RADIO
The NBA trade deadline is coming up in less than a month -- February 18th at 3:00pm ET, to be precise. Be sure to block that afternoon off on your work calendar so you can spend it refreshing Twitter. RotoBaller thought it was worth taking a look at a few guys around the league who could see a boost in value if they find themselves traded at the deadline. Today we'll take a look at the big guys. Fantasy owners looking to gamble could look to buy cheap on these centers now and hope for a real life trade.
NBA Trade Deadline: Centers Who Are Better off Traded
Given the unique parity in the Eastern Conference after the Cleveland Cavaliers, the team who makes the big splash at the deadline could find themselves in the midst of a deep playoff run. The Toronto Raptors, Chicago Bulls, Indiana Pacers, Boston Celtics and Washington Wizards are five Eastern Conference teams that could be in the market for a center before the NBA trade deadline on February 18. All five teams could offer quality minutes surrounded by solid supporting cast to a talented big man, and that could mean an increase in production for these four centers who are currently in less-than-ideal situations.
Dwight Howard
It's been a rough few years for Howard since his fallout with the Orlando Magic, and his numbers have reflected that. Assuming the three-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year is done would be foolish, though. His 34-point, 26-rebound performance against the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday proved that the big man is still capable of dominance. Howard is not scoring like he used to -- his 14.8 points per game are the fewest since his rookie year in 2004-'05 -- but his 61.4% field goal percentage is actually the highest of his 12-year career, and his 55.1% free throw percentage is the highest it's been since 2010-'11. Similarly, he doesn't grab 14 boards per game like he has in three different seasons in the past, but he still rebounds at the third highest rate in the NBA. As a result, he currently sits fifth among centers in fantasy points per game in typical fantasy scoring.
He currently is a member of a dysfunctional Houston Rockets team that could be looking to make some changes before the deadline. Howard's scoring opportunities with the Rockets can be limited by the general dysfunction and teammate James Harden's massive ball-hogging. If, say, the Celtics are looking for a potential rental and think they can harness Howard's talent, they could go after the 30-year-old over the next few weeks. In that kind of situation -- one with a strong set of guards, a smart coach, and a more sharing offense -- Howard could see his numbers improve across the board.
Greg Monroe
Monroe signed a two-year deal with the Milwaukee Bucks before the 2015-'16 season, sharing with most NBA fans the expectations that the athletic, youth-filled team would improve. However, the Bucks have remained at the bottom of the Eastern Conference barrel, currently sitting in last place in the Central Division with a 19-25 record.
Monroe himself is playing well-- his 15.8 points and 9.8 rebounds per game are right on par with his numbers in each of the last four seasons. However, the 25-year-old seemed primed to take his game to the next level as he returned to his natural position of center-- Andre Drummond prevented him from playing there in Detroit. Neither the Bucks nor their new center have made an overwhelming improvement, and the team could be looking to continue to get younger and more athletic.
A team like the Pacers could make a lot of sense for Monroe, who could jump into the starting lineup and immediately become a big-time scoring option in a lineup where Jordan Hill's 9.3 points per game are the most among all big men. The Pacers take almost nine more three-point shots per game than the Bucks and feature a transcendent star in Paul George, so Monroe could have a lot more space to work with down low.
Timofey Mozgov
The Cleveland Cavaliers have been drifting towards a smaller lineup with Tristan Thompson at the center spot. Several guards have been seeing more minutes, at the expense of Mozgov. The Cavs seem to have decided Mozgov doesn't have a role in a championship lineup for them and are actively shopping him around the league.
The 29-year-old Mozgov can absolutely still be a productive, two-way player. In 45 games with the Cavs in 2014 following his trade from the Denver Nuggets, he posted 10.6 points per game on 59% shooting. He also added 6.9 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game. Now, with his usage way down, his numbers indicate a shell of his former self. After a 2014 campaign with 18 double-doubles, Mozgov has yet to record one in 36 games this season. In the right setting, though, he can still be a useful fantasy center. The Washington Wizards, even playing behind Marcin Gortat, would be a good fit. Their team defense is poor, and they currently have the fewest rebounds and the second fewest blocks in the league. With a team like the Wizards, Mozgov would fit better in the system and could thrive the way he did down the stretch in 2014.
Roy Hibbert
After six consecutive seasons with at least ten points and six rebounds per game with the Indiana Pacers, Hibbert has fallen out of relevancy in his first year with the Los Angeles Lakers. He is scoring just 6.6 points per game to go along with 5.7 rebounds. Despite starting every game this year and averaging 25.3 minutes, he has taken just 5.5 field goal attempts per game. Still, Hibbert is only 29 years old and hasn't had much history of injuries, so it shouldn't be the case that he can no longer play the way he did throughout his time in Indiana. It is difficult, however, to find any kind of offensive rhythm with a group of guards who love to shoot. Kobe Bryant, Lou Williams, Jordan Clarkson, and D'Angelo Russell, on average, combine to attempt over 50 field goals each game. The team as a whole, takes just 85.7 shots per game.
The Chicago Bulls, who just lost center Joakim Noah for an extended period of time, could look to add a player like Hibbert. Hibbert would provide Fred Hoiberg's squad with nice depth in the front court, and he, in turn, could benefit from more easy scoring opportunities on a Bulls team that is 12th in the league in assists per game-- the Lakers are tied for 28th.
