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Welcome to Fantasy Vibe Check, your place to vent about the ups, downs, and surprises of the NBA and fantasy basketball.
See who I’m vibing with and let me know in the comments or @DanTitus about how it makes you feel some way about fantasy basketball.
No, LeBron James doesn’t wash
The internet is already talking about Father Time catching up with LeBron. In last night’s ugly loss to the T’Wolves, James finished with 10 points (4-16 FG, 0-4 3PT, 2-4 FT), eight rebounds, four assists and six turnovers in 31 minutes. They’re also going through a crazy 3-game drought, going 0-19 in their last four games. There was a ball of air, bricks barely touching the edge and some bunnies lost in the paint; It was terrible to see, and although some people said it was washed, I came away with:
The man is almost 40 years old and tired. In fantasy terms, this is a prime location for buy cheap.
Context matters. The Lakers played five games in seven nights, with James averaging 33.6 minutes per game during that stretch. He played 36 minutes the night before in a win over Utah, dropping 27 points (12-28 FG, 0-9 3PT, 3-3 FT) with 5 rebounds, 14 assists, 2 blocks and 3 turnovers. Was it against an inferior opponent? Yeah. But the guy literally just put numbers on the board and people think he doesn’t have them anymore? Make it make sense.
The Lakers need another ball handler to reduce James’ workload. In the meantime, I hope we see him play fewer minutes to preserve his long-term health. His efficiency is down, but there is still a chance to correct course by settling for fewer jumpers, driving and drawing more fouls. Despite the slight scoring drop, he’s still averaging over eight rebounds and nine assists, so make a move and trade for LeBron while he’s on. his background version.
The Pelicans are crashing
The Pelicans’ season is over. It’s a wrap. Finite. Brandon Ingram, Zion Williamson and CJ McCollum all walk out the door whenever the right trade comes along, leaving Trey Murphy III and a few key components to pick up the pieces. Murphy is playing below his standard, shooting just 38% from the field despite being a career 45% shooter. Fantasy managers would prefer him to return to his 2022-2023 form, where he shot 48% from the field, but that will be difficult to replicate as he is primed for more volume with all the injuries surrounding him.
Through nine games, Murphy ranks 110th in 9-cat leagues, with most of his decline in value coming from his inefficiency in 3 above rest and restricted areas. Murphy has shot at least 60% on two-point field goals the past two seasons and is at 48% this year. He has also shot 38% from three-point range and is at 31% so far. Even though the Pelicans are bad, Murphy is better than he lets on, and that presents another buy-low opportunity.
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Murphy attempts five more shots per game and gets to the line more often. He has been consistent enough with his career averages in the other categories to see that he will be better than his ranking suggests in the future. He’s a critical piece for the Pels, so fantasy managers should take advantage of his struggles, knowing that his role will only expand as the season progresses.
It’s time to buy Desmond Bane
My man is recovering from an oblique injury, and while the criticism is fair considering he’s been a shell of himself, fantasy managers are writing Bane off too quickly. If anything, they should feel better about the situation, considering the Grizzlies are winning games despite their poor shooting.
He plays just 27 minutes a night, so it’s clear the Grizzlies coaching staff is helping him return to his regular role. When Bane has been on the court, his shot volume has decreased by approximately three shots per 36. However, Bane’s assists and action numbers are on par with his last few seasons, with his rebound rate at a higher level of his career.
He needs to shake off the rust, and after Sunday’s win over the Pacers, I’m seeing signs of life. In 30 minutes, Bane finished with 16 points (7-15 field goals, 2-8 three-pointers), 6 rebounds, 6 dimes, 1 steal and 1 turnover. Like Murphy, Bane is fighting for beyond the arc and restricted areas. He’s generally not a great finisher around the rim, but he’s effective from the mid-range to the outside. With more minutes and the Grizzlies as one of the best teams in the league, don’t wait until Bane comes out to negotiate for him; the time is now.