November 4 Fantasy Basketball Waivers: Ben Simmons, Davion Mitchell, Tim Hardaway Jr. and More
NBA players who had good games over the weekend and are widely available in fantasy leagues.
Thirteen NBA games were played over the weekend. Each game provided valuable insight for fantasy basketball owners.
Let's hop straight into the top performances that caught my eye from waiver wire players.
Waiver Wire Options
Last night, Rockets forward Tari Eason saw his highest minutes in a game this season, and he delivered. He had 27 points and 9 rebounds in 35 minutes of action. Eason is currently owned in 47% of leagues, but this number saw a spike over the weekend. With Eason’s minutes continually rising, it’s a smart decision to pick him up now.
Rockets coach Ime Udoka has been trying to navigate a talented roster, but it seems that he finally found a rotation that uses Eason as a vital piece. He saw the biggest own increase of anyone of the past few days at +11.03.
Hawks guard Garrison Mathews has been one of the best surprises of the season so far. He has been a bright spot in the Hawks' Trae Young-centric offense. Mathews is only owned in 35% of leagues, so he should be a must-get for any owner needing to add solid production to their team.
Mathew’s shooting has been so the propelling force to his usage. Currently, he is hovering right around 20 minutes per game and is averaging a very impressive 12 points per game. He saw a +5.46 own increase over the past few days, so obviously other owners are seeing his value; don’t be the person who doesn’t pick him up.
Detroit Pistons sharpshooter Tim Hardaway Jr. has bounced back this season and seems to have found his stroke again. After getting relegated to the bench in last year's playoffs, Hardaway’s future was very bleak. The Pistons needed space more than any team last year, so his fit with them has been like a glove.
Hardaway is currently averaging 12.8 points per game in 28 minutes on some relatively good shooting splits. He is a deep league sleeper in my opinion, but a good option if you have available roster spots. He is only owned in 34% of leagues, but he also has seen a +3.81 own increase recently. His consistent play is being noticed, so I would grab him off of waivers sooner rather than later.
Brooklyn Nets forward Ben Simmons has been the topic of many discussions the past few years, but he finally seems to be coming into his own again this year. He is only playing 24 minutes a game and is averaging 6 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 assists. Those don’t seem like eye-popping stats, but he has been consistently hovering around triple-doubles in games he has played this year.
Brooklyn coach Jordi Fernandez has loved to be a fast-paced 5-out team, so Simmons starting the year at center has been able to unlock their offense to another level. Simmons being another playmaking hub has gained the trust of the first-year coach. He is owned in 56% of leagues, but he saw an own increase of +3.04, so if you don’t hurry and grab him off waivers, he could be gone.
Toronto Raptors guard Davion Mitchell has been a true bright spot for this young and rebuilding team. His energy and toughness on both ends have carved him out a consistent role in the rotation. While Immanuel Quickley struggles to come back from injury, Mitchell has filled in nicely. He has reached double digit points three times this season, while also averaging six assists.
Davion Mitchell is only owned in 23% of leagues, so he is widely available for anyone who wants him. As his minutes have increased, so have his shooting splits, so it’s obvious that he is getting more comfortable. I’m not sure if his role will be this big when he quickly comes back, but he still will be a vital piece of the Raptors bench.
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Luguentz Dort has been a great example of internal development. One of his biggest weaknesses last year was his finishing ability; he routinely missed opportunities around the rim. This year he has been converting those looks at a much better rate. He is averaging 12 points on 51% shooting while playing 27 minutes per game.
Coming into this year, Dort’s minutes were expected to see a big drop because of the addition of Alex Caruso, but that hasn’t been the case. Dort has had multiple games over 30 minutes per game, so he is still a big part of the Thunder’s rotation. He is owned in 46% of leagues, so he can still be acquired via waivers.
