If you kept expectations low for this season's trade deadline, you weren't disappointed. If you expected fireworks on scale with last season's trade deadline, you want a refund. Markieff Morris was the biggest name to move, and Jeff Green found a new home working for a former coach. Now we wait for buyout season to change roles for players like Joe Johnson, David Lee, and P.J. Tucker.
Pelicans receive: Jarnell Stokes
Heat receives: a draft pick
This marks the second time in less than four months Jarnell Stokes switched teams. He spent most of this season in the D-League, but he joins a team without much bench depth. He'll have to compete with Omer Asik and Alexis Ajinca for rotation minutes. Stokes is listed at 6'9" and 255 pounds, which implies he's shorter and heavier than you think.
Pistons receive: Donatas Motiejunas and Marcus Thornton
Rockets receive: Joel Anthony and 2016 first-round pick (top-eight protected)
Donatas Motiejunas missed the entire preseason following back surgery last April and has played 14 games this season, his last coming on December 31st due to lingering back problems. He recently underwent a stint in the D-League where he averaged 13.0 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 3.0 assists per game, but coach J.B. Bickerstaff decided to not play him prior to the All-Star break. Motiejunas' opportunity in Detroit is limited this week with Tobias Harris coming off the bench for Anthony Tolliver, and it doesn't drastically change with Andre Drummond playing 34 minutes a night. But if rumors are true, coach Stan Van Gundy desired Motiejunas and will have to sign the restricted free agent this offseason. If the coach/general manager suppresses Motiejunas' minutes, he could get him at a bargain this summer.
Marcus Thornton is on a minimum contract, but he adds depth to a weak bench unit. I suspect he'll stick in Detroit for the rest of the season, and that makes him the second best three-point shooter on the roster. His acquisition likely signifies the end of Jodie Meeks' (foot) season. It also opens the door for Van Gundy to stop overworking his starters. Infusing Stanley Johnson, Thornton, and Motiejunas into the rotation would cut down on Kentavious Caldwell-Pope's and Marcus Morris' playing time. It may also revert Tobias Harris' minutes closer to his mark in Orlando. This is a situation that requires monitoring, especially if Van Gundy moves to a 10-man rotation to help rest his starters before the playoffs.
It appears Joel Anthony (who was traded later to Philadelphia; details below) was included to match salary. His contract next season is non-guaranteed, and his role as the third center doesn't alter many fantasy leagues. Anthony is a blocks specialist who won't receive many minutes. The Pistons pick will likely convey this season unless they collapse. They possess the 17th best record at 27-27 and are making a playoff push with a revamped team.
Cavaliers receive: Channing Frye
Magic receives: Jared Cunningham and a Portland second-round pick
Trail Blazers receive: Anderson Varejao and a Cleveland 2018 first-round pick
Channing Frye is the best player in the deal. He's shooting 39.7 percent from downtown, and there's a slim chance he moves into the starting lineup because he's best utilized at center. Tristan Thompson is the acting starting center, and the rest of the frontcourt includes Kevin Love and Timofey Mozgov. Frye's fantasy rank has always been inflated because he rarely turns the ball over while hitting a ton of three-pointers. In each of the past two seasons, Frye's ranked second to Love among power forwards in made three-pointers. If given 25 minutes a night, Frye will have similar value to Meyers Leonard, placing him on deep league radars.
Not much changes in Orlando with Frye's departure. He played 21 total minutes over the last four games, sitting in two of them with coach Scott Skiles transitioning to Aaron Gordon at power forward. Since Frye's demotion 11 games ago, he's averaged 12.4 minutes per game. Ersan Ilyasova absorbs any minutes Gordon doesn't play moving forward. Jared Cunningham will likely get waived.
The Trail Blazers had the most cap space in the league and no room for Anderson Varejao in their rotation. He'll be waived or bought out, and the Blazers creep closer to the salary floor. Tim Frazier was waived, and the Trail Blazers made another deal to beef up their backcourt depth; details below.
Jazz receives: Shelvin Mack
Hawks receive: Kirk Hinrich and 2018 second-round pick via Denver
Bulls receive: Justin Holiday
Raul Neto has been the starting point guard all year, and coach Quin Snyder has gone away from a traditional point guard late in matches, stripping the position from its allocated 48 minutes per game. Shelvin Mack would help stabilize the backcourt and make Trey Burke expendable. Since the beginning of January, Neto's averaged 24.7 minutes per game to Burke's 23.4 minutes. Neto has been playing better lately or at least compared to his start to the season. I consider Mack a combo guard rather than a traditional point guard, saving Neto's starting job for the moment.
Kirk Hinrich becomes Dennis Schroder's backup in Atlanta, ranking third on the point-guard depth chart. Do with that what you will.
Justin Holiday lost playing time to Tim Hardaway Jr in Atlanta. He will now compete with Mike Dunleavy, Tony Snell, and Doug McDermott for wing minutes. Aaron Brooks is the lone backup point guard for the Bulls. Some people call that trapezing without a safety net.
Thunder receives: Randy Foye and two second-round picks
Nuggets receive: D.J. Augustin and Steve Novak
D.J. Augustin fell out of the Thunder's rotation because Cameron Payne is a better player. He played in three games since the beginning of January. That means his stock improves in a new situation, assuming Jameer Nelson (wrist) never returns from injury. Steve Novak hasn't been a rotation player since his time with the Knicks, and I don't know if the Nuggets retain his services. Augustin is the one to watch, but he won't eclipse 18 minutes a night with Emmanuel Mudiay as the starting point guard.
Randy Foye was likely acquired to compete with Anthony Morrow and Kyle Singler for minutes until Andre Roberson (knee) returns. I don't believe he'll leap Dion Waiters in the rotation, capping his fantasy value. Foye is a volume three-point shooter and stout defender, or a similar version of Waiters. Foye averaged 21 minutes a night without Nelson this season, but he won't reach that on most nights.
Trail Blazers receive: Brian Roberts and a second-round pick
Heat receives: ?
Brian Roberts was traded from the Hornets to the Heat yesterday. After the Trail Blazers waived Tim Frazier to accommodate Anderson Varejao, who was waived afterward, they filled their open roster spot with Roberts. Now Beno Udrih and Gerald Green are the primary backcourt reserves in Miami, and as I mentioned yesterday, they'll see a boost in minutes when Dwyane Wade's knees give out.
Wizards receive: Markieff Morris
Suns receive: Kris Humphries, DeJuan Blair, and 2016 first-round pick (top-nine protected)
Markieff Morris joins a team starting Jared Dudley at power forward. The Wizards play the most games (31) in the second half of the season, but I think Morris will miss at least two games before officially joining the team due to physicals and paperwork. That means Dudley will get heavy run at power forward the next few nights before taking a presumed backseat as a reserve. Morris played 34.9 minutes per game under interim coach Earl Watson, but I doubt he reaches that mark under coach Randy Wittman considering everyone on the Wizards except John Wall plays fewer than 32 minutes per game. I also don't think Morris is a good fit in Washington because he's a terrible three-point shooter. Morris' fantasy value takes a hit because he's no longer the offensive focal point and his minutes will dip, but he's still rosterable in standard leagues. Just don't expect a slam dunk. Dudley becomes a casualty, and it's possible Marcin Gortat loses minutes with Morris' familiarity as a small-ball center.
I think the Suns will eventually waive both Kris Humphries and DeJuan Blair, two nonfactors in the Wizards' rotation; They don't have to do it immediately. Jon Leuer and Mirza Teletovic will compete for the starting power forward role, and they'll seek Morris' aforementioned 34.9 minutes per game under coach Watson. Morris led the team with 17.4 attempts over the last five contests. Those shots disperse to Archie Goodwin and Devin Booker, two players that should be owned in standard leagues. Alex Len is a player who could see a boost if coach Watson decides to start him over Tyson Chandler, but both centers have split center minutes in February. P.J. Tucker leads the Suns with 40.0 minutes per game with Watson as the coach, and he's ownable until a buyout is reached. I'm not confirming the team will buy him out, but if that day comes, it will be before March 1st.
Grizzlies receive: Lance Stephenson and first-round pick
Clippers receive: Jeff Green
Moving Courtney Lee yesterday opened up 30 minutes per game. Trading Jeff Green today generates another 29 minutes in the rotation. Matt Barnes, Mario Chalmers, Tony Allen, and Lance Stephenson benefit most with one of them replacing Lee in the starting lineup. Coach Dave Joerger has never relied on young players, meaning recently acquired P.J. Hairston may never play. Stephenson thrived in Indiana as a primary ballhandler, a role that belongs to Mike Conley and Chalmers in Memphis. He's not a good per-minute producer, and if you don't let him chase triple-doubles, Stephenson doesn't offer much immediate fantasy help. Conversely, Barnes's role jumps from about 27 minutes a night to closer to 30, and Chalmers could challenge for a similar number. The trade solidifies Barnes role in standard leagues, and Brandan Wright (knee) is set to return to the lineup this weekend. The Grizzlies will make the playoffs this season.
Green found his niche off the bench with the Grizzlies as a high-volume scorer. He'll compete with starting power forward Paul Pierce, starting small forward Luc Mbah a Moute, and reserve Wesley Johnson for minutes, all three of whom played fewer than 25 minutes per game over the past month. This could dent Jamal Crawford's fantasy value if Green becomes a reserve and siphons shot attempts from him. The Clippers lack quality offensive contributors, and Stephenson was not a key member of the rotation. Green's presence will squeeze others out of minutes, and his history with coach Doc Rivers works well in his favor. I'd try to trade Green in fantasy leagues if possible or drop him for Barnes. That won't work in all cases, so stay put if you want to see how Green affects the Clippers.
Sixers receive: Joel Anthony and 2017 second-round pick via Denver
Rockets receive: rights to Chukwudiebere Maduabum
The ramifications are endless. The implications are minimal.