X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Import Your Leagues
Weekly Rankings
Compare Any Players
Projections
Articles & Tools
Weekly Planner
24x7 News and Alerts

NBA Fantasy: Boogie in the Big Easy

Last night, Adrian Wojnarowski reported that the Sacramento Kings were finally actually giving up on mercurial big man DeMarcus Cousins, shipping the historically talented but moody center to the New Orleans Pelicans.

Reportedly, the Kings will be receiving Buddy Hield, who was selected 6th overall this past draft, Tyreke Evans, and Langston Galloway (expected to be waived), as well as 1st and 2nd round draft picks in 2017. The Kings will also include SF/PF Omri Casspi, who has been banged up or otherwise buried on the bench much of this season, though he was quite solid in 2015-16.

There's a lot to unpack here for both sides in real NBA terms. I'll leave that for Zach Lowe. My question is where does this leave fantasy owners? We'll sort through some of the potential effects of this trade for players impacted by the deal.

Holiday Special! Save 50% on any Premium Pass using discount code THANKS. Win more with our DFS, Betting and Season-Long Pass, get expert tools and advice from proven winners! GAIN ACCESS

 

Boogie in the Big Easy

Keep on Boogie-ing: DeMarcus Cousins, PF/C, NO

In overall value, I don't picture that much changing for Cousins. However, the type of value he provides might shift a little. Alongside more talented teammates than he had in Sacramento in the form of Anthony Davis and Jrue Holiday, Cousins no longer has to carry the offense on every possession. This could lead to fewer shot attempts and assists. However, it could also lead to improved efficiency in the form of FG% and turnovers. Roto owners should be just fine with this deal, but H2H league owners who built a FG% and/or TO punt around Cousins should be worried.

 

The Brow is Up: Anthony Davis, PF/C, NO

It goes without saying that the Pelicans now have the best frontcourt duo in the league and probably one of the top pairings in history. While both would ideally play center in the Platonic ideal of an NBA lineup these days, the Pelicans have been tipping their hand for weeks now (see: Jahlil Okafor trade rumors) that they'd looking for a center to allow Anthony Davis to move to PF. It's obvious that Davis prefers playing PF and that the Pelicans, given AD's recent injury history, believe that keeping him away from bruising defensive assignments is better for his long-term value than maximizing the mismatches they can create on offense with their lineups.

The nice thing about acquiring Cousins is that they now get the best of both worlds -- they get a tank of a center who can take tough interior assignments away from Davis, while still allowing them to play an incredibly skilled offensive player who will draw defenses away from Davis no matter where he is on the floor. My reading of this is that, while he might cede a few shots, Davis will become less of an injury risk and improve his efficiency with the addition of Boogie. This is good news overall for Davis owners, since it's much more rare that they are punting efficiency stats -- and they're all praying he continues to stay healthy and dominant through the fantasy playoffs.

 

Time to 'Reke Havoc?: Tyreke Evans, PG/SG/SF, SAC

Even before he was laid low by injuries over the couple of years, Evans has always been a bit of a weird fit in the league -- not an efficient enough passer to be an ideal point guard, not an efficient enough shooter to be an ideal wing. From a fantasy perspective, he's also a weird fit in most team builds. It's clear the 25 games he played last year wherein he shot 38.8% from 3 and 79.6% from the line were an aberration for the guy who is a career 28.9% and 75.7% shooter in those situations. If his efficiency continues to look like it does this year (and has for most of his career), he will have limited value in roto leagues or in H2H builds where you're fighting for efficiency cats, even with increased minutes. Where he does have more value is in punt builds where you're giving up on FG% and looking for a SF-eligible player who can rack up assists.

Will his minutes definitely increase in the short-term, though? He's still banged up, and it's not like he's leaving a backcourt rotation in New Orleans that's more stacked than what he'll see in Sacramento. There's still a better starting PG than him -- Collison. There's still Buddy Hield demanding minutes at the 2. There's still a high character, tough-defending vet that the coaching staff likes -- Garrett Temple, once he returns from injury shortly after the break, instead of E'Twaun Moore. There might even still be Langston Galloway, and if not him, then at least Ben McLemore. He's a better option than Arron Afflalo, but his fantasy eligibility not withstanding, it's not clear Evans can credibly play as much SF as Afflalo can. His one saving grace is that he's been so bad this year that he might be able to help the Kings tank without seeming like they're tanking, and since he'll be an unrestricted free agent, they won't care about babying his injury. I'll fade him where I care about efficiency, but he's worth the speculative waiver add where available in head-to-head leagues where he fits.

 

The Big Man with a Big Opportunity: Willie Cauley-Stein, PF/C, SAC

The truly big fantasy winner in this deal is the second year big man for the Kings who is now stepping into a major role with the departure of Cousins. He has not been that impressive in the 12 minutes per game that the Kings were giving him -- his per 36 numbers feature 7.5 rebounds and 1.3 blocks, both much lower rates than you'd want out of a low-offense big man. However, he's full of athletic talent, is quite young, and shows flashes of being capable of more on both sides of the ball. He'll be given a big chance with much more playing time at center and he'll get the opportunity for more shots and more rebounds with Cousins not sucking up all the oxygen in the rotation. He particularly projects as a potential nice source of steals out of a big man. I wouldn't hope for a major star-level breakout this year, but he could provide reasonable low-end production the rest of the way.

 

Big Shot Buddy: Buddy Hield, SG, SAC

The Kings, without Cousins and the injured Rudy Gay, have no one who can generate their own shots at this point. Buddy Hield hasn't shown he can yet in the NBA, but he certainly could in college for Oklahoma. With no incentive to do anything but tank and develop their young players, and a gaping need for someone who can get buckets, the Kings should give Hield plenty of minutes and plenty of shots. Along with Cauley-Stein, Hield is the other clear fantasy winner in this trade. While his efficiency could remain ugly -- he only shot 39% for the Pelicans -- he could double his points per game from the 8.6 he got in New Orleans, while seeing his three-pointers surge over 2 per game as well. Now if only he could get any defensive stats or improve his assist rate. He's certainly worth owning in fantasy while you wait on what he looks like in Sacramento.

 

The Biggest Loser, For Now: Terrence Jones, SF/PF, NO

No one takes quite the hit Terrence Jones does in this deal. With Davis and Cousins locked in at starters, Jones loses major rotation minutes. There's already talk that he's on his way out the door before the deadline as well, and that he's played his last game for New Orleans. Fantasy owners' one hope for him is he gets traded somewhere he gets a chance to start at the 4.  But where is that for a guy like him?  The previously thin Pelicans were really a perfect situation for him to find playing time, and it's hard to envision another team where he's more than a reserve.

 

The Other Guys

Jrue Holiday will have a chance to play efficient basketball and rack up assists with those two bigs to pass the ball to. He may take fewer overall shots, but he'll really have a chance to shine across the board elsewhere. I like his deal for him.

E'Twaun Moore had already solidified his role as starting 2 in New Orleans, but now that Evans, Hield, and Galloway are gone, he's completely locked in. Look for him to continue with his bottom of the roster value the rest of the season.

Darren Collison should get more usage in Sacramento with Cousins gone.  He may be traded as the Kings tank, though.

Kosta Koufos was already starting next to Cousins, but he may increase his value a little bit. Not an inspiring fantasy option, though -- we know what he is at this point.

Tim Frazier is back to being the only backup ball-handler behind Jrue Holiday, and he could even see some playing time alongside Jrue until the Pelicans find a real SG who can rotate in behind Moore.

Garrett Temple will take a hit from his pre-injury value as his efficiency dips without Cousins and his playing time dips with the addition of Hield and Evans, but the coaches still love him, and he should have a role.

Ben McLemore was playing big, if uninspiring minutes, just before the All-Star Break. He was already expected to lose minutes when Temple returned, though, and that's now doubly the case with two other guys in coming on board in Hield and Evans who also play his position.

Ty Lawson may get an opportunity to show he can create baskets, but the minutes will be rough while both Collison and Evans are on the team.

Anthony Tolliver is suddenly one of the main offensive threats for Sacramento, but I don't see him having much value.

Omri Casspi may not stay in New Orleans, but he could be useful there as a rotation SF with Solomon Hill.  He's off fantasy radars for now.




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Import Your Leagues
Weekly Rankings
Compare Any Players
Projections
Articles & Tools
Weekly Planner
24x7 News and Alerts

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

De'Aaron Fox

Questionable Against the Cavaliers
Bam Adebayo

Expected Back on Monday Night
Kon Knueppel

Won't Suit Up Against Milwaukee
Ryan Kalkbrenner

Still Out on Monday
Parker Washington

Leads Jaguars in Targets, Receptions, and Receiving Yards
Wan'Dale Robinson

Posts Season-High 11 Receptions in Week 17
Josh Allen

Seen Limping From X-Ray Room, Says Foot Injury Didn't Affect Him
Geno Smith

Diagnosed With High-Ankle Sprain
John Collins

Won't Face the Pistons on Sunday Night
Trey McBride

Sets All-Time Tight End Receptions Record
Geno Smith

Exits Early With Ankle Injury
DJ Moore

Suiting Up Against 49ers on Sunday Night
Ricky Pearsall

Officially Active for Week 17 Against Bears
George Kittle

Officially Inactive for Week 17
Ja'Marr Chase

Snags Two Touchdowns in Week 17
Geno Smith

Questionable to Return With Ankle Injury
Chris Godwin Jr.

Goes Over 100 Yards in Loss to Miami
Matthew Tkachuk

Returns to Practice
Chris Olave

Extends Touchdown Streak in Win Over Titans
Linus Ullmark

Takes Leave of Absence
Travis Sanheim

Good to Go Against Kraken
Kyshawn George

Ruled Out on Sunday
Zach Charbonnet

Scores Twice in Lead-Back Role on Sunday
Nick Foligno

Set to Return Sunday
Chase Brown

Finds End Zone Twice in High-Volume Role on Sunday
Jock Landale

Out Again on Sunday
Rhamondre Stevenson

Scores Twice, Plays Major Pass-Catching Role
William Nylander

Out Against Red Wings
Stefon Diggs

Enjoys Another 100-Yard Performance in Week 17
Jared McCann

Available Sunday
Vince Dunn

on Track to Return Sunday
Breece Hall

Not Concerned About Knee Injury
Blake Lizotte

Activated From Injured Reserve
Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Buccaneers Not Expected to Fire Todd Bowles?
DK Metcalf

Steelers Won't Void the Guarantees in DK Metcalf's Contract
Drake Maye

Throws for Career-High Five Touchdowns in New York
Tyler Herro

Showing Progress but Still Without Timetable
CFB

Jay Hill Expected to be Next Michigan Defensive Coordinator
Zach Collins

Exits Late With Lower-Body Injury
Chris Boucher

Ruled Out Sunday for Personal Reasons
Gabe Vincent

Out Again Sunday With Back Issue
Jrue Holiday

Remains Out Sunday Against Celtics
Collin Murray-Boyles

Unlikely to Play Sunday Due to Illness
Andrei Svechnikov

Extends Scoring Run With Three-Point Effort
Auston Matthews

Bags Three Points Saturday Night
Alex Laferriere

Records First Career Hat Trick
William Nylander

Sustains Lower-Body Injury Saturday
Zach Werenski

Unlikely to Play Sunday
Jake Evans

to Miss 4-6 Weeks
J.J. Moser

Inks Eight-Year Extension
Ajay Mitchell

Cleared to Return Sunday
Bogdan Bogdanović

Bogdan Bogdanovic Ruled Out for Sunday
Kyshawn George

Iffy for Sunday
De'Anthony Melton

Sits Out First Leg of Back-to-Back
Jaxson Hayes

Unlikely to Play Sunday
Derrick Jones Jr.

to Return From Knee Injury Sunday
Jock Landale

in Danger of Missing Another Game Sunday
Vince Williams Jr.

Won't Play Sunday
Ryan McDonagh

Misses Saturday's Action
Jordan Kyrou

Jimmy Snuggerud Back for Blues Saturday
Tanner Jeannot

Misses First Game of the Season
Rasmus Dahlin

Won't Play on Saturday
Elias Pettersson

Ready to Return Saturday
Leo Carlsson

Available Against Kings
CFB

Michigan Targeting Kyle Whittingham as Next Head Coach
CFB

Texas Leading Rusher Quintrevion Wisner Set to Transfer
Pete Fairbanks

Marlins Agree on One-Year Deal
Brooks Koepka

Leaving LIV Golf
Ryan O'Hearn

Pirates Agree on Two-Year Deal
CFB

Jeff Brohm, Eli Drinkwitz "Names of Interest" for Michigan Head Coach