Rumor Me This

By Si Korot, Senior Contributing Writer

We’re one week away from the NBA All-Star game, peeps. That means it’s Super Bowl time. Of course, if you’re not betting the game, it’s simply all about the food and drink at the party you’re going to. It is also getting close to the NBA trade deadline. Rumors are more rampant then ever and some teams’ plans have gone awry and it’s getting close to changing of the guard in the coaching ranks. Let’s look at a few trade issues and how a certain coaching change will probably help some fantasy owners.

Looks like Kevin Garnett's not gonna let Ray Allen go anywhere.

KIRK HINRICH FOR RAY ALLEN? COME ON!!! It’s absurd, but it’s among the latest trade rumors. Hinrich, along with Tyrus Thomas to Boston, with Allen finishing out his contract season in Chicago…I understand that Allen is in that free-agent-to-be status, but come on. He’s part of the Big Three (well, with Rajon Rondo an All Star and Kendrick Perkins not that bad, the Big Four-And-A-Half). Re-sign Jesus Shuttlesworth for a couple more years and keep the dream alive. Hinrich is a point guard that can play the two spot, but still needs the ball in his hands…a lot. That will mess with the fact that Rondo handles the ball and Paul Pierce needs it in his hands…a lot. While adding another big man the quality of Thomas to the Boston bench would be a necessity and a plus, I can’t see that Hinrich move being a last piece in the Celtics’ puzzle. It certainly wouldn’t hurt Allen to be in Chi-town, as he would be handling the ball a bit more as a two-guard who slides over to the point to rest Derrick Rose. Ray-Ray’s points and assists would see a slight boost because he would no longer have to play as selfless a game as he does in Beantown alongside that crew.

Kevin Martin (center) may not be in a Kings uniform for long. Heck, he may not be in a Kings uniform in this photo.

Kevin Martin needs out of Sacramento…NOW! It seems that for some unknown reason, his game suffers alongside rookie sensation Tyreke Evans (Martin’s owners know of what I speak). There has been a good amount of speculation that Kev-Mart will be out of Sacto by the trade deadline. Most rumors are pointing towards a trade north of the border to Toronto for the equally-unsuccessful point guard Jose Calderon, who’d be a much better fit in the Kings’ offensive scheme than he is for the Raptors. And the reason this trade makes so much sense is that Martin would thrive in the Raptors’ pattern, alongside Jarrett Jack. Evans would also enjoy the change, as he was awesome playing a ballhandling two guard when Martin was out of action. Because this swap does seem to work so well for both sides and heavily rumored, it probably won’t happen. It would solve too many dilemmas.

It amuses me that Amare Stoudemire can put the kibosh on other teams’ interest in him just by threatening to invoke his $17.9 million option for next season. Amare is not what he has been in seasons past, but he is still recovering from last season’s eye injury, and admittedly, he is still adjusting. The lack of shooting production has obviously taken a toll on the defensive aspects of his game. But this is a stud I would want on my team long term, since doctors have pretty much said Amare will assumedly be Amare again. Where’s the loyalty? Why not just hold onto him, Steve Kerr, and let him get back to himself? He did hurt himself in action for your team, didn’t he? If he ends up in Cleveland, as suggested, look for Amare’s fantasy value to drop further. If you play alongside Lebron, you gotta know you’re gonna take a hit. If he ends up in Philly, however, it will be interesting to see how Coach Eddie Jordan takes to the stud forward’s erratic play this season (see Elton Brand).

If he manages to go a majority of the rest of the season without further physical ailments, Baron Davis should be quite a player to have on fantasy teams. With the Clippers kicking Mike Dunleavy upstairs to be  the team GM, interim Coach Kim Hughes says that he will call a minimum of plays and put the offense into Davis’ capable hands. This is what the UCLA alum has lacked in Los Angeles. True, he has played well this season, but I would not be surprised if his numbers didn’t spike just a bit.

Carmelo Anthony (ankle) and Brandon Roy (groin) are both considered day-to-day with their injuries right now, but their teams might rest them through the All-Star break, so as to further justify their not playing in that game. Other injuries to consider before setting your week 16 lineup: Andrew Bynum (hip), Joakim Noah (out til the break with plantar fasciitis), Paul Pierce (foot), Hedo Turkoglu (broken orbital bone), Paul Pierce (strained foot) and Marcus Thornton (strained back).

Week 16 is All-Star week…so it’ll be short and sweet. Dwight Howard is the only three-gamer worth playing. As far as the other teams go, stay with the one-game studs instead of average players who have two games. Let me lay out the abbreviated schedule situation for you:

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