MIL @ CHA: Things aren’t going well in Charlotte. The brightest spot in camp, PF-C Byron Mullens evolving into a 3-point threat, has a bruised knee and may sit out another game. That makes him harder to draft, but in deep leagues he’s still a sleeper. Second overall pick Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, who some idiot called “can’t-miss” only six weeks ago, has started slowly. Ben Gordon (ankle) sat out vs. the Heat on Tuesday, but that may have been a blessing, as Kemba Walker and Ramon Sessions were both stellar. If they move Gerald Henderson to SF until MKG is ready, Gordon backs up both guard spots and suddenly all four are worth owning.
A few of the sleepers I drafted in our Elimination Roto league have been disappointing. Tobias Harris just hasn’t done enough to start at SF for the Bucks. In a way, he’s a better fantasy player off the bench, even with fewer minutes. Don’t forget about John Henson as a sleeper in deep leagues. The rookie was superb in the summer league, but a knee sprain ended his training camp. His contributions will come a bit later, and he might be a good FA pickup down the road.
POR @ UTA: I have an important draft in a keeper league tomorrow. Two years ago, I mortgaged my future to win. Flags fly forever. Last year, as a 12th-place team, I spent the entire season trading what talent I had for extra draft picks. Because I’ve read the Fantasy Basketball Primer, my draft plan is pretty solid. In the first round (after our keepers) if Damian Lillard falls to #9, I’ll be ecstatic. That would be 89 overall, and he’s the perfect fit for my team. The other PG options in that spot will be fine this season, but Lillard has more keeper value and would be a highly tradeable asset. J.J. Hickson is another Blazer on my list. With a short rotation and a fast tempo, any Portland starter is great to own.
These two teams sprinted to a 120-114 final (no OT) on Monday. Expect more of the same. Mo Williams was slowed by a mild groin strain but is poised for a big year if he can stay on the court. He was a backup SG last season, now he’s a starting PG. His assists and A/T will be much improved. Gordon Hayward is a third-year man — often a breakout season — who is slipping to a value spot in a lot of draft rooms.
LAC @ DEN: The Clippers don’t really need another tuneup. The Nuggets have to fly to Phoenix afterward and play again tomorrow. It may be an entertaining show, with neither team taking it seriously. Wilson Chandler needs the extra work in his recovery from hip surgery. He’s already on my “trade target” list — guys I’m hoping start the season slowly so they can be pried away. There’s no link to that list yet; it’s an upcoming column.
SAC @ LAL: In the Tuesday Spin, Jeff Nichols said the Kings “just don’t know what they are doing” and wondered why I like owning them. Mostly, it’s how they would seemingly rather score and lose than play defense and win. There are a lot of 115-110 losses where you can confidently start your Kings and their opponents.
The sky’s the limit for DeMarcus Cousins. His good games are great and as he continues to mature, the bad ones will be farther apart. Jason Thompson had a lot of 20-10 games last season for a free agent. I end up owning him at some point every year in deep leagues. Rookie Thomas Robinson will fit right in, off the bench until he inevitably takes over from Thompson. Admittedly, I was a lot higher on Isaiah Thomas until Aaron Brooks started to eat into his minutes, the latest evidence of that “frustratingly fluid” rotation Jeff describes.
Will the Lakers go 0-8? There’s a good chance. No Bryant — Kobe is even questionable for opening night — and it’s a back-to-back. Howard, if he plays, might take over the game, but there’s really no incentive at all to care about the score.