The recent four-game stretch in which the Sacramento Kings played without starting PG De'Aaron Fox may have seemed like merely a statistically-boosted blip for Tyrese Haliburton investors, as the second-year man shined with at least 20 points and 10 assists in each game, but perhaps it is more.
After all, the Kings had only one player among the top 50 on the ESPN Player Rater before that stretch, and it was not Fox. It was Haliburton, and that remains the case.
The Kings still lose more than they win for a variety of reasons, but Haliburton continues to make strides and he sure looks like the better option to run the team's offense moving forward.
Fox was fantastic last season, averaging 25.2 PG and 7.2 APG, but for whatever reason or perhaps a bunch of them, he is not the same this time around. All his numbers are down.
Only some of Haliburton's stats are up (minutes, assists, steals) but when Fox missed those recent games while in COVID-19 protocols, Haliburton looked awesome. Fox has not looked awesome all season. Perhaps the Kings noticed.
What this means for fantasy is that now is a wise time to see if one can pry Haliburton from his or her investor's team ... perhaps even in exchange for Fox. Think about it. Haliburton ranks 40 spots better on the Rater. Watch Fox play and there is a player struggling in the half-court game, his 3-point shooting cratering to 25%, while Haliburton is the more efficient passer and shooter. He also defends better.
The Kings drafted Davion Mitchell from champion Baylor, too, and he is a mature, defensive-minded lead guard, careful with the ball and with a bright future. Perhaps Fox is expendable for some much-needed frontcourt aid (like a certain unhappy Philadelphia 76er, he types with the utmost hope).
Sunday night was an example of the current state of how Fox fits in. He showboated after a third quarter dunk and then played rather disinterested defense as the Memphis Grizzlies went on a run to cruise to a 127-102 win. Fox returned from missing four games and scored 12 points, committed seven turnovers. The Kings lost badly and interim head coach Alvin Gentry called the performance "absolutely ridiculous."
It cannot be all Fox's fault, but this roster just does not work as currently constructed. Few should be surprised. The Kings last made the playoffs in 2006. Brad Miller was the team's top player.
Regardless of how the Kings resolve their three-guard situation, one could surmise that we have already seen Fox's best statistical season, while Haliburton, scoring considerably less than his teammate, is already the better fantasy option and his best days are ahead.
Fox is hardly old, but the outside shooting is a problem, and if the assists keep dropping, uh oh. Haliburton certainly shoots better from range, and he takes care of the ball better. Fox makes the big money, signing a five-year contract extension last year, but he hardly looks like the team's best player. Teammates Buddy Hield and Harrison Barnes also rank better on the current Player Rater. Anyway, keep an eye on this one.
OK, here is the latest edition of the Trade Index, as we prepare to say farewell to 2021 and ring in 2022. Happy New Year!
Trade for
Rudy Gobert, C, Utah Jazz: Perhaps one cannot appreciate what Gobert does for a fantasy team unless one has Gobert on the team. He has nearly 100 more rebounds than anyone else does. Only the Pacers' Myles Turner has blocked more shots. Gobert's 71% field goal shooting is ridiculously valuable and while he is no Mark Price (look him up) from the free throw line, 68% looks much better than 62%, which is what he shot a season ago. Gobert made 15-of-16 freebies in a game last week. I nearly cried. He is top 10 on the Player Rater and in points leagues and there is no sign of things changing.
Max Strus, SF, Miami Heat: Only five players have hit more 3-pointers than Duncan Robinson this season, but Robinson is not having a strong season and may be in some danger of losing minutes to the recently scorching Strus, who hits 3-pointers at a far better clip. For fantasy purposes, neither Robinson nor Strus is a well-balanced fantasy asset, as all they do is hit 3-pointers, but Strus is doing it at a far better percentage and his recent run of success, achieved with teammates out of the lineup for various reasons, may help him keep the minutes.
Trade away
Malcolm Brogdon, PG/SG, Indiana Pacers: No issue with the numbers, just like last season, but my problem with Brogdon remains the lack of durability. He averaged 55 games over the past four seasons. To be fair, until recently, Brogdon played more than a month without missing a game, but he always seems to be a game-day decision with something. Brogdon is currently out with Achilles soreness and seems a candidate to miss some or most of the games this week. The Pacers need roster changes, too, so perhaps the motivation to push into playing Brogdon big minutes leaves. Maybe this is all just me and Brogdon never misses another game ever again, but he sure does scare me.
Kemba Walker, PG, New York Knicks: Yep, him again. Hey, give him full credit for the stunning 44-point outburst against Washington and the Christmas Day triple-double against the Hawks, but the same issues remain. First, even as he swiftly rises to lead the ESPN Most Added list, he keeps missing a ton of makeable shots (41% FG in this four-game run). Second, head coach Tom Thibodeau requires his players defend (imagine that!) and Walker still cannot do this reasonably. Third, the chronic knee issues have not suddenly gone away. The Knicks benched him for several weeks for good reason and he only returned to active duty because they ran out of bodies. I actually enjoyed seeing Walker play well and want it to continue, but we need to be realistic, too. Get what you can before you cannot.