RADIO
Centers don't just grow on trees. In a game dominated more and more by small ball and the idea of the "scoring guard," the best centers in the league are more coveted than ever. Even if your center is struggling, you should generally hold on to him. It's just wise to do so because there aren't many other sources of blocks out there. Center value is also strongly tied into the players' ability to impact your FG%, an often overlooked aspect of fantasy play. At this point in the season, you should be looking for struggling centers to buy low, as their impacts on those two stats are often overlooked and will be tremendously helpful down the line. If you feel like you need some supplemental help at the center position, pick up Myles Turner. Actually, Turner would be a great pick up for any team.
NBA Under-Performing Stars: Center Edition
Nikola Vucevic (C, ORL)
Nikola Vucevic was quickly becoming a fantasy star last season, and his third round ADP this season reflects the faith many had in the European big man. He averaged 19.3 points with 10.9 rebounds. Unfortunately, Vucevic has taken a step backward this season, dropping down to 16.8 points with 8.6 rebounds. His FG% was marginally better last season, and he is getting to the line less this season as well. The decrease in production can be explained by the slightly reduced minutes he is playing this season, as well as the emerging scorers around him. Teammates Victor Oladipo and Tobias Harris have both already made appearances on the Under-Performing Stars series, so is Vucevic a candidate for trade?
Hold him.
Vucevic's play isn't flashy and his low scoring output makes him a less viable trade asset than other players. The fact that he plays for a low key team like the Orlando Magic also takes away from his name value. If you took him in the second or third round, you likely did so knowing that Vucevic would provide a steady source of points and rebounds. He is also providing blocks at a higher rate this year, an aspect of his game that forgives the drops in the other categories. He's not the star he was last season, but he is still a solid rock. He is also still attempting over 15 shots a game, and serves as a focal point of the Magic offense. He can definitely still generate an uptick in scoring down the line as well. It's hard to imagine a scenario where you could trade away Vucevic and get equal value for him back. Look to hold him and try to trade for him if you don't own him.
DeAndre Jordan (C, LAC)
DeAndre Jordan does not belong on this list if you play H2H. If you play H2H, then you're punting FT% and hopefully your team is doing very well with his stellar rebounding and FG% boost. However, if you're playing Roto, the hack-a-Jordan strategy is likely making your life miserable as Jordan continues to miss free throws at an extraordinary rate. You may have drafted Jordan without knowing too much about how a Roto league works, or you might have missed out on grabbing another big guy like Andre Drummond or Dwight Howard at a much better draft value to lock down your rebounding. Jordan is quickly becoming a death sentence as you plummet towards the bottom of the standings in FT%. He also isn't contributing as much as Drummond in terms of scoring and rebounding to boost you enough in the other categories. Howard is also not being fouled at the rate that Jordan is. Jordan's positives just doesn't compensate for the 1 or 2 you have in the FT% column, so what should you do with him?
Hold him.
The most important task right now is not only to hold Deandre Jordan, but to get Andre Drummond or Dwight Howard as soon as possible. There is still hope for you to get a boost from Drummond to right the ship. The hope with this move is that Drummond or Howard can ensure you the highest mark in rebounding in your league. As a result, the high rebounding and low FT% can balance out and give you a shot at the championship down the line. Drummond is a higher priority if you need a consistent play. Howard might be more helpful for a team because his FG% impact will be better, but his health concerns are certainly there. Hack-a-Jordan isn't going away this season and its likely only going to get worse as teams get more desperate for wins down the line. Your rolling the dice with Jordan might shut down your championship chances if you don't pair him up with another high-volume big man soon. If you can't bring in at least one of the big men, Jordan is a trade asset you can dangle in front of an inexperienced fantasy player. In the meantime, have a look at Tyson Chandler as a short-term rebounding plug. Unfortunately, the damage is likely done with your FT% at this point in the season.
