Elie Okobo (PG, PHO) - Week 8 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add In 14-Team Leagues

OWNED IN: 17% of leagues

ANALYSIS: A well-documented fact is that the Phoenix Suns do not have a point guard. It's been an issue since they traded away Eric Bledsoe and while acquiring Elfrid Payton midseason last year looked like it could be a step toward fixing that issue, Payton packed up his stuff and went to New Orleans, leaving a very weak spot in the Suns lineup.

The team picked French point guard Elie Okobo in the second round of June's NBA Draft, and while Okobo doesn't appear to be the answer for the team, he may be an answer in the short-term and a potential sleeper for fantasy owners.

Okobo has started just two games this year, but even without being in the starting unit, his last three games (one start) have seen him average 30.1 minutes per game while shooting 45.5 percent from three on 3.7 attempts per game. His assist numbers haven't necessarily been there during that time as the Suns continue to run a lot of their offense through Devin Booker, but if Okobo can give the team something around 10 points and four assists per game on strong shooting splits, he can be useful to them and can be useful in deeper fantasy leagues.

If you pick up Okobo, you're partially doing it for the upside. A good shooter off the dribble who has the size to defend well, Okobo still needs to do some work on those point guard skills, but Phoenix offers him a location where he can have the time to learn. With Isaiah Canaan no longer on the team, Okobo doesn't face too much competition unless the Suns trade for a point guard, as he appears to be farther along than De'Anthony Melton at this point. If you have room, Okobo can give you some strong, albeit streaky at times, shooting in heavy minutes.