RADIO
It's Week 5 -- the value of players is beginning to stabilize, with the amount of high upside season long adds giving way to borderline or specialist contributors and guys with new opportunities from injuries.
This year, we're tossing out our old convention of separating waiver wire posts into positions, and instead, we're separating them into depth of league -- standard, shallow, deep, etc. The NBA is trending to positionless basketball, so we at RotoBaller should too.
For standard (10-12 team) league adds, we use a general rule of thumb of an ownership rate of under 50% on Yahoo. All position eligibility based on Yahoo leagues.
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Standard League Adds for Week 5
Marcus Morris, SF/PF - Boston Celtics
Ownership: 48%
13.7 PPG / 5.7 REB / 1.3 3PM / 468 FG%
The Boston Celtics are firing on all cylinders, and Marcus Morris has returned at the right time for fantasy owners to cash in. Morris is still being eased in, as he is only playing 22.7 minutes per game, but that number is likely to rise soon. During the Celtics 11-game winning streak, they have turned to many faces to get the job done, and Morris has been stepping up of late, playing great defense and playing very well down the stretch. That is exactly how you earn more playing time in the NBA.
Though it has been only 6 games, Morris’ numbers look like they did back in Detroit except two key figures—field goal percentage and free throw percentage—which both are currently at career highs. Yes, it has only been six games, but in a Brad Stevens offense, anything seems possible and there is reason to believe Morris can continue to improve his efficiency. He is worth picking up in standard leagues for the numbers he is currently putting up, and for his potential the rest of the season. With Gordon Hayward out, Morris has a chance to step in and put up some mid-range numbers this season.
John Henson, C – Milwaukee Bucks
Ownership: 41%
6.3 PPG / 6.5 REB / 1.5 BLK / .571 FG%
Since the Eric Bledsoe trade, which saw the departure of Greg Monroe from the Bucks, John Henson is putting up numbers that make him a must own in all leagues. Over the past week, since he officially took over the starting center role, he is averaging 11.7 points on .607% shooting, 7.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 1.3 blocks in 27:40 minutes per game. He has become the defensive anchor for the young Bucks squad, posting a league-leading block percentage of 7.9% (minimum 150 minutes).
This is nothing new, as Henson has been an elite defensive big since he entered the league, but what is new is his creeping offensive production. If he can keep it up, and not allow the offense to crater whenever Giannis Antetokounmpo leaves the floor, he has some serious upside. He’s even had two games this season of 6 assists, and with a highly skilled cast around him, these numbers will likely continue throughout the season. On Monday night he had his best game of the season, posting a season-high 17 points with eight rebounds, three assists, and two blocks against Marc Gasol and the Grizzlies. Grab him now, while he's still available.
Courtney Lee, SG/SF – New York Knicks
Ownership 38%
11.0 PPG / 3.5 REB / 2.8 AST / .449 FG%
Yes, I am talking about THAT Courtney Lee, but trust me, it’s not as bad as you think. Sure, it is slim pickings on the waiver wire as the season trucks on, but Lee is playing solid basketball for a Knicks team with some decent potential. The Knicks are starting to click, and playing with serious confidence, and Lee is joining in on the fun. Over the past week he is putting up 15.7 points with 2.7 three-pointers, 2.7 rebounds, 2.0 steals, and 1.7 assists per game.
Knicks coach Jeff Hornacek seems to love Lee for his versatility and defense, so he is a lock for consistent playing time. Some nights he grabs 10 boards, and some night he dishes 9 assists, but most nights he is contributing in every category, sans blocks. That is seriously sneaky value, especially in deep leagues, and the type of player that helps chip away at stat categories through the season.
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