Expert insight on a Fantasy trade...

[BasketDork]

Normally, I would NEVER bother with some silly "fantasy advice" in a more analytics-driven forum like this, but I had to. In a 'Champions League' late last week, I was involved in a trade that caused an uproar across the entire league. Guys whining like children for 3 days. The owner I made the trade with was accused of 'roster dumping' and the peanut gallery was saying that he had just 'found someone to get over on' and wouldn't admit it, but both he and I defended the trade. When I went back and analyzed the deal through one (1) game, in our Head-to-Head, 8-category, 12-team league, I found that I had a 5-3 statistical advantage over the players I had moved. I wanted what I consider "some of the best in brightest in basketball analysis" to weigh in...
Now looking at this deal from ONLY MY PERSPECTIVE, because I really just want to defend my making the move, hell, I made the offer !
The move in question ?
Gave Up:
LeBron James-SF-Cle
Dropped:
Dario Saric-F-Phi
Tristan Thompson-PF-Cle
Kris Dunn-PG-Min

In return, I acquired via trading LeBron:
Rudy Gay-SF-Sac
Harrison Barnes-SF-Dal
Chandler Parsons-SF-Mem
Elfrid Payton-PG-Orl

I'd like to think I gained more than I gave up. Numbers after one game suggest the same, and that's with Chandler Parsons not even playing and LeBron's triple-double making up the bulk of the only statistical edges "the gave up" side holds. Thoughts ??

[BasketDork]

Only one game of course, but immediate improvement..

R.Gay.....22pts 3reb 2ast 0stl 4blk 1(3pm) 9-15fg 3-4ft
H Barnes..19pts 9reb 0ast 0stl 0blk 3(3pm) 8-14fg 0-0ft
E.Payton..16pts 4reb 5ast 0stl 2blk 0(3pm) 4-12fg 8-8ft
C.Parsons....Did Not Play

TOTAL...57pts 16reb 7ast 0stl 6blk 4(3pm) 21-41fg 11-12ft .512fg% .917ft%

GAVE UP:
L.James....19pts 11reb 14ast 0stl 1blk 0(3pm) 9-14fg 1-2ft
K.Dunn.....8pts 4reb 1ast 1stl 0blk 0(3pm) 4-6fg 0-0ft
T.Thompson.0pts 6reb 0ast 0stl 0blk 0(3pm) 0-1fg 0-0ft
D.Saric....5pts 7reb 2ast 0stl 0blk 0(3pm) 2-12fg 1-2ft

TOTAL: 32pts 28reb 17ast 1stl 1blk 0(3pm) 15-33fg 2-4ft .454fg% .500ft%

[BasketDork]

And if anyone were wondering, my full roster, post-LeBron

PG Brandon Knight, Pho PG, SG
SG Giannis Antetokounmpo, Mil SF, SG, PF
SF Rudy Gay, Sac SF
PF Kristaps Porzingis, NY PF
C Nikola Jokic, Den PF, C
G Victor Oladipo, OKC SG
F Thaddeus Young, Ind SF, PF
UTIL JJ Redick, LAC SG
UTIL Harrison Barnes, Dal SF
UTIL Elfrid Payton, Orl PG
Bench Greg Monroe, Mil PF, C
Bench Wesley Matthews, Dal SG
Bench Chandler Parsons, Mem SF

[Crow]

I don't play that style of fantasy basketball but if you are happy with it, just move forward happy and see how it goes. One can judge a trade (at least of LeBron) in isolation, in a specific context and speculatively against possible future moves you and the other could have done. Your critics may be doing the first and / or third, you are doing the second. I don't think much of folks who criticize other "GM" moves. But folks get upset, especially if they think there is collusion or stupidity that hurts their chances. It is usually no win talking with or at those folks. Just ride on, defend yourself if you feel like it. You might not always be right but it was your choice.

I won't judge the specifics because I am not really acclimated to that world's scoring system. I do know that value in that framework does not consistently equal value in NBA in a one box score metric sense, RPM or whatever the "real" team impact is perceived to be or "is".