Mail Bag:
Nov 29, 2005
 

I've been offered Larry Hughes and Alonzo Mourning for Vince Carter.  I'm in first place with a fair lead in points, but need rebounding help.   I'd have to cut Eric Dampier to take on Alonzo.  Vince is better than Larry, but for the injury concerns.  Is Zo sufficiently better than Dampier when Shaq comes back?  If not I'm not inclined to take the deal.  JW  11/28/05

Last season in 19 games with the Heat Alonzo averaged around 13 mpg.  In his two full games with Shaq this season, Zo averaged 17.5 minutes.  When Shaq gets back you should expect around 20 minutes or less with about the same per minute output he is giving now (perhaps a little more).  It is doubtful Alonzo will have much more fantasy value than Dampier (although I think Dampier has the potential to really go downhill also).  Considering this a two for two deal, you will certainly get short term help in rebounding as Zo is coming off a 21 reb performance.  The prospects of getting rid of the injury potential of Vince is also attractive however in terms of long term effects it may not do much for your rebounding.  You may be better off waiving off Dampier when a good free agent comes available.  Someone like a Reggie Evans - but perhaps with a little more overall game.

Long-time subscriber here.  I have a trade question for you today.  In a standard Yahoo league (9 categories, start 3G, 3F, 2C, 2Util, 3Bn), I've been offered Shawn Marion, Channing Frye and Hedo Turkoglu for Pau Gasol, Dwight Howard and Mike James. My team (2nd place overall, is weak in FT%, 3's and TO ... strong in everything else):
G. Arenas
J. Howard
M. James
C. Butler
P. Gasol
D. Howard
T. Duncan
M. Camby
B. Diaw
L. Ridnour
Z. Pachulia
T. Ford
J.R. Smith
Should I take it?  I think I could also get Barbosa instead of Turkoglu - between these two which would you recommend? Thanks for the great advice and fantastic notes!
Vince 11/29/05

Marion would certainly be the crown jewel of the players you would receive.  However you would be giving away two players who are nearly crown jewels themselves.  As a rookie Frye will see ups and downs and so will the veteran Turkoglu - particularly after Grant Hill returns.  Mike James has been a nice player also - better than Frye and Turkoglu.  So without even doing the dental work of checking the player rankings for those involved in the trade for your system I would decline the offer as it stands.  Since Gasol may be highly responsible for wrecking your FT%, how about Gasol + player X for Marion?

Hope all is well - your service is tremendous. My team is barely in first and pretty good across all 8 rotisserie categories. I might have a chance to pick up Diaw on Wed the 30th. I can't reserve Delonte West and would have to drop him, so theoretically it might be a year long commitment to Diaw.  Who do you think has better potential the rest of the year? The one caveat is that steals in my 10-team league is very close - if I had 3 more steals, my team would be 4.5 spots higher. Thanks, Steve  11/29/05

Diaw so far as had a little more value for your category group and West has had a slight edge in the steal category.  However I think Diaw might have a little more downside than West.  Currently Barbosa and Stoudemire have been out for the Suns.  Each of their returns presents a potential reduction in minutes for Diaw.  Also, James Jones presents a threat to Diaw should he get hot and Diaw get cold.  West seems to have a firm hold on the PG position for Boston.  For these reasons I would lean towards West.