The All-Star break is a turning point in many players’ seasons, giving some a quick chance to heal their bumps and bruises while simply giving others a needed weekend off. Once the season restarts next week, you will see more than a few changes in your stat sheets but the seasoned fantasy day trader needs to make his moves before everyone else does. Let’s take a look at some guys in desperate need of a waiver pickup and some others that you can stop being patient with.
BUY:
Danny Granger: Strong Buy. Although his return this week was delayed by illness, Granger is finally ready to come back from knee surgery. Although he won’t be back to his 35+ MPG immediately, Granger is likely the best scorer in Indy (which is ranked 28th worst offense in the league) and will be tasked with plenty of shot attempts. Over his last four seasons he is averaging 22 PPG, 5 RPG, 1.2 SPG, 1 BPG, and 2.3 3PPG and is worth a pickup in every single league.
Byron Mullens: Strong Buy. Finally fully recovered from his ankle injury, Mullens is back in the starting lineup and playing like a new man. In four games since returning to the lineup he is averaging 38 MPG, 20 PPG, 9 RPG, and is even shooting some threes making him worthy of a pickup in every single league.
Nick Young: Strong Buy. With Jason Richardson out for the rest of the season, Young figures to remain in the 76ers starting lineup the rest of the way. In nine starts since being inserted into the lineup, Young is averaging 34 MPG, 16 PPG, 4 RPG, 1.3 SPG, and 2 3PPG. Though he doesn’t contribute much outside of points and the occasional steal the increased opportunities and minutes make him a worthy pickup.
Derrick Williams: Deep League Buy. With Kevin Love out, the second-overall pick in last year’s draft is finally getting the chance to start full-time and show what he’s got. So far it’s been pretty impressive, despite pretty bad percentages, he is averaging 28 MPG, 16 PPG, and 9 RPG and should continue to be a solid producer for the rest of the season.
SELL:
Derrick Rose: After a lot of talk about a possible Rose return following the All-Star break, we are now hearing that there’s a chance that Rose doesn’t come back at all this season. At this point, even if he does return this year, there is no way he will be back to his old self before the end of the fantasy season.
Marcin Gortat: After averaging 15.4 PPG and 10 RPG last season, Gortat is down to 11 PPG and 8.7 RPG this season and over his last few games he is down to 4 PPG and 6.3 RPG while playing just 23 MPG. He is owned in just about every league but I’d keep him out of the starting lineup until he shows he can put up double-digits in any fantasy category again.
Eric Bledsoe: With Chris Paul back in full force, Bledsoe is once again just a back up guard with minutes in the teens, rendering him essentially irrelevant. Since returning to his backup role, Bledsoe is averaging just 22 MPG, 8 PPG, and 4 APG and isn’t worth owning anywhere.
Ray Allen: Since the beginning of February, no one has been colder than Ray Allen. In seven games, Allen is down to just 23 MPG and averaging just 5 PPG and 1 SPG and nothing else. He’s still owned in most leagues and there is no reason for that.
Michael Kidd-Gilchrist: It hasn’t been an easy acclamation to the pros for the 19-year-old rookie and he has been ice cold of late. He hasn’t put up double-digits points since he had 10 on January 14 and is averaging just 4.5 PPG and 3.6 RPG in 13 games since then. He shouldn’t be owned anywhere.
Kris Humphries: After he put up 13.8 PPG and 11 RPG last season, Humphries is down to just 6 PPG and 6 RPG this year and since the beginning of February he is averaging just 11 MPG with 3.6 PPG and 3.3 RPG. If you haven’t dropped him already, odds are you simply stopped checking on your team.
