Fantasy Basketballers Beware!

Recent news makes some players the equivalent of fantasy fool's gold:

Bobby Simmons - Looks like he is done for the year with three different leg and foot injuries. Yearly leagues, especially the H2H leagues, see him being dropped left and right. But a lot of keeper and dynasty leagues are holding on to the guy.

Hey, think about it...the guy has had only one good year, by the time he comes back to Milwaukee he will be a reserve at best and he may never be as athletic as he once was. In case you didn't notice, athleticism and hustle were a big part of his game previously. Drop him even in dynasty leagues and pick up a young guy with promise, like an Earl Barron or a Thabo Sefolosha. Two-three years from now you will thank me!

Josh Childress - Hairline fracture of the foot. He will be gone at least another month! Can your team really afford a big blank spot where Childress' production should be? In most yearly leagues, he should be dropped. Roto leagues? Just bench him if you can. Dynasty leagues? Bench him if you can, look for a trade maybe as well. He does put up decent numbers with good percentages when he is healty, for a bench guy. Just keep in mind, when they say four weeks, it is sometimes six, or even eight!!!

Jannero Pargo and Rasual Butler - David West, Peja Stojakovic and Bobby Jackson are out. Repeat and remember...Pargo and Butler are only temporary comforts during this long fantasy season. Therefore, don't drop someone relatively dependable in favor of one of these guys, because they will soon be spending more time on the bench again.

Speedy Claxton - He depends on...wait for it...his speed! Really? Amazing. Get this - he is coming back from knee surgery and having issues with the pain and it has also hindered his...yes...speed! Tyronne Lue isn't really a true point guard. Nevertheless, barring a trade, Lue should continue to get the lion's share of the time at point while Speedy is healing. Atlanta gave Claxton a four year contract, you think they are still thinking it was smart to pass on Chris Paul?

Gerald Wallace - Time to trade this guy. He'll never help your shooting percentages and the way the team is being put together in Charlotte he's going to get far fewer chances to block shots. He isn't a big scorer, either, so if he isn't piling up mad amounts of blocks and steals he isn't worth a lot. Find someone who believes in him and trade him ASAP!

Vlad Radmanovic and Smuch Parker - Let me end up with a couple of Lakers. We already see that the development of Luke Walton is going to make Radman less relevant. Now Jordan Farmar is taking minutes away from Parker. Both these guys are becoming more reserve-type performers in case you haven't noticed, and now would be a good time to look for buyers who don't foresee the future.

There are other guys who are more obvious, like Damon Stoudamire, but you probably know who they are already. Good luck!