Fantasy Basketball

Fantasy basketball: Players to avoid!

Published

3 years ago

October 10, 2021

Joshua

Fantasy basketball: Players to avoid!

Fantasy basketball: Players to avoid! With the basketball season back and teams are getting ready to suit up for contention of not only winning games but hoping for the chances of being apart of the NBA Finals. But, do you know what is also getting ready for battle? Fantasy Basketball, the drafts are opening soon (if not already opened in some leagues) as people are getting ready to create the dream-team to secure the win.

Whether you are competitive, doing this for fun, putting money or friendly wagers; you need to know how to win, and where do we need to start? We need to start at knowing who not to draft in this year’s fantasy draft. But why start with the negatives? There are so many fantastic players like Kawhi Leonard, LeBron James, Lonzo Ball, Devin Booker. However, even with all those great names there are a few that just can’t be drafted… it will kill your team before it even begins.

With so many players we need to decipher between the pros and cons, in today’s post you will be discovering the negatives and then come out with the positives. This way you have a blueprint on what not to do and then use your best judgment through stats, fantasy stats, etc.

So, without further of due. Let us get right into it as the fantasy leagues are beginning, questions are arising, and the good and the bad are coming in full effect.

These are the Fantasy basketball: Players to avoid!

Disclaimer:

If players are dealing with the drama of the vaccine, be careful on who you select. Because some players are dealing with vaccine mandates while other players don’t have vaccine mandates; Andrew Wiggins, before taking the vaccine, would have been a huge risk. However, he took it and now can play in San Francisco. Now, is Jonathan Isaac a bad option because he doesn’t have the vaccine? No, why? Because his state, Florida, is not allowing a vaccine mandate. That means if you object to receiving the vaccine then you won’t have to miss games.

Also, injuries. Injuries are a huge factor, it has been a huge factor since the beginning of NBA Fantasy Basketball Leagues. This is important, you don’t want to waste your first few picks on injured players. Unless the players are making a speedy recovery, have a timetable of a week or so, and/or day-to-day. But, and this the most important *but* of this disclaimer, if they are going to be out for months. It then would not be worth it, how so? The Leagues end in April, so if it is an injury that is taking over a player for months or they are injury-prone, then what is the point? It would be a waste of a pick, we will discuss that further in this post.

Also, this list is of the top three players not to draft. Because these three players will be a pickers-trap, they show empty promises as of today.

Number one, Kyrie Irving

The news with Kyrie, Nets, New York, and the vaccine has been one of the leading stories and one of the leading factors of not drafting him. Irving has been very uncertain from not taking the vaccine, which will require to miss half of the season, to not wanting to leave Brooklyn (meaning he will retire if traded). Uncertainty is killing his draft stock in the Fantasy World and his trade stock in the actual NBA.

Irving, with his uncertainty, should not be a first or second rounder. If drafting your fantasy team today, tomorrow, or sometime during the week it would not be a safe bet to draft him because there is no certainty if he is going to play or not. The vaccine is not something he will be taking anytime soon, plus, the team is not looking for him to be a part-time player.

Could he get the vaccine before the season? Yes, but it is not looking like it currently. My advice to people wanting to wait it out would be to get into a fantasy league a day or two before the league; or if you want to be very precise, the day of the league beginning of the NBA – the NBA begins on October 19th. I would just skip him, as he is not a safe bet – but actually the complete opposite.

His mystery optics is not worth as there are better players than him currently that would be more valued in the long run and would give you more benefits. So, as this is clearly the obvious, do NOT draft this man. This player will cause more pain, unless he gets the vaccine before the NBA begins, then skip him.

Number two, Kevin Love

Don’t get too excited that Kevin Love is still available for the taking if available by the second-round, as he is just a waste of the pick. I have discussed about him on my podcast, CourtSideHeat (the website), and even on our social media. He is injury-prone, just playing 103 games in the past three seasons (crazy), and putting up decent numbers.

It is no secret that we know of the fallout between the Cavaliers and Love, they both hate each other and want to make their lives miserable. Lauri Markkanen is looking like the guy that many are ready to cash in on, what the organization will hope that will become a positive. That will effect his draft stock in the fantasy world, because who knows if he will be healthy, his playing time, his actual role now, or even if he is going to be traded at any point in time. There are too many variables that would make him a risky pick. Evan Mobley, Markkanen are two names that are largely going to consume the dominant role, the big-man role. The center and forward position will be commanded by these two young bucks while the old-washed up man will be looking for any role.

His role will be diminished as the Cavs would like to start the rookie and young-bull over the older guy having a fallout with his high-paying organization. Will he be coming off of the bench? Getting below 20 minutes? Around 30 minutes PPG? Who knows, just who knows. This is a situation that is a sleeper in the real-world but a real concern in the fantasy world. Plus, with his injury history look for him to miss a solid of 20-30 games. That will pretty much ruin your team, even if he is your backup center/power forward.

Overall, just avoid him. Why risk it? He isn’t his old self, he is running out of gas and trying to make something out of nothing. Just avoid him and if he is a free agent, or becoming relevantly good, then try to trade for him or sign him as a backup. However, just avoid him. Love is not worth it, honestly and truthfully. Just avoid him.

Number three, Kawhi Leonard

Leonard is an outstanding player, he is a number one pick. Without question, but will this season be different? If no one remembers, Kawhi Leonard tore his ACL late in the postseason against the Utah Jazz. He has no timeline for when he should be back, however, reports are saying he is having a speedy recovery. Again, is he going to be worth taking a chance on him?

Leagues go until April, but he in inclined to return to practice around March or April. Let’s say that he returns and starts to play in March, Leonard will not put up meaningful stats for your fantasy team. Plus, him playing in a game and posting stats that will positively affect your team is very, if not extremely, rare and slim. If your league allows your team to have two IR spots and you want to take a chance on him, then why not? But even then, I would pass as a torn ACL recovery takes a while and it would be tough to justify spending a highly valued pick on an injured player.

His return is far away, leagues end in April, and it would be incredibly risky to do that. Your pick is much more valuable and I believe it should be spent on a different, more healthy, player. If you take the risk for such a great, but injured, player then just remember you have been warned.

Conclusion:

Kawhi Leonard, Kevin Love, and Kyrie Irving are all three of the guys that you want to avoid at all costs. Uncertainty, injuries, and roles are all leading factors against these three men. Also, I would advise not doing your fantasy leagues today, tomorrow, or even in the next few days. Start your draft on the 17th or 18th, this gives you the best chance to narrowly and accurately know what you are dealing with.

Me personally, I am going to start my draft on the 17th or the 18th. This gives me the best of both worlds, knowing the situation that surrounds uncertainty and different variables, and, of course, having your list of players you want to draft ready in-hand. This gives you max preparation, best strategies, and even the best ways to beat your opponent.

Part two will be talking about the players to draft in your fantasy league, as these two articles will give you the best advantage against your competition.

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Fantasy basketball: Players to avoid!

Fantasy Basketball

Russell Westbrook: A faller or straight bust?

Published

2 years ago

October 17, 2022

Joshua

Russell Westbrook: A faller or straight bust?

Westbrook has been very shaky for fantasy owners as of late. You can start to mark his fall, so to speak, when his time ended with the Wizards and his time began with the Lakers. Russell Westbrook was not the same player he was back in his primal years featuring the Thunder, and he hasn’t fallen off of his game completely; so where do we put him?

Do we categorize him as a straight bust or a player that’s fantasy draft stock had fallen for this season? Is this season going to be a rocky, finding himself season, or is this season just going to make him out to be a straight bust?

My answer is going to be short, concise, and to the point. I am going to answer this question within the next few paragraphs; so with that being said, let us begin.

Russell Westbrook is a…

In short, the 33-year-old is a fallen player. He isn’t to the point of his career where we can classify him as a bust, but he is definitely falling off. Westbrook is a fallen player that’s value has suffered since joining the Los Angeles Lakers. Mainly last season we can pinpoint his snowball effect collapse. Honestly.

He isn’t a straight bust because he is still averaging good numbers, those numbers? Averaged 18.5 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 7.1 assists. Plus, averaging 44.4% from the field last season. Now, the main season why he has fallen is due to his stats falling off. His productivity is depleting, to say the least, and is making the Lakers and their fanbase more angry and confused as each passing day goes by.

Two seasons ago, when he played with Washington, the man averaged 22.2 points, 11.5 rebounds, and 11.7 assists per game. Since his role has been changing, so has his productivity and what he feels comfortable doing.

Since joining the LakeShow, Westbrook’s value around the NBA and fantasy basketball has gone down tremendously. As the former superstar couldn’t hit his three-pointers or mid-range shots, which (when watching him play) was pretty pathetic. It wasn’t a few, it was reoccurring mistakes that killed him throughout the entire season with the Lakers.

There is another problem with Westbrook:

If the Lakers keep experimenting with Westbrook and make him come off the bench, then guess what? His fantasy points will go down, his productivity will go down, and his effectiveness and usefulness will go down tremendously. Making him almost invisible within Darvin Ham’s new system with the Lakers, which will end poorly for both sides if Westbrook’s act keeps failing.

If Westbrook comes off the bench, then you draft him later. His stats are already proving to us he is on a slippery slope of decline, this season is make-or-break for him. In what way? For fantasy owners, we will determine his value moving forward and if he truly is a bust at this point and time in his career.

If he can shoot, rebound, or pass as well as he used to, then what use does he have? That is why this is a make-or-break season for him, beyond fantasy but in real life.

Conclusion:

With all that being said, Westbrook is a fallen player and not (yet) a bust. If he keeps declining, then, yes, he will be a bust. However, for now, the 33-year-old will be a fallen player trying to redeem himself.

In the end, Westbrook is a bench player and should be drafted by the tenth and beyond round. Per CourtSideHeat’s calculated mock draft, I have him at round number eleven. The bench is his new friend and will be in real life and in fantasy.

Use caution if you go through with drafting him. Be smart and know what you are getting yourself into, just remember he is Russell Westbrook and he is a depreciating asset – for lack of a better phrase. Use your discretion wisely, I will be checking in on Westbrook throughout the fantasy season.

Fantasy Basketball

Herbert Jones: Sleeper or Bust?

Published

2 years ago

October 17, 2022

Joshua

Herbert Jones: Sleeper or Bust?

Jones is definitely a sleeper, but a deep sleeper. You wouldn’t take him midway through the draft, but more toward the end of the draft. CourtSideHeat has him being selected in the tenth round, to be exact, with the 98th pick. But why? Because he has high value going into his second season with the Pelicans and is someone you need to have on your fantasy team.

The 24-year-old is a good defensive player that averaged 2.5 steals per game last season, and to do that as a rookie is pretty unique and jaw-dropping. Honestly, seeing a rookie be that good at being a menace through stealing and blocking the ball is something that takes multiple seasons to learn.

However, for him, he specializes in that and that is why fantasy owners love him and fans in real life love him. Not only is he averaging 9.5 points per game, and 3 rebounds, but also getting big defensive numbers is something very promising for the franchise and for fantasy owners.

By no means is he a bust, in simple terms, he is a sleeper that deserves to go before the tenth round. Don’t get him before the eighth, but don’t let him drop to the evevlnth round. This is a player with terrific wingspan, height, width, and skill that is only getting better. I don’t want to hype him up too much, but his defensive skills remind me of one terrific player; that player? Mikal Bridges.

No joke, him and Bridges have some similarities defensively and that is one of the biggest compliments I can give him defensively. Statistically and how he performs overall makes him the perfect candidate for your 13-man roster. Get him in the tenth, have him as a backup, and let’s see where he goes from there.

Nothing too complicated, just keeping it simplified and smart. Jones will be a good return on investment, be patient and it will work out well. He’s on a team that can use his services, that is the benefit of being on the New Orleans Pelicans.

All the signs to selecting him are there and he is a very positive player. I will be selecting Herbert Jones, you should too – you won’t regret it!

Fantasy Basketball

Avoid this player like the plague…

Published

2 years ago

October 15, 2022

Joshua

Avoid this player like the plague…

Fantasy basketball is coming right around the corner as CourtSideHeat has released their calculated mock draft breaking down all 13 rounds, and 130 players – 10 per round. Now within that mock draft, you knew there were going to be some sleepers and then there were going to be some busts.

However, and this may come to everyone as a shock, the biggest bust for this fantasy season would be Dejounte Murray. Yes, the same Dejounte Murray that got traded from the San Antonio Spurs to the Atlanta Hawks. But why?

There are multiple reasons as many experts are saying not to select that guy, or, if you do, then you use him with caution. Again, why would we do that for a guy that has been on the up and up since joining the league? I’m going to discuss that starting in the next paragraph.

Why avoid Dejounte Murray?

Number one, he’s in a different environment than what he’s used to:

From being the number one option to now being the Robin of the team; that’s a difficult transition to make, why? Because one team desperately relied upon that singular player and now he is moving to a team that has many weapons that will have the touches shared equally – or at least somewhat proportional to their skill level.

He’s in a different system, with coaches and players having different mindsets than his previous team, and he will be asked to do different tasks than what he was previously asked to do by the Spurs.

It will take a while to get used to and that could cause his production to decrease, which is not good for real life or in the fantasy world. The reason why I believe that is going to be the case is due to the fact that he isn’t the star anymore. When DeMar DeRozan left, guess what? Murray was the star and the number one option, hence why his playing time and production picked up.

Now that he’s with a new team with a wholly different philosophy, it is going to take some time to get used to. But even then, I have a problem seeing his productivity staying the same consistency throughout the season or just downright dropping.

Number two, Murray is not going to be a two-way player, the coach will make him play one style:

Nate McMillian could force Dejounte Murray into being more of a playmaker than an active shooter, he may strip away the combo that Murray has become so good at. The reason why I put this as number two is that the backcourt already has playmaking and shooting, a two-way player, in Trae Young. It isn’t impossible to see, but it would be tough to imagine to see McMillian having two of his top players playing the same style – especially in the first unit.

I’m not saying it is going to happen, but just have that in the back of your mind. He may force Young, or most likely Murray, to focus on one part of their game better than the other. Not entirely eliminating one area, just focusing more on shooting (for example) and letting the other one play off of that skill.

The backcourt has to flow smoothly and properly so McMillian could see this as the perfect opportunity, since both players are like an identical mirror to each other, to play off one another with their most important skills.

Why am I bringing this up? I am bringing this up to say that production and his role may go down or be utilized in a different capacity.

Lastly, number three, his selected role will determine his productivity:

Dejounte Murray will have a different role than what he had in San Antonio, that is without question. Now, the real question comes when we break down what kind of role he receives amongst all these already good players in Atlanta.

He’s still going to be getting tons of minutes, and he is still an important player, but his productivity may decrease due to the good/great players increasing. If that makes sense. The coach is going to have to figure out how many shots players are going to take per game (what is their minimum and what is their maximum), what each player’s primary position/role is going to be, who’s going to be ball-dominant on the team, and different things along those lines.

Ultimately, Murray’s productivity will rely upon what kind of role he is put into and what that coach allows him to do. How long will his leash be? How much input does Murray initially have over this team and what he can do? That will be found out during the beginning of the season when we see him adjusting to the new system, team, etc.

Conclusion:

I love Dejounte Murray, from the time he got into the league until now. Everyone knows that I have been hyping him up when he got traded to the Hawks; as I believe he will be doing great things for that team, and he will thrive there. However, in the sense of fantasy basketball, he is going to be kind of a bust.

Yes, he is going to be spectacular for his team in real life. But I truly believe, along with other experts, he is going to have a hard time in fantasy. He is going to have great productivity in real life, but for us fantasy owners, it is not going to be the same.

Everything is going to be extraordinarily different and maybe even a little more unique when it comes to him finding his way in this brand-new system. Just something to think about as we are three days away from the NBA tip-off.

In conclusion, that is why I am writing him off as a bust – given the reasons I have provided. However, it does pain me in some ways because he is a talented player and I have ranked him very well in my mock draft. But I have to be realistic.

I’m still going to draft him, but I am going to do so with caution and already going into it that he is going to bust down and not be the greatest that we thought he was going to be when traded to Atlanta.