RADIO
Much like your fantasy league, the NBA is very much a "what have you done for me lately?" league. If you get hurt or don't perform, you will be quickly replaced. Sometimes, all it takes is a younger playing coming along and sweeping your legs out from underneath you.
These four guards have lost sight of their respective roles, for a variety of reasons. However, there are many teams around the league looking to either upgrade from their own struggling guards or add depth to the position. The Brooklyn Nets, Memphis Grizzlies, New York Knicks, Orlando Magic, Phoenix Suns, and Utah Jazz are all teams that, regardless of place in the standings, could be looking to add a guard before the NBA Trade Deadline on February 18. Each of these guards could benefit from a change of scenery--in real-life and in fantasy.
NBA Trade Deadline: Guards Who Are Better off Traded
Jeff Teague
Teague is the only player on this list who starts for a legitimate contender. The Atlanta Hawks are third in the Eastern Conference in early February, yet they are dangling their long-time point guard around the league before the deadline. Teague is averaging just 14.8 points and 5.5 assists per game through 48 games this year -- both are his fewest since 2011-'12.
A lot of that is because of his minutes. With just 28.3 minutes played per game, it is hard to maintain the numbers he was posting while consistently playing 30 or more minutes a game in prior seasons. Looking at his numbers per 36 minutes, his 18.8 points per game are right on par with what he posted in recent years (18.8 in 2014-'15, 18.8 in 2013-'14).
For most of this season, Teague has split minutes at the point guard spot with budding star Dennis Schroder. In order to maximize his talent, Teague needs to be in a situation where he can hold the majority of the minutes--a team like the New York Knicks could offer him just that. The Knicks might not have the pieces to send back to Atlanta, but Teague is scheduled to become a free agent following the 2016-'17 season, so the Hawks appear eager to ship off their veteran point guard and let Schroder take the reins. If a deal could be worked out, Teague would benefit greatly--as would the Knicks, who have been hampered by mediocre point guard play all season.
Brandon Jennings
Jennings was the man for years with the Milwaukee Bucks, before finding a new home in Detroit. With the emergence of Reggie Jackson, Jennings has been relegated to a backup role. He has remained largely on the bench even with the injury to starting SG Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, as the Pistons don't want to throw two ball-hogging point guards on the court at the same time, even if it means playing Stanley Johnson for 44 minutes in a non-OT game.
Jennings averaged 16.6 points and 6.3 assists over his first six seasons in the NBA, but has posted just 6.6 points and 3.3 assists per game in 19 games so far this season. Part of his limited role is due to his Achilles injury from a year ago, but the Pistons have also simply decided that Jackson is a better option at this point. While that's probably true, it doesn't mean Jennings is finished as a legitimate NBA contributor. If he were moved to a new team before the deadline, the 26-year-old point guard could find his numbers creeping back up towards those of past years.
The Utah Jazz are a team looking for a starting point guard to help lead them into the playoffs. Raul Neto has made all but two starts for the team at point guard this year, and Trey Burke has not yet panned out as hoped. The Jazz have three very solid wing scorers -- Gordon Hayward, Rodney Hood and Alec Burks -- so Jennings could rack up plenty of assists. Additionally, big men Rudy Gobert and Derrick Favors are typically more defensive-minded, so Jennings would still have plenty of scoring opportunities. Jennings is a free agent following this year, just in time for Dante Exum to return. This could be a nice opportunity for Jennings to audition for a larger role on a new team in 2016-'17.
Ty Lawson
The Houston Rockets were expected by many to enter into the elite tier of Western Conference teams when they acquired Lawson from the Denver Nuggets last offseason. Instead, Lawson is having the worst year of his career and the Rockets sit at 26-25, currently in control of the seventh seed in the West. The 28-year-old Lawson is averaging career lows in points (6.5), rebounds (1.9), field goal percentage (39.8%), three point percentage (32.9%) and free throw percentage (71.1%). His 24.1 minutes and 3.8 assists per game are the lowest since his rookie year in 2009-'10. Lawson clearly hasn't produced, but his poor production is likely partially due to James Harden's ball-dominant tendencies. Lawson simply doesn't fit in with the Rockets, and he could easily be dealt by the February 18.
The Brooklyn Nets are all but mathematically eliminated from playoff contention, and have a gaping hole at the point guard position. Donald Sloan (5.5 points, 4.1 assists) and Shane Larkin (6.8 points, 3.9 assists) have split time there since Jarrett Jack was lost for the season, but neither have made an impact. In Brooklyn, Lawson would potentially be given the opportunity to take hold of the starting role and re-gain his form. The lowly Nets could be willing to take on the struggling Lawson, who is under contract through the 2016-'17 season, given the fact that Joe Johnson is coming off the books at the end of this year. The Nets don't have the picks to draft a starting PG or to acquire anyone without a lot of baggage. They have nothing to lose by taking a chance and buying low on a player who, not long ago, was emerging as a star point guard. Lawson has everything to gain with increased minutes and a chance to re-invent himself.
Tyreke Evans
Evans has not lived up to the expectations he set for himself after winning Rookie of the Year in 2009-'10. That year, he averaged 37.2 minutes, 20.1 points, 5.3 rebounds and 5.8 assists. He has not had a comparable stat line since. Over the last six years, Evans hasn't even sniffed 20 points per game-- 17.8 in his second year was the closest he has come. His assist numbers have gone up since his transition to point guard for the New Orleans Pelicans, but his field goal attempts and shooting percentage have dropped. Simply put, Evans should not be playing point guard. He is a solid isolation scorer, but his decision-making is questionable and he often forces shots. He is better suited off the ball as a shooting guard, and could benefit from being traded to a team that can offer him such a role.
The Memphis Grizzles have a deep corps of wing players, most of whom are defensive specialists. Courtney Lee, Tony Allen and Matt Barnes are all defensive-minded players who average 10 or fewer points per game. Jeff Green is really the only scoring threat on the wing in Memphis, and Evans could help improve the team in that area. A Grizzlies-Evans pairing would be mutually beneficial, with Evans' fantasy owners coming out as even bigger winners.
