Author: TJ Streett

Last Call On Evan Turner

Evan Turner has posted two twenty-four plus point games in his last three contests. Turner is the hot commodity on the waiver wire at the moment.

Analysis: Evan Turner’s three game hot streak is rather impressive. His stat line looks like- 22.0 points per game, 12.0 rebounds per game with 3.3 assists per game. Turner’s free throw shooting has been over eighty percent over the past week which is a huge turn around considering he is shooting 66% from the stripe this year. Turner has gotten at least thirty-two minutes in his last four games and he has responded well. He is shooting well from the field but he will never be a three point shooter. Turner is only averaging 0.2 3PM this year and you really would like your shooting guards and small forwards to be solid in the three ball department. Regardless, Turner is a solid rebounder at 5.9 RPG this year.

Evan Turner is available in a little over fifty percent of fantasy leagues and he is going fast. His points potential with his rebounding is rare to find on the wire at this point in the NBA season. He may not hit threes or get tons of steals but he makes a great add or a solid sell high option.

Deep League Help- Taj Gibson

Despite the lack of minutes, Taj Gibson is producing some very solid numbers as a fantasy power forward.

Analysis: Taj Gibson is averaging 1.6 blocks per game and 5.5 rebounds per game over his last eight contests. He’s putting these numbers up in about twenty minutes of floor time per night. Chances are his minutes will not improve drastically but he remains a solid deep league option. Gibson is available in over ninety percent of fantasy leagues and you really cannot ask for more from a lower tier power forward.

Taj Gibson is also shooting over fifty percent from the field this year. Tack on 0.5 steals per game and you have yourself a productive power forward. He does struggle at the line and some nights he can disappear in the points department but overall he is as consistent as he can be at twenty minutes per night. If guys like Amir Johnson, Zaza Pachulia and Kenneth Faried are long gone in your league, Taj Gibson may be a fine alternative. Going forward Derrick Favors will pull down more boards but Gibson should hold the edge in blocks.

Derrick Williams Is Surging

After an extremely disappointing start to the 2011-12 NBA season, Derrick Williams is finally putting together some fantasy relevant numbers.

Analysis: Derrick Williams is averaging 14.3 points per game, 6.1 rebounds per game and 1.8 three pointers made per game over his last six games. This is a vast improvement over his season averages and it just may be the start of some consistency from the young rookie. With Williams finally pulling down an adequate amount of boards that you need from a fantasy power forward, all those threes he’s hitting is skyrocketing his value. Keep in mind that the second overall pick is still available in well over sixty percent of fantasy leagues.

The crazy thing about Williams’ six game hot streak is that he’s putting up these solid numbers despite playing about twenty minutes per night. With the NBA trade deadline approaching, Williams may find himself in a situation where more minutes become available whether it be dictated by the roster or his improved play. Williams is a hot commodity on the wire right now and if you are in need of threes with a solid amount of points and rebounds then Derrick Williams just may be a fit for you at the power forward position.

Buying Low- Raymond Felton

As the NBA trade deadline approaches, Raymond Felton is one underperforming point guard that should be on the move.

Analysis: Raymond Felton has struggled in Portland but he is still a fantasy relevant player at the point. Felton is still averaging 6.1 APG, 1.2 SPG and 0.8 3PM this year. Obviously the five percent drop in field goal percentage from 41%(career) to 36% this year is just awful. But looking past his poor field goal percentage is a point guard that gets minutes and is consistent in the assist department. Felton is available in some leagues and you may want to pick him up before he gets traded.

A trade to the Lakers would do wonders for Felton. Playing with Kobe, Pau(if he stays) and Andrew Bynum will certainly keep his assists high and should be enough to help his lagging field goal percentage. He’s always been a solid lower tier point guard who supplies a decent amount of assists, threes and steals. You even have to love that he’s a career 78% free throw shooter. As soon as Felton changes teams his fantasy value will most likely rise. If he’s available in your league I cannot see why you wouldn’t want to pick him up if only until the trade deadline.

Under The Radar- Brandon Bass

Brandon Bass is a few games in to his return from a knee injury and he’s already back in the starting lineup.

Analysis: In Brandon Bass’ three games since his return from injury his line looks like this- 12 PPG, 1.3 BPG and 5.6 RPG. Bass is enjoying thirty-two minutes of floor time in those games which is great news for fantasy owners. One of the big positives for a big man with power forward and center position eligibility is that Bass is a career 82% free throw shooter. Considering Bass is getting to the line two and one half times per game this year, every little bit of efficiency helps. Bass is still available in about seventy percent of fantasy leagues but with his minutes so high he will be going fast.

Brandon Bass does need to pick up his production in the blocks department to stay relevant. The 0.7 BPG in twenty-nine minutes this year is not good. His recent numbers have been solid but continue to monitor his defensive numbers as they can hold him back. His rebounding isn’t out of this world either but expect 6.0-7.0 rebounds per game from here on out.