Last Updated on December 13, 2025 2:43 am by Keston Paul | Published: December 13, 2025

The NBA Cup semifinals await!

Top Long-Term Pickups

This is the “general must-add” section regardless of the slate. If these players are being overlooked and remain chilling on the waiver wire, consider adding them to your squad.

Naji Marshall (20%)

Marshall has now started two games in a row next to PJ Washington. Max Christie was the player to go the bench when Washington initially returned and Marshall might have a long-term run in the starting lineup. With Dereck Lively II (foot) done for the season, the Mavs may not opt for two-big lineups as often. Daniel Gafford’s right ankle has continued to bother him but he was coming off the bench behind Anthony Davis the last time he played.

Marshall isn’t fancy. He is a source of points and then he randomly produces in other areas (rebounds, assists, steals). You might get five boards in one game or four assists in another game or two steals in another. He doesn’t typically do all of those at once, but if you need steady scoring and random upside in other areas, Marshall can likely be an end-of-roster 12-team hold.

Marshall had 17 points, one triple, one rebound, four assists and a steal in 32 minutes on Friday.

 Jaylon Tyson (27%)

Tyson had 13 points, six rebounds, three assists and a triple in 31 minutes. As long as Jarrett Allen (finger) is out, Tyson is undoubtedly must-roster. It has crossed my mind before, but now I’m starting to wonder more if Tyson has a case to start over De’Andre Hunter when the team is healthier. That is purely speculative, but I think holding on to Tyson to find out would make sense.

Cedric Coward (29%)

In my waiver wire article this week, I mentioned that Coward might see an uptick when Ja Morant (calf) returned (which he did) since Morant would add extra shot creation and draw attention away from others on offense. Coward produced 17 points, 12 rebounds, six assists and two steals in 29 minutes. I think he is must-roster once again.

Games

Knicks – Magic @ 5:30 ET
Spurs – Thunder @ 9:00 ET

Teams on Second Night of a Back-to-Back

Note: Teams on the second night of a back-to-back must submit their injury report by the release of the 4:30 pm ET Official NBA Injury Report. 

None

Teams on First Night of a Back-to-Back

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Top Stories to Watch

Knicks: For fantasy, there isn’t anything new really. We have established that Josh Hart has won his starting role back. For real life, the Knicks have the same questions. Can Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns defend a pick-and-roll? Will the Magic be trying to exploit those two in every action?

Magic: Anthony Black has benefitted from Jalen Suggs’ early-season restrictions, then Paolo Banchero’s absence and now Franz Wagner’s absence. It is not just being handed to him, however. He outplayed Tyus Jones (who just looks bad now) and even Tristan da Silva (who is solid).
For other stories: can Paolo Banchero clean up some of the issues to become a reliably efficient offensive engine? That is a long-term question separate from the current struggles due to a lack of rhythm due to his recent injury. Can he find a proper fit next to Desmond Bane (who is on fire)? How does everything balance out when Wagner, Banchero and Bane are all playing together again?

Thunder: Ajay Mitchell and Cason Wallace have trended downward for fantasy, but are obviously great options for a two-game slate. As for real life: can the Thunder beat the Warriors’ 73-9 record? The argument against it is that the Thunder may not have to try hard enough in March because they might be that far ahead of everyone else (the Spurs won 67 games when the Warriors won 73). The argument for them contending for the record is that the Thunder are winning games very easily, so they may not be “tired” or having to rest when March rolls around.

Also, Isaiah Hartenstein (right soleus strain) is back from a six-game absence!

Spurs: Stephon Castle’s value looks bad in pure 9-cat rankings, but if you punt just one of his biggest weaknesses (FT% or turnovers) he is a comfy top-90 player. If you punt both, he is a top-50 player. As for real life: This team is very, very good. Even with the rumors of trying to acquire Giannis Antetokounmpo, I think there’s an argument that the Spurs are better off going with the Thunder’s route. Saving the stockpile of draft assets and letting the young players develop.

Victor Wembanyama (left calf strain) is officially listed as probable (a.k.a. likely to play) after a 12-game absence.

Wemby is expected to be “subbed early” and be on a restriction if he plays, according to head coach Mitch Johnson. Realistically, Wemby is a fantasy start wherever he is rostered regardless.

Stay up to date on news for this slate with our NBA Blurb Feed! 

Check out our Live Injury Report to see who is probable, questionable, doubtful or sidelined for this slate!

Streamers

We are not including players who are either most likely on a roster or should be on a roster.

Standard Formats

Wendell Carter Jr. – low-end across-the-board stats, but mainly points and rebounds

Anthony Black – across-the-board upside but mainly points and steals

Tristan da Silva – points, 3s, rebounds, upside for a steal

Goga Bitadze – low-end big-man stats (with upside). Might be available in deep leagues too.

Ajay Mitchell – if he is on your waiver wire, a solid source of points, rebounds, assists, FT%, steals

Cason Wallace – steals, steals, steals & possible points, 3s or assists if you catch him on a really good day

Alex Caruso – steals with upside for blocks, assists, 3s

Lu Dort – steals, upside for blocks and can go 1-of-9 or 5-of-9 from three

Harrison Banes – hit-or-miss upside for points and 3s with potential for rebounds

Keldon Johnson – points & rebounds with occasional 3s or steals. Has been a good FG% player this season too.

Julian Champagnie – 3s, rebounds, steals & upside for points if he is hot

Dylan Harper – points, assists & upside for rebounds/steals

Luke Kornet – low-end big-man stats
(upside is lower with Wemby, but still worth a shot for a two-game day since the Spurs have occasionally played Kornet and Wemby together in two-big looks)

Deep Leagues

Mitchell Robinson – big-man stats

Jordan Clarkson – points with the hope of assists or 3s if you catch him on a good day

Aaron Wiggins – points, 3s & upside for rebounds/steals/blocks on better days. He also has 12-team upside if the Thunder happen to blow out the Spurs, but I think this could be a close game. 

Jaylin Williams – across-the-board upside

Jeremy Sochan – points & rebounds with upside for steals, blocks or assists on his best days

Tyus Jones – might get you three or four assists. Has not been as good this season but logged some minutes on Tuesday.

Jonathan Isaac – a lottery ticket for very, very deep leagues if you are hoping and praying for steals, blocks, rebounds

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Keston Paul

Keston majored in Biology and minored in Literatures in English at the University of the West Indies (U.W.I.), St. Augustine. Hailing from Trinidad & Tobago, Kes grew up loving cricket, then football (soccer, not NFL) & never missed a Barça game in the 2010s. Later on, he grew obsessed with basketball/fantasy basketball & unfortunately claims to be a Sixers fan for some reason.

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