday, navigating the waiver wire can be tricky. Who should be added immediately, and who can managers afford to wait until Wednesday to move for? Let’s look at some of the top waiver options heading into Week 8.
Priority Adds
1. Payton Pritchard
2. Rui Hachimura
3. Gradey Dick
4. Tari Eason
5. Ayo Dosunmu
6. Yves Missi
7. Buddy Hield
8. Goga Bitadze
9. De’Andre Hunter
10. Cason Wallace
SF/PF Rui Hachimura (51%), Los Angeles Lakers
With LeBron James ruled out for Friday’s game against the Timberwolves for personal reasons, there will be more shots to go around within the Lakers rotation. Hachimura is one of the potential beneficiaries, and the improved defensive production is what boosts his value. Ranked just outside the top 25 in 9-cat per-game value (Basketball Monster), he’s averaged 1.8 steals and 1.0 blocks over the past two weeks. Add in solid production in points, rebounds production, and percentages, and Hachimura will be worth a look as long as LeBron is out. The only negative is the schedule, as the Lakers’ two Week 8 games will be played on the busiest days (Thursday and Saturday).
SF/PF Tari Eason (51%), Houston Rockets
Eason’s been good all season, and the schedule could also work in his favor for Week 8. If Houston can knock off Oklahoma City in Saturday’s Emirates NBA Cup semifinals, they’d have a three-game slate for Week 8. That would begin with Tuesday’s final against Atlanta or Milwaukee, the only game scheduled for that day. To end Houston’s week, a game in Toronto on Sunday (December 22) is part of a three-game slate. Averaging 23.0 minutes per game, Eason remains a top 50 player in 9-cat formats, proof that he doesn’t need starters’ minutes to impact fantasy teams positively.
SG/SF Buddy Hield (48%), Golden State Warriors
The Warriors have some things to figure out regarding their rotation, especially after their controversial NBA Cup loss to the Rockets on Wednesday. However, Hield’s production has improved, with the ninth-year wing sitting just outside the top 75 in 9-cat value over the past week. Given that production and his recent move into the starting lineup, Hield is worth the risk. However, similar to Hachimura, the Warriors’ two Week 8 games will be played on the busiest days of the week.
SG/SF Gradey Dick (46%), Toronto Raptors
During Monday’s loss to the Knicks, the Raptors lost Scottie Barnes to a sprained ankle. While Jonathan Mogbo was his replacement in the starting lineup on Thursday, Barnes’ absence also boosts Gradey’s value. The second-year wing put up 19 shots in Toronto’s loss to the Heat, scoring 22 points with four rebounds, two assists, and three 3-pointers. With Barnes expected to miss “weeks” and Immanuel Quickley (elbow) not close to a return, Gradey must be rostered in most standard leagues. Also, Toronto will play three games during Week 8, beginning with Chicago on Monday.
SG/SF Ayo Dosunmu (41%), Chicago Bulls
Even with Patrick Williams (foot) appearing to be close to a return, Dosunmu is worth adding, especially with Chicago being one of the teams guaranteed to play three games in Week 8. A 10th-round fantasy player for the season, he’s ranked just outside the top 75 in 9-cat formats over the past month. Between Williams’ injury and Billy Donovan’s willingness to give him crunch time minutes over Josh Giddey, Dosunmu is well-positioned to provide value whether he starts or comes off the bench.
SF/PF De’Andre Hunter (41%), Atlanta Hawks
While a solid defender, Hunter will not provide much in terms of defensive stats. However, the move to the bench appears to have unlocked something offensively, with the Hawks wing providing consistent value. Over the past two weeks, Hunter has averaged 21.9 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 3.3 3-pointers per game while shooting 51.0% from the field and 88.2% from the foul line. That production has been good for 6th-round value in 9-cat formats. If Atlanta can advance to Tuesday’s NBA Cup final, they’ll play three games in Week 8.
C Yves Missi (36%), New Orleans Pelicans
Missi’s offensive production can be inconsistent, but he’s been solid as a rebounder and shot blocker. Providing 9th-round value in 9-cat formats over the past two weeks, the rookie center has averaged 11.1 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game. Missi’s season-long ranking isn’t great, but his case is one in which the role should influence fantasy managers more when deciding whether or not to add him. New Orleans plays three games during Week 8, beginning with the Rockets on Thursday, and they’ll be active during Sunday’s three-game slate (vs. Denver).
C Goga Bitadze (35%), Orlando Magic
Orlando’s task of accounting for the absences of Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner hasn’t been easy. However, they nearly knocked off Milwaukee in Tuesday’s NBA Cup quarterfinals, and Bitadze has been consistently productive over the past three weeks. The 7-footer is ranked just outside the top-50 during this period, with his line including averages of 8.3 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game. Among the low-rostered Magic players, he’s the one fantasy managers should consider adding, even with Orlando playing two games in Week 8.
SG/SF Kelly Oubre Jr. (28%), Philadelphia 76ers
Over the past two weeks, Oubre has been the only 76ers player providing top-50 value in 9-cat formats. The rebounds (6.4 per game) and steals (2.0) have a lot to do with that, as does his shooting 53.3% from the field. Of course, Joel Embiid only played in one of those games, Sunday’s win over Chicago. Oubre scored 12 points in that contest but was responsible for 10 rebounds, three steals, and two 3-pointers. With two of Philadelphia’s three Week 8 games being played against the Hornets, the Tsunami Papi should return solid value for managers who choose to roster him.
SF/PF Julian Champagnie (26%), San Antonio Spurs
Whenever a Spurs player, especially on the wing, has returned from injury, many have assumed that Champagnie would drift to the bench and possibly out of the rotation entirely. However, he’s held onto his spot in the starting lineup, and recent injuries to Stephon Castle (shoulder) and Keldon Johnson (calf) have protected his value. Those two will be sidelined for at least one game, Friday’s matchup with Portland. Given the conservative approach the Spurs tend to take when inserting players back into the rotation after sitting due to injury, Champagnie’s value may hold for the team’s two-game Week 8 slate. Over the past two weeks, he’s provided top 75 value in 9-cat formats.
PG T.J. McConnell (19%), Indiana Pacers
McConnell’s providing solid fantasy value despite coming off the bench is unsurprising, especially for those familiar with his previous seasons’ productions. He’s been a top 100 player over the past two weeks, picking up the slack as Andrew Nembhard works his way back from a knee issue that has bugged him for a few weeks. Thursday’s game in Phoenix may not be an excellent spot for McConnell due to how congested the NBA schedule is, but Sunday in Sacramento might. That’s one of three games on the schedule for the final day of Week 8, followed by a 14-game slate on Monday to begin Week 9.
PG/SG Cason Wallace (12%), Oklahoma City Thunder
Are we beginning to see some separation between Wallace, Isaiah Joe, and Aaron Wiggins within the Thunder rotation? While Wallace, ranked just outside the top 75 over the past two weeks, has averaged 29.4 minutes per game during this stretch, Wiggins (18.7 mpg) and Joe (18.4) are below 19. The second-year guard is also averaging 5.0 rebounds, 2.2 steals, 0.8 blocks, and 1.7 3-pointers, making up for the limited scoring output (8.8 ppg). While Oklahoma City could play three games next week if they advance to the NBA Cup final, the Week 8 schedule isn’t great. That game will be followed by a Thursday/Friday back-to-back in Florida (at Orlando, at Miami) to end the week. The positive is that Friday is a three-game night. Wallace should have added value there.
