1/29/06
Question. Would you trade Ginobili for Ty Chandler? I need a big man am I getting fair value back for ginobili? Thanks!

I know that Ginobili has not been that great this season with injuries, but I think considering the way the lineup changes in Chicago you could do better than Chandler for Manu. Chandler has never averaged double digit scoring for a season and until recently has been killing his teams at the line. At the same time his rebounding and shot blocking (and FG%) as of late have been impressive. I can see he has some attraction - but I think he is too risky.

1/27/06
On TNT, I just heard about the 7-player TWolves-Celtics trade going down tonight. Will Banks get more time in Minnesota than as a Celt?

Banks gets a new opportunity but I would guess he remains a reserve with similar PT. This deal does not really come out with a clear winner in terms of increased role but it further establishes Perkins as the center of the future for the Celtics.

1/21/06
Long-time subscriber coming to you again for trade advice. In a standard Yahoo league (P,A,R,S,B,3,FG%,FT%,TO), I've been offered Kirilenko and Camby for Brand and B Miller. I have a well-balanced team with strengths in Pts and FT% (2nd place in both) and a weakness in FG% (last place). I'm thinking of throwing my 2nd center, Pachulia, into the trade (for Krstic) to even out the FG% disparity. Now, I realize that both Kirilenko and Camby are injury risks...but I would likely move into the top position in Blks (currently in the middle). Camby should be back within the next 10 days. Is the reward worth the risk? Would love to hear your thoughts.

I would not do this trade because of Camby. I also feel trades should be targeted primarily to a particular weakness which in your case is most significantly FG%. Brand and Miller are good at FG% and you would not be making an impact there. At the same time you could work out a deal where the principals are Miller and Kirilenko to try to not lose more in FG% and improve in blocks. You would need to add a player or go two for two since Kirilenko is better than Miller.

1/19/06
I would watch Robert Swift - I think he will definitely be getting the start over Petro and can give you some of the rebounds and blks I'd guess you need. I'm not high on swift but he's impressed me over the last few games. Most likely because team's D are more focused on covering the guards and stretched by radmanovic on the perimeter. Short run pickup for sure. Meanwhile what's going on in Portland with Ratlff and Pryz any sense of who's going to pan out?

I think the two scenarios in Portland are Joel and Theo cancel each other out or Joel has value. Right now it is the former but I think sometime this season we will see another Joel binge.

1/19/06
Can you help me? I have my second half draft on Friday and we are allotted $144 to draft 12 players; 2 being centers. We are allowed to keep up to 3 players ($5 minimum). I do not know who I should keep. Any advice? Here is who I have and what it would cost to keep them. Also, we track points, assists, boards, 3’s made, blocks, steals, FT% and FG%. All categories weighted equally and there are 7 teams.

Dirk - $37
Ben Wallace - $12
Eddie Curry - $5
Ray Allen - $21
Vince Carter - $19
Peja - $13
Andre Miller - $5
Maggette - $5
Billups - $18
Dwight Howard - $5
Lamar Odom - $5
Sam Caseell - $5

I can keep three. Any advice on what 3 I should keep would be most appreciated.

If you kept three $5 players are you confident you could find some studs to buy with the money you would have? If so keeping Howard, Miller, and Odom makes sense. Other candidates include Billups and Carter if you think you need to keep a little start power had a reasonable price. Do you redraft again at the end of this season - keep again? (the answer was no…) If so it adds to the reasons to keeping Billups as I think this is a career season for him - may drop off next year Dirk is good, but you can buy him back perhaps at a cheaper price in the auction assuming no restrictions on getting back your own guys.

Note the subscriber ended up keeping Billups, Carter, and Odom as many stars were being kept.

1/18/06
I snagged Francisco Garcia last week. I am hoping that in my 216 player league, he will continue to have some value even when Peja returns. We shall see. Any more thoughts on the desirability of Kendrick Perkins now in the face of a possible Blount-for-Olowokandi trade and then the possible waiving of Kandi by the Celts after that?

The imminent departure of Blount does contribute to the upside of Perkins. In fact this morning I picked Perkins in a league with 224 players. If the Celtics can't trade Blount he may end up IL or with negligible minutes. Blount's 30 minutes the other night may have just been a showcase for a trade. Perkin's also had two nice games recently and has earned the right to continue to play.