Travis

Outlaw

This should be Outlaw’s opportunity to step up and get it done, especially since the Blazers are talking about moving Miles. Outlaw’s been a breakout candidate for two seasons, but hasn’t lived up to the hype. The situation in Portland is setting up perfectly for him, so if he can’t emerge as a solid fantasy forward this season, it’s probably not going to happen. Outlaw will become a restricted free agent at the end of the season, meaning other teams will be able to offer him a contract, with the Blazers having the right to match.

Outlaw was handed five-year, $35 million contract prior to the start of the 2010-11 season and flopped miserably in his first season with the Nets. Fortunately, it can’t get much worse for the forward, who is looking to live up to his price tag. It’s worth noting that he was coming off of foot surgery in 2009, but his play will have to really improve for the team to get what it sought from its investment.

Williams has seen the action go away from him lately, but he has opened eyes around the arena and is a sneaky, albeit incredibly risky play tonight. Travis Outlaw has been given the burn recently with Marcus Thornton out, but it could be time for one last look at Williams before the Kings make offseason decisions about Tyreke Evans.

Outlaw hung 20 points on the Thunder on Tuesday, and is worth a look for the desperate (preferably in deeper formats). Terrence Williams is also playing tonight, and both guys hope to be the recipients of some garbage time love.

Outlaw was a direct beneficiary by the absence of both Terrence Williams (flu) and Marcus Thornton (quad) tonight. He could do it again on Thursday, as it sounds like Thornton might be done for the year.

Thornton doesn’t have much incentive to push himself into the lineup for the final two games, but the fact that he hasn’t been ruled out suggests he’s itching to play. We probably won’t know his official status until roughly 7 p.m. ET. Travis Outlaw started in Thornton’s place last time out, but that might have been a one-game experiment.

Thornton tried to fight back from his bruised quad, but there’s little reason for him to play at less than 100 percent. We’d be surprised to see him in the season finale as well. Travis Outlaw, who has started the last two games, draws the nod at shooting guard again.

Thornton has missed two straight games with his left quad contusion and the Kings have just two games remaining. Beat writer Jason Jones has already speculated that Thornton could very well be done for the season. Travis Outlaw has started two straight games, but has averaged just 4.5 points, 3.0 rebounds and 1.0 assists in those starts.

Maybe the Kings gave Outlaw some ‘prove-it’ minutes, because nothing he has done this season has justified any time on the floor. He has three more years to go at $3 million per season, and it’s unclear if the cash-strapped Maloofs would be willing to eat that mistake.

The only thing more ridiculous than the Nets giving Outlaw a big money deal was the Kings turning around and adding Outlaw on a four-year, $12 million contract. Maybe if they kept the money the Maloofs could afford to pay the $3 million they’re trying to squirm out of on the arena deal (no, the Kings aren’t moving).