Some great questions were submitted for this week's column, including a couple of trades involving some big names. Let's get right down to business and try to provide some answers.
I was offered Dejounte Murray and D'Angelo Russell for Trae Young. Should I accept? - @dakktrades
Trading away Young isn't easy. He's having another great season, averaging 26.3 points, 4.0 rebounds, 9.4 assists and 2.8 three-pointers per game. He's even shooting a career-high 45.6 percent from the field, to go along with an 88.6 percent mark from the charity. His limited defensive stats and high turnovers do drag him down a bit in nine-category leagues, but if you're going to trade him, you need to get a haul in return.
I like this move, mainly because Murray is thriving for the Spurs. He's stuffed the stat sheet in multiple areas, averaging 18.8 points, 8.4 rebounds, 8.4 assists, 2.0 steals and 1.4 three-pointers per game. Even with his career-high in assists and averaging 35 minutes per game, his assists check in at only 2.3 per game. Russell is currently dealing with an ankle injury, but you add his averages of 19.0 points, 3.9 rebounds, 6.4 assists and 2.9 three-pointers per game to this deal and moving on from Young could be worth it.
Who would you rather have in a nine category, H2H league, Joel Embiid or Damian Lillard? - @skhaann
I usually don't draft Embiid. He comes with significant injury risks and has already missed 10 of the Sixers' 25 games this season. With that being said, there's no question that when he's on the floor, he can be one of the most dominant forces in fantasy.
Still, I'd rather roster him than Lillard. The Blazers' season is quickly going down the tubes with Lillard battling an abdomen injury and CJ McCollum suffering a collapsed lung. With McCollum likely out for a long time, not only could the Blazers continue to rack up losses, but they likely can't trade him until he's healthy. Lots of rest days could be coming for Lillard.
Should I trade Richaun Holmes and Will Barton for Domantas Sabonis? - @dylansub
Sabonis is a fantasy monster. He's more valuable in this context than in real life, at this point. Not only does he shoot for a high percentage from the field, but he provides a ton of points, rebounds and assists. He's even averaging 1.1 steals per game this season, which would make the second straight season in which he has averaged at least 1.0 steals per game. There were rumors Tuesday that the Pacers could be looking to trade Sabonis and start a rebuilding process, but regardless of where he ends up, he should remain extremely productive.
Much like trading Young, you're going to need to get a lot back if you are going to move Sabonis. I think this deal is enough to pull the trigger. Holmes won't provide much in the way of assists, but he's an underrated fantasy option with his averages of 14.0 points, 9.3 rebounds and 1.0 blocks per game. He's also shot at least 63.7 percent from the field and 78.8 percent from the charity stripe in both of the last two seasons.
Barton can help make up for losing assists by dealing Sabonis since he is averaging 4.2 per game. With Michael Porter Jr. (back) out for the season and Jamal Murray (knee) still a long way away from returning, Barton should remain in an expanded role.
Like you, I was really high on Nickeil Alexander-Walker heading into the season. Do you feel that he's in a funk and will eventually come out of it, or is it time to drop him? - @DaglesBagels
The potential for added playing time for Alexander-Walker this season made him someone I was targeting heading into drafts. The problem was always going to be his efficiency, but he's really regressed in that department, shooting 36.9 percent from the field, compared to 41.9 percent last season.
The scary thing is that he's now been moved to the bench, leaving him to average just 25 minutes over the last nine games. Add in his lack of efficiency and he's only posted 11.6 points per game during that stretch. Better days could be on the horizon, but if you need help now, dropping him is a viable option.
Would you drop Kyrie Irving from your IR spot or keep him there? I have Bam Adebayo who is now out for a while. I think I can maintain a league playoff spot regardless. - @SavannahsDad414
It's been a while since we've talked about Irving, so it's worth checking back in on his status. Unfortunately, there doesn't seem to be any new developments in the matter. Irving has still refused to get vaccinated for COVID-19 and rules in New York that prevent him from playing in home games while being unvaccinated have not changed.
With COVID-19 cases increasing in parts of the country and the new Omircon variant, don't expect New York to lighten up on its vaccination requirements anytime soon. It's not just a New York issue anymore, either, with unvaccinated players being unable to play games in Canada starting January 15.
Is there a chance that Irving eventually gets vaccinated before the start of the playoffs? Sure. He's reportedly open to the idea of getting a plant-based vaccine. However, by then, it will likely be too late for him to be any sort of help in fantasy. If you need the IR spot, move on from him.
