 | Welcome Back! - 02/18/2008
BY Steve Alexander Looks Like Someone's Got a Case of the Mondays
As usual for Mondays, a quick rundown of the league's injury situation. Today's chat is happening at 2 p.m. EST. The link to the room will be up at 1:45.
Gerald Wallace - foot - Should play Tuesday, go ahead and activate him.
Shaquille O'Neal - hip - Says he's playing Tuesday, start at your own risk.
Caron Butler - hip - Should be ready to return, start at own risk.
Gilbert Arenas - knee - Targeting March 2 for return.
Kevin Garnett - ab strain - Says he's playing Tuesday, start at own risk.
Josh Howard - back - Should play Wednesday, start at own risk.
Devin Harris - ankle - Should start for Jersey, but ankle still not fully healthy.
Ben Wallace - personal - Should return from death in the family Wednesday.
Ben Gordon - wrist - Questionable for Tuesday, start at your own risk.
Luol Deng - Achilles - Will come off bench upon return, bench for now.
Charlie Villanueva - knee - Likely recovered over bre! ak, may continue to start.
Anderson Varejao - ankle - Due back in next couple weeks, bench for now.
Sasha Pavlovic - foot - Out another month.
Glen Davis - knee - Should return this week, but no fantasy value with KG back.
Brian Scalabrine - groin - No fantasy value when healthy.
Kendrick Perkins - shoulder - Should be ready for Tuesday.
Tony Parker - heel/ankle - Keep benched until further notice.
Brent Barry - calf - On verge of return, limited fantasy value.
Elton Brand - Achilles - Should be back in the next couple weeks.
Shaun Livingston - knee - Not likely to play this year.
Theo Ratliff - knee - Sounds like he'll play again for Wolves, but not right now.
James Jones - knee - Out another month.
Jerry Stackhouse - hamstring - Should be back after break, little value.
T.J.! Ford - wrist - Could miss more time. Bench for now.
Luther Head - groin - Should be ready to go on Tuesday, limited value.
Alexander Johnson - ankle - Should be back, has some value with Haslem out.
Udonis Haslem - ankle - Likely out a few more weeks.
Morris Peterson - back - Should return after missing a couple, limited value.
Francisco Garcia - back - Could play Tuesday, but doesn't have much value.
Trevor Ariza - foot - Not due back until March.
Andrew Bynum - knee - Hoping to be back in March.
Derek Anderson - knee - Should return soon, no value.
The Trade - Part 3
The trade that will send Jason Kidd to the Nets is apparently back on, although there are some new twists to it. Devean George and Jerry Stackhouse are out, while the Mavs will now reportedly send Trenton Hassell and Keith Van Horn to New Jersey, along wit! h Devin Harris, Maurice Ager, DeSagana Diop, two first-round picks and $3 million in cash. Malik Allen will go to the Mavericks with Kidd.
The wild card here is Van Horn, who hasn't played in a couple years. He still needs to get on a plane and get from Utah to New Jersey, pass a physical and give some inkling that he might play for the Nets sometime over the next two months. Of course, for a free $4 million, I'm guessing he'll show up. It sounds like the deal is done this time, but we won'tt know for sure until later on Monday.
Mike Bibby was sent to the Hawks for three expiring contracts (Lorenzen Wright, Tyronn Lue and Anthony Johnson) and Shelden Williams. Williams has another year left on his contract, but still doesn't look like a starter in the NBA. I expect him to come off the bench for the Kings, just like he did with the Hawks.
As for other trade rumors, all is quiet on the western front right now.
All-Star Weekend
LeBron James was named the MVP as the East won a clos! e game, but it was Ray Allen's three straight 3-pointers that secured the win. LeBron finished with 27 points, eight boards, nine assists, two steals, two blocks and two threes on 12-of-22 shooting. Allen actually outscored him, finishing with 28 points and five threes on 10-of-14 shooting. Allen's fantasy owners would appreciate a few more lines like that in games that count.
Kobe Bryant failed to score in three minutes, choosing to ice his injured finger instead of risking further injury in an exhibition game. Much like Mo Williams, Kobe will be guarding his injured digit the rest of the way and you have to think guys are going to go after the hand on a nightly basis. As a Kobe owner in several leagues, I have to admit that I'm a little scared. Brandon Roy, Carmelo Anthony and Amare Stoudemire all led the West with 18 points, but it was Chris Paul's 16 points and 14 assists that stole the show in New Orleans.
Dwight Howard won the dunk contest without even dunking on his version of "Superman," Jason Kapono won the 3-point contest and Deron Williams won the skills competi! tion. Daniel Gibson hit 11 threes in the rookie-sophomore game, and could be in line for a decent second half. | | This e-mail is being sent at your request. To stop receiving these e-mails, click here. | |
