IT HAS BEGUN! Just as we watch one season sail off into the sunset with Kevin Durant hoisting his Championship Trophy, another one starts up. The offseason truly is a season in the NBA and with the salary cap going up, fantasy basketball players can expect a ton of player movement. Even before we get to free agency, the 2017 NBA Draft has brought it’s own flare. Draft picks are being traded, Centers are on the move and Paul George has denounced the State of Indiana. The 2017 NBA Draft is supposed to be loaded with future Stars of the game and we are seeing Top 5 picks being shopped and dealt and these trades will have a fantasy impact in the 2017-2018 Fantasy Basketball season.
Boston Celtics Trade the 2017 1st Overall Draft Pick to the Philadelphia 76ers for the 2017 3rd Overall Draft Pick and a Future 1st rounder in 2018 or 2019:
When the Celtics won the NBA Draft Lottery in May, it looked as if despite being deep at the Guard spot, they would still look to take Markelle Fultz, but then reality sets in. The Celtics have spent the greater part of the decade trading for assets, and they figured that they would acquire an additional asset along with taking a potential future Forward instead of going with the heavily hyped Fultz. Both the Lakers and the Kings have a lot of developing to do and the Celtics will be taking one of either their picks depending on where the Lakers finish in the standings next season. Why take Fultz if he is going to be buried on your bench for a few years? We all saw what happened to D’Angelo Russell when Byron Scott mishandled him his rookie season on the Lakers during the Kobe Bryant Retirement Parade. His development was hindered! This will go down as a major risky trade for the Celtics, but Danny Ainge is one who has earned trust over the years. If you have a Golden Ticket of an asset to most other teams, why waste it? Drafting a Forward allows Boston some wiggle room to move some pieces and Jae Crowder could be on the chopping block.
The 76ers continue to “Trust The Process” and they NEED guard help. For years, the Sixers have needed a durable Guard and being put in the position to get Fultz is impressive. They will select first on Thursday and it will be a shock to the system if they don’t go with Fultz. The Sixers have other issues such as overall durability. Jahlil Okafor, Joel Embiid and Robert Covington have had their share of issues, and with a skilled Guard like Fultz on the team, it takes pressure off of Embiid to over-exert himself. For those in dynasty leagues who are nervous about Embiid, this trade should put you at ease. Embiid will still have his minutes monitored next season, and the Sixers are a good fit for Fultz to allow him to start, learn and create with the ball. Fultz will be able to work on spacing as Covington will be standing at the key and he will constantly look to kick out to him. Dario Saric is working on his three-point shooting as well in the offseason and that will help Fultz compile even more assists. Everyone gets upgraded if Fultz can live up to the hype.
Los Angeles Lakers trade D’Angelo Russell and Timofey Mozgov to the Brooklyn Nets for Brook Lopez and the 2017 27th Overall pick:
Just like the Celtics, when the Lakers drew the second pick in Thursday’s draft, they realized that they have depth at the position and Lonzo Ball has been linked with the Lakers for a while now. Between getting mishandled, immaturity and now confusion as to which Guard spot suits him best, D’Angelo Russell is switching coasts. Russell’s value was thought to be much higher by other teams, but this move was made for the Lakers to get out of paying the rest of Timofey Mozgov’s contract to make room for Paul George. The Nets truly did not give up much for Russell. Lopez is not a future building block. The guy does not make the impact a seven-footer is supposed to make inside. Lopez is a better outside player than inside and that makes absolutely zero sense. The Nets are part of a slow rebuilding process and will take their lumps with Mozgov, who becomes more of a liability on both sides of the ball the deeper he plays into games. A big concern from a fantasy perspective is how the Nets will utilize their backcourt between Russell and Jeremy Lin. Health was not on the side of Lin last season, but the Nets have a lot of money invested in Lin. I am a bit wary of the Lakers trying to start both with Russell at the Shooting Guard spot. Russell needs to be put in the position to play point as he has shown his ineffectiveness off the ball. If the Nets can swallow their pride and have Lin come off the bench, Russell will develop further and will have a chance to change his reputation of being immature and not a hard worker.
The Lakers have their sights on landing a big free agent next season and Paul George has been linked to them for a couple of months, but will they wait? The Pacers are looking to trade him so they can get some kind of return on George once he departs. Brook Lopez is an expiring contract and with his health issues he has faced and the lack of inside presence he’s provided, he cannot be in the Lakers future plans. The positive of having Brook Lopez is that he can teach the younger, more raw players in Julius Randle, Ivica Zubac and Larry Nance Jr. how to knock down mid-range jumpers consistently. The veteran Lopez will be a good mentor to these young players as all could use further development offensively. Lopez will be a good complimentary piece to these gritty players, even if it’s only for one season….if he can stay healthy.
Atlanta Hawks trade Dwight Howard and the 2017 31st Overall Draft Pick to the Charlotte Hornets for Miles Plumlee, Marco Belinelli and 2017 41st Overall Draft Pick:
Dwight Howard is never happy with his role on any team. Between his attitude, poor free-throw shooting and that he does not hustle on every player, it’s not exactly a head scratcher on why this massive big man, once the best defender in the NBA for YEARS, cannot stick with a team. The Hornets have their backcourt situated in Kemba Walker and Nicolas Batum and a good defensive forward in Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, but they lacked health and consistency up front and couldn’t contend in the east because of it. The key is for Howard to set the quick screen at the top of the key and immediately post up inside for the short pass. Howard often waits too long on the perimeter before setting up inside and by then the opposing defense has their zone set up around the paint. Howard is not a jump shooter so it’s all inside flips, dunks and foul shots. Howard is one who needs to be motivated and hopefully Michael Jordan sits down with him to address his attitude, conditioning and weaknesses on the court. The Hornets needed a big man and took advantage of the Hawks wanting to rebuild. It will be interesting to see how the addition of Howard impacts Cody Zeller (who couldn’t stay healthy last season) and Frank Kaminsky when it comes to playing time next season.
This trade screams rebuild for the Hawks. An unhappy Howard is detrimental to any team and they got rid of him and his huge contract while they can. Paul Millsap opted out and is testing the market looking for a maximum salaried contract. Millsap does not deserve a max deal, even with the inflation with the NBA salary cap. The Hawks are likely to let him go even though they can offer him the most amount of money. The Hawks were not the strongest team defensively even with Millsap and Howard. Teams cannot build around either one of them. The Hawks are pretty set at PG, SG and SF for the future, and now they have room to add a skilled defensive big man to get them over the hump.
PLAYERS WHO COULD BE TRADED:
Paul George, F, IND: PG-13 is leaving Indiana one way or another within the next 12 months and the Pacers are valuing him and trying to get a hefty package loaded with draft picks in return. Especially with the Lakers dumping Mozgov, they can look to free up even more cap space by getting rid of either Luol Deng or Jordan Clarkson. The Lakers should just wait it out if they know that George has interest. The Pacers will continue to look for other suitors for George, even if it’s for a one-year rental.
Kristaps Porzingis, PF-C, New York Knicks: The season ended on a sour note in New York for Porzingis as he skipped his exit meeting with the Knicks and Phil Jackson has made it apparent that he is listening to trade offers for Porzingis. The Celtics are one rumored team of interest, but there is nothing imminent at this point. Porzingis was very turned off with the way Jackson has handled Carmelo Anthony and it is obviously not a good sign when your future franchise piece is unhappy. The Knicks own the 8th pick in the 2017 NBA Draft.