Kobe Bryant Ruled Out for 2013-2014 Season - How to Replace Him?

The injury-struck all-star will not be returning to court action the rest of the season.  Dealing with lingering problems and discomfort from his fractured knee, Kobe and the Lakers' staff have decided to call it quits for this season and rest him up for next year, when the struggling Lakers actually might make playoffs.  This may not come as much of a surprise to some, especially at this point in the season, but if you drafted him in your first or second round, you're at least disappointed.

I, for one, thought he'd be back on the court right about now.  I traded for him, buying him pretty cheap in a four-player deal, so I'm not distraught, but it would've been nice to see him produce for my fantasy team at least a few times.

So Kobe's out.  How do you replace a guy like that?
Easy: Anyone playing right now can replace Kobe.

Jokes aside, let's take a look at a few of the top prospects you should consider adding in Bryant's place.

1. Alec Burks, Utah PG (owned in 72% of leagues) - I'm not a huge fan of Burks's fantasy potential, mainly because he's so one-dimensional.  However, if you're in a category league and were hoping for points from Bryant, Burks might be a solid replacement.  He's been posting 12-23 points over his last 15 games, usually around the 18-19 side, but aside from that, his rebounds, assists, and three pointers made aren't remarkable.  However, given the opportunity, Burks could be a fairly consistent 19-5-5 guy.

2. Amar'e Stoudemire, New York PF/C (owned in 60% of leagues) - I've been a Stoudemire supporter since his Suns days, but I'll be the first to say he's been extremely under-productive this year and every year since he landed on the Knicks.  However, over the past six games, Stoudemire has averaged about 18 PPG and 7 RPG.  He's on the up-and-up, recovering from his injuries well, and I feel pretty confident he could get back up to a 20 PPG, 8 RPG stat-line by the end of the season.

3. Khris Middleton, Milwaukee SF (owned in 52% of leagues) - I wasn't a believer that Middleton would stay this hot at the beginning of his streak, but props to the 52% of people that picked him up.  Middleton has been a consistent source of points and threes, but lately he's stepped up his rebounds, assists, and steals.  He might be the best option for you on a failing Bucks team.

4. Maurice Harkless, Orlando SF (owned in 41% of leagues)

Mo Harkless has increased his play lately, scoring in double digits each of his last seven games, knocking down about two threes per game and stealing the ball well, but most importantly, he's averaged about 37 MPG over that stretch.  When Harkless gets enough minutes, he's always a good option to produce a solid game statistically.  Look to Harkless if you need points, threes, and steals.

5. Miles Plumlee, Phoenix C (owned in 29% of leagues) - Many owners dropped Plumlee recently due to his time out with injuries.  He's the kind of player that you can't hold onto when he gets injured because he doesn't produce enough, but he's also the player you can't drop because he produces well enough.  He's one of those guys that's solid and consistent, but never explosive.  Plumlee is good for 14 and 10 on a given night, especially with facilitators like Goran Dragic and Ish Smith attacking and dishing.  He's probably available, and worth a pick-up in any league.

6. Wesley Johnson, Los Angeles Lakers SF (owned in 22% of leagues) - Johnson has proven that he can produce in every category every night.  In any league, category or points, Johnson is worth a pick-up, as he's shown to be probably the most consistent Laker from a fantasy standpoint.

7. P.J. Tucker, Phoenix SF (owned in 23% of leagues)

Tucker has been a pleasant surprise this season, as have the whole Suns team.  He has been playing great lately, scoring, rebounding, and assisting well.  He produces well in almost every category, and especially in rebounds and points for a small forward.

8. Ryan Kelly, Los Angeles Lakers PF (owned in 3% of leagues)

This is the guy I will be replacing Kobe Bryant with (mainly because Harkless isn't available).  I see potential in the first-year forward, and in his last two games, he's averaged 18 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 assists.  His only problem is that he can be inconsistent, but I think he'll get a good run down the stretch.

So there you have it, a group of eight solid players with potential that you can pick up to fill the void left by Kobe Bryant.  For many of you, playoffs begin next week, so best of luck to you all and I hope that you can grab someone that helps out your team!

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.

Week 16 Free Agent Finds

Well I can't say I didn't tell you so.  If you missed out on picking up Randy Foye, there's not a lot of hope left, seeing as he is owned in over 94% of fantasy basketball leagues now.  No Nate Robinson, no Andre Miller, and now Ty Lawson has a cracked rib?  I bet you're just kicking yourself.

Well all that aside, let's take a look at your best prospects for waiver wire pickups here in Week 16.

1. DeMarre Carroll, Hawks SF - Carroll is really having quite a coming out party this year on a pretty banged up Hawks team.  This past month, he's averaging 15.3 points, 5.6 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 2.1 treys and 1.7 steals.  In my opinion, he's the second best player to own on the Hawks, from a fantasy perspective, right behind Paul Millsap.  Scoop him up if he's available in your league.

2. Steve Nash/Steve Blake, Lakers PG - In shallow leagues, maybe these guys won't be extremely relevant, but in deeper leagues, both of these guys will have fantasy value.  Upon return from injuries, Nash will start at the point guard and Blake will start at the 2-guard.  Both players will have ample opportunities to drop some dimes and hit a few threes.  Jordan Farmar probably won' t have much fantasy relevance.

3. Danny Green, Spurs SG - I'm not a Spurs fan, especially from a fantasy perspective, mainly due to the way Popovich uses his players.  On any given day, Green or Belinelli's minutes could range from 15-35, depending on how they're playing, but you can't overlook the fact that San Antonio is hurting for health, with Kawhi Leonard and Manu Ginobli both missing a significant amount of time.  Upon Leonard's return in a few weeks, Green will be irrelevant, but he's worth a short add if you need a boost this week.

4. Raymond Felton, Knicks PG - It's hard to imagine that Felton's slump will continue for much longer.  He's never been a top-tier point guard,  but over the past month, he's averaging about 10 points and 6 assists.  Not great numbers, and obviously any point guard on a team with Carmelo Anthony can't expect much more production, but Felton's a guy to keep an eye on if you need a short-term add.

5. Wesley Johnson, Lakers SF - Johnson is a story, no doubt, but when you look at him, just statistically, there's no reason you don't want him on your team.  ESPN analysts have bragged about "1+1+1" players all year long, meaning players that get at least 1 block, 1 steal, and 1 three pointer a game, and Johnson is one of the few players in the league doing that.  But more importantly, since the Lakers have found health at the point guard position, Johnson is averaging almost 15 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 blocks a game.  The pressure will be taken off of Johnson, but he'll still be the only player on the Lakers clocking 40 minutes a night.

6. Jordan Hill, Lakers PF/C - Jordan Hill is also worthy of a pick up, at least in the short term.  Gasol will be out at least until after the All-Star Break, so Hill will be a smart add for at least this week of play.  Coming off the bench behind Robert Sacre (probably not for much longer), Jordan Hill has logged 29 points and 15 rebounds over the last two games, and he's worth keeping an eye on.

7. Ryan Kelly, Lakers SF/PF - Now Hill is a great short term add, but if you're looking to the future, pick up Ryan Kelly.  He's impressed coach D'Antoni with his three-point shot, giving himself a spot in the starting lineup.  Over the past month, D'Antoni has given Kelly almost 28 minutes a game, and he's only recently begun starting.  The Lakers don't need a player like Hill in the starting lineup while Gasol is healthy.  The starting line will be Nash, Blake, Johnson, Kelly, and Gasol.  I don't really like any of the Lakers due to their inconsistency this season, but it's hard to think players like Kelly won't benefit from a player like Nash spreading the ball around.

Players who have lost or are losing fantasy relevance very quickly:
If you haven't already traded or dropped these players, try to work out a trade quickly before they lose relevance altogether.

1. Darren Collison, Clippers PG - Needless to say, with the return of Chris Paul, Collison will no longer bring much to any fantasy team unless there are any setbacks with Paul, which is unlikely.

2. Jamaal Crawford, Clippers SG - A lot of Crawford's production over the past few months has been opportunities due to him running the show, and now with the return of Paul, back-up point guard duties are now on Collison.  Crawford will only really help you in deeper leagues, but he's definitely a better option than some.

3. J.J. Redick, Clippers SG - The return of Paul will definitely impact many players, and some may think that Redick's production will return to how it was early in the season with Paul back.  However, I don't really think so.  Redick's got a sweet shot, but I can't see him producing much more than a couple threes a game and maybe a few assists.


How much of a risk are you willing to take?

It might be time to consider trading for Kobe Bryant.  Right about now, picking up Kobe is a gamble to say the very least.  However, he's the kind of player that, if he comes back, he will be great.  If he comes back.  Here's my opinion.  Kobe isn't going to be playing for much longer.  He already announced he would play two more years and retire.  Now there's no telling how this season will affect that, but I guarantee he won't cut his career short.  He's Kobe.  Kobe wants to play, and Kobe wants to win.  There might never have been another player with as much will to win as Kobe.  The Lakers are officially 12 games out of playoffs.  12 games behind the 8 seed.  It's unlikely the Lakers will make the playoffs, as this year the West has taken more shape than previous years.  Needless to say, though, if there's a chance, Kobe will take advantage of it.  I expect Kobe to start playing late February, early March at the latest, and while some people think he might rest, taking days off isn't Kobe Bryant.  I'm not a fan, but I'm just stating the facts.  If you can buy him low right now (and a lot of owners are probably worried about not making playoffs), then go for it.  He's a high risk-high reward player.

Best of luck in Week 16!