X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Import Your Leagues
Weekly Rankings
Compare Any Players
Projections
Articles & Tools
Weekly Planner
24x7 News and Alerts

Fantasy Basketball Deeper-League Waiver Wire Adds for Week 5: Naz Reid, JaVale McGee, Dwight Powell, Alec Burks

Antonio Losada's deeper-league waiver wire pickups and fantasy basketball sleepers for Week 5. His top free-agent options for 12-team fantasy leagues or deeper.

The deeper a fantasy basketball league, the harder it is to hit a winner with your last few picks. It is also harder to find decent help from the waiver wire if your late-round picks don't do you justice. If you picked up a few stinkers, don't lose hope just yet. I will try to help you pick up a winner.

Here are my deeper league fantasy basketball waiver wire pickups for your fantasy basketball teams. These NBA players should be available in most leagues and they might just help you out, whether it's a few weeks rental or a long-term fix to a problem your team is having.

If a guy on your team is frustrating you with his weak performances, give some of them a go. They might just be worth it.

Upgrade To VIP: Win more with our NBA and DFS Premium Pass, get expert tools and advice from proven winners! Jamie Calandro and Dan Palyo lead the RotoBaller team in 2024-25 with exclusive DFS picks, Prop picks and more. Gain VIP access to our Lineup Optimizer, Research Station, DFS Cheat Sheets and VIP Chat Rooms. Go Premium, Win More!

 

Fantasy Basketball Waiver Wire Targets for Week 5

Naz Reid (C, MIN) - 12% rostered

Reid has been a super-sub for Minny this season as he's playing really low minutes on a game-by-game basis but he's demolishing expectations and efficiency leaderboards with his magnificent outcomes. Reid is 22 and into his third season as a pro for the franchise that signed him as a UFA a few years ago. He went from playing 17 MPG as a rook to 19 last year and he's now averaging only 16 MPG, but putting up the most efficient and best numbers of his career to date: the average line reads 9-3-1-1-1, yes, but pro-rated to a per-36-minute basis Reid would be dropping a 21-8-2-1-2 line.

We can expect Minnesota to be fighting for the last play-in position, best-case scenario. That means Reid will end 2021-22 starting a bunch of games as in years past, and getting probably more playing time down the road. Those minutes will be fundamental when it comes to raising his counting stats, and we'll see if that affects his efficiency. Through 11 games played, Reid is averaging 1.12 FP/min and an even better 1.20 FP/min in games when he played 10+ min (nine of them). His shooting percentage sits at 48%+ on 7+ FGA and he's even stretching the floor (almost 1 3PA per game hitting his attempts at a 31%+ clip) and his mojo is to be found on the steals/blocks departments.

JaVale McGee (C, PHO) - 11% rostered

Don't overthink McGee's traits as a real-world and fantasy-realm talent. He's just a big man who doesn't stretch the floor even a couple of inches, mans the paint, put up monster shooting percentages if only because he lives under the rim, and tries not to miss on boards (and he usually does not miss on grabbing them, just in case). McGee has started a bunch of games of late while Deandre Ayton has stayed injured (he's missed a week and a half through Saturday already but he should be back come Monday), but McGee is bench fodder at most.

While McGee is starting these days, he's also battling another big in Phoenix: Frank Kaminsky. Frank is--to my eyes at least--the no. 2 center to Ayton's no. 1, no matter the fact that the Suns went to pony up some dollars on McGee this past offseason. But even then, McGee should retain a similar production given he's only averaging 17 MPG even while starting. The shooting percentage is high at 67.6% though the volume isn't that great. All things considered, though, and coming back to the start of this blurb, McGee is a good source of points and rebounds with the odd block coming here and there. Not much more than that.

Dwight Powell (PF/C, DAL) - 8% rostered

Powell has stayed on the same role in Dallas from last season to this one, staying in the pain for long stretches and starting at the center spot while working on low-volume terms averaging a 13% usage rate through 12 games. The volume won't ever go up with the likes of Luka Doncic, Kristaps Porzingis, and Tim Hardaway Jr. around getting shots in bunches, but Powell can't be much better for what he does.

Powell has averaged 22 MPG in six November games through Saturday. He's only scoring 6+ PPG but the shooting percentage sky-high at 78% (although on just 5 FGA season-wise), while the rebounding (6 RPG this month) is actually quite nice given the low playing time, same as the blocks (1 BPG on the year, up to 1.5 in November alone). No turnovers and low fouling are a little bonus added to Powell's equation.

Alec Burks (SG/SF, NYK) - 8% rostered

If we're honest, Burks has not been great this season. He's had up and down performances and he's been quite bouncy since the year tipped-off back on Oct. 20. Burks, though, has played more than 20 minutes in five of the seven games played this month, is averaging a higher 25 MPG in the past two weeks of play, and his season-long line is sitting at 8-3-2-1 through Sunday. The wing has reached 10+ pops in five of the past eight games, but again, the percentage has jumped north-to-south-and-back pretty much on a daily basis.

Burks has had almost as many games of shooting 50%+ from the field as he's had at or below 40%. Spot-up shooter's life, I guess. Nothing to hate on a lot, though, as Burks is hitting his good 1.7 3PM per game and has only missed on scoring at least one triple in one of the 12 games played to date. Burk is grabbing 3+ boards, dishing out 1.5+ dimes, and more uniquely than anything he's also stealing 0.85 possessions per game with steadiness. Burks will put up some good counting stats, but you can forget about very efficient numbers coming from him.

Immanuel Quickley (PG, NYK) - 5% rostered

Quickley stayed on New York's pine for 61 of the 64 games he appeared on for the Knicks last season as a rookie. He's on the same path this year, having yet to start a single game while backing up Kemba Walker and sharing pine-riding duties with veteran Derrick Rose. Obviously, DRose has been better but he's also rostered in more than half of Yahoo leagues compared to IQ's hyper-low five-percent rostership mark 13 games into the season. But truth be told, Quick has been fantastic as of late, kicking into high gear since the start of November.

In the six games he's played this month as I'm writing this, IQ has yet to drop below a 37.5 shooting percentage from the field (he started the year at a putrid 23.4% through the first seven games) while attempting a not-so-low 7+ FGA per game. The usage is sitting at an average 20.4% this month and he's not killing the offense with lots of TOs (0.8 per game) while dishing out a fair amount of dimes (3.5 APG in the last six). The most interesting thing about Quick's game these days: the massive amount of treys and the tasty total point counts. Imma is scoring almost 10 PPG in just 19 MPG off the pine, and he's averaging 1.7 3PM per game in November--and an even spicier 2.5 (!) treys in the past four games getting back to Nov. 7.



Download Our Free News & Alerts Mobile App

Like what you see? Download our updated fantasy basketball mobile app for iPhone and Android with 24x7 player news, injury alerts, lineup notifications & DFS articles. All free!

More Fantasy Basketball Analysis


By popular demand, RotoBaller has aggregated all of our fantasy basketball NBA waiver wire pickups into a running list of NBA waiver options, so bookmark the page and check back often for updates.



POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Import Your Leagues
Weekly Rankings
Compare Any Players
Projections
Articles & Tools
Weekly Planner
24x7 News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Tarik Skubal

on Track to Start Thursday
CFB

Kevorian Barnes Questionable Against SMU
Bo Bichette

has Short-Term Knee Injury, Could Return for Postseason
Tosan Evbuomwan

Joins Knicks
NBA

Kai Jones Links Up With EuroLeague Team
Bismack Biyombo

Returns to Spurs
Bones Hyland

Rejoins Timberwolves
Kobe Bufkin

Moves to Brooklyn
Trey Yesavage

Sets Franchise Strikeout Record On Monday
Yordan Alvarez

To Receive MRI For Sprained Left Ankle On Tuesday
Willson Contreras

Exits Early Monday With Right-Biceps Tightness
Yordan Alvarez

Exits With Ankle Sprain
Brock Bowers

Officially Active on Monday Night
Jauan Jennings

Day-to-Day With Ankle Injury
Logan O'Hoppe

Activated Off Seven-Day Injured List
CBJ

Denton Mateychuk Dealing With Groin Issue
Bo Horvat

Fine for Training Camp
Kirby Dach

on Track to Be Ready for Opening Night
Jose Altuve

Returns Against Rangers
J.J. McCarthy

Expected to Miss 2-4 Weeks With High-Ankle Sprain
J.J. McCarthy

Likely Out for Week 3 With High-Ankle Sprain
Jean Silva

Gets Finished For The First Time In His Career
Aaron Jones Sr.

Unlikely to Play in Week 3 Due to Hamstring Injury
Diego Lopes

Returns To The Win Column
Jayden Daniels

' Week 3 Status in Doubt
Rob Font

Outclassed In The Noche UFC 3 Co-Main Event
David Martinez

Wins His Second UFC Fight
Jared Gordon

Suffers Brutal TKO Loss At Noche UFC 3
Rafa Garcia

Wins Back-To-Back Fights
Brian Thomas Jr.

Dealing with Wrist Injury
Dustin Stoltzfus

Drops A Decision At Noche UFC 3
Kelvin Gastelum

Gets Back In The Win Column
Diego Ferreira

Suffers Second-Round TKO
Alexander Hernandez

Extends His Win Streak With A Brutal TKO
Quang Le

Suffers First-Round Knockout
Santiago Luna

Shines In His UFC Debut
Christopher Bell

Earns his First Bristol Cup Series Victory
Alex Bowman

Falls Short of Advancing Through Cup Series Playoffs
Chase Briscoe

Collects his Third Top-10 Finish at Bristol
Ryan Blaney

Strong Top-Five Bristol Performance Advances him to the Playoffs
Corey Heim

Earns his First Career Cup Series Top-10 Finish at Bristol
Giannis Antetokounmpo

Leads Greece to Bronze Medal
Alperen Sengün

Alperen Sengun Drops 28 Points in EuroBasket Finals
CFB

Indiana's Lee Beebe Jr. Out for Season with Knee Injury
Dennis Schröder

Dennis Schroder Named EuroBasket MVP
Bryce Eldridge

Giants to Promote Bryce Eldridge
Jaren Jackson Jr.

Progressing in Recovery
Jonathan Kuminga

Receives New Offer From Warriors
Kenneth Walker III

Bounces Back with Big Week 2 Performance
Bijan Robinson

Rushes for 143 Yards in Week 2
Justin Fields

Currently in Concussion Protocol
Cincinnati Bengals

Bengals Calling Around to Available Free-Agent Quarterbacks
Joe Burrow

to Undergo Surgery, Out at Least Three Months
Emil Heineman

Aiming to Take the "Next Step" This Season
Braeden Cootes

Good to Go for Camp
Ivan Fedotov

Blue Jackets Acquire Ivan Fedotov From Flyers
Aaron Jones Sr.

Injures Hamstring During Sunday Night Football
Darren Waller

Not Expected to Play in Week 3
Garrett Crochet

Punches Out 12 in Win
Cole Ragans

to Return on Wednesday
Jameson Williams

Records Long Touchdown in Week 2, Still Limited to Downfield Role?
George Kirby

Strikes Out 14 in Win
Jayden Daniels

Considered "Day-to-Day" with Knee Injury
Carlos Estévez

Carlos Estevez Exits with Back Tightness
Jonathan Taylor

Tops 200 Yards From Scrimmage in Week 2 Win
Joe Burrow

Could Miss Three Months if he Requires Toe Surgery
Davante Adams

Headlines Rams Receiving Corps Sunday
Wan'Dale Robinson

Explodes for 142 Yards, Touchdown in Overtime Thriller
Joe Flacco

Browns Not Considering Benching Joe Flacco After Week 2
Quentin Grimes

Still Not Close to a New Contract Agreement
Joel Embiid

"Looking Slender, Spry and in Positive Spirits"
Ty Gibbs

Has Arguably his Best Career Drive, but Only Finishes 10th
Chase Elliott

Despite Crashing Out at Bristol, Chase Elliott Advances to Round of 12
Austin Dillon

Misses Round of 12 After Extremely Mediocre Bristol Run
Shane Van Gisbergen

Shane van Gisbergen Fails to Advance to Round of 12
Josh Berry

Finishes Last in All Three Round of 16 Races to Fail to Advance
Luis Arraez

Takes a Seat on Sunday With Head Injury
Adolis García

Adolis Garcia Activated, Starting on Sunday
CFB

Ryan Williams Explodes In Return To Field
CFB

Drew Allar Plays Mediocre Game In Blowout Win
CFB

LaNorris Sellers Exits Game In Blowout Loss
CFB

DJ Lagway Tosses Five Interceptions In Loss
CFB

Garrett Nussmeier Plays Game Manager in Saturday's Win
CFB

CJ Carr Remains Poised In Narrow Loss
CFB

John Mateer Leads Oklahoma In Rout
CFB

Arch Manning Struggles Against UTEP
CFB

Jeremiah Smith Impresses In Win
Bryan Woo

Records Career-High 13 Strikeouts
Max Muncy

Exits Early on Saturday
CFB

Sam Leavitt Shines As Arizona State Rebounds From Week 2 Loss
Salvador Perez

Reaches 300 Home Runs, 1,000 RBI
Jose Altuve

Exits Early With Foot Discomfort
Trey Yesavage

Heading to Big Leagues
Will Smith

Placed on 10-Day Injured List
Ivan Demidov

Turning Heads in Rookie Camp
NHL

Calvin de Haan Signs With Swedish Team
Samuel Girard

Skates With Non-Contact Jersey
Mackenzie Blackwood

Dealing With Injury Ahead of Training Camp
Spencer Knight

Signs Three-Year Extension With Blackhawks
Chris Buescher

May have Another Solid Run at Bristol
Corey Perry

Out 6-8 Weeks Following Surgery
Kyle Busch

Should DFS Managers Roster Kyle Busch at Bristol?
Ricky Stenhouse Jr

Is Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Too Risky to Consider Rostering at Bristol?
Michael McDowell

Could be A Solid Value Option For Bristol DFS Lineups
Chase Elliott

Probably Won't Factor in for Bristol Win
NASCAR

Bubba Wallace Not as Strong at Bristol as Other Short Tracks
Alex Bowman

Needs to Win to Make Round of 12
Ross Chastain

has Never Led at Bristol but Has Been Pretty Consistent
Austin Dillon

Richmond Speed Unlikely to Carry Over to Bristol
Josh Berry

Might Run Well at Bristol, but Almost Certainly Won't Win to Advance
Justin Haley

Bristol One of Justin Haley's Few Recent Bright Spots
CFB

Austin Simmons Listed As Game-Time Decision Against Arkansas
CFB

Nico Iamaleava Struggles In Fourth Straight Loss
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen

Dealing With a "Tweak"
BUF

Alexandar Georgiev Joins Sabres on One-Year Deal
Corey Perry

Injured During Pre-Camp Skate
CFB

Antonio Williams Out Against Georgia Tech
CFB

CJ Bailey Flashes Again in Win Over Wake Forest
CFB

Jaxson Moi a Game-Time Decision for Tennessee on Saturday
Jean Silva

A Favorite At Noche UFC 3
Diego Lopes

Set For Noche UFC 3 Main Event
Rob Font

Looks For His Third Consecutive Win
David Martinez

Set For Noche UFC 3 Co-Main Event
Rafa Garcia

An Underdog At Noche UFC 3
Jared Gordon

Looks To Win Back-To-Back Fights
Dustin Stoltzfus

Looks To Return To The Win Column
Kelvin Gastelum

In Dire Need Of Victory
Diego Ferreira

Looks To Get Back In The Win Column
Malcolm Brogdon

Heading to Knicks on One-Year Deal
CFB

David Sanders Jr. Won't Play Against Georgia
Landry Shamet

Staying with the Knicks
CFB

Dylan Edwards Slated to Return on Friday
Adam Lowry

Aims for Early-Season Return
CFB

Ryan Williams Expected to Play Against Wisconsin
CFB

Billy Edwards Jr. Unlikely to Play on Saturday
P.J. Washington

Officially Signs Contract Extension
Lauri Markkanen

Big at Both Ends as Finland Books Place in EuroBasket Semis
Luka Dončić

Luka Doncic Notches 39 Points in Losing Effort
NBA

Cam Reddish Expected to Move to Europe
NBA

Trey Lyles Joins Real Madrid
Charles Bassey

Signs Exhibit 10 Deal With Hawks
Sacramento Kings

Terence Davis Waived by Kings
Matthew Knies

Ready for Bigger Role With Maple Leafs
Jack Eichel

Unbothered by Lack of Extension
Sidney Crosby

Not Thinking About Leaving Pittsburgh
SJ

Michael Misa Signs Entry-Level Contract With Sharks
Rutger McGroarty

Nursing an Injury

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP