Week 6: December Blues

Hello everyone and welcome back to another edition of Three in the Key Fantasy Basketball Pickups! You know the rules, five players, five positions, all are owned under 50%. If you have any trade, pickups, or team rating questions or concerns feel free to ask them in the comment section. I'm always happy to help! Also I'd like to apologize for the multi week absence of the blog. Unfortunately being a student during exam period, time is limited and the blog tends to suffer but now that the holidays have come I've got plenty of time on my hands.

Now just because most of the hot pickups are gone and you feel like you're stuck in the december blues, remember there is always value to be found on the wire. Now let's see who caught my eye this week!


Point Guard

Jeremy Pargo (PG) Yahoo Ownership 13%

People may say I am a little late in recommending Jeremy Pargo and that the bandwagon has left too long ago to jump on, unfortunately unlike many fantasy writers I enjoy taking the wait and see approach rather than speculate and declare definitive statements. After Pargo shocked the basketball world by dropping 28 points with his first start, every fantasy writer including your mother was telling you to spend all your money and drop whoever you can in order to add Pargo.  Now that the storm has past and we have a greater sample size on what Pargo can do for us,  I think it's clear that we have a solid short term PG option, rather than the second coming of Magic Johnson. Although I wasn't very bullish on Pargo's original valued stock, I agree that his ownership level is too low and he has proven that he can provide late round value while starting for the Cavs. In the past 8 games filing in for Kyrie Irving, Pargo has averaged a very respectable 15.1 ppg, 4.8 assists, 1.0 steals, and 1.8 3PT during 33.6 mpg. Certainly numbers that stand out but are hindered unfortunately by the 3.0 turnovers he averages, and 38.9 FG%, and 70.8 FT%. So in conclusion Pargo is a mixed bag of goods, he provides the volume stats but with poor percentages. As long as Kyrie Irving is out (and reports say he is still a few week's away from returning to the court) I see no reason that Pargo won't continue to provide late round value, and perhaps can improve on his percentages a little. Owners would be wise to seek out the services of Pargo in favour of name's such as Isaiah Thomas and Mario Chalmers, but to temper expectations, and not break the bank for the short term fix.

Moderate Buy (12 team plus)

What can Pargo do for you?

Shooting Guard


Kyle Singler (SG,SF) Yahoo Ownership 20%

I must say I didn't think the day would come where I would be recommending Kyle Singler as a solid top 100 fantasy option in fantasy basketball. As much as I enjoyed watching him play for Duke and winning a national championship, I was skeptical in thinking that his skill set would translate into NBA success. As a Blue Devil, Kyle was a stat sheet filler putting up great value in both volume and percentage stats. In his nation championship winning season (his junior year) Singler averaged 17.7 ppg, 7.0 rbg, 1.0 steals,  and 2.4 assists while shooting 79.8% from the line and 41.5% from the field. Now after being selected in the second round by the Pistons and taking a year sabbatical from the NBA to play a season for Real Madrid, Singler fell off the fantasy map. Kyle began the season on the bench but since taking over the starting SG spot for the struggling Rodney Stuckey, he has done nothing but impress. In his 11 starts this season Singler has averaged a solid 12.0 ppg, 4.2 rbg, 1.3 3PT, and 0.7 steals, while shooting 50.5% from the field, 45.2 % from 3PT land (this will surely drop though), and 76.8 from the FT line. Singler is showing us that he can produce his across the board stat filling numbers with good percentages in the NBA. Although his rate of production is not like his college day's, as a starter Singler has been putting up top 70 value for his fantasy owner's, something that cannot be ignored. Owners were be wise to acquire the services of Singler in favour of overrated commodities such as Dorell Wright and Mike Dunleavy. Pick up the Singler now and enjoy the high level production for as long as he continues to receive  30+ minutes in the Detroit lineup.

Moderate Buy (12-14 team plus)

His numbers may be plain vanilla, but they can still help us

Small Forward


Kawhi Leonard (SG,SF) Yahoo Ownership 45%

There isn't much of a case to be made as to why Leonard is owned in less than 50% of Yahoo leagues. His recovery from right knee tendinitis is almost complete and there is specualtion he will return to the court this coming week. The number's speak for themselves, prior to the injury Kawhi was putting up top 50 fantasy value and was well on his way to a sophomore break out season. Prior to being shut down Leonard was averaging and incredible 2.0 steals per game, while also putting up 10.6 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 1.0 3PT, while shooting 49.3% from the field, and 94.1% from the FT line. Starting all 9 game he has played in this season, Leonard had carved himself a valuable roll in the San Antonio offense and averaged a respectable 28.4 mpg that has allowed him to put up solid number's for fantasy owners. Managers would be wise to to scout their waiver wire's and see if an impatient owner has foolishly cut bait with the former San Diego State player, and add his services immediately before it's too late. Owners should acquire the services of Kawhi Leonard in favour of underachieving commodities such as Ersan Ilyasova, and Eric Gordon. Grab Leonard now in anticipation of his near return and enjoy the top 50 fantasy value for the remainder of the season.

Strong Buy (12 team plus)

Let's not forget how strong Leonard started off the season

Morris has surpassed Beasley and is thriving

Power Forward


Markieff Morris (PF) Yahoo Ownership 12%

I want to make one thing clear. I despise what Alvin Gentry has done to the Suns and our fantasy team's. Benching Gortat and Dragic for the likes of Jermaine O'Neal and Telfair is ridiculous and stupid and has shown with their current 7-15 record (while losing 7 in a row). While I believe (and hope) that Gentry will soon lose his job and things will return back to normal in Phoenix, as fantasy players we still have to analyze who Gentry is giving these extra minutes too. The answer to this question seems to be Markieff Morris. The former Kansas Jayhawk and current sophomore has found himself in the starting lineup replacing Michael Beasley, and is carving himself an every night 30 minute role. Morris has started the past 11 games and in the last three games has averaged more than 30 minute's per game. As a starter Morris has shown us that he is able to put up versatile numbers like he did in his Kansas days by averaging 11.2 ppg, 5.6 reb, 1.0 3PT (shooting 45 percent from beyond the arc), and 0.6 blk. While putting up solid stats Morris has been able to keep his percentages respectable by shooting 83.3 from the charity stripe and 49.5 from the field. As long as Morris isn't subjected to the idiotic wrath of Gentry I can see those number's grow and blossom with the increase in playing time. Perhaps not an immediate pickup in standard leagues those in keeper leagues should be very intrigued with the potential Morris provides now and for the future. Currently I would drop players such as Michael Beasley and Tristan Thompson in favour of Morris. Owners would be wise to hop aboard the Morris train now before his potential blossoms and it becomes too late.

Solid buy (12 to 14 team plus)


Centre


Kevin Seraphin (PF,C) Yahoo Ownership 30%

Vive la France! Seraphin is the first official frenchman to crack the blog and rightly so. There is no excuse for Seraphin to be owned in less than half of Yahoo leagues, the early season slump and slow start is long gone and Seraphin has become a double double machine while receiving starter minutes. Perhaps it's because he plays for the Wizards, or maybe because he is coming off the bench now that has caused fantasy owners to ignore the services of Seraphin. In the past 9 games Seraphin has averaged over 28 minutes per game while both starting and coming off the bench, and has surpassed Emeka Okafor in the rotation and has held off the never healthy Nene. So far in the month of December, Seraphin has averaged an incredible 16.3 ppg, 7.3 rbs, and 1.3 blk, while shooting 60% from the field. While the shooting percentage will not remain so high, most of these numbers are not far off Seraphin's season average. He will hurt you in FT% (a career 67% shooter) but is a solid scorer and a great source of cheap blocks. Savy owners would be wise to claim the services of the frenchman now in favour of overrated commodities such as Spencer Hawes and Sam Dalembert. Think of Seraphin as a poor man's version of Kevin Garnett and enjoy the top 120 production for the remainder of the season.

Strong Buy (12 team plus)

This frenchman can most certainly ball

That's it for this week's edition of Three in the Key Fantasy Basketball Pickups, I leave you all with my misplay of the week. In light of Manny Pacquiao's crushing knockout defeat I decided to go retro and post the NBA's best fight in my opinion. Enjoy the never gets old classic...Malice at the Palace: