Priority Pickups: T.J. McConnell and various Nuggets

Because even the best fantasy rosters can use a little help on occasion, we’re offering a five-pack of pickups for the week ahead. Under normal circumstances, all players discussed here will be available in a majority of Yahoo fantasy leagues. Add as needed.

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T.J. McConnell, PG, Philadelphia 76ers, 32% owned

Can you use, say, 8.7 assists per game? Good, because that’s McConnell’s per-36 average so far this season. He’s ascended to the starting role in Philly, and it looks like he has no intention of returning to understudy minutes. Over his last five games, he’s played at least 34 minutes every night with no fewer than six assists. He’s also strung together four straight multi-steal games. And of course you already know about the game-winner against New York. He might be nothing more than a two-category specialist, but finding assists on the wire is no simple thing.

Next week’s schedule: at MIL, vs. TOR, vs. POR, at ATL

Tim Hardaway Jr., SG/SF, Atlanta Hawks, 25%

Hardaway is almost certainly on the trade block, but, for now, he gets a value bump with the post-Korver Hawks. He’s hit 18 threes on 29 attempts over his last five games, playing 20-plus minutes per night. We can’t promise you assists or rebounds or defensive goodies, but he’s definitely gonna jack threes for the remainder of his time in Atlanta. If you’re among the thousands of Yahoo owners who’ve been dropping Doug McDermott (he seemed like a good idea at the time), then Hardaway feels like the proper add.

Next week’s schedule: at NYK, at DET, vs. CHI, vs. PHI

Various Denver Nuggets, assorted positions

Denver is the only team with a five-game week upcoming, so make the add now and beat the rush. The Nuggets offer a variety of multi-category assets, available in 30-to-50 percent of Yahoo leagues: Jusuf Nurkic, Kenneth Faried, Will Barton, Gary Harris, et al. We’d be willing to look the other way if you’re interested in Emmanuel Mudiay for a five-game stretch, too. Do whatever needs doing, depending on your team’s shortcomings.

Next week’s schedule: vs. ORL, at LAL, at SA, vs. LAC, at MIN

Caris LeVert, SG, Brooklyn Nets, 6%

OK, maybe LeVert is little more than a deep-league special, a flier for the second-half. But he has size and length, he’s an attacker and a terrific finisher at the rim. His minutes have ticked upward over the last three weeks; here’s hoping he finds his way to the starting lineup at some point. If he plays his way into a 30-minute role, he’ll be good for 12-15 PPG and 1.5 steals, with plenty of highlight plays.

Next week’s schedule: vs. TOR, at NO, at CHA

Terrence Jones, SF/PF, New Orleans Pelicans, 38%

As you may have heard, Jones just delivered a 24-12 game in a win against the Nets, with AD sitting. We fully endorse the Rotoworld note on Jones’ player page right now; this guy really needs to see 24-plus minutes per game. His per-36 numbers are, not surprisingly, quite good: 15.9 points, 1.5 blocks, 1.1 steals, 8.7 boards. If you can deal with the occasional 15-minute performance, you’ll appreciate the double-doubles.

Next week’s schedule: at IND, vs. ORL, vs. BKN

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