As week six in the NBA gets under way players are showing their worth for your fantasy team. Not all are performing up to standard thus far. Now is the time to identify the dead weight on your fantasy roster and cut it lose.
If you were looking for a bargain in a salary cap league and you stuffed your roster with expensive players leaving only scraps left. These guys might have looked like a decent option; truth of the matter is there are many sleeper picks and players on the rise that can be had for cheap.
A six part series will look at each division and identify the fantasy duds. We are moving now onto the Pacific division where we have identified the following four players who are underperforming. If you drafted any of these guys and are relying on them for fantasy points; cut your losses now and move on.
Andris Biedrins – Golden State Warriors
Andris Biedrins is a frustrating fantasy player because he possesses the skills to post solid numbers yet lacks the toughness and desire to do so. Harkening back to the 2008-09 season with Golden State, Biedrins averaged a very respectable 11.9 ppg, 11.2 rpg, 2 apg and 1.5 bpg. Now a days he can’t even get 10 minutes of playing time a night much less 10 points a night. His production has been in steady decline over the years with this season marking the low point.
Thus far through 15 games Biedrins is averaging 0.6 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 0.3 apg and 0.5 bpg all the while logging a woeful 9.3 minutes of game action. Biedrins is so far off from seeing the court and being a contributor for your fantasy roster that if you are holding out hope for resurgence your fantasy roster will suffer greatly.
Richard Jefferson – Golden State Warriors
When the Golden State Warriors acquired Richard Jefferson from the San Antonio Spurs for Stephen Jackson many viewed this as an upgrade over the older Jackson. As it turns out Jefferson has been a complete $10 million bust while Jackson is contributing off the bench and in spot starts for the Spurs.
Jefferson has played in only 10 games so far largely due to injury and in those 10 games he scored in double figures only once which has contributed to a horrific 4.2 ppg, 1.2 apg and 1.4 rpg averages. Jefferson started every game he played in last year with the Spurs, this season fantasy owners will be lucky if he gets any meaningful minutes for the Warriors.
Lamar Odom – LA Clippers
As terrible as Lamar Odom was during his short tenure in Dallas he is even worse now. The supposed revival upon return Los Angeles is proving to be a falsehood. Whatever magic it was that Lamar was hoping to recapture, he missed badly like one of his errant three pointers. Some thought that perhaps Odom would contribute off the bench for the Clippers, instead he has had a hard time just getting off the bench for the Clippers.
Through 18 games Odom is averaging 14.3 mpg, 2.3 ppg, 3.7 rpg and 1.1 apg all while earning $8.2 million. Odom is not the player that the Clippers were hoping for; however, as a fantasy GM you need not be saddled with him as he should be cut immediately.
Pau Gasol – LA Lakers
It has not been an easy go for Gasol this year in Laker-land. With the team off to a slow start, Gasol quickly became the scapegoat for the struggles. Justifiably so, his play this season has been inconsistent at best and at worst it has been wildly ineffective. Amid trade rumours and speculation on contract buyouts Gasol is struggling colossally. His production through 17 games is well off his career numbers; 12.6 ppg, 8.9 rpg and 3.5 apg are just not good enough. Gasol would have cost fantasy GM’s a high pick at the start of the season, parlay what value is left into a productive power forward for your roster before it’s too late.
Wesley Johnson – Phoenix Suns
Wesley Johnson came over to Phoenix in the trade that sent Robin Lopez packing to New Orleans. It was thought that the Suns were getting a versatile wing player that would boost scoring; instead they got a moody player who can’t crack the lineup even for garbage minutes. To further illustrate the disappointment that has become Wesley Johnson the Phoenix Suns declined their team option effectively making the third player a free agent. I can’t imagine too many suitors, not when you are dangling a stat that resembles the current 1.8 ppg, 0.6 apg and 1.1 rpg averages that Johnson has produced so far. Any fantasy GM’s that are hoping for production in the desert out of Johnson need to cut their losses and move on.
Jimmer Fredette – Sacramento Kings
I don’t put all of Jimmer Fredette’s struggles solely on his shoulders, Coach Keith Smart still hasn’t figured out a consistent starting lineup or the bench rotation. Jimmer is a player without a defined role and that hurts production and fantasy value. Coach Smart goes from giving Fredette a DNP one night to running him for 18 minutes the next; it is tough to prepare mentally when there isn’t a set rotation.
Nonetheless, Jimmer hasn’t taken advantage of the time he has gotten; he is currently averaging 10.6 mpg, 6.3 ppg, 1.3 apg and 0.5 rpg. Fredette needs the chance to play somewhere if not in Sac-town; his field goal percentages are enticing at .458 with a 3P% of .423 and a FT% of .900; however, without the playing time or the shots the fantasy production just isn’t there.