We are approaching All-Star Weekend and are onto week 8 of the NBA season! It may come as no surprise, but even more names were added to the league injury report. Houston Rockets center Christian Wood suffered a right ankle sprain and will be re-evaluated on a weekly basis after a hot start to the season. Injuries happen, but they can hurt your fantasy record if not handled. This is why you must stay active on the fantasy basketball waiver wire each week to help fill any voids on your team.
Here are the top fantasy basketball waiver wire pickups for Week 8 of the NBA season. In order to be included in the weekly waiver article, players must be rostered in less than 60 percent of ESPN fantasy basketball leagues.
All stats are gathered on the morning of Feb. 7 and do not take into account Sunday night’s results.
Fantasy Basketball Waiver Wire Pickups
Norman Powell, Raptors (44.3%)
Norman Powell has started in his last seven appearances and has been producing fantasy-relevant numbers. He’s scored at least 20 points in all but one of those games through that stretch, and it doesn’t seem like he’s slowing down. So far, he’s averaging 15.1 points, 2.6 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.1 steals per game. He could be a solid pickup for category-based leagues for three-pointers made as well as steals. The Toronto Raptors have many mouths to feed on a nightly basis, but Powell’s recent play can’t go overlooked.
Justin Holiday, Pacers (35.8%)
Justin Holiday has been quietly productive this season. Holiday’s fantasy points mainly come from three-point shooting, but he’s been efficient lately. In fact, he has more three-pointers made than two-point shots this season. He is becoming a dependable rotational player for the Pacers and has played at least 29 minutes over the past few games. For category-based fantasy basketball leagues, he’s a sure-fire addition for three-pointers, but also contributes defensively in both steals and blocks occasionally. Grab him before someone else enjoys his consistent three-point shooting.
Gary Trent Jr., Trail Blazers (33.9%)
With C.J. McCollum still out with an injury, Gary Trent Jr. continues to get the start. Since starting, he’s scored at least 18 points in six of those seven and has been contributing heavily from behind the arc. It can be a pain to own Trent Jr. in points-based fantasy leagues because he can be shotty with efficiency, but as for category leagues, he’s a great addition to any team. He is the definition of one-dimensional and won’t offer you anything at all outside of points and threes, but he kills those categories on a regular basis regardless. Through 28.7 minutes per contest, he is averaging 3.1 triples per game.
Immanuel Quickley, Knicks (33.7%)
The rookie guard out of Kentucky, Immanuel Quickley, has been one of the biggest surprises of the season thus far. Despite being a bench player, he’s been on many fantasy radars as of late. Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau is notorious for his small rotation of players, and that’s hurting Quickley’s value. He scored 25 points in back-to-back games with at least 25 minutes of play, but has been given a total of 26 minutes across the past two games. Elfrid Payton eats into his minutes, but that should be changing real soon if Quickley continues his strong play with limited opportunities.
Darius Bazley, Thunder (24.2%)
The Oklahoma City Thunder are filled with plenty of big men that are all a part of the regular rotation, but one that has stayed consistent is Darius Bazley. Across 30 minutes per game, he’s averaging 11.6 points, 7.2 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game, along with 1.4 triples. He does a little bit of everything and is a trusted option for the young Thunder squad. He’s played at least 30 minutes now in the last seven contests and has scored double-digit points in all. Bazley doesn’t contribute too much in other categories, but he is a strong fantasy basketball waiver wire candidate if you need some extra rebounds.
Other considerations for all league-types: Daniel Theis, BOS (22.8%); Hamidou Diallo, OKC (15.2%); Doug McDermott, IND (12.6%); Patrick Williams, CHI (12.3%); Josh Hart, NO (10.6%); Reggie Jackson, LAC (9.0%)
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