We’re in week 13, people. Where does the time go? Seems like a mere 3 months ago that the season started. Ahh, memories… Say, do you guys like going to see the ponies? Not my-little-pony, brah, I’m talking the track, where they race the horses. For money. You get to see dirty, desperate people throw their last few shekels on an equine dream, which mostly ends sadly, but sometimes, just sometimes, you get to see a moment of pure excitement, approaching ecstasy, when a long-shot filly comes in, and someone wins big. It’s glorious to see a seemingly sad little man so happy for once. I want you to be that sad little man, gentle reader, it too would be glorious. So lets take a stroll down to the stables, and take a look at the stallions, and see whom we should hitch our cart to, and who’s destined for the glue factory, shall we?
BUY:
Elfrid Payton PG
If I were to give a hoaky horse racing name to Peyton, I would name him 10-more-minutes, as the increase in his playing time has been a boon in his production. Feel free to use that one. Elfrid has been playing very well as of late. In the last 4 games, he has averaged 36 minutes, going 16.5/4.5/7.8/2.3/.25, shooting over 50%. It seems like Victor Oladipo is playing a bunch at the two, and Evan Fournier returning hasn’t affected ol’ 10-more at all. He’s 60% owned, so there’s a chance you can nab this bronco for free, but he’s rolling, so I would consider moving a Patrick Beverley type for him, if I could.
Draymond Green SF, PF
Yo Dan, this isn’t any revelation, Dray has been touted on Razzball all season. You are correct, sir/madam, but Green has been playing poorly in his last 5 games, and we buy low, sell high here at the Razzball corral, and you may get Green at 75 cents on the dollar, figuratively. His current owner may be worried about the return of one David Lee, and Green’s current reduction of minutes, which is bound to be temporary. If I were to give Dray a racing horse name, it would be coming-round-the-mountain, because this cat is, in my humble opinion, not ready to be put out to stud just yet.
Trevor Ariza SG, SF
Ariza has been a wonderful asset in Houston, taking Chandler Parsons‘ role over very smoothly indeed. As a matter of fact, I would wager if it were up to Parson to give Ariza a racing steed name, it would be Cecilia, cause when he came back to bed, Ariza’s taken his place. The reason I’m listing Trevor here is that he has had two dud games in a row, so you can kick the tires on a trade for this fine filly, and maybe get him at a slight discount.
SELL:
Kyle Korver SG, SF
Korver is less of a racing horse, and more of a clydesdale, those big budweiser work-horse types. Homeboy is straight murder from beyond, shooting 53% from beyond the arc for the season, and also has the most 3s made in the league. Jebus. Kyle’s racing name should be hard-hat, because this dude comes ready to work every day. But the Hawks have been so good lately, that they have been resting dudes. Kyle is essential to what the Hawks do, he moves so well off the ball, that if they continue to keep rolling like they are, there will be a lot of resting down the road. As in possible resting in the fantasy playoffs. So, while you hate to give up a tremendous asset like hard-hat, you may want to turn his elite performance into another blue chip piece, and his last 2 games he’s gone 18.5/6/3.5/.5/1, shooting 600%, and making 5 treys per game, can’t sell any higher, that’s top 15 value, son. Lamarcus Aldridge is out for a short while… just sayin’. Do with that what you will.
Nerlens Noel PF, C
Noel has begun to come into his own, finally. He has gone 11.6/8.3/1.6/2.3/2.6 over his last 3 games, which is dope, no doubt. If you have held onto him this long, there are two schools of thought: A) I was forced to endure him riding the pine while he under-performed for the first half of the season, I’m going to enjoy this now that he’s producing B) The cat finally has developed some value, this is time to cash this stock in. I have a bias towards the latter, and here is my train of thought: While Noel has improved, the Sixers aren’t going anywhere, so if he shows the slightest amount of fatigue on his surgically repaired knee, they could well shut him down. He also could regress, he may hit the dreaded “rookie wall”, even though technically he could be considered a sophomore. I could be dead wrong, of course, I’m risk adverse. I guess I would choose Noel’s racing name to be magic-8ball, as his future is murky.
Channing Frye PF, C
Frye has been quietly putting up sweet-ass numbers in Tobias Harris’ absence. He has gone 13.6/6/2.6/1/1.3 with 3.6 treys over the last 3 games. But I’m not sure that this will continue once Harris returns. Frye’s bronco name could be Cubic-Zirconia, because while he’s shining bright at the moment, I believe there’s a good chance he won’t get the touches and minutes he’s being spoon fed right now.
Well, it’s been nice visiting the track with you, but a lot of these people smell like they’ve been rolling in poop, I gotta go. May all your shots be nothing but net!
