NBA Picks and Rolls: New Year, New Team for Kyle Korver

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NBA Picks and Rolls: New Year, New Team for Kyle Korver

December 31, 2007

Jerry Sloan Rules His Roost

Jerry Sloan Photo Credit: Matthias B. Krause/Icon SMI

In the last edition of Picks and Rolls we talked about the Knickerbockers of New York, where the inmates are running the asylum. Madison Square Garden is a three-ring circus where nobody appears to have any power (outside of perhaps Stephon Marbury), and the hierarchy changes on a nightly basis. This is clearly not the case in EnergySolutions Arena. After Gordan Giricek had an altercation with Jerry Sloan on the sidelines two weeks ago he was immediately sent to the locker room. Then Sloan sent him home from the road trip, and Jazz owner Larry Miller backed Sloan up. A week later, Giricek is no longer wearing a Jazz jersey.

Jerry Sloan is the unquestioned leader in Utah. Just ask Gordan Giricek or Andrei Kirilenko.

In fantasy terms it’s not a major trade, but a mildly intriguing one. Giricek should be given a fresh start for the 76ers, and while he’s always been a slightly above average shooter, he’s never been a fantasy mainstay in his six years in the NBA. Perhaps more significant in Philly for fantasy owners is the minutes and shots this should open up for Louis Williams, a 2005 second-round pick out of South Gwinnett High School, where he was named a member of the McDonald’s All-American East Team and the Naismith Prep Player of the Year as the nation’s top high schooler the same year. Williams is an electric scorer who has taken time to adjust to the NBA game, but he’s going to be a fantasy player sooner or later- maybe very soon.

On the other side, Kyle Korver should also see a boost in value. While the Jazz already have a number of options on offense and a clearly-defined pecking order, they have a dearth of perimeter scoring. Utah has lacked an elite outside shooter, and Korver fits the bill. He really wont provide much outside of points, threes, FT% and modest returns in other categories, but those strengths are enough to make Korver a strong play when he’s on his game. That should happen more frequently in this loaded offense. As Korver said in his press conference, “In Philadelphia I was standing around waiting for the ball… Now I feel like I’m playing with a great point guard, where if I make the right read or the right cut, I know he’ll get me the ball.”

The move also nets Philly a lottery-protected, first-round pick and leaves them about $10 million in cap space this summer. Keep an eye on Philadelphia, and specifically veteran point Andre Miller, because these guys aren’t done. New GM Ed Stefanski said after the trade, “People really wanted Andre, too… I’m not saying we’re done. We do have chips that people like. I will say this: Teams have (noticed) how good Miller is. Anyone can get traded, but he is a very good asset for the 76ers right now.”

While the Utah Jazz continue to field the whitest team in the NBA, here are your other fantasy fluctuations of note…

Up and Down Game

Push It:

Delonte West, PG/SG: After his second season in the league where he posted 12 points, 1.2 steals, .7 blocks, 4.6 assists and 4.1 boards on 49% FGs and 85% FTs, we were big fans of Delonte West in Boston. That kind of all-around production and efficiency is rare and invaluable to fantasy squads. He inexplicably saw less playing time in Bean Town last season, so the change of scenery in the offseason made him one of our favorite sleepers this year. Unfortunately the 2004 first-round pick out of St. Joseph’s has struggled to find minutes again this year, fighting injuries, Luke Ridnour and Earl Watson for tick. Whenever he sees playing time he produces though, and West has dropped 15 dimes, 29 points, 8 boards and 2 threes in 25+ minutes over the last two games. It’s still unclear if West or Ridnour is the better long-term bet this season, but Delonte is worth an add right now.

Antonio Daniels, PG: In his 14 games as a starter filling in for Gilbert Arenas, Daniels was putting up 11 points, 6.6 assists, 4.4 boards and 1.4 steals on 50% FGs and 82% FTs. Gilbert is no sure thing to return to full strength this season, but when Daniels went down with a knee injury on December 15th he was dropped in most leagues. If he’s still available, now is the time to scoop Daniels up. He should return any game now and will resume those extremely solid numbers shortly after, while Arenas isn’t expected back any time before the middle of February.

Chris Duhon, PG: Scott Skiles’ firing and Jim Boylan’s promotion had some immediate effects, not the least of which was Chris Duhon’s insertion into the starting lineup. Duhon is never going to shoot the lights out, but he’s a good defender and capable passer. While the FG% has always been poor, the FT% is always solid and he puts up very good assists, threes and steals totals when getting heavy minutes (5.1, 1.3 and 1.1 respectively as a starter in his career). Duhon is likely a free agent in your league and hasn’t responded to the new role just yet, but if he continues to see minutes he’ll be worth owning for teams in need of steals, assists and threes before long.

Trevor Ariza, SF: I was cautiously optimistic about Ariza in this column a few weeks ago after his trade to Los Angeles, and the Lakers’ new small forward has responded brilliantly. Over the last week he has posted 11.3 points, 5 boards, 3.3 assists and 1.7 steals on 60% FGs. That’s pretty much what we’re hoping for from the unpolished but athletic 21-year-old. Luke Walton returned to action on Sunday, but Ariza is the better long-term option and will continue to produce a nice combination of points, boards, assists and steals on solid FG% as long as he gets minutes. He should be owned in deep leagues.

Jarret Jack: Head coach Nate McMillan is understandably loath to make any changes in the midst of the Blazers’ incredible winning streak, but Jack has been quietly outplaying incumbent starter Steve Blake for some time now. In the last week Jack is averaging 1.3 threes, 13.7 points, 5.7 assists and 1 steal while shooting 48% FGs and 100% FTs. It’s easy to forget just how well the 2005 first-round pick played last season before his slump, but those numbers pretty much mirror his performance as a starter last season- something he could be again very soon.

Slow it Up:

Ronald “Ron” Artest Jr., SG/SF/PF: The confusion over Artest’s elbow injury has been cleared up, but the diagnosis is not ideal. Ron Ron has a chipped bone that will require surgery and he will miss at least two weeks. On the plus side, those who own Francisco Garcia and John Salmons will benefit over the short term. If I owned either of those guys though, I would be looking to deal in the next week- they won’t keep it up when Artest and Mike Bibby return in the middle of January.

Tracy McGrady, SG: Everybody has their fantasy blacklist, the players they simply will not draft. In football this year I wouldn’t touch Larry Johnson, Maurice Jones-Drew, Carnell Williams, Alge Crumpler or Thomas Jones. In my hoops drafts, I wanted nothing to do with Jermaine O’Neal, Ben Wallace, Ron Artest or Tracy McGrady. I learned about McGrady the hard way. Several times. With that injury history and the tendency to kill your shooting categories, T-Mac is just a headache every season that somebody else can deal with. News out of Houston today is that McGrady’s “minor” injury will now keep him out for at least three weeks, and the shooting guard went on to add “I don’t have a timetable.” Super. On the plus side, Luthor Head will be an elite source of threes (15 in his last five games) and Bonzi Wells should be a strong (if enigmatic) play in the interim.

Tyrus Thomas, SF/PF: In the wake of Scott Skiles’ Christmas Eve firing new Bulls head coach Jim Boylan has shaken up the rotation, but Tyrus Thomas hasn’t been a beneficiary. Skiles’ criticisms of Thomas were vocal and his disdain for the second-year forward well known, so a fresh start seemed like just what the doctor ordered for Thomas’ flagging fantasy value. So much for that. In the three games since the switch the mercurial big man has logged just over 10 total minutes, hasn’t scored a point, has 0 blocks, 0 steals and 3 rebounds. How much better would the post-scoring starved Bulls be if they hadn’t swapped LaMarcus Aldrige for Tyrus Thomas on draft day last year?

Grizzlies Guards: The Memphis Grizzlies are redefining the term “logjam” at point guard this season. Mike Conley returned to action on Sunday, recording 6 points and 3 rebounds in just over 20 minutes of actions. Clearly, those are not fantasy-worth numbers. Damon Stoudamire got the start at point, but finished with only 6 points, 3 assists and 3 rebounds in under 17 minutes. Kyle Lowry, who has been alternating strong performances with duds in December, had only 1 point and 1 assist on 1 shot attempt in under 15 minutes. Juan Carlos Navarro played nearly 26 minutes and had 10 points and 7 assists, but good luck predicting his strong performances. None of these players should be owned until this situation sorts itself out.