HoopsKlyce fantasy basketball consultant

March, 2005 Mailbag

3/1/05
Hi Hoops,

Long time subscriber here, looking for some FA advice. I'm in the CBSSportsline H to H league (Categories score 1 or -1 pt. except for assists are 2 pts.). With all the trades that happened its opened up a lot of good FA's to choose from. Which will have the most value for the home stretch? Could you give me 1 or 2 guards and 1 forward. Also, should I get rid of Juwan Howard, or Ricky Davis in favor of any of them?
Jameer Nelson-G                                 Michael Sweetney-F
Keith McCloud-G                                 Josh Childress-F
Marquis Daniels-G                               Kwame Brown-F
Tyrone Lue-G
Delonte West-G
Thanks always for your help,

Brad

Brad
All of the players listed are great emerging pickups but all of them have their own downside. For Delonte West it is the imminent return of Gary Payton. For that reason I would move him to the bottom of the list despite he has perhaps the most fantasy value of the group over the last couple games. The next player to eliminate is Tyron Lue just since I don’t think he has the skills of the remaining players. I would put Keith McCloud at the top not that he is the best on a per minute basis but since I think he has the most job security. Between Nelson and Daniels I would pick Nelson although I think he is not a lock to keep his job. Daniels could lose his minutes when Stackhouse returns.

Of the forwards my first reaction was to go for Sweetney considering his recent 19 pts, 12 reb game, but the stupid Knicks just traded for Maurice Taylor and Malik Rose who will pressure Sweetney’s playing time once they get into the flow of things in New York. Brown’s attendance has been too spotty this season to take a gamble on at this time. That leaves Childress who I think has shown abilities recently and should have good job security.

I would consider getting rid of Juwan but he has been OK lately.. Davis is a tough call. Once Payton returns I think his value will not be the same since now Walker will be taking a lot of shots – something Davis used to do for the Celtics.

Hoops

3/2/05

Hoops
Do you think Rahim will have any value this year. I held on to him hoping for a trade and for him to get healthy. Should I drop him for Maurice Williams or Jameer Nelson. I am not using Rahim. It's a roto league with these categories.

FGM FG% FT% 3PTM 3PT% PTS REB AST ST BLK TO PF DISQ TECH FF

Current roster
Marbury
Simmons
Kirilenko
Jamison
Duncan
Bibby
Bosh
Radmo
Mike Miller
Rahim
Stephen Jackson
Josh Howard

Thanks, Stacey

Stacey
Abdur-Rahim was playing pretty well before he hurt his elbow but he has been slow in his first few games back. Ruben Patterson and Darius Miles share minutes with Rahim and with the recent firing of Maurice Cheeks it could mean that Rahim see’s even less time according to this article at HoopsWorld.com.

Both Maurice Williams and Jameer Nelson are worth picking up in place of Rahim and I think that would be a wise move. I could even see justification for taking both and waiving Radmo. Realize that you should commit yourself to always be on the prowl for other free agents in case Nelson and/or Williams go sour.
Hoops

3/2/05

Hoops

Thank you for your e-mail update on Jameer Nelson. I have Gary Payton and may be able to cut him under my league rules now that he has been waived. I'm not sure about his role on some of the teams that he is being mentioned in association with (Phoenix, Sacramento, Minnesota) and am wondering about some of the action in Boston being routed through Walker with reduced minutes to Payton if he returned to the Celtics.

I am considering cutting Payton in favor of Nelson. My concern with Nelson is that his starting gig may be short term. If he continues to start and get 35 minutes a game, I think he can meet or exceed Payton's season line of 12ppg, 3rpg, 6apg, and 1.2spg. Orlando also has 24 games left effective this coming Monday, where the other teams have 21 or 22. Who would you like better from here on out?

Thanks!

Tim Schell

Tim

I think Payton should be pretty reliable when he returns to Boston and you can expect for him to come close to the averages he had before Walker if not exceeding them.

At the same time, Jameer Nelson has now completed (including tonight) four compelling games as the starting PG for the Magic. Nelson has the potential to exceed Payton's numbers for the rest of the season. So you need to decide how you feel about risk. If you are not comfortable with it stick with Payton. If so, going with Nelson could pay rewards. If you are not able to quickly waive Nelson in your league it would be another reason to stick with Payton.

A key thing to look at to determine what kind of playing time Nelson should expect in subsequent games is his TO's. The Magic put him at PG to reduce the teams TO's. If he keeps those down then his job security should be there.

Hoops