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Fantasy Fast Break: Will Darren be dangerous?

Sergio Gonzalez
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Each week, Fantasy Basketball Writer Sergio Gonzalez takes a look at situations that Fantasy owners should monitor over the course of the upcoming week. Have a look at the top storylines in Fantasy hoops and how they might affect your team going forward.

What happens in New Orleans with Chris Paul sidelined?

The Hornets announced Monday that Chris Paul will be out for an indefinite amount of time. Most estimates have him missing anywhere from a month to two months and that will leave both the Hornets and Fantasy owners searching for solutions.

For both, the solution may not be too hard to find.

Darren Collison sure looked like Chris Paul on Saturday when he dropped 17 points and 18 assists on the Grizzlies. He even added six rebounds with a block for good measure. Collison played 47 minutes in that game and with the team having traded away some of their guard depth last week when they moved Devin Brown to the Chicago Bulls, expect heavy minutes for Collison.

Let's get something straight, however. Collison is not Chris Paul and to expect him to put up the numbers he put up Saturday, or anything close to it, is ridiculous. However, with Collison there is a track record -- however brief -- of solid play in replacement of Paul. In nine games as a starter this season, Collison is averaging 15.1 points and 7.7 assists with 3.4 rebounds.

By comparison, a player like New Jersey's Devin Harris -- who was drafted in the first few rounds of most Fantasy drafts -- is averaging 15.3 points and 5.9 assists with 3.1 rebounds per game. Collison may not be able to keep up those numbers over the long term, but what is certain is that he will be more than just a regular stopgap measure for however long CP3 is out.

But that does not mean Collison will be the only player to benefit.

When Paul missed time earlier this season, Peja Stojakovic enjoyed his best stretch of the season. Stojakovic averaged 17.6 ppg in that run of six games in late November and had his best overall performance of the season -- a 25-point, 13-rebound game against the Suns on Nov. 19. Look to see if his numbers also get a boost this week.

And with no Brown around this time, there will be more touches to go around for fewer players in the back court. That includes recently promoted Marcus Thornton, who got the starting shooting guard job following the trade. Thornton had 14 points and nine rebounds Saturday against Memphis. Overall, Collison's combination of scoring and assists will likely lead to more Fantasy production than Thornton (he won't be bringing down nine boards per night by any stretch of the imagination), but Thornton's value will get its second boost in as many weeks.

Live chats with Sergio Gonzalez!
Every Monday award-winning Fantasy writer Sergio Gonzalez will share his thoughts and answer your questions leading up to weekly lineup deadlines. Read his transcripts and submit questions on Mondays!
Latest Gonzalez chat transcript (4/6)

Will Jason Thompson regain his lost Fantasy appeal?

Jason Thompson came into the season as a high-end breakout candidate with a lot of promise. For the first two months of the season, he did not disappoint.

Thompson averaged 15.3 points and 9.6 rebounds in November, following that up with 16.6 points and 8.9 rebounds through December. But in January, he became increasinly inconsistent and had his worst month of the season. He averaged 9.1 points and 7.8 rebounds per game.

The biggest reason for the lack of production was a decline in playing time. He went from averaging 37 minutes per game in December to 27 minutes per game in January. The emergence of Omri Casspi as well as the return of Kevin Martin had a negative impact on his overall production.

In fact, since Martin returned from his wrist injury on Jan. 15 in Philadelphia, Thompson has scored in double figures just four times in nine games entering Week 15. He has posted back-to-back double digit scoring performances just once in that span.

Saturday's 12 points and 16 rebounds against the Bobcats was a step in the right direction and a reminder as to why Fantasy owners need to show patience with him.

Eventually, Thompson will find his place again in the team's scheme. That place is now somewhere alongside Casspi in the front court and with the team still getting very inconsistent play out of Spencer Hawes, there is certainly room for more improvement.

Keep up with his production in Week 15 to see if he's ready to break out in February to make up for a forgettable January.

How much of an impact will Paul Millsap have with Carlos Boozer hurt?

We've been here before, haven't we? Carlos Boozer is out with an injury and Paul Millsap is there to pick up the pieces.

Boozer is likely to miss at least the first two games in Week 15 due to the calf injury he suffered last week and possibly longer. Millsap will get a chance to reward the 80 percent of CBSSports.com owners who have stashed him through his inconsistency this season.

They've stashed him for games like the one Millsap had on Friday against Sacramento. Millsap put up 32 points and 14 rebounds with seven assists against the Kings in an effort that should not be written off as a fluke.

Millsap has started 42 games in his career, averaging 16.4 points and 10.3 rebounds. That's not too far behind Boozer's 19.2 points and 10.7 rebounds per game this season.

Fantasy owners will want to keep close tabs on Boozer's recovery. But if he's ruled out for any amount of time beyond Week 15, Millsap should make the most of it.

What is going on with the Timberwolves rotation?

With the Timberwolves losing five straight games from Jan. 20-27, coach Kurt Rambis was looking to change things up when he moved Ryan Hollins into the starting lineup at center.

Just like that, the T'Wolves went on a two-game winning streak and Hollins has emerged as a potential option for Fantasy owners.

Hollins scored 19 points against the Clippers on Jan. 29 and followed that up with 16 points against the Knicks on Jan. 31. He saw 30 minutes in each game. With the Timberwolves winning both games, expect Rambis to stick with this current lineup for a while and if Hollins can back those performances up with another few solid stat lines in Week 15, Fantasy owners will be flocking to him off the waiver wire.

Owners in leagues that require starting two centers should be stashing him already with an eye on Minnesota's games against the Mavericks and Grizzlies during the team's two-game scoring period.

Rambis has found a way to get Hollins 30 minutes while also keeping Al Jefferson and Kevin Love -- who is coming off the bench -- in the 30-minute range. That may be hard to maintain, especially while also looking to keep players like Ryan Gomes and Corey Brewer in the mix.

But if Rambis can figure it out and keep it going, Hollins is going to be a viable Fantasy center going forward.

What is happening with the center situation in Phoenix?

When Robin Lopez took over the starting job at center for the Suns, it looked like he'd be the only viable Fantasy center in the desert.

Channing Frye did his best last week to get back on the Fantasy radar, however.

Frye posted back-to-back 20-point games against the Jazz and Bobcats and saw a boost in playing time as a result. It was Lopez's defense and the size he gives the team and not his offense that got him into the starting lineup over Frye. The two games served as a reminder that Frye's offensive upside is still high. It is definitely higher than that of Lopez and what has emerged in Phoenix is a virtual timeshare between the two players.

Expect to see the hot hand get the chance to take a bigger share of the minutes going forward and matchups in Week 15 against the Hornets, Nuggets and Kings favor Frye as the Suns face teams that the Suns will want to run the floor against.

If Frye can produce a couple more games like he did last week, it won't matter if he continues to come off the bench or not. Fantasy owners will once again know they can rely upon him as a No. 2 center option in most standard formats.

Do you have a Fantasy hoops question for our staff? You can e-mail us at DMFantasyHoops@cbs.com. Be sure to put Attn: Fantasy Fast Break in the subject field. Please include your full name, hometown and state. You can also now follow Sergio on Twitter ( @CBSGonzalez ) where he'll also answer questions.

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Player News
George Hill
Hill dealing with concussion
George Hill, PG, IND
5/17/2013
News: ESPN reports that Pacers point guard George Hill missed Game 5 against the Knicks because of a concussion. There's no definite timetable for his return. Under the guidelines of the NBA's concussion protocol, it seems highly unlikely Hill returns in time for Game 6 on Saturday against the Knicks. He may not be back for Game 7 on Monday, either, if it is necessary. Hill was diagnosed with a concussion on Thursday afternoon -- about three hours before tipoff of Game 5. He will need to go through a lengthy series of tests before he returns to the floor. Per the NBA's concussion policy, which was implemented at the beginning of the 2011-12 season, Hill first needs to show that he is symptom-free.
Analysis: Keep an eye on Hill's status, and hopefully he can return for Game 6 and doesn't have any concussion issues moving forward. When healthy and active, Hill is a quality Fantasy option in the majority of leagues.

Kevin Garnett
Ainge has no answers for Garnett
Kevin Garnett, PF, BOS
5/17/2013
News: The Boston Globe reports that Celtics forward Kevin Garnett has two years left on his contract but is considering retirement. He turns 37 Sunday. “I don’t think I have the answers that Kevin will want,” Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge said. “So I’ve got to figure there’s a lot to do [before we talk], and I think there’s a lot of questions in Kevin’s mind, as there is every year, to determine whether he’s coming back.I’m not ready to answer everything that he will want to know.”
Analysis: Garnett had another productive year, averaging 14.8 points, 7.8 rebounds and 2.3 assists while shooting 49.6 percent from the field and 78.6 percent from the foul line. He will likely return if the Celtics keep Paul Pierce, but that's just speculation. Keep an eye on what happens with the Celtics, and if Garnett is back consider him a solid No. 2 Fantasy center worth a mid-round pick.

Paul Pierce
Pierce, Celtics could part ways
Paul Pierce, SF, BOS
5/17/2013
News: The Boston Globe reports the Celtics have to decide by June 30 whether to buy out Paul Pierce’s contract at $5 million. Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge said the sides have not had discussions, but an NBA source said Pierce’s family is already beginning to prepare for relocation from Boston, assuming the Celtics will execute the buyout or trade his expiring contract in the offseason.Pierce struggled mightily during the playoffs, and Ainge was asked whether the longtime Celtic was injured. “Paul’s always battling little things,” said Ainge. “I think Paul’s healthy, but he played so hard and carried such a heavy load. Paul had a terrific year this year, but in the playoffs, New York did a good job of taking away his strengths and taking advantage of some of our weaknesses. But I thought Paul had a terrific year.”
Analysis: This report makes it seems as though Pierce could be gone, but we'd be surprised if that happens. That said, the Celtics do need to start rebuilding at some point. Keep an eye on what happens with Pierce and where he ends up. He would remain a quality starting option in all leagues no matter where he plays, but we'd like him best if he returned to Boston.

Joakim Noah
Bulls hope Noah avoids surgery
Joakim Noah, C, CHI
5/17/2013
News: The Chicago Sun-Times reports that Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau said that the plantar fasciitis in center Joakim Noah’s right foot could require surgery, but that Noah would try rehabilitation first. “That hasn’t been determined,’’ Thibodeau said of Noah undergoing surgery. “Obviously, we’d like to avoid the surgery. He has responded a lot better. He has found something that has worked. "We want him to get completely healthy That will be the focus, getting him back to 100 percent. He needs some rest, as most of the guys do."
Analysis: We hope whatever Noah decides to do with his foot will get him back to being 100 percent for the start of next season. When healthy and active, Noah is an elite Fantasy center in the majority of leagues. He is worth drafting as early as Round 3 or 4 in most formats.

J.J. Redick
Redick likely leaving Bucks
J.J. Redick, SG, MIL
5/17/2013
News: The Racine Journal-Times reports that Bucks guard J.J. Redick could be departing this summer. Redick loved Orlando, and was very upset when he was traded. It's not likely that he would return to the Magic, considering their rebuilding condition, but he'll finally be in a position to make his own choices for his career. Redick could want to sign with a contender for less money, or an up-and-coming team for more. Redick averaged 12 points and three assists on just 40 percent shooting in Milwaukee after averaging 15 points and four assists per game with Orlando before the trade deadline.
Analysis: Keep an eye on where Redick ends up, and hopefully he lands with a team where he can get playing time and post quality stats. He is worth drafting with a late-round pick in the majority of leagues depending on where he signs.

Tyson Chandler
Chandler hurt in Game 5
Tyson Chandler, C, NY
5/17/2013
News: The New York Post reports that Knicks center Tyson Chandler hurt his back and knee with a late tumble Thursday night against the Pacers and left the court in the final minute for the locker room. He said he’s sore, but will play Saturday in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference semifinals at Indiana. “I probably won’t get the best night’s sleep," Chandler said.
Analysis: We hope Chandler can play against the Pacers and that he doesn't have any issues going forward with his back or knee. When healthy and active, Chandler is a solid Fantasy center in the majority of leagues.

Kawhi Leonard
Leonard's knee something to watch
Kawhi Leonard, SF, SA
5/17/2013
News: The San Antonio Express-News reports that Spurs forward Kawhi Leonard's knee is a "storyline for the next round" after San Antonio beat Golden State in the Western Conference semifinals. The Spurs will next face Memphis in the conference finals. The report says the knee is bothering him and "mild cause for concern."
Analysis: We expect Leonard to play against the Grizzlies in the next round, but keep an eye on what develops with his knee. When healthy and active, Leonard is a developing Fantasy option in the majority of leagues.

Jarrett Jack
Jack open to Warriors return
Jarrett Jack, PG, GS
5/17/2013
News: The Contra Costa Times reports that guard Jarrett Jack would like to return to the Warriors next season. Golden State was eliminated from the playoffs by San Antonio in the Western Conference semifinals. “Usually before I would do any media, I would make sure I was dressed a certain way," he said. "I brought one of my best suits. But looking down at this jersey, it’s just a sense of pride I don’t think I’ve ever felt as a professional. … Nothing in my closet is better than what I have on now.” His future with the Warriors is uncertain. Jack, who made $5 million this season, will become an unrestricted free agent on July 1. He played a pivotal role in the Warriors’ success as the backup point guard and the late-game ball-handler. So much so, Golden State reached out for extension talks back in January, but Jack declined before talks could get going so he could focus on the season.
Analysis: Based on his performance with the Warriors, Jack is expected to get several opportunities and lots of money on the free agent market. Whether he takes the more lucrative offer elsewhere, or whether the Warriors make a competitive offer to keep him, that will all be figured out this summer. But Jack was never more clear about for whom he wants to play: Golden State. Keep an eye on where he ends up next season. He should remain a late-round flier no matter where he signs.

Kurt Thomas
Thomas open to keep playing
Kurt Thomas, C, NY
5/17/2013
News: The New York Daily News reports that Kurt Thomas is undecided about whether to regain his title as the NBA’s oldest player next season. “Honestly, I haven’t thought much about it,” the former Knick said. “I’m just concentrating on getting healthy.” Thomas is recovering from right foot surgery and is two weeks from being off crutches. The 40-year-old is a free agent after the Knicks released him last month in order to add a player to the postseason roster. “I definitely miss being around the guys,” Thomas said over the telephone from his home in Dallas. “I miss being a part of the playoffs. And I just miss being around basketball. I love the game.”
Analysis: Keep an eye on what happens with Thomas heading into next season, but even if he plays somewhere he would have minimal Fantasy value. Ignore him in all leagues on Draft Day.

Nate Robinson
Robinson closes postseason strong
Nate Robinson, PG, CHI
5/16/2013
News: After being held scoreless in Game 4, Bulls guard Nate Robinson bounced back in Wednesday's elimination game against the Heat. Unfortunately, despite scoring 21 points on 6 of 15 shooting, Robinson's season came to a close in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference semifinals. Robinson added six rebounds and five rebounds, while turning the ball over four times in 47 minutes, in a 94-91 loss. He finished the postseason averaging 16.3 points per game in 12 contests.
Analysis: Robinson had his finest regular season since 2008-09, averaging 13.1 points and 4.4 assists in just 25.4 minutes per game. Robinson has clearly grown as a player, and he enters free agency at a good time. Coming off a successful year in the Bulls' elite defense will help his value on the market as well. Robinson is unlikely to get a starting role, but an increase in minutes would not be terribly surprising coming off his postseason successes. Robinson should be worth targeting in the mid-to-late rounds on Draft Day in most Fantasy formats.

 
 
 
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