NBA Waiver Wire: Allen, Noel, Poeltl Lead Top Adds for Week 9

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Published on February 14, 2021

Looking ahead to Week 9, we begin to enter the home stretch of the first-half of the season. Once again, we have a fairly balanced schedule ahead of us, though it's worth noting that the Mavericks are on a rare, two-game week. Luka Doncic -- and to a lesser degree, Kristaps Prozingis -- may still be start-able, but with 19 teams on a four-game week, there's a good chance you'll be able to pivot to a more productive option.

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Let's take a look at the top players to consider adding this week.

Nerlens Noel, Knicks (53% rostered)

Noel's roster rate may be inflated by managers in daily lineup leagues already scrambling to grab him off the waiver wire after Mitchell Robinson broke his hand earlier in the week. With Robinson set for surgery and likely to miss at least a month, Noel is easily this week's most-coveted player. Even in limited action, Noel was already averaging 2.0 blocks per game, and he'll now be set for extended action that could make him one of the league's most productive players in that category.

In Saturday night's win over Houston, Noel played a season-high 32 minutes and finished with 10 points, six boards, two blocks and a steal. Over his last five games, he's averaging 3.2 blocks in just 23.0 minutes per contest. With the Knicks on a four-game week, Noel is an instant-start at center.

Grayson Allen, Grizzlies (9% rostered)

Memphis is dealing with a number of absences, including both Desmond Bane (personal) and De'Anthony Melton (shoulder). It's unclear when both players will return, but Allen has been the primary beneficiary thus far. After scoring 18 points in 30 minutes off the bench in Wednesday's win over Charlotte, Allen moved into the starting five and played a season-high 35 minutes Friday night against the Lakers. He finished that contest with 23 points (6-10 3PT), three rebounds, two steals and one assist. Over his last two games alone, the former Duke standout is 11-of-22 from beyond the arc. That volume may not be sustainable in the long-term, but Allen is a nice streaming option as the Grizzlies head into a four-game week.

Joe Ingles, Jazz (50% rostered)

Mike Conley could return at some point in Week 9, but as long as he remains out, Ingles will be an appealing fantasy add. In four starts with Conley sidelined, Ingles is averaging 16.5 points, 5.0 assists, 4.5 rebounds and 3.5 made three-pointers in 32.8 minutes. It's been feast or famine, from a scoring perspective, but Ingles is a consistent assist-generator who shoots efficiently and has been lights-out at the free throw line (career-high 87.1% FT) this season.

Jakob Poeltl, Spurs (44% rostered)

Poeltl was one of last week's top adds, and his ownership remains lower than it should be as he continues to fill in for the injured LaMarcus Aldridge, who's without a firm timetable. Poeltl isn't going to blow you away with huge scoring efforts, but he's averaging just shy of a double-double (10.6 PPG, 9.4 RPG) in five games since taking over the starting center spot. In that span, he's grabbed double-digit boards three times, while averaging 2.8 blocks per game. For managers in need of assists or steals, Poeltl isn't as appealing, but he should absolutely be rostered if you're seeking rebounds and, especially, blocks.

Paul Millsap, Nuggets (47% rostered)

The veteran is still sharing time with Michael Porter Jr. and JaMychal Green, but he's surpassed Green in the hierarchy after the pair split minutes relatively evenly for most of the season. Millsap has played 30-plus minutes in three of the last five games, and he's averaging 13.6 points, 5.4 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.2 steals and 1.4 blocks in that span, while also adding nearly a three-pointer-and-a-half per game. It's possible Millsap could eventually return to a more even minutes split, but with a four-game week ahead, it's worth riding the wave while you still can.