LestersLegends.com

Kelvin Kuo-US PRESSWIRE
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The window of opportunity to add J.J. Hickson to your fantasy basketball roster is dwindling. Currently he is owned in 59.0 percent of ESPN and 48 percent of Yahoo! leagues. If he continues to put up big numbers, he’ll be gone before you know it.
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His signature game came on Friday against the Los Angeles Clippers. Hickson went for 29 points on 13 of 19 shooting with 13 rebounds and two assists. He let fantasy owners down by going three for seven (42.9 percent) from the line, but if you plugged him into your lineup that night, you weren’t complaining.
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I wouldn’t recommend adding a player based solely on one performance. He has strung together four solid performances in a row, thanks to injuries that have bumped his playing time to 31.5 minutes per night during the stretch.
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He has responded with averages of 19.3 points, 8.0 rebounds, 0.5 assists, 0.8 blocks, and 1.2 steals while shooting a ridiculous 69.4 percent from the floor. As you would expect he shot 52.9 percent from the line, but again that’s something you can live with given the other numbers he’s providing.
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This surge isn’t coming from nowhere. He had stretches in the 2010-11 season with the Cavs where he put up big numbers, most notably the eleven games in April 2011 when he averaged 18.4 points and 11.5 rebounds.
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Hickson is a nice option for fantasy owners because he is eligible at Power Forward and Center. That positional flexibility is especially beneficial in daily leagues.
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He is not a lock to continue on this path, but as long as he’s producing, you should ride Hickson while he’s hot.
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This is getting ridiculous. Injuries have taken Greg Oden, Rudy Fernandez, Travis Outlaw, and now Joel Pryzbilla. Pryzbilla suffered a ruptured patella tendon last night as Portland beat Dallas.It’s one thing to lose your starting Center, but his backup as well. Portland will likely be in the market for a big man as who knows how much Juwan Howard has left in the tank at 36.

One option could be Joe Smith of the Hawks once his thumb heals. He’s used to being dealt. Perhaps they could score Marcin Gortat from Orlando. DeSagana Diop isn’t getting any run in Charlotte. The Timberwolves are always open for a deal, and perhaps Brian Cardinal could be available.

First Travis Outlaw underwent foot surgery that will cost him 3-5 months. Then Greg Oden, who was finally putting together a solid year, cracked his kneecap. Rudy Fernandez is the latest Trail Blazer to go on the shelf.

Rudy will miss a month or more underwent a procedure to relieve pressure on his back that is causing pain in his leg (read more about the procedure here). Few teams can handle a rash of injuries like this, but the Blazers are the exception. Their depth will allow them to continue their push for a playoff spot.

Rudy was averaging 23.3 minutes per game. Those minutes will be divided up between Martell Webster, who is the obvious choice to pick up the most slack, Jerryd Bayless, Andre Miller, and Steve Blake.

Webster’s numbers are remarkably similar to Rudy’s. He gives them more athleticism when he’s in the lineup, though he’s not quite the shooter Rudy is.  He should see increases across the board.

Brandon Roy could actually see his assists take a dip as the Blazers use more three-guard sets with Roy teaming up with a combination of Miller, Blake, and Bayless.

Image courtesy of Icon SMI

Andre Miller is moving West again.  After playing the last 2+ years in Philadelphia, Miller is headed to Portland after agreeing to a three year, $21 million deal with the Trail Blazers.  Miller has career averages of 14.6 points, 7.4 assists, 4.2 rebounds, and 1.4 steals.  He had two of his top scoring averages the past two years in Philly at 17.0 and 16.3, but will likely see a dip after joining the likes of Brandon Roy and LaMarcus Aldridge.  His assists could also see a drop as Brandon Roy averages 5.1 apg, which is high for a Shooting Guard.  Of course Miller played with Andre Iguodala in Philly who also dishes it frequently.  Overall I think Miller’s value drops slightly.  The player who loses the most fantasy value is Steve Blake.  Blake averaged 31.7 minute last year scoring 11.0 ppg with 5.0 apg.  With his three-point prowess, Blake was a borderline fantasy starter, but with the expected drop in minutes, he is more of an afterthought.  In Philly, Miller’s departure should help Jrue Holiday should get more steady minutes in his Rookie season.  They will also lean on Lou Williams who averaged 12.8 ppg and 3.0 apg.  Both of those numbers should be on the rise next year.