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Fantasy Basketball: How To Replace Kobe Bryant?

By Bryan Gibberman

Nov 23, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant (24) reacts after missing a basket as heads down court in the second half of the game against the Denver Nuggets at Staples Center. Nuggets won 101-94. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 23, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant (24) reacts after missing a basket as heads down court in the second half of the game against the Denver Nuggets at Staples Center. Nuggets won 101-94. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports /
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Now that it’s official Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant is out for the season — first pour one out of for the legend. Second, what the hell do you do if he’s on your fantasy basketball team?

The answer to this is I have no freaking idea, but we can take some guesses. When it looked like the Portland Trail Blazers were going to be without LaMarcus Aldridge I was able to write a story pretty confident I had a grasp of how head coach Terry Stotts would attack the situation. With Lakers head coach Byron Scott I don’t have a clue.

Let’s start with what we do know. When Bryant has sat this season, the Lakers have surprisingly played slower, but have averaged 2.7 more points per 100 possessions. The drop in pace keeps Los Angeles at essentially the same points per game even though they’ve been slightly more efficient with him sitting.

It doesn’t seem that the loss of Bryant will impact the Lakers counting stats as a whole in any major way. What we’re looking for is to figure out how Scott will redistribute Bryant’s  32.8 usage rate.

Scott’s inconsistent rotations make this virtually impossible. In the last two games Jeremy Lin went from DNP coach’s decision to playing 28 minutes and putting up 14 points and six assists despite shooting 2-for-9 from the field. He got it done with a 10-for-14 effort from the free throw line. Lin is the most logical destination of much of Bryant’s production.

He’s proven adapt in situations when allowed to play with the ball in his hands in the past, but Scott just doesn’t seem to really like him.

I don’t see Jordan Clarkson becoming a viable fantasy option this season, putting more on Nick Young‘s plate would be asinine, Ronnie Price isn’t good and Wayne Ellington/Wesley Johnson/Ryan Kelly aren’t creators. There’s not an easy answer here.

Lin is the one guy I take a flier on because there’s room for upside if Scott takes the reigns off. I look for other options on the waiver wire not involved with the Lakers.

Other fantasy basketball notes from Monday night: 

  • Memphis Grizzlies guard Mike Conley: Conley sprained his left wrist (shooting hand) in the Grizzlies win against the Magic last night. He didn’t play much in the second half. Keep an eye out for his status for tonight’s game versus the Mavericks.
  • New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis: 32 points, 10 rebounds, three assists, three steals, four blocks, no turnovers, 12-for-19 shooting, 8-for-8 from the free throw line. Stop it, just stop it.
  • Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant: Durant sat out last night with a sprained big left toe injury. Didn’t sound like anything serious and could have been the Thunder sneaking him in a day off against the lowly T’Wolves.
  • Boston Celtics forward Tayshaun Prince: Prince scored 19 points in a basketball game in the year 2015. I’m not really sure what to make of this. Rasaul Butler still playing well in the year 2015 so maybe 2015 is the year of old guys being good in the NBA that doesn’t make any logical sense. I doubt Prince becomes a fantasy basketball contributor.

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