Keith Lipscomb

  (3:00 PM)

Happy Monday afternoon, fantasy hoop junkies! I hope you all had a nice weekend. Let's get down to business.

John (NY)

Hey Keith, how do you see Ricky Davis finishing up the year after having an awful beginning?

Keith Lipscomb

  (3:02 PM)

It's hard to see him doing much once the Clippers' many injured players return, John. For now, he's useful only because the rotation is so short.

Matt (Little Rock)

Hey Keith, thanks for the chat. With Redd going on the shelf for the year would you recommend picking up Sessions and dumping either Wilson Chandler or Mike Miller? Thanks.

Keith Lipscomb

  (3:04 PM)

Well, Sessions put up solid numbers when the Bucks were without Redd for 14 games earlier this season, averaging somewhere in the 15-4-5 range during that span. I know the team would like to see Charlie Bell step up, but I still see Sessions sharing the backcourt with Luke Ridnour a fair share of the time, at least until the Bucks decide what they're going to do to remain in the playoff hunt. And I would feel better about dropping Chandler at this very moment, since his minutes have dropped quickly. Although Miller has struggled to score, at least he's still getting steady minutes and contributing in other categories.

jay (NJ)

ive been offered brandon roy for david lee. Just looking at overall value, should I pull the trigger?

Keith Lipscomb

  (3:06 PM)

When players offer different skills for your fantasy team, it's hard for me to put them in a vacuum, but I'd rather have Roy if you need the all-around production, since he can contribute in just about every category. Lee is a monster on the glass and in FG%, so it really depends on what your team needs in order to make it better for reaching and succeeding in your fantasy playoffs.

Tony (CA)

Can you see Bargnani playing at this level for the rest of the year? Or is it time to sell high?

Keith Lipscomb

  (3:08 PM)

Well, there's no question he's a good sell-high guy, because of the numbers he's been putting up. I think as long as Jermaine O'Neal is on the team, Bargnani's rebound total will take a little hit. I would see what others are willing to offer for Bargnani, but if no one's overpaying for him, I'm completely fine with hanging onto him and enjoying solid production the rest of the way. He seems like the kind of player who just needs to know he's got a job and will receive big minutes night in, night out.

sascha (brooklyn)

Hey Keith, What's the haps? Would you trade Marion and Villanueva for Bosh? What do you think Villanueva's value is with Bogut back but Redd out?

Keith Lipscomb

  (3:10 PM)

I'd do it in a second, Sascha. Marion's injured right now and hasn't been anything special anyway. And as much as Villanueva could continue to play well, especially as the Bucks need his contributions with Redd out, he's yet to show any sort of consistency in his career. Bosh is a stud and I'd do it as quickly as I could.

Steiny (NYC)

Do you think Jason Thompson is the real deal?

Keith Lipscomb

  (3:14 PM)

I do think he's very talented, but it's important to remember what Thompson will provide: scoring and rebounding, with a decent FG% and that's about it. Don't expect huge block totals, either. A nice back-of-the-bench guy in standard leagues, and a must-own in deeper leagues. I'm interested to see what the Kings do at the trade deadline, because Thompson should continue to get big minutes (if he can stay out of foul trouble) the rest of the way.

Davey (Allen Park, MI)

Baron Davis thoughts? What should I do with him? Should I try to trade him for whatever I can get? Is he really that unhappy and unmotivated? Is this injury worse than it sounds? I drafted him after Marion and it hurts to even type that.

Keith Lipscomb

  (3:16 PM)

Hi Davey. My thoughts on Baron are exactly what they were before last season: tough to own, because he's always nicked up, but offers nice production when he IS out there. I'm not sure you'll get much for him, because of the injury concerns, but it appears he'll start being eased back into the mix on Wednesday night, from the reports I've read. Sorry the top two picks you made didn't work out, man.

Tommy (SA TX)

Hey Keith, I need to start either D.Gooden or D.West, both are injured, which has better chance of playing this week?

Keith Lipscomb

  (3:17 PM)

It sounds like David West has a better shot of getting on the court first. It doesn't look like he'll play tonight, but Gooden sounds further away.

charlie (chitown)

wanna trade jobs? seriously though, why have bargnani and al jeff stopped blocking shots lately

Keith Lipscomb

  (3:20 PM)

Hi Charlie. It's pretty nice being able to chat with all you sports fans, so I'll have to politely decline on the swap. And as far as the big fellas are concerned, since neither are elite shot-blockers, they are going to be streaky in the category. After all, Bargnani has already tied a career high for blocks in a season. You just have to exercise patience with them in that respect.

Montreal, Quebec Canada

Hi there I want to know if this is a legit team and who should I drop? foye, alston, d willaims = gaurds salmons, d lee, duncan, milasap = forwards d jordan (for now) = center should i go after diaw, felton, deng, nene, bynum, and/or t murphy? please let me know thanks Elan

Keith Lipscomb

  (3:22 PM)

That's a decent squad, Elan. I'm not sure how many teams are in your league, though. But it's obvious you need help most at center, so you could trade one of your forwards to acquire a solid big fella like Nene or Bynum. Or if you feel your team could use a little 3-point punch to go with big-man rebounds, Murphy would kill two birds with one stone. Good luck!

Noah (NYC)

Can I drop Wilson Chandler at this point or do I hope he rebounds from his ineffective play of late? He's going back to the bench and Danilo is sure to get more minutes.

Keith Lipscomb

  (3:24 PM)

Noah, if you're in a shallow league, Chandler needs to be dropped until you see him getting his old role back. While I expect the Knicks to try to get Gallinari on the court more, his health will determine whether that's possible or not. It's Harrington and Thomas who will be keeping Chandler out of the mix even more.

Alex(Philly)

Out of these injured Bigs, who would you stash: Big Z, Boozer, Kaman?

Keith Lipscomb

  (3:27 PM)

That's a tough call, since we're still unclear when exactly both will return. The latest I heard was that Z would be back at the beginning of February and Boozer hoped to return after the All-Star break. Boozer's obviously the better fantasy player if both come back healthy, but I have concerns about Boozer, since he's had setbacks with this injury already. Oddly enough, I'd say Ilgauskas is the safer pick of the two, but there's no doubt Boozer has more upside.

Kostas (Nashville)

HI Keith, Is it time to start benching Rasheed? I have Ron Artest or even Marvin Williams available

Keith Lipscomb

  (3:29 PM)

Rasheed is who we thought he was, really. An underwhelming scorer, who can help in many categories on any given night, but rarely puts it all together on that one night. When Artest is healthy, I'd certainly rather have him in the lineup. No question about that.

Rob, Palm Beach Gardens, FL

How do you feel about Mike Conley's prospects this week. My alternative choices are Kirk Hinrich and Anthony Parker. Thanks and Regards

Keith Lipscomb

  (3:31 PM)

I'm gonna have to play the "I'm from Missouri" game with Conley at this point. He's gotta show me something. While Lionel Hollins has said he will play him big minutes and challenge him, I want to see if Conley can put up consistent fantasy-worthy stats. I've been disappointed in his assist numbers as a pro thus far. He's still not a great shooter, so that'll have to wait. For this week, he's got a couple good matchups early (DEN, OKC), but I like Hinrich's matchups better for the week overall (LAC, SAC, PHX).

Scott (DC)

Speaking of ELITE shot blockers who aren't blocking shots... what's up with Josh Smith?

Keith Lipscomb

  (3:34 PM)

I'm not sure if the early-season ankle injury has been a factor or not, but for someone who's providing about half the blocks you expected when you drafted him, at least he's turned things around in other categories of late. He's looked much better and now we can only hope the blocks follow, as they have the past couple nights out.

Berthold

in a keeper league who would you rather have amare or chris bosh? I have amare but I am becoming impatient with him. do you think he will turn it around or should I try to get bosh?

Keith Lipscomb

  (3:36 PM)

I can understand your impatience with Amare. Too many iffy results for someone so talented. I'm sure some of it has to do with Shaq being planted inside and Amare tending to drift outside a bit more, but someone with his athletic ability and skill should average more rebounds. Going forward, I'd still rather have Stoudemire, because the ceiling is so much higher, in my mind, but Bosh has definitely outperformed him this season.

Mike (Seattle)

How high would Dwight Howard jump in your rankings in a head-to-head league that uses free throws made instead of free throw percentage?

Keith Lipscomb

  (3:38 PM)

I'm actually in such a league, Mike, and he's a top-5 type talent (if your league doesn't count turnovers). He may not knock down 3s or pass, but everything else works quite well in that particular format.

Shawn (Santa Barbara, CA)

Zack R is coming back this/next week and I'll have to drop one of the bunch here: B.Lopez, Bargnani, Stuckey. I thinking Stuckey since I just got Ellis back and already have Salmons (similar type player). However, Stuckey I know will stay consistent unlike the others. What do you think. 10 team H2H, IR slot available.

Keith Lipscomb

  (3:40 PM)

I would have to agree on Stuckey. He's not flashy, but will put up consistent numbers. But since Bargnani offers numbers in odd combos, like 3s and blocks, and Lopez also helps in blocks, it sounds like your backcourt's in better hands overall.

Birdman (Mass)

I've got to set my lineup tonight, do I take a flier West comes back this week or plug in Brand instead?

Keith Lipscomb

  (3:42 PM)

Glad to have Chris Andersen in chat, and playing fantasy! It's a small gamble, since West could have a setback with his back, but since he's already sat a few games, I feel he could produce more in 3 games than Brand could in 4, since the 76ers may ease Brand back into action.

Andrew (Chi)

Hi Keith, is it time to drop Arenas in a 12 team league.

Keith Lipscomb

  (3:44 PM)

As I've said in previous chats, I don't get a great vibe that Arenas is necessarily going to return this season. The team doesn't have much motivation for doing so, since they won't make the playoffs, and why risk having him 100% (relatively speaking) on opening night for '09-10 to play him the final month or two of the season? That's just my gut at the moment.

James - Phoenix

Do you expect both Zach amd Melo to be plugged back for the next scoring period?

Keith Lipscomb

  (3:45 PM)

I definitely expect Melo back, unless he has a setback. He could actually return this weekend. With Randolph, the picture isn't so clear, but I've heard he should be back in action by late next week. But as we've seen with the Clippers, there are no certainties with these injury situations.

Dan (PA)

With Redd on the shelf for the season, I need to make an early keeper decision. Does Redd occupy my IR slot for the rest of the season if I can only keep 5 of these guys? Or do I have 5 better guys? Al Jefferson, Melo, Russel Westbrook, Kevin Martin, Redd, Tyson Chandler, J. Crawford. Thanks!

Keith Lipscomb

  (3:48 PM)

You can throw him on the IR for now, sure, but I've always felt that Redd was a tough guy to protect, since his best areas of production (PPG, 3s and FT%) aren't all that hard to fill.

steve (houston)

Amare more upside than Bosh? Amare's the superior athlete, but Bosh is the superior player. This is similar to the Duncan vs. any other PF argument. Like Duncan, Bosh isn't flashy, but he's simply more skilled than just about everyone else at his position.

Keith Lipscomb

  (3:50 PM)

Hi Steve, I can definitely see why someone would disagree with me on this one. Bosh is definitely the steadier option, and what you get from him is great, but since often times in keeper leagues, you're projecting forward to what could be, I think Stoudemire could see his numbers go up in future years, especially once Shaq vacates the middle. I like Bosh more as a player, but in fantasy, I like Amare's upside more.

Dan (PA)

Thanks Keith. I should have mentioned that it's a points based league, so filling categories is not a priority; nor is position scarcity really. I'm just having trouble keeping him on the IR while Chandler could be there for the next month and I could add a body.

Keith Lipscomb

  (3:52 PM)

In that case, I'd have to drop Redd, because I'm always trying to win this year, and since you've got 5 other guys who are keeper-worthy anyway, I say try for the ring now! Good luck.

Al Jefferson Needs To Be An All-Star!

How would you rank these three wolves: Craig Smith, Carney, Miller? Could improve in rebounds but also 3's.

Keith Lipscomb

  (3:54 PM)

Despite Carney showing flashes of what some thought he might do of late, he's more of an energy guy to me and not a great fantasy option, because of his empty categories elsewhere. I'd go Miller, Smith, Carney, and hope Miller either gets dealt and the change of scenery does him good ... or he just turns things around. Smith isn't consistent, either, so I'm going with the most sure thing (as shaky as he's been).

Alex(Philly)

Keith, Kaman worth a look yet?

Keith Lipscomb

  (3:55 PM)

Alex, I've got no reason to believe Kaman's any closer to returning since the bad news we received a couple weeks ago. So, until I hear he's progressing in his rehab, I'm holding off on Kaman.

bob (boston)

how about about Lebron for B.Davis and Granger? Who get the better end?

Keith Lipscomb

  (3:58 PM)

The key here would be Baron getting on -- and more importantly STAYING on -- the court. If I could tell you for sure he'd do that, it wouldn't be a bad deal at all, especially if you're not concerned about your FG%. But what if Davis can't stay on the court, which is always a solid possibility? Then, getting Granger for LeBron isn't quite enough for me. That's how I'd have to look at that deal, if it were proposed to me, at least.

Jerome: (Chicago,IL)

Hey Keith, Any update on Bogut? Is he going to be able to play tonight?

Keith Lipscomb

  (4:00 PM)

Unfortunately, Jerome, your guess is as good as mine on Bogut. One night, the team sounds like he'll definitely be back, then they say they're not sure. Such is the nature of back spasms. And as a Bogut owner, I'd gladly wait if they could guarantee he won't miss anymore games. I'm sure you'd agree. The team could certainly use him, so I'm sure he'll go if he's able.

dan (miami)

Courtney Lee, J. Crittenton or Mbah a Moute. Which young guy is most likely to be useful for the 2nd half?

Keith Lipscomb

  (4:02 PM)

Dan, I've gotta lean toward Mbah a Moute, because the Bucks have the most use for what he can provide -- his ability to defend 3 positions, if needed -- and considering the injuries the team has had to deal with.

Keith Lipscomb

  (4:03 PM)

That's all the time I've got for y'all today. I appreciate all the questions. Good stuff as always. Have a great week, everyone!