My, how time flies. We are already in Week 5! The waiver wire pickings are slim, but that’s no reason to be grim. Continue to skim the wire. Don’t just admire. For victory is won or lost, by those that understand opportunity cost. Shady Records, Def Jam, and Aftermath….have your people call my people.
As always, I am utilizing the Yahoo database and highlighting only the players that are less than 50% owned.
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Terrence Ross (SG/SF – ORL) – 46% owned
For the first eight games of the season, Ross played: 26, 19, 29, 19, 29, 18, 27, and 20 minutes per game. That harkens me back to the days of picking petals off an oxeye daisy. She loves me. She loves me not.
Anyways, during the most recent seven-game stretch, there has been only one game in which Ross received fewer than 25 minutes, and that was due to a blowout. He’s been averaging 28.2 minutes, 16.7 points, four rebounds, two assists, 0.7 steals, 0.6 blocks, and three three-pointers made. The usage rate has been in the 22-23 range and he’s been a top-60 player over that span.
Monte Morris (PG – DEN) – 19% owned
The first 10 games of the season, Morris was getting 21 minutes of run per game. Over the last four games, though, he has been getting close to 27 minutes per game. He’s shooting a blistering 52% from the field and 38% from downtown while averaging 11.8 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 5.3 assists.
The most compelling aspect about Morris is that he is leading the NBA in assist-to-turnover ratio, and it’s not particularly close: eight versus the 5.64 Ryan Arcidiacono is putting up. That ability to take care of the ball has endeared him to Coach Malone. Now, when Isaiah Thomas and Will Barton return to the lineup, there’s no telling what will happen with the minutes pie but, until that time arrives, Morris makes for a fine fantasy asset.
Al-Farouq Aminu (SF/PF – POR) – 44% owned
I’ve written up Aminu in two of the three articles so far this season. He was 27% owned when we embarked on this Aminu Adventure, so it’s nice to see the progress, but we have not reached the summit yet. He’s not exciting. I get it. He will never show up on SportsCenter or produce gaudy scoring numbers, yet he’s a valuable piece for any fantasy squad.
He plays a ton of minutes (29.3 per game), provides three-pointers, some defensive stats, low turnover rate, and is currently 25th in all of the NBA land in rebounding. The floor is high, as he is the 86th-ranked player according to Basketball Monster. There is some upside, though, if he can shoot efficiently from downtown.
Patrick Beverley (PG/SG – LAC) – 21% owned
The rage in Clipper Land now is over Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and for good reason. He’s awesome with a sky-high ceiling. Let’s not forget about Beverley, though. He underwent knee surgery late last season, so it’s taken time to get back into the swing of things. In addition, the minutes have increased (23.3 in October to 30.2 in November), and he and SGA have been sharing the court at the same time. The steals are way down at 0.7 per game, the lowest number since he posted a 1.1 back in 2014. There’s a good chance that number comes up as the season progresses. In addition, the shooting efficiency has been way below his career norms. Getting over four rebounds and four assists with low turnovers ain’t too shabby.
Ryan Arcidiacono (PG – CHI) – 12% owned
Arcidiacono has started the last three games for the Bulls and should continue to stay in that role until Kris Dunn comes back, who is recovering from an MCL sprain. Arcidiacono is not a high-volume shooter, as he has failed to jack up more than nine shots in any of his starts, but he is playing 32 minutes a night, provides three-pointers, rebounds, and assists with excellent shooting percentages and minuscule turnover rate (second in the NBA at 5.64).
Shelvin Mack (PG – MEM) – 16% owned
The Mack has returned. Was this Mack ever here, though? A question to ponder when you are staring up at the clouds. To begin the season, Mack was receiving under 25 minutes per game and hoisting up fewer than seven shots. The assists were there, but everything else was meh.
Since the game against the Wizards on October 30, Mack has been playing 28 minutes per game and averaging 13.9 points on 9.4 shot attempts, 2.9 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 1.4 steals, and 1.9 three-pointers. The efficiency has been stupid good, though, as he’s been converting 54% from the field and 50% from downtown. His career marks are 43% and 33%, respectively, so regression is coming like winter. With that said, he’s getting the minutes, jacking up shots, and providing peripheral stats.
Collin Sexton (PG – CLE) – 43% owned
With George Hill out due to injury, Sexton has started the last four games and is averaging 35.7 minutes, 18.8 points on a whopping 16 shot attempts, 3.5 rebounds, 2.5 blocks, and 1.8 three-pointers on 48% shooting from the field and 70% from downtown. The efficiency is going to come down, and there is little contribution in the defensive categories, but there’s no reason why the Cavaliers will continue to roll out Hill when he returns. This team is going nowhere, so it would make sense to give the young guns as much experience and execute the “Not Trying for Zion” campaign.
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Stan Son is a featured writer at FantasyPros. To read more from Stan, check out his archive and follow him @Stan_Son.
