Month: February 2008

Devean George Blocks Kidd Deal With No-Trade Clause!?!

ff2715 mavericks, nets, trade analysis

According to ESPN, Devean George will exercise his rare no-trade clause to block a proposed blockbuster trade that would have sent Jason Kidd to the Dallas Mavericks. We chronicled the trade and its fantasy impact on FBP earlier today , but apparently it is NOT going to go through.

Summary of today’s events:

  1. New Jersey and Dallas agreed to the deal in principal earlier today
  2. They were set to take the trade to the league first thing tomorrow
  3. Devean George informed the Mavericks he wouldn’t accept the trade
  4. According to the Dallas Morning News, Mark Cuban was asked if he thought the trade would go through and he responded: “No, I don’t think so”
  5. Avery Johnson also had this to say about trades in general: “[many trades] get to the 20-yard line, inside the red zone, and don’t get into the end zone”

So it looks like this deal isn’t happening just yet. My belief is that some sort of deal gets done in the end, with or without George (talk about an important piece of puzzle <–sarcasm). Why the heck does George have a no-trade clause anyway? I mean sure he’s a veteran now and I know he “won” (more like sat around and was gifted) 3 championships while with the Lakers, but this is absurd.

I’d be interested to hear from our readers in the comments what they thing will happen with this situation–will Kidd eventually find his way to Dallas?–if so, for who?

Also, for more NBA breaking news subscribe to FBP’s RSS feed.

To hoops,
Farid

Jason Kidd Traded to the Dallas Mavericks for Harris, Stackhouse

ff2715 mavericks, nets, trade analysis

The Dallas Mavericks have apparently countered the trades for Pau Gasol and Shaquille O’Neal by acquiring future Hall of Famer Jason Kidd and Malik Allen from the New Jersey Nets for budding young guard Devin Harris, Jerry Stackhouse, Devean George, DeSagana Diop, Maurice Ager, two first-round picks, and $3 million. It was an extremely steep price to pay for Kidd, especially considering what the Lakers paid for Gasol (doesn’t look like Gregg Popovich will rip into this trade like he did with Pau’s).

The fantasy impact for the remaining Mavericks is all positive. Not only do they add one of the greatest pure point guards to play the game, Dallas has also gutted almost all of its depth, and Dirk Nowitzki, Josh Howard, and Jason Terry will all see increased minutes and productivity. Erick Dampier becomes a definite pick-up with the dismissal of Diop, and Brandon Bass all of the sudden becomes one of the first guys off the bench. Expect this unit to mesh quickly and perform well.

On the New Jersey side, they got exactly what they have been looking for the past 2 years. It seems holding out on trading Kidd worked out since they gained the young heir-apparent in Devin Harris as well as two expiring contracts (George and Diop), which will give them financial flexibility. The future draft picks and Maurice Ager seem to just sweeten the pot. The only odd name in the deal seems to be Stackhouse, as he was the sixth man for Dallas and New Jersey
seems to have little need for him (although they still technically are right in the middle of a playoff race). Harris should return after the All-Star Break and will take the minutes that were supposed to go to Marcus Williams (so do not pick up Williams). Harris becomes one of the better options for the Nets, and Richard Jefferson and Vince Carter will take a few more looks, although losing a point guard like Kidd will hurt a lot. Diop gains minimal fantasy value, while the others in the deal have no fantasy impact.

Thus, it seems like another win today sacrifice tomorrow deal that may work out for Dallas. Fantasy-wise, it seems that the entire Dallas rotation will benefit, while Harris may gain more minutes and production while Carter and Jefferson, both adept at creating their own shot, will see very little change.

The Fantasy Basketball Blogsphere’s take
Did Dallas “purge their roster with a high cost?” ArmchairGM thinks so. FanIQ still thinks the Suns and Lakers are better than the Mavs. National Lampoon Splog! shows us an interesting picture of Kidd.

For more NBA breaking news and it’s fantasy impact, subscribe to FBP’s RSS feed.

Mike
Senior Writer

You’re Addicted to Fantasy Basketball If…

ff2715 other
  1. You root against your favorite team to cheer for your fantasy players
  2. You know all of the positions David Lee is eligible for (SF, PF, C)
  3. When someone goes down with an injury you don’t pray for their speedy recovery, you thank god it wasn’t someone on your fantasy team
  4. The number of moves you’ve made in a H2H league is greater than your team’s total number of wins
  5. You call anything worse than a top 3 finish in a league a “rebuilding year“
  6. You start a blog about fantasy basketball (oh wait, that’s me)
  7. You don’t need a free Yahoo Stat Tracker, you manually log the performance of your players each night
  8. You have Google Calendar events remind you when certain players should be returning from injury
  9. You watch the Celtics/Spurs game only to see if you should pick up Fabricio Oberto
  10. You scout the college basketball scene for next year’s possible sleepers
  11. Give Me The Rock is your home page
  12. Your spouse complains you don’t get enough exercise
  13. You check your team at work, at school, at the library, on your iPhone, in the shower, or wherever there is an internet connection
  14. When Phil Jackson benches Kobe early because it’s a blowout, you scream at the television because of the fantasy impact
  15. Last year as commissioner of your league you did more than David Stern has done for the NBA in the last 5 years
  16. You have 5 Yahoo accounts and only use them to play fantasy basketball
  17. You know the number of 3PT’s separating you and the 1st place team in your roto league

Hope you enjoyed. Have any of your own? Add them to the comments below!

Also, keep up with FBP by subscribing to our free RSS feed!

To hoops,
Farid

RookieWatch 07-08, #16-20

ff2715 http://schemas.google.com/blogger/2008/kind#post

We’re all excited about our new site. So without further ado, for the next installment of RookieWatch 07-08, we look at picks #16-20. Don’t forget to check out fantasy analysis of picks #1-5 | #6-10 | #11-15.

  1. Nick Young, Washington Wizards – Young shot up into the mid-first round with a great NCAA showing with USC. With the current injuries to the Wizards, Young has seen an increase in playing time that has led to an outburst in scoring. A long, lanky athlete, he has the potential to be of the Josh Howard mold, but still has a lot of raw ability that needs to be harnessed. Furthermore, with the impending return of Caron Butler, Gilbert Arenas, and Antonio Daniels, Young should find himself deep on the bench once again in the near future.

    Recommendation: Only a very short term option, but you are probably better off going another way.

  1. Sean Williams, New Jersey Nets – The Nets were taking a huge chance on Williams, who had been suspended for the second part of the Boston College season. However, they could not pass on the athletic and shot-blocking potential, and have been rewarded so far this season, as have fantasy owners who have picked up this rookie. Williams has entered the starting lineup and has earned more playing time, and his points, rebounds, and blocked shots have all increased. Williams is a nice complementary role player to get for one of your last two roster spots.

    Recommendation: For help in blocked shots, FG%, and rebounds, pick up this man now!

  2. Marco Belinelli, Golden State Warriors – Former teammate of Manu Ginobili, Belinelli had a monster NBA Summer League campaign before leaving to go back to Italy for Eurobasket 2007. Now back with the Warriors, Belinelli has not seen any consistent playing time, although he has the capability to score in bunches, similar to his former teammate Ginobili. With the style of the Warriors and their deep bench, Belinelli will continue to see little playing time.

    Recommendation: Ignore for this current season.

  3. Javaris Crittenton, Memphis Grizzlies – Traded to the Grizzlies from the Lakers in the Pau Gasol trade, Crittenton had no fantasy value until leaving LA. Although his value is still not high, being on a perennial loser will only get him more playing time. He has shown flashes of the ability to score and if he can consistently break into the Grizzlies’ rotation, he may be a viable player for one of the last slots on your team. With the potential to shoot well and score, Crittenton could be a possibility for the last few weeks of the season.

    Recommendation: Put him on your watch list.

  4. Jason Smith, Philadelphia 76ers – Smith was drafted by the Miami Heat and then shipped to Philly on draft day. A big seven foot center, Smith has struggled to adapt to the NBA and has been buried behind Samuel Dalembert, who has had a break-out season. Smith has shown the ability to shoot well, score, and rebound when given some consistent minutes. However, he has been unable to break into the regular rotation, even with the 76ers’ season going nowhere.

    Recommendation: Smith also should be going nowhere near your fantasy roster.

Like this post? Keep up with Fantasy Basketball Pros by subscribing to our free RSS feed!

Mike
Senior Writer

10 Players on the NBA Trading Block

ff2715 trade analysis

Courtesy of our friend John Hollinger over at The New York Sun, here are some of the players still on the NBA trading block. The NBA trade deadline is on February 22nd, 2008. What might be the fantasy impact of each of these guys being dealt?

  1. Andre Miller – good player on a bad team that is looking to rebuild, he’s in his prime, so look for him to be reinvigorated by a trade to a contender
  2. Mike Bibby – UPDATE: Bibby traded to the Atlanta Hawks for 4 Players, check here for FBP’s fantasy analysis — Feb 16, 2008
  3. Mike Miller – having the best shooting year of his career, Miller would lose fantasy value if he doesn’t stay in Memphis
  4. Ron Artest – has the potential to be a top 15 fantasy player if he’s healthy, focused and traded to a contender; if the latter happens, watch out
  5. Sam Cassell – will be 40 in 21 months and the Clippers don’t need him, fantasy impact of a trade would be contingent upon team and team’s needs
  6. Corey Maggette – apparently him and the coach haven’t been getting along, look for a positive fantasy impact to CM stock if he’s traded
  7. Jermaine O’Neal – injuries, injuries, injuries, who would really want this guy now?
  8. Tyrus Thomas
  9. Wally Szczerbiak
  10. Ricky Davis

To receive more posts like this, sign up for FBP’s RSS Feed.

To hoops,
Farid

Top Three Fantasy All-Star Teams

ff2715 other

With teams having well exceeded the midway point of the season and the NBA All-Star game in New Orleans this weekend, we thought we’d take a stab at the All-Fantasy First, Second and Third teams. Who do you think comprises the best fantasy basketball team? Let FBP know in the comments below.

First Team

  • Chris Paul (NO, PG) – The number one Yahoo Fantasy Player overall, Paul wows us with 20 points and 10 assists each night and doesn’t have a weakness in his game outside of blocks.
  • Shawn Marion (Mia, SF/PF) – Will his numbers drop in Miami? If one game is any indication, they might. Without a playmaker like Steve Nash, Marion will be hard-pressed to find the open looks he found in Phoenix.
  • Amare Stoudemire (Pho, C) – The more conventional 20 and 10, Stoudemire does everything for a fantasy manager, including shooting at nearly 60% from the field.
  • Kobe Bryant (LAL, SG) – He’s playing less than 40 minutes a game for the first time since 2003. His stats haven’t floundered though. Expect them to rise in the presence of Pau.
  • Dirk Nowitzki (Dal, PF) – The best true PF in the NBA right now fantasy-wise and he’s having an off-year.

Second Team

  • Baron Davis (GS, PG) – why isn’t this guy on the All-Star team? conspiracy anyone?
  • Caron Bulter (Was, SF)
  • Marcus Camby (Den, C) – should be NBA defensive player of the year
  • Allen Iverson (Den, SG)
  • Kevin Garnett (Bos, SF/PF)

Third Team

  • Lebron James (Cle, SF) – first team fantasy potential if he was on a better team
  • Yao Ming (Hou, C) – single handily carrying the Rockets on their current streak
  • Chauncey Billups (Det, PG) – only gets better with age
  • Carlos Boozer (Uta, PF/C)
  • Josh Smith (Atl, SG/SF/PF)

Snubbed?
Steve Nash, Chris Bosh, Danny Granger, Deron Williams, Rashard Lewis

Subscribe to the Fantasy Basketball Pros RSS Feed.

To hoops,
Farid

Introducing Fantasy Basketball Pros!

ff2715 introduction

So Mike and I have finally decided to do it, we’ve moved our site to our very own domain: Fantasy Basketball Pros .com!

You shouldn’t have to update your bookmarks or RSS feeds (unless you want to), because everything will redirect from our original blogspot page. Thank you to all our readers who have stuck with us throughout this process and we look forward to bringing you fresh and interesting fantasy basketball tips and analysis in the upcoming months.

FantasyBasketballPros.com is born! Tell your friends.

Farid and Mike

Shaq to Phoenix Screws Over Fantasy Managers

ff2715 heat, suns, trade analysis

Another unbelievable blockbuster went down in the NBA last night. However, it seems that this one makes little sense for either team, except maybe that their star players were simply looking for a change of scenery. It has been reported that the Miami Heat have traded Shaquille O’Neal to the Phoenix Suns for Shawn Marion and Marcus Banks.

Shaq Marion Trade NBA Heat SunsUnlike the Pau Gasol trade, it seems to me that the fantasy impact of all the players involved will be diminished. On the Phoenix side, it is tough to imagine how the injury-prone, old center will be able to fit in with the offense that Mike D’Antoni likes to run with Steve Nash. I can understand that Shaq is still a defensive presence inside and thtis allows Amare Stoudamire to move to his more natural four position, but I envision Shaq clogging up the lane while Steve Nash is trying to drive, demanding the ball go through him in the half-court offense, and then going to the bench every five minutes due to the pace of the game. This seemingly will hurt Shaq’s offensive numbers, but also damage those of Steve Nash and Amare Stoudamire, who will suffer from the slower pace. Another interesting thing is that even though Shawn Marion has always been a fantasy stud, he did not require the ball. He was just great in position and playing with Nash and Stoudamire. If you think that Shaq does not require the ball, you’re crazy, and this will also slow down the Suns offense.

On the Miami Heat side, the season has been over, so why not shed the big contract of the big man and gain payroll flexibility? Dwayne Wade and Shawn Marion should be able to co-exist, but this writer believes that Marion was a byproduct of that Phoenix system and the beneficiary of the amazing point guard play of Steve Nash. I believe that Wade may continue to struggle without a dominating big man in the middle and Marion’s stats will take a big hit without solid point guard play and a “spread” offense. Comparing Pat Riley’s system and Mike D’Antoni’s are like looking at night and day.

So it seems like for the time being that both teams were more willing to just trade their unhappy superstars for each other. For the Suns especially, I hope they see something that we do not, since I cannot see how this move benefits them and moves them up to par with the Spurs and Lakers in the West. Trades are usually done so that both teams benefit. In this case, it seems like this is one of those trades that does the opposite for both teams, especially in the fantasy category.

Other Shaq-Marion Trade Analysis Around the Blogosphere
Hoops Fantasy: Shaq Traded to Suns? Fantasy Impact
Fantasy Basketblog: Shaq Attack
Born and Raised: Shaq is not the answer

Don’t forget to add Fantasy Basketball Pros to your RSS Feed!

Mike
Senior Writer

Video Post #2: Kobe, Kidd and Brand

ff2715 clippers, lakers, video post

Here is Fantasy Basketball Pros second video post (Video #1 was on Andrew Bynum). I ask Senior Writer Mike Yu about (1) Kobe’s status as the best possible NBA fantasy player, (2) Kidd’s prospects of being shipped to LA and (3) whether Elton Brand’s pending return signals a buying opportunity for managers.

To receive more video posts like this, subscribe to Fantasy Basketball Pros’ RSS feed.

Farid and Mike

p.s. Nels from Give Me The Rock criticized my looks last time I posted, or at least he said he was better looking than me. Let me know in the comments if you think I’m attractive (guy on the right).

RookieWatch 07-08, #11-15

ff2715 http://schemas.google.com/blogger/2008/kind#post

For those who still need fantasy basketball action on Super Bowl Sunday, here is the analysis from RookieWatch 07-08, picks #11-15. Don’t forget to check out Picks #1-5 and #6-10.

  1. Acie Law IV, Atlanta Hawks – Expected to come in and fill the void at point guard for the Hawks (who notably took Marvin Williams over stud point guards Chris Paul and Deron Williams), Law has struggled to adapt to the faster pace NBA and has played a backup role all season to veteran Anthony Johnson. Always a streaky shooter while in college (with almost no rotation on his shot), Law has struggled to shoot a consistent percentage from the field and has only four double-digit scoring games all year. With the Hawks currently in the 7th seed in the East, it looks like they will play their veterans to make a playoff push, meaning low minutes and little production from Law.

    Recommendation: Monitor and consider only if playing time improves significantly, above 25 minutes/game.

  2. Thaddeus Young, Philadelphia 76ers – Young, along with Javaris Crittenton (just traded from the Lakers to the Grizzles, click here for fantasy impact), left Georgia Tech too early in order to become first round picks in the draft. Although blessed with size and length, Young’s game is still unrefined. However, he has been gaining more minutes in the 76ers rotation and has even made some starts recently. Look for this trend to continue since Philly is not competitive, and Young may be a sneaky wire pick towards the end of season who can help in FG%, points, and rebounds. Although he may hold no value currently, more playing time next to a star such as Andre Iguodala and a floor general like Andre Miller can only help fantasy stats.

    Recommendation: Consider in the deeper leagues if he continues gaining minutes.

  3. Julian Wright, New Orleans Hornets – Picked to improve depth on the front line for the Hornets, he has been stuck all season behind All-Star David West. Wright has been unable to break into the New Orleans rotation and has picked up little minutes outside of garbage time. Although he has tremendous tools, he is also quite unsophisticated as a player, and with the Hornets playing for a top seed in the West, it looks like Wright will be sitting on the bench cheering on his teammates unless there is an injury.

    Recommendation: Ignore unless you are trying to lose your league

  4. Al Thornton, Los Angeles Clippers – Listed in the honorable mention of top midseason gems, Thornton seems to be gaining the trust of his coach, and with injuries to the front line, has logged many more minutes, culminating in a 33 point effort Wednesday against the Hawks. Although not shooting a great percentage from the field or line, he has provided increased scoring recently to go with better play in peripheral categories. With the Clippers once again staring down a lottery pick, Thornton should be a solid fantasy option in deeper leagues (unless Elton Brand comes back healthy).

    Recommendation: Take a flyer on him if he is still available in your league and you need points or rebounds. He is most likely better than the worst player on your current roster.

  5. Rodney Stuckey, Detroit Pistons – Drafted as one of the top scorers in college basketball out of Eastern Washington, Stuckey was supposed to enter the Pistons rotation and score with the second-team. However, an early injury and inconsistent play has placed him on the bench behind fellow-first round draft pick Aaron Afflalo, who also is a candidate to improve in the second half. Without any consistent playing time and with Rip Hamilton and Tayshaun Prince in front of him in the rotation, Stuckey holds very little fantasy value.

    Recommendation: Unless there is an injury or he logs playing time for good effort (a la Jason Maxiell), Stuckey will have no fantasy impact this year.

Don’t forget to add Fantasy Basketball Pros’ RSS Feed to your favorite feed reader!

Mike
Senior Writer