Kev Mahserejian offers advice on the Week 4 NBA Waiver Wire and the Top Fantasy Basketball Week 4 Pickups
(Note: Roster % is as listed for Yahoo! leagues. FAAB bid range is based on a percentage of a fantasy basketball player’s remaining budget.)
Fantasy Basketball Waiver Wire: Week 4 Top NBA Pickups
Top Fantasy Basketball Players To Add
Tyrese Haliburton, PG/SG, Sacramento Kings
Haliburton is proving extremely valuable on the NBA floor. The Kings looked discombobulated during his absence due to a wrist injury. Upon his return, he played 34 minutes and helped them win their first game since he got hurt.
At 11.7 points, 4.7 assists, 2.8 rebounds, 1.3 steals and 2.2 threes per game, he is rounding into an integral glue-guy in real life and fantasy. Sky is the limit considering that he is still so young.
TYRESE HALIBURTON IS CLUTCH
The Kings rookie scored 15 of his season-high 17 in the 4th quarter!17 PTS, 7 REB, 6 AST, 3 STL, 1 BLK, 0 TO pic.twitter.com/fbc6Kck4QN
— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) January 7, 2021
At the moment, De’Aaron Fox is dealing with hamstring tightness and is questionable for their upcoming games. Haliburton is an interesting combo-guard who would typically play better as a complementary piece than the main initiator but for fantasy purposes, that does not matter. If Fox were to miss time moving forward, Haliburton would be a must-own across every platform based on how much play-time and usage he’d receive.
➕ Tyrese Haliburton FAAB bid range: 20-25% ➕
Bobby Portis, PF/C, Milwaukee Bucks (48%)
Bobby Portis is the clear-cut backup big in Milwaukee and he is dominating in his minutes off of the bench. Portis is not taking as many shots as he has in the past but the advantage of playing on the Bucks is having Giannis Antetokuonmpo on the floor. Portis’s field goal percantage is above 50% for the first time in his career (albeit, through just eight games). His free throw percentage is above 80% but again, on a small sample of 1.5 attempts per game.
This improved efficiency makes his standard numbers of roughly 11 points and 8 rebounds per game much more appealing. He is at roughly 1.5 stocks (steals+blocks) and a three per game as well. If 32-year old Brook Lopez were to miss time, Portis’s play-time would surely increase, thus, raising his ceiling.
➕ Bobby Ports FAAB bid range: 10-15% ➕
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Shake Milton, PG/SG, Philadelphia 76ers
The Philadelphia 76ers found quite the in-house answer at backup PG in Shake Milton. Not only can he handle the ball and initiate well but he is a solid scorer who can play well alongside Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid.
Milton’s progressed in each NBA season and is now averaging 26 minutes per game. His efficiency from the field and free-throw line are great for a guard and he provides double-digit scoring, multiple assists, a steal, and three each game (with room to grow). Milton is a good shooter despite a 27.5% three-point rate this season. That should go up as the season moves along.
The 76ers are expected to have multiple players miss time due to contact tracing and are still awaiting results of today’s coronavirus testing, sources tell ESPN. Those players were in close contact with Seth Curry, who sources say returned a positive test on Thursday.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) January 8, 2021
As things stand, the 76ers are awaiting positive COVID results and contact tracing after Seth Curry tested positive. Assuming Milton is not one of them, his role/usage across the next week or so should skyrocket.
➕ Shake Milton FAB bid range: 5-10% ➕
Will Barton, SG/SF, Denver Nuggets
Will Barton is the beneficiary of Michael Porter Jr.’s extended absence due to COVID protocols. He would not be very relevant otherwise given that his role has shrunk
Through the four games that MPJ has missed, Barton is averaging 9.5 points, 6.3 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 1.5 threes, one steal, and nearly one block. The efficiency stinks but at least his free throw rate is low (1.5 attempts per game). Hard to pass up the counting stats here.
➕ Will Barton FAB bid range: 5-10% ➕
Sleeper NBA Waiver-Wire Add
Jarred Vanderbilt, PF, Minnesota Grizzlies
The Timberwolves are desperate for front-court help and have turned to third-year PF Jarred Vanderbilt. Vanderbilt is a former high-pedigree prospect out of Kentucky who has not yet figured it out but is looking competent in Minnesota and receiving minutes.
Aside from a matchup against the Denver Nuggets where he hardly played, Vanderbilt is averaging 7.6 points, 6.4 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 2 steals, and 0.8 blocks in roughly 18 minutes per game. He’s got some potential during Karl-Anthony Towns’ absence if his minutes continue to increase.
➕ Jarred Vanderbilt FAB bid range: 5-8% ➕
Prepare for your Week 4 fantasy basketball leagues
After gathering your list of adds for the Week 4 NBA Waiver Wire and your Top Fantasy Basketball Week 4 Pickups, read our full NBA coverage for fantasy basketball and basketball betting tips.
