In his own head, Charlie has been a fantasy General Manager for years. Unfortunately, real NBA teams did not return his calls when he applied to be their "real" GM. Following his rejection, he has spitefully chosen to share his knowledge with the world. For more from Charlie, visit his blog.
Well, it's once again time for this week's edition of The Charity Stripe. This column features a pair of point guards you might've overlooked and yet another UConn big man to pick up. There are three big men you'd be best off digressing, and if you can pick up on the “digress” theme this week, you just might be smarter than you look.
I'll give you a hint, it has something to do with Greg Oden.
As always, feel free to email me your fantasy, or personal, questions and problems to danoff.charles@gmail.com. If you can tell me the theme I've not so subtly used, I'll even give you an air high-five.
3 Who've Impressed
Damon Jones Cleveland Cavaliers Fantasy Eligible Position - PG
Yes, at $4.1 million/year, Damon Jones is overpaid. Yes, I do think the man who signed him Danny Ferry is the NBA's version of Matt Millen and competing with the Detroit idiot for the title of worst GM in sports. And, yes Damon Jones is also the ninth best three point shooter in the NBA this year, making 43.3% of his attempts from distance.
My own personal feelings aside, and even though numbers do lie at times, this time they say Jones is someone who should be on your fantasy team.
Keep in mind, over the past five games he's only gotten better, making a completely unfair 59.3% of his threes. Also, despite the addition of new starter Delonte West, Damon should continue to get consistent minutes over the next month. Neither Daniel “Boobie” Gibson nor Sasha Pavlovic are projected to return before April. Both have stolen minutes from Jones in the past, but the way he's shooting now, he'd probably still be playing over them.
Only add Damon to your roster if you want to dominate a fantasy category on the way to your league's championship.
I mean, if nothing else, you should win by default for having the coolest mohawk in the NBA on your roster.
Marcus Banks Miami Heat Fantasy Eligible Position: PG
Continuing on the trend of back-up point guards playing above their heads, we turn now to the man who was traded for the greatest center of the millennium, Marcus Banks. Ask Pat Riley, he'll tell you Shawn Marion was really just a salary cap throw in, anyway.
The only time in his career where Banks has gotten consistent minutes, in the 2005 - 06 season for the Timberwolves, he averaged 12 PPG, 5 APG and 1.2 SPG. Those aren't All-Star numbers, but they should be good enough to warrant a spot on your fantasy roster if your top PG is having a night off.
Since coming over to the Heat, Banks has been “heating” up, making 49% of his field goals. Remember, it's not as if he's a 7-footer, he's a 6-2 PG from Sin City whose not afraid to get his hands dirty. Considering Dwayne Wade might be shut down for the season any day now, and Jason Williams is always a threat to get injured, minutes should be plenty for Banks over the next month. Even if White Chocolate stays healthy, he'll be gone from the Heat next year, while Banks needs minutes as he figures to be around for a little while.
Josh Boone New Jersey Nets Fantasy Eligible Positions: PF, C
Though he'll never remind anyone of his teammate from UConn, Emeka Okafor, Josh Boone has been making a little name for himself in his second season.
For the year he's been making over 54% of his shots starting most games for the hapless Nets. Recently, he's been even better, making 65% of his field goals over his past 10 starts. And it's not as if he's doing that taking one to two shots a game, he's playing nearly 30 minutes per contest. Combine the hot shooting with 9.5 PPG and over 8 RPG over the same period and you have a late season sleeper my friends. As the Nets continue to slip into oblivion, they'll need to keep developing Josh. That means good things for the former Huskie and for you if you're wise enough to heed my advice.
3 to Digress
Andrea Bargnani Toronto Raptors Fantasy Eligible Positions: SF, PF, C
Though he hasn't quite been as bad as fellow tall European high pick Nikoloz Tskitishvili, Bargnani hasn't exactly been Dirk Nowitzki, either. I guess it's only fitting, Mussolini was never the dictator Hitler was.
Number one overall picks are not supposed to be losing starts to Rasho Nesterovic in their second seasons.
Despite standing nearly seven feet tall, the Italian is making less than 40% of his shots from the field. He's too in love with the three, taking over three a game and making only 38% of those. It's never a good sign when a player of his size is taking less free throws a night than threes.
Get into the post big fella. Throw that weight you got from all those pasta dinners around. Make life easy on yourself, with short shots and trips to the Charity Stripe.
Long term, all is not lost for Bargnani, he still projects to be a solid to quite excellent big man for the only team in Canada. This season, however, it's not gonna happen. The quicker you move him off your fantasy roster, the better.
Kwame Brown Memphis Grizzlies Fantasy Eligible Position: C
I've been a Brown apologize for a long time. “Just wait” I'd tell my friends as they'd laugh at me. “He just needs a little more time, then you'll see. MJ was too hard on him. Big men always take longer to develop don't they?”
Well, Kwame, no more.
If you couldn't figure out a way to get it done under Phil Jackson and Karim Abdul-Jabar, playing with Kobe Bryant, then you never, never will. In less than three years, Andrew Bynum became one of the best big men in the NBA with the same circumstances. Seven years of apologies are enough.
I would hope none of my zero readers have Brown on their rosters, but if you do, try to trade him for Pau Gasol immediately.
It'll be interesting to see how many more seasons he lasts in the league.
Kenyon Martin Denver Nuggets Fantasy Eligible Postion: PF
Though Denver might not make the playoffs, they remain my darker-than-night horse pick to make it to the Western Finals. Iverson and Melo can beat anyone in a seven game series, and Camby with Martin is a strong enough defensive front-court to match up against all of the defensive big men.
Unfortunately, while defense may win championships in the “real world,” it does squat for your fantasy squad.
Martin has constantly underachieved since being the top pick of the worst draft in NBA history, and this year's no different. He is shooting a career best 51% from the field, but he's only grabbing 6.5 RPG and blocking a paltry 1.3 shots per tilt. Weren't rebounding and shot blocking supposed to be his strong suits coming out of Cincy?
See if you can get someone drunk and remind them of his glory days back in school. Then quickly swap him for whatever you can snag from your “pal's” squad. Believe me, taking advantage of intoxicated people is one of the best things you can do for your own personal happiness.
In his own head, Charlie has been a fantasy General Manager for years. Unfortunately, real NBA teams did not return his calls when he applied to be their "real" GM. Following his rejection, he has spitefully chosen to share his knowledge with the world. For more from Charlie, 