#also he loves Alex he’d be willing to tolerate it for the sake of his happiness I believe

[spongek-squidge]

You know how George is canonically homophobic? This is how I think Alex telling his grumpy grandfather about how he’s dating m!farmer.

‼️TW: Mild Homophobia (no slurs or anything just old person talk)‼️

Alex tells George wayyyyy after he tells granny Evelyn, at least a couple months/a season

He chooses to tell him with both m!farmer and Evelyn in the room for emotional support and backup

“Grandpa…?” “Yes, boy? Is this an intervention or something? Why are you all here?” “No gramps it’s not an intervention, I just… wanted to tell you something.” “Well, get on with it then boy.” “….”

M!Farmer gives Alex and supportive thumbs up and Evelyn smiles at him kindly.

“I’m… I have recently figured out that I kind of like men, and I’m dating the farmer now.”

The silence in the room is deafening as both Alex and m!farmer sweat nervously.

“…But how can you like men you’ve dated women before?” George is very confused.

“I can like both men and women, grandpa.” “But how???? Does that mean you’re going to date a woman at the same time as the farmer?” “No.”

Evelyn steps between the two.

“George dear, I know that this is confusing for you, but it’s not your life to live, so let Alex live his life however he pleases, he doesn’t need you questioning every little bit of it.”

George grumbles under his breath but stops asking questions, instead glancing over at the farmer who spent so much time bettering the community and simply nodded.

“Well, that went better than I thought!” M!farmer announces once they and Alex leave the house. “You’re telling me, I thought I was going to have to live with you from now on!” Alex chuckled nervously.

Ultimately George comes around and by the time of the wedding he’s still confused, but he supports the pairs relationship, the farmer has proven themself to be a great partner for his grandson after all, no matter their gender.

[vladimir-faircrest]

Marshaling A Relief

Vladimir sat in the sitting room of their suite in Braemar. The news of Thaylynn’s sudden departure still angered him. He felt he’d done so much for the man, attempted to help him out at every possible turn, just to be left hanging in the wind. Was is not for Rian, the Captain wouldn’t even have known of the man’s departure.

The conversation with his bride-to-be was surprisingly heated, both of them feeling the sting over the way the man had chosen to give them the news. In addition, it left a certain gap within the ranks, a position of great importance. The Matriarch expressed her desire on more than on occasion that, should something happen to Lord Kestavin, that he take up the mantle of Marshal. It was a bad idea on many levels, moreso now with the upcoming wedding. The matter had been discussed and, eventually, she had left it to her soon-to-be husband to make the final decision. Reaching up, he turned on his comm, his tone quiet, "How are you today, Rian?"

Rian would let off an amused hum as a playful squawk heard from Serenity, "Well enough. I think I managed to get everything sorted for today"

"Glad to hear it," there would be a smile to his tone as he listened to Serenity in the background "Do you have some time to talk?" 

“I do. I still have a bit before we’re due to leave. Everything alright?”

"Yes, yes. Mostly just worried about you. Adhelin and I had a long talk this morning about everything with Thaylynn and I had a question for you. Did he dump all the responsibilities of Ravenshollow on you?" 

“Well I have the help of our Counsel. But essentially yes. There’s not really another Kestavin... aside from Alex and he’s got his own worries as you know.” there was the sound of shuffling, Rian passing Serenity off to someone

"I thought as much. Can't say I'm exactly happy over it neither... Does he got a chief steward or somethin' t'handle the day t'day stuff so you ain't locked in the dungeon up there?"

She'd chuckle "Ah well I'll not be locked away. The counsel tends a fair bit. But to clear off on orders for the business and patrols, I'll need to make some input."

There would be a small sigh of relief from the Captain’s lips,  "Glad to hear it, hun. Considerin' how much time he's been spendin' up there lately, I wasn't sure... Adhelin wanted me t' make an offer t'you if you're interested."

"Men have a better moral when they see those that lead them are working alongside that barking orders." A smile heard on her own voice "What offer might that be?"

"We-She has an empty manor house sitting in Braemar. The family is deceased an' it's sittin' empty but filled with furniture. She was wonderin' if you'd want it. It'd put y'closer t'Stormwind an' friends, give yaa somethin' not always makin' y'think of Thaylynn, and a staff t'elp y'take care of Serenity."

"I'm not opposed to thinking about my husband, Captain. He's gone for a little while not dead or cheating. It's a generous offer to be sure. I'm not really sure when I'd be able to accept the space. I'll need to be between  Stormwind and Ravenshollow regardless as preparations are made to reclaim Summers Watch." She pauses for a moment in thought. "It's a very kind offer..."

"We're both worried about you," he admits, "You and Serenity both. Just know we're here for whatever support you require... And those are her words."

"I do appreciate it. More than I can say, Captain. You'll have to relay my thanks to her Grace. But know we're alright. I've struggled along before on my own. I know now that we've friends and allies I can call upon if needed. It's a blessing to say the least."

She'd hear the drumming of his fingers on the table, a slight hesitation to his voice "I want your opinion on something as well... I have someone I'm considering to become the new Marshal. Without giving you their name, I want to just tell you about their experience and get your opinion... If you're willing?"

"Oh? Of course. You know I'm always happy to help if I can."

"Person I'm thinking of has considerable battlefield experience and even served as a field commander for a major military company. They're intelligent, quick, adaptive, and the other Lionsguard already hold them in high regard. I think they're classically trained as well, though I could be wrong. If I am, they have me fooled. Downside? Sometimes they lack self-confidence and they can be incredibly stubborn."

There was a chuckle "Who among the Lionsguard isn't stubborn? I mean it sounds like a viable candidate provided that's the experience the Matriarch wishes in the position. Field experience isn't exactly the same as dealing with nobles who don't want to listen or consider their own safeties. Personally I find a battle field easier to tolerate than Embris. As for the confidence, I think everyone staggers with that from time to time. Even yourself thought you were not worthy of certain gifts and praises not too long ago, and here you are marrying a Matriarch of a large noble house. I think that is something they will either grow into or it will be the shard that slowly breaks away."

"So you approve of the person then? And yes, they have ample experience with nobility even if they are somewhat new to it."

There was a considering hum and she'd nod before realizing he couldn't see "I do. If the Lionsguard knows them, and holds them in regard as you say, the transition may go more easily than when you or Thaylynn stepped in and provided something new and unknown."

"Excellent. Thank you, Marshal. You've set my mind at ease and made this decision much simpler." he'd be suddenly thankful the woman couldn't see his smirk

"You're wel.. what?.. Me?" Rian stammered as there was a shuffling as if something were dropped or someone tripped "Isn't that a bit like cheating or favoritism?" She'd hum.

"No. I asked the advisor for an unbiased opinion of a potential name,” he points out, still grinning to himself now that he’d trapped her.  “You're also not related to the Holts."

"I hadn't realized I was still seen as the advisor truth be told. And no.. certainly not related to the Holts." She'd chuckle before letting off a soft sigh, "I suppose I did say I was happy to help if I can. I'm afraid I wasn't made aware of the terms Thaylynn had with the position in regards to the agreement with the Holts. Standing on guard has made me aware that in times we were seen as part of the banner and other times simply allies..." She paused to mull over a thought and collect her words. "For clarity sake I'd like to discuss those terms. So we're all on the same page of expectations."

"From what Thaylynn told me, he handled the politicals of it all while I was supposed to handle the day t'day... In the end, no one bloody knew what Thaylynn's job actually was. We had Lionsguard come in, and leave, without ever meeting him. As Marshal, you'd be incharge of leading the Lionsguard as you see fit.”

There was a soft hum, "Indeed. Love the man as I do, our leadership views differ in some ways. Very well. If you and the Matriarch are certain, it would be the least I could do. The back and forth between Ravenshollow will have to continue, though I can promise I'll maintain a proper presence in Stormwind."

"If you can do that, you're already legions ahead of your husband," he teases lightly, "From now own, the Lionsguard are your own and I follow your command. Tired of getting told to do it myself and that he 'doesn't care' anyways.

"The woman had to laugh lightly, "Perhaps, we shall see how I fair. For what it's worth, I know you care. Thank you, Captain."

Clicking off his comm again, Vladimir just grinned as he reached for the black cup of coffee that had grown cold. For the first time since coming into his position, he felt at peace.

@householt @rian-kestavin @alexkestavin @adhelin for mentions

[viirales]

You know the drill ~ Rainbow!

Headcanon Prompt:  You and your rainbows….

Red: sex headcanons 

Much like the whole ‘romance’ thing mentioned previously, sex is simply not a priority.  To an extent, he is still interested, just without the desire to actively chase it anymore, as once he did.  But, once again, for the sake of the ask, let’s say someone reels him in:  He would most likely have to be on the bottom of any, uh…encounter, for a reason that essentially boils down to ‘Man of steel, partner of Kleenex’.  Despite the control he has over his strength, all it would take it one mistake or the slightest slip-up to crush his partner.  Or, at the very least, badly injure them.  If they’re on top, they’ve got at least some kind of control over the situation; if he starts getting too rough with them, for example, they can slow things down or stop completely to get his head back in the game, where as if he’s got them pinned under him, that might be a little more difficult to do.  It’s not a foolproof method by any means, but it’s better than nothing, right?  

If a potential partner isn’t willing to get a little rough, don’t bother him.  Not talking like, break out the whips and chains kind of rough, but if they treat him like glass (or like they’re walking on eggshells with him) the whole way through, it’s not a turn-on by any means.  And for God’s sake, he ain’t gonna cuddle immediately afterwards.  At best, he’ll tolerate it for a little while if a partner insists upon it, but even that will generally end with something along the lines of, “Alright, get off me already.”  

Orange: emotional headcanons

For one to have fear, one needs a reason to be afraid.  Alex no longer has that, as he knows he’s capable of withstanding (or recovering from) damn near anything that’s thrown at him.  However, there is one thing that does get under his skin in the worst of ways, and that’s simply being controlled in any manner.  Whether he’s got something in his brain that counteracts his own thoughts and forces its will, or he’s just strapped to an examination table and unable to move or free/defend himself–-doesn’t matter, it freaks him the hell out.  He’ll say it just pisses him off, and it does…but it goes a little deeper than that.

Yellow: mental headcanons -everything about their mind (are they intelligent/attentive/perceptive/intuitive/pragmatic/idealist/pessimist; do they have good memory; are they good a problem-solving/learning; etc..)

Alex is an intelligent man, as he’s always been.  He picks things up quickly and retains what he learns, regardless of whether or not he uses the information.  With this also comes a vivid memory.  For the most part, this serves him well; things like remembering safe paths out of danger, base and blockade locations, or even recalling a seemingly-minuscule piece of information at a vital point.  Stuff like that is a-okay.  However, the issue arises with the other memories floating around in his head, courtesy of those he has consumed.  He sees what they’ve seen, heard what they’ve heard, even felt a twinge of the things they’ve felt, and when some of that stuff hits his vivid memory, it ain’t leaving any time soon....

Green: spiritual headcanons 

First of all, that would be a great big no in general, as he is still the logical, realistic kind of man that he was in his prior life.  Where he is concerned, if he cannot see or touch something, it isn’t real.  The possibility is, but he needs some hard evidence staring him right in the face before he’ll break down and believe it’s a real thing.  Thus far, no deity has descended from the heavens to speak with him, and it’s probably not going to happen anytime soon, so he doesn’t believe in any of that.  If you do, good on you; he’s got nothing against people who believe.  It just isn’t his thing, nor has it ever been.

Cyan: romantic headcanons -

Despite his dislike of all that ‘cuddling’ nonsense, physical intimacy between a romantic partner and himself will be an important part in any relationship he does form.  It all ties back to that whole ‘treating him like a monster’ business.  Someone who is supposed to trust and care about him should be willing to touch him on occasion, or be in close proximity while they’re doing…whatever they’re doing, together.  If they’re not, his mind is going to be concocting reasons why, and it very well may end on the one mentioned.  ’Off nights’ aren’t counted, ‘cause everybody’s got those days/nights where they’re just like ‘you know what, shoo, go away, leave me alone for a while, okay’, and he understands that.  Hell, he’s got them, too.  But, if it’s a continuous occurrence—well…

Blue: relationships headcanons 

Alex isn’t exactly the “life of the party”.  He isn’t one that will just walk up to a random person and strike up a conversation just for the hell of it, and he’s never been one of those folks, so making friends has been a bit more difficult for him than some.  Make no mistake, he had a group of frequent companions in his prior life, but it was fairly small, exactly the way he’d prefer it.  He’ll take a tiny circle of trusted friends over a massive web of contacts any day; that’s as true now, as the virus, as it was as Dr. Mercer.  Now, as it is with any exclusive group, finding a way into that circle is not an easy task, but for the dedicated few who make it in, they’re there for life (or until they fuck it up, but…well, y’know…).

Indigo: daily life headcanons -everything about their everyday life (self-care; hobbies; daily routines; etc..)

As much as he hates the city (and he does, make no mistake about that), there is something enjoyable in just wandering the streets.  Fresh air is good for everybody, right?  And besides, there are usually countless throngs of people doing the same bloody thing, meaning he has crowds to blend in with, which also means he can just kind of be for a little while.  No running around, no bashing people out of the way, no being shot or pursued through the goddamn city--at a glance, he’s just another guy.  

Wandering isn’t a daily routine or anything, but it happens enough that it must count for something.

Violet: habits headcanons -everything about their routine behavior (good habits; bad habits; posture; mannerism; etc..)

So, there was another ask about habits of his.  New habits, ones retained from his life, etc.  I saved it to my drafts to answer, and it disappeared, so this one also goes @ the anon who sent that:

To an extent, yes–but even with that limitation, it is still conditional and not all of those habits or pleasures are there.  The virus has rewritten the pieces within him, and because of that, things were likely lost in transition or perhaps were replaced by something different entirely.  However, the few bits he has retained will not just come to him, in most cases.  They’ll take some kind of rediscovery before he’ll be like ‘oh yeah, this was a thing’.  Since food was mentioned in the ask, I’m going to keep with that.  So, say, in his prior life, he was a big fan of hot dogs.  Y’know, those big ol’ New Yorker hot dogs with all the fixings and everything?  He wouldn’t be just wandering around one day and have this sudden epiphany that that was a favorite of his–not until he took a bite of one and was flooded with that sense of familiarity that it would sink in that yeah, he fucking loves those things. Or, where occasions and holidays are concerned (another thing from the ask), he remembers the big ones throughout the year (Christmas, Halloween, New Years, etc), but as for which ones were his favorites?  Pfft, nope.  He doesn’t recall that any more than he does the small-scale stuff; personal occasions, I mean.  Let him deal with all the crap that comes along with those days–especially his birthday, if somebody else remembers it, because he’ll remember just how much he despises being the center of attention while everyone around him sings that dumbass song–and then he’ll tell you which one(s) he enjoys.  

Kind of a deja vu sort of deal.

As for habits, it’s difficult to tell if one is left over, so to speak, or brand new.  There are a few that have broken with the change, but a few have remained.   Like, once it was routine that he’d wake up early-ish, and the first thing he’d do was grab a cup of coffee, park his ass at the desk he had in the apartment, and get a little work done.  So ingrained did that become that, on the sparse few days he didn’t do it, it left him with a feeling close to confusion because…well, damn, what else was he supposed to do in that time slot?  There’s something he should be doing but he’s not so ???  

Obviously, that habit is one that’s broken because 1) his apartment was blown to pieces, so he doesn’t have a desk, and 2) he doesn’t need to sit around and work anymore.  More of the smaller ones have persisted through everything.  Little tics, like scratching at the left side of his jaw when he’s deep in thought, or fidgeting if he’s standing/sitting too long–things like that have been retained, not that he’s aware of that they were retained.  As far as he’s concerned, they’re just…things he does now.  Whether or not he did them before is irrelevant.

[psychotherapyconsultants]

5 Things I Wish Had Known When I Started Dating an Addict

“Don’t let people pull you into their storm. Pull them into your peace.” – Kimberly Jones

I was finally in a solid place when I met my now-ex-boyfriend earlier this year. I had created some healthy habits for myself and was fully recovered from the eating disorder that had ruled my life for eight years prior.

Things had turned around completely for me, as now I was getting my first novel published and had a flourishing greeting card line.

When I first met my ex, who I’ll call Alex, it was love at first sight. I was completely infatuated with this talented individual from Seattle who made beautiful paintings and music. The art he made truly resonated with my soul, and he could say the same thing about my writing.

Needless to say, it felt like a match made in heaven. So after our courtship, I was more than willing to move up to Seattle from Los Angeles and live with him.

I was heartbroken when four months into living together, he revealed he was addicted to meth. He admitted that he’d been addicted the past two and half years and had been using every day up to five times.

I was blindsided, stunned, and overwhelmed with a twister of emotions. How could I have not known? I scolded myself. He was always hyper and created much more art in such a short time frame than I’d ever seen any other human do.

Well, they say hindsight is 20/20. I didn’t know he was on meth because I didn’t know what signs to look for, and I’d personally never tried meth myself.

When Alex admitted this to me, I cried in fear, certain that our lives would change for the worst. I knew this betrayal of trust would be difficult for me to recover from, as I became vigilant at his capacity for dishonesty.

I also worried that he wouldn’t love me the same after he quit meth and that the only reason that he’d fallen in love with me so easily was because he was high! But I had already invested so much in this relationship, moving states and all. I wasn’t ready to just throw what we had away.

It was ironic because I remembered feeling so happy that I had met him when I was in a “good place” in my life, but all of that seemed so distant now. We can all morph into the worst versions of ourselves when we become clenched in fear.

When Alex was in the process of attempting to quit, it became difficult to detach myself from the turmoil he’d ooze every evening.

Like clockwork, every night around nine, he’d get this vacant look in his eyes and begin to pace around. It was like a dark cloud had come over him and I wasn’t even there anymore. I began to feel that I wasn’t enough for him.

The love I had for him and the idea of us kept me in that relationship for several months after the revelation about his addiction, and I eventually realized why Alex had admitted his meth use to me. He thought he could rely on me to be the “strong one” in the relationship, since I was sober, but in actuality, I was just as fragile as he was.

And I felt too awkward setting boundaries for this recovering addict, afraid he’d feel infantilized or patronized every time I questioned him about his drug use or nagged him to stop. I felt like I lost myself again, when just months before I was so certain about my identity.

Alex continued to relapse for the next six months, never staying sober for more than a few weeks at a time, and I began to feel extremely helpless.

Those fits of restlessness and angst that overwhelmed him every night felt too close to home, and just like him, I had yet to master how to tolerate those uncomfortable feelings.

Some evenings I found strength in myself and was able to tolerate the uncomfortable emotions he was experiencing without reacting. Other nights, we’d get into fights when he’d want to go on a “drive” (buy meth).

This lovely relationship we once had devolved to one of raw, dark emotions that neither of us really knew how to get a grip on. And worst, we both relied on the other person to get it together!

Eventually, despite the fact that I loved this man with all my heart, I knew I had to set myself free from this relationship. I had enough insight to know that even though I’d recovered from my eating disorder, I still wasn’t strong enough to resist getting pulled into his troubled psyche. I needed to pull back to create my own peace again, because I sure as hell wasn’t going to get it from this guy.

It’s been about a couple of months since we’ve been officially broken up and I’ve moved back to Los Angeles to live with my family.

Many days I have guilt and regrets for leaving and not being able to help him out of his addiction. It was like all of the meaningful talks we had, trips to the psychiatrist, and meditative walks in nature were for nothing. In all honesty, I felt pretty useless to his recovery.

In retrospect, I know I would have done things differently if I knew the things I know now. Here’s what I wish I would have done as soon as I found out I was dating an addict:

1. Encourage Him to Get Help

When he first revealed he was addicted to meth, I could have been honest and told him I had no clue what to do and somehow convey the depths of helplessness I felt. Then I would have pointed him to professional support sooner and wouldn’t have taken his relapses so personally, as if I was at fault because I was solely responsible for helping him.

2. Get Support for Myself

I should have attended Al-Anon meetings and attempted to have my own support group in Seattle instead of letting anxiety take such a strong hold over me and then isolating myself from meeting new people. Supporting an addict can be draining, and no one should have to carry that alone.

3. Take Good Care of Myself

I should have made time every day to reconnect with myself in some way, whether it be meditation, exercise, or prayer. I should have taken time every day to reflect on my own journey and the progress I’d made instead of becoming so fixated on helping him with his.

Relationships often become unbalanced when one person is an addict, but both people need time and space to focus on themselves and their needs.

4. Set Clear Boundaries

I wish I had clearer boundaries for myself going in so that I didn’t stay as long as I did and watch the love we had sour. For instance, it would have been more helpful if I told myself that if I saw him using while we were together, I would have distanced myself from him.

I could have communicated this to him, as well, by saying something like “I’m all for your recovery and supporting you through your journey. But using drugs while being together is unacceptable to me, and if I find out you are using, I will have to distance myself from you for my sake.”

Setting boundaries earlier on may have prevented my unintentional enabling, which created behaviors in him that I later resented.

5. Prioritize My Own Happiness

I shouldn’t have let guilt keep me in a relationship that was making me unhappy. Like many others, I felt pretty paralyzed by fear of hurting the other person. I wished I had more strength to leave this person I was in love with because he was self destructing and refusing to really help himself.

As one can surmise, these are all lessons and wisdom you gain after an experience like this, not before, but perhaps they will be helpful to someone who’s right now standing where I once stood.

Now I am taking time to find peace in myself every day so that I am better equipped to handle another person’s baggage (because we all have it) the next time I attempt to date.

This article courtesy of Tiny Buddha.

from World of Psychology https://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2017/02/19/5-things-i-wish-had-known-when-i-started-dating-an-addict/

[rotoworld-yahoopartner]

Waiver Wired: Top NBA Pickups

This week’s edition of Waiver Wired features pickup recommendations for fantasy leagues of any size or depth. Every player listed is owned in fewer than 50% of Yahoo leagues. The early picks are intended for shallower leagues, but I steadily lower the bucket into the fantasy well, eventually scraping rock bottom for the sake of owners in very competitive and/or deep leagues.

You can follow me on Twitter @Knaus_RW!

Tony Parker (49%) - He's still under 50% ownership but shouldn't be, as he's averaging 19.2 points on 62.3% shooting, 0.8 threes, 2.2 boards and 6.4 assists in his past five games. As a bonus, the Spurs don't have a back-to-back set until Jan. 23/24.

James Johnson (49%) - Seriously? He's red hot and his versatility ensures consistent minutes for the short-handed Heat, especially with Justise Winslow (shoulder) likely done for the season.

Cody Zeller (43%) - Zeller missed three straight games due to a concussion, but he logged 33 minutes on Saturday, and prior to the injury he was cruising as a late-round value. His appeal is rooted in 59.5% shooting, which ranks fifth in the league behind Dwight Howard, Clint Capela, Rudy Gobert and DeAndre Jordan. His 65.1% free throw rate is well below his career average (73.6%) but otherwise he's been great with 6.2 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 0.7 steals, 1.1 blocks and a mere 1.1 turnovers. His 33 minutes on Saturday tied his third-highest total of the season, so the Hornets obviously aren’t limiting after his head injury.

Alex Len (43%) - Tyson Chandler is reportedly being tracked as a trade target for the Blazers, who need help in the frontcourt. Even if he's not dealt, the 34-year-old should see his role decrease in favor of Len as the season progresses. Len has been sporadically useful in recent weeks, but standard-league owners would be targeting his potential in February, March and April.

Brandon Ingram (43%) - Ingram is over-owned at 43%, despite his potential as a post-All-Star breakout candidate. He's getting nearly 30 minutes per game over the past two weeks, but is shooting just 43.2% from the field and 69.2% from the line, without many points (8.3), 3-pointers (0.3), rebounds (4.3) or assists (1.7). Don't even ask about his defensive stats. I like him as a stash in the hopes that things 'click' for him in the next month or two, but wouldn't be playing him at present.

Montrezl Harrell (36%) - This is oddly low for Harrell, who was a hot pickup following his 29-point breakout on Dec. 30. He's cooled off since then, predictably, and logged only 22 minutes on Friday, but there's more than enough upside here to snag him if you need a big man. Nene can't play 25 minutes every night even if Mike D'Antoni wanted him to, and Clint Capela (fibula) won't be reevaluated until late January.

Seth Curry (29%) - His shots are falling, he's been a mid-round value for weeks, and everything about the Mavs' backcourt (aging, injury-prone, recent rumors that Wesley Matthews is available in trades) points to a big rest-of-season role for Curry.

Tony Allen (29%) and Thabo Sefolosha (28%) - Two steals specialists available in the bulk of leagues for nothing more than your worst player. Allen is coming off a six-steal gem, and Thabo gets a boost with Kyle Korver traded away (and nobody coming to ATL in return). They're not particularly versatile, and certainly not flashy, but they usually get the job done in standard leagues.

Terrence Ross (23%) - Ross has averaged a mere 0.4 turnovers per game over the past month, a remarkable stat that makes him considerably more valuable in 9-cat leagues. That said, he's still worth a look anywhere with month-long averages of 11.5 points, 1.7 threes, 2.9 rebounds, 1.4 steals and 0.5 blocks, in addition to tolerable percentages.

J.J. Barea (23%) - He finally returned on Saturday but is still available in many leagues, thanks to the fact that he'd played just two games in nearly two months. I have no faith in his ability to stay healthy, and his ROS outlook is uncertain with the Mavs going nowhere fast, but I can't argue against him as a speculative short-term add.

Jared Sullinger (22%) – I can only advocate Sully in deeper leagues with IR spots. In that scenario, he has just enough proven upside to be worth a look. He's started taking some shots lately, a February return seems plausible, and the Raptors aren't exactly overloaded at the PF spot. Look no further than Pascal Siakam starting the first 34 games, or the recent Lucas Nogueira/Jonas Valanciunas experiment with Patrick Patterson (knee) on the sidelines. That said, Sullinger’s 22% ownership rate can only be attributed to leagues in which he was drafted (or auto-drafted) by owners who promptly drifted away. Free, public leagues are both great for fantasy (by introducing new fans to the glory of managing and micro-managing their own fake NBA squad), and terrible for analysis (by distorting data). My guess in competitive 12-team leagues with IR spots would be about 6% ownership for Sully at this point.

Larry Nance (17%) - Nance isn't likely to return until mid- to late-January due to a bone bruise, so he's on the wire in most leagues. He was a quiet top-100 value in 9-cat leagues prior to the injury, though, thanks to 5.5 boards, 1.2 steals, 0.6 blocks, 58.7% shooting, and just 0.8 turnovers per game. Luke Walton will find ways to keep him on the court once he's healthy, and I'm not dissuaded Thomas Robinson's strong play since Nance went down.

Dwight Powell (16%) - He's quiet most nights and hasn't broken out like we'd hoped, but is still returning steady value. Everything about the Mavs' situation suggests that he'll continue to see his role grow in the coming months.

T.J. McConnell (16%) - Apparently, many owners have been scared off by the prospect of Sergio Rodriguez (who is owned in more leagues) returning to action. McConnell is coming off a 17-assist game and he's been great lately, however, so I'm buying in here. After all, Philly has way more incentive to give minutes to their 24-year-old PG, rather than the 30-year-old Rodriguez.

Tim Hardaway Jr. (14%) - THJ is your guy if you need scoring with heavy 3-pointers. He got a boost with Kyle Korver leaving town, and the Hawks have toyed with him as a ball-handler, but be aware that he offers very little in terms of supporting stats. If he can score with efficiency and a high level of 3-pointers, he’ll earn his keep in most leagues.

Amir Johnson (14%) - The veteran big man always seems to be battling some nagging injury, but he's yet to miss a game all season. He makes the most of his limited FG attempts and shot 56.8% in December, while quietly adding 4.6 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 0.7 steals and 0.3 blocks. You could certainly do worse.

Lucas Nogueira (14%) - It isn't Nogueira's recent start alongside JV that earns him a spot on your roster -- it's the fact that he's been sneakily effective all season long. He's only likely to start in certain matchups, but there are enough backup C minutes for him to maintain his current 4.7 rebounds, 1.8 blocks and 0.9 steals. He's also shooting 64.9% from the field on low-volume attempts, and he'd simply be a must-own player if his minutes spiked from their current 19.7 per game.

Willie Reed (10%) - Yes, Hassan Whiteside is expected to return on Sunday. Nothing about Reed's game suggests that he'll earn any minutes alongside Whiteside, which limits his upside, but in deeper leagues I'm willing to see what happens over the next 2-3 games. At worst, he's a nice handcuff for Whiteside.

Doug McDermott (8%) - McDermott was rusty for a while after returning from his concussion, but he's hot in his past five games with averages of 11.6 points on 52.4% shooting, 1.6 threes, 3.2 boards, 1.4 assists and 0.6 steals in 30 minutes. The minutes have been steady all year and Chicago really needs his perimeter shooting, as they are by far the league's worst team in 3-pointers made (6.3) and 3-point percentage (31.2%). Just don't expect much beyond the points and threes.

Andre Roberson (8%) - The Thunder swingman has been awful lately and he's only worth a look if you're punting FT%, or can otherwise cope with the fact that he's shooting 36.0% at the line this season (seriously, he's a combined 18-of-50). He's also shooting just 43.5% from the field, but beyond those nasty percentages the picture brightens with career-highs in 3-pointers (0.7), rebounds (4.5), assists (1.1), steals (1.2) and blocks (1.0). The defensive stats are the key, of course, and he's a nice fit on plenty of teams.

Jeremy Lamb (5%) - Lamb deserves a nod as a temporary option due to Nicolas Batum's knee injury, which could reportedly cost him 1-2 weeks. He's averaging just 17.0 minutes on the season, however, so it's hard to love his outlook once Batum is back in action.

Dragan Bender (5%) and/or Marquese Chriss (4%) - Neither of these guys have provided lasting value this season, but both have nice potential as key pieces of a rebuilding Suns team that lacks postseason aspirations. If I had to pick one I'd go with Bender, since Chriss has done nothing despite getting more playing time thus far.

Jodie Meeks (3%) - If you're still desperate for help with 3-pointers, steals and FT%, Meeks is there for you. He was very good as a fill-in starter for Evan Fournier but is just a fringe option coming off Orlando's bench -- in 18 games this season he's averaged 8.7 points, 1.5 threes and 1.1 assists, while making 90.3% of his 1.7 FT attempts. Those numbers should be attainable if he hovers in the 22-minute range, which isn't guaranteed. It helps that Frank Vogel has a startling lack of interest in the No. 5 pick from 2015's draft, Mario Hezonja.

Caris LeVert (3%) - LeVert's situation in Brooklyn is the primary reason for this recommendation -- the Nets are likely to eventually give him as many minutes as his repeatedly surgically-repaired left foot can handle. He's played just 249 minutes all season, but on a per-36 basis he's averaging 11.7 points, 2.0 threes, 5.3 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.7 steals and just 1.2 turnovers. Even 25 minutes per game should be enough for intriguing fantasy returns.

Justin Hamilton (2%) - The Nets have no real reason to keep Brook Lopez beyond this season. He's an anachronism as a veteran pseudo-star on a team with a league-worst 8-27 record, and it's already been rumored that Brooklyn wants two future first-round picks for him. If he's traded for draft picks and whatever salary-cap flotsam another team throws in to make the deal work, Hamilton instantly becomes a viable fantasy center.

Jerian Grant (2%) - Grant leaped onto the fantasy radar once Rajon Rondo fell out of the rotation, and he's at least worth monitoring. In Chicago's past two games he's played 27 and 20 minutes, including a nine-point, six-assist, four-steal performance vs. Charlotte on Monday (he added three rebounds and a 3-pointer). Michael Carter-Williams isn't a lock to stay healthy, which adds to Grant's deep-league appeal.

Glenn Robinson (1%) - It seems clear that GR3 should have higher ownership than a lot of guys I've already discussed. He appears to have locked down a starting job and in the Pacers' past six games he's averaging 7.0 points, 0.8 threes, 5.5 boards, 1.3 assists, 0.7 steals and 0.5 blocks, while making 48.3% FGs and 81.8% FTs. As with most of the guys on this list, he's better in 9-cat formats -- that's inevitable when discussing low-end players who don't get as many touches or minutes.

Zero Percent Club! There are plenty of players whose ownership statistically rounds down to 0%. It's not an auspicious group, clearly, but there are some guys worth mentioning. Phoenix C Alan Williams had a brief, glorious moment in the sun earlier this season, but he's been a DNP-CD staple for weeks. He's not suited to PF in the best of situations, let alone on a roster that includes Chriss and Bender, so the best we can hope for is a backup role if/when Chandler is traded...Salah Mejri and A.J. Hammons both merit deep-league attention. Hammons is a second-round pick Dallas can experiment with in a lost season. Mejri is 30 years old, but they have him under contract for a non-guaranteed $1.0 million salary next year, with a $1.3 million qualifying offer the following season, so there’s some incentive to air him out down the stretch. Andrew Bogut is almost guaranteed to be shut down, if he's not traded, and Dirk Nowitzki is nearly as precarious. The Mavs have been terrible with Dirk at center this season and nobody else on the roster can handle the night-in, night-out rigors of the position: enter Hammons and/or Mejri, potentially...Ron Baker made headlines while playing ahead of Derrick Rose in the fourth quarter on Friday, especially since he helped the Knicks rally to snap a six-game losing streak. The undrafted 23-year-old rookie played just 12 minutes on Saturday and clearly isn't a lock for minutes, let alone fantasy value, but he's on the radar as someone unowned in virtually all leagues...DeAndre' Bembry played 15 minutes on Thursday and could suddenly emerge as a bit player in Atlanta's rotation (he missed Saturday's game due to a death in the family). There's a chance that the Hawks could blow things up with a Paul Millsap or Dwight Howard trade, in which case all bets are off, so keeping an eye on Atlanta's young prospects (including Taurean Prince) is a very good idea...Juan Hernangomez was the overall No. 15 pick to Denver this year. An early first-round pick on a bad team, who has shown upside in very limited minutes, could be an appealing 'no-risk' fantasy option.

Dribs and Drabs: Dorian Finney-Smith is worth watching with the Mavs headed toward nothing in particular, and Justin Anderson even more so...Lance Stephenson, Jarrett Jack and Mario Chalmers could luck into fantasy-relevant positions once they're healthy, but I'm not eager to bet on any of them...Joe Harris has been quite awful lately, admittedly, but he's shown flashes of impressive play this season and is still on the radar. Good luck this week.