More Fantasy Basketball Week 3 Waiver Wire Pickups | Should You Add Grayson Allen, Lonnie Walker IV and Rui Hachimura?
We covered some of the top waiver wire picks earlier in the week, but a number of new names have joined the lists, so let’s tackle some more decisions in the third week of the season.
We will focus our attention on some waiver wire players currently owned in less than 50% of leagues. Let’s talk Phoenix Suns’ Grayson Allen, Brooklyn Nets’ Lonnie Walker IV and Los Angeles Lakers’ Rui Hachimura.
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Grayson Allen Fantasy Outlook
Allen was dealt to the Suns from the Milwaukee Bucks as part of the Damian Lillard trade. Allen has played big-time minutes for the Suns so far and scored in double figures in five of eight contests.
Allen started the year slow, making just 2-of-12 shots across the first two games, when he combined for six points. Allen has been in double figures in all but one game since, including a season-high 26 points in the team’s last game.
The 28-year-old wing has started every game for Phoenix and has averaged 13.3 points, 4.8 rebounds and 3 assists per game. He’s added 0.4 blocks and steals a contest. Allen is shooting 48.7% overall, 51% from 3-point land and 100% on his free throws. He’s at 1.8 turnovers and 2.1 fouls per game.
Verdict: Allen has taken advantage of Devin Booker and Bradley Beal missing games, but he’s playing enough now that he should still hold a pretty big role for the Suns even when the team is at full strength. I’m all for adding Allen right now. He’s a pretty solid fantasy option as the team battles through the injuries, and would be worth grabbing now in case the team is injury prone this season. Allen has started the season hot from deep, and those numbers should dip at some point, but if he’s on the court with Beal, Booker and Kevin Durant, Allen should get several open looks every game. Allen does enough other things on the court to make him a solid fantasy asset.
Lonnie Walker IV Fantasy Outlook
Walker has been great for the Nets this season. He’s scored in double figures in all seven contests he’s played in, with a high of 21, which he accomplished in the team’s most recent game.
For the season, Walker is averaging 16.3 points, 2.6 rebounds, 2 assists, 0.7 steals and 0.6 blocks per game. He’s shooting 51.9% overall, 43.2% on 3-pointers and 76.2% from the line. He’s also averaged 1.3 turnovers and 1.1 fouls.
Walker isn’t starting for the Nets, but he’s averaging 22.6 minutes and is racking up the numbers when he’s on the court. He’s averaging 11.3 field goal attempts a game, which is the third most on the team despite playing the seventh-most minutes.
Verdict: Walker doesn’t quite fill up the stat sheet like Allen does, but he’s scoring at a better clip. I’m also a fan of adding Walker if you have an open roster spot. Walker is on his third team in as many seasons and is looking to cement a spot in the team’s rotation. As long as he can average over 20 minutes a game, he’s a decent fantasy option. Like Allen, Walker should see a dip in his percentages over time, but I say take advantage of Walker while he’s hot.
Rui Hachimura Fantasy Outlook
Hachimura has played as many games (4) as he’s missed this season. After not doing much in the first three games and then missing four contests, Hachimura broke out in the team’s most recent game.
Hachimura had scored just 24 points in the team’s first three games. He made 8-of-19 shots in that span and didn’t play over 18 minutes in a game.
Hachimura played 25 minutes in his fourth game of the season, mostly because he was one of the team’s top players, and partly because Anthony Davis missed the contest. He made 10 of his 14 shots, two of his three triples and two free throws to score 24 points. It was just six points off his career high. The big man added eight rebounds, two assists, two steals and a block while not committing a turnover or foul.
Verdict: Hachimura might not always play as many minutes as he did in this contest, but given Davis’ injury history and knowing LeBron James isn’t getting any younger, Hachimura is another guy I wouldn’t mind adding to my fantasy team. His big showing is a glimpse of what he can do with extended minutes, and as the Lakers try to figure out their best rotations, Hachimura should get ample opportunities to contribute. He won’t likely average more than 15 points in a game, but he adds enough as a rebounder and across the court to be a good fantasy option.
