I’ll admit it – I have very little to say of importance about the trade in relation to fantasy basketball, but the Cavs did get better, if Iman Shumpert can get (and stay!) healthy, he may have deep league defensive potential. Think a poor, poor man’s K.J. McDaniels. Poor. Maybe I’m reaching here to find some fantasy relevance, but to be clear, this is a “take stock of the flat top”, not “drop flop for flat top”, as he isn’t guaranteed the starting job when he comes back. I know JB already wrote something similar, but Dion Waiters is gonna have to show me he can get touches before I even speculate on him, as he’s clearly going to be coming off the bench. Really, unless you’re a fan of the 3 teams involved, it wasn’t really all that spectacular for any one team. So the Cavs won the trade, as they only gave up a 2019 second rounder, and nothing much else, (got J.R. Smith as a replacement for Waiters, so that was a lateral move) and got a potential defensive upgrade for the starting 5. We should all take the cue from the General Managers in our beloved NBA, and look at our fantasy squads and see who could be had, and who should be shipped out. If you’re considering making a move, have a gander at these fine fellows:
BUY:
It’s pronounced with an “usuf”. Just for your information. I don’t want you making a fool of yourself at cocktail parties, that would be awkward. Because he’s the sexiest Slavs since Zsa Zsa Gabor! Homeboy has gone 12.8/8.5/1/1.5/3.5 over his last 4 games, with a decent FG% around .500, and FT% of around 71%. And currently, he’s only owned a paltry 22%! Nasdarovje!
Ok. If you’ve ever ready my earlier stuff (and I can’t think of any compelling reason to urge you to do so), you will know that I have a big no-no on BroLo policy. Not because he isn’t talented, but because his injury issues are a constant worry. But we buy low, sell high here, right? And Lopez has temporarily regained the starting gig, and is playing well indeed: 20.8/8.3/0/.5/2.5 in his last 4. Some might say that the buy low window is closing or already shut, but I say pitch a mid-round talent as an offer and see what happens, his fantasy GM might be sick of the roller coaster. I will say it is a bizarre turn of events to have Robin Lopez out with injury, and a healthy brother Brook. Did I make a case here? I think I did, but even I can’t tell anymore…
Quincy Acy SF, PF
There has to be some dudes sliding up the line when the Knicks have Carmelo Anthony out, Samuel Dalembert released, and the other 2 dudes traded away, and the guy with the illest name won the minutes, and posted career numbers shooting 19/14/1/1/0 with 2 treys and and .875% shooting percentage. I loved his hustle since he was with the Raptors, I love how he didn’t take any guff from Stephen Curry, (who was clowning the Knicks that day), he’s only 4% owned, and his beard is glorious. I should mention that Tim Hardaway Jr. is also the beneficiary of newfound minutes, but his percentages have been the opposite of dope. He’s a say-no-to-drugs commercial, he’s so anti-dope. So do with that what you will.
Isaiah Thomas PG, SG
Yahoo has stated that Thomas is in a bit of a slump, but his last 2 games have been very good, with the little guy going 15/3/4/2.5/0, with 2.5 treys. The thing is, he went 5.5/2/2/.5/.5 the 2 games before that, so you may still be able to bring his price down a bit, with that much inconsistency in his last 4 games.
Cody Zeller PF, C
16/7/1/.5/.5. Not too shabby! It’s what this gangly cat has put together over the last 2 games, along with lethal percentages. Since big Al Jefferson is out for about a month or longer, the other Zeller brother has a shot at decent minutes, with only Bismack Biyombo and Jason Maxiell pushing him, he is the most talented of the 3, and Zeller should be available on the wire, as he’s only 10% owned. This isn’t game changing news, but like Zaidy used to say: You could do voyrse?
SELL:
Jeff Teague PG
It must be tearing JB and Slim up inside, they did not see Teague doing this well this year, and I have always liked him, (as well as Mike Conley, who is also killing it, and they also didn’t crush on). Gloating aside, Teague has just been named eastern conference player of the week, and has been absolutely dominant, going 22.7/4/8.5/4/0, with 1.5 threes per, and shooting over .52% in his last 4 games. Which is why, if you can spare a guard, you trade him at his highest value. I would think you could get a top 25-30 value for the potential all-star.
Josh Smith SF, PF
Josh started out on a straight warpath once he landed in Houston, and many fantasy GMs felt clever for having rode it out with Smoove. Then the inevitable came, and he bottomed out, and those same GMs felt the shame, knowing that he ain’t that Smoove no ‘mo. In the stock market world, when a stock is plummeting, there is often what’s called a dead cat bounce. It’s when a doomed stock gets some interest, which then triggers a temporary rise in value, only to drop again, like a cat falling from great height would bounce when… you know. Jsmoove just had a fantasy equivalent of that, going a very sexy 21/6/2/3/0, shooting .500%, and dropping a trey. Sell him for whatever you can get, he’s a dead cat, son! Don’t try to fool yourself, he is not on the rise again.
Ok, race fans, that’s all there is for today. May all your shots be nothing but net!
