Where's Walldo?
Breaking News Shortly after I posted this it was announced that Brandon Jennings is now expected to miss a month with his foot injury. Chris Douglas-Roberts and Keyon Dooling both look like guys to own right now.
The Bulls, Magic and Spurs have four games this week, while the Raptors play just once. Linas Kleiza looks like a nice pickup right now, but that one game hurts for the short term. Taj Gibson, who is battling a concussion, and Brandon Bass are popular pickups this week with four games, while owners of Derrick Rose, Dwight Howard, Tim Duncan and other players on those teams have to be psyched. If you missed Waiver Wired, check it out.
With the big trades that went down over the weekend, several teams are going to have new looks.
Here We Go Magic
The Magic's starting lineup is still anyone's guess. They acquired Gilbert Arenas, Jason Richardson, Hedo Turkoglu and Earl Clark. Here's the lineup I'd like to see them go with, and then the lineup I'm hearing will kick things off for the new-look Magic.
My Preferred Lineup: PG Jameer Nelson, SG Gilbert Arenas, SF Jason Richardson, PF Brandon Bass, C Dwight Howard.
What I'm Hearing: PG Jameer Nelson, SG Jason Richardson, SF Hedo Turkoglu, PF Brandon Bass, C Dwight Howard.
Both versions leave Nelson, Richardson, Bass and Howard in the lineup so they should be safe, in theory. Will Turkoglu return to his old ways with his old team? Maybe, but he simply is not trustworthy at this point. Bass for four games looks pretty good this week, but you have to wonder how many shots he'll get with all those offensive weapons in the mix. Also, Jason Richardson's production is going to take a hit, as he was pretty much option No. 1 in Phoenix. Now he's probably option three or four, while Gilbert Arenas may find himself in the same boat. We all saw how the Magic's rotation stifled Rashard Lewis, and it's quite possible it does the same to Richardson and Arenas.
Sun Kil Moon
The Suns acquired Vince Carter, Marcin Gortat and Mickael Pietrus from the Magic.
My Preferred Lineup: Steve Nash, Vince Carter, Grant Hill, Channing Frye, Marcin Gortat.
What I'm Hearing: Steve Nash, Vince Carter, Grant Hill, Channing Frye, Robin Lopez.
It remains to be seen as to whether or not Gortat replaces Lopez. I'm sure I'm not alone as someone who would pay money to see what Gortat can do with a starting job and 35 minutes a night, but it's probably too much to ask for. Yes, he should be tentatively picked up in most leagues, but I'm still not expecting a full explosion from him due to a timeshare with Lopez. Grant Hill is also a guy to keep an eye on in this revamped lineup, but we won't get to see it in action until Thursday.
Wiz Kids
The Wizards got Rashard Lewis for Gilbert Arenas and also received news that John Wall has a bone bruise in his knee and could be out "awhile." He's already been out "awhile" and none of us really want to wait another while for his return, but we're going to have to.
My Preferred Lineup: John Wall, Nick Young, Rashard Lewis, Andray Blatche, JaVale McGee.
What I'm Hearing: John Wall, Nick Young, Josh Howard, Rashard Lewis, Andray Blatche.
You can actually slot Kirk Hinrich into Wall's spot until further notice, since we don't know when he's going to be back from that knee injury. Nick Young looks like a must-own player right now and Josh Howard is getting there, as well. I am not a Howard guy. I don't really like him and I don't trust him at all. But he's one of three healthy players on the Wizards who can play at shooting guard and they are going to use him for as long as he's healthy. I even picked him up in a couple leagues. If JaVale McGee gets bumped out of the starting five he's going to be tough to put into fantasy lineups, but there's no sense in panicking over something that may not happen. Rashard Lewis should get a new lease on life in Washington and could end up being the biggest fantasy winner of all here. Buy low on him, make sure he wasn't dropped in your league and get ready for an offensive explosion now that he doesn't have to compete with Dwight Howard, Vince Carter, Jameer Nelson and whomever else Stan Van Gundy wanted shooting the ball.
Monday Morning Injury Report
Jamal Crawford – back – Already ruled out for Monday, bench him.
Rajon Rondo – ankle – Out this week and maybe the next one.
Delonte West – wrist – Targeting mid-January.
Jermaine O'Neal – knee – Targeting Wednesday return.
Kendrick Perkins – knee – Targeting February.
Stephen Jackson – arm – Feels like a broken arm, could be a long week.
Gerald Wallace – ankle – May still be in a boot. Very risky start.
Taj Gibson – concussion – Could play Tuesday, four games this week.
Joakim Noah – thumb – Targeting March return? Droppable in many leagues.
Joey Graham – quad – Out for the next month. Anthony Parker playing well.
Roddy Beaubois – foot – Are you getting tired of waiting? So are we.
Chauncey Billups – wrist – Nuggets off until Weds., Billups should play.
Chris Andersen – back – Also targeting Wednesday return.
Kenyon Martin – knee – Hopeful for Weds., worth a pickup in many leagues.
Tracy McGrady – groin – No thank you.
Richard Hamilton – flu – Demoted Sunday, was inconsistent when starting.
Rodney Stuckey – toe – If he will miss time, hello Will Bynum.
Austin Daye – hamstring – Day-to-day, but no time of Daye from Kuester.
Jonas Jerebko – achilles – Maybe January or February.
Andris Biedrins – foot – Day-to-day, but try to find a better option.
Stephen Curry – ankle – Very iffy for Monday, best to bench in weeklies.
Brandan Wright – back – Hasn't played in weeks.
Yao Ming – ankle – Disastrous setback. Season, maybe career, over.
Josh McRoberts – groin – Shot to family jewels from Varejao.
Brian Cook – ankle – Will be out for a week.
Chris Kaman – ankle – Nearing a return, but not this week.
Andrew Bynum – knee – Normal aches and pains in recovery process.
Rudy Gay – suspension – Served, get him back in your lineup.
Mike Miller – thumb – Should go on Monday, should be picked up.
Corey Maggette – concussion – Probably not even worth owning now.
Brandon Jennings – foot – Out 4 weeks. Ouch. Hello, CDR & Dooling?
Carlos Delfino – concussion – Who knows if/when he'll play again?
Michael Redd – knee – Says he'll play in February. Believe it when you see it.
Darko Milicic – ankle – Hoping for Monday, but might be best to bench.
Nikola Pekovic – ankle – No fantasy value, but maybe if Darko's out.
Quinton Ross – back – No value even if/when starting.
Anthony Morrow – hamstring – Will miss at least another couple weeks.
Damion James – foot – Still out at least another month.
Eddy Curry – hamstring – In holding cell with Anthony Randolph.
Kelenna Azubuike – knee – May have lost too much of a step in surgery.
Nenad Krstic – back – He's been out a week, no word on return date.
Ryan Anderson – foot – Trades hurt him upon return.
Mickael Pietrus – knee – Day-to-day, but limited role in Phoenix.
Nicolas Batum – shoulder – Probable for Monday, might be worth pickup.
Marcus Camby – shoulder – GTD for tonight. Risky, but might be worth it.
Joel Przybilla – ankle – Out Monday, Blazers thin at C if Camby's out too.
Brandon Roy – knee - Out at least one more game, as risky as they come.
Jason Thompson – hand - Don't play him this week.
George Hill – foot – Walking boot, don't play him in weekly league.
Amir Johnson – back – Playing through it. Start at own risk.
Andrea Bargnani – knee – Missed Sunday, Raps only play once this week.
Sonny Weems – back – Has missed two straight.
Peja Stojakovic – knee – Still swollen, could need surgery.
Reggie Evans – foot – Targeting February.
Yi Jianlian – knee – Out until January.
John Wall – knee – Out "awhile" so keep him benched.
Breaking News Shortly after I posted this it was announced that Brandon Jennings is now expected to miss a month with his foot injury. Chris Douglas-Roberts and Keyon Dooling both look like guys to own right now.
The Bulls, Magic and Spurs have four games this week, while the Raptors play just once. Linas Kleiza looks like a nice pickup right now, but that one game hurts for the short term. Taj Gibson, who is battling a concussion, and Brandon Bass are popular pickups this week with four games, while owners of Derrick Rose, Dwight Howard, Tim Duncan and other players on those teams have to be psyched. If you missed Waiver Wired, check it out.
With the big trades that went down over the weekend, several teams are going to have new looks.
Here We Go Magic
The Magic's starting lineup is still anyone's guess. They acquired Gilbert Arenas, Jason Richardson, Hedo Turkoglu and Earl Clark. Here's the lineup I'd like to see them go with, and then the lineup I'm hearing will kick things off for the new-look Magic.
My Preferred Lineup: PG Jameer Nelson, SG Gilbert Arenas, SF Jason Richardson, PF Brandon Bass, C Dwight Howard.
What I'm Hearing: PG Jameer Nelson, SG Jason Richardson, SF Hedo Turkoglu, PF Brandon Bass, C Dwight Howard.
Both versions leave Nelson, Richardson, Bass and Howard in the lineup so they should be safe, in theory. Will Turkoglu return to his old ways with his old team? Maybe, but he simply is not trustworthy at this point. Bass for four games looks pretty good this week, but you have to wonder how many shots he'll get with all those offensive weapons in the mix. Also, Jason Richardson's production is going to take a hit, as he was pretty much option No. 1 in Phoenix. Now he's probably option three or four, while Gilbert Arenas may find himself in the same boat. We all saw how the Magic's rotation stifled Rashard Lewis, and it's quite possible it does the same to Richardson and Arenas.
Sun Kil Moon
The Suns acquired Vince Carter, Marcin Gortat and Mickael Pietrus from the Magic.
My Preferred Lineup: Steve Nash, Vince Carter, Grant Hill, Channing Frye, Marcin Gortat.
What I'm Hearing: Steve Nash, Vince Carter, Grant Hill, Channing Frye, Robin Lopez.
It remains to be seen as to whether or not Gortat replaces Lopez. I'm sure I'm not alone as someone who would pay money to see what Gortat can do with a starting job and 35 minutes a night, but it's probably too much to ask for. Yes, he should be tentatively picked up in most leagues, but I'm still not expecting a full explosion from him due to a timeshare with Lopez. Grant Hill is also a guy to keep an eye on in this revamped lineup, but we won't get to see it in action until Thursday.
Wiz Kids
The Wizards got Rashard Lewis for Gilbert Arenas and also received news that John Wall has a bone bruise in his knee and could be out "awhile." He's already been out "awhile" and none of us really want to wait another while for his return, but we're going to have to.
My Preferred Lineup: John Wall, Nick Young, Rashard Lewis, Andray Blatche, JaVale McGee.
What I'm Hearing: John Wall, Nick Young, Josh Howard, Rashard Lewis, Andray Blatche.
You can actually slot Kirk Hinrich into Wall's spot until further notice, since we don't know when he's going to be back from that knee injury. Nick Young looks like a must-own player right now and Josh Howard is getting there, as well. I am not a Howard guy. I don't really like him and I don't trust him at all. But he's one of three healthy players on the Wizards who can play at shooting guard and they are going to use him for as long as he's healthy. I even picked him up in a couple leagues. If JaVale McGee gets bumped out of the starting five he's going to be tough to put into fantasy lineups, but there's no sense in panicking over something that may not happen. Rashard Lewis should get a new lease on life in Washington and could end up being the biggest fantasy winner of all here. Buy low on him, make sure he wasn't dropped in your league and get ready for an offensive explosion now that he doesn't have to compete with Dwight Howard, Vince Carter, Jameer Nelson and whomever else Stan Van Gundy wanted shooting the ball.
Monday Morning Injury Report
Jamal Crawford – back – Already ruled out for Monday, bench him.
Rajon Rondo – ankle – Out this week and maybe the next one.
Delonte West – wrist – Targeting mid-January.
Jermaine O'Neal – knee – Targeting Wednesday return.
Kendrick Perkins – knee – Targeting February.
Stephen Jackson – arm – Feels like a broken arm, could be a long week.
Gerald Wallace – ankle – May still be in a boot. Very risky start.
Taj Gibson – concussion – Could play Tuesday, four games this week.
Joakim Noah – thumb – Targeting March return? Droppable in many leagues.
Joey Graham – quad – Out for the next month. Anthony Parker playing well.
Roddy Beaubois – foot – Are you getting tired of waiting? So are we.
Chauncey Billups – wrist – Nuggets off until Weds., Billups should play.
Chris Andersen – back – Also targeting Wednesday return.
Kenyon Martin – knee – Hopeful for Weds., worth a pickup in many leagues.
Tracy McGrady – groin – No thank you.
Richard Hamilton – flu – Demoted Sunday, was inconsistent when starting.
Rodney Stuckey – toe – If he will miss time, hello Will Bynum.
Austin Daye – hamstring – Day-to-day, but no time of Daye from Kuester.
Jonas Jerebko – achilles – Maybe January or February.
Andris Biedrins – foot – Day-to-day, but try to find a better option.
Stephen Curry – ankle – Very iffy for Monday, best to bench in weeklies.
Brandan Wright – back – Hasn't played in weeks.
Yao Ming – ankle – Disastrous setback. Season, maybe career, over.
Josh McRoberts – groin – Shot to family jewels from Varejao.
Brian Cook – ankle – Will be out for a week.
Chris Kaman – ankle – Nearing a return, but not this week.
Andrew Bynum – knee – Normal aches and pains in recovery process.
Rudy Gay – suspension – Served, get him back in your lineup.
Mike Miller – thumb – Should go on Monday, should be picked up.
Corey Maggette – concussion – Probably not even worth owning now.
Brandon Jennings – foot – Out 4 weeks. Ouch. Hello, CDR & Dooling?
Carlos Delfino – concussion – Who knows if/when he'll play again?
Michael Redd – knee – Says he'll play in February. Believe it when you see it.
Darko Milicic – ankle – Hoping for Monday, but might be best to bench.
Nikola Pekovic – ankle – No fantasy value, but maybe if Darko's out.
Quinton Ross – back – No value even if/when starting.
Anthony Morrow – hamstring – Will miss at least another couple weeks.
Damion James – foot – Still out at least another month.
Eddy Curry – hamstring – In holding cell with Anthony Randolph.
Kelenna Azubuike – knee – May have lost too much of a step in surgery.
Nenad Krstic – back – He's been out a week, no word on return date.
Ryan Anderson – foot – Trades hurt him upon return.
Mickael Pietrus – knee – Day-to-day, but limited role in Phoenix.
Nicolas Batum – shoulder – Probable for Monday, might be worth pickup.
Marcus Camby – shoulder – GTD for tonight. Risky, but might be worth it.
Joel Przybilla – ankle – Out Monday, Blazers thin at C if Camby's out too.
Brandon Roy – knee - Out at least one more game, as risky as they come.
Jason Thompson – hand - Don't play him this week.
George Hill – foot – Walking boot, don't play him in weekly league.
Amir Johnson – back – Playing through it. Start at own risk.
Andrea Bargnani – knee – Missed Sunday, Raps only play once this week.
Sonny Weems – back – Has missed two straight.
Peja Stojakovic – knee – Still swollen, could need surgery.
Reggie Evans – foot – Targeting February.
Yi Jianlian – knee – Out until January.
John Wall – knee – Out "awhile" so keep him benched.
