With the highly compressed NBA Cup schedule limiting games, managers must aggressively target value to climb the NBA fantasy rankings. This guide spotlights three crucial pickups, ranging from short-term streamers to potential NBA sleepers with long-term upside. Maxime Raynaud is a priority add, capitalizing on a strong Kings schedule and a recent starting role; his long-term value could explode if imminent trade rumors involving Domantas Sabonis materialize. We also endorse Jose Alvarado, who is inexplicably only 10% rostered despite delivering starter-level NBA player stats (1.6 steals, 4 assists) across the board. Conversely, Julian Champagnie is a strong early-week streamer, but his role remains vulnerable to Victor Wembanyama's return.
Fantasy Basketball Waiver Wire: Three Priority Pickups for NBA Cup Week
Maxime Raynaud, Kings 
Maxime Raynaud continues to climb the ranks of viable fantasy options, and Saturday's performance only accelerated his rise. After a string of solid outings as part of Doug Christie's rotation, Raynaud earned his first career start during Sacramento's upset win over the Heat. He delivered a strong line: 12 points, 10 rebounds, 1 assist, and 2 blocks in 25 minutes.
This isn't just a blip. The Kings have one of the best NBA Cup Week schedules, playing today, Thursday, and Sunday, making Raynaud a prime streaming option for managers in 12-team leagues. His production looks sustainable enough to justify short-term usage even without massive minutes.
But the bigger story is Sacramento's future. Raynaud is creeping toward must-add status, particularly while Domantas Sabonis remains sidelined. And in 16-team leagues, Raynaud becomes even more interesting as a potential stash. Sacramento appears headed toward a fire sale at the trade deadline, and Sabonis' name is expected to circulate heavily. If the Kings decide to blow things up, Raynaud could inherit real, rest-of-season value.
Fantasy Recommendation:
- 12-team leagues: Priority streamer now; near must-add until Sabonis returns.
- 16-team leagues: Worth holding through the trade deadline if possible.
- Upside: Significant if Sacramento deals veterans.
Julian Champagnie, Spurs 
Julian Champagnie remains one of the week's most logical streamers thanks to San Antonio's schedule—games tonight and Wednesday, giving managers immediate value to start the week. While he no longer provides the burst of double-digit rebounding that made him appealing a week or so ago, Champagnie still offers one of the most important categories for streaming: volume three-point shooting.
He continues to launch threes at a healthy rate, and he provides just enough in steals and rebounds to round out his box scores. His minutes remain relatively stable when the team is shorthanded.
However, his fantasy outlook dims once Victor Wembanyama and Stephon Castle return. Both players siphon usage, minutes, and rebounding chances. Until then, Champagnie is a perfectly strong short-term add, but his role is likely to shrink.
Fantasy Recommendation:
- 12-team leagues: Quality two-game streamer early in the week.
- 16-team leagues: Fine to hold but value will decline once Spurs get healthy.
- Upside: Mostly schedule-driven, not long-term stable.
Jose Alvarado, Pelicans 
Jose Alvarado surprisingly rostered in just 10% of leagues despite producing starter-level numbers over the past week-plus. With New Orleans playing today, Thursday, and Sunday, Alvarado becomes an automatic streaming priority, and realistically, much more than that.
Over the last seven days, he has averaged 14 points, 3 rebounds, 4 assists, and 1.6 steals in 28 minutes, providing production across all guard categories. His defensive activity—always his calling card—remains great, and he's carved out a reliable rotation role as the Pelicans' health fluctuates.
Yes, the situation becomes more complicated when the Pelicans return to full strength. But New Orleans' roster rarely stays fully healthy, and even when it does, Alvarado may find a way to maintain minutes due to his energy and defensive pressure.
Right now? He should be rostered everywhere.
Fantasy Recommendation:
- 12-team leagues: Should already be rostered.
- 16-team leagues: No-brainer must-add.
- Upside: Holds rest-of-season viability unless the Pelicans reach full health—which is never a guarantee.
