This week brought some interesting questions for the column, including several trade scenarios. Let's dive right in to see which side of these potential deals are most appealing.
Would you trade Kyrie Irving for Jalen Green? - @luckytrades8
Irving made his season debut for the Nets against the Pacers on Wednesday, recording 22 points, three rebounds, four assists and three steals across 32 minutes. While he's back with the team, he's still not vaccinated, so he will only be eligible to play in road games. That greatly limits his fantasy value. He projects to only be able to play in five more games this month and as few as six in February.
With that being said, the Nets to have a stretch starting January 17 in which 11 of their 14 games will come on the road. During that stretch, Irving could be extremely valuable -- when the Nets are in cities in which he's allowed to play, that is. Green is shooting just 39.9 percent from the field to go along with pedestrian averages of 3.0 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game. I'd pass on this deal and then look to trade Irving when the Nets' lengthy stretch on the road is nearly complete.
I have Dejounte Murray coming off of IR. Would you drop Bojan Bogdanovic, Norman Powell, Josh Hart, Jalen Brunson or RJ Barrett? I was thinking Bogdanovic, I just hate to let someone else in my league pick him up. - @sircallpapi
First of all, this is a good problem to have. Each of these players is a valuable fantasy option. Right off the bat, I wouldn't drop Powell, Hart of Brunson. The Trail Blazers badly need Powell's scoring with Damian Lillard (abdomen) and CJ McCollum (lung) out, Hart provides a lot of production in multiple areas and Brunson is having a breakout season for the Mavericks.
Drop either Bogdanovic or Barrett. Bogdanovic mostly provides just points and three-pointers, although his percentages are also excellent. Barrett has a similar scoring upside and can provide more rebounds, but he's only shooting 41.0 percent from the field and 70.6 percent from the free-throw line. If you need the rebounding more, keep Barrett. If you need the boost in percentages more, keep Bogdanovic.
In a points league, would you trade Kevin Love, Will Barton and Tyler Herro for Russell Westbrook? I need to drop Love to create roster room, anyways, so it's basically Barton and Herro for Westbrook. - @dylansub
Westbrook is one of the most valuable players to have on your roster in a points league, so this scoring format designation is key. Since this fantasy manager is already going to drop Love, it comes down to trading Herro and Barton for Westbrook, which I'd do.
As good as Herro has been, his averages of 4.9 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game pale in comparison to Westbrook's averages of 8.1 rebounds and 8.1 assists. Barton doesn't have the same scoring upside that Westbrook does, while averaging 5.1 rebounds and 4.2 assists. Having added depth is nice in this COVID-19 filled season, but go for the best player in this deal in Westbrook.
I was offered De'Aaron Fox, OG Anunoby and Nickeil Alexander-Walker for Coby White, Miles Bridges and Kyle Lowry in my nine-category league. Should I make the trade? - @WESYAP
This is really close, but I'd lean towards making the deal. Once the Bulls get healthy, Coby White should see a decline in playing time and shot attempts. He's someone who is borderline even rostering in 10 or 12-team leagues. The same can be said of Alexander-Walker, who is killing fantasy manages with his 36.8 percent shooting from the field and inconsistent role night-to-night.
So, in essence, this comes down to: would you trade Bridges and Lowry for Fox and Anunoby? I would. Lowry brings plenty of injury risk to the table, and could receive rest days down the stretch as the Heat prepare for the playoffs. Anunoby is in the midst of a breakout season, and as disappointing as Fox has been, it's difficult to get too down on him given his averages of 20.9 points, 3.5 rebounds, 5.2 assists and 1.3 steals per game.
In my 12-team, nine category dynasty league, I was offered Jaren Jackson Jr. for Robert Williams and a pick in next year's draft that is currently projected to be in the 13-15 overall range. What do you think? - @Russ52792937
This is an interesting deal involving two really appealing young players. Jackson is finally healthy and has shown his unique skillset, averaging 1.0 steals, 1.8 blocks and 1.8 three-pointers per game. However, it hasn't been all sunshine and rainbows for him. He provides basically nothing in the way of assists, isn't a great rebounder for his size and is shooting just 40.7 percent from the field. His field goal percentage has declined each season that he's been in the league.
Williams might not have a ton of scoring upside, but he's performed well with added playing time this season, averaging 9.9 points, 8.9 rebounds, 0.8 steals and 1.9 blocks per game. Also, he's shot a sparkling 74.0 percent from the field. Even his 62.5 percent shooting from the charity stripe isn't a complete drag from the center spot.
Given that you'd also have to give up a pick that should be in the top-half of next year's rookie draft, I'd pass on this deal. That player and Williams could be better options to build around, or you could flip that draft pick for another useful player to pair with Williams.
