We're back to answer another week of your fantasy basketball questions. We received some interesting ones, from trade proposals to waiver wire moves. Let's get down to business and provide some answers.
Can you help me with a trade offer in a 12-team, 9 cat league? I get: Kevin Durant, Anthony Davis and Alex Caruso. I trade away: Michael Porter Jr., Jonas Valanciunas, Anthony Edwards and Marcus Smart. - @dannytaras
Talk about a trade involving a lot of big names. On the surface, it might seem blasphemous to decline a trade offer in which you'd receive both Durant and Davis. However, I'm going to advocate for just that.
Davis is too much of an injury risk. He's only had two seasons in which he played at least 70 games. With the Lakers adding Russell Westbrook and a deeper bench during the offseason, they're not going to take any chances with Davis' health. Rest days could also be common for him during the second half.
Kyrie Irving being away from the Nets does help Durant in terms of rest days. The Nets might need him most nights to improve their playoff chances. However, he's also had his own injury issues, including when he played just 35 games last season. They aren't going to take any chances with him, even if he comes down with a minor injury.
Valanciunas is a walking double-double who can help a fantasy manager dominate in the rebounding department. Edwards is an excellent scorer who can also help out in the rebounding department. The same can be said of Michael Porter Jr., who isn't going to continue to shoot 36.4 percent from the field. This trio is too good to move in this deal.
I was offered Joel Embiid, Draymond Green and Kyrie Irving for Paul George. Should I make the trade? - @jaywilliams544
More big names for us to ponder over. If we knew that Irving was eventually going to get vaccinated against COVID-19, or that city mandates were going to change allowing him to play, this trade would be a home run. However, if we knew that, the offer probably never would have been made, in the first place.
Not only are there plenty of question marks around Irving, but Embiid is already dealing with knee issues that have resulted in a rest day. The Sixers signed Andre Drummond during the offseason, providing them with some insurance should Embiid need to sit any games.
This is a high-risk, high-reward trade. The problem is, the risk might be too much considering that you'd have to deal away Paul George, who has a 34.1 percent usage rate with Kawhi Leonard out. What's even more impressive is that, even with that high usage rate and him averaging 9.1 three-point attempts per game, he's shooting 50.7 percent from the field. I'd pass.
Is it important to have a streamer spot? My worst players are Will Barton, Saddiq Bey and Kevin Porter Jr. (9 cat, H2H). I can't find a 2-for-1 trade, but I'm hesitant to cut one of them to stream a spot. What's your opinion? - @nba_fantasy9
It's not a must to have a streamer spot. It can be useful to take advantage of the schedule, but let's be honest, with how quickly injuries pop up and how often players have already come down with COVID-19, you're likely to have someone end up on your IL sooner rather than later. I'd hold onto all three of those players -- at least for now.
Chris Boucher was dropped in my league. It's a 12-team, 9 cat, H2H. Do I run, not walk, to grab him off waivers? - @AlphaQueue1
Don't run or walk to get him. Boucher is barely playing right now, averaging only 15 minutes per game. That's with Pascal Siakam (shoulder) having not appeared in a game yet and Scottie Barnes (thumb) out the last two games. They have even resorted to starting Svi Mykhailiuk over Boucher. When Siakam and Barnes return, Boucher's nightly role could become even dicier.
Would you accept this trade? I trade Jakob Poeltl for Collin Sexton. I already have Jonas Valanciunas, Deandre Ayton, Mo Bamba, Steven Adams and Brook Lopez for centers. - @skhaann
This question was submitted before Poeltl went in the league's health and safety protocols Wednesday, which does complicate matters a bit. Before that news, Poeltl was in the midst of a stellar season, averaging 13.9 points, 9.7 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.1 blocks while shooting 64.8 percent from the field. While he's shooting a dreadful 38.5 percent at the free-throw line, his average of 1.9 attempts per game doesn't exactly tank you in that department.
Even though he's in the protocols right now, it still might be best to pass on this deal. The Cavaliers have an improved roster around Sexton, which may be contributing to his usage rate dropping to 27.1 percent, compared to 29.7 percent last season. Also, with Darius Garland running the point extremely well, Sexton has only averaged 1.9 assists. Add in his usual meager contributions in the rebounding department and he hasn't been all that valuable. You have enough centers to consider trading away Poeltl, but try for a better return once he's healthy.
