I trust everyone has been a good boy or girl this year, and has sent their wish list to Santa already, right? I have it on good authority that jolly old St. Nick is a huge NBA fan, so naturally I suggest you ask for fantasy help. And I have a strategy: bear in mind, if you ask for too much, you get burned for being greedy, and you will get coal bricks under your tree (like Drummond at the free throw line, amirite?? Awful, sorry.). So, that in mind, I’m simply asking for dimes. I need help with assists in my 2 leagues, I took Kyrie in both leagues, and he is not exactly packing that stat line, I have Jameer, and he’s been on and off the court… well, whining to you guys won’t do anything about it. But whining to Santa will. It has to, as there is no quality points on my waiver. And with that let me bend your eyeballs to a few guys that might make excellent stocking stuffers:
Buy:
Jon Leuer PF, C
Long Jon! Christmas came early for this big lug. Leuer has been hot since Ed Davis went down in Memphis, along with Marc Gasol taking the plunge first, thus providing minutes for the kid. In the last 3 games, he has averaged 16/8/.7/1.7/.66, with a 3pt per. And 6% owned, but it should go without saying that he will lose fantasy value when those other cats get back to being healthy, but for now, that is one sexy yule tide log, keep it burning, Jon boy!
I love what this kid has shown, but, sadly, the one thing he is not yet strong with, is dishing. In his last 4 games, he is averaging a trey per, to go with 15/3.8/3/.75/0, and with Thabo Sefolosha down, he gets more minutes in the rotation, and only owned in 1 in 4 leagues. If you need scoring, and a smattering of other stats, he’s not a bad streaming option.
Mike Dunleavy Jr SG, SF
The Bulls. In the stock market world, a bull market is a good one, an indicator that the market is going up, but these days, the Bull market in the NBA is bad. The D is sick, but they can’t score, with Derrick Rose and Luol Deng both on the sidelines with injury. Up steps Jr, and cans a pile of points, essentially being the only dude to produce on the team for the past 5 games. In said 5 games, he has averaged 17.2/6/3.4/1/.6, with 2.8 long balls, and that’s with his 3/4/2/1/0 point stinker against the Heat! And merely 15% owned. It might be cold in Chi-town, but this Hombre esta en Fuego!
Tony Wroten PG
I have recommended this dude before, because he’s only good when Michael Carter-Williams is out. And he is out. MCK, that is. So Wroten is worth an add to stream while the rook is down. Tony has averaged 17.5/6/5.3/.75/.75 in his last 4 with half a 3pt per (1.5 per?), and is 19% owned.
Amar’e Stoudemire PF, C
If you are desperate for Big man stats, Amar’e is playing very well for now. I can’t deny the production, (14.5/7/.5/1.5/1.5 in his last 2 games) but don’t drop anyone of any significance for Stoudemire, I have little faith at all that he can keep it up, and additionally, once Tyson Chandler comes back, he will go back to fantasy irrelevance.
Pablo Prigioni PG
This call is speculative. Putting that out there right now. But Raymond Felton is out, and somebody’s gotta run the point, right? It might fall on the shoulders of J.R. Smith and Beno Udrih, but I’m willing to bet that most of the distributing lands in the Argentine’s lap, and if you’re desperate for dimes like I am, he is only 1% owned right now. Worth a flier to see how he does this week, IMO.
Sell:
Amir Johnson PF, C
I have an outright, for-everyone-to-see mancrush on Amir. He is the Tits. A hustle, energy guy who has a non-stop motor. Except for the first 12 games, when he was nothing like that, and I’m sure more than a few of you out there in fantasy land considered dropping him, or even ditched him outright. But in his last 4 games, he has been deserving of all my love once again. He has 22.2/9/.5/.5/1.75 line in that time. The problem is that the Raps are blowing it up. Does this mean more/better touches for the big man, or less? Greivis Vasquez is a fantastic pick and roll PG, but Kyle Lowry is likely heading out the door sooner than later, so we just don’t know. Amir may himself be heading out of the Great White North at some point. The Magic 8-ball would say “future looks murky” on this one, so now might be a great time to sell high. He might keep this level of production up, or he may flame out again, but you may lack the intestinal fortitude to ride this roller coaster, and you should get a very good return at this point.
Kirk Hinrich PG, SG
This comes as no surprise to his fantasy owners. Captain Kirk is terrible. He can’t score, can barely dish, and is indefensible at this stage of the season. He broke through a stetch of 0 for 22 last night, finally. I would suggest that you try and move him for whatever you can get, or dropping him, failing that. Streaming a PG is a better option than starting this cat right now. I hope he gets it together, but I’m afraid I’m not optimistic, he’s definitely in decline.
Ok kids, it’s getting late, that’s all for today. Remember to get your letters out to Santa ASAP, the fat man will be breaking into your house before you know it!
