Sometimes you give up on a player like Byron Mullens only to see him reemerge in a big way come playoff time. At the same time, sometimes you hold on to a guy like Gerald Wallace only to see him collapse in the second half and never recover. With playoff time upon us, the seasoned fantasy daytrader knows that past production means nothing in the playoffs. We’re playing week-to-week ball and if that means a lineup of guys like Wayne Ellington and Toney Douglas while they have the hot hand so be it. Time to buy and sell without consequence in this week’s fantasy stock market.
Buy:
Byron Mullens: Strong Buy. Mullens was struggling earlier this month and was down to about 9.7 MPG but he’s played about 30 MPG in his last two and seems to have found himself back in coach Mike Dunlap’s good graces. Over his last two games he is averaging 18.5 PPG, 2.5 3PPG, five rebounds, two blocks, and a steal while shooting 58% from the floor. It’s a good time to get hot and I’d definitely jump on him if he’s available in your league.
Jonas Valanciunas: Strong Buy. I’ve become a fan of the Lithuanian rookie this year and he is playing very solid ball these days but is inexplicably available in more than 80% of Yahoo leagues. He has put up double-digit points in all but one of his last seven games and is averaging 13 PPG, 6.8 RPG, 1.1 BPG, and shooting 66% from the floor over his last six.
Pau Gasol: Strong Buy. Gasol was supposed to be back Sunday but suffered a setback in practice. Coach Mike D’Antoni expects him to suit up for Friday’s game against the Wizards and while I wouldn’t rush to start him then I would definitely pick him up if you expect to still be in the playoffs next week.
Wayne Ellington: Solid Buy. With Dion Waiters out at least a week and likely longer Ellington is suddenly finding himself in a 40 MPG situation. He started Wednesday against the Heat and played 41 minutes while putting up 20 points, seven rebounds, four assists, and a steal. He also got the three-pointer hat trick and shot the ball 17 times in the game. This is a great time to snatch an emerging starter for a week or two.
Toney Douglas: Solid Buy. Douglas didn’t do much in Houston but he’s found a niche in Sacramento and appears to have moved ahead of Isaiah Thomas as the team’s backup point guard. He has scored double-digits in three straight games and played 26 minutes Tuesday against the Clippers, putting up 19 points, seven assists, three treys, and a steal. He isn’t for everyone but is definitely worth a pickup in deeper leagues.
Sell:
Evan Turner: Turner has gone ice cold this month and it couldn’t have come at a worse time for fantasy owners. Over his last eight games he is averaging just 9.3 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 3.4 APG, and shooting just 37% from the floor. Production like that can kill your playoff hopes and I’d sit him or drop him indefinitely.
Mo Williams: Williams just hasn’t been himself since returning from his thumb injury and just isn’t worth playing right now. Although he is averaging 27 MPG in eight games since returning, he is putting up just 8.6 PPG, 4.9 APG, and shooting just 35% from the floor. I’d forget about Williams for the rest of the playoffs.
Michael Kidd-Gilchrist: It’s incomprehensible to me that this guy is owned in most leagues and if you’re stuck with him in the playoffs you’re doing yourself a disservice. He has put up double-digit points just once in his last seven games and hasn’t hit double-digit rebounds since March 4. Over his last seven he is averaging a mere 5.1 PPG, 4.4 RPG, and shooting 35% from the floor. I’d drop him and wouldn’t look back.
Robin Lopez: Anyone who has followed the fantasy stock market this year knows I have a strong dislike of guys like Lopez who flare up for a couple weeks and play mediocre ball the rest of the way. Mediocre is one word for a guy who has put up double-digit points twice and double-digit rebounds just once in in his last seven games. Over that time he is averaging just 8.3 PPG, 4.6 RPG, and 0.7 BPG and I wouldn’t hesitate to drop him for a second.
Avery Bradley: Unlike Lopez, I think Bradley is a very good looking player but a fantasy producer he isn’t. Despite being owned in half the leagues, Bradley is averaging just 8.1 PPG, 2.9 APG, 1.3 SPG, and shooting a miserable 32% in his last seven games and shouldn’t be anywhere near your playoff lineup.
Gerald Wallace: I mentioned him before and I’ll do it again since he is still owned in 76% of Yahoo leagues. This guy has scored double-digit points once since the middle of February despite playing 28 MPG consistently. In his last 15 games he is averaging just 6.1 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 1.7 SPG, and shooting a laughable 29% from the floor. He is playing so bad I’d drop him and then pick him up just to drop him again.
