👉 TAP TO SAVE 50% WITH CODE SPRING
X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


NBA Waiver Wire: Deep League Options (Week 1)

By Keith Allison (Flickr: Trevor Booker) [CC-BY-SA-2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Milos Zvekic digs up deep league waiver adds for your fantasy basketball team. Follow RotoBaller for more NBA strategy, rankings, and waiver wire advice.

The waiver wire can be a gold mine. A player that a Fantasy Basketball Manager picks up from the wire can be the difference in that close battle for the playoffs, or even in the Fantasy Finals. So if you are not very happy with the guy you picked up at the end of your draft don't get too attached.

Here are a few players who can bring that little something to your team to tip you over the bar and get you that Fantasy Champions Ring. All position eligibility and ownership percentages are based on Yahoo! fantasy leagues.

Editor's Note: New users that sign up on FantasyAces, make a $20 deposit, and enter any game will receive our full season NBA (or NFL) Premium Pass for free (includes DFS Cheat Sheets). Just email [email protected] with your new FantasyAces username - and boom, that's it! We will email you with your Premium Pass.

Featured Promo: New Novig users get a $25 purchase match (50% discount up to $25) on your first Novig deposit, and 6 free months of RotoBaller's "Big-4" Premium Pass (NBA, NFL, MLB, NHL) which includes exclusive tools for Betting, Props, DFS and more! CLAIM IT NOW

 

Deep League Add

Matt Barnes, SG/SF, SAC (17% owned)

Matt Barnes is a guy who won't hurt you (at least not too bad) in any cat, will get you multiple category production and is very consistent. Looking back at his last 10 seasons, you know what you're getting with him. Around 8-10 points, 4-5 REB, 2 AST, a couple of threes, combined 1.5 steals and blocks.  His FG% last year was 38.1% but in his 9 seasons before that it was never under 42.3%, and that with a guy who attempts 4-5 threes a night. FT% is around 75% but shoots 1.5-2 a game which is too low to be relevant and 1-1.5 TO for a guy playing 25-30 MIN is pretty nice.

He has changed a lot of teams, four in his last six seasons, but his production stays the same. That proves that he adjusts well to new situations. And don't forget he is on a disgruntled Sacramento team now. Rudy Gay trade rumors are heating up and if that goes down Barnes could be in line for an even bigger role, more minutes and more fantasy basketball goodies for his Fantasy Owners.

He will not win you your league single handedly but when you beat your buddy by that one REB, STL, BLK or AST and win your weekly matchup you will praise the stable and reliable name that is Matt Barnes.

 

Super Deep League Add

Trevor Booker, PF, BKN (10% owned)

Trevor Booker. No chills down your spine? Yeah, his name doesn't really give you goosebumps now, does it? Well, there is an opportunity this year for that to finally change.

His career averages of around 6-7 PTS, 5-6 REB, 1 AST and 1 combined STL/BLK aren't really fantasy relevant. Even with his high FG% (51%) and low TO (0.9). But consider his previous situations -- For years he has been a backup to the likes of Nene Hilario and Marcin Gortat in Washington and then Derick Favors and Rudy Gobert in Utah. He hasn't averaged more than 25 MIN in his career, and that was in his second year in the NBA five years ago.

But this year he is in Brooklyn. He has been named the starting PF. That should give him close to 30 MIN per game, plenty of time to better his career averages, even set season bests in most of his counting cats. He will be a constant double double threat, will get you a few steals and blocks and, if you don't mind his 61% FT shooting, he could prove to be that spark of your wire to set your team on fire and help you scorch your fantasy basketball league opponents.

 

Insanely Deep League Add

Nemanja Bjelica, PF, MIN (2% owned)

Now this is for all of you who, like me, have a big fantasy basketball loving bunch of friends and play in a deep, deep league. I'm talking 20 teams and more. Nemanja Bjelica is entering his second NBA season. He is just 2 years removed from winning the Euroleague MVP title. His rookie season didn't go as well as he'd hoped. 5 PTS, 3.5 REB, 1.4 AST, 0.4 STL and 0.4 BLK in only 17 MIN is not a great line.

But he has been used the wrong way in Sam Mitchell's system. He was more-or-less a catch and shoot, 3 and D guy. While he does get defensive stats and hits threes at 35-40%, he can also penetrate, get rebounds and run the floor pretty well. With Tom Thibodeau replacing Sam Mitchell as head coach, Bjelica could see an improved role in this new system.

Gorgui Dieng is the starting PF at the moment, but he is a big who can't spread the floor and is very limited on offense. Karl-Anthony Towns could use Bjelica spreading the floor more for his post game. Bjelica can fill the SF slot too when Andrew Wiggins needs a breather. And if Wiggins and Zach LaVine are not on the floor, there is no one else to shoot from distance. Furthermore, we all know Thibodeau likes to play his experienced players. There's Bjelica's chance.

If he can get his minutes up to the mid 20s and if Thibodeau's system includes him playing his game his way, Bjelica could be a breakout candidate flirting with a double double, getting 1-1.5 combined BLK/STL 2-3 ast and hitting a three pointer per game. It's a long shot, but in a league this deep, that sort of upside is worth considering.


By popular demand, RotoBaller has aggregated all of our fantasy basketball NBA waiver wire pickups into a running list of NBA waiver options, so bookmark the page and check back often for updates.



RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

J.J. McCarthy

Holding J.J. McCarthy in Dynasty Leagues Will Require Patience
Harold Fannin Jr.

Does Harold Fannin Jr. Have Top-Three Upside in Dynasty Leagues?
Jaylen Waddle

the Top Receiver to Roster in Denver?
Josh Downs

Climbing Up the Dynasty Rankings with Bigger Role Ahead?
Jalen McMillan

Has Been 'Slightly Better' Than Teammate During OTAs
Mike Evans

a Risky Upside Buy for Contending Dynasty Managers
Justin Herbert

Is Justin Herbert Entering His True Dynasty Prime?
Oronde Gadsden

Can Talent Overcome Situation for Oronde Gadsden II?
David Njoku

a Short-Term Dynasty Buy
Devin Neal

a Dynasty Hold Until the Depth Chart Ahead of Him Settles
Ricky Pearsall

Is Ricky Pearsall a Dynasty Breakout Candidate?
Tank Dell

Is Tank Dell a Player to Target in Dynasty Leagues?
NBA

Warriors Prioritize Depth Around Returning Steve Kerr
Sean Tucker

Is Sean Tucker an Undervalued Dynasty Trade Target?
Donovan Mitchell

Remains Cleveland's Top Priority
Puka Nacua

Is Puka Nacua the WR1 in Dynasty Leagues?
Adou Thiero

Remains a Lakers Development Project
Jalen McMillan

to Play All Three Receiver Positions?
NBA

76ers Hire Mike Gansey as President of Basketball Operations
NBA

Chicago Bulls Explore Kevin Young as Coaching Candidate
Kyrie Irving

Reports He's Nearing Full Strength in ACL Recovery
Lane Hutson

Posts a Power-Play Assist in Game 5 Loss
Cole Caufield

Nets a Power-Play Goal in Season-Ending Loss
Seth Jarvis

Closes Out East Finals With Multi-Point Game
Logan Stankoven

Notches Three Points in Big Game 5 Win
Taylor Hall

Racks Up Three Points in Series-Clinching Win
Frederik Andersen

Remains Stellar as Hurricanes Clinch Finals Berth
Jacob Gonzalez

is Heading to the Big Leagues
Munetaka Murakami

Exits with Hamstring Tightness
Mitchell Robinson

Plans to Play in Game 1 After Finger Surgery
Ajay Mitchell

Ruled Out for Game 7
Jalen Williams

Unavailable in Decisive Game 7
NBA

Magic Finalizing Hire of Sean Sweeney as Head Coach
Eury Pérez

Eury Perez is Placed on 15-Day Injured List
Alec Pierce

Dynasty Hype May Be Creating a Sell-High Opportunity
Drake London

Quarterback Uncertainty Creating a Buy-Low Window for Drake London?
Davante Adams

: Dynasty Sell-High Candidate Entering Age-34 Season
Rhamondre Stevenson

Dynasty Outlook Clouded by Crowded New England Backfield
Bo Nix

Is Bo Nix Currently Undervalued in Dynasty Formats?
Rico Dowdle

Dynasty Value Fading Ahead of First Season in Pittsburgh?
Deiveson Figueiredo

Set For UFC Macau Main Event
MMA

Yadong Song Returns At UFC Macau
Alonzo Menifield

An Underdog At UFC Macau
Zhang Mingyang

Set For UFC Macau Co-Main Event
Tallison Teixeira

Looks To Win Back-To-Back Fights
Sergei Pavlovich

A Favorite At UFC Macau
Cameron Smotherman

Looks To Bounce Back
Kai Asakura

Looks To Get Back In The Win Column
CFB

Faizon Brandon In Position to Start Week 1
CFB

Dane Weber Commits to Cal
CFB

Joey McGuire Attempts to Add Texas to Schedule
CFB

Mike Leach on 2027 College Football Hall of Fame Ballot
CFB

Maryland, Baylor Schedule Home-and-Home
CFB

Taron Dickens Decommits From North Carolina
Jalen Williams

Limited in Game 6 Return
Jared McCain

Provides Bench Spark in Game 6 Loss
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

Posts Lowest-Scoring Night of His MVP Season
De'Aaron Fox

Struggles From the Field Thursday
Stephon Castle

Controls the Spurs Offense in Game 6 Win
Dylan Harper

Finds His Rhythm Thursday
Victor Wembanyama

Drops 28 to Force a Winner-Take-All Game 7
Jalen Williams

is Active for Game 6
Thomas Sorber

is Optimistic About Playing in Summer League
NBA

Terry Rozier Gets Hit with New Charges
NBA

NBA Approves New Anti-Tanking Rules
MLB

MLB Proposes Hard Salary Cap as Part of Next CBA
Kenley Jansen

Tigers Place Kenley Jansen on Injured List With Pelvic Inflammation
Teoscar Hernández

Teoscar Hernandez Heading to Injured List With Hamstring Strain
MON

Lane Hutson Struggles in Game 4 Loss
CAR

Logan Stankoven Nets Eighth Postseason Goal
CAR

Sebastian Aho Pots Game-Winner on Power Play
CAR

Nikolaj Ehlers Tallies Two Helpers in Impressive Road Win
CAR

Shayne Gostisbehere Records Two Assists in Game 4 Win
CAR

Frederik Andersen Establishes Hurricanes New Postseason Shutout Record
Yordan Alvarez

Continues Homer Barrage With Two More Long Balls on Wednesday
Cristopher Sánchez

Cristopher Sanchez Makes History With Seven More Shutout Innings Against Padres
Teoscar Hernández

Teoscar Hernandez Lifted From Wednesday's Game Early With Hamstring Strain
Kenley Jansen

Exits Relief Appearance on Wednesday With Groin Injury
Eury Pérez

Eury Perez Pulled Early on Wednesday With Hamstring Issue
CFB

Drew Mestemaker a Top Big 12 Quarterback Right Away?
PGA

Sungjae Im Remains Boom-or-Bust at Colonial
PGA

Michael Thorbjornsen Trending in Wrong Direction Entering Colonial
Russell Henley

a Top Option at Colonial
Harry Hall

Hoping Putter Carries Him at Colonial
Rickie Fowler

Looks to Regain Momentum at Colonial
Pierceson Coody

Looking to Stay Hot at Colonial
Martin Necas

Collects an Assist in Game 4 Loss to Golden Knights
Gabriel Landeskog

Scores Only Avalanche Goal in Season-Ending Loss
Carter Hart

Finishes Series-Clincher With 20 Saves
Dylan Coghlan

Continues Unlikely Success Story
Cole Smith

Scores Series-Clincher Tuesday Night
Mark Stone

Nets Another Goal as Golden Knights Finish Off Avalanche
Ludvig Aberg

Looking to Exchange Momentum for a Victory in Fort Worth
Stephan Jaeger

Trending Upward as PGA Heads to Fort Worth
Max Homa

Comes Off Awful Putting Performance at PGA Championship
Tony Finau

Faces Different Test at the Colonial
Robert MacIntyre

Seeks Better Beginning in Fort Worth
Tom Hoge

Ups and Downs Could Continue at Colonial
Brian Harman

Not Having the Best Golf Season in 2026
Austin Eckroat

Struggling Too Often Heading to Charles Schwab Challenge
Zach Bauchou

Tries to Keep Momentum Rolling at Colonial
Keegan Bradley

Looking to Rebound at Colonial
Claude Giroux

Planning to Return for 20th NHL Campaign
Carter Hart

Aiming for Sixth Consecutive Win Tuesday
Evgeni Malkin

Inks New One-Year Deal With Penguins
Ben Griffin

Looking to Repeat This Week at Colonial
Rasmus Hojgaard

a Player to Avoid at Charles Schwab Challenge
Hideki Matsuyama

Needs Solid Driving Week at Charles Schwab Challenge
Justin Thomas

Trending Well Ahead of Charles Schwab Challenge
Akshay Bhatia

Lacking Driving Prowess Needed at Colonial Country Club
CFB

DJ Lagway Looking to Rebound at Baylor
CFB

Josh Hoover Tasked With Leading Indiana Back to the Playoffs
CFB

Braylon Staley the Next 1,000-Yard Tennessee Receiver?
CFB

Ahmad Hardy's Return Timeline Remains Unclear
Gage Jump

Athletics to Promote Top Pitching Prospect Gage Jump to Major Leagues
Tatsuya Imai

Two Relievers Combine to No-Hit the Rangers on Monday
Dylan Cease

Heading to Injured List With Hamstring Injury
Daniel Suarez

Wins at Charlotte in Rain-Shortened Coca-Cola 600
Christopher Bell

Finishes as the Runner-Up in the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte
Denny Hamlin

Falls Short of Winning and Places Third at Charlotte
Tyler Reddick

Places Fourth After Leading Laps at Charlotte
Kyle Larson

Strong and Consistent Day Ends in Fifth at Charlotte