The deep dynasties truck along with another pretty standard week, as teams are pretty settled into their early-season rotations. We’ve yet to see any big D-League impacts in the NBA, so I imagine as more injuries rear their ugly, stitched up, corneal abrasion heads we’ll see a lot of young talent to scoop up as stashes. For the REL standings, pretty status quo for the top 8. Here’s how week 7 went down in the REL:
1. Slim – Razzball (46-17-0)
FAAB Remaining: $45 FAAB Moves this week: P.J.Hairston ($0)
Since I just went through a major overhaul, my past week’s stats mean very little, OK fine you’re right, they mean nothing either way so I’ll just go ahead and save a little space in this post for other people to focus on that.
I made a pretty big trade this week. I gave up the most expensive player in the deal with arguably the biggest upside of any player in the game today, a valuable $1 keeper, plus a throw away and I received a top 25 player, a top 50 player, plus a player that could only be classified as depth. It’s highly unlike me to give up so much upside to get back players who have already reached their prime so this trade can only be classified as a ‘go for it now’ move. Granted the keeper costs are the same so at least I can call the players keepers, and they aren’t so old that I should get a few more years out of them before I regret it. I’m giving it 2 years, in 2 years I’m going to look back and say, “Why the hell did I give up Stephen Curry for this mess of older players that are all past their primes”. Wait, Steph Curry? Fooled ya didn’t I. Last year I traded Curry, Delavedova, and Sanders for Marc Gasol, Conley, and Hibbert. At the time the trade received very little fan fair. Words like “joke” and “one-sided” were thrown around but after everyone expressed their reasoning the trade was finally, reluctantly, accepted league wide. Now that we’re almost a year removed it looks like High as Greg Kite (the guy who got Curry) was a little more forward thinking than he was ever given credit for. If I had Curry today, those three wouldn’t get him from me, and I bet no matter how high Greg Kite was to get he’d still agree.
Alright, this year’s blockbuster, for me at least (there was a bigger trade than mine made this week but I imagine they will discuss that one). I gave up Wiggins 20 – $38, Clarkson 23 – $1, and Austin Rivers 23 – $1 and received Jimmy Butler 26 – $17, Hayward 25 – $22, and Kobe 37 – $retired. Like I said above, I gave up the player with arguably the highest upside in the game, plus one of the best $1 keeper in the league, plus a potential $1 keeper and got back a top 25 player in their prime in Butler, a top 50 player in their prime in Hayward, and depth in Kobe. Firstly, the keeper cost for each pair is exactly the same so prices are entirely irrelevant. Secondly, Butler has played more than 70 games only once in his career, Hayward is a little safer but he too has missed at least 5 games every year, and Kobe is obviously Kobe but since he’s retiring he can easily be dropped if he starts racking up the DNPs. This trade makes me more competitive now, especially in my two biggest need categories – assists and steals, but like I said above I give it 2 years until I regret it, even less if one of the two keepers I got goes down. That isn’t entirely the truth though, I regret the trade right now, but I regret every trade in which I give up younger players for older players. With my obsession for youth aside for just a second I’m supremely confident that in 2 years I will look back at this trade and wish I never made it, well that is assuming I don’t have a shiny GOLD trophy to show for it. As a side note the biggest reason I was OK with losing Wiggins has nothing to do with any of these players, it’s because I feel like I hit the lottery with Poison Geese so I still have plenty of upside for future years, and it’s not like I couldn’t move Jimmy Butler for someone younger if I so desired, wink wink nudge nudge.
The injury ward managed to go another week without adding another name, lucky me. However I’m still playing with $37 worth of injured players (Smart and Nurkic) so I will continue to struggle with the counting stats against the top teams. Smart should be re-evaluated soon and I haven’t heard too much about Nurkic’s recovery but after seeing this recently I might need to change my shorts (since no one in Florida actually wears pants).
https://twitter.com/ChrisMarlowe/status/669330828183252992?lang=en
For the final time Gerald Green will get a mention in my ‘bottom of the lineup’ section. It appears his minutes aren’t going anywhere even with the Heat at full strength, and with his newly found desire to play defense (1.0ish blocks per game over his past 10 games or so) his usefulness can not be overstated. For now I’ll leave Kobe out (except I just named him so technically I’m not). Trevor Booker isn’t quite living up to expectations with Gobert down but he’s played well enough and has gotten enough minutes that he really shouldn’t even be mentioned here (oops). Mike Muscala, I know I know, Splitter is back and Mike dropped to 11 minutes, but it was 11 minutes of 8/5/1/0/1 on 4/7 shooting without a TO. Next time out Splitter goes DNP-rest and Muscala gets 20 minutes of 8/2/1/0/2 on 4/8 shooting with 1 TO and missing both of his 3-point attempts in each game. And finally Mikey got another 20 minutes in a blowout vs the Spurs, he didn’t do much on the stat sheet but did give me 2 much needed steals (I won the category by only 1). There aren’t many players who can be this useful with such low minutes and at 24 – $1 he’s a solid hold. I’m having some trouble filling out my final roster spot (I.E. the extra spot with Nurkic on my IL). Two weeks ago it was the atrocious Mbah a Moute and last week it was the not much better Willie Reed. Obviously I’m looking for someone else since Willie got a dreaded DNP this week, but I need to remember this is only a fill in position and will eventually be dropped once (if) I’m fully healthy. I tried to grab the big KOQ but alas I just wasn’t willing to pay enough. I added P.J. Hairston for two reasons. First because he was one of the few available players who I can get 2 games out of this week, and second because JB used to own him and it would be fitting if he had his best games against him.
I have finally entered the toughest 6-week stretch of my season. Like I said a minute ago, this week I play JB. Given my recent overhaul it’s incredibly difficult to predict what’s going to happen. I imagine I still lose assists and my punted FG% but every other category should be up for grabs. Hopefully I’ll be fully healthy for our inevitable playoffs rematch.
2. Kap’s Team (44-17-2)
FAAB Remaining: $100 FAAB Moves this week: n/a
3. HateUsCauseTheyAnus (39-23-1)
FAAB Remaining: $76 FAAB Moves this week: n/a
4. Yappers (38-24-1)
FAAB Remaining: $51 FAAB Moves this week: n/a
Well it was not the epic week that last week was, but it was good enough to secure a 7-2 victory. The losses were narrow losses in FG% (sort of expected) and steals. I won turnovers by resting most of my Sunday starters and hoping that Marc Gasol and a little luck could flip a 2% deficit in FG% (it didn’t happen but it might have if I had started Zach Randolph in addition but whatever).
Notables for the week:
Kevin Martin turned back into KMart. 6 treys and 37 points on Wednesday were followed up by a total of 4 treys and 41 points Friday and Sunday (Sunday being rested). Kevin had been on the cusp as far as being kept for next year, but looking at what $8 bought in the last auction, there is a low keeper hurdle at his price.
O.J. Mayo claiming the starting PG in Milwaukee with minutes in the 30s and second on the team with 15 assists. He was acquired as a cheaper Jeremy Lin replacement and so far coming off his injury he has way surpassed expectations. Oh it would be nice if he kept this role into the playoffs but I am not holding my breath.
On the injury front Tyson Chandler and R.J. Hunter missed the week (well Tyson played Sunday but was benched). The players are #14 and #16 respectively on my depth chart this year, so this was not a biggie. We need Tyson at this point to be at least 3/4 the Tyson of last year.
On the Jordan Mickey Maine Red Claws watch: 75 minututes, 31 points, 19 rebounds, 9 blocks in 2 games. I still lickey Mickey.
I had given some thought to contracting my projects from 2 to 1 and entering the KOQ bidding (my planned bid of $17 would have tied) but rejected the idea as premature. I think ultimately to remain competitive with the leaders (particularly given the recent trades) I will need to do this at some point, but now is too early. So I am standing pat in the FAAB market for now.
5. JB Gilpin – Razzball (36-24-3)
FAAB Remaining: $1 FAAB Moves this week: n/a
Nice 5-4 win against a top-7 team is fine and all, just wish I could’ve done a little more. Obliterated the popcorn stats, but lost by 3 treys, both %s and TO. And I cost myself FG%, benching my FT-punt guys and chasing FT. Side note – I think people need to stop looking at how their teams compared to other teams when they didn’t face each other, or season-long stats. I had REB and BLK locked up, so it made no difference benching those stats. But of course all the benched guys had good FG%. I’m not kicking myself too much either, I looked at the matchups and was up by a good margain in FG%, then had a brutal .377 to .495 Saturday. No way to expect something like that – thanks Brandon Knight and your 0-12 FG. Loving my depth though, and feeling like a strong team.
Speaking of strong teams, I play #1 Slim. I was whiny with him on his trade, which he explains above. I don’t like how easily he got Hayward and Butler on fantastic contracts, and who should be worth their contracts for the next 5 years easily. Slim notes Hayward/Butler contracts are irrelevant compared to Wiggins/Clarkson, but I strongly disagree – two guys at those great deals makes one tradeable too, and I don’t think the next 5 years we see Wiggins/Clarkson more valuable than those two. Not like when either approach 30 they’ll be pumpkins, they’re uber-athletic wings. Of course I face Slim with his newly loaded team, with a hurt Jordan Clarkson now off the books. It’s a nice haul for a rebuilding team, and Foreign Affairs was in the dubious spot of taking over a dynasty team this season from a prior owner. I’m all for getting players he wants as he rebuilds, so no qualms with the deal on his side, just whiny at Slim.
I love that Slim and I had some trade discussions and he said he needed a SF, but Hairston was “the world’s worst player, unownable, hot garbage, and abuses kittens”. I may have paraphrased that, but hilarious he’s scooping up some of my sloppy seconds. Enjoy!
6. Martyball – IFBL (36-27-0)
FAAB Remaining: $83 FAAB Moves this week: Kyle O’Quinn ($17)
7. Scurry to the Left (35-27-1)
FAAB Remaining: $98 FAAB Moves this week: n/a
8. Heat Apologist (35-28-0)
FAAB Remaining: $68 FAAB Moves this week: n/a
9. Hardenoutherr4apimp (33-30-0)
FAAB Remaining: $82 FAAB Moves this week: Luke Babbitt ($1)
10. Foreign Affairs (32-31-0)
FAAB Remaining: $93 FAAB Moves this week: n/a
Well my week quickly turned into an eventful one heading into the weekend with two big trades that have dramatically changed the core of my roster both of which had individual players that has been discussed for a few weeks now. But with a quick offer from Slim the second trade fell into place as I felt comfortable pulling the trigger on that deal with my new players coming in.
So on to the trades Andrew Wiggins(38) Jordan Clarkson(1) and Austin Rivers(1) for Jimmy Butler(17) Gordan Hayward(22) and Kobe Bryant(15), . Ignoring Kobe (I will not miss his terrible shooting) and Rivers who is a tentative keeper for me depending on what happens this coming off season its an even trade budget wise so it keeps me flexible heading into a draft next year that I see as key for my teams future. My reasoning beyond an irrational belief in Wiggins thanks to the Canadian connection is that I think Butler and Hayward have hit their peak in terms of the production they can give me year in and year out and while I think they can keep this up for many more seasons, with my young pg’s I felt getting younger lined up better. I also think that for 1 dollar Clarkson can easily have more value then Hayward once he gets free of Kobe and Byron, he’s been really impressive to me in-spite of what hes been dealing with. Wiggins though is where this is quite the gamble for me as it really hinges on his development over the next few seasons, hes just 20 so I feel like he can still make a leap so if he ends up as a 20 a game scorer with little else then its been a disaster for me compared to just keeping butler but I think Wiggins can get those counting and defensive stats up with higher scoring then butler can give me.
For the second trade its Ryan Anderson(14) and Cory Joseph(1) for Isiah Thomas(14) and Paul Pierce(9) I did this trade once the first one was locked up because I wanted to booster the depth of my roster with a young cheap promising player in Cory Joseph who has Derozan who might leave this year and an old lowry in front of him and hes already excellent bench production for my team with both of those two still there. I wanted to fill the big hole in my roster at the forward/center spot. Ryan Anderson is the perfect big man for my team (well its Kristaps but that trade aint happening) as I want bigs that can hit there ft’s and make 3’s while being decent enough rebounders and Anderson fits that perfectly, the fact that he looks like hes getting traded to a better situation soon on top of reports that hes going to be a top priority for many teams this off season makes his future look stable for me. And besides hes only 6 days older then me I’m not an over the hill vet yet, I still got a lot of years left in the tank. Its sad to see Thomas go as hes been great for me this year and would have continued to but Im already set at pg with Russell, Mudiay, Joseph now and maybe even Marshall, lots of praise from the front court that’s happy to have someone who finally knows how to do an inlet pass right. Pierce was a throw in to balance the numbers and he gave me a nice 10 point game parting gift.
Now with the players im planning on keeping heading into next years draft I have only 3 spots to fill with $71 available to fill it I might even have less spots to fill if I can swing a trade with Lee, Splitter and Willie if any of those three can up there value from now till next draft.
In the mean time a solid 6-3 win keeps me in the consolation playoffs race though im sure Marty this week will have something to say about that and I will continue to watch the college player im sure everyone who is watching college ball is following while subjecting myself to even more torture by now having the complete Lakers backcourt tandem and Wiggins to add to Gorgui so even more Byron Scott and Sam Mitchell coaching for me……great…….
11. Hoopus Alleyoopus (30-32-1)
FAAB Remaining: $71 FAAB Moves this week: Steve Blake ($16)
12. I Ain’t No Jok(ic) (30-32-1)
FAAB Remaining: $86 FAAB Moves this week: Robert Sacre ($5)
13. High as Greg Kite (29-33-1)
FAAB Remaining: $83 FAAB Moves this week: n/a
14. Greek Freaks (27-36-0)
FAAB Remaining: $34 FAAB Moves this week: Chase Budinger ($6)
15. The Nature Boy (26-36-1)
FAAB Remaining: $80 FAAB Moves this week: n/a
16. Niko-Cola (25-37-1)
FAAB Remaining: $100 FAAB Moves this week: Dewayne Dedmon ($0)
You will never read a more positive recap from a 16th placed team again. That’s because our team is no longer a cellar dweller. We are technically sitting there now but we will not be there for long. Let’s start with the bad news so I can continue to gush. We dropped Moore and really wanted KOQ, but our $10.00 was not enough. We gladly would have accepted Simmons for free but did not want to spend as the position is not a need. We ended up with Dedmon who helps position eligibility and will certainly put more on the board than Moore who is playing behind Rose, Butler, Snell, Brooks, Hinrich, and McBuckets.
Alright, last week we had some unfortunate scheduling and played one of two teams that beat us…YUCK. This week no such worry as NO team beat us. In fact only two teams were able to keep it to a 5-4 loss. We would have beat 13/19 teams by at least 7-2 watch out boys we are coming. Last week against the league we were 131-43-1, batting a cool .748. Oh and we missed almost the entire week from Big Nog and had Moore contribute about nothing.
Our team performance is as follows:
1st in Rebounds and Free Throw %
2nd in Assists and Steals
3rd in Threes
4th in Points
7th in Blocks
12th in Turnovers
18th in Field Goal % Same as Robbie Gould
A list of huge contributors that you wouldn’t expect.. Lance Thomas (thanks for the throw in JB), Mario Chalmers, ALL you can eat Crabbe, and of course Will Barton.
A few antidotes on the New York and the value of KOQ, Porzingis, Melo, and Lopez. It has been nice to see the resurgence of O’Quinn recently. We were willing to bid $10 bucks but not much more for a few reason. First, why should you we have gone higher? The only reason we could think of was that Porzingis is breaking down a bit. This has been well reported the last few days. I believe this to be true, but I don’t believe it will get KOQ consistently above 20 minutes per game. So why is that? We believe that against most teams New Yorks best lineup features Carmelo at the 4. There have even been reports that starting Lance Thomas is a possibility. This makes all of the sense in the world and would put KOQ 3rd on the depth chart at center. This is what we are hoping for as the owners of Sir Lance Thomas of Brooklyn and seems plausible possibly even likely.
Anyhow, we are excited if you can’t tell and know that the deficit is not too much to overcome. Our opponent for the upcoming we is Scurry. We hold a 35-26-2 record against him on the season, but more importantly 15-3 since revamping our roster on the trade market. We will need to string together a few more 7-2 wins in order to get back in the hunt. Good luck to all.
17. Pete Nice – Razzball (23-39-1)
FAAB Remaining: $83 FAAB Moves this week: n/a
18. The Chosen Ones (21-42-0)
FAAB Remaining: $18 FAAB Moves this week: Jonathon Simmons ($2)
19. Cigar Smoking Monkey (19-44-0)
FAAB Remaining: $100 FAAB Moves this week: n/a
20. No Glove No Love (19-44-0)
FAAB Remaining: $96 FAAB Moves this week: n/a
