By the time you read this, the NBA trade deadline will be tomorrow. There’s a reason why my fantasy prognostication skills are elite. Hopefully, the action is hot and heavy, but like wrestling in the bedroom, it’s often disappointing. Regardless, there should be moves, which will affect the playing time and usage of tons of players. In commemoration of the trade deadline, I will highlight some players who could be moved or benefit from player movement.
Ownership percentages are from the Yahoo database, and only those players owned in less than half of leagues will be highlighted.
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Dewayne Dedmon (C – SAC): 34% owned
For much of the season, Dedmon has been — well, a dead man. He’s played in only 34 games and averaged 15.9 minutes per appearance. To open the season, he received over 20 minutes of playing time just three times in 18 games. As a result, he requested a trade and was buried on the depth chart. That’s until the injury gods did their work on the Kings’ roster, however, as both Marvin Bagley III and Richaun Holmes went down. As a result, he’s averaged 29.8 minutes over the past three games and been a top-30 player.
That said, his shooting efficiency has been poor, as it sits at 39%. On the season, that number has been at 40%, which could be an outlier because he shot 56% in 59 games last season and 45% in 31 games the year before, but he has provided 10 rebounds, two steals, and 2.7 blocks per game. Now, Richaun Holmes is due back on Friday, which could make things interesting. Teams are inquiring about Dedmon, but the Kings have a high asking price for him. Will Divac grant Dedmon’s wish? He wasn’t playing much when everyone was healthy, so if he indeed does get traded, he might not play that much, but he should get consistent minutes.
Bruce Brown (SG – DET): 13% owned
The situation in Detroit could be pretty, pretty interesting. Adrian Wojnarowski wrote that the Suns could acquire Luke Kennard. Both Reggie Jackson and Derrick Rose have also been mentioned as potential trade candidates. So have Svi Mykhailiuk, Markieff Morris, and Andre Drummond. Do you know who I haven’t mentioned? You got it, Bruce Brown. There’s the potential for a ton of playing time and usage to open up in Detroit. Is he sexy? No, but he did just provide 19 points, 10 rebounds, eight assists, and three three-pointers in 38 minutes against the Nuggets on Sunday.
Christian Wood (PF/C – DET): 38% owned
When Wood gets playing time, he delivers. The problem is getting that playing time. He has had maturity issues in the past, which explains the five teams in four years, so Coach Casey has been bringing him along slowly. Wood is an exceptional athlete who can provide points, three-pointers, rebounds, steals, blocks, and all with good percentages from both the field and line. He would likely need Drummond to get traded in order to get unleashed, but the risk/reward ratio is favorable.
Malik Monk (PG/SG – CHA): 9% owned
On the season, Monk averaged 20 minutes of playing time per game. Over the past five games, though, it’s increased to 27.7 minutes. You have to showcase the goods to entice buyers, and the New York Knicks may be the ones to pay the offering price. Now, the Knicks want to keep Marcus Morris and choose to start Taj Gibson over Mitchell Robinson, so that may not be the best of situations to go to. With that said, anywhere but Charlotte would be better for Monk’s fantasy potential, as he’s an inefficient scorer and will grab the occasional rebound and dish out an assist here and there. It sounds like he’d fit in perfectly in New York.
Kevin Porter Jr. (SG – CLE): 8% owned
Porter was a potential lottery pick before off-the-court issues contributed to a draft-day fall. He’s athletic and can get buckets. There’s a chance that the Cavs make moves to open up minutes, but even if they don’t, he’s been receiving 25.7 minutes of playing time over the past four games. Porter has averaged 16.3 points, three three-pointers, two rebounds, two assists, and a steal while shooting 48% from the field. His free-throw shooting has been poor at 64%, though, and the number isn’t that much better on the season at 71%. But while on the court, Porter is garnering a 26.5 usage rate!
Svi Mykhailiuk (SG – DET): 14% owned
Svi is currently out with a hip flexor strain. When healthy, he provides three-pointers and a handful of rebounds and assists. If he remains on Detroit and everyone else gets traded, he could see an increase in both the playing time and usage rate. If he gets traded, it would all depend on where he gets traded to. If it’s to a contender, then it would be bad for his fantasy prospects. If a bottom dweller acquires his services, then he could receive all the playing time and usage he can handle. The allure of the unknown.
Cody Martin (SF – CHA): 1% owned
Over the past three games, Martin has played 28, 28, and 23 minutes. P.J. Washington has been out, so that was a huge factor, but he’s ahead of Nicolas Batum on the depth chart and could continue getting elevated minutes if Malik Monk is moved. Martin is a low usage player, but can provide rebounds, assists, three-pointers, and steals. The percentages aren’t great, but the low volume mitigates the impact.
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