Tyus Jones (PG, MEM) - Week 11 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 14-Team Leagues

ROSTERED IN: 7% of leagues

ANALYSIS: Tyus Jones is a lot like the T.J. McConnell of the Memphis Grizzlies (or vice-versa). Sure, there are aspects of the game that they're lacking, but as to their strengths, they'll do what they do best and squeeze production out of every last millisecond on the floor, and they'll manage to do so under the radar for years. In 22.3 minutes per game in 2021, Jones has put up career-highs across the board with 8.3 points, 2.4 rebounds, 4.9 assists, and 1.2 steals. Unfortunately, he has also been taking more threes than ever before (2.7 per night) and converting at an ugly career-low 26.9%, but the worst might already be behind him. He shot a miserable 8-38 from deep for December through January, but is working out of his slump this month with 13 makes in 40 tries (32.5%), also nailing 12 of 13 free throws (92.3%), improving his True Shooting rate from .501 in January to .531 this month, causing his usage rate to jump from 16.8% to 19% despite an eight-minute reduction in playing time.

These statistics are the product of Jones replicating his ratio figures in the pocket of time he sees in backup of Ja Morant. In Morant's absence, Jones stepped into major minutes and produced in proportion behind a 30.5% assist rate (second on the Grizz behind Ja) and 2.7% steal rate, working to net his money categories that are quite tough to find from the waivers in a deep format. Not only has he kept his assist and steal game strong, he has achieved a career-high mark for rebound rate (6%) and usage rate (17.5%), while bringing his turnover rate down from 10.8% last year to 9.8% for 2021. As I speak, Memphis is routing the Rockets by 40+. Tyus Jones has accumulated 13 points, five rebounds, two assists, and two steals, off three-for-three shooting from deep, and he did it in 16 minutes of PT. Even on nights like tonight when the Grizz have a lot of guards in the fold and De'Anthony Melton gets a few more minutes than Tyus (and has a great line of his own), it doesn't matter; because Tyus Jones is built for microwave statistical production. As long as he gets 15+ minutes, he's going to rack up assists and steals in his backup role, which makes him uniquely valuable in those deeper formats.

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