Thursday’s trade deadline was one of the more chaotic in recent memory with a number of players on the move. The impact of many of the trades is going to be felt across most fantasy formats and gauging players value moving forward is important. I will look at all the impactful trades, analyzing the players involved who could potentially see a change in their overall value.
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NBA Trade Deadline Fallout
Trade Details
Dallas Mavericks acquire: Kristaps Porzingis, Tim Hardaway Jr., Trey Burke, Courtney Lee
New York Knicks acquire: Dennis Smith Jr., DeAndre Jordan, Wesley Matthews
Fantasy Implications
A seven-player trade led off the silly season with the Knicks sending their franchise player to Dallas in what was a surprising move. Porzingis will likely not play this season, basically taking the Mavericks out of the playoff race. Once healthy, the hope is that both he and Luka Doncic can help guide the team through the next decade, bringing with them a number of young guys and veterans looking to win.
Hardaway should find himself in a very similar role to the one he had in New York meaning his value should also remain about the same. He is just the 115th ranked player this season, due in large part to the fact he is shooting just 39 percent from the field. There is no reason to think that will decrease and so this could be a potential buy low period.
Smith has now played two games for the Knicks with his most recent netting him 25 points, six assists, and five rebounds. He played 40 minutes and all signs point to him having a strong back end of the season. Smith is just the 220th ranked player so far this season and so chances are he may have been dropped in a number of leagues. He will likely have been snapped up by now but if he is available, he is worth adding in just about every format.
Jordan appeared as though he would be either traded or bought out but Thursday ended and he remained on the roster. The Knicks have said he is going to remain an active part of the rotation and so owners can rest easy. His playing time might not be quite what it was in Dallas, however, he should be able to put up close to a double-double on a nightly basis.
Trade Details
Portland Trail Blazers acquire: Rodney Hood
Cleveland Cavaliers acquire: Nik Stauskas, Wade Baldwin
Fantasy Implications
Hood made his debut for the Trail Blazers on Thursday, scoring 14 points in 25 minutes. He restricted Seth Curry to just seven minutes and it appears he will be a significant part of the rotation moving forward. Hood is more of a points and threes streamer in standard leagues and that should remain the same for the foreseeable future.
Trade Details
Washington Wizards acquire: Bobby Portis, Jabari Parker
Chicago Bulls acquire: Otto Porter Jr.
Fantasy Implications
Porter should undoubtedly be better in Chicago, after a tumultuous season in Washington. There were clear issues with the coaching staff as well as a number of niggling injuries. Despite everything, he is still the 42nd ranked player across standard leagues, with scope to improve on what he has been doing.
Thomas Bryant has been playing well for the Wizards and the arrival of Portis certainly complicates matters. Much like the Clippers and the Grizzlies, the rotations in Washington could go one of a number of ways. Portis could come in and start at center although that seems unlikely. He is a better chance of either replacing Jeff Green in the starting lineup or coming off the bench as the first big man. Either way, Portis typically produces points and rebounds which limits his upside.
Parker almost certainly gets a boost here, if not simply for the fact that he will actually play. The Wizards could certainly use another offensive weapon and Parker can absolutely provide that off the bench. Owners in deeper formats should grab him if he is available, to see what sort of production he can put forth.
Trade Details
Philadelphia 76ers acquire: Tobias Harris, Boban Marjanovic, Mike Scott
Los Angeles Clippers acquire: Landry Shamet, Wilson Chandler, Mike Muscala
Fantasy Implications
Another multi-player trade which occurred prior to Thursday’s madness sent Harris to the 76ers. In what was a gutsy move for the organization, Harris finds himself going to a much less fantasy-friendly environment. Harris had been a revelation in Los Angeles and was having a career year as the 24th ranked player in fantasy. He now has to share the ball with the likes of Ben Simmons, Joel Embiid, Jimmy Butler, and J.J. Redick. There is simply not enough to go around and there is a very real chance he falls outside the top 40 come season’s end.
Shamet has certainly turned heads this season with his impressive three-point shooting. He moves to the Clippers where he will be battling for minutes with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Patrick Beverley, Lou Williams, and Jerome Robinson. The fact Avery Bradley was traded works in Shamet’s favor but he will likely still struggle to have any value outside of being a three-points streamer.
Chandler could potentially replace Harris in the starting lineup but that does not mean he will have any sustained value. He had been starting for Philadelphia yet was still only the 192nd ranked player. Granted the Clippers don’t have the weapons the 76ers have and so he could see a small increase in his production. Owners in deeper formats could monitor the situation but expectations should be kept in check.
Trade Details
Los Angeles Lakers acquire: Reggie Bullock
Detroit Pistons acquire: Svi Mykhailiuk
Fantasy Implications
Bullock heads to the Lakers where he will likely come off the bench, battling for minutes with a number of players. Bullock had been barely a top-150 player as a starter in Detroit and so this move hurts any value he had. Owners in competitive league can move on with a number of more reliable three-point options likely available.
Mykhailiuk moves into a much better situation here and is a chance to carve out a nice role with his new team. The Pistons traded away both Bullock and Stanley Johnson which could open up playing time for the rookie. This is far from a must-roster situation but owners in deeper leagues should keep an eye on how things go over his first few games.
Trade Details
Toronto Raptors acquire: Marc Gasol
Memphis Grizzlies acquire: Jonas Valanciunas, C.J. Miles, Delon Wright
Fantasy Implications
Gasol does not gain any value with this move but owners certainly have to be thrilled that he is now playing for a contending team. Gasol began the season on fire but has tempered over the past month with the Grizzlies losing a number of games. This move will hopefully rejuvenate the veteran into putting up big numbers with more consistency.
This move could see Serge Ibaka move back to the bench after having started basically the entire season. Despite the move, Ibaka’s playing time should remain in the high-twenties with the Raptors using a three-man rotation to cover the center and power forward spots. Owners should not panic, with Ibaka hopefully able to maintain his top-60 value moving forward.
Valanciunas, who is yet to return from a hand injury, certainly receives a boost with this trade. He should move into the starting center spot vacated by Gasol meaning more playing time that he was receiving in Toronto. Valanciunas is the 103rd ranked player this season, playing just 19 minutes per game. If he can raise that number to 25 minutes, he is almost a lock to finish inside the top 70.
Wright also finds himself in a more favorable position, assuming the coaching staff affords him the playing time he deserves. He is a chance to start alongside Mike Conley and if that is the case, he could be in for a strong finish to the season. He has the ability to contribute in a number of areas and is certainly a strong wing defender. Owners in standard leagues could take a flier on him if you have someone to drop.
Trade Details
Sacramento Kings acquire: Harrison Barnes
Dallas Mavericks acquire: Justin Jackson, Zach Randolph
Fantasy Implications
Barnes was an interesting pickup for the Kings and will likely slide straight into the starting power forward spot. Head coach Dave Joerger has said he wants a stretch four on the floor next to Willie Cauley-Stein and Barnes fits that role perfectly. Barnes may see his scoring dip slightly with the Kings having more offensively gifted players than the Mavericks. His overall value should remain about the same, offering reassurances for owners.
In Dallas, both Dwight Powell and Maxi Kleber should see an increase in their production with Barnes and DeAndre Jordan both traded. Neither is a must-roster player in standard leagues but could be pickup up in certain builds to see how things play out over the coming games.
Trade Details
Memphis Grizzlies acquire: Avery Bradley
Los Angeles Clippers acquire: JaMychal Green, Garrett Temple
Fantasy Implications
Bradley moves to the Grizzlies after a disappointing stint with the Clippers. The Grizzlies made a number of roster changes and the rotations moving forward are difficult to predict. Bradley could move into the starting lineup with Justin Holiday shifting over the small forward position. Delon Wright was also traded to Memphis and would appear the better option given his length and superior defensive abilities. Bradley had been starting in Los Angeles and was still only an asset in deeper formats and that will likely remain the same here.
Much like the uncertainty in Memphis, the Clippers too, face a number of decisions over the next few games. Green is a chance to start for his new team but he has competition from Wilson Chandler and Danilo Gallinari. Green has the ability to rack up points and rebounds but offers very little else and would be more of a fringe player no matter his role.
Meanwhile back in Memphis, the departure of both Green and Gasol means Jaren Jackson Jr. looks set for a strong finish to the season. He is the 75th ranked player over his first 55 games, playing just 26 minutes per game. Over his last two games, he has played 38 and 34 minutes respectively and as long as he stays out of foul trouble, the top-40 seems within reach.
Trade Details
Orlando Magic acquire: Markelle Fultz
Philadelphia 76ers acquire: Jonathon Simmons
Fantasy Implications
Fultz was a solid pickup for the Magic given the potential upside. It appears as though Fultz is unlikely to play this season and so the fantasy implications will come next season.
Simmons will fill a role behind arguably the best starting five in the Eastern Conference, typically seeing minutes in the teens. He will have no value outside of the deepest of leagues.
Trade Details
Cleveland Cavaliers acquire: Marquese Chriss, Brandon Knight
Houston Rockets acquire: Wade Baldwin, Nik Stauskas, Iman Shumpert
Sacramento Kings acquire: Alec Burks
Fantasy Implications
Both Chriss and Knight have been disappointing in their limited minutes thus far this season. The Cavaliers have very little to play for and so there is a chance both players are able to get into the rotation. That being said, the Cavaliers are about to get Kevin Love back meaning Chriss will be behind Love, Nance, and Zizic. Knight will be behind Collin Sexton and have to battle with Matthew Dellavedova for playing time.
Iman Shumpert should be a nice fit for the rockets, providing perimeter defense and the ability to hit three-pointers. He will basically move into James Ennis’ role and may even replace Eric Gordon in the starting lineup. Owners should not rush to grab him but his role certainly lends itself to him being able to produce steals and threes.
Burks heads to the Kings, moving to perhaps a less favorable situation. Shumpert is gone from the lineup but Bogdan Bogdanovic will likely take his starting spot. Burks will come off the bench behind Buddy Hield meaning he may see under 20 minutes per night.
Trade Details
Milwaukee Bucks acquire: Nikola Mirotic
New Orleans Pelicans acquire: Stanley Johnson, Jason Smith
Fantasy Implications
Mirotic moves across to a loaded Bucks team and exactly where he fits remains to be seen. He will likely come off the bench, backing up both Brook Lopez and Giannis Antetokounmpo. Mirotic has had a disrupted year, playing just 32 games for the Pelicans. Whether he is starting or coming off the bench, Mirotic should still be able to carve out minutes in the high-twenties. He is the 33rd ranked player on a per game basis and while he should remain a top 60 player, his numbers are set to take a small hit.
Johnson has shown flashes this season but is yet to put it all together. The Pelicans are certainly far from loaded on the wings and so Johnson could find himself a regular part of the rotation. Given his past efforts, we would need to see consistent production before considering him in competitive leagues.
Trade Details
Los Angeles Lakers acquire: Mike Muscala
Los Angeles Clippers acquire: Ivica Zubac, Michael Beasley
Fantasy Implications
The Clippers parted ways with Marcin Gortat which will likely see Zubac come in as the starting center. Zubac had a string of impressive performances earlier in the season, putting up standard league numbers. His minutes will likely be capped due to Montrezl Harrell coming off the bench but his role will certainly be more consistent that it has been recently.
Muscala will be battling with JaVale McGee and Tyson Chandler for the center minutes but does also have the ability to play the power forward position. This gives him flexibility but nonetheless, he will find it hard to have any value outside of deeper leagues.
Trade Details
Phoenix Suns acquire: Tyler Johnson, Wayne Ellington
Miami Heat acquire: Ryan Anderson
Fantasy Implications
The Suns have been on the lookout for a point guard and secured Johnson from the Heat. Johnson is by no means a traditional point guard but should be looking at 30 minutes per night meaning an increase in his production. He has shown the ability to put up top-100 numbers and that would likely be his ceiling here. Elie Okobo had been starting and figures to move back to the bench, thus removing any value he had.
Got a question about today’s fantasy basketball trade deadline fallout? Hit Adam up on twitter @adamking91 or give a shout out to @Fantrax
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