The one in the front might look awesome in this photo, but he should be sold high; the one in the back should be bought low. (AP Photo/Bahram Mark Sobhani)

We’re going back to the tried-and-true “Buy Low, Sell High” posts for Fridays. Cheers!

Buy Low:
Dirk Nowitzki

Paul Pierce

Serge Ibaka

DeMar DeRozan

Carlos Delfino

Zach Randolph, Marcus Thornton, Jason Kidd and any other productive fantasy players who are injured should be considered buy-low candidates.

Sell High:
Tim Duncan

Iman Shumpert

Kobe Bryant

Brandon Jennings

Richard Jefferson

[See another version of this post on DimeMag.com]

Yep, looks like a maverick to me. (Ralph Orlowski/Bongarts/Getty Images)

Depth chart:
PG: Jason Kidd, J.J. Barea*
SG: Rudy Fernandez, Jason Terry, Rodrigue Beaubois, DeShawn Stevenson*, Dominique Jones
SF: Shawn Marion, Caron Butler*, Corey Brewer, Peja Stojakovic*
PF: Dirk Nowitzki, Brian Cardinal*
C: Tyson Chandler*, Brendan Haywood, Ian Mahinmi

* unrestricted free agent

Relevant fantasy players and their projected draft positions/per-game stats:
- Dirk Nowitzki, PF (Rd. 1): 50% FG, 90% FT, 1 Three, 24 Pts, 7 Reb, 2.5 Ast, 0.7 Stl, 0.7 Blk, 2 TO
- Tyson Chandler, C (Rd. 6): 60% FG, 70% FT, 9 Pts, 9.5 Reb, 0.5 Stl, 1 Blk, 1 TO
- Jason Kidd, PG (Rd. 6): 40% FT, 85% FT, 1.5 Threes, 6.5 Pts, 4 Reb, 7.5 Ast, 1.5 Stl, 2 TO
- Jason Terry, PG/SG (Rd. 7): 43% FG, 85% FT, 1.5 Threes, 13 Pts, 2 Reb, 3.5 Ast, 0.7 Stl, 1.5 TO
- Shawn Marion, SF/PF (Rd. 9): 50% FG, 75% FT, 10.5 Pts, 6.5 Reb, 1.5 Ast, 1 Stl, 0.7 Blk, 1.5 TO
- Rudy Fernandez, SG (Rd. 10): 43% FG, 85% FT, 1.7 Threes, 11 Pts, 2.5 Reb, 2 Ast, 1 Stl, 1.5 TO
- Rodrigue Beaubois, PG/SG (Rd. 12): 45% FG, 80% FT, 1 Three, 9.5 Pts, 2 Reb, 2 Ast, 1 Stl, 2 TO
- Caron Butler, SG/SF (Rd. 13+): 45% FG, 75% FT, 0.5 Threes, 8.5 Pts, 3.5 Reb, 1 Ast, 1.3 Stl, 1.5 TO

Sleeper:
Beaubois

Most likely to surprise:
Fernandez

Most likely to disappoint:
Terry

Category specialists:
- Threes: Kidd, Terry, Fernandez
- Steals: Kidd

Things to consider:
- the potential logjam in the backcourt if Beaubois comes back strong and Barea is re-signed
- which free agents are re-signed

Team’s statistical NBA ranks from 2010-11:
- Pts: 11th
- FGM: T-13th
- FGA: 24th
- FG%: 5th
- FT%: 8th
- 3PTM: 8th
- Reb: 14th
- Ast: T-1st
- TO: T-12th
- Stl: 23rd
- Blk: T-23rd
- Pace: T-19th
- Offensive Efficiency: 8th
- Defensive Efficiency: 7th

Fantasy-friendliness for 2011-12: B-

Bonus:
Dirk Nowitzki’s Academy for Awkward Basketball

This might make sense if you read this post.

Around this time last year this blog was kicking it with mock drafts and updates about the realm of fantasy basketball. This summer is different, for obvious reasons.

With the lockout in full swing and the fount of NBA news slowed to a muddy trickle by inane updates about which players are “considering” playing overseas, I’ve had more time to keep abreast of non-NBA news. One story that recently caught my eye was about Abercrombie & Fitch paying Michael “The Situation” Sorrentino not to wear its merchandise.

Before I proceed, I’ll admit that I’ve never been drunk enough mustered up enough courage to sit down and watch a single minute of a single episode of “Jersey Shore.” This means my low regard for Mr. Sorrentino is fueled by snippets I’ve seen on TV or read on the Internet, and by his awful delivery.

That said, this news story compelled me to ask myself a question: Which players would I (figuratively) pay to not be on my fantasy basketball team?

Thus, a blog post was born.

Assuming an act of God forced me to miss my next fantasy basketball draft, here are 10 players I’d “pay” to leave my team if the dreaded auto-draft pooped them onto my roster. Following each player’s blurb is a series of “Situations” reflecting how badly I’d want these players off my team.

1. Jason Kidd: He’ll turn 39 in March 2012 (which only matters if 2011-12 actually happens, blah blah blah) and is coming off a season where he shot a career-low 36.1 percent from the field. He can still put up mildly appealing all-around numbers, but with a healthier Roddy Beaubois set to be Kidd’s backup next season, there are very few reasons to get excited about having Kidd land on my team.
   
2. Andrew Bynum: This one’s just a matter of trust, or the lack of it. I tip my hat to Bynum’s production in the latter portion of last regular season, but I just can’t ignore the ticking I hear in my head whenever I see the dude’s name on the draft board — and it’s not from the draft-clock countdown. Bynum’s knee makes him too risky for my tastes, and his very public offense of parking his car in two handicapped-parking spots (at the same time) either tells me his knee now makes him legally handicapped or he’s just a douche bag. Either way, I don’t want him on my fantasy team.
   
3. Andrew Bogut: Just because I’ve never watched “Jersey Shore” doesn’t mean I can’t dislike “The Situation.” The same goes for Bogut’s elbow: Just because I haven’t watched the footage of Bogut’s horrific arm injury a couple seasons ago doesn’t mean I can’t dislike what it does for the Aussie’s fantasy value. I will never feel good about having Bogut on my fantasy basketball squad. (Tangent 1: Why haven’t I watched the video of Bogut’s injury? I just didn’t see any value in it. I saw Shaun Livingston‘s knee injury and concluded that I could’ve gone on just as well with my life if I had just read a summary of it. Tangent 2: How grateful are you that your parents didn’t name you “Andrew” and that you don’t have a last name that begins with “B”? Unless you do, in which case I’d suggest you carefully make your way into a bubble.)
   
4. Brandon Jennings: Jennings is a point guard who shot 39.0 percent from the field and dished out 4.8 assists per game last season. Add Beno Udrih (about whom coach Scott Skiles has spoken highly of) and Stephen Jackson (who took on point guard-like duties for the Bobcats) and I just have a very hard time seeing too much room for improvement underneath Jennings’ ceiling next season.
   
5. Carlos Boozer: His days as an automatic 20/10 are far behind him. Boozer is now a guy who’ll chip in healthy numbers in the rebounds and FG% columns, but won’t get the blocks you want from a big man and will probably miss about a quarter of next season’s games (he’s averaged 63.2 games played per season in his nine seasons in the NBA). Assuming Joakim Noah‘s body is healthy and ready to go, and knowing that the Bulls are looking for more scoring punch from the SG position, I’d be happy to shell out a penny or two to rid my roster of Boozer.
   
6. Tyreke Evans: It’s not that I don’t think Evans is capable of putting up elite fantasy numbers, it’s just that I don’t see how he’ll get to that level next season. Evans is a guy who likes having the ball in his hands, which is fine and dandy in a vacuum. My concern is that on a retooled team that will have minimal time to jell, Evans will have some difficulty adjusting to his role with his new teammates. Is he the team’s point guard or shooting guard? If Marcus Thornton is inked to a deal, will there be enough shots to go around? And what about John Salmons and the frontcourt tandem of DeMarcus Cousins and J.J. Hickson – what net effect will that have on Evans’ production?
   
7. Ricky Rubio: I don’t expect much at all from Rubio in the next NBA season. He’s not just playing on a new team — he’s playing in another league, in another continent, in Minnesota. And it’s not like Rubio’s bringing over a rock-solid jumper and brawny NBA-ready frame. I expect him to be nothing more of a constant tease in his first NBA season, which goes against my basic fantasy basketball adage: Don’t draft players whose play reflects attributes you wouldn’t want in a girl. (So, no, I wouldn’t date Anthony Randolph either.)
   
8. Baron Davis: Baron Walter Louis Davis walks out of an extra-long offseason to join a terrible NBA team that has its point guard of the future — who is not named Baron. It all sounds like the setup for a horror movie, one produced by Davis himself. If you want to have any part of a season in which an overweight, unmotivated Davis tries to adjust to the role of veteran nurturer on a bottom-feeding team, then you’re a sick, sick person.
   
9. Michael Beasley: The man who’s had no trouble making headlines this summer (for all the wrong reasons) will have to fight with Derrick Williams for his minutes next season, a situation I want absolutely no part of. That right there is bad enough, but add the fact that Beasley’s numbers, even in last season’s “breakthrough” campaign, aren’t all that special (kind of like a less productive version of pre-NYK Carmelo Anthony) and I’d do everything fiscally possible to mush him off my fantasy roster.
   
10. Greg Oden: No.
    

You may take his health, but you shall never take Millsap's man purse. (Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images)

[Read the full post at DimeMag.com]

Beast of the Night: Paul Millsap finished with 33 points, 11 rebounds, four assists and three blocks. He shot 65 percent (13-20) from the field, 88 percent (7-8) from the free-throw line and had one turnover. Millsap sandwiched two mediocre games between this one and his monster game on Sunday. His worn-down body is still a concern but he should be fine to finish the season on a strong note.

Lines for Discussion:
Anthony Randolph: 14-20 FG (70%), 3-3 FT (100%), 31 Pts, 11 Reb, 3 Ast, 2 Stl, 1 Blk, 2 TO

Jason Kidd: 0-5 FG (0%), 6 Reb, 13 Ast, 3 Stl, 1 Blk, 2 TO

Trevor Ariza: 5-9 FG (56%), 1-3 FT (33%), 3 threes, 14 Pts, 9 Reb, 2 Ast, 4 Stl, 1 Blk, 1 TO

Waiver-Wire Watch:
Anthony Tolliver, Peja Stojakovic, Marco Belinelli, Earl Watson

Injuries:
Shaquille O’Neal (foot): got a cortisone shot and was put in an immobilizing boot; day-to-day, but aiming to return April 1

Troy Murphy (ankle): rolled his ankle in practice Thursday; day-to-day

Stephen Jackson (hamstring): an MRI showed no tear; day-to-day, but shutdown still possible

Tyrus Thomas (ribs): didn’t practice Thursday; day-to-day

Baron Davis (back, knee): plans to play tonight

Andris Biedrins (ankle): making progress but will sit out the Warriors’ next two games

Deron Williams (wrist): joining the Nets in Orlando; his status is still to be determined

Marcus Camby (ankle): says he’ll play tonight

Beno Udrih (toenail): cracked a toenail in practice Thursday but plans to play tonight

Tim Duncan (ankle): coach Gregg Popovich expects Duncan to miss 4-5 games

Amir Johnson (ankle): didn’t practice Thursday; check his status

Reggie Evans (foot): ditto

Joey Dorsey (illness): ditto

Devin Harris (hamstring): day-to-day

Andray Blatche (shoulder): targeting Wednesday for his return

David West (knee): X-rays came back negative, MRI scheduled for today

For Next Week:
4 games: BOS, CHA, CHI, CLE, DAL, HOU, IND, MIA, MIL, NJ, OKC, PHI, PHO, POR, SAC, SA, WAS
3 games: ATL, DEN, DET, GS, LAC, LAL, MEM, MIN, NO, ORL, TOR, UTA
2 games: NY

Calderon finally put things together Tuesday. (Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

Beast of the Night: Jose Calderon started March off in a huge way, posting 22 points, seven rebounds, 16 assists, one steal and three three-pointers.  He shot 70 percent (7-10) from the field, 100 percent (5-5) from the free-throw line and had two turnovers. This was the first time in a while that Calderon’s offense was as good as his dishing. He remains a strong fantasy play, especially if you need assists.

Lines for Discussion:
Chauncey Billups: 4-12 FG (33%), 18-20 FT (90%), 4 threes, 30 Pts, 6 Reb, 6 Ast, 3 Stl, 1 TO

Danny Granger: 5-11 FG (46%), 16-16 FT (100%), 1 three, 27 Pts, 7 Reb, 2 Ast, 1 Blk, 3 TO

Amir Johnson: 3-10 FG (30%), 2-3 FT (67%), 8 Pts, 10 Reb, 2 Ast, 1 Stl, 7 Blk

Jason Kidd: 3-8 FG (38%), 4-4 FT (100%), 3 threes, 13 Pts, 10 Reb, 13 Ast, 3 Stl

Jason Terry: 13-18 FG (72%), 1-3 FT (33%), 3 threes, 30 Pts, 2 Reb, 4 Ast, 1 Stl, 3 TO

Gerald Wallace: 5-11 FG (46%), 1-2 FT (50%), 3 threes, 14 Pts, 10 Reb, 3 Ast, 3 Stl, 5 TO

Waiver-Wire Watch:
Ryan Anderson, Reggie Williams, Tyler Hansbrough, James Johnson, Gary Neal, Darrell Arthur, Richard Hamilton, Carlos Delfino, Wes Johnson, Chase Budinger

Injuries:
Shaquille O’Neal (Achilles): will miss 1-2 more weeks

Jermaine O’Neal (knee): will miss 3-4 more weeks

Baron Davis (knee): not expected to play tonight

Tayshaun Prince (back): day-to-day

Andrew Bogut (side): out for at least a week

Martell Webster (back): day-to-day

Semih Erden (shoulder, groin): a few games away from playing for the Cavs

Tyson Chandler (ankle): monitor his status

Luc Richard Mbah a Moute (flu): day-to-day

Gilbert Arenas (knee): day-to-day

Brandon Roy (knees): will sit out tonight for rest

Eric Gordon (wrist): set to return tonight

Rudy Fernandez (illness): day-to-day

Dorell Wright (ankle): should be fine for tonight, but monitor his status

Darko Milicic (personal): not traveling with the team for tonight’s game

Chauncey Billups (thigh): questionable tonight

Conley's not quite No. 1, but he's been solid this season. (Jeff Gross/Getty Images)

[Read the full post at DimeMag.com]

Beast of the Night: Mike Conley had 26 points, two rebounds, 11 assists, two steals and four three-pointers made last night as he led the Grizzlies to a victory over the Magic. He shot 64 percent (9-14) from the field, 80 percent (4-5) from the free-throw line and had three turnovers. This was his second double-double in as many games. Though Conley’s numbers have slipped a bit from his hot start to the season, he remains a better fantasy player than he has been in past seasons.

Lines for Discussion:
Roy Hibbert: 9-19 FG (47%), 6-9 FT (67%), 24 Pts, 11 Reb, 1 Ast, 2 Stl, 2 Blk, 5 TO

DeMar DeRozan: 3-15 FG (20%), 4-4 FT (100%), 10 Pts, 5 Reb, 4 Ast, 3 Stl, 2 Blk, 2 TO

Tyson Chandler: 5-10 FG (50%), 8-14 FT (57%), 18 Pts, 18 Reb, 4 TO

Jason Kidd: 3-8 FG (38%), 2-2 FT (100%), 3 threes, 11 Pts, 9 Reb, 11 Ast, 1 Stl, 1 Blk, 1 TO

Gerald Wallace: 2-7 FG (29%), 3-4 FT (75%), 7 Pts, 6 Reb, 1 Ast, 1 Stl, 2 Blk, 2 TO

Corey Maggette: 6-13 FG (46%), 13-15 FT (87%), 25 Pts, 4 Reb, 2 Ast, 1 Stl, 2 TO

DeAndre Jordan: 7-8 FG (88%), 2-4 FT (50%), 16 Pts, 7 Reb, 5 Blk, 1 TO

Waiver-Wire Watch:
Ed Davis, Paul George, Tyler Hansbrough, Travis Outlaw, Manny Harris, Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Mike Miller, Yi Jianlian, C.J. Miles

Injuries:
Josh Smith (knee): didn’t practice Monday; monitor his status

Al Horford (ankle): ditto

Joakim Noah (thumb): coach Tom Thibodeau expects Noah to return “right after the All-Star break”

Taj Gibson (ankle): practiced Monday; monitor his status

Daniel Gibson (quad): should return in a game or two

Courtney Lee (flu): day-to-day

Andrew Bynum (knee): sat out Monday’s practice to rest his sore left knee; should be fine, but check his status

Jordan Farmar (back): out at least one more game

Emeka Okafor (hip): out tonight

Brandon Bass (knee): sprained his left knee; check his status

J.J. Redick (shoulder): day-to-day

Jason Thompson (ankle): out tonight

Paul Millsap (finger): dislocated his left pinkie Monday, which adds to his bruised right thumb; he still finished with 14/12, but deserves monitoring

Wes Johnson (knee): sat out practice with a sore right knee; questionable for Wednesday

Andrew Bogut (knee): monitor his status

Andrei Kirilenko (ankle): day-to-day

Is this what a two-time bust looks like? (AP Photo/Claudio Scaccini)

We’re hours away from the start of what should be an indelible 2010-11 NBA season. I hope you’re as excited as I am.

I’ve posted my top five fantasy basketball storylines to watch this season. Head over to DimeMag.com to read the full post. Below is a teaser:

1. Sleepers or Busts: Anthony Randolph, J.J. Hickson, Nicolas Batum, Austin Daye, Jeff Teague, Leandro Barbosa and Rodrigue Beaubois – these are some of the names that have been tagged with “sleeper” for 2010-11. Who will fulfill that label? Who will continue to slumber? And how forgiving will we be of the latter group?…

2. The wounded: Yao Ming, Carlos Boozer, Greg Oden, Andrew Bynum, Kobe Bryant and Andrew Bogut headline the list of the most delicate players in the NBA at the outset of this season. While Bogut and Yao will start the season with some playing time, Bynum, Boozer and Oden might not see on-court action until Thanksgiving or Christmas. All six of these guys were likely drafted in all but the shallowest of leagues, and though Bryant, Boozer and Bogut appear set to play the majority of the season, the other three are crapshoots at best…

3. The oldies: Guys like Tim Duncan, Steve Nash, Paul Pierce, Ray Allen, Jason Kidd, Grant Hill and Chauncey Billups have lost a lot of their fantasy shine during the past couple seasons, and not necessarily because of their production. Familiarity breeds contempt, and it’s no different in fantasy basketball…

4. Rookies and sophomores: John Wall, Blake Griffin and DeMarcus Cousins are all hogging the rookie limelight in fantasy circles, but each has their downsides. For Wall, it’s poor shooting from the field, high turnovers and a lack of threes; for Griffin, it’s a cursed touch from the free-throw line and lingering injury concerns; for Cousins, it’s the crowded frontcourt in Sacramento…

5. More elbow room: The two guys to talk about here are Russell Westbrook and Derrick Rose. They’re both being drafted in the first three rounds of most drafts, which reflects optimism about their abilities to improve on their weaknesses this season…

This photo of Diggler will be more exciting than any of his stat lines this season, but that doesn't mean he's not a stud. (AP Photo/Mike Fuentes)

Depth chart:
PG: Jason Kidd, Rodrigue Beaubois, Jose Juan Barea
SG: Caron Butler, Jason Terry, Dominique Jones, DeShawn Stevenson
SF: Shawn Marion
PF: Dirk Nowitzki, Steve Novak, Alexis Ajinca
C: Brendan Haywood, Tyson Chandler, Ian Mahinmi

Relevant fantasy players and projected draft positions/per-game stats:
Dirk Nowitzki – PF (Rd. 1): 24 Pts, 1 three, 8 Reb, 2.5 Ast, 1 Stl, 1 Blk
Jason Kidd – PG (Rd. 2-3): 9 Pts, 2 threes, 5.5 Reb, 8.5 Ast, 1.5 Stl
Caron Butler – G/F (Rd. 6-7): 16 Pts, 5 Reb, 2 Ast, 1.5 Stl
Jason Terry – G (Rd. 6-8): 14.5 Pts, 1.5 threes, 2 Reb, 3 Ast, 1 Stl
Shawn Marion – F (Rd. 10-12): 11.5 Pts, 6.5 Reb, 1 Stl, 1 Blk
Brendan Haywood – C (Rd. 12+): 8 Pts, 7 Reb, 2 Blk
Tyson Chandler – C (Rd. 13+): 6 Pts, 6 Reb, 1.5 Blk
Rodrigue Beaubois – G (Rd. 13+): 8.5 Pts, 1 three, 2 Ast

Sleeper:
Beaubois

Most likely to surprise:
Butler

Most likely to disappoint:
Terry

Category specialists:

• Threes: Terry
• Blocks: Haywood, Chandler

Things to watch:

• if murmurs about Butler or Marion coming off the bench become reality
• how minutes at center are distributed between Haywood and Chandler
• how Beaubois makes his return from a broken foot, and if his possible resurgence will spell trouble for Kidd and Terry

Team’s statistical NBA ranks from 2009-10:

• Pts: 11th
• FGM: T9th
• FGA: 14th
• FG%: 12th
• FT%: 1st
• 3PTM: 10th
• Reb: T17th
• Ast: 3rd
• TO: 3rd
• Stl: T9th
• Blk: 6th

Fantasy-friendliness for 2010-11: B-

Here’s a teaser:

1. Chris Paul
2. Deron Williams
3. Stephen Curry
4. Steve Nash
5. Jason Kidd
6. Chauncey Billups
7. Rajon Rondo
8. Mo Williams
9. Raymond Felton
10. Darren Collison

Feel free to comment here or there about the list.

Nice gesture, bad grammar. Happy birthday, J-Kidd. (Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images)

Beast of the Night: Jason Kidd celebrated his 37th birthday by putting up 26 points, 6 rebounds, 12 assists and a steal, hitting 6 threes in the process. He shot 48 percent (10-21) from the floor and picked up the offensive load after Dirk got ejected.

Noteworthy Lines:
Gerald Wallace – 5-17 FG (29%), 6-7 FT (86%), 1 3ptm, 17 Pts, 19 Reb, 2 Ast, 3 Stl, 3 TO

Andray Blatche – 2-5 FG (40%), 4 Pts, 2 Blk

Chauncey Billups – 5-13 FG (39%), 14-15 FT (93%), 1 3ptm, 25 Pts, 1 Reb, 6 Ast, 1 Stl, 1 TO

Carmelo Anthony – 14-26 FG (54%), 8-8 FT (100%), 36 Pts, 5 Reb, 2 Ast, 1 Blk, 1 TO

Danilo Gallinari – 7-19 FG (37%), 9-10 FT (90%), 5 3ptm, 28 Pts, 5 Reb, 1 Ast, 1 Stl, 2 TO

Danny Granger – 8-20 FG (40%), 11-14 FT (79%), 5 3ptm, 32 Pts, 6 Reb, 4 Ast, 1 Stl, 3 TO

Tayshaun Prince – 6-12 FG (50%), 1-1 FT (100%), 1 3ptm, 14 Pts, 9 Reb, 6 Ast, 1 TO

Drew Gooden – 8-21 FG (38%), 10-10 FT (100%), 26 Pts, 20 Reb, 2 Ast, 2 Stl, 1 Blk, 2 TO

Brendan Haywood – 4-5 FG (80%), 4-5 FT (80%), 12 Pts, 10 Reb, 1 Ast, 1 Stl, 4 Blk, 1 TO

Waiver Wire Appeal:
JaVale McGee, Toney Douglas, Brandon Rush, Earl Watson

Injuries:
Will Bynum (back): day-to-day

Kyle Lowry (ankle, knee): check his status

Jordan Hill (ankle): unlikely tonight

Luke Walton (back): will return soon

Lou Williams (back): out tonight

Thaddeus Young (thumb): ditto

Mike Miller (ankle): played through it last night but check his status