A Trade?

Wow, a trade just happened in the JBL. That has become a bit of news lately as there hasn't been much activity on the trade fronts in the JBL. I moved Boris Diaw for Peja Stojakovic. A trade of 2 struggling players trying to find their way. Diaw was hard to let go of because I had very high expectations of him coming into the season. But then the Bobcats acquired Stephen Jackson and he's become an after-thought on offense. He still plays 30 minutes a night but barely takes any shots, doesn't pass the ball well, and has been shooting horribly. Maybe he turns it around this season but I just couldn't wait any longer.

In Peja I get another 3-point gunner who can hopefully find his form enough to (1) get into my lineup and (2) play well enough to stay there. One of my big 3 weaknesses currently is 3PT% so adding another potential shooter like Peja can only help. And if he stinks the joint up, he can ride the pine just like Diaw has been doing for the past few weeks. So I really look at this as a no-risk trade for me. Diaw wasn't getting into my lineup anytime soon anyways and Peja could help me in one of my 3 weaknesses...so this move had to be done. If Diaw was playing well he could help my ATO as he has shown he can be a playmaker. I think his good 3PT% last season was more of a fluke looking at his historical numbers. He shot 41% last season from behind the arc but is a career 33% shooter from downtown.

So why haven't we seen more trades this season? The answer, in my opinion, is easy. We have 7 teams in contention for the title right now. I'm not talking in contention for a money spot - I'm talking in the running for 1st place!! So, naturally, no one wants to make any major moves when they are so close as they stand now.

My Golden squad is clinging to 1st place but that won't last for long. I am about to be passed by Seoul in blocks (-6.5 points) and Bangkok will get me in Points (-20 points). Losing those points - which will probably occur tonight - takes me to 803.00 points. That will likely be good enough for 2nd place but I still have to worry about Juan de Fuca catching me in steals and Seoul catching me in 3PT%. So, things are getting tighter and tighter by the day.

That's why I have to try and make a move in 3-point shooting. Statistically speaking this is the category that I can move the most in. Currently, I am shooting 33.4%. If you look at my combined 3PT% of the guys now on my squad and it's 38.8%. Now, obviously it will take some time to move up but I do have the horses to shoot a much higher percentage than I am currently at.

My other weaknesses are ATO and STLS. Looking at the stats so far this season it doesn't appear I have the players to make a significant move upwards in either category.

So at the moment, I honestly see 7 teams in contention. But since we have that many teams in contention it will be very difficult for those teams to make significant trades with each other. Bangkok needs 3PT% so why would I offer that to him? Juan de Fuca needs ATO - again, why would I want to assist him in that department? These 7 teams will have to really analyze any potential trades with direct competitors to make sure it helps themselves more than it helps their rival.

So, that really leaves the top 7 teams to trade with the bottom 5 teams. Again, as I have previously blogged about, there is plenty of talent on those rosters to be had. But can the right deal be made? I think most of the contending teams are taking a very conservative approach right now because of how close the standings are.

Now, the next big question to be answered is which of the bottom 5 teams throws in the towel first? All 5 of those teams have major assets to help a contending team. Which of those teams offers up their stud for a stud-keeper first? Which contending team sells his cheap stud first? I think, as usual, there will be a chain reaction once the 1st 2010/11 deal goes down. Once the first top 7 team pulls the trigger on a major move the other 6 teams will have to react. It becomes a fun time of year for sure. We are only about 6 weeks away from our keeper-trade-deadline so things should start to take shape soon. Stay tuned...