Week 4 of the NBA season includes the start of group play in the Emirates NBA Cup, with games for that in-season competition scheduled for Tuesdays and Fridays. In addition to this scheduling wrinkle, there are more injuries for fantasy managers to consider as they scour their waiver wires for potential value additions. Let’s dive into this week’s guard-heavy Waiver Wired, starting with a Grizzlies backup who has been one of the league’s pleasant surprises.
Fantasy rankings source: Basketball Monster
Priority Additions
1. Scotty Pippen Jr.
2. Jose Alvarado
3. Luguentz There
4. Payton Pritchard
5. Peyton Watson
6. Davion Mitchell
7. Tari Eason
8. Caris LeVert
9. Bub Carrington
10. Goga Bitadze
Payton Pritchard (43%), Boston Celtics
This one is pretty obvious to standard league managers looking for points, assists and 3-pointers on solid percentages. While it would be easy to cite the absence of Jaylen Brown as a reason for Pritchard’s added fantasy value, he has played well when the Celtics have been healthy (outside of Kristaps Porzingis, of course). Pritchard may not hover around the top 50 in per-game value all season, but his start is legit.
Scotty Pippen Jr. (42%), Memphis Grizzlies
The Grizzlies lost Ja Morant to a hip injury, and at the very least he will miss Friday’s game against the Wizards. But even if this is just a one-game thing for the Grizzlies star, there is value in adding Pippen. He sits just outside the top 100 in per-game value and has recorded three points/assist double-doubles despite coming off the bench. Also, Pippen has hit double figures in points in seven of nine games this season.
Jose Alvarado (32%), New Orleans Pelicans
Alvarado will be valuable to fantasy managers as long as the Pelicans remain severely shorthanded on the perimeter. Dejounte Murray and CJ McCollum continue to have return timelines that are measured in weeks rather than days, leaving Alvarado as the lone point guard in the rotation. Production-wise, he was a top 25 player for the last week, and a top 75 player for the last two weeks.
Tari Eason (28%), Houston Rockets
Despite playing 22.4 minutes per game, Eason has provided 5th round per-game value over the past two weeks. While his value during the last week was not as high, the playing time increased to 27.3 minutes per game. That bodes well for Eason’s ROS fantasy value, even if he’ll likely remain in a backup role. The points, rebounds, defensive stats and field goal percentage numbers were all good, softening the impact of Eason’s poor free throw percentage.
Luguentz Dort (25%), Oklahoma City Thunder
It’s time for more fantasy managers to buy into Dort. Not only was he a top 50 player last week, but that matches his value for Oklahoma City’s first eight games. He’s no higher than fourth in the offensive pecking order, but Dort’s perimeter shooting has improved, making him an even better fit alongside Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren, and Jalen Williams. And the defensive ability/production will always be there.
Bub Carrington (22%), Washington Wizards
Washington’s three first-round picks haven’t shot the ball particularly well to start the season, with Carrington leading the way at 43.8% while Alex Sarr and Kyshawn George are well under 40% from the field. But all three have managed to add value in other ways, and Carrington has been a top 75 player over the past two weeks. With the injured Malcolm Brogdon only progressing to shooting with his injured right hand on Nov. 7, Carrington’s minutes and place within the rotation will hold for the foreseeable future.
Peyton Watson (21%), Denver Nuggets
With the Nuggets losing Aaron Gordon to a calf injury, Watson was the choice to fill the resulting void in the starting lineup. He played 34 minutes in Wednesday’s win over the Thunder, producing 10 points, three rebounds, three assists, one steal, three blocks, and one 3-pointer. It’s the defensive production that should excite fantasy managers, especially those in division leagues. Watson won’t have to do too much offensively with Nikola Jokic running things, but it’s the other areas that make him a worthy fantasy add.
Goga Bitadze (21%), Orlando Magic
Wendell Carter Jr. was sidelined with plantar fasciitis, opening the door for Bitadze to enter the starting lineup. In Wednesday’s loss against the Pacers, he recorded a streak of 10 points, 12 rebounds, two assists, one steal, and three blocked shots in 30 minutes. We’ll see how long Carter’s absence extends into Week 4 (if at all), but now would be a good time to add Bitadze as he could be off the board in more leagues if you wait until Sunday.
Davion Mitchell (15%), Toronto Raptors
The Raptors have been without Immanuel Quickley since the opener with a pelvic contusion, and it is unknown when he will be healthy enough to return. Until then, it’s good to give Mitchell a shot because of his recent play. The assists, steals and percentages have been solid, with “Off Night” providing 5th round value over the last week. If Quickley returns before this weekend, when the Raptors play back-to-back road games against the Clippers (Saturday) and Lakers (Sunday), Mitchell’s value will take a serious hit heading into Week 4. But we don’t know that yet. , so add him.
Isaiah Stewart (11%), Detroit Pistons
The Pistons lost starting center Jalen Duren to an ankle sprain in Wednesday’s loss to Charlotte, as he played just eight minutes before exiting. It may be “Beef Stew” for now, even if Paul Reed scored 13 points in 12 minutes. Stewart played 26 minutes in that one-point defeat, and while he only scored six points, there were also seven rebounds, six assists, and one blocked shot for fantasy managers to work with.
Kyle Lowry (11%), Philadelphia 76ers
Tyrese Maxey (hamstring) will be sidelined for at least a week before he is reevaluated by team doctors, which should mean a move back into the starting lineup for Kyle Lowry. The concern is playing time, especially with Reggie Jackson, Jared McCain, and even Jeff Dowtin Jr. likely getting the chance to earn minutes. Lowry is first in line, but the boost to his fantasy value may be modest at best. At least he’ll have the chance to take a more prominent role while Maxey sits.
Brandon Boston Jr. (10%), New Orleans Pelicans
Boston is in a similar position to the aforementioned Alvarado. He’s worth rostering as long as the Pelicans stay shorthanded on the perimeter. In addition to the injuries that have sidelined Murray, McCollum, Herb Jones and Trey Murphy, Jordan Hawkins has been plagued by lower back pain for the past 7-10 days. Boston has played 30 minutes or more in three straight games, and scored 14 points or more in four straight. He was a 6th round player for the last week and should continue to start until some of those more experienced vets come back.
Kyshawn George (5%), Washington Wizards
Despite shooting 32.1% from the field, George was a top 75 player in 9-cat formats over the past week. The minutes, 3-pointers, rebounds and defensive production have all been encouraging as he continues to fill in for the injured Kyle Kuzma. George is worth the risk, especially when the Wizards play four games in Week 4, all against teams that missed the postseason in 2023-24 (SAS, HOU, ATL and DET).
Naji Marshall (2%), Dallas Mavericks
Dallas is without PJ Washington due to a right knee injury, with Marshall replacing him in the starting lineup. While the percentages (66.7% FG, 100% FT) he produced over the past week don’t seem sustainable, Marshall offers enough value to merit being added as Washington recovers. Also, the Mavericks’ four-game Week 4 slate ends with a back-to-back, which may affect how Washington’s minutes/availability are handled if he returns sooner rather than later. Adding Marshall shouldn’t cost fantasy managers too much.
