OK, show of hands, who had Kelenna Azubuike at the top of their preseason sleeper lists? Anyone?
Put your hand down, you know-it-all.
The most added player in CBSSports.com leagues this week has been Azubuike, the second-year swingman out of Kentucky, thanks to his blazing-hot start out of the gates during which he's averaged 18.8 ppg and 5.2 rpg while shooting an impressive 53.1 percent from the field in four games.
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| Enjoy the hot start by Kelenna Azubuike while it lasts. (Getty Images) |
Coming into the season, Azubuike had played in 41 NBA games, averaging a respectable 7.1 points in 16.3 minutes per contest in his rookie season. He'd started just five of those games. This season, he's started all five games in place of the suspended Stephen Jackson and got off to an eye-catching start thanks to a 33-point, eight-rebound outburst on Nov. 2 at the Clippers.
Certainly, that made him worthy of adding in any league. Heck, yours truly even picked him up in a couple.
But when you consider the fact that Jackson is due back from his suspension on Nov. 18 along with the capricious nature of head coach Don Nelson when it comes to sticking with a set rotation -- he changes lineups like the Atlanta Hawks switch jersey colors -- the signs don't point to Azubuike being able to keep up this Fantasy charade.
The rest of the way, Azubuike will be ... forgive me for this ... fluky. He'll have decent games every now and then because -- as mentioned earlier -- Nellie tends to be spastic with his rotation and Kelenna will sporadically get his turn to shine. But mostly, he'll play irregular minutes on a nightly basis.
As long as Jackson is healthy, and not in trouble, you won't see enough from Azubuike on a regular basis to consider him anything more than a low-end stopgap. Not even Nelson is kooky enough to sit Jackson (making $6.6 million this season) or even last year's breakout player of the year, Monta Ellis, enough to allow Azubuike to live up to his early-season numbers.
Enjoy it while it lasts.
In case you haven't noticed ... Trail Blazers swingman Martell Webster has gotten off to a hot start while starting at small forward -- much like Azubuike -- but his situation lends to him being able to maintain his success for a longer period of time. Webster averaged 17.3 ppg, 4.3 rpg and 1.8 apg in his first four games and his competition for minutes isn't nearly as daunting as Azubuike's. While Azubuike will have to fight off players like Matt Barnes, Mickael Pietrus and Marco Belinelli for minutes off the pine once Jackson and Ellis are back and starting, Webster has his spot secured and has only to deal with the humble likes of Travis Outlaw, Darius Miles, James Jones and Taurean Green behind him. The skies look a whole lot clearer for Webster.
Each Friday we will highlight players who might be available in your league and whether you should consider picking them up off waivers based on their recent performances. The players chosen are based on the percentage of ownership in CBSSports.com leagues.
Add 'Em
Paul Millsap, PF, Jazz
Owned: 49 percent of leagues
Analysis: He had perhaps his best game as a professional in Wednesday night's win over Cleveland, scoring a career-high 24 points with five boards, five steals an assist and a block and saw most of the minutes in the fourth quarter in place of Mehmet Okur simply because he was the hotter hand. Despite playing off the bench, he has developed a nice niche playing behind Carlos Boozer and Okur at both the four and five spots. He had a double-double in the opener at Golden State and should be the primary big man off the bench all season.
Jason Maxiell, PF, Pistons
Owned: 36 percent of leagues
Analysis: He's in a similar situation to Millsap's and is seeing around 20 minutes per contest. He had 15 points and eight rebounds earlier this week against the Hawks and was 7-for-11 the field. We liked him as a sleeper going in and think of him as a potential starter down the line at either power forward or center with the Pistons still not set at either position. Antonio McDyess is more comfortable coming off the bench and Maxiell would fit well with the starters.
Theo Ratliff, C, Timberwolves
Owned: 30 percent of leagues
Analysis: Despite his recent bout with the flu, Ratliff has been solid while starting at center for a young team with a lot growing to do this season. He's playing alongside Al Jefferson in the paint and is not getting nearly as much defensive attention as Jefferson, leading to him averaging 11 points, five boards and 2.5 blocks in his first two starts. With quality centers being as scarce as they are in Fantasy, this aging center is certainly worth picking up while he's starting.
Drop 'Em
Luke Ridnour, PG, SuperSonics
Owned: 56 percent of leagues
Analysis: He's off to a slow start as he deals with the broken nose that is forcing him to wear a protective mask while he plays that he doesn't seem to be too comfortable with. On top of that, he's suffering from a strained quadriceps muscle and is falling behind Earl Watson and Delonte West on the depth chart. He has scored six total points in four games played. Currently, he's dead weight on Fantasy teams and shouldn't be too hard to pick back up if he shows signs of life.
Jorge Garbajosa, PF/C, Raptors
Owned: 11 percent of leagues
Analysis: He hasn't been a part of coach Sam Mitchell's early-season rotation despite playing a big role last season off the bench. Garbajosa is not too happy with his playing time and neither are his Fantasy owners -- the ones that have stuck with him this long. The Raptors claim the lack of playing time has nothing to do with the broken fibula injury that he sustained last season and we believe them. Garbajosa was able to play for the Spanish national team over the summer and played through the preseason without any issues. He's averaging just nine minutes per game.
Avoid 'Em
Steve Blake, PG, Trail Blazers
Owned: 15 percent of leagues
Analysis: He got the starting job thanks to a very slow start by Jarrett Jack, but isn't a player with much upside or even job security. Jack scored 20 points off the bench in Blake's first start Wednesday night and Blake had just five points. He did have nine assists in the game, but his best NBA season consisted of him averaging 8.2 ppg and 4.5 assists in his first time around in Portland. Jack should get his job back soon if he keeps playing like he did Wednesday night.
Sebastian Telfair, PG, Timberwolves
Owned: 15 percent of leagues
Analysis: With Randy Foye (knee) out for the first couple of weeks of the season, Telfair is getting the starts at the point for the T'Wolves. That's not as appealing as it sounds. Telfair's career-long struggles aside, he's inherited the controls of a team without many offensive outlets and there isn't much of a window of opportunity for Telfair to do much in his limited time as starter.
DeSagana Diop, C, Mavericks
Owned: 36 percent of leagues
Analysis: He's off to a pretty nice start this season, averaging 7.5 ppg, 9.3 rpg and 3.5 bpg in four starts with regular starter Erick Dampier (shoulder) out. Dampier should be back soon, though, and even if Diop's solid play earns him an increased role, Dampier (who averaged 7.1 ppg and 7.4 rpg last season) will severely cut into his potential output.
Others to monitor...
Sasha Pavlovic, SG, Cavaliers
Owned: 7 percent of leagues
Analysis: He's back after ironing out a contract dispute that kept him out of the preseason and the start of the regular season and he scored 17 points while starting in place of Larry Hughes (knee) on Wednesday night. With Hughes prone to injury and not living up to his offensive potential, Pavlovic could find himself in a situation to contribute regularly.
Acie Law, PG, Hawks
Owned: 55 percent of leagues
Analysis: The rookie came into the season third on the team's depth chart at point guard, but has climbed up to No. 2 and even got himself a start Tuesday at New Jersey. He didn't have a great line (seven points, 1-for-5 shooting, four rebounds and no assists), but has some nice upside and should continue to improve as the season progresses. Monitor his playing time.
Channing Frye, PF, Trail Blazers
Owned: 40 percent of leagues
Analysis: Frye got a start at center Wednesday vs. New Orleans as the team continues to find a fix at the position -- something they thought they addressed when they drafted Greg Oden with the No. 1 pick in the NBA Draft. He scored eight points with seven boards and is now nine more starts at center away from gaining eligibility at the position.
Anderson Varejao, PF/C, Cavaliers
Owned: 7 percent of leagues
Analysis: The Cavaliers and Varejao are reportedly close to a one-year deal. He could return to the Cavaliers within the next couple of weeks and would likely be inserted into a role backing up both Zydrunas Ilgauskas and Drew Gooden at power forward and center. He averaged 6.7 rebounds per game a season ago in 81 appearances, but isn't much of an offensive presence.
Have a question or comment for Sergio? Send your thoughts to DMFantasyBasketball@cbs.com. Be sure to put Attn: Playing the Waiver Wire in the subject field. Include your full name, hometown and state.
