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Week 18 Fantasy Basketball Waiver Wire: NBA Deep Sleepers

By Chamber of Fear [CC BY-SA 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

In his Week 18 NBA Waiver Wire column, David Sass focuses on some deep-league sleepers for your fantasy basketball purposes.

Now in Week 18 of the 2014-15 NBA season, the waiver wire is a crucial part of the weekly/daily routine of fantasy basketball managers. The following group of players are not of the typical standard-league variety, but rather options for those participating in deeper formats.

Unless you have the roster space to stash one of these fringe contributors as a sleeper, there is little reason to own any of them outside of leagues with 12 or more teams.

Position Eligibility & Ownership Rate Based on Yahoo! Fantasy Basketball Leagues

 

Deep League Waiver Wire Options

Jae Crowder (BOS, SF/PF) - 11% Owned

When discussing deep league pick-ups, most of the time you are just looking to ride the hot hand. Right now, the hot hand is in Boston and it is Crowder. The former Marquette scorer, and that’s exactly what he has been doing. Scoring. In the last two weeks, Crowder has been shooting 44% from the floor, with 2 threes, 14.5 points, 6.3 rebounds and 2 assists per game. If you need a short term pick-up then go jump on Crowder immediately. He is also getting around 30 minutes per game during his hot streak.

 

Omri Casspi (SAC, SF) - 3% Owned

Two weeks ago, I wrote about how I have a hunch that Casspi is a player you should be keeping your eye on. I said I did not know why except the fact that he was a sharpshooter who was cold for way too long. I don’t know if I am very luck or not but since I wrote that article, I have inspired Casspi. In the last two weeks Casspi has averaged .7 threes, 8 points, 10.7 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game. The Kings roster is actually set up very nicely now for Casspi to continue to get minutes and to continue to produce.

 

Mitch McGary (OKC, PF/C) - 5% Owned

With Oklahoma City finally making Kendrick Perkins someone else’s problem over the trade deadline, McGary is now slotted in for just under 20 minutes per game. McGary was at one point in his career at Michigan considered a top ten pick. After that he had off the court problems and back problems and slid very far down in draft. Knowing the talent was there we can only hope McGary puts it all together. It looks like he is finally starting to do that with the minutes he has been getting since the trade deadline. Since the trade deadline, McGary has been averaging 8 points, 7 rebounds, 1.5 steals and 1 block. If he continues to produce, his numbers and minutes will only go up.

 

Keeper League Pickup of the Week

Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (CHA, SF) - 22% Owned

The former second overall pick has been an overall disappointment in his NBA career so far. He was never a good shooter and “NBA people” thought that he could improve in that area and become a very solid NBA player. Unfortunately, that has not happened. Kidd-Gilchrist is not only a bad shooter but he is hard to watch shooting the ball. With that being said, he has made improvements since entering the league and has also learned how to play around his super athletic skill set. He is finally crashing the boards more and being more physical inside. If he continues to do this, you could see decent scoring numbers and larger rebounding numbers from Kidd-Gilchrist from here on out.

 

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REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

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Larry Nance Jr. Headed Back to Cavaliers
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Returning to Diamondbacks Lineup
Eric Gordon

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Deandre Ayton Joining Lakers
Oronde Gadsden

an Active Pass-Catcher This Offseason
Brashard Smith

Speed Could be Put to Use
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Off to a Good Start
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Re-Signs With Islanders for Two Years
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Quickly Becoming a Leader With his New Team
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Nate Schmidt Signs Three-Year Deal With Mammoth
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has Worked With Starters
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Brandon Tanev Moves to Utah on Three-Year Contract
NJ

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Sabres Snap Up Alex Lyon on Two-Year Contract
Dallas Mavericks

Dante Exum Returning to Dallas
Ryan McLeod

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Predators Bring in Nick Perbix on Two-Year Deal
Jaren Jackson Jr.

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Has Potential at John Deere Classic
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Keeps Plugging Through Tough 2025 Season
PHI

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Jonathan Drouin Joins Islanders on Two-Year Contract
NJ

Devils Hand Connor Brown a Four-Year Contract
SJ

John Klingberg Lands in San Jose
William Eklund

Signs Three-Year Extension with Sharks
Will Cuylle

Agrees to Two-Year Contract with Rangers
Zac Gallen

Fans 10 in Tuesday's Win
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Hits Two More Homers Tuesday
Josh Hader

Stays Perfect In Save Conversion On Tuesday
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Shane Baz

Fans 11 Against Athletics
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Signs One-Year Deal to Remain in Houston
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Laviska Shenault Jr.

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Orlando Magic

Tyus Jones Signs One-Year Deal With Magic
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Golden State Warriors

Kevon Looney Heads to New Orleans
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Trevor Etienne to Split Carries?
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Milwaukee Bucks

Jericho Sims Staying in Milwaukee
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Tim Hardaway Jr. Joins Nuggets
Willson Contreras

Avoids Structural Damage on Hand After HBP
Detroit Pistons

Duncan Robinson Lands With Detroit
Charlotte Hornets

Tre Mann Remaining in Charlotte
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Giants Exercise Bob Melvin's 2026 Option
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Tom Kim

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Dealing with Finger Sprain
Jacob Wilson

Scratched With Hamstring Soreness
Brandon Woodruff

Ready for Season Debut
Garrett Mitchell

Out for the Rest of the Season
Milwaukee Bucks

Gary Harris Inks Deal With Bucks
Charlotte Hornets

Mason Plumlee Heading Back to Charlotte
Si Woo Kim

is a Prohibitive Fade at John Deere Classic
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Vasilije Micić

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and Trackhouse Racing Parting Ways After 2025 Season
Pat Connaughton

Traded to Hornets
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Luke Kennard Lands in Atlanta
Breece Hall

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T.J. Watt

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