RADIO
Nearly two months into the 2014-15 NBA season, the waiver wire has taken its typical place in the weekly/daily routine of fantasy basketball managers. The following guards, whether of the “sleeper” variety or just cashing in temporarily on an unforeseen opportunity, almost certainly deserve attention across the various formats.
Position Eligibility & Ownership Rate Based on Yahoo! Fantasy Basketball Player List
Waiver Wire Guard For Right Now
Jodie Meeks (DET, SG) - 32% Owned
Stan Van Grundy loved this guy enough that Detroit over paid him this offseason, and now that Meeks has returned from a back injury, he will be a big part of the Pistons' rotation.
Not only do the Pistons desperately need a shooter, but it has been obvious so far this year, that SVG is not really in love with any of the guards he has on the roster. Coach Van Gundy has also stated that he plans to use Meeks both on and off the ball, meaning the long-range threat should end up being much more than just a three point specialist.
Meeks is coming off of a 20-point effort and looks as if he is going to become a huge part of Detroit's offense. Consider him, at the very least, a must grab in any 12-team league.
Waiver Wire Guard in Deeper Leagues
Jerryd Bayless (MIL, PG/SG) - 3% Owned
The backcourt/wing spots in Milwaukee were a bit crowded going into the season, but with Jabari Parker now done for the year, there will be a more minutes to go around. That could greatly benefit Bayless.
Bayless has been productive of late, averaging 10.8 points, 3.4 assists, 3.4 rebounds and 1.2 steals over the last five games. In addition, he has shot 50.0 percent from the field and a perfect 18-of-18 from the charity stripe during the same span.
An uptick from the 23 minutes per game he has received so far this month could result in Bayless approaching top-50 value.
Waiver Wire Guard to Keep an Eye On
Tim Hardaway, Jr. (NYK, SG) - 20% Owned
I feel a bit dirty telling anyone to add any Knicks' player. The team stinks, period, and outside of Carmelo Anthony, nobody playing in the Garden is a must-add option in fantasy basketball. With that said, Hardaway is someone to keep an eye on, especially if you need scoring.
Hardaway is not going to help you in a ton of categories, but he is a guy who can drain shots from beyond the arc and knock down free throws while not turning the ball over. Also, his playing time has increased significantly during the past seven days and his production has done the same. Hardaway is averaging 17.8 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.8 threes in 33 minutes over the last four games.
If you can survive a sub-40 percent shooting from the floor, Hardaway may be worth a look. With J.R. Smith's injuries and the Knicks desperately needing a spark, he could continue to see big minutes.
