I thought I’d send out a reminder for those of you in keeper leagues. This probably applies more to roto players than head-to-headers, since those in roto leagues aren’t scraping and clawing for every last game they can get with their limited moves. I’m talking about stashing some of next year’s potential breakouts. Yeah, just about everyone worth taking next year is on a roster already… just about. In my keeper league, I once grabbed this Draymond Green character in the last few weeks of the season, since he’d been on a hot streak. He ended up finishing as a top-30 player the following season. Nearly the exact same story for C.J. McCollum the next year. And if I’d have been on my game at the end of last season, I’d have grabbed Cedi Osman, preventing me from having to waste an early draft pick on him this season (we keep a lot of players). There’s a ton of unknown between now and next October’s fantasy drafts (gloriously entertaining unknown, by the way), but we can make some educated guesses at this point. Do you have some players you know you’re not keeping next season that also aren’t making a difference on your team? Replace ’em with lottery tickets, and maybe one or two will pay off. They could at least give you some extra trade value.Some keeper and dynasty leagues don’t have a trade deadline, so I’ll be including some players here that might be near-universally owned in addition to those who have a good shot at being free agents in your league. Speaking of free agents, that’s how we’re going to unearth some of our targets. The other aspect I’ll look at are rookies and second-year players that could be in line for a bump in playing time and usage. And there will be some nice overlap in who we find from each strategy, I’m sure.
Please, blog, may I have some more?Wendell Carter Jr
Fantasy Basketball: Look Ahead – Trade Deadline Edition
January 25, 2019 | 2018 Fantasy Basketball, Look Ahead | 10 Commentsby: Hampton Kid
Look ahead—Trade Deadline Edition
Now we are just past the halfway mark of the season and into the annual fun that masquerades as the trade deadline.
Teams are either hoping to find the one additional piece to move them into championship contention, ensure that playoff slot which has eluded the home fans for several seasons, or offload some contracts to save a few bucks and better the future.
The interesting thing is figuring out who the sellers and buyers are. More intriguing for us fantasy hoop heads is how it affects/changes/improves/negates the numbers of current players and what kind of new opportunities can now be found for players in new situations.
We will take a look at the Eastern Conference first – identify some trade targets and discuss what that might mean. Then we will do the same with the West.
Please, blog, may I have some more?
Fantasy Basketball: Beyond the Glory – The Ante Thompson
January 22, 2019 | 2018 Fantasy Basketball, Beyond the Glory | 2 Commentsby: Mel
We’ve been through this before. Injury leads to opportunity, and with opportunity comes great fantasy value. Tristan Thompson is dealing with a foot injury, but something tells me that’s merely a cover. If you google Thompson’s name, the only thing you’ll find is that he is reportedly going hard trying to win Khloe Kardashian back. I don’t like to waste my time with that crap, but the fact that I had to type in “Tristan Thompson injury” to get an update I care about is amazing to me. A player could become so entrenched in the Kardashian hoopla that the only thing that makes you relevant is your connection to that family. His athletic abilities are nothing compared to his desire to be the next Lamar Odom. Explain that to me. Now I am sure there are people who care deeply for the ongoing saga of the Kardashian family, but I for one simply don’t. It just proves my point even more that the next man up is a real thing. Thompson is hurt and chasing his celebrity pipe-dream and no one cares that he’s not on the floor because the Cavs suck and Ante Zizic is a man among boys. At least for now…
Please, blog, may I have some more?
Fantasy Basketball: Lukamania
January 12, 2019 | 2018 Fantasy Basketball, Fantasy Basketball Daily Notes | 4 Commentsby: Kevin
Once a decade or so, a rookie comes into the league and, not only is it extremely obvious that they are special, they immediately hit the floor running. Not since LeBron has a rookie demonstrated All-Star level production, keeping up with and often times dominating seasoned pros in the best basketball league in the world. Luka Doncic provides matchup issues for opposing teams and is such a dynamic offensive force for the Mavs, making every teammate better. While making serious waves in the NBA, in fantasy he still has plenty of areas he can improve. Currently, he’s been hovering around the top 80 in standard category leagues. The main culprits of keeping his fantasy value anchored are his percentages and turnovers. He also has room to grow in the steals department. For now, he’s an exciting, yet flawed player to roster on your fantasy squad, but he’s already one of the most fun players in real life and fantasy.
Luka Doncic
| FG | FT | 3PT | Points | Reb | Assists | Steals | Blocks | TO |
| 10/23 | 7/10 | 2/9 | 29 | 8 | 12 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
Luka was 2 boards short of messing around and was just a savage in this one. He scored at all 3 levels and was the obvious leader of the Mavs. When the percentages start to creep up, look out, because the sky’s the limit for Doncic.
Please, blog, may I have some more?
Fantasy Basketball: Who’s the Most Famous Collins?
January 10, 2019 | 2018 Fantasy Basketball, Fantasy Basketball Daily Notes | 16 Commentsby: Son
Off the top of my head, Phil and Joan are the most famous people with the last name Collins. Well deserved and they sit on the thrones in the pantheon of Collins’s. Is that right? Or would it be Colline? Whatever, English is my second language. Ebonics was my first. Perusing the list of Collins’s or Colline got me thinking that people that pursue fame are dumb because 99% of the time that you think you’re famous, no one gives a shit or remembers. I guess that’s something someone who’s not famous writes. Anyways, John Collins has been making a case to be on the list.
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 30 | 14 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1/2 | 12/21 | 5/6 |
Collins has played 25 games, yet is 22nd in the NBA with 16 dub-dubs. For persepective, Joel Embiid leads the league with 36 in 40 games. Over the last eight games, he’s been a top 50 player, averaging 31.7 minutes, 19.3 points, 1.3 threeecolas, 11.8 boards, 2.3 dimes, with 57% shooting from the field and 75% on 4 attempts from the free throw line. The only thing he doesn’t contribute are the D stats. The Hawks play at the fastest pace in the league, so the environment is ripe for Collins to thrive. Unfortunately, the lack of D stats will keep him from challenging Phil or Joan for the throne, but that’s okay. At least he’s in the conversation.
Here’s what else I saw last night:
Please, blog, may I have some more?
It still blows my mind that a bunch of 0’s and 1’s, when typed into a computer in sequences, can allow us to write blurbs, watch porn, uh, I mean stream documentaries on global warming, and berate each other on Twitter. I’m still amazed that we can fly. When I talk on a phone, it astonishes me that voices are transmitted via wires or invisible signals in the air to anywhere in the world. But, none of that compares to what Anthony Davis does on the basketball court, especially last night:
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 34 | 26 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 2/6 | 12/25 | 8/10 |
Who does that? This is A. D.’s seventh year in the league and he is moon walking, earth slithering, asteroid stomping, and universe hopping over all the competition. He has no weaknesses and is the perfect fantasy asset. There’s a reason why he was selected #1. There’s a reason he’s been the #1 player over the last week, the last month, the last two months…..for the whole freaking season. Now, we all know about the injury risk, but there’s also his playoff schedule, as he only plays 9 games (3 games each playoff week). Do you sell him, do you buy him? It’s a perplexing situation, but not as much as trying to make sense of the fantasy lines A. D. produces on a nightly basis.
Here’s what else I saw last night:
Please, blog, may I have some more? Fantasy Basketball: Is AD a Real Life Monstar?
December 29, 2018 | 2018 Fantasy Basketball, Fantasy Basketball Daily Notes | 6 Commentsby: Kevin
Does it sometimes seem like what AD does on the basketball court is kind of unfair? He simultaneously makes everything look way too easy, while also looking like he hasn’t reached his potential. Those eyebrows only add to his mystique as some otherworldly basketball entity. I’m not saying he’s secretly a real life Monstar, but if that was revealed to be true, I would only be like 90% shocked. He’s the clear cut #1 option in fantasy basketball this year and it’s not even close. If you drafted him #1 this year, enjoy your chip.
Anthony Davis
| FG | FT | 3PT | Points | Reb | Assists | Steals | Blocks | TO |
| 20/32 | 8/11 | 0/2 | 48 | 17 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
AD has been on a crazy tear this season, and especially so in December. This game is just additional icing on the cake and shows his insane ability to produce in every cat. The only nitpick is the lack of 3’s, but hitting a go-ahead basket, in addition to nearly 50 points more than makes up for that.
Please, blog, may I have some more?
Fantasy Basketball: Buy/Sell – The Brooks Mix-Up
December 19, 2018 | 2018 Fantasy Basketball, Fantasy Basketball Buy/Sell | 2 Commentsby: Kostas
We know the NBA is a serious business, but even it is not immune to the occasional mix up. Such an occurrence happened last week, sparked by a three-team trade centered around Trevor Ariza. Per reports, part of the deal that Memphis agreed was to send MarShon Brooks to the Phoenix Suns, but Phoenix thought they were getting Dillon Brooks. I guess that’s what happens when you have two players with the same surname on the same team and you are trading with a team whose coach also has the same surname. And with that, the deal was off, only to happen two days later without the involvement of Memphis. Now that I think about it more, maybe the Wizards’ master plan was to trade their head coach, but Memphis found out before it was too late. Imagine a team with all three members of the Holiday family: Jrue, Justin, and Aaron. How about a team with all four members of the Antetokounmpo family: Giannis, Thanasis, Alex, and Kostas? I would pay just to hear trade discussions involving players from those two families.
Taking a look at last week’s suggestions, Wendell Carter Jr. has hit the well-documented “rookie-wall,” but I still think he is an excellent Buy option, as he is too good to struggle for much longer. Nicolas Batum had a breakthrough performance vs the Knicks and I think he can improve more as we approach the second half of the season, while De’Anthony Melton maintained his minutes and production even with Devin Booker back. Finally, Trey Lyles has been underwhelming with his increased opportunity, but has the ability to get hot in a hurry, in contrast to Rodney McGruder, for whom I maintain the opinion that he should be off standard league rosters.
Please, blog, may I have some more? Fantasy Basketball: James Hit ‘Em Harden Fast
December 14, 2018 | 2018 Fantasy Basketball, Fantasy Basketball Daily Notes | 20 Commentsby: Son
The other night, I told my kids to pick out a book to read before bedtime. My oldest son…yes, he is the son of Son, as is I….Anyways, he grabbed the Tortoise and the Hare off the shelf. I am so conflicted when I read this book to my kids. On one side, the story […]
Please, blog, may I have some more?I have to start this article by saying that I’m a big fan of Stephen Curry, but simultaneously I’m a bigger fan of science. And those two seemed to have a conflict recently with Curry suggesting that the moon landing didn’t happen during a recent podcast. NASA’s response was immediate.
This is the second occurrence of an NBA player making such a comment after Kyrie Irving’s infamous flat earth theory. My humble personal opinion is that these guys are role models for millions of children worldwide and as role models, they ought to have a more well-informed opinion on scientific matters. Their opinions may shape the views of millions that look up to them, so their statements carry a significant weight. I would love to hear your opinion on that matter in the comments. I’m interested to see your point of view. OK, Rant over, let’s review last week’s calls and move on to this week’s suggestions!
Tim Frazier is doing exactly what is expected from him, with elite assists and contributions in steals and triples, and I really like him as long as Elfrid Payton is sidelined. Kevin Huerter has seen his minutes increase and is becoming a deep-league asset, while Marvin Williams returned quicker than expected and somewhat capped Miles Bridges’ upside. Finally, Kevon Looney and Jordan Bell will have low end value until DeMarcus Cousins returns.
Please, blog, may I have some more?