RADIO
We’re now a month into the season, and you have spent most of it debating over these struggling shooting guards. If you’re like me, you spent Thanksgiving sulking over Kobe Bryant’s horrific stats. What is there to be thankful for when the Mamba is shooting 31%? Think of this article as your support group and let’s get to work.
Under-Performing Stars: Shooting Guard Edition
Kobe Bryant (SG, LAL)
Kobe Bryant is the elephant in the room that everyone has been talking about. Rumor is that Bryant is trying to implement a new shooting motion to ease the strain on his body. Unfortunately for fantasy owners, Bryant’s poor play has been indicative of an expected decline. This makes sense too, as injuries may have finally caught up with him at this point in his career. On the year, Bryant is averaging 15.2 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 3.5 assists. His acceptable volume stats are unfortunately paired with his horrific percentages. Bryant is shooting only 31.1% from the field, and is also hitting less than a fifth of his threes. Coming off a 1 for 14 performance against the Warriors, is it time for Bryant to hit the waivers?
Drop him.
It’s hard to think about dropping a legend, but the numbers Bryant has been putting up are unacceptable in both H2H and Roto leagues. If you play Roto, Bryant does not deserve any thought on your roster, as his inefficiency has likely plummeted your FG% category. If you play H2H, Bryant’s need for off days as well as a forced punt on FG% is not worth your trouble either. His popcorn stats this season are better off coming from more efficient sources. Have a look at C.J. Miles or Marco Belinelli if you’re in need of some 3’s in particular.
Victor Oladipo (SG, ORL)
Victor Oladipo’s lack of production has probably been the biggest issue of any shooting guard. He was likely drafted in the third or fourth round has definitely not lived up to the production he has put up in the past few years. This season, Oladipo has averaged 13.9 points, with 6.0 rebounds and 3.9 assists. Perhaps the biggest hit to his value has been his relegation to a bench role in favor of breakout candidate Evan Fournier. With this demotion as well as a crowded bunch of young talent vying for shots on the Orlando Magic, what should we do with Oladipo?
Trade him.
It’s tempting to want to hold on to Oladipo because he is a young talent and could easily bounce back in terms of production. The issue is that Oladipo’s teammates have continued to get better as well. Just try to list out the number of guys on the Magic who could put up a 20-point performance on any given night. Elfrid Payton, Evan Fournier, and Tobias Harris are all threats to fill up the stat sheet, while Nikola Vucevic remains a higher priority than Oladipo in terms of overall scoring opportunities. There is no doubt that Oladipo is still very good and that he holds a lot of value in fantasy. However, avoid relying on a guard who is just playing 26 minutes a game. Look to sell him right now, while he still has name value.
Danny Green (SG, SAS)
Danny Green was a fantasy darling for proud owners last season, as he was able to contribute across the board. Savvy fantasy owners can appreciate players who can provide a block, a steal, a three, and a handful of points on good percentages. Green has definitely struggled to match his production this season, as he is averaging 7.9 points with 4.4 rebounds, 2.3 assists. He is only shooting 33.8% from the field, and his prized steals and blocks contributions have both fallen to just 0.6 per game. It is time to give up?
Drop him.
Danny Green’s production from last year was created from a mix of hot streaks and cold spells. He had plenty of opportunities to get hot because of the injuries the Spurs were dealing with at the time. Tony Parker in particular, missed a significant amount of games. This season is much different, as the older Spurs look great, and newcomers David West and LaMarcus Aldridge have also taken up a large portion of the offense. All of this is still neglecting the continued rise of Kawhi Leonard as a star. Green will continue to see the floor but his production will be useless unless he can somehow double his steals and blocks rate.
Monta Ellis (SG, IND)
Monta Ellis’s struggles this season have been the most surprising, as many people thought that he could be an All Star back in the East. Ellis should have been in a great situation to reach his normal production. However, he has definitely failed to live up to the hype. He has averaged 12.6 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 5.3 assists, while only shooting 41.4% from the field. With the great recent performances by Paul George and C.J. Miles, the Pacers do not look like they need volume production from Ellis. However, we do, and we need to figure out what to do with him.
Hold him.
Let’s try to end this article on an optimistic note. Ellis has eight straight seasons of averaging over 18 points per game. The talent is certainly there, and he looks to be healthy. The issue here is that Ellis has had trouble fitting into this offense centered on Paul George. Ellis is still getting his fair share of shots though, at 12.4 attempts per game. He is also playing to standards in terms of rebounds, assists, and steals. At times, he just looks too unselfish on the floor. If he can just improve his efficiency a little bit, Ellis should have no problem earning more offensive reps. Send an offer for Ellis if you don’t own him.
