NBA trade deadline preview: Fantasy basketball implications of De’Aaron Fox, Jimmy Butler deals and more
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The NBA trade deadline is just a week away, so let’s look at some of the players from and, if they’re moved, the potential fantasy implications.
While I’ve omitted a handful of players ranked inside the Top 20 on the Board, I’ve included De’Aaron Fox, who wasn’t even ranked in the Top 40 a week ago (when the Trade Board was last updated) but is suddenly an intriguing trade target.
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Let’s dive in …
Jimmy Butler
Butler hasn’t been playing for Miami, so we already have a good idea of what the rotation will look like once he’s officially traded. Sure, the Heat might get a useful player in return, but they won’t get a star player back.
Kel’el Ware has been way too shiny and impressive to put back into the box at this point, and it’s a crime he’s only 48% rostered in Yahoo leagues. Ditto for Nikola Jovic (33% rostered), who has averaged a well-rounded 13.4 points, 4.7 rebounds, 4.4 assists, 0.8 steals, 0.6 blocks and 2.2 3s on 45% FG and 94% FT over his past 16 games, despite starting just one of those contests.
In deeper leagues, Jaime Jaquez Jr. (19% rostered) and Duncan Robinson (18% rostered) should also benefit once Butler is gone for good, but they won’t be as consistent as Ware and Jovic. If the Heat get a proven guard in exchange for Butler, that guard would also be worthy of some attention, since Terry Rozier has floundered in Miami.
Fantasy-wise, I think the Warriors would be the top landing destination for Butler, especially with Jonathan Kuminga currently sidelined. And wherever he lands, you can expect a few scoring outbursts from Jimmy right away with his new team as he tries to prove a point.
Zach LaVine
LaVine is currently out for personal reasons, so he may have played his last game as a member of the Bulls. He’s had a very strong season for Chicago, and he’s the only player in the league averaging 24+ points and 3+ treys per game on better than 50% FG shooting. Unfortunately, the only scenario where I could see LaVine maintaining his current fantasy value is if he gets traded to the Pistons, where he would immediately supplant Tim Hardaway Jr. in the starting lineup and likely thrive alongside Cade Cunningham.
Apparently, no Chicago player is off-limits when it comes to trade discussions, but Ayo Dosunmu (26% rostered) and Lonzo Ball (19% rostered) are most likely to be elevated to the starting lineup if LaVine gets moved. Dosunmu finished last season with a bang (16.8 points, 5.2 assists, 1.2 steals and 2.0 treys per game after the All-Star break), and Lonzo seems to be getting stronger and stronger with each passing game (1.8 steals and 3.1 triples per game over his past eight games).
Cameron Johnson
Another player who may have played his last game with his current team, Johnson is currently sidelined with an ankle injury. At 28, the 3-and-D wing is shooting 49% FG, 42% 3P and 90% FT this season, which should make him highly coveted at the deadline. Brooklyn will be hoping a bidding war ensues, and assuming he gets moved, Johnson won’t be easy to replace.
Several players have gotten a chance to step up at forward, but none of them have wowed fantasy managers. Jalen Wilson (3% rostered) is likely the direct replacement for Johnson, but in 12 starts this season, he’s averaged just 11.8 points and 1.9 3s on 39% FG shooting despite playing over 34 minutes per game in those contests. Noah Clowney (10% rostered) and Ziaire Williams (4% rostered) have had some positive moments, but both are shooting under 40% FG. It also doesn’t help that Trendon Watford (0% rostered) is finally healthy, adding to Brooklyn’s messy frontcourt.
Brandon Ingram
Yet another player working his way back from an ankle injury, Ingram hasn’t played since early December, which may hurt his chances of being traded at the deadline, as New Orleans could wait until the summer to perform a sign-and-trade. Unless he gets traded to a losing team, Ingram’s usage rate would likely take a hit (he put up big stats in October and November, but Zion Williamson only played in six of those games).
The Pelicans’ forward situation is a mess. Herbert Jones is possibly out for the season with a torn labrum in his shoulder, and Zion continues to be in and out of the lineup. Javonte Green has stepped up as an undersized defender, but he’s also on the trading block. If Ingram and/or Green get traded, keep an eye on Brandon Boston Jr. (3% rostered). He played well early in the season but has been getting DNPs lately because he’s still on a two-way contract. But there’s more Pelicans to consider …
CJ McCollum
McCollum would provide instant offense for any playoff contender, and the Pelicans should be looking to move him before he starts to decline. McCollum leaving would be a big boon for Jordan Hawkins (5% rostered). The young guard recently averaged 15.0 points and 2.8 triples over a five-game stretch, and New Orleans should be looking to expand his role soon. And Jose Alvarado (5% rostered) can always step up, especially if Dejounte Murray starts to miss more games.
Bruce Brown
After missing the first two months of the season, Brown (11% rostered) is healthy and peaking at the right time, at least as far as Toronto is concerned. A proven playoff performer, Brown would provide depth and versatility to any contending team. The Knicks could use him, and he might have decent fantasy value if he became their sixth man.
If Brown gets traded, things will open up again for swingman Ochai Agbaji (7% rostered) while also helping out Gradey Dick (31% rostered) and Ja’Kobe Walter (0% rostered).
Collin Sexton
Sexton poured in 30 points on 12-of-19 shooting on Tuesday night, showing he’s still a potent and efficient scorer. Keyonte George managers would like to see Sexton moved at the deadline so George can be inserted back into the starting lineup. George isn’t available in most leagues, meaning the player to target here is Isaiah Collier (22% rostered). I’ve added Collier in several leagues over the past two weeks. The Jazz seem intent on force-feeding him as many minutes as possible over these final few months of the season.
Robert Williams III
He’s only played in 17 of Portland’s 47 games thus far, but Rob-Will (13% rostered) has shown he’s still a defensive menace. In terms of backup centers, he’s an intriguing trade option since he can make a solid fantasy impact in limited minutes. The real question is if he can stay healthy over a long stretch of games, but he’s someone to consider adding if he lands in a favorable situation.
John Collins
Collins has only played in two of Utah’s past 18 games, so either he’s genuinely injured, or Utah is making sure he doesn’t get hurt before the trade deadline (more likely). Lauri Markkanen has also sat out his share of games, and on Tuesday, Brice Sensabaugh (8% rostered) and Micah Potter (0% rostered) started in their places. Kyle Filipowski (5% rostered) has been coming off the bench, but he has more fantasy appeal than Potter. And if Walker Kessler misses more games, you’ll want to monitor Drew Eubanks (4% rostered) for the Utah Tankers.
Jonas Valanciunas
His minutes are way down this season, but Valanciunas has been quite productive, averaging 21.4 points, 14.8 boards and 4.0 assists per 36 minutes, with his usual solid shooting percentages. But at 32 years old, the Wizards should be trying to flip him for a draft pick or two. Maybe LeBron’s Lakers are still interested, given Anthony Davis left Tuesday’s game early with an abdominal injury. If JV gets traded, that will mean more minutes for Rookie of the Year contender Alex Sarr and possibly a chance for Tristan Vukcevic to enter the rotation.
Nikola Vucevic
In terms of fantasy upside, Jalen Smith (4% rostered) is very intriguing, given the gaping hole at center if Vucevic is finally traded. Vucevic’s in his fifth season, and Chicago’s front office has been inept at rebuilding, but if Smith gets 25+ minutes per game, he could produce solid fantasy stats. He’s never played more than 19 minutes per game in a season.
Kyle Kuzma
Kuzma recently scored 30 points with 11 rebounds and 5 treys in a game, but that’s a major outlier when you look at his full-season game log. With 14 losses in a row and counting, it makes sense for the Wizards to cut ties with the 29-year-old Kuzma before the trade deadline. If he gets moved to a playoff contender, his shooting efficiency could improve. Without Kuzma, the rookie duo of Carlton Carrington (7% rostered) and Kyshawn George (3% rostered) would see increased roles, with Corey Kispert (5% rostered) benefitting as well.
De’Aaron Fox
I’m saving the best for last. It will be an exciting trade deadline if Fox gets traded, which is now a possibility leading up to the trade deadline. For the Kings to be enticed, some team will need to offer quality draft picks and an intriguing young player. It’s no secret Fox would love to team up with Victor Wembanyama in San Antonio, so perhaps that young player is Jeremy Sochan (44% rostered). Tre Jones (1% rostered) has also been mentioned in a potential Fox trade, but in that scenario, I’d be more interested in seeing what rookie Devin Carter (1% rostered) can do down the stretch. Sorry, Jimmy, but my eyes are on Sacramento now.