The Night Before the Chaos?

It’s Trade Deadline Day and though it may not be the race down the stairs to see what’s under the Christmas tree that it has been in the past – there will be more than enough rumors to keep everybody busy.

Proof positive of that is the 30-team report we’ve compiled on the deadline that you can find here.

These days it’s not just about how fast you can compile the rumors, but also how fast one can sift through the BS to get to the crux of what is going on. Fantasy values swing based on public perception and needless to say it’s a truly hectic time for owners. Do you buy low, sell high or hold? Not making a move is in effect making a move. Nobody can escape the rumor mill and it’s exhilarating and fun and exhausting all the same.

Considering I need to log at least one hour of sleep over the last three days before the deadline starts cooking in the morning, this Dose is going to be short and sweet and hit on just the high points.

We’re going to have a David Lee inspired #FullSquad on hand all day today and you can follow the entire crew by visiting our home page and looking under the Twitter links. You can follow me on Twitter as things get hot and heavy for your news in real-time.

James Harden scored 29 points with six boards, 11 assists, four steals, one block and five 3-pointers in their win over the depleted Lakers. Maybe he’s taking all this bust talk to heart, but more than likely he’s just getting into the groove that big name guys fall into in the months of February and March after the All Star break.

Isaiah Thomas was the best player on the floor in the Warriors/Kings game last night and turned in 26 points on 9-of-17 shooting with two threes, four rebounds, seven assists and a steal in 42 minutes. The shooting wrist swelling is a concern despite the fact I was told the injury was minor. Shooting wrists should always be taken seriously, and I’ll stay on top of that news through my sources but for now it looks like he’ll play through the ailment.

Klay Thompson got back on track after a much-needed break with 18 points on 6-of-14 shooting, four boards, five assists, three steals, one block and one three against the depleted Kings. Owners don’t care about the asterisk if it gets him going again.

Jordan Farmar returned from calf and hammy injuries on a 20-minute limit, posting nine points, three boards, four assists and three treys. This is why you picked him up. Now the trick is for him to stay healthy, and I think he should be owned in most 12-team formats.

Ryan Kelly scored 13 points with three rebounds, three assists and one triple over 29 minutes after moving back into the starting lineup. I’ve liked him to be owned in 12-team leagues and I think 10-team owners can feel free to consider a speculative add. Kelly fits Mike D’Antoni’s scheme and the Lakers are about to unload all of their bigs.

Jordan Hill played 26 minutes with 10 points, seven rebounds, three steals and a block in his 26 minutes, which was certainly aided by a bit of showcasing. The Lakers would have played him more but he just can’t handle it. He’s a low-end stash for the chance he’s more appreciated in his new location, with New Orleans joining Brooklyn as the favorites for his services right now and the Pellies being the best spot for his value (assuming Monty plays nice). Chris Kaman (nine points, four boards, one block, 22 minutes) is in the same boat but there is less interest for his services at this time.

Kendall Marshall went for 20 and 16 with three steals and four 3-pointers as his ‘prove everybody wrong’ tour continued in earnest. He did this against elite defender Patrick Beverley, though I’d want to watch the game tape before going to the mat with that. Whatever the case may be he’s a must-start player until further notice.

Wes Johnson logged 42 minutes and scored 24 points with seven rebounds, two steals and four threes, and he’s also a must-own player whose value was boosted with the exit of Steve Blake (covered in the deadline guide).

Jodie Meeks (ankle) returned to action and scored 19 points with two threes and a steal in 34 minutes. He’s a must-own, must-start player that is terribly underrated in fantasy leagues. Mike D’Antoni is a fan to say the least.

Manu Ginobili went big in his 19 minutes with 16 points, five rebounds, four assists and a steal and I don’t see how he can go unowned with his solid late-round value. Yes, he’s a risk but on the other hand he hasn’t really been let loose at all this year. There’s a bit of upside in that fact. Marco Belinelli stayed hot as the shooting graph suggested he would, hitting 7-of-11 shots for 20 points, four treys, four boards and a steal. He’ll get dinged by Kawhi Leonard’s imminent return but owners in standard leagues can consider him for spot-use until he cools off.

Thomas Robinson nearly double-doubled over 23 minutes with LaMarcus Aldridge (groin) out, scoring 10 points with nine rebounds while Dorell Wright (10 points, five boards, two steals, two threes) started and played 20 minutes. This looks like a value-killing timeshare but both players will be worth a look while Aldridge is out over the next week or more. Robinson is still raw and my sense is that Terry Stotts might give Wright the greater room for error right now.

Patty Mills is cashing in on all that potential and he turned in another big night with 24 of his 29 points in the second half of last night’s win over the Blazers. I liked him to be owned in all formats based on the strength of his season-long late-round value, while his recent value has been in the early rounds. If he’s available stop what you’re doing and grab him with or without regard for Parker’s return, which is still somewhat hazy.

Derrick Favors (hip) did not play and weary owners can call off any buy low discussion until the issue is worked out, but Favors was close to going tonight and again the gamblers can consider all the past talk about that. Enes Kanter got the start and promptly put up 18 and 10 with no steals or blocks. That’s probably not changing this season and it is the anchor to his value, but he’ll be worth starting for however long Favors is out. Alec Burks scored 23 points with six rebounds, three assists and a trey and he’s worth a look in standard leagues, though he needs to continue posting big numbers to make up for his problems with versatility.

Shaun Livingston logged 40 minutes and put up nine points, five boards, seven assists and one block, and he’s not going to just hand over his duties to Marcus Thornton. Keep using him as you normally have until you’re given a reason not to. Joe Johnson had a ‘good’ night with 27 points, two boards, six assists, three steals and four treys. He’s worth a look after a night like that but he’s faded throughout the year.

Kevin Love went nuts with 42 points, 16 boards, one steal and five treys and he built on his NBA record of hitting 40 and 15 with five treys in a game. The record now stands at two such games.

Rajon Rondo nearly triple-doubled with 18 points, seven rebounds, and 10 assists but he didn’t hit a three or record a steal. Owners are watching the 3-point shooting to see if he can keep up his hot start from behind the stripe, but of more consequence right now might be when he clears himself for back-to-backs. The Celtics have two such games on Friday and Saturday so watch out.

Ricky Rubio handed out a career-high 17 assists to go with six points, seven boards and two steals. He’s a guy that I have a hard time complaining about despite the bad shooting and scoring numbers.

Gerald Wallace had a productive night with Avery Bradley (ankle) out, scoring nine points with three rebounds, four steals and a block in 34 minutes. He’s still all over the board and owners will want to approach him with caution. Brandon Bass tried to pad his trade value with 18 and eight with two blocks, but he’ll likely have more value where he’s at barring a small group of shallow teams as potential landing spots at the deadline.

J.R. Smith got back on track with his mask with 19 points on 7-of-13 shooting, five boards, three assists and two steals. He isn’t a must-own player given all the drama and issues, but he’s worth a look after a line like that. Tim Hardaway has been a guy I’m trying to add/hold, and last night he scored 16 points on 6-of-13 shooting with three treys, three boards and one steal. Especially after the Iman Shumpert injury (MCL sprain in previously injured knee) both guys should be owned in most standard formats.

Carmelo Anthony scored 42 points with four rebounds, three steals, two blocks and two threes as he continues to carry extremely heavy load for the Knicks. The good news is that I don’t think he cares, I don’t think Mike Woodson cares, and I don’t think the Knicks care. He’s good to go.

I’m done giving Jonas Valanciunas any credibility as a guy to own in 12-14 team leagues. Perhaps owners should wait and see if the Raptors change fundamentally at the deadline somehow, but JV just isn’t getting done and there are no indicators that this will change since the Raptors are heading to the playoffs. DeMar DeRozan chipped in with 32 points, five boards and one assist to go with 10-of-11 makes from the foul line in last night’s loss to the Bulls.

Tobias Harris finally got going with the peripherals last night, hitting two threes with two steals and one block to go with an otherwise unsurprising 19 points, seven boards and three assists. Those peripherals are the key to him achieving mid-round value and it’s undoubtedly a good sign. Victor Oladipo had another low minute night (four points, four boards, four assists, 19 minutes) and I’m still fine calling him a buy low target.

Jeff Teague suffered an ankle injury and did not return last night as his nightmare season continues. Shelvin Mack played 17 minutes with six points, two boards and three assists but has been serviceable in spots this season. Paul Millsap (21 and 11 with four assists, three steals, one block, one three) was en fuego and Elton Brand came out of nowhere to post 20 and 11 with a steal and zero blocks in another big 35-minute effort. Perhaps that’s why they’re sniffing around Jordan Hill and Chris Kaman.

Kemba Walker went off for 24 points, five rebounds, a career-high 16 assists, two steals, one block and three treys. Looks like that slump is over.