Another look at the trade

["Berry, Mark S" <berrym@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

This is a fantasy analysis, but the points about minutes and opportunity are
important to consider when looking at the stats of the respective players.
Everyone tends to focus on the bottom line numbers, but let's see how those
numbers compare when the opportunities change. -- Mark


Antoine Walker
<javascript:newWin('/cgi/fba/request.dll?PLAYERCARD&nPlayerID=881')> : An
enterprising company would ink Walker to an endorsement deal and buy some
advertising space behind the 3-point arc at the American Airlines Center,
because that's where Walker is likely to spend the bulk of his time. With
Nash running the show and Nowitzki and Fortson eating up space and rebounds
inside, Walker's assist (4.8) and rebound (7.2) averages are likely to
tumble, even in the unlikely event that his minutes (41.5) remain stable.
But the real fantasy trouble comes elsewhere, as Walker is about as likely
to match last season's 19.9 field goal attempts per game as Mark Cuban is to
befriend Mr. Blackwell.

Raef LaFrentz
<javascript:newWin('/cgi/fba/request.dll?PLAYERCARD&nPlayerID=454')> :
Boston fans may look at LaFrentz and wonder when the rest of the players
they got for Walker will arrive, but the big guy is the clear fantasy winner
of the deal. Buried in Dallas' rotation after arriving from Denver, LaFrentz
lost minutes, shots, rebounds, blocks and points with the Mavericks, almost
dropping off the fantasy radar. But remember he averaged 14.9 points, 7.4
rebounds, 3.0 blocks and 1.5 3-pointers in 51 games with the Nuggets. Locked
in to 35 minutes a night at Walker's vacated power forward slot, and facing
Eastern Conference frontcourts on a regular basis, LaFrentz could average
16-17 points and 3 blocks. If that still sounds modest, consider only four
players -- Elton Brand
<javascript:newWin('/cgi/fba/request.dll?PLAYERCARD&nPlayerID=91')> , Tim
Duncan <javascript:newWin('/cgi/fba/request.dll?PLAYERCARD&nPlayerID=215')>
, Shaquille O'Neal
<javascript:newWin('/cgi/fba/request.dll?PLAYERCARD&nPlayerID=614')>  and
Jermaine O'Neal
<javascript:newWin('/cgi/fba/request.dll?PLAYERCARD&nPlayerID=615')>  --
averaged at least two blocks and 16 points last season.