NBA Waiver Wire: Pick-Ups and FAAB for Week 8

Before we begin the waiver wire watch, let's conduct a brief schedule breakdown. The Knicks and Pelicans each play four games this week, and three of those are quality games (nights when less than half the league plays), allowing you to slip those players into your lineup with relative ease. The Warriors are the only team slated for two games this week. The Jazz play four road games in five days, and come Friday, the Spurs will have played their eighth game in twelve days. The Bucks join the Jazz in playing four road games, while the Cavaliers play four home games. Lastly, players who signed this offseason can be traded starting Monday, December 15th. Don't waste add/drops early this week in case an already agreed upon deal opens up opportunity for someone at the top of your watch list.

Point Guard

Elfrid Payton, ORL: (watch list and deep head-to-head leagues); FAAB: $6 (in head-to-head leagues only, avoid in rotisserie)
Over the past 10 games, Payton is averaging 6.6 points, 5.0 assists, 3.5 rebounds, and 1.5 steals in 26 minutes per game. Those per-game averages exceed his yearly numbers, but just barely. During that 10-game interval, Payton is second to Manu Ginobili in assists per game and tied with Kelly Olynyk and Khris Middleton for most steals per game as a reserve. Considering the lack of talent percolating the Magic's second unit, five assists per game registers as quite impressive. Payton leads the Magic's bench squad in minutes and plays a majority of fourth quarters, alongside Tobias Harris and Victor Oladipo. You can thank coach Jacque Vaughn for removing Luke Ridnour from the rotation almost entirely, minus garbage time scraps. You'll want to steer clear of Payton in rotisserie leagues, as indicated by his 37 percent mark from the field and 47 percent accuracy from the free-throw line.

Others to consider: Point guards were a thin bunch this time around. In previous weeks, I've detailed C.J. Watson and Zach LaVine. Both hold value as injury replacements.

Shooting Guard

J.R. Smith, NYK: (watch list and deep leagues); FAAB: $2
Smith is dealing with a partial tear of his left plantar fascia and is considered day-to-day. That sounds terrible. Nevertheless, I like him as a better long-term option to Tim Hardaway for his ability to contribute in more than two categories, so you'll want to keep an eye on his status moving forward. We can agree that Smith has been mired a terrible shooting slump in the triangle offense. He's attempting the highest percent of mid-range jumpers in his career, offset by his lowest three-point rate since joining the league. His stroke has found new life over his past four games, converting 47 percent of his three-pointers after resting a few games due to an illness. If nothing else, the addition of Jason Smith has led to J.R. Smith averaging a career-high 3.3 assists per game, tied for second highest on the Knicks. Those two run a solid pick-and-pop game as members of the second unit. J.R. Smith's silver lining can be found in his second half success last season. Over the final 45 games, Smith averaged 16.5 points, 2.9 three-pointers, and shot 43 percent from downtown. He shot better than 39 percent on three-pointers every month except November, still recovering from offseason knee surgery.

Tim Hardaway, NYK: (watch list and deep league speculative add); FAAB: $4
The New York media tends to overhype their players. That's why people assume Hardaway, and previously Iman Shumpert, should play more minutes. If I asked you to recall Hardaway's most memorable game from last season, you'd probably choose the Rising Stars battle versus Dion Waiters. That's because he did most of his regular season damage against second units in garbage time as the team's only offensive threat. Seven of his nine 20+ point games last season occurred when the winning margin was greater than 11. He was given more minutes after the All-Star break, but his three-point accuracy dropped from 39 percent to 34 percent. That's what happens when you're no longer receiving clean looks, down double-digits in the fourth quarter. Hardaway primarily thrives in an environment devoid of defense, playing at a breakneck pace. However, the Knicks play at the second slowest pace, ahead of only the Miami Heat, with 89.5 possessions per 48 minutes, per Basketball Reference. So why am I writing about Hardaway? Iman Shumpert (shoulder) will miss three weeks before being reevaluated, Carmelo Anthony is battling knee issues the rest of the season, and J.R. Smith (heel) is day-to-day. Hardaway is second on the team in usage rate at 23.4 percent. He averages 7.7 three-pointers per 36 minutes, 15th most among player who've played at least 100 minutes this season. Hardaway won't pass to his teammates or play viable defense. He's on this earth to shoot three-pointers and finish in transition.

Jodie Meeks, DET: (watch list and deep leagues); FAAB: $2
Meeks was rewarded handsomely this offseason by president Stan Van Gundy, agreeing to a three-year, $18.8 million deal. One would surmise that coach Van Gundy wants to give his investment as much opportunity to flourish as possible. Aiding that belief has been the uneven offensive production of Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and the Pistons' 5-19 record. When Meeks was on the court last season, the Lakers played at a pace of 101.4 possessions per 48 minutes. This iteration of the Pistons plays below the league average, settling in at 92.3 possessions per 48 minutes. It would be unwise to expect comparable number to last season's breakout performance, unless Meeks somehow plays close to 40 minutes a night. He won't be the featured offensive weapon when sharing the court with Andre Drummond, Greg Monroe, Josh Smith, and Brandon Jennings. If you add him, halt lofty expectations, but anticipate points, a decent amount of steals, three-pointers, and a high free-throw percentage.

Others to consider:Marcus Thornton receives a slight bump with Marcus Smart's recent Achilles injury. The Celtics play the Sixers, Magic, Timberwolves, and Heat this week. Over his last four games, Thornton has scored 28 of his 53 points in the fourth quarter.

Small Forward

Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, CHA: (watch list); FAAB: $3
Kidd-Gilchrist has been kept in a reserve role over the past three games since returning from injury. That small sample has produced 10.7 points and 5.3 rebounds in 22 minutes per game. He's shooting an obscene 91 percent from the free-throw line, but I'd expect closer to his career-mark of 69 percent for the rest of the season. However, he sank both free-throws at the end of the first overtime against the Grizzlies on Friday before Vince Carter hit the game-tying three-pointer. The stroke looks fluid, so perhaps the time off allowed him to fortify his perceived weakness. His jump shot isn't completely broke. I like that he's shot it with confidence, even pulling up from 15-feet when the defender cuts off his path to the basket. It's not a reliable shot, but he does most of his damage at the rim anyway. Ultimately, it's only a matter of time before he wins his starting job back from Gerald Henderson.

Luc Richard Mbah a Moute, PHI: (watch list); FAAB: $0
Mbah a Moute isn't going anywhere. He was acquired to mentor Joel Embiid. I don't know if he's getting minutes as compensation, but he's making the most of them. Over his past 11 games, he's recorded at least one steal in each game and is averaging 2.1 steals per game, fourth highest in that time. I would liken him to a watered down Corey Brewer, who I'd rather own over Mbah a Moute, in that you own him for his steals and hope to get filler stats elsewhere. Following the Brandon Davies trade, Mbah a Moute has started at power forward the last two games with Robert Covington, who I'd also rather own, guarding opposing small forwards. K.J. McDaniels' most recent ankle injury is partially why Mbah a Moute has played at least 33 minutes over the past two games. I will also add that Brett Brown is fostering Jerami Grant into a defensive force at power forward. The results have been mixed, especially since Grant spent his time playing zone defense at Syracuse.

Wesley Johnson, LAL: (deep leagues); FAAB: $4
Johnson survived Lineupgate, the day Carlos Boozer and Jeremy Lin became reserves, so he'll start the next 7-12 games before Byron Scott decides to make Kobe Bryant the full-time point guard. He hasn't played more than 30 minutes in any of his last seven games, splitting time with Nick Young. Even so, he's averaging 9.3 points, 3.3 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 1.3 blocks, 0.7 steals, and 1.6 three-pointers per game. It's modest production that goes unnoticed because he's not posting consistent double-digit scoring efforts. The 1.3 blocks per game over the last two weeks is third most among small forwards. I credit Scott's decision to play Johnson at power forward occasionally, a role that complemented his fantasy game last season to career-highs of 1.1 steals and 1.0 blocks per game.

Others to consider:DeMarre Carroll is owned in 33.9 percent of ESPN leagues. That number dropped two percent in two weeks.

Power Forward

Josh McRoberts, MIA: (standard leagues); FAAB: $10
Categorical diversification. I'm not saying I invented the term; I'm just applying it to fantasy basketball. Josh McRoberts epitomizes the notion of categorical diversification. Prior to his most recent knee injury, he posted two vintage McRoberts games, averaging 12.0 points, 6.0 assists, 4.5 rebounds, 1.0 steals, and 2.0 three-pointers in 30 minutes per game. It feels like a small taste of things to come. Over the past two games, Jordan Hamilton replaced McRoberts in the starting lineup, but hasn't done enough to challenge for a long-term piece of the pie. Adding McRoberts requires patience and a willingness to sacrifice a roster spot on a player who provides just above mean production in every category. Coach Erik Spoelstra doesn't seem worried about McRobert's bruised right knee, stipulating "He's doing more than he was doing the other day. He feels a little better, but we'll have [to] evaluate." Since the coach isn't concerned and the team didn't order an X-ray or MRI on the knee, I feel better about the situation.

Jason Thompson, SAC: (deep leagues); FAAB: $1
DeMarcus Cousins (meningitis) could potentially miss the rest of the month, even longer once he reconditions his body into game shape. Darren Collison and Rudy Gay can't carry the load by themselves. Over the last six games, Jason Thompson is averaging 10.5 points, 9.7 rebounds, and 2.0 assists in 32 minutes per game. He's shooting a cool 51 percent from the field and 73 percent from the free-throw line. With Reggie Evans losing minutes to Derrick Williams and Carl Landry of late, the only reliable frontcourt option from game to game has to be Thompson. If you're banking on one of these guys to save your season, you better start thinking about next year's draft.

Channing Frye, ORL: (standard leagues); FAAB: $8
Frye dipped to 14 percent ownership in ESPN leagues. I understand the backlash. Despite that, he's providing almost the exact same numbers from last season, with only a noticeable decline in points and free-throw percentage. He leads all power forwards with 2.0 three-pointers per game, and he's connecting from downtown at a 41.5 percent clip. Nikola Vucevic's return to the lineup Saturday night, a presence that accounts for a three percent rise in Frye's three-point shooting, should alleviate most Frye concerns. Once Victor Oladipo and Elfrid Payton learn to use Frye the way Goran Dragic did last season and Evan Fournier has this season, reckon additional looks and increased scoring from one of the deadliest floor-spacers in the game.

Others to consider: Sir Robert Covington, as he is affectionately known in my house, needs to be added. Lost in the hubbub of his three-point barrage, Covington is shooting 92 percent from the free-throw line since joining the Sixers, buffered by his 84 percent mark in the D-League last season. His shot is so wet that Wells Fargo Center doubles as a aquarium during home games. I could see a Dorell Wright-type season from four years ago where he went bonkers and provided top-50 value on a per game basis. All hail Sir Robert Covington.

Center

Gorgui Dieng, MIN: (all leagues); FAAB: $12
You, me, Kate Upton, and Flip Saunders haven't the foggiest notion when or if Nikola Pekovic (wrist/ankle) can play again this season. In 14 games as a starter, Dieng is averaging 8.8 points, 8.6 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.5 steals, and 1.5 blocks in 30.7 minutes per game. For the season, he, Marc Gasol, and DeMarcus Cousins are the only centers averaging at least two assists, one steal, and one block per game. Dieng is the antithesis of Pekovic, except when it comes to efficiency. He's shooting 52 percent from the field and 79 percent from the line. I'm curious if he'll maintain that rate, especially since he was a 64-percent shooter during college and as a rookie. His stroke looks fine, and he shot 71 percent from the line over the final month of his rookie season. With this knowledge, you can safely add him in rotisserie leagues.

Amar'e Stoudemire, NYK: (standard leagues); FAAB: $7
Admittedly, I've been indifferent toward Stoudemire. I know he'll eventually miss time due to soreness, or his knees will act up leading to a long reprieve and questions about adding Jason Smith. However, since moving into the starting lineup seven games ago, Stoudemire is averaging 16.6 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks in 30 minutes per game. He's shooting a blistering 61 percent from the field and serviceable 76 percent from the free-throw line since replacing Samuel Dalembert. The block numbers are skewed by his five-block game against the Pelicans last week, a feat not accomplished since the tail end of the 2010-11 season. The reason for his sky-high efficiency lies in the improved shot selection. Over the last seven games, 83 percent of his shots have come within eight feet of the rim. Stoudemire has cut out the mid-range shot the way dieters avoid carbs. Outside of well-placed pocket passes, he's not afraid to put the ball on the floor and attack minus-defenders. The Knicks play two consecutive afternoon games at the end of the week following a day of rest, my only reservation is Stoudemire playing all four games this week.

Mason Plumlee, BKN: (watch list and speculative deep league add); FAAB: $4
Plumlee has followed a stellar rookie campaign with a sophomore swoon. He fell backwards into the starting lineup after Brook Lopez (back) was declared out for a week and Mirza Teletovic injured his hip replacing Lopez. I'd rather own Teletovic over Plumlee if he was healthy, but circumstances dictate we consider Plumlee. The team will reevaluate Lopez sometime over the next two days, but his exclusion from practice last week is telling. Plumlee is averaging 12.3 points, 10.3 rebounds, 1.3 blocks, and 0.7 steals in his last three games. The Nets play four games this week, and if Lopez and Teletovic can't play, look for Plumlee to produce near double-doubles on a decimated Nets' frontline. I will advise a warning about his free-throw woes. On the season, Plumlee is shooting 38 percent from the line. It's a calculated tradeoff for an inflated field goal percentage. Also, at first he needed to contend with Jerome Jordan. Now, Corey Jefferson is nipping at his heels. That's how far Plumlee has sunk in coach Lionel Hollins' mind.

Others to consider:Rudy Gobert was recommended last week. With the Jazz set to play four games this week and Derrick Favors (ankle) sporting a walking boot, Gobert is the perfect streaming option.