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It's Voodoo Time

Author Icon for Nels

Categorized as: Author: Nels, Fantasy Basketball
Posted on: November 5th, 2007

Stat Nut and True Fantasy Basketball Psycho Jim Colton (from nearby Wheaton, IL) has produced a small list of players for whom he’s currently constructing Voodoo Dolls (it’s kind of near the end of the thesis length post; I suppose when you have 52 fantasy teams, it requires a thesis length post just to list them all).

Here’s my Voodoo List (consisting of players that I actively avoided drafting who are currently playing very well, and I wish they would stop doing that) (9-category rating as of 11/04 in parentheses):
Richard Jefferson (3)
Tim Thomas (4)
Mike Dunleavy (34)
Nate Robinson (58)

Actually, I feel a lot better now. Most of the other guys that I would never want on my team are playing about as well as they should be. I’m still a little bit upset to see RJ and Tim Thomas at the top of the list like that, but I’m also fairly confident that they can’t keep it up.

Someone did try to send RJ my way, though, and while it was a pretty fair trade, I just don’t really like Richard Jefferson for some reason. For fantasy purposes, I’ve actually gotten to the point where I could have Kobe on my team, but Richard Jefferson is not Kobe. The practical advice at this point, though, is don’t be suckered into trades after only 3 games. There are some good trades to be made, but check that the players you’re trading aren’t playing at a level that’s much higher than what they’ve done in the past year or two.

If you have early season trade offers that you’re not sure about, feel free to leave a comment, and Patrick and I (and perhaps some other readers) will respond geekishly fast.

Other Stuff Like This:

  • Chupacabras, I'm with you on Horford. I think he's worth hanging onto. I also like Calderon, and was fantasy buzzkilled by Bogut in his first season when I took a chance on him. I mean, he doesn't shoot a lot of free throws, so that part is okay, but he doesn't block many shots for a center.

    I'd stick with what you have for now.
  • Chupacabras - you had me thinking about this trade way longer than I should have. After some deep meditation, I think the trade is slightly tipped in your direction. Forced to choose, Bogut is the best of the four players involved. Plus, I'm not loving Horford as much as you seem to be.

    That being said, you already have two centers who are better than Bogut, so the trade doesn't appear to fit your needs all that well. Plus, both your guys have much better upside, so there is always a chance they'll blow up sometime this year. So, it’s a fair trade, but I’d just say no for now.
  • Chupacabras
    Someone offered me Andrew Bogut and Ike Diogu for Jose Calderon and Al Horford in an H2H league.

    Here's my current roster:

    T.J. Ford
    Carmelo Anthony
    Jason Richardson
    Andres Nocioni
    Amare Stoudemire
    Andris Biedrins
    Al Horford
    Jose Calderon
    Juan Carlos Navarro
    Acie Law IV
    Bostjan Nachbar
    Devin Harris
    Travis Outlaw
    Jorge Garbajosa

    I really think Horford has too much upside to give up now, and Calderon is one of the best backup PGs out there. Since I already have Ford, I think I can get more for Calderon than I was offered.
  • I've hustled, twisted, traded high on players, mortgaged my bench, sold my kitchen sink...lol...just about everything.

    Last season I started with KG, Chris Bosh, drafted injured gem stones in Pau Gasol, Zach Randolph, and Carlos Boozer (We were only a 12 team league then).

    Then I was able to get Lebron when he hit that huge skid last season, got Dirk and Paul for KG, and got Rashard Lewis when he was hurt. Won the playoffs.

    Then this season started with an expansion draft (4 teams) Our format allowed the use of trading draft picks so I sent Paul, Rashard, and Pau away for draft picks while keeping Dirk and Lebron.

    I drafted Caron Bulter, Roy, Davis, Okur, AK47, Scola, Belenilli, and Jeff Green.

    This season I started by getting rid of Peja for Stephen Jackson and Al Thornton (A deal proposed to me). And Caron and Al Thornton for Chris Paul.

    This is a very competitive league that has divisions based on skill rankings. Very lucky indeed. But I am a buy low sell high owner. That is why I'm interested in Dwight. He could be a monster and cover all stat lines with Lebron. I like Paul but I may deal him for Kidd if I need the stats for the playoffs.
  • I have to agree with Nels. Your team is just sick. How in the world did you manage that lineup in a 16 team league?
  • Okay, seriously, you have Paul, Roy, LeBron, Dirk, Okur, and AK47 in a 16 Team league?

    If you're looking to win this season, I'd stick with what you have, and it seems pretty unbeatable. If you trade Dirk for Brand and Howard, I'm not sure what you do at PF until Brand gets back.

    Into the future, you've got 2 obvious keepers in LeBron and Paul. If you can keep 3, then keep Dirk and see what you can get for him next season.
  • Brand is only C in nba.com I doubt I'd keep Brand (He's more interesting as draft picks trade bait).

    My current roster is (This is a 16 team h2h league):
    PG- Paul
    SG- Roy
    SF- LeBron
    PF- Dirk
    C- Okur
    UTL- AK47

    Bench: Ricky Davis, Stephen Jackson, Marco Belenelli, and Joel Przybilla.

    Is Howard's upside big enough to keep him over Dirk, CP3, and Brand?
  • If you're getting Howard and Brand, I'd take it. Part of it depends on how many players you get to keep, but Brand is about a year younger than Dirk, and until this year has been as healthy as anyone (except Dirk).

    In Yahoo leagues, Brand is an FC, while Dirk has been knocked down to just a PF. Howard is only a C this year, but with those 2 guys you have a Center core that means you don't have to worry about drafting a Center for another 3-4 years.
  • Dwight Howard and Elton Brand for Dirk in a keeper league?
  • I got Jefferson in a couple leagues and if he gets hurt, I'll be shaking my fist in your general direction for your role in taking him down.

    Is there such a thing as a reverse voodoo doll? Can I make one of those from Brad Miller?
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