NBA

Fantasy Basketball Waiver Wire: Pickups for Week 4 of the 2020-21 NBA season

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We're back with our weekly fantasy basketball waiver wire pickups!

If you missed last week's article with the hottest names in fantasy basketball, you can still check that out here. Highlighted by Mikal Bridges, who went on to score a career-high 34 points this past week, you'll want to take a look and see if any of those players are still available in your league.

But don't fall behind! We have you covered with another group of names to take a look for in your league's free agency, as well as a few players to add to your watch list to track for the coming weeks.

All owned percentages are based on ESPN Fantasy Basketball.

PJ Washington, PF/C – Charlotte Hornets

#Washington

Owned in: 66.1% of leagues

Washington is a product of a Hornets team that has as many fantasy-relevant players as any other team in the league so far this season.

While Washington's averages of 11.8 points and 6.2 rebounds per game may not stand out, he's also averaging over one steal and one block per game, providing owners with a little bit of everything each time he steps on the floor.

Washington tallied 11 blocks and four steals over three games this past week and he was also active on the glass with a 10-rebound game that fell one point shy of a double-double. Closing the week with a season-high 22 points, Washington appears to be hitting his stride 10 games into the year. Add him while he's still available because he might not be on the waiver wire for much longer if he keeps this up. 

Chris Boucher, PF/C – Toronto Raptors

#Boucher

Owned in: 65.9% of leagues

Boucher was in the "watch list" section of each of the first two of these weekly fantasy waiver wire articles and after another promising week, he has officially become an add-immediately-if-he's-available-type player.

Emerging as the best centre on the Raptors roster, head coach Nick Nurse is beginning to utilize Boucher more than ever before. If a 23-point, 10-rebound double-double with three blocks in a win over the Sacramento Kings isn't enough to sell you on the Canadian centre, he followed that performance with 16 points, six boards and six (!) blocks against the Golden State Warriors the very next game.

It's clear that Boucher's role is growing with Toronto, so add him now if he's available.

Nicolas Batum, SF/SG/PF – LA Clippers

#Batum

Owned in: 45.1% of leagues

I'll admit it – it was hard to buy into Batum's role with the Clippers to start the season, especially with Marcus Morris Sr. out with an injury. It seemed like it would only be a matter of time before Batum's role would be reduced, making him fantasy-irrelevant, but that doesn't appear to be the case.

Batum is the perfect spot start as a player that is going to provide a balanced stat line every night. He's sure to flirt with double figures in scoring while providing you with a sprinkle of assists, rebounds and steals.

While I wouldn't say you need to rush to waivers and add Batum immediately, this is more just to say that if he's available and you need someone to fill a roster spot on any given night, give him a chance.

Tyrese Maxey, SG/PG – Philadelphia 76ers

#Maxey

Owned in: 26.3% of leagues

As a product of a shortened roster due to COVID health and safety protocols, Maxey produced the highest individual scoring output of the season by a rookie, scoring 39 points against the Denver Nuggets.

While you shouldn't expect the first-year guard to put up 33 shots a night (like he did in that contest) once the roster returns to full strength, it's becoming evident that head coach Doc Rivers likes Maxey as an offensive spark off the bench and this could be the start of some growth in his role with Philly.

Because of his recent scoring outburst, Maxey will be a hot commodity on the waiver wire this week and since the Sixers will still be short-handed for the time being, the Kentucky product is definitely worth the add. Get to him before the rest of your league does.

Deni Avdija, SF – Washington Wizards

#Avdija

Owned in: 16.5% of leagues

This is a sleeper add that should put you first in line for this player in your league.

The rookie wing has had a limited role so far in his first season as a product of playing alongside high usage players like Bradley Beal and Russell Westbrook. With Westbrook out for a week with a quad injury, this could be Avdija's first chance to shine.

Avdija has already played one game without Beal and Westbrook and to no surprise, it was the most productive game of his rookie season as he posted 20 points, five rebounds, five assists and two steals. With an entire week of running the show in Washington, you'll want to add Avdija immediately before other players in your league catch on to his increased role with the two stars out.

Watch list players

#Diallo

Josh Hart, SG/SF – New Orleans Pelicans

Owned in: 11.9% of leagues

Hart has been a great candidate off of waivers for rebounds and steals, proving to be a true double-double threat if he gets enough shot attempts (which doesn't always occur). Take note of Hart as a player that might be worth adding down the line if his scoring picks up and he continues to rebound at this rate.

Hamidou Diallo, SG – Oklahoma City Thunder

Owned in: 9.4% of leagues

Diallo was a diamond in the rough this past week, going for a double-double of 23 points and 11 rebounds followed by a 25-point outing with four steals. He seems to have found a role as the Thunder's sixth man and you'll want to keep him on your watch list if he maintains that role moving forward.

Moritz Wagner, PF/C – Washington Wizards

Owned in: 7.1% of leagues

As a result of Thomas Bryant's season-ending ACL injury, Wagner may be in line to become the Wizards' starting centre. This doesn't guarantee that he'll be fantasy-relevant, but it's certainly worth keeping an eye on him in case he becomes a double-double threat due to increased playing time. For what it's worth: Wagner had 13 points and seven rebounds in 20 minutes of playing time in the game where Bryant was injured.

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Author(s)
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Kyle Irving is an NBA content producer for The Sporting News.