Christmas and the new year always represent an inflection point in the NBA. Roughly 30 games into the season, teams have a strong understanding of who they are and who they want to be. This creates the impetus for change leading to trades that will impact fantasy leagues and managers alike.
Most trades will happen right around the February 6 deadline, so in some ways this article could be a bit on the early side. But it’s never too early to start preparing your roster for potentially meaningful changes, especially those of us in deeper leagues where trades will create opportunities for players currently struggling to carve out enough minutes to make a fantasy impact.
Here are some teams likely to shake things up in the new year and the down roster effects that could benefit wide-eyed fantasy managers wanting to get ahead of the competition:
Shake-up #1 – The Chicago Bulls
The Bulls tried desperately to trade Zach LaVine last summer but couldn’t find any suitors. Now that’s he’s healthy and performing at a high level again, the team should be able to find a buyer. A LaVine trade will mean a higher usage for Coby White and expanded roles for Ayo Dosunmu and Josh Giddey.
I had Dosunmu as a candidate to make big leap this season. Despite ranking 71st on Yahoo, it certainly feels like Dosunmu has been a disappointment. A LaVine trade should change that.
Dosunmu is a prime trade target in all formats in anticipation of a LaVine trade. Giddey’s minutes and usage should increase as well. Neither player seems highly coveted in the leagues I’m in, so the opportunity to upgrade is there.
A Nikola Vucevic trade will have some pretty big down roster effects as well. Jalen Smith’s role and usage should increase dramatically. In deeper leagues, I would also expect to see more from the team’s human pogo stick, Matas Buzelis.
Shake-up #2 – The Brooklyn Nets
Much like Dosunmu, a big leap was expected from Noah Clowney coming into this season as well. Much to everyone’s disappointment, that leap hasn’t happen. Yet.
Clowney has played 37, 29, and 29 minutes each of the past three games, thanks in large part to Dorian Finney-Smith’s injured calf, perhaps providing a glimpse of what we can expect should the Nets make a trade.
Clowney had one of his best games of the season on December 23, scoring 19 points on 6-13 shooting, including 4 threes and 5 boards. This was what many of us hoped we get from him heading into the season.
With the Nets having already dealt Dennis Schroeder and likely to try to find suitors for the aforementioned Dorian Finney-Smith and perhaps even Cameron Johnson, opportunities abound in Brooklyn for Clowney and some of his teammates.
Cam Thomas would be the biggest beneficiary of an expanded housecleaning in Brooklyn. His green light will get even greener, particularly if Johnson is dealt.
Jalen Wilson and a healthier Ziaire Williams could see expanded roles as well and become more fantasy relevant should DFS and Johnson land with new teams. Wilson and Williams are currently on just 2% of rosters in Yahoo leagues. Wilson especially deserves your immediate attention, especially in deeper leagues.
Shake-up #3 – The New Orleans Pelicans
It’s hard to know if the looming shake-up in New Orleans will bring massive, big, or only minor change. Rumor has it the Pelicans are shopping Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram, and C.J. McCollum. If even one of the those guys is dealt it will have down roster impacts.
Of course, Dejounte Murray would benefit if one or more of those players is dealt at the deadline. Trey Murphy III, Herb Jones, and Jose Alvarado would see an increase in minutes and usage as well.
Murphy strikes me as the one who would benefit most from a major roster overhaul. He’s a supremely gifted scorer who could really see his numbers explode in a bigger role.
Further down the roster, Jordan Hawkins and Brandon Boston Jr. could carve out meaningful roles as well.
Due to all the injuries the Pelicans have dealt with this season, we’ve already gotten a good glimpse of what life (and roles) could look like absent one or more of Zion, BI, and CJ. The bigger the shake-up, the bigger the opportunity for some of the players mentioned above, and others.
Shake-up #4 – The Miami Heat
A possible Jimmy Butler deal was largely the motivation behind this article. I envisioned increased minutes and usage for the likes of Terry Rozier, Jaime Jaquez, Nikola Jovic, Kel’el Ware, and even Pelle Larsson.
Well, as I started writing, Pat Riley came out and stated unequivocally the Heat weren’t trading Jimmy Butler.
Statement from Pat Riley
"We usually don't comment on rumors, but all this speculation has become a distraction to the team and is not fair to the players and coaches. Therefore, we will make it clear – We are not trading Jimmy Butler."
— Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) December 26, 2024
So, consider this the shake-up that wasn’t and instead plan for those above.
