The submissions for this week's mailbag column were again dominated by trade questions, so let's get down to hashing out those proposals. I'll also take a look at some buy-low and sell-high players to consider for the second half of the season.
Should I trade LaMelo Ball for Chris Paul? - @WESYAP
No chance I'd make this trade. Without question. Paul is having an excellent season. His scoring is down at 14.0 points per game, but he's averaging 4.3 rebounds, 10.1 assists and 2.0 steals to go along with it. His assists average would be his highest mark since the 2015-16 season when he was still part of Lob City with the Clippers.
With Ball, you get a downgrade in assists, but not by much given his average of 7.6 per game. However, he provides significantly more production in terms of points, rebounds and three-pointers, while also averaging 1.6 steals. Add in Paul's checkered injury history and there isn't much of a case to be made for dealing Ball for him.
I was offered Tobias Harris for Christian Wood in my 12-team, 10 cat H2H league. Should I bite? - @HectorH64389052
The good news with Wood is that after he was suspended one game for refusing to check back into a game, he has averaged 31 minutes over the last five games. That's right in line with his season average, so the Rockets haven't let that situation impact his playing time. His averages of 17.2 points, 10.0 rebounds and
The submissions for this week's mailbag column were again dominated by trade questions, so let's get down to hashing out those proposals. I'll also take a look at some buy-low and sell-high players to consider for the second half of the season.
Should I trade LaMelo Ball for Chris Paul? - @WESYAP
No chance I'd make this trade. Without question. Paul is having an excellent season. His scoring is down at 14.0 points per game, but he's averaging 4.3 rebounds, 10.1 assists and 2.0 steals to go along with it. His assists average would be his highest mark since the 2015-16 season when he was still part of Lob City with the Clippers.
With Ball, you get a downgrade in assists, but not by much given his average of 7.6 per game. However, he provides significantly more production in terms of points, rebounds and three-pointers, while also averaging 1.6 steals. Add in Paul's checkered injury history and there isn't much of a case to be made for dealing Ball for him.
I was offered Tobias Harris for Christian Wood in my 12-team, 10 cat H2H league. Should I bite? - @HectorH64389052
The good news with Wood is that after he was suspended one game for refusing to check back into a game, he has averaged 31 minutes over the last five games. That's right in line with his season average, so the Rockets haven't let that situation impact his playing time. His averages of 17.2 points, 10.0 rebounds and 1.6 three-pointers per game are excellent, but his field goal percentage has declined to 47.8 percent, and he's been a drag from the charity stripe at 61.5 percent.
The biggest concern with Wood is that he could get traded by the deadline. If he does, he could end up in a less-fantasy-friendly situation on a team that has more talent around him. Harris isn't a sexy option, but he's a reliable one, averaging at least 18.4 points, 6.8 rebounds and 3.2 assists in each of the last three seasons. I'd make the trade.
I'm in a 10-team, nine category league, I was offered Draymond Green for Josh Giddey and Herbert Jones. Would you accept? - @skhaann
Giddey brings a lot of the same things to the table that Green does in fantasy. Green provides most of his contributions outside of the scoring column, averaging 7.6 rebounds, 7.4 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.2 blocks per game. Giddey has posted 7.4 rebounds, 6.1 assists, 1.1 steals and 0.5 blocks.
With Giddey, you get more scoring upside based on his figures of 11.3 points and 1.1 three-pointers per game. However, his 40.1 percent shooting from the field is a significant downgrade from Green. With that being said, if the Thunder ramp up their tanking efforts during the second half and decide to sit Shai Gilgeous-Alexander more, Giddey has the potential to challenge for a triple-double on a nightly basis.
Jones isn't a flashy option and probably isn't worth rostering in a 10-team league. With that being said, I prefer the upside that comes with Giddey, so I'd pass on this deal.
Who are some buy-low and sell-high players that you'd recommend? - @matthewsuh
As far as sell-high options go, I'd be shopping Shai Gilgeous-Alexander if he's on your roster. Despite a decline in his field goal percentage, he's still be very valuable with his averages of 22.2 points, 4.6 rebounds, 5.2 assists and 1.7 three-pointers per game. However, we saw last season what can happen to him once the Thunder crank up their tanking effort in the second half. He missed OKC's final 29 contests and finished with just 35 games played.
I think it's also time to consider dealing away Scottie Barnes. There's no question that he's had an excellent rookie season, averaging 14.7 points, 8.0 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.0 steals, 0.9 blocks and 0.8 three-pointers per game. His efforts have him ranked 78th overall on a per game basis in nine category leagues. However, he's often been forced into an expanded role with Pascal Siakam starting the season on the sidelines because of an injury, then OG Anunoby getting hurt, which was then followed by an outbreak of COVID-19 on the team. With their depth chart in better shape lately, Barnes has modest averages of 9.6 points, 6.4 rebounds and 4.0 assists over his last five games.
In terms of buy-low options, this could be an opportune time to try and acquire Spencer Dinwiddie if you need help at guard. His efficiency has been a problem (39.7% FG). However, he has a least 10 assists in four of his last seven games and is averaging 5.7 per game for the season. Also, he's been an asset with his average of 1.6 three-pointers per game. If you can take the hit with his field goal percentage, and need assists, he's a viable target.
If you need a center, Richaun Holmes is someone that you might be able to acquire at a discount. Between an eye injury and COVID-19, he's missed 14 of the Kings' last 19 games. In the five that he did play in, he only averaged 6.4 points and 6.0 rebounds. Still, he's averaged 12.6 points and 8.7 rebounds for the season, while providing sparkling averages of 69.2 percent from the field and 80.6 percent from the free-throw line. As his health improves, so should his production.
