Weekly Update: The Randolph Trade

Here is a point/counterpoint analysis of the Zach Randolph/Monta Ellis trade:

Ballbach:

I always thought one of the possible chinks in ATTIC's armor was Yao and the inevitable season ending injury that usually occurs in January/February. Marc didn't really have a backup center. Plus all of his guards are guards, none of them have G/F eligibility. So even with a healthy Monta Ellis, he'd probably end up benching either him or Udrih on days when most teams have a game.

So when you traded Randolph to him for a guy that just had screws removed from his ankle and is still a month away from returning, I couldn't understand why. You could have at least gotten Kevin Love in addition to Ellis, thus getting some sort of production, instead of Maxiell who was picked up off waivers a couple of days/weeks prior to the trade and has been virtually useless this season.

I guess the timing of the trade was my biggest problem. If it was made a month from now when their might be some actual visual evidence of Ellis being able to jump, then yeah, maybe it would make more sense. And I can also see the urgency on your side with concern to Randolph because he's in LA now and that is a crowded front court and his value could take a drastic dip if either Camby or Kaman aren't traded. I just thought you could have gotten more, you were in the driver's seat.

Bajorek:

I hear what your saying and can see how you'd be fired up on this trade but because I'm not doing anything else right now, allow me to give you a brief explanation of why I did it.

I think Ricky Bobby's father said it best, "If your not first, your last." Like Ricky himself, that saying has had a tremendous effect on my life and the reasoning behind most things I do. I would rather have two straight horrible seasons with 1 title than 3 consecutive years in 4th place. It's obvious that this isn't my year for any fantasy sports so I'm turning my focus to creating a roster of young kids with big upside and cheap contracts so I can keep as many of them in the off season as possible. Unfortunately I've only been able to make one trade but I'm very happy with it. I knock something like 6 bucks off the table and move one of my many big men for a young guard who has the talent to fill up the box scores on any day.

Like you said, I might have been in the drivers seat on this one and looking back on it, I should have tried to get a throw in prospect to give myself more depth. All I can really say is that Ellis has been on my radar for about a year now and I'm happy to get him just before he comes back from the injury/suspension rather than drafting him and having him on my bench for the first two months of the season. I believe I drafted Randolph in the same round as Ellis and consider those first few months with Randolph as a bonus. If Ellis has a good season when he does come back, good but that's not my real concern. The true test is if he can put up 2007-2008 stats next season and the years after that.

Ballbach:

I believe Ricky's father also coined the phrase, "It's the fastest that get paid, and the fastest that get laid"

In your anxiousness to get laid I think you lost sight of the fact that you probably could have made that same trade a month later, and thus could have enjoyed more "bonus" time with Zach. Or at the very least, you should have been compensated for having to be stuck with Ellis on your IR for at least a month (ie. An upgrade over Maxiell, or some D-Leaguer, or a pick, or something).

I respect the All or Nothing sentiment, but bailing on a season in the beginning of December, when it doesn't end until mid April seems a bit premature. But you have a game plan for the future, and as long as you are continuing to rotate your starters, I can't fault you for anything. I'm just happy you're enjoying the league so far.

Bajorek:

The only things I enjoy are sausage, warm Busch Light, and the Bears. Don't flatter yourself, this league blows.

Ballbach:

(After I cry uncontrollably for 20 minutes, the conversation ends).

*Bajorek's last line may or may not have been fabricated by the author.

Power of 40

Here are the top performances from December 8th through December 14th:

1. Stephen Curry (57) vs. Chattanooga
-41 points, 5 threes, 6 assists, 4 rebounds, and a steal.

2. Stephen Curry (51) vs. West Virginia
-27 points, 10 assists, 4 rebounds, 4 steals, 4 threes, and 2 blocks.

3. Jordan Hill (50) vs. San Diego St.
-25 points, 14 rebounds, 6 blocks, 4 assists, and a steal.

4. Luke Harangody (48) vs. Boston University
-23 points, 15 rebounds, 5 assists, and 5 blocks.

5. Blake Griffin (40) vs. Maine
-22 points, 10 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 blocks, and 2 steals.

6. Samardo Samuels (40) vs. Austin Peay
-21 points, 12 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 blocks, and 2 steals.

7. Tyler Hansbrough (40) vs. Oral Roberts
-26 points, 9 rebounds, 2 steals, 1 assist, 1 block, and a three.

8. Jack McClinton (40) vs. Robert Morris
-24 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 threes.

Weekly Update: Humpty's Dumpties

We Wear Short Shorts may or may not be getting too big for his britches as evidenced by his recent rant on the league home page warning others to be on the lookout for his suddenly aroused group of misfits. And sure, Jason's squad has made some noise of late, but relying on Baron Davis, Marcus Camby, Andrei Kirilenko, Tracy McGrady, and newly acquired head case Ron Artest to be healthy and productive at the same time is like asking the cast of Party of Five to reunite and be relevant again. The only problem is:

Baron Davis (Neve Campbell)- She used to be hot and is best known for her make out scene with Denise Richards in the movie Wild Things. But then Neve cut her hair real butch (Baron signing with the Clips) and hasn't been the same since. If only Mike Dunleavy would let them play ball.....and if only the injury prone Davis didn't just sign a fat contract....and if only he wasn't a 6'3'' guard who's game depends heavily on explosiveness (he's one more knee injury away from being Steve Francis), and if only he wasn't turning 30 at the end of the season. Did I mention he was a Clipper?

Andrei Kirilenko (Jennifer Love Hewitt)- She has big boobs and a skinny waist, AK47 has funny hair and a propensity for blocking shots. In the end though, neither of them are very interesting but continue to find work based on a diluted sense of potential. Both could shine brightly if put in the right situation though(Kirilenko- a team that has heavy minutes available for a defensive PF and Jennifer would look mighty nice in bed, aka, the pornography industry).

Marcus Camby (Matthew Fox)- Charlie Salinger was the eldest and tallest of the Salingers thus making him the center and leader of the parentless group of youngsters. But just as Charlie was diagnosed with cancer, so will Camby fall to yet another injury. He started the year wounded and will probably be on the shelf again. I actually like Camby so I won't keep harping on him. Camby's fantasy resurgence in Denver sort of parallels Matthew Fox's stint on Lost when you think about it.

Tracy McGrady (Scott Wolf)- Bailey was the Mac Daddy of all the character's on the show and his light shined the brightest. Some predicted he might be the next Scott Baio. He literally had thousands upon thousands of teenage girls lined up around the corner with sticky undercarriages just waiting to hand out their virginity in a fit of uncontrollable hormonal rage. And now? What has Mr. Wolf done lately? Both he and T-Mac have fallen so far off the radar it's damn near comical. In my humble opinion, McGrady is in the same class as the O'Neal brothers. Injury plagued has-beens who's contracts will kill your team.

Ron Artest (Lacey Chabert)- Ah, little Claudia. Nobody paid attention to you, nobody cared that you could play a musical instrument. Nobody cared about Ron Ron at St. John's, nobody hailed him as the next best thing. He spent a few years in Chicago on crappy teams with Elton Brand and didn't really receive mainstream attention until he got to Indiana (Mean Girls). Just like the smallest child in any family, Ron is always willing to puff his chest out and declare how great he is to anybody willing to listen. And speaking of puffing your chest out, Lacey, where did those come from? Hubba hubba.

I think Jason got Artest at a pretty reasonable price. I usually think of Gooden as more of a boner than a basketball player and with all the rebounders on We Wear Short Shorts, he was very expendable, probably to the point where Jason was thinking of dropping him. Chalmers is a nice young point guard but I'm not so sure the he and Gooden are enough for Artest. It's not a trade that should be subject to veto, not at all (Gooden is hauling in nearly 9 boards a game right now), just saying that I thought Artest would bring in a little more in a trade scenario. My trades could be subject to the same ridicule.

But Jason, I sincerely hope you were kidding when you briefly raved about your D-League squad in your Not So Fast speech. I was the one who drafted Chalmers for you and I only threw you that bone because I felt sorry for drafting the great honkey duo of Hansbrough and Harangody after you bailed on the draft. Then after given an extra week to prepare for the final 4 rounds, you go ahead and draft Yue Sun, Marco Belinelli, and Tiago Splitter. The only thing I'll give you credit for is drafting Spencer Hawes because that guy is a stone pimp.

I don't mean to rag on your team alone, the five guys mentioned above are all good players, I just wouldn't be able to sleep at night knowing they were all on my roster. But what I do intend on doing, is lambasting the ridiculous Zach Randolph trade.....which will happen in next week's update. Until then, keep on trucking.

Power of 40

Here are some of the top performances from December 1st through December 7th:

1. Stephen Curry (56) vs. N.C. State
-44 points, 4 threes, 3 assists, 3 steals, and 2 rebounds.

2. Sam Young (47) vs. Vermont
-28 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals, 2 blocks, and 2 threes.

3. Gani Lawal (46) vs. Penn State
-34 points, 10 rebounds, 1 assist, and a block.

4. Luke Harangody (45) vs. Ohio State
-25 points, 16 rebounds, 2 steals, an assist, and a block.

5. Patrick Patterson (44) vs. Miami
-19 points, 16 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, and 3 blocks.

6. Hasheem Thabeet (44) vs. Buffalo
-21 points, 18 rebounds, 1 assist, and 4 blocks.

7. Lester Hudson (43) vs. Morehead St.
-24 points, 10 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 threes, 2 steals, and a block.

8. Earl Clark (42) vs. Ohio
-17 points, 14 rebounds, 8 assists, 2 blocks, and a three.

9. Jeff Teague (41) vs. Bucknell
-26 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 4 threes, and 2 steals.

10. James Harden (40) vs. Jackson St.
-22 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists, 4 threes, and 2 steals.

(And in a very non-Power of 40 fashion, Tyler Smith of Tennessee recorded a triple-double against N.C. Asheville by posting a line of 12 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists)

Power of 40

Here are some of the top performances from November 24th through November 30th:

1. James Harden (58) vs. UTEP
-40 points, 6 threes, 8 rebounds, and 4 assists.

2. Patrick Patterson (53) vs. Longwood
-28 points, 12 rebounds, 6 assists, 4 blocks, and 3 steals.

3. Stephen Curry (53) vs. Florida Atlantic
-39 points, 5 threes, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, and a block.

4. Blake Griffin (51) vs. UAB
-32 points, 15 rebounds, 3 assists, and a steal.

5. James Harden (51) vs. Baylor
-32 points, 4 threes, 9 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 steals.

6. Luke Harangody (47) vs. Texas
-29 points, 13 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 1 block, and a three.

7. Blake Griffin (46) vs. Purdue
-18 points, 21 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, and 2 blocks.

8. Sam Young (45) vs. Belmont
-33 points, 7 rebounds, 2 steals, 2 threes, and 1 assist.

9. Jeff Teague (43) vs. UTEP
-29 points, 6 assists, 3 rebounds, 2 blocks, 2 threes, and a steal.

10. Ty Lawson (42) vs. Notre Dame
-22 points, 11 assists, 6 rebounds, 2 steals, and a three.

11. Tyler Hansbrough (42) vs. Notre Dame
-34 points, 5 rebounds, 2 blocks, and a three.

12. Lester Hudson (41) vs. Arkansas St.
-23 points, 5 threes, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, and 2 blocks.

13. Ty Lawson (40) vs. N.C. Asheville
-22 points, 8 assists, 5 steals, 3 rebounds, and 2 threes.

Week 5 Review

Recently, Jason was wondering about our league's system for ranking players. To help further illustrate how a typical player rater works in fantasy leagues using rotisserie scoring, here's a clip from Seth Landman article on ESPN.com:

"Many of you wonder why the player rater is based on stat totals and not averages. The rationale here is that standard fantasy basketball leagues are played in a roto format. As you are no doubt aware, in roto leagues, the standings are based on where your team finishes relative to the league in each category. With the exception of the shooting-percentage categories, roto scoring is based on the accumulation of totals.
For example, a player who averages 17 points per game over 82 games is worth almost exactly the same as a player who averages 23 points per game over 60 games. The player who averages 17 points is probably a pretty good scorer, maybe the second- or third-best on his team. The player who averages 23 points is probably an All-Star. Either way, over the course of the whole season, each player provided your team with basically the same number of points.

What this means is that the player rater is focused on what has happened previously. It tells us which players have been the most valuable fantasy entities overall (and in each category) over the course of the season. This is one piece of useful information for fantasy players.

Of course, there are many more useful pieces of info out there. Fantasy basketball is fun because it is about predicting what players will do tomorrow and each subsequent day after that. We always use past performance as a basis on which to make our speculations about what is about to happen.
Just as we need to temper our enthusiasm about the player who has been just an average performer but is ranked fifth overall three games into the season because everyone else has played two, we also need to put into context the player who puts up gaudy averages in a tiny sample of games.

At the end of the season, the Player Rater, more than any other tool, will provide us with a clear picture of which players actually went out and had the best fantasy seasons for us. The usefulness of this information is, of course, up for debate, but so is all information we receive. If there were a perfect way of judging who the best fantasy player will be from today through the rest of the season, there would be no point in playing fantasy. Let's just be glad we still get to argue about the relative value of all the tools at our disposal; it's one of the conversations that makes sports great.

As for the current Player Rater, each team has now played at least 14 games, so we're starting to see the stats reflect the truth a bit more each day. Still, in case you haven't counted, Sacramento and Milwaukee are the two teams who have played the most games with 19. Clearly, there's still a range here, so when you see Spencer Hawes and John Salmons of the Kings continuing to hover in the top 20 overall, make sure you supplement that piece of knowledge with a healthy bit of skepticism."

Hopefully that helps clarify things.

There hasn't been a lot of movement in the standings over the past couple of weeks but that's not from a lack of effort. There has been over $100 worth of transactions made already and the season is only one month young. Everyone appears to be actively setting their lineups and the trade chatter remains strong. Although, we are still looking for our first non-commissioner involved trade. This past week the Cagers completed their 3rd trade of the season when they shipped center Brad Miller to Arlie's Hogs in exchange for Randy Foye. With Josh Boone and Andrew Bogut on the shelf due to injury, the Hogs were without a center and the Cagers were happy to help out. After shipping LeBron, Devin Harris, Mike Conley, and Mike Miller out of town via trade, the Cagers were looking for some assist help at the guard position, and the deal was born. Also on the trade front.......

How do all the naysayers like the Nowitzki trade now??? Where are all the torches and pitchforks and sour pusses? Is the 25.3 points and 6.4 assists per game from Harris enough for you all??? For those of you who flapped your trap without thinking first, you owe Pete Lunchbox a huge apology. Alright, perhaps that's a bit dramatic, but you get my point. Harris is awesome.

We're also starting to see some of the injured ducks return to action. Deron Williams, Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili, Jason Richardson, and Michael Redd have all seen playing time in recent days and can be used by their respective owners once again.

So far this season, four players have been elevated from the D-League ranks to NBA fantasy squads. We Wear Short Shorts brought up Spencer Hawes and Mario Chalmers while ATTIC promoted Ramon Sessions and D.J. Augustin. Hawes and Sessions were no brainers since they were productive 2nd year players who wouldn't be eligible for the D-League in 2009, but Chalmers and Augustin are rookies who could have been carried over into next season without salary cap ramifications had they remained on the D-League squad. All four players are currently sitting in the top 100 on the player rater so as long as Chalmers and Augustin keep playing at that level it will help justify the early promotion. And so far, those two haven't done anything to suggest they weren't worth the call up. But when the dollars get tight in the off season and everyone's trying to keep as many players as possible heading into 2009, there might not be enough room on the NBA roster for the two talented point guards. Time will tell.

Trivia question: Who is the only franchise in the league to retain all 12 original draft picks?

Answer: The Miller Lite Muff Drivers (now that's loving what your cooking)