We are entering the 4th month of Fantasy Basketball, and if your leagues run with any similarity to mine, there should be approximately 20%-30% teams in your league that are essentially approaching being out of any playoff contention. These fellows may no longer be paying attention to their daily lineup, won’t be perusing the waiver wire as much, and won’t be as motivated to do much of anything other than blame the Basketball Gods, and any analyst that whose advice they had the misfortune to follow (ah, ahem.). If you are in a keeper league, and have a shot this year, take a close look at their lineup, and make an offer with draft picks as incentive. If you are in a total redraft, the following means little to you, and I wish you godspeed. To those of you that have a shot at scooping some quality off the basement dwellers, let me make mention of some particularly appealing cats you should try to pry away:
BUY:
Salah Mejri C
If you aren’t from Dallas, you’re saying “who???”, and you’d be right to be saying that, and truthfully, most Texans are saying that anyways. But Zaza Pachulia is out for the Mavs with an achilles injury, and this 7’2″ Tunisian has emerged like a delicate giant butterfly. Maybe Mothra is more apropos. He’s 3% owned, and had 10/11/0/0/3 with a .667 FG%. What was absolutely mesmerizing was his block on James Harden. Nasty enough for a speculative add, IMO, as Coach Car will have certainly taken notice of his hustle, and should reward him with minutes.
Eric Bledsoe PG, SG
This only applies if you’re one of those sad sacks that are already out of contention. Here’s the deal: you’re at the bottom of your league, and you have to come up with 4 keepers, and 2 of the cats you have penciled in to those positions aren’t top 50 players. Is Bled a risk? Absolutely, he’s had injuries to both knees now, but are you really gonna hold onto Jared Sullinger as your 5th guy? Trade a bench warmer for this potential, and then start watching Tennis.
Nicolas Batum SG, SF
The flying Frenchman is in a soft boot, his toe has been bothering him, so he’s not coming back this week, but if you can afford to stash him, he would be a solid pick up for the stretch run, and the injury should drive the price down a touch.
Brandon Knight PG, SG
Knight, like Batum, is out for a short term injury. He should be back in 4-6 games. But with Eric Bledsoe out, he will get all the touches he can handle in the desert, no? And, like big Nic, his injury may help you on the bargaining front.
SELL:
True Holiday PG
Holida-aay! Celebrate! True went off for a career game, both in minutes and production last game, and the price will never be higher. He has been murder in dimes, steals, and basically everything except blocks. A high mid draft pick would be fair to aim for, if I were you.
Jeremy Lin PG, SG
I hate his stoopid hair. It bothers me more than I care to admit. Really whack wig piece, son! But Lin has been solid to very good while Batum has been injured, and the selling point, like his hair, has come to an apex.
That’s all I got for this week, kids. So until next time, may all your shots be nothing but net!
