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Got any bums on your bench screwing you over game after game? Stuck in a deep league with no obvious value on the waiver wire? Those are some dark clouds, I'll give you that. But don't fret. There's always a silver lining.
Even in the deepest of leagues you can find a useful guy who is available and who can help your team out. Some of them stick around and turn your season around. Others fall off and you turn them in for another hot prospect hoping to hit the jackpot.
Don't forget, Hassan Whiteside, Khris Middleton and Robert Covington all started one of the previous seasons on the wire, but were responsible for a lot of fantasy championships latter on. Here are today's Week 5 deeper league waiver wire pickups for your fantasy basketball teams.
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Deep League Adds for Week 5
Jerami Grant, SF/PF, Oklahoma City Thunder
9% Owned in Yahoo! Leagues
Jerami Grant is finally showing that he can play a decent role on an NBA team. We kind of knew that from his days in Philly but then he was traded to Russell Westbrook's Oklahoma at the start of last season and stayed well within his shadow, just occasionally exposing himself to the sunlight. Well this year, he has finally stepped out of that shadow and is providing some decent value to both the Thunder and to his fantasy owners.
Grant is averaging 9.1 PTS with 0.5 3PM on 47.8 FG% and 76.1 FT%, 4.8 REB, 1.1 AST, 0.9 STL, 1.0 BLK and 1.3 TO in 25 minutes per game. That is a vast improvement in almost all categories when compared to his first year with the Thunder. Only blocks are the same and, well, more playing time took it's toll on the turnovers.
Now Grant is usually a much worse free throw shooter than his current 76.1% would suggest. And he is taking 3.3 attempts per game. That is nearly as many as Paul George. So owners who like their FT% should beware. But his defensive stats, along with a sprinkle of this and that is definitely worth a look in those deeper leagues.
Coach Billy Donovan really likes Grant and has put his faith in him when Carmelo Anthony missed a game, giving Jerami the start. He didn't disappoint with 10 points on 3-of-6 from the field and 4-of-5 from the line, eight boards, three assists, two turnovers a steal and a block in 34 minutes. He was rewarded with another 34 minutes the following game against Chicago on Nov 15 and dazzled again with 15 on 5-of-9 field goals and 5-of-6 free throws, 11 rebounds, two turnovers and one assist, steal and block.
Grant has provided nice fantasy value in each of his 13 games so far and has just gotten hot so if you have a player to drop and Grant's strengths play to your advantage, don't hesitate too long. Another owner might beat you to the punch.
Cory Joseph, PG, Indiana Pacers
8% Owned in Yahoo! Leagues
After spending most of his career behind either Tony Parker or Kyle Lowry, Cory Joseph has gotten pretty comfortable as a backup point guard. He is now in Indiana and Darren Collison is the guy in front, but Cory's stats haven't changed too much. He is averaging 8.8 PTS with 1.3 3PM on 42.1 FG% and 80.0 FT%, 2.5 REB, 3.2 AST, 1.1 STL, 0.4 BLK and 1.3 TO in 24 minutes per game.
But the gap between him and the first option at the PG has never been closer. And Cory stepped it up in his last four by leading his team in assists with 5.0 per game and adding some fantasy gold in 1.3 steals and 1.0 blocks in that period along with 8.3 points on 41.9% from the field and 66.6% from the line, 1.3 three-pointers, 2.3 boards and 1.3 turnovers in over 26 minutes. Those kind of stats can be useful for a lot of owners in need of dimes and defensive stats. A few points, boards and threes don't hurt either, do they?
Now Joseph won't be anything more than a deep league option, or an assists and steals specialist as long as Collison is in front of him in the rotation. Collison seldom misses time (he missed more than 15 games only twice in his eight NBA seasons) and has exploded for 30 points and eight assists in his last game, so he is the starter for the Pacers. But he is no Parker or Lowry, so at least CoJo has a chance to take his spot.
Cory Joseph is a decent point guard who will bring you decent assists and steals from the bottom of your bench, with a few threes, boards and even a block every few games. He doesn't take too many shots at 7.6 per game, so his 42-45 FG% won't hurt you and he is a decent free throw shooter and ball handler so there aren't many negatives in his game. If you need such a guy on your team, Cory is the man for you. And if you believe that 26-year-old Joseph he can outplay 30-year-old Collison the rest of the way, then his appeal is even greater.
Stanley Johnson, SG/SF, Detroit Pistons
4% Owned in Yahoo! Leagues
Detroit's 8th overall pick from the 2015 draft is finally earning some decent minutes with coach Stan Van Gundy. After showing some promise in his rookie year, Stanley Johnson failed to impress in his second year and only played 18 minutes a game. That number is up to almost 30 now and Stanley is starting to establish himself as a defensive pillar of the Pistons. He is usually in charge of guarding the opposition's best forward and that gives him more time on court to provide for his fantasy owners.
While Johnson is getting close to 30 minutes a game, his fantasy output is not on the same level as his contribution for the Pistons is. He is averaging 7.9 points with 1.2 threes on 40.5% from the field and 71.4% from the charity stripe, 3.2 boards, 1.5 dimes, 1.4 steals, 0.1 blocks and 0.7 turnovers. He did suffer an injury which had him sidelined for three games, and did play just 18 minutes in his return, scoring just 2 points with 3 rebounds and one steal, but as soon as he is at his best, we can expect him to go back to 30 minutes and his usual performances.
Now Johnson is not a huge threat when Detroit is in possession, and his percentages aren't great. He should be viewed as more of a 3-and-D guy who could step into a larger offensive role if his shot starts falling and he takes on more responsibility. He is still just 21 and his coach really seems to like his offense, so he should stick around that 30 minute a game mark. And if his shooting climbs up to 45% that would automatically mean 10+ points and 1.5+ three-pointers per outing which would be a lot more helpful to his owners.
If you're in a deep league and you like what Stanley brings to the table you should definitely consider him. He has the potential to become a better fantasy option that he is currently so if you believe in him stepping up, take a flier.
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