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The NBA trade deadline is fast approaching. This Thursday at 3 pm ET to be exact. By all accounts, it’s set to be one of the busiest deadlines in recent memory. But where are all the whispers?
All-Star Weekend is traditionally a time for GMs and team executives to get together and ‘talk shop’, hash out last minute deals, when they are unencumbered by the day-to-day running of an NBA franchise. But nary a whisper was heard over the weekend in New Orleans.
Could it be that there truly are a lot of deals in the works and there’s no time for the usual bluster that is leaked to media outlets? Everyone loves a trade, so as NBA fans, we can only hope so.
As big an impact as a trade can have on the remainder of the NBA calendar, it can also change the fortunes of many fantasy teams in your league, including the team you have so meticulously managed throughout the season. So looking at what few rumors we’ve heard, I’ll analyze them from a fantasy perspective and point out where you may be able to glean some value for your squad.
» Kevin Love, Carmelo Anthony and Rajon Rondo
Let’s get the big names out of the way early. It’s bordering on impossible that any of these guys change teams before Thursday, but the whispers have been around all season.
For Love and Anthony, the motivation would be getting some value for a player who could possibly walk for nothing when their respective contracts expire. In Rondo’s case, it’s been rumored that Danny Ainge may not see Rondo as being in his prime when his rebuild is complete and is apparently targeting Australian Dante Exum in the 2014 NBA Draft as a replacement.
If any of these three guys move — which is extremely unlikely — their value remains as is. Wherever they go, they will automatically become the best player on that team and their fantasy value will remain steady.
But what about their former teams? For the Timberwolves, Dante Cunningham would get a big boost and would be a 12-team league guy. In New York, I can see more minutes going to Tim Hardaway Jr. and he’d become a must-own.
The Celtics are a little trickier. Depending on what comes back in a potential Rondo deal, Phil Pressey may have sneaky 12-team league value, but that is very dependent.
As I said, it’s not going to happen, but it’s worth keeping it in the back of your mind.
» Thaddeus Young, Evan Turner and Spencer Hawes
In one of the worst kept secrets in the NBA, the Philadelphia 76ers are looking to shed talent and acquire future assets. Spencer Hawes, Evan Turner and Thaddeus Young represent starting caliber players that aren’t part of the Sixers future plans and can be had by teams willing to offer a first round pick in exchange. Now with the 2014 NBA Draft predicted to be a huge windfall for teams, a lot of GMs are hesitant to part with that valuable pick, but don’t be surprised if a desperate team makes a move to win now.
Young has had the best season of the trio and would continue to be the best option if he were to be traded. Most likely if Turner or Hawes were to move, it would be to a stronger squad and possibl7 land them in a sixth man role, hurting their fantasy value appreciably.
Depending on who was to come back in a trade, James Anderson and Lavoy Allen would gain the most value and may be worth a speculative pick up for a few days until we see what happens.
Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
If you believe everything you read and hear, the Lakers have been merciless in shopping Gasol all season. The rumor that has gained the most transaction is Los Angeles sending Gasol to the Phoenix Suns in exchange for Emeka Okafor and a draft pick and maybe some smaller pieces involved to make the money match.
If that deal was to materialize, the biggest change in value occurs at the Staples Center. Okafor is not expected to play this season, so the front court would be Chris Kaman‘s for the taking. He’s been on a roll of late, falling just one point short of posting three consecutive 20 point-10 rebound games. His main competition for minutes would be Robert Sacre, Jordan Hill and Ryan Kelly. Mike D’Antoni has shown love for all three of these guys at times this season, but Kaman is the far more accomplished player.
Kaman should be owned in all leagues, even though Gasol is due back mid-week. If that trade goes down, Kaman becomes a top 50 player.
If Gasol is in a Suns jersey this time next week, his value remains similar, maybe slightly decreased, but the biggest impact in the desert would be for Channing Frye, Miles Plumlee and Markieff Morris. Plumlee and Morris would not be rosterable in standard leagues, while Frye would be on the borderline.
Having already been dealt once this season, Luol Deng should be an old hand at moving teams. There have been rumors that the Cavs will look to move Deng on, now that they have a new GM at the controls. Deng looks miserable in Cleveland and I’m sure he’d be open to a move, but as yet, no teams’ names have come up as potential suitors for the former All-Star.
If Deng did move, his value would increase dramatically. He’s been poor in Cleveland and that’s likely due to the environment in which he now finds himself. It’s not likely that Deng moves again, but you may want to throw out a low ball offer to Deng’s owner because if he does move, you may have just hit the lottery.