With Week 9 of the fantasy basketball season on the horizon, it’s time to dive into our favorite fantasy basketball waiver wire adds and what injuries key players are dealing with. The likes of LeBron James, Joel Embiid, and Scottie Barnes were all banged up last week while Rui Hachimura, Bilal Coulibaly, and Goga Bitadze took big steps in becoming big-time waiver wire additions.

 

 

 

Fantasy Basketball Week 9 Injury Report


LeBron James Injury Update - Foot

LeBron James has missed the team's last two games due to a foot injury and is listed as questionable for Sunday’s game. James and the Lakers don’t play again until Thursday, so if he sits out on Sunday, he’ll have had a lot of rest before he has to take the floor again.


Joel Embiid Injury Update - Face

Man, Joel Embiid is the unluckiest player in the game. Embiid suffered a sinus fracture to his face after being accidentally clubbed by Benedict Mathurin of the Pacers. It’s the THIRD facial fracture of his career. There’s no telling when he’ll be back on the floor.


Scottie Barnes Injury Update - Ankle

It looks like it’s going to be a multi-week absence for Scottie Barnes as he’s been diagnosed with a sprained ankle. We saw Jonathan Mogbo start in his absence, but Toronto is getting healthier as Bruce Brown could be returning to the floor soon.
 

Kawhi Leonard Injury Update - Knee

This past week, Kawhi Leonard participated in practice for the first time all year. He’s still unable to take contact, so there’s no telling when his return to games will actually be, but we’re approaching that time.


Jared McCain Injury Update - Knee

A tough, tough blow to the 76ers as things just haven’t gone well for them at all this year, but Jared McCain has torn his meniscus and is out indefinitely. The tear will require surgery.
 

Zach Edey Injury Update - Ankle

The Grizzlies first-round draft pick from a year ago is now nearing a return as he’s been upgraded on the Sunday injury report. Whether he plays or not, Edey’s availability should be good to go moving forward.
 

 

 

Fantasy Basketball Week 9 Waiver Wire

Rui Hachimura, Los Angeles Lakers - 54% rostered on Yahoo! Fantasy

This is slightly above the threshold that I normally suggest players be picked up at, but he’s right near the 50% mark so it’s acceptable. The source that it’s acceptable? Me. I’m the source. Hachimura has been one of the coaching staff’s favorite players this year as JJ Redick just spoke to the media about how much he loves working with Hachimura. He’s rewarded him with monster minutes lately as he’s played 39-plus in three straight games. The Lakers are dealing with LeBron James’ injury and are bringing D’Angelo Russell off of the bench, giving Hachimura more room to operate. He’s been very consistent on the fantasy production front averaging over 30 FP/game over the last two weeks.
 

Bilal Coulibaly, Washington Wizards - 40% rostered on Yahoo! Fantasy

This season, from Jumpstreet, has been important for the development of Bilal Coulibaly. We’ve seen him log monster minutes all year, but twice in the last three games, he’s played 40 minutes in regulation. He’s an inconsistent offensive player who is an elite defensive stopper. He’s averaging 1.5 steals and .8 blocks, making up for some of the offensive spells that he can go through at times. Washington is depleted because of injury and most of their team is on the trade block. His scoring has ticked up, however, scoring 17+ points in back-to-back games. He’s showing flashes of fantasy goodness nightly too as he’s posted four or more assists in six straight games and four or more rebounds in five straight.
 

Goga Bitadze, Orlando Magic - 37% rostered on Yahoo! Fantasy

Over the last two weeks, Goga Bitadze has averaged more fantasy points per game than Kyrie Irving, Julius Randle, James Harden, and Mikal Bridges with 34.2. He has two straight double-doubles and three in his last five games. If you thought his time in the starting lineup was ending as Paolo Banchero is nearing a return, think again now that Franz Wagner has also hit the injured list. Bitadze’s ability to stuff the stat sheet makes him one of the better players under 50% rostered.
 

Yves Missi, New Orleans Pelicans - 37% rostered on Yahoo! Fantasy

At this point, I feel like I’m yelling this man's name repeatedly to anyone who will listen. Yves Missi Yves Missi Yves MIssi. Say it three times fast and he’ll appear on your fantasy basketball waiver wire. Missi is a fantastic rebounder for a rookie and has been very active defensively too averaging a smidge below two stocks per game. He’s had double-figure rebounds in four of five games and nine times already this year. His minutes have been fantastic with Brandon Ingram and Zion Williamson out and there’s no telling when either of them will return. With the Pelicans continuing to plummet in the standings, Missi’s development will continue to take center stage and he remains a great fantasy add.
 

Justin Champagnie, Washington Wizards - 15% rostered on Yahoo! Fantasy

There’s no telling when anyone will return in Washington IF they even do. Maybe they’ll be traded by the time they’re healthy. In the meantime, Justin Champagnie is absorbing big minutes as a starter and has been incredibly productive while on the floor. He’s topped 30 minutes, 14 points, eight rebounds, and has at least two stocks in each outing. So long as he’s in the starting lineup he should continue to play all the minutes he can handle and will continue being productive in multiple different areas of the floor.