Center Moves

In a quiet move, Fat Jubas and Funk Coalition exchanged a trio of big men: Brook Lopez and Marcin Gortat for Marc Gasol and Tyreke Evans.

GM Eric-L was sad to trade away a beloved Sun, but Gortat's low FT% was hurting the balanced Jubas. It was with the same heavy heart that Eric-L cast Lopez off, as Brook was the Jubas' second round pick in our 2009 keeper re-draft. A proper good bye party, complete with cupcakes, was planned for Lopez, but he was unable to attend due to injury.

Gortat started off the season white hot, but has cooled off due to disgruntlement with touches. He is now averaging 11.7 PTS, 8.3 REB, and 2.1 BLK on the season. Lopez, currently injured, has re-found his 2010 form, averaging 18.5 PTS, 6.8 REB, and 2.5 BLK. Gortat and Lopez combined for huge block numbers, which had been a key reason the Jubas were leading the league in that category. However, with Jonas Valanciunas emerging as a rotation player, and with Kevin Garnett still anchoring the front line, the two big bodies were deemed expendable.

What the Jubas get back in return is Marc Gasol, who is averaging 15.8 PTS, 7.3 REB, 1.4 BLK, and an astonishing 4.4 AST from the center position. He's also been lights out from the free throw line (89.7 FT%). As for Tyreke Evans, he of the PG/SG/SF designation, it's been an up and down career but over the past month, he's back to his rookie form, with 21.4 PTS, 4.8 REB, 4.4 AST, 1.4 STL, and even 1.0 3PT on a blistering 52.0 FG%. That likely won't last, but Evans' flexibility fills a lead guard hole for the Jubas -- until Steve Nash comes back.

For Funk Coalition, they now sport four startable centers -- Dwight Howard and Nikola Vucevic -- and will look to play ultimate big ball. After a busy off-season, the Funk stumbled out of the gates with only one win in four tries, so impatient GM Jon is back to the drawing board with his roster. More moves are sure to follow.