It has been a rather eventful time around the association as we get closer to the trade deadline with multiple trades already completed and this always spells fantasy opportunity so we will dive into some of them today, despite the fact the dealing should be far from over. Otherwise we can not explain the Bulls collecting guards as if they were infinity stones and the Timberwolves dumping Mike Conley only for salary reasons, so we must stay both patient and vigilant to pounce on the news. That’s why today we will only have Buy suggestions to get you warmed up to stay aggressive on the waiver wire.
Regarding last week’s suggestions, both Bobby Portis and Jonas Valanciunas had productive weeks with the former’s window for contributions being larger than the latter’s, as Nikola Jokic returned from his injury while Giannis did not yet and should miss some more time. On the “Sell” front, Immanuel Quickley predictably came back down to earth with 2 stinkers so his sell high window is not as obvious as it was a week ago.
Buy
Jalen Smith: This is most likely your last chance to add him as he currently sits at 23% ownership and it will only get higher the coming days. Nikola Vucevic is no longer in town to take center minutes and the only other options are playing Patrick Williams out of position and waiting for injured Zack Collins so Smith should get all the minutes he can get. He was already worth a spot in standard leagues during the last month despite playing only 26 minutes so sky is the limit for him and his very fantasy friendly game (23% owned).
Ace Bailey: The Utah Jazz traded for Jaren Jackson Jr in a trade that can be interpreted as anti tanking, however they still owe their 1st rounder if it falls outside the top8. I think the tanking will continue and the Jazz will continue to rest veterans so Bailey is at a prime spot to get as much playing time as he can handle. During the last 2 weeks he has climbed to top75 per game value and although I expect some bumpy performances down the road, I like having young players in tanking teams in preparation of the fantasy playoffs (26% owned).
Ty Jerome: The Memphis seem to move to development mode after the JJJ trade and until I see Ja Morant return to the court, if he survives the trade deadline, Ty Jerome is a must add. He started both of his games after returning from his long term injury and despite having a playing time limit at 20 minutes he produced 19.5 points, 2 triples, 7 assists and a steal. We just can’t leave those kind of stats floating on the waiver wire so he makes a lot of sense as an add until the Ja Morant situation is more clear (31% owned).
GG Jackson – Taylor Hendricks: More of deeper league adds for now as we don’t have yet clarity on the workload they are going to get, but the JJJ trade and the fact that Zach Edey will remain sidelined for a long time have created a huge hole in the center rotation for Memphis. Santi Aldama is the first option to fill it but he is also sidelined with a less serious injury so it will be very interesting to see how many minutes Jackson and Hendricks will get in the first post trade games. For Jackson specifically (11% owned) we have a small sample size of 1 game sans JJJ when he played 28 minutes with good stats, while Taylor Hendricks (3% owned) never got an opportunity after his freak injury last season but his fantasy profile is a very favorable one.
Unfortunately, each of your solid recommendations are rostered. Surprisingly, Jrue hit the WW. Rare for a 70%+ owned guy to be available. I understand Scoot is back but gotta be worth a claim, right?
Jarace also available. Preference? Both?
I would drop Huff, Aaron Wiggins. Thanks.
I don’t think you can leave Jrue on the waiver wire. I would add him. Jarace has 2 straight great games and he should continue to get minutes so I would be tempted to take both, but Jrue is the priority, even if he plays fewer minutes with Scoot back.
As predicted, 2 of my main competitors have used their claims so I am now in #9. Getting Jrue is a longshot but at least the first and third place teams can’t get him. Still hoping burning my claim for Oubre last week pans out! Have a good weekend.
Fingers crossed. You too !!
Watching Ware today makes me shake my head. I know he is a lot and Spo has the cred and wants him to play Heat culture. But man, the dude has raw ability. I have Aaron Wiggins/streamer spot, Davion and Jarace on the squad with a plenty of room now (2nd place bye seems to be in line) to take a risk. I am tempted to see if he and Kuminga can take me to the promised land shoring up the end of my squad which is not good. What say you?’
Disregard. I looked at the wrong standings, wrong league. Don’t get old.
Let’s try this again with the right team. I have a six game lead over the 3rd place team with three weeks to go until our March 9 playoffs start. The better news is that I play the 11th place team who is injury plagued and stopped making pickups. So 6-3 is the worst I should do while 7-2 is within my sights. Here’s my squad, WW and questions with an eye on building a stronger roster for mid-March.
WW: Dray, Moody, Boyles, Keldon, Huff, Filipowski, Cam Thomas, DRob, Tyus, Pippen, Sharpe, Maxime.
Squad
Gobert, Mobley
Jalen Johnson, Miles Brides, Siakam, Bey, Rason,Oubre, Jarace
Maxey, Quickly, Aaron Wiggins
IR Kuminga
1. Wiggins and Jarace are on the squad specifically due to last week’s matchups so no attachment there. Swap them out? If so who do you prefer?
2. The Kuminga pickup was made with eyes wide open. If Mobley gets back after the all star break then I think he may be a decent stash. That being said, the WW has guys who are healthy and may be better. What do you think?
Thanks again the reading my long posts. Son used to say “context is everything” so let’s blame him.
Long posts and context do make the advice given make a lot more sense, so I’m with you on that.
1 Call me a heretic or a Stockholm syndrome sufferer, but I just can’t give up on Filipowski. Even if Utah plays all the veterans, which is bound to happen even less after the ASB, they still bench them at the 4th quarter so I would pick up Filipowski instead of one of the guys you mention. Also if Maxime is Maxime Reynaud, I think you pick him up as well, as the Kings have zero incentive to play Sabonis down the road. I would prefer Cardwell if available for the blocks upside, but Reynaud is also good.
2 After the above 2 pickups, I like waiting for Kuminga to actually play a bit before making a decision. Risacher is perpetually questionable apparently so that opens up a bit more opportunity down the road.
Very helpful. Thank you.
Cardwell was already owned (Kings fan. Ugh). Maxime got scooped up last night. So the revised WW list is now: Filipowski, Clifford, Tre Johnson, Riley Strawther and Jarace.
1. I have two spots to fill. Filipowski at the top of the list for me too with Clifford second given his minutes. Straw good now but unsure of his status come March. We have three Utah guys in our league so Flip will be popular. He is available Thursday so claim status will decide it.
2. Clifford also available Thursday. Assuming I don’t get both Clifford and Flip, who is next man up. Wizards and Pacers are so hard to predict.
Completely agree that Filipowski and Clifford are the top priorities. After those, I would target Tre Johnson who should have a ramp up period after the injury but should get real minutes in March
Great, thanks! Side note: my nemesis (we have each won the league during the past two years and in the “off years”, eliminated one another. He has been picking up and dropping both Kyrie and Tatum on and off for months. He may have struck gold in Tatum.
I am very very skeptical that either of them will be factors in fantasy playoffs. He may get one game of Tatum and hold him for a week of rests.
I sure hope so! I will watch tonight’s results with interest to decide who to claim first: Nique or Flip. So much fun. Have a great day sir.