Potential NBA Deadline Deals: Fantasy Basketball Impact

February 7, 2023

Biggie Lisbon identifies a few potential deadline trades in the NBA and evaluates how it would affect their values in fantasy basketball for the rest of the season.

As we approach the official NBA trade deadline (Feb. 9, 3 p.m. E.T.), many teams are searching for the best possible move to increase their chances of making a run at the NBA title.

We already saw Kyrie Irving dealt on Sunday to Dallas, but what will be the next big trade this week? Will we see a few minor trades here or there or could another superstar be on the move?

This article will discuss three players that could be dealt to new teams before the deadline and discuss the fantasy impact it would have for these players, their former teammates, and their new teammates.

Kevin Durant: Brooklyn Nets

Potential landing spots: Phoenix Suns, Boston Celtics

The Phoenix Suns are prepared to pursue Brooklyn Nets star Kevin Durant should he become available, league sources tell @NBAonTNT, @BleacherReport.

— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) February 5, 2023

With James Harden traded to the Sixers last year to the recent departure of Kyrie Irving, Kevin Durant remains the only superstar player on the Nets. As Durant is reaching the later years of his incredible career, it is unlikely that he will want to stay on a team currently looking to rebuild. 

Putting the Irving trade to the side, let's remember that Durant made a trade request this past summer, unhappy with the franchise's direction. With Irving now gone, I would be surprised if Durant doesn't reopen this request. 

The primary team interested in acquiring Durant should he become available are the Pheonix Suns. With Durant's trade request last offseason, the Suns had thought about sending Deandre Ayton, Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson, and picks to the Nets in exchange for Durant; however, the Nets did not believe it was enough. 

Those trade rumors were shut down quickly when the Suns resigned Ayton, making him ineligible for trade until January 15. But now, with the potential availability of Durant, the Suns are likely to consider pursuing him again. 

We know from the past that Durant likes to join contenders, so the narrative of leaving a rebuilding Nets team to join a contending Suns team surrounded by Chris Paul and Devin Booker would make sense.

Boston is also making calls to Brooklyn, and a trade involving Jaylen Brown is most definitely possible. However, I don't see how the current clear-cut best team in the NBA with the top record in the league would go ahead and break their best duo of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. It would make more sense to make a move like that in the summer if they were to fall short in the playoffs, but right now doesn't make sense; as they say, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”

If the Suns do pursue Durant, here's what a possible trade offer could look like.

Nets Receive Deandre Ayton, Jae Crowder, Cam Johnson, and three first-round picks.  

Suns Receive: Kevin Durant

Fantasy Outlook: 

The Nets would have much future potential with first-round picks but suddenly have no superstars. It would drastically open up opportunities on offense for all Nets players. Spencer Dinwiddie, Mikal Bridges, and Ayton would be the top fantasy producers, while Cam Johnson and Finney-Smith would have some value in deeper formats. Cam Thomas should already be considered a must-add waiver wire option, and the departure of Durant would only strengthen Thomas's case. 

As for the Suns, with the addition of a dominant offensive superstar, Chris Paul and Devin Booker's value would decrease, but they would still be must-start players. Durant's value himself would not take much of a toll as Chris Paul is a pass-first teammate that may even increase Durant's value, and Booker averages 18.2 shots per game, precisely the same number as none other than Kyrie Irving. Durant's value was still sky-high playing alongside Kyrie, and the same should apply if playing with D-Book.

O.G. Anunoby 

Potential landing spots: New York Knicks, New Orleans Pelicans, Memphis Grizzlies

Aside from his outstanding defense, O.G. Anunoby has shown what he can do on the offensive end. This year, Anunoby is averaging 17.3 points, 5.6 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 2.1 steals per game, all while shooting 45.9% from the field. 

The Knicks need another piece to work with to be legit contenders, and O.G. may be just that. O.G. offers top-tier defense to whichever team he is on, leading the league with 2.1 steals per game. According to Michael Grange of SportsNet, the Knicks are “widely believed” to be preparing an offer to the Raptors of three first-round draft picks in exchange for Anunoby. This would take a massive piece of trade capital away from the Knicks, but if they think that adding O.G. could make them legit contenders, it would be worth it. 

With the West being as close as it is, no team is safe. The Pelicans and Grizzlies have both openly expressed that they each don't want the other to acquire Anunoby, as an advantage like that can push one into a playoff spot while knocking the other out. 

Right now, the Knicks are the frontrunners, and if they truly believe O.G. is the piece that they need, then a potential trade could look like this: 

Raptors Receive: Evan Fournier and two unprotected first-round picks

Knicks Receive: O.G. Anunoby

Fantasy Outlook: 

Anunoby, as the third option on the Raptors with a usage of 20.1%, would have his usage decrease somewhat by becoming a New York Knick, where he would be the fourth option. Randle, Brunson, and Barrett shouldn't take much of a hit, as they will still be the three go-to players for the team. 

As for the Raptors, the value of Siakam would go up with the departure of a 17 PPG player. As the team's number one, he would need to do more. 

Precious Achiuwa also suddenly becomes a very intriguing pickup off the waiver. As O.G. has been injured recently (wrist), Achiuwa has been moved into the starting lineup. As a starter in the past 7 games, Achiuwa has averaged an impressive 14.2 points, 9.7 rebounds, 1.1 assists, and 1.9 steals in 32.2 minutes of playing time. Trading O.G. would skyrocket Achiuwas value.

Kelly Olynyk

Potential landing spots: Boston Celtics

Standing at 6'11, the 31-year-old power forward/center of the Utah Jazz, Kelly Olynyk, might make his way back to his former team. In 2013, the Celtics drafted Olynyk, and he played with them up until 2017. This year he is averaging 11.5 points, 5.0 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 1.0 steals in 28 minutes while shooting 48.8%. Very solid.

According to Chris Forsberg, the Celtics have a 'real' interest in a Kelly Olynyk trade. Besides having a backup center for injury-prone Robert Williams III, Olynyk can stretch the floor as a big man. To come off the bench at 6'11, shooting an eye-opening 40% from deep, offers any team a tremendous advantage on offense. 

The Celtics would have to make room for Olynyk's $12 million contract to make this trade go down. That would look something like pairing Danilo Gallinari, Payton Pritchard, and Justin Jackson to clear up salary space. With that being said, it is something that can be done if the Celtics really want it.

If the Celtics decide to pursue their old friend Olynyk, a potential trade could look like this:  

Jazz Receive: Danilo Gallinari, Payton Pritchard, Justin Jackson

Celtics Receive: Kelly Olynyk 

Fantasy Outlook:

Olynyks value would decrease as he would now be coming off the bench. The only Celtics losing some value would be Al Horford and Robert Williams, but even those two shouldn't see much difference.

However, on Utah's side is where it gets interesting. Letting go of Olynyk would instantly guarantee Walker Kessler a spot in the starting lineup, and he would have an extremely high upside. Kessler is already a great waiver wire add, but this would make him a must-roster player in any format that can turn into a top-12 fantasy center.

Pritchard would be someone to keep an eye out for on the waivers in deeper leagues, and Gallinari, assuming he'd be healthy, would be a viable streaming option. 

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