The leaves are changing. Snow is falling. Holiday cheer is in the air. That means it's that time of year again. It's beginning to look a lot like ... Jason Kidd is leaving New Jersey.
Everywhere you go.
On Thursday, the New York Post reported that Kidd, who sat out Wednesday's loss to the Knicks with what he said was a migraine headache, was "on strike" because the team did not give him the contract extension that he wanted, citing a team source.
The Newark Star-Ledger reported that Kidd's teammates said they knew as early as Wednesday afternoon that the team captain wouldn't play, when coach Lawrence Frank said "there was a chance" he would play just an hour before the game.
The New York Daily News cites two sources that say that Kidd "took a shot to his pride" when his contract extension was rejected. One of those sources told the paper that he sat out the game to protest the team's refusal to extend his contract. You've got to be Kidd-ing. Not this again.
"People are taking this out of context," Kidd told WFAN radio station in New York on Thursday, responding to the wave of rumors that seem to emerge yearly regarding his future with the Nets.
In 2004, when the team let Kenyon Martin walk to Denver, Kidd reportedly wanted out. He was a lock to land in San Antonio. In 2006, he was a lock to end up in Los Angeles, playing alongside Kobe Bryant only the team didn't want to part ways with Andrew Bynum, causing a rift between Lakers team brass and Bryant that is still evident today.
Now, everyone from Dallas to Chicago is rumored to have a shot at the future Hall of Famer and Fantasy owners will have to pay close attention. Marcus Williams, who is working his way back from a foot injury, should quickly be stashed away in leagues where you can afford the roster space.
Williams is the heir apparent to Kidd at the point. He averaged 9.5 ppg and 4.6 apg as Kidd's backup during his rookie season. He averaged 14.0 ppg, 4.2 apg and 3.0 rpg during a five-game stretch last season in late January when Richard Jefferson went down with an injury and he could average similar numbers with bigger assist totals as the starting point man.
Sure, rumors are just rumors until something concrete surfaces and Kidd seemed adamant that he wants to finish his career as a member of the Nets on Thursday. But, he also admitted that the NBA is a business and it wouldn't be the first time a Springfield-bound superstar was traded after years of much ado about nothing.
Allen Iverson was traded almost exactly a year ago, after years of being bandied about in the media as a disgruntled trade candidate. Kidd finds himself in a similar situation on a team that may have played out its string together and is ready for a new direction.
The Nets fell to 9-10 with an embarrassing loss to the lowly Knicks at home Wednesday night. A bad month of December and no signs of improvement could spark the Nets to pull the trigger on a deal that will shake up the balance of the hoops world.
That's both Fantasy and reality.
In case you didn't notice ... John Salmons and Francisco Garcia are relevant in Fantasy again. Kevin Martin went down with a groin injury this week that will have him out until at least mid-January, giving Salmons a starting job and Garcia a bigger role off the bench again. Earlier this season, when the team was looking for a way to fill the void left by Mike Bibby, Salmons averaged 20.5 ppg through his first six games this season.
Add 'Em
Travis Outlaw, SF, Trail Blazers
Owned: 41
percent of leagues
Analysis: Outlaw has overtaken Jarrett Jack as the team's primary scorer off the bench. He's played
more minutes off the bench and has attempted double-digit shots in four
of his last five games. He's been a very good source for points and
rebounds and he's even been able to chip in some blocks. Scoop him up
and drop Jack.
Jared Dudley, PF, Bobcats
Owned:19 percent of
leagues
Analysis: The lack of production from Primoz Brezec at the center spot has caused the Bobcats to shift Emeka Okafor back to the five spot and try Dudley at the four. The
move paid off in the first game with Dudley scoring 16 points and
grabbing 10 rebounds. The second game was a flop -- no points, two
rebounds -- but he's worth an add in larger formats.
Jason Maxiell, PF, Pistons
Owned: 46 percent of
leagues
Analysis: He's been playing extremely well off the
bench, giving the team a nice lift and earning more and more minutes.
He's scored at least 13 points in four of his last seven games and he's
had at least nine boards in four of those games as well.
Drop 'Em
Kelenna Azubuike, SG/SF, Warriors
Owned: 61
percent of leagues
Analysis: He's been replaced in the
starting lineup by Monta Ellis and has
become a very erratic play in Fantasy. He can still be useful in larger
formats as a cheap source for points, but his days scoring in the high
teens and bringing down 6-8 rebounds per game -- at least on a regular
basis -- are over. Consider him more of a Fantasy stopgap these days.
Andray Blatche, SF, Wizards
Owned: 30 percent of
leagues
Analysis: His Fantasy appeal was very short-lived. A
four-game scoring binge in mid-November that correlated with the
injuries to Gilbert Arenas and Brendan Haywood caused his ownership to spike to as high as 60 percent.
The return of Haywood caused Blatche's minutes to dwindle to point where
his outputs have become limited.
Avoid 'Em
Anderson Varejao, PF/C, Cavaliers
Owned: 26
percent of leagues
Analysis: The floppy-haired Brazilian is
back, but what does that mean for Fantasy owners? He'll steal minutes
from Drew Gooden and Zydrunas Ilgauskas, but you should not expect more than the 6.8 ppg and
6.9 rpg he averaged in a career season a year ago. Unless you are in a
league that rewards players who resemble Sideshow Bob, keep your
expectations low and consider him a cheap source for rebounds and little
else.
Steve Francis, PG/SG, Rockets
Owned:23 percent of
leagues
Analysis: He's worked his way back into the Houston
rotation, but has been nursing a bruised tailbone. Even when healthy, he
finds himself in a crowded backcourt situation with the likes of Rafer Alston, Mike James and Bonzi Wells.
Others to Monitor ...
Chris Duhon, PG, Bulls
Owned: 12 percent of
leagues
Analysis: With Kirk Hinrich in the doghouse, Duhon has seen a spike in his Fantasy
appeal. He's scored 12 points in back-to-back games with nine assists in
his last game and nine rebounds in the Dec. 3 game vs. Dallas.
Have a question or comment for Sergio? Send your thoughts to DMFantasyBasketball@cbs.com. Be sure to put Attn: Playing the Waiver Wire in the subject field. Include your full name, hometown and state.