Of course, fantasy players aren't spending too much time considering their 2010-11 rosters just yet... and the highest-scoring team in the league just traded its second-leading scorer. What does this mean for the here and now?
It will be very interesting to see how the Knicks fill their suddenly-gaping hole at the two spot. One reasonable option might be to slide Quentin Richardson to the off guard position, which would open the three spot for Wilson Chandler and allow Mike D'Antoni to use Harrington, Zach Randolph and David Lee -- and Jeffries, who is reportedly close to a return -- at the four and five spots. In that scenario, Nate Robinson would continue to be a spark off the bench, a role in which he's thriving.
Another option would be to bring Stephon Marbury back from career purgatory and plug him in at the two, but that seems unlikely.<p>
Obviously, the top seven players in D'Antoni's rotation need to be owned in just about any fantasy format. But I'm not making any guesses as to who that magic seven might be... not yet. There are still too many rumors swirling... it wouldn't shock me if Zach Randolph follows Crawford out the door in short order. (To the Clippers for some combination involving Tim Thomas and Cuttino Mobley seems like the conventional wisdom at this point.)
For the Warriors... I guess Don Nelson and Chris Mullin don't think Anthony Morrow is the answer, huh? At first glance, it seems this trade gives the Warriors the opposite problem Donnie Walsh will be sorting out in New York -- too many guards. Crawford is a similar type player to Monta Ellis (though not as good) -- both are excellent scorers, neither has proven he can play the point. I'd say they might make for an interesting backcourt tandem, but where does that leave Corey Maggette and Stephen Jackson?
Are we about to see the NBA's first four-guard lineup?
It wouldn't shock me at this point.
In terms of upgrades and downgrades, here's how things shake out:
- Jamal Crawford: downgrade. There's a better-than average chance he winds up as a sixth man now.
- Al Harrington: big upgrade. He's a much better fit for D'Antoni-ball than Randolph or Lee, and Donnie Walsh reportedly loves the guy.
- Zach Randolph: too soon to tell. In the very short term, he's the Knicks number-one option. But who knows what uni he's wearing in a week?
- David Lee: downgrade. Odds are he moves to a bench role or is included in a trade to a team that doesn't run as much.
- Anthony Morrow: Earlier this week, a reader on my "Working the Wire" column asked if he should drop Kevin Durant and pick up Morrow. I really hope he didn't.
I'll be really interested to see how the Knicks line up against the Bucks tonight.