The Magic were betting on Gordon when they dealt away Frye and Harris
At the 2015 trade deadline, we had 11 deals go down in the waning hours. Isaiah Thomas, Goran Dragic, Reggie Jackson were all sent packing in one of the craziest deadline days in recent memories. This year, not so much.
We heard the possibility of blockbuster deals with Dwight Howard, Pau Gasol, and Blake Griffin being on the move. Ultimately we had to settle for Markieff Morris going to Washington and Tobias Harris sent to Detroit as our headline grabbing deals this year.
Even though it may have been an underwhelming trade season, there were still plenty of winners and losers, in particular on the fantasy front, this deadline day.
Winners
Aaron Gordon (PF – ORL)
With Tobias Harris and Channing Frye out of Orlando, Gordon undoubtedly gets the biggest boost from both deals. Shipping out two power forwards for one, Gordon locks down the starting spot for the rest of the season.
The starter already for the past 11 games, Gordon has averaged 9.7 points, 10.0 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks per game in 30.0 minutes since January 22. In the three games Harris missed just before the break, Gordon put up three double-digit rebounding performances including two double-doubles. For the rest of the season, the second-year player will be able to increase his playing time and become a steady fantasy option down the stretch. Available in nearly one-third of Yahoo leagues, Gordon is a must own in all league formats.
Pau Gasol (C – CHI)
With minimal trades at the deadline this year, some of the biggest winners are the players who are staying put. Pau Gasol is the prime example. With the likelihood of Gasol opting out of his contract this summer and testing the free agent waters, the Bulls nearly dealt the 35-year-old Spaniard to Sacramento. If Gasol had been sent to the Kings, as rumoured, he would have taken a backseat to DeMarcus Cousins and likely seen his averages of 17.0 points and 10.9 rebounds per game drop.
With the veteran sticking around Chi-town, for at least the next two months, Gasol will continue to be the Bulls’ best and most consistent scoring option with Jimmy Butler out for another three weeks or so. In the four games without Butler, Gasol is averaging 20.3 points, 9.3 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 1.5 blocks, and 1.3 threes per game. That ranks him in the top 10 in all of fantasy over the past two weeks.
Phoenix frontcourt
Despite the rocky season in Phoenix, Markieff Morris reclaimed his starting spot when Earl Watson was named the interim coach. With Morris’ time with the Suns finally over, the starting power forward spot is up for grabs in Arizona. While it is unclear exactly who will get the starting nod; Mirza Teletovic and Jon Leuer both stand to gain value in fantasy for the rest of the season.
Teletovic has only seen limited minutes this season and only 18.8 minutes per game in his last 10 games, but has managed to put up 10.7 points and 1.7 three-pointers. With 14 plus points in five of his last six games, Teletovic will only become a bigger scoring threat with more time on the court.
Leuer started 22 games earlier this season and averaged 10.8 points and 6.4 rebounds on 51 percent field goal shooting with four double-doubles. If he is healthy, Leuer would be the favorite to fill Morris’ role on the Suns, making him a solid pickup in deep leagues.
Losers
Jeff Green (SF – LAC)
Over the last month, Green was establishing himself as a viable fantasy option in Memphis. His averages of 17.6 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 1.5 threes on nearly 50 percent field goal shooting in his last 13 games had him ranked in the top 50 of all fantasy players over the last 30 days. Even though he may be on a better team, now that he is in L.A., Green’s growing fantasy value takes a hit.
Being sent to the Clippers, Green appears to be on track to have a reduced offensive role and possibly time share with Paul Pierce and Wesley Johnson at the three. The best expectation for Green’s value down the stretch would be similar to Matt Barnes‘ numbers with the Clippers the last two season, which was 10.0 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 1.7 threes per game. Nice numbers, but not the same he would get in Memphis, especially without Marc Gasol.
Kevin Love (PF – CLE)
Once a first-round choice in fantasy drafts, Love’s value has plummetted since being sent to Cleveland a season and a half ago. An average of 19.2 points on 17.1 field goal attempts per game during his last four seasons in Minnesota; Love has seen his numbers drop to 15.7 points on 12.7 shots this season with LeBron and company. Reduced to being a mere complimentary player, Love has been a square peg forced into a round hole with the Cavs and desperately needs out.
If traded to Boston at the deadline, as the rumours had it, a return to fantasy prominence would have been in the cards for the eight-year forward, but alas it was not to be. Instead, he remains in Cleveland where, to make matters worse, the Cavs have brought in Frye, who has a similar skill set as Love, to take even more of the power forward’s dwindling playing time.
Dennis Schroder (ATL – PG)
The expectation was Jeff Teague was on his way out of Atlanta and Schroder was poised to take the reins as the team’s point guard. As we know, the deadline has come and gone, and Teague is still a member of the Hawks and the club’s starting point guard. Add in a trade for Kirk Hinrich and Schroder’s role in the backcourt may be reduced even more still.
Many fantasy owners speculated on a breakout if given the starting job, for the 22-year-old as he posted per 36 numbers of 18.6 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 7.9 assists. The third-year German guard now will have to be happy with his 20.7 minutes per game and reserve role in Atlanta for the time being.
Dale Redman is a correspondent at FantasyPros. To read more from Dale, check out his archive and follow him @DTRedman.
