Sometimes there’s not much you can do to affect your situation. If you’re reading this, digging this deep into the murky ether of the worldwide inter-webs for fantasy basketball advice, I’m sure you’ve had a daydream or two about being an NBA baller. We both know, however, for you and I, it wasn’t about not getting enough shots up after practice that held us out of the Association, we didn’t have the talent, pure and simple. But, if you’re petty like me, you might take some ironic comfort in knowing that even some of the Ballers in the NBA get shafted as well. Take Kyle Lowry, for example. He gets snubbed for the All Star game, then snubbed for the replacement players, THEN gets named Eastern conference player of the week, and then receives the worst call of the year, just to burst his bubble. That is a travesty of injustice, and while I’m not shedding any tears for Kyle inherently, it just goes to show that even the elite get effed with. There is a karmic balance going on, people, stop pretending there isn’t, and start paying it forward, eat your vegetables, and help old ladies across the street.
Wow. I really went off into the wilderness there. Time to re-focus. And here are a few suggestions on how to re-focus your fantasy squad, if some of your current players have had a recent bout of fantasy wilderness time as well…
BUY:
Danny Green SG, SF
Oh Danny boy… When you read that, does your internal voice sing the old Irish ballad, or do you hear Everlast spitting rhymes? If you’re a fan of the Spurs, you should be hearing the House of Pain, since this team is full of walking wounded. Tony Parker, Kawhi Leonard, and Manu Ginobili are all out, for the time being. Danny will get burn, and is only owned 59%, so you may not even pay for him. For what it’s worth, in deeper leagues, Patrick Mills might be worth a look in deeper leagues, while Parker is out.
Kawhi Leonard SG, SF
My man is still a few weeks away, so take that into consideration, but because of that, you would most certainly be buying low, if you can stash him. The yahoo player ranking puts Kawhi at 24, so make an offer. A little less likely to have a big discount price tag, due to him only being out short term, but I would also kick Tony Parker’s tires as well.
Jared Sullinger PF, C
He’s played well over the last 3 games, 21.3/12.3/2.6/.6/1.6. shooting a 3 per, and shooting a great percentage. Rajon Rondo is back, and Sully will benefit, and for some strange reason, he’s only 56% owned. Even if you’re gonna trade for him, I think you’d be buying low at this point. I’m not going to write another whole paragraph, but I would assume that Jeff Green will benefit from Rajon as well.
Steve Blake PG, SG
I don’t imagine you’d have to trade for him, but to the two or so readers who may have read earlier articles of mine, I was reluctant to endorse Steve, as Jordan Farmar and Steve Nash are both back, and I thought that his value would suffer. But with Jodie Meeks being injured, Blake stepped up, and is a must own at this point. Don’t expect the triple double that he scorched the Cavs with, but he’s only 38% owned, so chances are you can scoop him up.
Khris Middleton SF, PF
I know, I know. The Bucks are a mess, and Larry Drew has no continuity in deployment whatsoever. All that is true. But Caron Butler is down with an injury, Khris has started the last few, and homeboy has delivered, 16.6/4/2.2/1/0 with 2.8 treys over his last 5. And it’s highly unlikely that he is taken in your league, as he ‘s only owned in 26% of leagues. As a utility guard/forward, you could do worse.
SELL:
D.J. Augustin PG
The party is winding down, it seems, and it’s Kirk Hinrich who just cut the music and turned the lights on. Thibs has relegated D.J. to the bench, and his decrease in production will make him less valuable. Try to sell before it gets ugly.
J.R. Smith SG, SF
Full disclosure, I have an irrational dislike for J.R. He’s got mad talent, and yet he acts like a child, and squanders his opportunities. He got benched for being a unproductive douche, and he essentially asks for a trade. The thing is, he’s on fire right now, straight murder, that’s undeniable. But I think this is a great time to sell high, as history has shown us that J.R. will fall from grace in a most spectacular fashion. Maybe he won’t, but let some other cat in your league worry about it.
Ok folks, daddy’s busy, go play in the living room. May all your shots hit nothing but net.
