Mail Bag:
Nov 22, 2005
 

I have Kurt Thomas, who is underperforming. I am thinking of replacing him and available choices are David West, Mike Sweetney, Channing Frye, and Sean May. I have Thomas in a utility spot so I could even pick up Sebastian Telfair. My team is at the tops in rebounds and ft% and otherwise in the middle on other categories but at the bottom for fg %.  John  11/22/05

Switching out Thomas seems justified.  I would put Sean May as a second tier pick and all of the others as a reasonable alternates to Thomas.  I think West and Telfair have greater chances for a stable future role and would give further preference to them.  As West has demonstrated strengths in rebounds and ft%, Telfair might be a better fit for your team.

My drafts went very well.  Great updates as usual.  I was "lucky" to have Tracy McGrady drop to me at #12.  Now with his back issues, I'm worried.  I have a chance to trade McGrady, Charlie Villanueva, and Delonte West for Stephon Marbury, Jason Terry, and Al Harrington. I have one of the top 5 teams in my league, so I tempted to trade McGrady to get guys who are healthy.  What do you think?  Am I getting enough production?  Do you think he'll miss much time this year?  I read some comments he made in the Houston paper and he sounded discouraged about the whole back issue.  Pete  11/21/05

I have not looked into the specifics of where the players referenced rate for your category group, but I would support trying to trade McGrady for as much of his healthy value as you can manage.  However I would imagine that to be a daunting task.  Perhaps wait for him to put a few games in a row and then try to trade him or give careful consideration to the offer that is apparently on the table now.  At least McGrady came back earlier than expected from his first injury absence.

 
One quick question:  If you had to drop one of two big men (Michael Olowokandi or Chris Mihm) who would it be?  I have to shore up another position due to an injury.  Garry  11/21/05

Although their numbers have been similar so far this season, I like Mihm and his potential over Kandi as Mihm has been performing under his potential and Kandi has been over performing. 

Is Josh Howard’s increase in minutes look at least semi permanent?  His production has really jumped in the past week.  M.M.  11/20/05

I am not sure why he played only 16 minutes in two games the other week against Denver and New Orleans but I expect him to be around a 35 minute/game key guy for the Mavs.

Any opinion on whether Rafer Alston is going to come around?  S.T.  11/16/05

Not sure of this, but his injury will prolong a bounce back  Rookie Luther Head started tonight  for him- if he has success that will further reduce Altson's potential.  The good news for Alston is that if he is healthy I think he should win the majority of the PG minutes.  His FG% is only 32% to date and if that was caused by him not being 100% getting healed would represent an upside potential for him. It appears as if Derek Anderson will fade from the picture and Sura’s injuries will prevent from coming into the picture.