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Fantasy Basketball Waiver Wire: Time to add Maxime "Mad Max" Raynaud

Week 7 of the NBA season is in the books, and Week 8 will feature NBA Cup bracket play, starting with quarterfinal action on Tuesday and Wednesday and finishing up with semifinal play on Saturday.

Because of the NBA Cup games, schedules are a bit odd this week. No teams play four games. Five teams play three games, nine teams play only one game, and the remaining 16 teams will get two games.

Of the teams playing three games, we’ve got three waiver wire adds. Our featured add, Maxime Raynaud, will get three games this week, as will Jay Huff and Collin Gillespie.

The remaining adds feature a Dallas PG who has played phenomenally as of late, an emerging Orlando option who could be in line for an expanded role and a pair of brothers getting it done for their respective teams.

Here are the top fantasy basketball waiver wire adds for Week 8.

→ Watch the NBA on Peacock on Monday night, as the Kings take on the Pacers at 7 p.m. ET before the Pelicans host the Spurs at 9:30 p.m. ET!

Fantasy Basketball Priority Adds

1. Maxime Raynaud
2. Ryan Nembhard
3. Jay Huff
4. Collin Gillespie
5. Kyle Filipowski
6. Anthony Black
7. Jordan Walsh
8. Jaylon Tyson
9. Cam Spencer
10. Pat Spencer

NBA: Cleveland Cavaliers at Indiana Pacers
Fantasy Basketball Week 8 Schedule Primer: On to the NBA Cup knockout rounds
The Emirates NBA Cup has thrown the Week 8 schedule for a loop, with Indiana, Minnesota and Sacramento having excellent schedules.

Collin Gillespie, Phoenix Suns (33 percent rostered)

Devin Booker has already been ruled out on Monday, and he’ll miss a second straight game. Dillon Brooks is also banged up, so Gillespie could see a monster boost in usage if Brooks is sidelined. Over his last five games, Gillespie has averaged 19.6 points, 2.4 rebounds. 4.6 assists, 1.2 steals and 4.6 triples across 31.8 minutes.

Ryan Nembhard, Dallas Mavericks (27 percent rostered)

Nembhard has excelled as Dallas’ starting PG, averaging 14.8 points, 2.5 rebounds, 6.8 dimes and 2.5 triples across 26.7 minutes over his last six games running with the first unit. In that span, Nembhard has hot 63.8% from the field and 68.2% from beyond the arc while committing just 1.3 turnovers.

Anthony Black, Orlando Magic (27 percent rostered)

Over his last 11 outings, Black has averaged 16.3 points, 5.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.2 triples. He posted a double-double on Sunday, going for 14/11/4 across 30 minutes. With Franz Wagner (leg) set to potentially miss time and JalenSuggs banged up in the fourth quarter, Black could continue to see meaningful run moving forward.

Jaylon Tyson, Cleveland Cavaliers (25 percent rostered)

Tyson has started five straight games for the banged-up Cavaliers, averaging 18.6 points, 8.0 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 0.6 steals, 0.8 blocks and 2.6 triples. Cleveland has dealt with multiple injuries throughout the season, and Tyson should stay involved as a starter at best or as one of the first Cavs off the bench at worst.

Jay Huff, Indiana Pacers (25 percent rostered)

The blocks specialist has logged five straight starts and averaged 11 points, 4.4 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 3.6 swats and 2.2 triples across 23.8 minutes. The big man leads the Association in total blocks, but he can also score, hit triples and find teammates, making him more than just a one-category player.

Kyle Filipowski, Utah Jazz (20 percent rostered)

Filipowski has shined over his last five games with averages of 14 points, 8.2 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.2 triples. With LauriMarkkanen (illness) sidelined on Sunday, Filipowski posted a strong 21/10/2/3 line across 36 minutes. Whether he’s starting or coming off the bench, Filipowski should see meaningful minutes and be in line for quality production moving forward.

Cam Spencer, Memphis Grizzlies (16 percent rostered)

Spencer has been productive for the Grizzlies over the last eight games, averaging 15.3 points, 2.4 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 1.1 steals and 2.8 triples across 25.1 minutes. It’s unclear when JaMorant will return, and Spencer should keep playing an increased role for as long as the star guard is sidelined.

Jordan Walsh, Boston Celtics (15 percent rostered)

Walsh has started 12 straight games for the Celtics, but his production has picked up significantly across his last five games. In that span, he’s averaged 14 points, 6.8 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 1.8 steals, 1.0 blocks and 1.4 triples across 27.8 minutes. He’s locked into a big role with Boston, and he should be on your fantasy radar.

Maxime Raynaud, Sacramento Kings (14 percent rostered)

"Mad Max" has seen a major boost in playing time and production across his last four outings. In that span, the rookie out of Stanford has averaged 16.3 points, 6.5 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.3 blocks and 0.8 triples across 25.5 minutes. He posted a 25/6/3/1/1 line against Houston and followed it up with a 12/10 double-double in his first start. Raynaud has become Sacramento’s top backup center. He should remain a starter for as long as DomantasSabonis is out and see meaningful minutes once Sabonis returns.

Pat Spencer, Golden State Warriors (11 percent rostered)

StephenCurry is probable for Golden State’s next game, but Spencer is still worth rostering. Golden State has dealt with multiple injuries recently, and Spencer has stepped up. He looks like the next man up in this rotation, and even once the Warriors get healthy, Spencer could see enough minutes off the bench to be productive in standard leagues.

Other options:Donte DiVincenzo (44%), Jerami Grant (42%), Ryan Kalkbrenner (27%), Naji Marshall (21%), Miles McBride (15%),  Robert Williams (11%), Luke Kornet (9%), Tidjane Salaun (2%), Jamaree Bouyea (0%)

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5 questions for Yankees GM Brian Cashman to answer at 2025 MLB Winter Meetings

The 2025 MLB Winter Meetings are here.

For the Yankees, it's been a quiet start to the offseason, one that has many fans clamoring for GMBrian Cashmanto start making moves to improve a roster that could not return to the World Series in 2025 after flirting with their first title in nearly two decades a year prior. 

Although Cashman has been known to work in the shadows in the offseason, this year's Winter Meetings could prove fruitful for the Yanks. 

With plenty of holes to fill and questions to be answered, here are five that the longtime GM needs to address this week...

How much are Yanks willing to spend?

This feels like an annual question for Cashman, but it warrants addressing. Hal Steinbrenner's comments about the payroll "ideally" being lower in 2026 have many fans nervous that Cashman will be buying from the bargain bin this offseason. 

Perhaps Trent Grisham accepting the qualifying offer affects the team's spending, but it shouldn't. Bellinger is a clear priority for Cashman, but it will likely take the team over the $300 million threshold. 

Cashman will be asked about this year's payroll and he won't answer in a way that gives clarity, but the best way he can is by signing players who will push them over that mark. Currently, the team's payroll is at around $283.6 million, so one big signing will dispel all questions about the 2026 payroll.

How far is New York willing to go for Cody Bellinger?

Going along with the payroll, Cashman has to answer how far the organization is willing to go to re-sign Bellinger. 

Cashman has been in this position before, most recently with Soto, but with options for a free agent plus outfielder relegated to Bellinger and Kyle Tucker this offseason, the Yankees GM needs someone to man left field. 

Reports say the Yankees are making a "big effort" to bring back Bellinger, but is that all talk? When Soto was a free agent, the Yankees made a good offer, but the Mets simply went above and beyond for the outfielder's services. Will Cashman let that happen again when it comes to Bellinger? It's hard to tell, and Cashman will say it allows Jasson Dominguez and Spencer Jones a chance to win a spot this spring. But it's an unserious notion considering the team's expectations.

Devin Williams' departure and the bullpen

The Yankees went into the 2025 season with Williams as their closer and now he's on another team. Despite a shaky season, Williams finished strong with the Yanks and a reunion seemed sensible for both sides. But after the right-hander signed a three-year deal with the Mets, it leaves Cashman without a setup man for David Bednar.

Cashman should be asked how close they were of bringing back Williams this offseason, and now that he's gone, what he plans to do to address the holes. Luke Weaver is a free agent. Are the Yankees in on him? What about other high profile relievers like Pete Fairbanks and Robert Suarez?

Jul 11, 2024; St. Petersburg, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Pete Fairbanks (29) throws a pitch against the New York Yankees in the ninth inning at Tropicana Field.
Jul 11, 2024; St. Petersburg, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Pete Fairbanks (29) throws a pitch against the New York Yankees in the ninth inning at Tropicana Field. / Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports

Is Spencer Jones going to get a chance?

Jones is the buzziest hitting prospect the Yankees have after the slugger mashed his way up the minor leagues. But at this moment, there's no space for the outfielder on the roster.

If the Yankees whiff on Bellinger and Tucker, that can change. However, even if Cashman finds a third outfielder this offseason, is there a spot for Jones as a DH or somewhere else? Cashman said previously that Jones has a chance to crack the Opening Day roster in 2026, but is that still true?

Is the trade market better than free agency?

While teams will negotiate and try to outbid the other teams when it comes to free agents, is Cashman's best path to a formidable roster this offseason via trade?

Cashman has pulled off offseason trades out of the blue before and this year could do so again. There are plenty of starters potentially available via trade (Sandy Alcantara, Edward Cabrera, Tarik Skubal) as well as in the outfield if a deal with Bellinger or Tucker can't be done. How far is Cashman willing to swim in the trade waters and who is available?

The longtime GM will keep details close to the vest, but it's worth asking.

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Spalletti splits Napoli and Højlund downs Juve: welcome to Serie A Bizarro World | Nicky Bandini

Club legends in opposing dugouts, Turin giants as underdogs against the juggernaut Partenopei … it was a weird night at the Maradona

The man with the Napoli tattoo was met with hostile whistles on his return to the Stadio Maradona. Luciano Spalletti had the club’s emblem inked on to his arm, together with a Scudetto badge, after leading the Partenopei to their third Serie A title in 2023. The design made it appear as though someone had torn into his flesh, revealing his true essence, a connection more than just skin deep.

But then he accepted the manager’s job at Juventus. For many Napoli supporters this was the ultimate sin, joining the club they hate the most. From others there was a measure of understanding. Spalletti had been out of work for four months after being sacked by the Italian national team in the middle of an ailing World Cup qualifying campaign. The opportunity to succeed Igor Tudor in Turin at the end of October was a chance to get his career back on track.

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Lando Norris claims he was often unmatchable on way to F1 title glory

  • ‘I drove at a level I don’t think other people can match’

  • Driver apologises to Hamilton over Hungarian GP spat

Lando Norris said he performed at a level his rivals could not match this season after he was crowned Formula One world champion for the first time.

Norris celebrated at a glitzy afterparty at the W Hotel which sits on top of the Yas Marina Circuit, where only hours earlier he realised his childhood dream, becoming the 11th driver from Britain to win an F1 title.

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Blackhawks Get Blown Out Twice In Southern California

The Chicago Blackhawks played the second half of a back-to-back on Sunday night. After being blown out 6-0 by the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday night, they were beaten even worse by the Anaheim Ducks on Sunday night. 

It was a 7-1 defeat at the hands of Anaheim, one week to the day after Chicago beat them at the United Center. In danger of being swept by the Blackhawks in their final regular-season meeting of the year, the Ducks came ready to play in this one. 

Jacob Trouba scored Anaheim’s lone goal in the first period. The Blackhawks were lucky to be down just 1-0 after being outshot 17-6 in the opening frame. In the second, however, four unanswered goals turned the game into a truly lousy loss for Chicago. 

Leo Carlsson, who went second overall after Connor Bedard went first in the 2023 NHL Draft, scored two goals in this one. They’ve both been spectacular this year, but Carlsson won this round. 

Bedard didn’t miss the scoresheet completely, though. He assisted on Tyler Bertuzzi’s power play goal, Chicago’s only marker in the match. That's now 40 points for Connor Bedard. Bertuzzi, who has been great this season, now has 15 on the season. 

The Blackhawks have had two back-to-back situations so far this season. In the second game of both, they were run out of the building. The first was a 9-3 loss to the Buffalo Sabres. That, along with the 7-1 loss to the Anaheim Ducks, is the two worst losses of the season. Jeff Blashill must be working on ways to prepare them better for these situations, because that’s two bad ones in a row. 

Chicago’s next back-to-back comes next weekend. After a road match against the St. Louis Blues on Friday, they will take on the Detroit Red Wings at home a day later. 

When the Blackhawks defeated the Kings 2-1 on Thursday night, nobody saw them being outscored 13-1 over the weekend in two more Southern California games. 

Watch Every Chicago Goal

What’s Next For The Blackhawks?

The Chicago Blackhawks are now off until Wednesday. They will be back home at the United Center for that one against the New York Rangers. 

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Woman handed four-year sentence for blackmailing footballer Son Heung-min

  • Yang extorted £153,000 from former Spurs player

  • Co-conspirator receives two-year sentence in Seoul court

A woman has been sentenced in Seoul to four years in prison for blackmailing South Korean football star Son Heung-min.

The woman, identified only as Yang, was charged with extorting 300 million won (£153,000) from Son in 2024 after sending him an ultrasound photo of a baby that she claimed was his and demanding money to stay silent.

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Canadiens Come Up Short After Costly Second Frame

Less than 24 hours after their win over the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Montreal Canadiens were back in action at the Bell Centre as they hosted the St. Louis Blues, who were also playing a second game in as many days after taking on the Ottawa Senators on Saturday.

Much of the talk in town on Sunday had been about who would be manning the net for Montreal, and in the end, with the Canadiens recalling Kaapo Kahkonen because Samuel Montembeault was ill, Jakub got a third start in a row, and a second in two days. The organization didn’t provide any details on the Becancour native’s sudden illness, after he had acted as backup on Saturday night in Toronto. In his post-game presser, Martin St-Louis confirmed that the initial plan was to start Montembeault.

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The Battle Of The Exes

Two players must have had that game circled on their calendar: Logan Mailloux and Zachary Bolduc, as they were traded against one another over the summer. The Canadiens’ faithful didn’t react much to Mailloux; there were the odd boos here and there and a few “Loooogan” during the night, but the crowd opted to bother goaltender Jordan Binnington instead.

Mailloux certainly didn’t have the start he hoped for, taking a hooking penalty on his first shift, but Bolduc followed him in the box minutes later. Before the end of the first frame, however, Bolduc manufactured the Habs’ first goal with a perfect pass to Lane Hutson, who was entering the slot all alone. It’s already Hutson’s fifth goal this season, after he had just six in 82 games in his rookie season. The fact that he’s already taken 44 shots might have something to do with it.

In the end, Bolduc had more of an impact on the game, even if he didn’t get a single shot on net. Meanwhile, Mailloux logged 15:35 of ice time, took a shot, landed two hits and blocked a couple of shots.

A Recurring Issue

After two games in which the Canadiens handled themselves well in the second frame, their aversion to the middle stanza was back in full force on Sunday night. By the end of the first period, the Canadiens looked completely in control; they had allowed only four shots to the Blues and were playing a good collective game, but it all came crashing down in 65 seconds.

Brayden Schenn and Dylan Holloway came through the Canadiens’ defence like a hot knife through butter while the Oliver Kapanen line was on the ice and tied up the game on a two-on-one 26 seconds into the frame. Then, with the first line and the first pairing on the ice, the man-to-man system malfunctioned and Pavel Buchnevich found himself all alone on Dobes, a chance he wasn’t about to miss. The result? Three Blues goals on just six shots, and they can’t just be hung at Dobes’ door.

As things stand, there’s only one team with a worse differential than the Habs in the second frame: the Blues, who are minus-14, while Montreal is minus-14, followed by the Utah Mammoth at minus-10 and the Chicago Blackhawks at minus-9. This has got to be a concern at this stage: to have looked so in control one minute and then completely lose it the next could end up being very costly for the Canadiens.

Asked what happened in those 39 seconds in which St.Louis scored twice, the bench boss said:

It was a little bit of everything, but no, it was that we were tired. Something did stand out, but I’ll correct it.
-

Clearly, he didn’t feel the need to share that that was, or how he would fix it.

The Coach Was Satisfied

When it was suggested to him that his team lacked pace tonight, St-Louis refused to agree:

No, not at all. We didn’t give them much, but when we did, they were quality opportunities. I believe we played a good enough game to go and get two points tonight, but it’s those two minutes in the second frame that hurt us.
-

While there’s no arguing that those two minutes were the Canadiens’ downfall, there were aspects of the game that just weren’t good enough. Lately, the Habs have had a lot of trouble winning faceoffs, and tonight, its four centermen had a below 45% success rate. Nick Suzuki was at 42%, Jake Evans at 25%, Joe Veleno at 40% and Oliver Kapanen at 33%.

In a league where puck possession is so important, you can’t afford to start without it so often, because then you have to waste a lot of time and energy chasing it. Furthermore, the Habs started the third frame down by one goal, and yet, they didn’t have a single shot until there was only 11:11 remaining in the game, and it came less than a minute after the Blues had taken a two-goal lead. There wasn’t much urgency up to that point. In the end, in a period where the Habs were chasing the game, they only took seven shots in the last 20 minutes; that’s just not good enough.

On the bright side, Lane Hutson has really taken a shine to shooting, and it’s making him much more dangerous. On Sunday night, he had eight shot attempts, five of which reached the net, accounting for 20% of the team’s shot total. As for Noah Dobson, he had seven shot attempts, and four of them reached the net. It’s no wonder he finished his evening with a couple of points. Of course, he was guilty of five giveaways, but given how hard he tried to generate some offence, it was hardly surprising.

As for sniper Cole Caufield, he kept his point streak going and now has a point in his last 11 games, which is just one short of Suzuki’s 12-game point streak at the beginning of the season.

After the game, the Canadiens sent Kaapo Kakko back down to the Laval Rocket. The move isn’t surprising since they have a day off tomorrow, but it will be interesting to see if they need to call him back up for Tuesday night’s game against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Follow Karine on X @KarineHains Bluesky @karinehains.bsky.social and Threads @karinehains.

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NRL proposes heavy bans for Tonga doctors and trainer over Eli Katoa head knocks

  • Head doctor, assistant doctor and head trainer issued breach notices

  • Storm player to sit out 2026 season after surgery for bleeding on brain

The NRL is proposing to ban three members of Tonga’s medical staff for two years, claiming serious concerns over the handling of Eliesa Katoa’s multiple head knocks.

More than a month after Katoa required surgery for bleeding on the brain following seizure activity, the NRL handed down findings into the matter on Monday.

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James and Doncic inspire Lakers victory

LeBron James in action against the Philadelphia 76ers
LeBron James will turn 41 on 30 December [Reuters]

LeBron James and Luka Doncic scored 60 points between them to fire the Los Angeles Lakers to a 112-108 win against the Philadelphia 76ers.

James scored 29 points, along with seven rebounds and six assists, and 12 of his tally came in the fourth quarter.

The 76ers had levelled the match at 105 apiece with one minute and 29 seconds remaining before James scored five consecutive points as the Lakers went on to seal the victory.

Doncic had returned to the Lakers line-up having missed the previous two games in a run of three on the road following the birth of his child.

He registered a triple-double of 31 points - which was a game high - 15 rebounds and 11 assists.

"The end of a road trip, there can be a lot of tired legs," said James, who missed his side's previous game.

"I felt great. I had the opportunity with some pretty good legs to try to assert myself a little offensively."

Tyrese Maxey top scored for the 76ers with 28 points as team-mate Joel Embiid, who made just four of 21 shots, added 16 points.

The Lakers are second in the Western Conference, while the Philadelphia 76ers are seventh in the Eastern Conference.

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Premier League: 10 talking points from the weekend’s football

Arsenal feel effects of defensive injuries, Liverpool rue Konaté’s mistakes and Brentford struggle on the road

When the team sheets landed at Villa Park, Arsenal’s matchday squad again appeared imperious. Their bench included a £64m striker in Viktor Gyökeres, a trio of tricky wingers in Leandro Trossard, Noni Madueke and Gabriel Martinelli and arguably England’s most exciting teenagers in Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Nwaneri. But Arsenal arrived top-heavy, the only centre-back among the substitutes the 16-year-old Marli Salmon. By the time Emiliano Buendía clinched victory for Aston Villa with almost the final kick, it was clear Arsenal lacked the defensive solidity behind their pace-setting start; this defeat was only the fourth time since the start of 2022-23 that Mikel Arteta’s side began a league game without Gabriel Magalhães or William Saliba – and it showed. Cristhian Mosquera, potentially sidelined until the new year, was also absent. The good news for all parties – which probably extends to second-placed Manchester City – is that Arsenal and Villa will duke it out again on 30 December in the reverse fixture. Ben Fisher

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