NBA Fantasy: Buy Low, Add Now

Despite being less than ideal, smart trades and creative pickups off the waiver wire can make up for a sub-par draft.

Here are some players you might be interested in acquiring if you feel your roster is mediocre or simply want to improve your squad over the long haul.

FREE AGENT/WAIVER MARKET

Brook Lopez (NJ – PF, C)
In a world were productive fantasy centers are hard to come by, it’s unfathomable how someone like Brook Lopez is available in 41 percent of Yahoo! Fantasy Leagues.

As a starter, the young center is averaging 13 points, nine rebounds, and two blocks while shooting 53 percent from the field and a un-center-like 80 percent from the free throw line.

Those numbers are strong enough to place him amongst the top 20 centers in the league. Regardless of Josh Boone’s return from an ankle injury, Lopez is a valuable center.

Rafer Alston (HOU – PG)
Need point guard stats (3PTM, AST, ST)? Then pick up the newly-dubbed fantasy legend, Skip-to-My-Lou.

In the last three games, his averages of 16 points, three three-pointers, six assists, and two steals have propelled him to the top 20 of fantasy players for that week. He won’t finish in the top 20, but last year when Yao Ming went down, Alston’s averages were almost identical to the aforementioned line.

With T-Mac out for at least three weeks, look for Alston’s fantasy numbers to remain amongst those of the elite point guards in the league. Like Lopez, he is still available in 41 percent of yahoo fantasy leagues.

Eric Gordon (LAC – SG)
HE’S AVAILABLE IN 64 PERCENT OF YAHOO! FANTASY LEAGUES!!!

What more can I say? Pick this guy up if you need threes and steals.

As a starter, the rookie is averaging 15 points, 2.5 three-pointers, and two steals. With the departure of Cuttino Mobley to the Knicks, Gordon should receive the majority of minutes at the two throughout the remainder of the season.

Russell Westbrook (OKC – PG)
Another rookie, but this one comes with a horrible field-goal percentage: 34 percent.

That woeful number has him available in 58 percent of Yahoo! Fantasy Leagues. But new Oklahoma City Thunder coach Scott Brooks has inserted Westbrook into the starting lineup.

When Westbrook sees 30-plus minutes, his averages are 12 points, six assists, four rebounds, two steals, and four free throws. If his shooting percentage can catch up to his all-around game, then you’re looking at Rajon Rondo light.

BUY LOW

Andre Iguodala (PHI – SG, SF)
With the arrival of Elton Brand, the other AI's scoring average is down from 20 points to 14, while shooting only 42 percent from the field.

However Iguodala, is still grabbing six boards a game to go along with five assists. Even if his scoring average never returns to the proximity of 20, which is likely, those five assists make Iguodala a welcomed commodity if you’re looking to go small.

Furthermore, there’s no reason why he can’t increase his steals (1.5) to last year’s average of two.

With five assists and two steals per contest, Iguodala is like having a point guard with small forward eligibility. As the season progresses, his overall offensive efficiency should increase as he and Elton Brand become more comfortable with each other.

Peja Stojakovic (NO – SG, SF)
Peja Stojakovic is still the best shooter in the game, and if you’re in need for a high quantity of threes at a highly-efficient rate, then make a deal for this man. He’s just beginning to break out of an early-season shooting slump.

Stojakovic is averaging four (yes, four) threes a game in the last three contests, while converting at a 57 percent clip from behind the line. Trading for him now may lock up your three-point categories for the rest of the season.