The trading deadline is about a week away for most leagues. Here’s a couple of guys to target as nice “buy-lowsâ€:
Steve Francis
Bear with me on this one. Francis’s value hasn’t been any lower at any point in his career. He’s in a rotten situation on a rotten team, he’s showing up late to games due to “family emercengiesâ€, and his stats are showing it. Like most players on the Knicks, he’s shooting about 1/3 of the threes that he normally would, and that should continue. Playing alongside Stephon Marbury, Jamal Crawford and Jalen Rose, he’s taken a nice hit in assists. His steals are down, but should pick up to around normal levels. So why buy on Stevie?
Well, a couple reasons. One, Larry Brown (supposedly) wanted him there, and he’s had no problem getting minutes, or shots – he was the team’s leading shot-taker again New Jersey on Friday, and his shots-per-minute has been remarkable similar in New York to what it was in Orlando. Shots don’t just happen in Larry Brown’s system – they’re awarded. And Franchise has been getting his. Secondly, watch Marbury, you’ve got to wonder how much longer he’s going to keep playing this year. He’s got a recurring shoulder injury, he doesn’t mesh well with his coach, and just watching him out there, you can tell he’s unhappy. If/when he shuts it down, that’s great news for Francis. His owners aren’t going to give him away, but depending on how big a discount you can get, Francis may be worth a shot.
Tyson Chandler
Chandler has been nothing short of a major disappointment in his post-contract year. He’s averaging a pathetic 5.4 ppg (a career low!), his 1.2 blocks are tied for a career low, and it’s just been really tough for his owners all year long. There have been signs of a turnaround in February, and he rolled off 13 straight double-digit rebounding games before Saturday’s 8-board performance in just 17 minutes. In Scott Skiles’ crazy minutes system, Chandler has been inconsistent, and it’s been nearly impossible to figure out how he’s going to do from one game to the next. So why buy on Tyson?
For no other reason than the fact that his owners have got to be sick of him. Centers have been at an extreme premium this year, and there are plenty of you guys out there who could really use the nine boards and 1.2 blocks that Chandler provides. Additionally, with the Bulls slipping away from the playoffs, Skiles is running out of time figuring out a lineup that works. One of the coaches of the year candidates last year might be out of a job this year if he can’t get his team in the playoffs. Look for him to count on Chandler to help with the push for the postseason.
Bobby Jackson
This is buying real low. Actually, odds are that Bobby’s on your league’s waiver wire. Jackson was a hot pickup after Damon Stoudamire’s season-ending injury, but since Chucky Atkins entered the fold in Memphis, Jackson’s been spiraling out of fantasy discussions. One of my favorite strategies over the final few months is buying on guys who are playing for new contracts, and Jackson is one of those guys. Sure, he’s an old, injury-prone point guard who’s sharing time, and his minutes have been inconsistent. But, he’s playing for a contract. With a strong showing in the final few months and playoffs, he could get a nice 2- or 3-year deal somewhere. Falling off the map, he’s going to be looking a one-year deals and miminum contracts. There’s some incentive for ya.






