Full Court Press: On the Move

(Week 3 Power Rankings)


Colorado's best player is on the move again, as they kicked off the trade season with their yearly swap of the team's star to South Carolina. Could more trades be far behind?


It took almost a month longer than last year, but Colorado and South Carolina got the trade ball rolling again this year, with Colorado sending all-star forward Carmelo Anthony across the country in order to add some much needed rebounding to their struggling front line. This follows last year’s blockbuster deal which sent Colorado all-star Dwight Howard (and Jameer Nelson) from ski-country to beach bumville, for a trio of players. Word has it that South Carolina GM Horace Grant is already preparing an offer for Chauncey Billups for next year.

With Elton Brand struggling and Andris Biedrins realizing he just isn’t very good, Colorado’s front line has been downright embarrassing to start the season, with the Bears finishing in the bottom 2 of each traditionally big-man dominated category. Never one to stand pat, Bears GM Mike Comtois sent Anthony and first round draft pick (and fellow disappointing big-man) Rasheed Wallace to South Carolina for double-double machine (and noted headcase) Zach Randolph and the versatile and explosive Josh Smith, in hopes of jump-starting the front-line.

South Carolina, meanwhile, had all the rebounds, blocks, and FG% they could ever need after stealing Dwight Howard from Colorado a year earlier. Lacking in 3 pointers and FT%, however, this trade is a coup for the ballclub, giving them a huge boost in FT%, and creating addition by subtraction in the category by unloading Smith (shooting only 57% on the year from the charity stripe, which was somehow worse than noted bricklayer Dwight Howard, and worst on the team), and also giving them a much-needed boost in 3s, steals, and points.

This may be the rare trade that works out well for both teams, as both squads are filling a dire need. Is it the start of a rainstorm or just an errant drop of water from the sky? Let’s take a look at some of the players most likely to be traded in the coming weeks.

Baron Davis, PG, Peoria – Peoria GM Dave Grubb has made no secret of his desire to unload the aging and injury-prone point guard. Currently having a bit of a bounce-back season following last year’s debacle, Davis is still a huge lag on FG% and TOs. Could his upside in points, assists, 3pts., and steals be enough to convince an owner to kick-start the Peoria rebuilding process?

Likelihood to be Traded: 100%

Best Fit: Weymouth. Although the Dumpsta Divers are doing well in points, they could really use the boost in assists and steals. Furthermore, they have the shooters to survive the inevitable drop in FG% that Davis would bring. Would burgeoning power forward Jason Thompson get the job done? Or would it take the equally injury-prone Andrew Bynum to make it happen?

Steve Nash, PG, Rakeville – Although Rakeville maintains that Nash will not be moved this season, the team is going absolutely nowhere this year, and Nash isn’t getting any younger. Rakeville has a great young nucleus of players in Eric Gordon, Brook Lopez, Devin Harris, Kevin Love, et al., but moving Nash for some additional pieces this year could put them over the top in the future.

Likelihood to be Traded: 65%

Best Fit: Tokyo. The Vegans have the need (deficiencies in FG% & assists), the young players to get it done, and a willingness to move these players. The only thing lacking is a desire on the part of Rakeville. The farther they sink into the standings, you have wonder how much longer that will last?

LaMarcus Aldridge/Al Jefferson/Amare Stoudemire, PF/C , Tokyo – The Vegans are looking for an upgrade at point guard to aid incumbent Jose Calderon, and they’re willing to move a young big to get it. One of these players will be traded at some point this season—the question is, which one will it be, and for whom?

Likelihood to be Traded: Aldridge – 75%; Stoudemire – 50%; Jefferson – 25%

Best Fit: Dublin. The young Brawlers are building up an impressive young core. Could some combination of Jameer Nelson and/or Kevin Martin entice Tokyo?

Jason Kidd, PG, TIJ – Yet another aging point guard on a team that has struggled this year. Tijuana shopped Kidd around in the preseason, but couldn’t make it work. Of course, Tijuana expected to be a title contender again this year. If they continue to do poorly , would that light a fire under Tijuana GM Saul Smith?

Likelihood to be Traded: 50%

Best Fit: Fitchburg. The Foo Fighters desperately need a boost in FT% and Kidd hasn’t bricked a free shot all season. Add in his 3 pointers, scoring, and solid rebounding from the PG spot, and if Fitchburg is willing to go for it this year, he could be exactly what they need. Can they afford to lose Joakim Noah or Carlos Boozer for the upgrade?

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Power Rankings:
1. Las Vegas (+2) – Dominant win over a pretty good South Carolina squad shows they’re legit.
2. Tokyo (-1) – A win over Rakeville is nothing to crow about. Get it? Crow? Ah, fuck you.
3. Weymouth (-2) – Narrow win over Colorado keeps the momentum going, but are they still the top team?
4. Montreal (+1) – It’s rarely pretty, but they just keep on winning.
5. Fitchburg (+1) – Still chugging along. Every game ends 5-4 one way or another. Sign of a balanced team, or a mediocre one?
6. South Carolina (-2) – Embarrassing loss to Vegas drops them a couple spots, but still a dangerous team.
7. Colorado (-) – Another week, another 5-4 loss. Will trade improve their prospects?
8. Dublin (+1) – Two words on Brandon Jennings – Look. Out. This team will be a beast next year.
9. Bridgewater (+1) – The hangover continues. A tie to a rancid Peoria team is unacceptable to fans.
10. Tijuana (-2) – Loss in rematch of last year’s championship game exposes more holes. Something’s gotta give.
11. Peoria (-) – Where there’s smoke there’s fire?
12. Rakeville (-) – Get Rashard Lewis back this week from his steroid suspension. Can a 6-3 loss be far behind? The fans can only hope. Almost anything would be an improvement.
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League Notes:
-After acquiring Carmelo Anthony from Colorado last week, South Carolina GM Horace Grant sat in his office twirling a long fancy mustache that he had grown just for the occasion.

-Rookie sensation Brandon Jennings got in some hot water in his home city, after he followed up a 55 point performance on Saturday with pints at a local watering hole located in the Dublin locker room, followed by some traditional Irish midget tossing. However, it turned out the midget was actually former NBA point guard Earl Boykins, who had been in the arena for a Dublin tryout earlier that day, and he was none-too pleased. After plying him with some lucky charms*, however, Boykins declined to press charges.

-Rakeville star Eric Gordon missed all of week 2 with a groin pull. No word yet on if the injury was incurred while wrestling teammate Brook Lopez in the shower. Brook Lopez is gay.

*The lucky charms were money.