10 Fantasy Basketball Waiver Wire Targets for Week 5
We're here once again to look at 10 of the most interesting players to emerge off fantasy basketball waiver wires over the past week.
As always, make sure you're checking out last week's edition (and the week before for good measure). We try not to repeat ourselves, but there are always some high-priority options to be found in previous iterations of this column who should still be on your radar if they're out there.
Let's hit the wire for Week 5.
Derrick White, PG, San Antonio Spurs
Yahoo Ownership: 30%
Derrick White was supposed to be the San Antonio Spurs' starting point guard this year, after Dejounte Murray went down with a torn ACL during the preseason, but then he went and hurt his heel before the games that count even started. Bryn Forbes held down the fort for the nine games that White missed with his heel ailment, but White joined the starting lineup immediately upon his return last Wednesday.
White's first game back wasn't much to write home about, but he went for 14 points, 1 three-pointer, 4 rebounds, 8 assists, and 2 steals in almost 30 minutes of action in his second game on Saturday.
With a clear path to a starting job and the accompanying minutes, White should be owned everywhere. Scoop him up if he's available in your league.
T.J. Warren, SF, Phoenix Suns
Yahoo Ownership: 55%
T.J. Warren has nudged his way into the Phoenix Suns' starting lineup for four of their last six contests, including two straight. He has been a mid-round value on the season as a whole as it is -- ranked 58th in nine-category leagues through 11 games -- so he has done more than enough to hold onto the spot over veteran Ryan Anderson, who has been so bad this year that he went from the team's starting power forward for eight games to a DNP-CD in Saturday's blowout loss to the New Orleans Pelicans.
Over Warren's last two games, he has averaged 27.0 points, 3.5 triples, 6.0 rebounds, 1.0 assist, 1.0 steal, 2.0 blocks, and 0.5 turnovers in 39.2 minutes per contest, while shooting 48.5% from the field and a perfect 15-for-15 from the charity stripe.
First-round returns like that are likely unsustainable, but he's still a mid-round guy whose situation just got a load better. He should be owned across the board, so if you're in one of the 45% of Yahoo leagues where he's still available, fix that right away.
Jerami Grant, SF/PF, Oklahoma City Thunder
Yahoo Ownership: 55%
Jerami Grant has started nine consecutive games for the Oklahoma City Thunder, and he is really starting to find his groove in the new role.
Over his last five contests, Grant has been the 27th-ranked player in nine-category leagues, with averages of 14.2 points, 1.2 threes, 5.2 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.6 steals, 0.6 blocks, and 0.8 turnovers in a healthy 31.2 minutes per game, and a shooting split of 58.1% from the field and 83.3% from the line.
He might not be a lock for that kind of early-round value going forward, but solid mid-round production is certainly within his grasp from here on out. At this point, much like Derrick White and T.J. Warren, Grant should not be on the wire in any competitive leagues.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, PG, Los Angeles Clippers
Yahoo Ownership: 30%
Rookie Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has a load of promise for the future, but we're already starting to see that just 12 games into his NBA career. He has started the last three games for the Los Angeles Clippers in place of an injured Avery Bradley (ankle), and may very well have run away with the job in that short time.
Over that three-game span, SGA has been the 87th-ranked player in nine-category leagues on the strength of his 13.7 points, 1.3 three-pointers, 4.0 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 0.7 steals, 1.7 blocks, and 1.7 turnovers in 33.3 minutes per contest, and shooting splits of 45.2% from the field and 75.0% from the free throw line.
His mid-round upside might be capped if head coach Doc Rivers goes back to Bradley upon his return, but just in case Gilgeous-Alexander holds down the starting shooting guard spot going forward, he's worth an add until we see how this all plays out.
Josh Hart, SG/SF, Los Angeles Lakers
Yahoo Ownership: 65%
Josh Hart had a solid start to the 2018-19 season but fell off a bit in the middle of his 13 games played to date. He's back in the groove now, however, coming in as the 45th-ranked player over his last five contests.
Over that span, Hart has averaged 11.6 points, 2.6 triples, 3.0 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 1.6 steals, 0.4 blocks, and 0.6 turnovers in just 23.4 minutes per contest off the Los Angeles Lakers' bench, while shooting 48.5% from the field and 86.7% from the free throw line.
He's now the 68th-ranked player in nine-category leagues, and should be picked up if he was dropped in your league. It would be nice if he had a starting job to add some consistency to his value, but recent returns show he should be owned everywhere regardless while he carves out his role on this new-look Lakers squad.
Quinn Cook, PG, Golden State Warriors
Yahoo Ownership: 30%
Stephen Curry is nursing a groin injury, and as we learned last season, whenever Curry's on the shelf, it's Quinn Cook time.
To wit, over Cook's last three games (including a start in place of Curry in his most recent contest), he's been the 27th-ranked player in nine-category leagues. Over that stretch, he's averaged 18.3 points, 3.3 triples, 4.0 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 0.3 steals, 0.0 blocks, and 1.7 turnovers in 22.6 minutes per game, while shooting a blazing 63.6% from the field and a perfect 3-for-3 from the free throw line.
He'll go back to not being worth owning once Curry is back to full strength, but game on until that happens. Steph's already been ruled out for tonight's game versus the Los Angeles Clippers, so streamers and DFS players should give Cook a look.
Tristan Thompson, PF/C, Cleveland Cavaliers
Yahoo Ownership: 45%
Tristan Thompson has double-doubled in three straight contests while putting up 82nd-ranked value over his last six.
Over that six-game span, Thompson has averaged 13.3 points, 0.0 threes, 11.8 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 1.2 steals, 0.2 blocks, and 1.3 turnovers in 30.7 minutes per game, while shooting 57.1% from the field and 53.3% from the line.
You'd like to see more blocks and a slightly better free throw percentage from your center, but you could do a lot worse than Thompson right now, especially while Kevin Love (toe) is on the shelf. Owners in need of rebounds should roll with Thompson while he's gobbling up boards like this.
D.J. Augustin, PG, Orlando Magic
Yahoo Ownership: 45%
D.J. Augustin is the de facto starting point guard for the Orlando Magic and that's proving to be enough to give him standard-league value for the time being.
Over his last nine contests, Augustin has been the 68th-ranked player in nine-category leagues, averaging 11.3 points, 2.0 three-pointers, 2.7 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 0.9 steals, 0.0 blocks, and 0.9 turnovers in 26.8 minutes per game, while shooting 50.0% from the field and 90.9% from the free throw line.
He's not putting up the kind of lines that'll make you run to your waiver wire to grab him, but he's got a safe role and a full complement of minutes, so he's worth an add for fantasy owners in need of a point guard.
Omari Spellman, PF, Atlanta Hawks
Yahoo Ownership: 20%
John Collins isn't expected back for the Atlanta Hawks anytime soon, but rookie Omari Spellman is settling into their starting power forward spot just fine for now.
Over his last three games in particular, Spellman has been posting top-50 value -- 48th-ranked to be exact -- in nine-category leagues, averaging 11.3 points, 1.7 threes, 9.3 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 0.7 steals, 1.3 blocks, and 0.7 turnovers in 27.7 minutes per contest, while shooting 42.9% from the field and a perfect 5-for-5 from the free throw line.
He might fade into fantasy obscurity once Collins returns, but for now, Spellman is doing just enough to get your attention. If you're looking for a boost in threes, boards, or defensive numbers, give him a look.
Ryan Arcidiacono, PG, Chicago Bulls
Yahoo Ownership: 10%
Cameron Payne has stunk his way out of the Chicago Bulls' point guard rotation, so Ryan Arcidiacono has taken over starting duties while the team continues to wait for the return of Kris Dunn (knee).
Over Arcidiacono's last two games, he's averaged 13.0 points, 3.0 triples, 3.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 0.5 steals, 0.0 blocks, and 1.5 turnovers in a healthy 31.5 minutes per contest, while shooting a blistering 71.4% from the field (and 0-for-1 from the charity stripe). That's good enough for 93rd-ranked value over that span, albeit in a small sample.
He's already been named the starting point guard for tonight's contest against the Dallas Mavericks, so he's worth a flier to see how this all plays out over the few weeks that remain on Dunn's original timetable.
