Since my team is in first place in points scored (and only two other squads are within striking distance) and second in 3s, I decided to deal my surplus in those categories and address my big needs: rebounds, blocks, steals.
In the steals category, my team only has 3 points -- only 265 steals in 306 games played. That's .866 steals per game. For comparison's sake, the team with 9 points in that category is averaging 1.054 steals per game. To address this need, I made the following changes via trade:
Rondo (2.3 steals per game) now starts at PG instead of Duhon (1.2)
Iverson (1.7 steals per game) now starts at SG instead of Ray Allen (0.8)
Jeff Green (1.1 steals per game) now starts at F instead of Vince Carter (0.9)
Shawn Marion (1.4 steals per game) now starts at UTIL instead of Marquis Daniels (1.1)
That's an improvement of 2.5 steals per game divided by 9 starters equaling about a .277 improvement. Meaning the team should be at least above 1.1 steals per game now. Within a month, we should be able to improve to about 5 or 6 points in this category.
I find myself in two tight races - blocks and rebounds - and Marion (who was exchanged for Ray Allen) helps me there. Even in a down year, he's averaging 9.2 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game. I am near the top in blocks (240 in 306 games vs. 254 in 303 games for the leader and 249 in 303 games for the runner-up), and that has mainly resulted from the production of Dwight Howard (110 blocks) and Al Jefferson (58 blocks). Having Marion - and now Erick Dampier, who is on a roll in boards and blocks - in the lineup will help me in my grab for first. I've also stashed Ben Wallace (who's near the top 10 in blocks for the season) if I need him as a difference maker down the stretch.
I have taken a huge gamble in terms of 3-pointers. My team is in 2nd in that category, with 334 3s over 306 games played. I looked at the standings and the next closest team has 303 (and is above me in games played) and the next after that has 274. I felt that I could give something up in this category and not necessarily lose much ground. My 3s total has been on the strength of Ray Allen (79 3s), Vince Carter (65 3s), and Chris Duhon (48 3s) -- all of whom have now departed in trades. I still have Paul Pierce (48 3s on the year) and expect more from him -- he's only averaging 1.4 3s on the year vs. 1.8 last year. In addition, his scoring is a little down (18.7 vs. 19.6 a year ago) and his field goal percentage as well (42.9% vs. 46.4% a year ago). He's shown signs of breaking out of this season long shooting slump (he hit a bunch of 3s the other night) and I expect his FG% to go up just as I expect Allen's FG% to go down (he's at a crazy 49.3% for the year after shooting 44.5% last year and 43.8% during his last season in Seattle). I also received Jeff Green in a trade -- he's averaging 1.3 3s a game. Rafer Alston sits on my bench -- while he averages 1.7 3s per game, his FG% is just killer (below 37%) and he only seems like a viable starter when Tracy McGrady (or Yao) is out for an extended period of time.
I alluded to the Ray Allen for Shawn Marion trade, but I have not discussed my blockbuster. That was the trade of Chris Duhon, Vince Carter, Marquis Daniels, and Ronnie Brewer (who was barely playing for me) for Rajon Rondo, Allen Iverson, and Jeff Green.
The key factor here is the return of Mike Dunleavy to the Pacer lineup within a week. Once Dunleavy returns, I am confident that Daniels will have little to no value.
Green, on the other hand, is a player who will log heavy minutes for Oklahoma City and he has averaged 18 points and nearly 7 rebounds during the last month. His stats are trending upward, just as Daniels is about to take a fall. I showed the season numbers -- just for the 3 for 3 portion (not including Brewer) -- to my trade partner and emphasized that Daniels is almost identical to Green statistically ... except for the fact that Green averages slightly more rebounds (6.1 vs. 5.2) and more 3s (1.3 vs. 0.3).
The key difference, of course, is that Green is going to produce at this level the rest of the season (unless he gets hurt). Daniels is already in a crowded situation (with the emergence of Jarrett Jack) and Dunleavy is going to reduce his playing time to the 20-25 minute range (at which point Daniels has no trade value). Brewer wasn't playing much for me, so his presence in the deal is somewhat irrelevant.
My starting lineup will now be:
PG: Rajon Rondo
SG: Allen Iverson (Yes, he skips practices and could be suspended at any moment, has the occasionally awful game, doesn't hit 3s, drags down your FG%, turns the ball over ... I know. But Ray Allen isn't going to shoot 49.3% for the year and there's no guarantee he'll stay healthy either. Allen gives you points and 3s and not much else -- since I'm up in those categories, I could afford to deal him. Plus, I lose no scoring by substituting Iverson for Allen)
G: Tony Parker (Another guard who doesn't hit 3s ... and he doesn't gather many steals either. But he's definitely scoring - 21.5 ppg - and he's averaging 6.8 assists as well. And he shoots well from the field -- .498. I now have two guards who could shoot over 50% to balance out Iverson)
SF: Paul Pierce (Pierce's hand was bothering him earlier this year. I expect a resurgence now. In his last three games, Pierce has averaged 22.3 points, 2 3s, and more importantly, he has shot over 50% from the field)
PF: Al Jefferson (Al was my second round pick and the 14th overall selection in our draft. He is really hitting his stride right now, even though his team blows. Al is averaging 24.4 ppg, 10.8 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks in the last month, while shooting over 50% from the field -- and over 75% from the free throw line, which is great because FT% used to be one of Al's weaknesses)
F: Jeff Green (18 ppg, 6.9 rebounds, 2.1 assists in the last month, while shooting 48.8% and averaging 1.3 3s. Just for comparison's sake, Vince Carter is averaging 21.6 ppg, 5.3 rebounds, 4.1 assists, shooting 41.6%, and averaging 2 3s in the last month. Steals, blocks, and turnovers are a wash. Vince may shoot close to 80% from the FT line while Green is closer to 75%, but it doesn't matter ... my team has already punted free throws because of Dwight Howard)
C: Dwight Howard (My first round draft pick -- #11 overall. Yes, we have no shot in free throw % because of him. But can I complain about 19.5 ppg, 13.8 rebounds, and a career high 3.5 blocks? Actually, I will. Howard averaged 20.7 ppg and 14.2 rebounds last year -- I expect more in those categories. He scored 39 today, so that's a good start. In addition, he's only shooting 55% from the field this year vs. 60% last season. There is room for improvement)
UTIL: Shawn Marion (Back spasms?! Right after I acquired him, no less. In any event, I've discussed the pickup of rebounds, blocks and steals with this acquisition. And he can't score less than he has, can he? 11.5 points per game is pretty abysmal from Shawn Marion)
UTIL: Erick Dampier (For rebound and block purposes ... he actually had 10 points and 14 rebounds the other night -- not bad. We'll see what happens to Dampier long term. I have an injured Monta Ellis and an injured Gilbert Arenas stashed on my bench. Both of these guys will warrant playing time if they're healthy)
I should note that Shawn Marion was taken 9th overall in our draft (Ray Allen was taken with the 62nd pick -- I swapped Allen for Marion straight up). Allen Iverson was taken with the 17th pick. I figure Marion and Iverson can't be any more disappointing than they've been so far -- and I was trading for them at their current value, not expecting anything more.
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