Now that we’re about 10% of the way though the season, it might be time to take a step back and reassess some of the guys who are simply taking up space on your roster. Who’s going to turn it around? Who’s just going to continue to do next to nothing? The higher the draft pick, the tougher it is to swallow your pride and drop them, but here are some guys we’re going to be watching this weekend as they could end up on the waiver wire by Monday:
Kyle Korver, SF, Phi (Fri @ Mia, Sat vs. Cle)
Korver was drafted on average in the 6th round this year, surrounded by the likes of Carmelo Anthony, Antawn Jamison, and Zachary Randolph. Those were some lofty expectations, and he has come nowhere close to living up to them. He’s certainly playing better now than the first week of the season, but he’s a guy who needs to score 15 ppg with 3 3pg in order to have fantasy value. The lack of steals are also a concern.
Josh Smith, G/F, Atl (Fri @ NOK)
Many fantasy owners had really high hopes for Josh Smith, and those hopes are quickly running smack in to reality. Part of this was predictable – after all, with Josh Childress, Al Harrington, and Marvin Williams all playing the same position(s) as Smith, where were the extra minutes going to come from? The other part is more of a concern – Smith just hasn’t improved at all. With essentially the same minutes as last year, he’s shooting worse, rebounding less, passing less, and turning the ball over more. Sure, his blocks are incredible, but if Adonal Foyle qualified at shooting guard, would you play him there?
Erick Dampier, C, Dal (Sat vs. Det)
Let’s sum up Erick Dampier’s last two games: 30 minutes. 10 fouls. 10 turnovers. 8 rebounds. Zero points. Zero blocks. Zero steals. Zero fantasy value. When you are losing time to Dasagana Diop, you know things are bad. Not only could he end up on the waiver wire this weekend, but he could stay there all year.
Raja Bell, SG, Pho (Fri vs. Utah, Sat. @ SA)
Bell was quite the hot prospect this summer, getting a ton of talk for a guy who had never scored more than 12 ppg in his career. Looks like the talk may have been just that. Bell’s stats this year in Phoenix are strikingly similar to last year in Utah. He’s shooting a little more from long range, but he was a marginal fantasy player last year, and he might just be a marginal fantasy player this year as well.
Game of the Week(end)
Chicago Bulls at Los Angeles Lakers, (Sun, 9:30 EST)
With all the talk about the Bulls (and in particular, Mike Sweetney) yesterday, here’s a good chance to watch a full game and see what Skiles has in store for the guy. But here at FBB, we’re going to watching Chris Mihm just as closely. He’s had a nice little three-game run, and as Smush Parker comes back to Earth, an Kwame Brown continues to be himself, Mihm could emerge as the number three option in LA.