NBA Waiver Wire: Best Adds for Week 10

I'm starting to feel like the NBA is specifically targeting me (and the readers of this article) with the timing of their injury announcements. Just a few hours after publication last week, we got word that D'Angelo Russell's (knee) injury was much worse than we initially expected, and we got a surprisingly optimistic report on Kevin Love.

Before the night was over, Mitchell Robinson had broken his hand and would miss at least 4-6 weeks. And by the end of the weekend, the Cavaliers and Pistons had announced that Andre Drummond and Blake Griffin would be out indefinitely. It appears that both have played their last games for their respective franchises. 

Alas, while I can't predict what more news will come later this afternoon and this weekend, I can help us react to what's happened over the past week. And while it's probably too late for most of you to grab Saddiq Bey (66% rostered), we can still react to some of those events listed above. 

As always, the players in this article must be rostered in less than two-thirds of CBS leagues. Players are listed in the order that I recommend adding them, assuming they are equally good fits for your team.

Adds for All Leagues

Saddiq Bey, Pistons (66% rostered)

Bey barely qualifies, so we'll keep it short. With Griffin's time as a Piston probably done, Bey is now an all-leagues starter going forward. He averages 28.2 minutes in games without Griffin, and that includes some early season games when the rookie was just getting his feet wet. He's up to 35.0 in the first two games of the post-Griffin era. 

Michael Carter-Williams, Magic (23% rostered)

Carter-Williams is back and the Magic waived Frank Mason this week. That means they still have only one (1!) healthy point guard. They have a few wings who are decent distributors – Evan Fournier, Terrence Ross, Dwayne Bacon – which is why they were willing to waive Mason instead of waiting for Cole Anthony (ribs) to return. But Anthony is out at least through the All-Star break, so MCW has a lengthy runway to provide fantasy value. He's averaging 28.7 minutes through his first three games back, and all of those have been decided by double-digits. Assuming the Magic ever get back to playing close games, those minutes should increase, giving Carter-Williams plenty of chances to rack up assists, points and rebounds.

Jae'Sean Tate, Rockets (40% rostered)

I've beaten this drum before, but he's still out there, so I'm going to keep hitting it. Tate is averaging 32.2 minutes since Christian Wood (ankle) went out. And that's including three massive blowouts. In the three games in which the score has remained close late in the fourth quarter, Tate is averaging 36.0 minutes. The Rockets have left the door open for Wood to return soon, but trying to piece the clues together, I'd bet on at least a few more weeks on the sidelines. 

Jarred Vanderbilt, Timberwolves (18% rostered)

Attention category punters: For most managers, Vanderbilt is a deep-league-only guy, which is why I go into him in detail below. But I want to mention him up here for managers who are punting points and/or threes. For those team builds, Vanderbilt is about as valuable a pickup as you're likely to ever find. If that's you, run, don't walk.

Other recommendations: Kendrick Nunn, Heat (54% rostered); Davis Bertans, Wizards (61% rostered); Luguentz Dort, Thunder (50% rostered); Carmelo Anthony, Trail Blazers (51% rostered); Joe Ingles, Jazz (59% rostered); Jakob Poeltl, Spurs (45% rostered)

Note: Nerlens Noel (52% rostered) has been excluded on purpose. I get why many are adding him after Robinson's injury – Noel is a defensive menace and those stats can be hard to find – but he's taken a step back in scoring and rebounding and does not appear to have coach Tom Thibodeau's trust. I'm not telling you that you have to drop him, but I'm also not endorsing him as an add.

Deep League Special

Jarred Vanderbilt, Timberwolves (18% rostered)

Because the Wolves were already giving big minutes to Ricky Rubio and Malik Beasley, Russell's absence doesn't require them to bring another playmaking guard into the rotation. At least so far, they've responded to his absence by going bigger, including giving more minutes to Vanderbilt. He's up to 23.7 minutes as a starter over the last three games. Importantly, there is a track record of fantasy success here. Vanderbilt spent two weeks as a starter in January, averaging 9.0 points, 6.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 2.0 steals and 1.2 blocks in 24.2 minutes. If you pick him up, you'll have to commit to using him every chance you get, because his production varies significantly from night to night. But over time he averages incredible multi-category production. 

Grayson Allen, Grizzlies (17% rostered)

Shooting guard is the weakest area of the Grizzlies' roster, and it's even shallower right now with De'Anthony Melton (shoulder) missing the last six games. Allen is averaging 23.9 minutes on the season, and that's up to 29.2 per game with Melton out. Allen has started in a small-ball lineup as Brandon Clarke (calf) works his way back into the lineup, further boosting his value, though Clarke will probably get that starting job back soon. Regardless of the depth chart around him, Allen is playing well enough to demand 25-plus minutes even when everyone is healthy, and that's enough to garner fantasy value in points, threes and steals.

Other recommendation: Moritz Wagner, Wizards (12% rostered)