Fantasy Falafel Basketball
Hoops: Week 8

By: Collin "Kool-Aid" Kilpatrick

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Ladies and gentlemen, there's a new sheriff in town. A real smooth, tough as nails son of a gun. A man with his ear to the street and a black Stetson crowning his curly locks. A new gun who has shot up the competition and staked his terrority with a shiny, silver star. A man who has wrestled bears, tamed the wildest horses and grown handlebar mustaches longer than LeBron James' wingspan.

This man speaks softly and carries a big...laptop. But have no fear, good men and women of Fantasy Basketball Land, Sheriff Kool-Aid means no harm. He wields his piece only in the pursuit of the best possible fantasy advice. And, believe us, he gets it. Fortunately he's generous enough to pass his wisdom on to you: America's Fantasy Basketball population. So enjoy it, good people. Enjoy it and smile in knowing that your fantasy universe is safe under the jurisdiction of Kool-Aid. Also, if you have any questions for the good sheriff, be sure to hit him online at fantasyfalafel@gmail.com.

Now, on to your regularly scheduled Fantasy Falafel...

If losing Kevin "Mini-Mart" Martin wasn't a big enough blow for me (as a Kings fan), I have to say that my fantasy team is taking a pretty big hit as well. That's why I've been watching the wires even more closely than usual. This week let's take a look at three players who are making moves on the court and should be making a move into your starting lineup as soon as possible.

1. Speaking of Kevin Martin, the Kings star shooting guard will be out for 4-6 weeks with a groin injury. Starting in Kevin's place is John Salmons (who is picking up right where he left off when starting SF Ron Artest missed the first seven games of the season due to suspension). In his first four games on the job, John has averaged 16.8 points, 1.75 threes (at 70% 3P), 5.5 boards, 3.5 assists, 2 steals and 1 block per game. While that's a great line for a guy on wires, he is also averaging 3.5 turnovers per game and his starting role is only secured as long as Martin stays in street clothes. My recommendation? Pick up Salmons if you need a quick fix until Martin (or another injured guard) returns or ride Salmons for a week or two before using him as trade bait.

2. Is anyone other than me watching fifth year forward Travis Outlaw right now? This guy is trying to pull a Manu and provide fantasy-worthy numbers without starting a game. But Outlaw's production will get noticed, so don't be surprised to find him in a starting role sooner rather than later. Over his last six games, Travis has tallied 18.5 points, 0.6 threes, 7.1 boards, 1.6 assists, 0.6 steals 1 block and 1.1 turnovers per game in just over 29 minutes of play off the bench. While Outlaw's role is very much uncertain at this point, he has been helping his team and should be considered a great pickup for teams hurting at points and boards. His block rate is an added bonus.

3. Let's try not to be short-sighted. Let's look at a player's history before we think about picking him up. Let's also try to understand where he is and where he is going in his career.

Three years ago, Player X averaged 22 points, 1 three-pointer, 6 boards, almost 5 assists and almost 3 steals per game. This made him a fantasy basketball goldmine. Then Player X got traded to Cleveland and became a huge disappointment for both his new team and fantasy owners everywhere (who stuck their necks out to grab him in early rounds). As you may have guessed, Player X is Cleveland's Larry Hughes. These days, you won't even find Hughes on most fantasy teams; but let's not forget what kind of history we are talking about here. In his last two games after coming back from a bone bruise, Hughes has averaged 29 points, 93% from FT, 3.5 threes, 2.5 boards, 2 assists, 2.5 steals and 1.5 blocks per game.

Now this could just be a flash of brilliance from Larry, but you should also consider that Cleveland head coach Mike Brown has been using Hughes as a SG off the bench (rather than in his old spot at starting PG). Since that change, Hughes has been playing much better. Right now, Larry is definitely a gamble. But if he is more comfortable coming off the bench at shooting guard (and if he keeps his numbers up), then he is certainly worth a look in almost all leagues. Just remember, he's fragile -- like a delicate Christmas package -- so handle with care.

That's all I have for you this week, folks. I hope your starting to establish the kind of dominance in your league that our friend Dwight exudes in the paint. If not, consider taking a look at the guys above. See if they can fill any holes in your roster. As always, send me any questions or comments and I'll see you right back here next week.

- Collin "Kool-Aid" Kilpatrick