Heist! - Trade Accepted

big man to odensque, big talent to Hosen in trade

The trade: 'Sheed, Rip, Mo-Will for Oden, Peja, and Marquis.

'Sheed's been a fantasy force for years, and is having a fantastic year so far. He's averaging 14 points and 10 rebounds, 2 blocks, 2 3s, and a steal. He's double/doubling in half his games, and went off for 25 and 13 just last night. This represents an uptick of numbers across the board, compared to the previous few seasons (indeed, more MPG than at any time since he was in PDX), and may be unsustainable, but 'Sheed's block/3 numbers make him a true fantasy elite. He's 34, and is prone to TECHs, of course, and even suspensions, which can hurt in our format, though he's much less prone to TOs and PFs than you might think. He's surely good for 13/7 with a 1.5 3s and Blocks, and may surpass that. We're surprised that odensque would part with him, as he seems an essential component of the low-neg/block/3 strategy they've employed with great success thus far.

Rip is no spring chicken himself (he's 30), but despite some initial concerns about his role with AI's arrival, his stats are right ni line with his career norms. Indeed, Rip's one of the most bankable commodities in fantasy hoops: rarely injured, 17/4/4 with a 3 and good %s. There's nothing else to say, because he's rock solid.

Mo-Will landed on CLE in the offseason, and seemed to have some trouble adjusting to playing with LeBronda. His numbers are down slightly across the board, but he's still a solid play at 15/2/5 with a 3 and a STL. If he can get that up to his standard for the last couple years - 17/4/6 - he's a top 10 PG, but even if not, he's a stong contributor.

So the Hosen get 3 extremely consistent, proven contributors. All probably offer top 75-type value. In total, conservatively, 50PPG, 4.5 3s, 15REB, 3stl, 3blk. A good haul!

Greg Oden needs no introduction. He's still working his way back from injury, and playing about 25 MPG. Though we admit calling him 'The Black Joakim Noah' yesterday afternoon, in reference to his lack of productivity (3/2 in his first game back), after watching him abuse Tyson Chandler last night (11/11/4 BLK in only 24 minutes), we're now sold. Dude is Beast. Even so, he's sure to miss some games with injury, will likely frequently get in foul trouble, and doesn't have a particularly varied or developed offensive game. If he averaged 12/12, it would be a smashing success. Then again, he's the best center prospect since Shaq, looks amazing, and could do better than that. Certainly the blocks will come in bunches.

Peja's 31, and certainly on the downside of his career, though teaming with CP3 and D-West has given him a lot of open looks. He came back well last year (16/4, 3 3s) from a devastating 2006-7 back injury (13 games, much to the Manute Bol's dismay, as they drafted him in the 4th round). This year, he's started off quite slowly (only 13/4, shooting an uncharacteristically low 38% from the field and a shocking 82% from the line). As he plays more and more of a perimeter game, he's gone from 'very few blocks and steals' to virtually none, and since he never drives to the hoop, his (usually) terrific FG% (lifetime 90%) is barely an asset. Still 3 3s a game is nothing to sneeze at.

Marquis Daniels has always been a bit of a mystery. He was a key late-season addition to the Spoonful's great championship team in 2003, when Daniels was an undrafted rookie out of Auburn. He was really quite amazing, outshining Nash, Dirk, Jamison, and Finley with lines like 30/8/7 and 4 steals. But then his career was derailed by nagging injuries, occasional laziness, and a lack of a consistent role. Even with occasional bursts of opportunity on a perpetually injured Pacer team, he's never been able to seize minutes with strong play. Until this year! The lingering injury to Mike Dunleavy has given Marquis a starting role, and he's been a revelation: 15/7/3 with an STL. He's a bit fouly, and doesn't shoot the 3 well, but has been a solid contributor otherwise. He certainly has the talent to sustain that level of play, but will he have the opportunity. No one knows what Dunleavy's timetable is, or what Marquis's role will be when Mike D returns.

So odensque gets intriguing question marks in Oden and Daniels, and a struggling, one-dimensional (though still very good) Peja in the deal. In summary, odensque gave up a great deal of solid goodness for some extremely injury-prone unknown quantities. I have trouble seeing how odensque benefits here. Marquis is unlikely to be as good all-round as Rip, even if somehow he gets the minutes; Mo-Will's assists and steals probably are even with Peja's 3's, and the points and rebs cancel, so let's call that a wash; so unless Oden is somehow better than 'Sheed the rest of the way, this looks like a clear win for the Hosen. They should gain 7PPG,  8 or 9 APG, 1 SPG, and some FG%, in exchange for 2 or 3 OREBs. And let's face it: as cool as Oden is, Rasheed's the coolest evah!

Judgment: Fleecing! Honestly, we think this turns the Hosen into a contender.