RADIO
We're about a month into the NBA season now, and RotoBaller is looking at guards in today's waiver wire column. There are two categories of potential waiver wire stars this week. First, there are some young potential players looking to establish themselves on really bad teams. Second, we have a few veterans who are outplaying their history... but for how long? The fantasy basketball season is a long one with many twists and turns, and these five players are at a point in the season where they might ride a high for the next few weeks. You should consider picking them up and riding while they're hot.
Week 5 NBA Waiver Wire: Guards
Youth Movement
Ben McLemore (SG, SAC) 35% Owned
McLemore played in 82 games last season and finished the year averaging 12 points on 50% shooting from the field, 43% from three, and 81% from the free throw line. He looked like a player that could potentially break out in his third year. The only problem with this thought process is that McLemore is playing during the Vivek-Boogie-Karl era in Sacramento, which doesn't look like a place where much player growth will be happening.
McLemore started the season off horribly and lost his starting spot to Marco Belinelli. Instead of just sticking with a youngster going through a rough patch the team thought that a Rudy Gay, Marco Belinelli, Rajon Rondo tandem would be better to help them start the season 1-8. Despite the madness surrounding him, McLemore has been getting more minutes recently and guess what? He's producing and looking good again. During Sacramento's last five games he's averaging 25 minutes putting up 12 points, 2 assists, 2 rebounds, on 48% shooting from the field and 61% from three. The three point percentage isn't sustainable, but he's already shown he can keep everything else up, if not even do better. McLemore should be watched closely as the situation in Sacramento slowly begins falling apart.
Nik Stauskas (SG, PHI) 12 % Owned
Stauskas has spent one year in Sacramento and one year in Philadelphia. It is harder to think of two worse spots to start your NBA career. Also, he's averaging 10 points, 2 rebounds, and 2 assists on 33% shooting (28% from three). He started out the season really hot (five straight double digit scoring outings) but has been ice cold from the field ever since. So why think about him off the waiver wire?
First, he's on a team that needs him to score if they ever want to win just one game (they probably don't want to). Second, his shot simply isn't falling right now. Assuming he stays on the court, that should balance itself as the season goes on. Finally, he's only 22 and getting his first chance at major minutes. Michael Carter-Williams averaged 20 his rookie year for one of these awful Sixers teams. Anything is possible when a team is this bad and they are just staring around for someone to step up and do something. Stauskas has the ability to develop into a decent perimeter scorer this season, but again, the situation around him is so awful that his status has to be monitored on a week-to-week basis.
Wily Veterans?
Manu Ginobili (SG/SF, SA) 34% Owned
Manu is 38 years old... but he doesn't look a day over 36! The old timer has inched the clock back ever so slightly to the tune of his best percentages from the field since only playing 34 games in 2011-2012. Ginobili is shooting 50% from the field and 40% from three for 12 points a game. He's playing the fewest minutes of his career (20) and has missed three games out of the team's 13 for rest.
Manu is a risky pick up, but at his current pace and production he is well worth the roster spot. Not only is he shooting well but he's turning over the ball at the lowest rate in years and assisting/rebounding better than usual. With Kawhi Leonard taking over as the focal point for the Spurs in terms of secondary ball handling and play-making, Ginobili doesn't have as much responsibility. As a result, the 38 year old finds himself with new energy and life. Players just don't age normally in San Antonio for some reason.
Jerryd Bayless (PG/SG, MIL) 18% Owned
Last year Jerryd Bayless came off Milwaukee's bench and helped set up their run to the playoffs, but he was playing pretty badly by the end of the season. Good Bayless is back with a hot start to this season. He's averaging the most minutes of his career, and as a result, he's putting up his best stats across the board. Averaging around 12 points with 44% shooting from three isn't something I would usually consider unsustainable, but with Bayless I just can't imagine both of these staying that high. However, until he actually begins to play poorly again, Bayless is worth a look as the Bucks try and regain their playoff form from last year.
Dion Waiters (SG/SF, OKC) 19% Owned
Can Dion Waiters be a poor mans James Harden and come off the Thunder bench and win sixth man of the year? No, no he cannot. There is no doubt, though, that Waiters is considered the third scorer on the team. Dion and Enes Kanter make up the second unit for Oklahoma City and both have looked good. Waiters' 11 points a game are the lowest in his career, but all of his percentages are up to the highest in his career. As the season goes on, his role should slowly increase. If he can continue to be efficient from the field, Waiters might be worth the look as soon as this week.
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