I know the NBA is a business and players are professionals but I just can’t wrap my head around the Kevin Love situation in Cleveland. It all started with a panic move after Lebron left the Cavaliers in which they offered Love a four-year, $120 million contract. This has proven a burden for a rebuilding franchise that is unable to trade the oft-injured power forward and has resulted in frustration from both sides.
Just to be clear, this happened in a real game with the score very close. It must be really deflating to see it from his teammates’ point of view and hopefully, they work something out in the offseason to get him out of Cleveland, despite the fact that he still has two more years left in his contract.
Regarding last week’s suggestions, Bruce Brown balled out in the games the Nets were shorthanded and was an excellent streamer but can be safely dropped now that they are getting Kevin Durant back. Moe Harkless was another positive contributor and, unlike Brown, he still has value as his playing time seems relatively safe. The same can’t be said for De’Anthony Melton as his playing time is hovering around 20 minutes per game making him a borderline player to own.
Buy
Oshae Brissett: I know this is a name most of you have never heard before but Brissett has forced us to learn about him with his play. Supposedly just a fill-in player on a 10-day contract, Brissett has taken full advantage of the injuries in Indiana’s frontcourt and is producing elite fantasy value. In the five games he has started he is averaging 15.6/2.6/9.4/1/1/1.8/0.4 on 48%/70.8% shooting. Wow. He is still available in many leagues so go grab him as he can be a clear difference-maker for fantasy playoffs (31% owned).
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope: Out of nowhere, Pope has strung together a nice sequence of fantasy performances and is a top 25 player in his last five games. His shooting touch has returned and he is also locked in on defense, as evidenced by his 1.8 steals per game. It’s fantasy playoffs season so you grab the hot free agents first and ask questions later. As an extra bonus, the Lakers have three games remaining this week (18% owned).
Matisse Thybulle: Thybulle is a borderline option for the season, hovering around top 150 value but his unique stats make him a formidable weapon in the playoffs. He can have a devastating effect on two often forgotten categories, steals and blocks, and is one of the few players that can simultaneously affect both those categories to such effect. The rest of his contributions are close to non-existent but if you are in a tight matchup in those categories, look no further than Matisse (12% owned).
Sell
Terrence Ross: His great start to the season seems like a distant memory and with Orlando going nowhere for another season, there is no reason for him to play heavy minutes, if at all. His minutes were already trending down and with a convenient back injury, it is time to move on from Ross (45% owned).
Let me know in the comments below about all your fantasy playoff-related questions in your quest for fantasy glory this season!
