Fantasy basketball trade tracker: What to expect from James Harden, Ben Simmons on new teams

Every trade that goes down before the NBA's trade deadline (Feb. 10, 3 p.m. ET) has fantasy ramifications -- some more meaningful than others.

André Snellings and Eric Moody break down all the significant moves and detail the players most impacted, starting with the huge trade between the Brooklyn Nets and Philadelphia 76ers.

Making sense of the James Harden-for-Ben Simmons blockbuster

The NBA world shook on its axis today, with Philadelphia trading Ben Simmons, Seth Curry, Andre Drummond and two first rounders to Brooklyn in return for James Harden and Paul Millsap. Once the smoke clears, we may be looking at two new top-25 fantasy players and changes in the value of two top-10 guys. Now, folks, that is what is known as a blockbuster deadline deal!

Yes, the detonation has occurred, with Harden and Simmons switching teams, strengthening two of the best two teams in the NBA in time for potential championship runs. Brooklyn also acquired two starting-caliber secondary players in positions of weakness in Drummond and Curry. Monster NBA ramifications, but the fantasy outcomes could be just as major. Let's explore what this means for your fantasy squads.

Once he gets up to speed and playing shape, Simmons projects as a top-25 fantasy play in points leagues on a team that fits his strengths and weaknesses to a tee. Simmons is an elite distributor, and can finish in the paint when he gets easy looks. Kyrie Irving, who still is only playing half the games, was happy to move off the ball so that Harden could run the point. He'd do the same for Simmons for most of the game, then in crunch time he moves back on the ball and Simmons moves to a Draymond Green-esque distributing pivot.

Defensively, Simmons fits like a glove as the new defensive anchor on the squad. His rebounding and defensive stats look poised for career-best upside. The floor is open for him to easily average a double-double, with triple-doubles and 2-4 combined steals/blocks in play on a nightly basis.

Drummond is the other potentially major winner in this deal, from a fantasy perspective. He goes from backing up one of the best centers in the league in each of the last two seasons, to a Nets squad that had a major hole in the middle that could afford him starter minutes. From 2018-2020, Drummond averaged 16.6 PPG (53.2 FG%, 59.1 FT%), 15.6 RPG, 2.3 APG, 1.7 BPG and 1.7 SPG in 33.4 MPG. In the last two seasons his role diminished and his playing time went way down, but his per-minute production stayed pretty consistent. Still only 28 years old and in his athletic prime, Drummond could catapult back into the top-50 with upside for top-25 in fantasy leagues.

Curry's role would seemingly remain relatively consistent on his new team. He's still a knock-down 3-point shooter that is likely to play fringe starter minutes next to players that should be able to get him wide open looks on a regular basis.

The question for Harden, is how much of his statistical downturn was due to injury and physical wear-and-tear versus how much he may have been affected by motivation and fit issues. Because, on paper, Harden should fit onto this 76ers squad like a glove. Daryl Morey, the man that also brought Harden to the Houston Rockets, has been angling and scheming to get Harden to Philadelphia ever since he took the job. Morey is one of the fathers of utilizing analytics in NBA front offices, and Harden has always been the apple of his eye. Harden is one of the best pick-and-roll guards in the NBA, a skill he once used to help make Clint Capela into an impact finisher in Houston. Now, he gets to play next to arguably the best big man in the NBA in Embiid. Their two-man game should be absurd.

The 76ers also have peripheral scoring talent in Tobias Harris and Tyrese Maxey, so Harden's scoring volume likely doesn't increase dramatically with this deal. But he still has easy 20+ PPG scoring potential, with what should be solidly improved percentages playing off Embiid, and he has the upside to improve his already double-digit assists average up above the career mark of 11.2 APG he set during the 2016-17 season. If Harden is healthy and motivated moving forward, he's got easy top-10 fantasy upside and could challenge for his old spot in the top-5.

It must be noted, that Harden's presence likely eats into the production of the other 76ers... including, even, Embiid. Embiid will still be the man, but his consistency as a 30+ PPG scorer seems likely to decrease. Harris, Maxey and the other secondary 76ers scorers may see an improvement in scoring efficiency with Harden spoon-feeding them, but Harden's high usage likely brings everyone else's scoring volume down.

The one secondary 76ers player whose value may increase is Matisse Thybulle, who flirted with fantasy relevance despite a lack of offensive game because his defense is so potent. With Harden solidifying the offense, Thybulle could get more playing time with the main unit to stabilize the defense. Thybulle is already averaging 1.7 SPG, 1.1 BPG and 0.8 3PG in 26.5 MPG. If his playing time goes up, his per-36 averages of 2.4 SPG, 1.5 BPG and 1.0 3PG could be in play, which would make him sneaky valuable in roto leagues. -- Snellings

Domantas Sabonis and Tyrese Haliburton trade has significant fantasy impact

The NBA has its first blockbuster of the season, and it's an even bigger deal on the fantasy hoops front; Sabonis, Jeremy Lamb, Justin Holiday and a 2027 2nd round pick head to Sacramento in exchange for Haliburton, Buddy Hield and Tristan Thompson.

Sabonis is a two-time All-Star big man who is only 25 years old and still has two years remaining on a reasonable contract. The Kings are seemingly building around Sabonis and their young backcourt of De'Aaron Fox and rookie Davion Mitchell, while the Pacers have now made two big moves this week and will be rolling out an entirely new rotation. Let's explore the ramifications of this move, particularly for your fantasy squads.

We'll start in Sacramento. The Kings' projected rotation now features Fox, Mitchell, Harrison Barnes, Sabonis and perhaps Richaun Holmes in the starting lineup with Holiday, Lamb, Maurice Harkless and Marvin Bagley III as the main players off the bench. Sabonis, who was already 12th in the ESPN Player Rater, should get all the scoring opportunities that he wants as the main interior threat on a team without a lot of offensive talent. He could have some competition on the boards if Holmes continues to play starter minutes, but Sabonis has proven he can thrive in a multi-big man system for the last few seasons next to Myles Turner. Plus, with Sabonis more of an interior player, the Kings could opt to play Bagley and/or Harkless more and Holmes less in their new configuration. Sabonis' stats should remain relatively consistent, but the distribution of those secondary big man minutes could determine which of the rest becomes a viable secondary fantasy option.

In the backcourt, the big winner looks to be Mitchell. Mitchell, whose nickname is "Off Night" because of his excellent on-ball defensive skills that shut down opponents, has been coming on as an offensive player of late. He's started the last six games, and averaged 19.0 PPG, 5.0 APG and 2.8 3PG in 34.5 MPG during that stretch. With both Haliburton and Hield out of town, Mitchell has clear top-100 player upside and may earn a spot in fantasy hoops starting lineups down the stretch.

Things are shaking up just as much in Indiana. In the last week, the Pacers have traded away both Sabonis and Caris LeVert, the two leading scorers on the team. Turner is still out with a stress reaction in his foot, and both he and Holiday also averaged in double figures as their fifth and sixth leading scorers. There are thus a lot of shots up for grabs, with newcomers Haliburton and Hield both great candidates to absorb their fair share. Haliburton was already No. 18 in the Player Rater in a bit of a perimeter platoon on a deep Kings squad, and now the Pacers should give him the keys to the car moving forward. Starting point guard Malcolm Brogdon has missed 20 of the last 23 games injured and is nursing a sore Achilles, so there's every opportunity for Haliburton to come in and become the alpha offensive player for the Pacers from day one.

Hield is an interesting case, with the main question being whether he stays with the Pacers. Hield has been popular in trade rumors for years, and at 29 years old he'd seemingly fit better as a finishing piece on a contender than as centerpiece in a rebuild. Thus, it wouldn't be surprising if Hield is traded again before the Trade Deadline. But, if he sticks in Indiana, Hield also has plenty of offensive upside. Hield was coming off the bench in Sacramento, averaging four-season lows in both minutes (28.6 MPG) and field goal attempts (12.6 FGA). He's demonstrated the ability to average more than 20 PPG while knocking down four or more 3PG, and if he's given the green light with the Pacers he'd have the ability to zoom past his career best marks in both numbers down the stretch.

Rookie Chris Duarte would appear to be the other big winner on the Pacers, as he's already demonstrated the ability to score in the mid-teens while averaging just under 29 MPG on the season. If he comes out of this with starter minutes and opportunity, he has fringe fantasy starter upside moving forward.

It is entirely unclear what the Pacers plan to do in the frontcourt, if they don't make another move. Isaiah Jackson has shown some upside, and as a young player he'd seemingly get the chance to earn minutes in a rebuild. Turner would be the man in the middle, if he returns to health and isn't traded himself, but those are two big ifs. Veterans Tristan Thompson and, if he returns to health T.J. Warren, could get some minutes alongside role players like Torrey Craig and Lance Stephenson. Perhaps Oshae Brissett has the chance to crash the boards. But, there is a clear lack of talent and health in the Pacers frontcourt, and it isn't clear yet who, if anyone, may be the best fantasy prospect among the group.

Overall, this move maintains a status quo for Sabonis' prospects, appears to be an upgrade for Haliburton, Hield and the rookie guards on both teams, and leads to situations on both teams where industrious young and/or role players might have the opportunity to earn their way onto my weekly Diamonds in the Rough list moving forward. Chaos is a ladder, and this deal provides a potential ladder for almost everyone involved. -- Snellings

CJ McCollum heads to New Orleans

After nine seasons playing together with Damian Lillard in Portland, the CJ McCollum era is over in the Rose City.

ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported Tuesday that the New Orleans Pelicans and Trail Blazers had finalized a deal that will send McCollum, Larry Nance Jr. and Tony Snell to New Orleans in return for Josh Hart, Tomas Satoransky, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Didi Louzada, a first-round pick and a future second-round pick. The first-round pick is No. 5 to 14 protected for 2022, and if it doesn't convey this year, the first-rounder kicks to the future for the Trail Blazers.

With the Blazers, McCollum averaged 19.0 PPG over 564 regular-season games while shooting 45.3%, and this season he put up 20.5 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 4.5 APG and 1.0 SPG in 35.2 MPG. His fantasy value remains unchanged. In fact, now that the Pelicans have a chance to secure a playoff spot, McCollum should continue to receive heavy minutes in the starting lineup alongside Devonte' Graham.

Both this trade and last week's deal sending Norman Powell and Robert Covington to the LA Clippers indicate that the Trail Blazers are in the process of rebuilding. Portland has more financial flexibility to build for the future, and Anfernee Simons and Jusuf Nurkic are believed to be part of that core.

While Lillard's surgery to repair a core injury has caused the Blazers taking a significant step back in 2021-22 -- and the 31-year-old star point guard is unlikely to return this season -- Simons is available in 48% of ESPN leagues and becomes a roster necessity. With 19 points in each of the last three games, Simons is an excellent source of points, 3s and assists, and he has provided fantasy managers with close to seventh-round value over the last month. As for Nurkic, he has had a double-double in three consecutive games, averaging 13.7 PPG and 13 RPG, and his scoring becomes more important given the departure of McCollum.

Hart benefits from this trade as well, as the Blazers should have plenty of minutes available available. He averaged 13.4 PPG and 7.8 RPG while shooting 50.5% from the field this season in New Orleans. -- Moody

Kristaps Porzingis deal leads to rotation questions

Kristaps Porzingis being traded from Dallas to Washington for Spencer Dinwiddie and Davis Bertans was somewhat of a surprise. Porzingis is out rehabbing a knee bruise, but was in the midst of a renaissance season in Dallas, putting up 19.2 PPG and 7.7 RPG. This trade implies that he's close to returning.

Porzingis steps into a situation with the Wizards that bodes well for fantasy. Bradley Beal is out for the season due to his wrist injury and Washington will look to replace his 30.5% usage rate. Porzingis should be able to fill the void offensively, but it will be interesting to see if the Wizards play him at power forward or center.

Dinwiddie was reported to be not getting along with his teammates, and it appears those reports were true. With the Wizards, he averaged 29.5 MPG and had a usage rate of 21.7%. It would be surprising if Dinwiddie could reproduce those numbers with the Mavericks. Nonetheless, his arrival reduces the fantasy value of Jalen Brunson, who had seen his role increase in recent weeks following the season-ending injury to Tim Hardaway Jr. -- Moody

Derrick White's fantasy value takes a hit in Boston

Boston acquired Derrick White from San Antonio in exchange for Josh Richardson, Romeo Langford, a 2022 first-round pick and a swap of 2028 first-round picks.

White is being traded to a better basketball situation in terms of potential to play for a contending team, but fantasy-wise his value takes a clear hit in the move from the Spurs to the Celtics. With the Spurs, White was the starting shooting guard and had the green light on a team without a lot of offensive talent. He averaged 14.4 PPG, a career-best 5.6 APG, and 3.5 RPG, 1.7 3PG, 1.0 SPG and 0.9 BPG in 30.3 MPG.

It is unclear whether he'll start or play the sixth man role for the Celtics. Both are in play, but his minutes seem likely to decrease slightly. And, even when he's on the court, he's now clearly a tertiary option, far behind Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown and on-par with Marcus Smart and the big men. His defensive numbers could remain consistent, but his scoring and clearly his assists potential both take a hit. White was 57th in the points ranking, but he's now likely outside of the top-100 and may be fringe top-150. -- Snellings

Marvin Bagley III and Donte DiVincenzo in line for a boost

The Sacramento Kings, Milwaukee Bucks, LA Clippers and Detroit Pistons pulled off a four-team trade in the hours leading up to the trade deadline on Thursday, with a couple of notable players swapping jerseys.

Marvin Bagley III and Donte DiVincenzo are the two names from this trade that resonate with me from a fantasy basketball perspective. An offensively-starved Pistons' frontcourt welcomes Bagley to the team. In terms of points scored per 100 possessions, Detroit ranks 29th and has an effective field goal percentage of 48.5% (according to Cleaning The Glass). In short, they could use Bagley. While Isaiah Stewart and Kelly Olynyk are Bagley's main rivals for minutes, a change of scenery outside Sacramento could be a catalyst for him to play more than the 21.9 MPG he averaged with the Kings this season.

Bagley (available in 61.4% of ESPN leagues) has averaged 17 points and 13 rebounds per 40 minutes in 2021-22, and it makes sense to make him a preemptive addition in deeper formats and to add him to your watch list in others.

DiVincenzo has endured a long road back from last year's season-ending ankle surgery, but has the well-rounded game to be an impact player on virtually any team. There is an immediate need for him at the wing on a Kings team that struggles to create offense. DiVincenzo has averaged only 20.1 MPG on the contending Bucks this season, and certainly has the potential to play more in Sacramento, especially with Terence Davis out with a wrist injury.

In 27.5 MPG last season, DiVincenzo averaged 10.4 PPG, 5.8 RPG, 3.1 APG and 1.1 SPG, giving an indication of what he's capable of when used in an extended role. In Sacramento, he has the potential to replicate those numbers. DiVincenzo is available in 65% of ESPN leagues. -- Moody

Charlotte could offer minutes more for Montrezl Harrell

Montrezl Harrell is on the move again, this time headed to the Hornets in exchange for Ish Smith and Vernon Carey Jr. The 2020 NBA Sixth Man of the Year will be on his fourth team in the last three seasons, and has the chance to jump start his stagnating campaign. Through the first 17 games of this season, Harrell averaged 17.5 PPG (65.3 FG%, 82.4 FT%), 9.0 RPG and 2.3 APG in 28.6 MPG, numbers akin to his best season. In the last 29 games, though, he was down to 12.0 PPG (63.8 FG%, 64.9 FT%), 5.4 RPG and 2.0 APG in 21.9 MPG as his role diminished.

In Charlotte, he'll join a big man rotation featuring Miles Bridges, P.J. Washington and Mason Plumlee. They have a need for his ability to volume finish around the rim while crashing the boards, and his skill set is especially conducive to finishing easy looks that LaMelo Ball will create for him. Harrell had slid to No. 66 in the points rankings, but If he carves out closer to 30 MPG than 20 MPG, he has top-50 upside moving forward. -- Snellings

Thaddeus Young is rosterable again

Goran Dragic was traded to the Spurs on Thursday along with a protected 2022 first-round pick in exchange for Thaddeus Young, Drew Eubanks and a 2022 second-round pick. The expectation is that San Antonio will buy out Dragic's contract, which could then lead to Dragic ending up with Dallas as was rumored prior to the season.

Dragic is not fantasy-relevant in any case, but Young, who lands in Toronto as part of this trade, is a much better fantasy option. Young gives the Raptors some solid frontcourt depth and someone who has a history of positively influencing locker rooms. Fantasy managers should take note of Young's role with the Chicago Bulls last season -- 12.1 PPG, 6.2 RPG and 4.3 APG -- to see what's possible with the Raptors.

Young (41% rostered in ESPN leagues) wasn't a fit with the Spurs and averaged just 14.2 MPG in 26 games, falling out of the rotation and never really making an impact. At the very least, the move to Toronto makes him rosterable again in fantasy leagues, with a chance to be more than a streamer if he can show anything close to what he did last season in Chicago. -- Moody

Dennis Schroder not long for Houston?

Dennis Schroder was traded to the Rockets on Thursday along with Enes Freedom and Bruno Fernando in a deal for former Celtics big man Daniel Theis. Schroder is currently on a one-year deal, the most likely outcome is a buyout in this scenario considering his expiring contract. It is not advisable to target Schroder in fantasy, at least until we know where he ultimately lands. If you have Kevin Porter Jr. or Jalen Green on your fantasy roster, there is nothing to worry about. Theis joins Robert Williams III and Al Horford as a familiar face who can add scoring and energy to the Celtics frontcourt. The Rockets have already announced that they are waiving Freedom. -- Moody