Waiver wire · Week 1
Every player here is inside 9cat’s top 150 and on fewer than 50% of ESPN rosters, so he’s worth a roster spot and more likely free than not in your league. Grouped by why they’re worth a look, with games left through Sunday 25 October.
Build your team on 9cat
Start your free 30-day trialRegular Season Access free for 30 days: live category scores, your chance to win and waiver picks for your league, plus every draft tool. Card needed, nothing charged until day 30; then US$9.99 for the rest of 2026–27 unless you cancel.
BOS · C · 24.6 MPG projected · Rostered in 30% of ESPN leagues −2.1
The highest 9cat rank on this list: FG%, rebounds and blocks with very few turnovers. He’s being dropped after a quiet opener, which can make him easier to land.
PHX · PG · 27.2 MPG projected · Rostered in 46% of ESPN leagues +1.6
Threes, steals and assists from the Phoenix backcourt. He went around pick 150, so he slipped through in more than half of leagues.
OKC · SG/PG · 27.8 MPG projected · Rostered in 28% of ESPN leagues +2.1
One of 9cat’s best steal sources, with low turnovers. A strong fit for builds that punt points.
SAS · SF/PF · 26.9 MPG projected · Rostered in 32% of ESPN leagues +2.1
Opening night: 8 PTS · 3 REB · 2 3PM · 2 STL · 3 BLK · 0 TO in 30 min
Opening night showed his 9cat profile: threes, steals and blocks in 30 minutes. Think of him as a season-long hold.
ORL · PG/SG · 27.3 MPG projected · Rostered in 31% of ESPN leagues +1.6
A top-75 per-game rank on steals, threes and assists. Games are the risk (9cat projects 60), which is why he’s still out there.
POR · PF/SF · 31.7 MPG projected · Rostered in 23% of ESPN leagues +0.3
Threes and steals on 32 projected minutes, a steady wing line for most builds.
DAL · C · 22.3 MPG projected · Rostered in 31% of ESPN leagues +0.5
Dereck Lively II is out after foot surgery, so Gafford should take more of the Dallas centre minutes. FG% and blocks with few turnovers.
PHX · PF · 26.2 MPG projected · Rostered in 23% of ESPN leagues +0.3
Mark Williams is out until around February after shoulder surgery, which opens frontcourt minutes in Phoenix. FG%, rebounds, steals and blocks, with a free-throw percentage that makes him a natural fit for punt FT% builds.
UTA · C/PF · 22.4 MPG projected · Rostered in 10% of ESPN leagues +0.1
Jusuf Nurkic is out for at least four weeks with a foot injury. Filipowski brings rebounds and sound shooting.
CHA · SG/PG · 27.1 MPG projected · Rostered in 9% of ESPN leagues +1.7
Charlotte opens without Coby White (calf) and Kon Knueppel (hamstring), which leaves shots to go around on the wing. Threes and free-throw percentage.
LAL · PF/SF · 29.2 MPG projected · Rostered in 11% of ESPN leagues −0.2
Steals and steady minutes, ranked inside 9cat’s top 110.
LAC · C · 25.1 MPG projected · Rostered in 15% of ESPN leagues −0.3
Threes and blocks from the centre spot, the combination 9-cat leagues find hardest to fill.
CHA · C · 22.8 MPG projected · Rostered in 2% of ESPN leagues −0.1
FG%, blocks and very few turnovers, on 2% of rosters.
POR · C · 19.3 MPG projected · Rostered in 3% of ESPN leagues
A strong per-game rank: FG%, blocks and few turnovers when he plays. Health is the question.
