Injured Players - Keep or Drop?

In this post, I'm going to discuss in-depth which injured players are worth holding onto and which injured players are not worth holding onto.  So here we are in Week 16, which runs two weeks long, and chances are you've got at least one player on your roster who you've considered dropping or trading because they've been out injured for a few weeks already and won't return until "after the All-Star break," as they always say.  So here's my opinion on each of those players, and why.

Players to keep:

1. Russell Westbrook - This guy's a no-brainer.  He is a constant threat to produce in every single category on any night, posting season averages around 21 pts, 6 rbs, 7 ast, 2 stl per game.  He posted a triple-double the game before he had surgery, and he'll come back just as strong.  Hold onto him.
2. Kobe Bryant - Ah, the most debatable player in fantasy basketball this year.  Should you keep him?  Should you drop him?  Trade him?  Anyone will give you a different answer, but I say keep him, and here's why.  Kobe wants to play.  If Kobe wants to play, then if he can, he will.  There's no reason he won't be back before the end of the season, and although the Lakers might not make playoffs, he'll be back for fantasy playoffs.  Now don't you want an elite scorer with passing and rebounding abilities on your roster?  I do.
3. Kawhi Leonard - He may be one of the guys you're more inclined to drop because he's just an average player on the rotational Spurs team.  Leonard is a must keep.  As the season winds down, especially during fantasy playoffs, Popovich begins resting his stars.  He will mainly rest Parker, Ginobli, and Duncan, and Leonard and Splitter will man the workload of the team.  The starting five for games down the stretch will probably look like Patty Mills, Marco Belinelli, Kawhi Leonard, Boris Diaw, and Tiago Splitter.  Leonard is the biggest asset because now, he has an increased role on the team and as a young player, he will probably play around 40 minutes a game toward the end of the season.
4. Ty Lawson - Absolutely.  Lawson is averaging almost 9 assists per game this season to accompany is 18 PPG.  He's a top-30 fantasy player, and despite his cracked rib, there's no other natural point guard on the Nuggets.  Randy Foye has been shouldering the workload, and now Quincy Miller will be doing some of the work.  Either way, the Nuggets are only 5 games out of playoffs and will be playing hard down the stretch to reach that 8-spot.
5. Eric Bledsoe - Bledsoe had been having a great season before his injury, and there's no reason he won't continue his success upon his return.  The All-Star break is already here, and he will probably be returning late February/early March.  If your roster can stand holding onto him, he's a great add if he's not owned in your league.

Players to release:

1. Anderson Verejao - Now this guy's debatable, and if you could make work out a trade with somebody that you get a pretty good deal on, I say take it.  Verejao is a prolific rebounder, but on a declining Cavs team, they won't rush Verejao back into action if he isn't 100%.  Verejao has a history of injuries, so if you can deal him away somehow, do it.
2. Larry Sanders - Sanders has just been diagnosed with a fracture to his orbital bone (eye), putting him out indefinitely.  Sanders has been dealing with all sorts of various injuries this season, and this just adds to the list.  Now you probably can't trade him before a timetable for his return is released, but it's worth a shot.  None of his previous injuries have crept back up, but as an injury risk, I think he provides for risk than he does reward.  Look for Zaza Pachulia or John Henson to command the most minutes in Sanders's absence.
3. Ersan Ilyasova - Ilyasova has been playing decent basketball lately, but even then, he brings below average scoring and below average rebounding from the power forward slot.  He's been shooting the ball better, but he has been having lingering back issues.  It's never good to hold onto players with lingering issues.  You never know when one game he'll suddenly be ruled out because his back issues flair up.  In most leagues, Ilyasova might not even be worth a trade, but definitely keep an eye on him.  Khris Middleton might be a nice pick-up in the meanwhile.
4. Dwyane Wade - Whatever you have to do to trade this guy, do it.  Wade has been having a injury season, to say the least, playing in just about half of the games.  He has potential if healthy, and he's too valuable to drop, but try and work a trade out where you'd be getting something more consistent.
5. Nick Young - He's a scorer at best, and very little besides that.  He will bring very little to your fantasy team and underproduces from the shooting guard position.  He's injured, and his return will most likely coincide with Kobe Bryant's.  Young is worth a drop; it's hard to justify holding onto him.

If you had any more questions about players I didn't mention, feel free to contact me and I'd be glad to give you my advice.

Jeremy Lin, Tyreke Evans Among Top Pick-Ups

In light of recent events in the basketball world, I'd like to dedicate a short post to a few players I think are must-adds if you can grab them.  I'll cut to the chase.

Jeremy Lin

I'm a Rockets fan, and I wasn't a believer in Jeremy Lin.  I didn't think he was worth his contract, to say the least.  I didn't think he could be the point guard they needed to become a championship team, and maybe I still don't.  Either way, though, if there was any one player I could add right now, it's Lin.  He's showed his sparks of brilliance and his diversity.  He hit nine three-points in a single game, he's changed his shot a bit, can still pass the ball, and has proved to be a pretty efficient point guard.  He's averaging 14.3 points, 4.2 assists, 2.4 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game this season, and he's come off the bench in over half of the games.  The reason he is officially a must-have is because of injuries.  Patrick Beverley, the current starting point guard for the Rockets, has just been ruled out for the next 4-6 weeks, and Harden has a high-ankle sprain, which could prove to be a lingering injury.  To top it all off, Parsons is having lingering back spasms.  Not that Lin could replace Harden and Parsons, but long story short, Houston will need offense and production, and Howard won't get all the attention.  Lin, too, is coming off an injury, so be weary, but I picked him up, and I recommend it.  I actually think this might be the break he needs to get Houston's starting point guard gig back.

Tyreke Evans

Tyreke Evans.  A 6'6" point guard that produces in every category?  Yes, please.  Many fantasy owners were displeased with their drafting of Tyreke at the beginning of the year due to his lack of production.  Obviously, it's not easy sharing a point guard slot with Jrue Holiday.  Now Evans has been getting his share of the point guard position, but he's getting some shooting guard playing time, too.  Whatever it takes for this guy to be on the court is fine with me.  He's averaging 12 points, 4.7 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 1.3 assists per game this season.  His points are slightly lower than last year; the guy's only getting 24.8 minutes per game this season.  It's a crime.  He's actually producing better this year than he did last year in 6 less minutes per game.  Following a triple-double against the now 20-9 Clippers (11 pts, 13 rbs, 10 ast), Evans posted another strong stat line against the now 23-5 Trailblazers, putting up 21 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists and 2 steals.  He's a good pick up under any circumstances, but if anything at all happens to Jrue Holiday, Evans is in for far more than just a 24 MPG role.  Grab him while you can.

Larry Sanders

I won't go in too much depth about him.  First things first, to clear the air, his injury was to his thumb.  His legs, shoulders, knees, they're all fine.  It was a thumb injury.  I've already talked about him a bit, but I can't get over the fact that nobody is talking about this guy.  2nd in blocks per game and 12th in rebounds per game last season, Sanders averaged 9.8 points, 9.5 rebounds, and 2.8 blocks per game in only 27 minutes per game last year.  One more advantage is that his free throw percentage is above that of Dwight Howard or DeAndre Jordan, so that's not going to kill you if your league also is based on efficiency.  He's cleared for basketball activities and already working out at the Bucks' facility.  Like I said, his injury was to his thumb, so expect him to produce just as well if not better this year on a struggling Milwaukee team.  

Giannis Antetokounmpo

I'm not going to say I'm an expert on the guy or even that I know much about him.  That being said, if you're willing to take a gamble, as the Milwaukee Bucks are, take a chance and pick him up.  Worst case scenario, he's unproductive and you drop him three games later.  Best case scenario, he immediately becomes a double-double monster.  I'm thinking somewhere in between.  He's the youngest player in the NBA.  He's over 6'10", has a 7'3" wingspan, and he plays on the wing.  We're looking at a guy who could be comparable to Kevin Durant one day.  He's got the body type of Durant, athleticism, a decent-looking and work-in-progress jumpshot, can hit the three, chases down defenders... I mean he's destined for something one day.  I'm just not sure when.  It could be in his rookie year or in 2016, but if you want to take a chance, pick him up if you can.

Other Pick-Ups

Nick Young, Wesley Johnson, Danny Granger, Nene, and Greivis Vasquez

Best of luck in Week 9 and happy holidays!