This article is part of our NBA Waiver Wire series.
The deals made at this year's trade deadline featured about as much star power as this year's dunk contest.
Maybe less.
After weeks of guessing where big names like Paul Pierce, Dwight Howard, Rajon Rondo, Pau Gasol, Josh Smith, and Kevin Garnett might land ... of imagining new homes for quality pros like Paul Millsap and Al Jefferson ... the deadline came and went with an absolute whimper.
Let's break 'em down.
Kings traded Thomas Robinson, Francisco Garcia, and Tyler Honeycutt to Houston for Patrick Patterson, Cole Aldrich, and Toney Douglas
Sure, the Kings got a floor-spacing four that runs the floor well in Patterson, and he probably makes more sense in a frontcourt with DeMarcus Cousins than a low-post, back-to-the-basket guy like Thomas Robinson. But let's be real ... this trade saves the Kings a couple million dollars in the short term, and by the time Robinson starts making them look stupid for giving up on the 5th overall pick in last year's draft, Joe and Gavin Maloof and Geoff Petrie will be long gone.
Pick up Patterson (25% owned) if you feel comfortable assuming the Kings will use a rotation that makes any sense at all.
Robinson (34%) will have the opportunity to learn from Rockets coach Kevin McHale - one of the greatest low-post players of his generation - but he's probably a year or two away from really contributing. I'm not sure he's worth
The deals made at this year's trade deadline featured about as much star power as this year's dunk contest.
Maybe less.
After weeks of guessing where big names like Paul Pierce, Dwight Howard, Rajon Rondo, Pau Gasol, Josh Smith, and Kevin Garnett might land ... of imagining new homes for quality pros like Paul Millsap and Al Jefferson ... the deadline came and went with an absolute whimper.
Let's break 'em down.
Kings traded Thomas Robinson, Francisco Garcia, and Tyler Honeycutt to Houston for Patrick Patterson, Cole Aldrich, and Toney Douglas
Sure, the Kings got a floor-spacing four that runs the floor well in Patterson, and he probably makes more sense in a frontcourt with DeMarcus Cousins than a low-post, back-to-the-basket guy like Thomas Robinson. But let's be real ... this trade saves the Kings a couple million dollars in the short term, and by the time Robinson starts making them look stupid for giving up on the 5th overall pick in last year's draft, Joe and Gavin Maloof and Geoff Petrie will be long gone.
Pick up Patterson (25% owned) if you feel comfortable assuming the Kings will use a rotation that makes any sense at all.
Robinson (34%) will have the opportunity to learn from Rockets coach Kevin McHale - one of the greatest low-post players of his generation - but he's probably a year or two away from really contributing. I'm not sure he's worth a roster spot in most formats.
Garcia (1%) could crack the rotation in Houston, as the Rockets are somewhat thin on the wing at this point.
Bucks traded Beno Udrih, Tobias Harris, and Doron Lamb to Orlando for J.J. Redick, Gustavo Ayon, and Ish Smith
So much for the "Bucks won't take on Redick unless they move Monta Ellis or Brandon Jennings first" argument. Milwaukee has a dynamite three-guard rotation now, which will probably be enough to get them into the seventh or eighth slot in the East. But Redick's fantasy value will take a huge hit. He's 73% owned right now, and that number is likely to drop like a stone in the weeks ahead.
Udrih (3%) would be a savvy add at this point, as Jameer Nelson just hurt his knee.
Hawks traded Anthony Morrow to Dallas for Dahntay Jones
The Hawks get an excellent perimeter defender, which will be nice to have in the postseason. The Mavs get one of the league's top three-point marksmen. Morrow (4%) wasn't getting much run in Atlanta, but that should change now. Vince Carter has been thriving in the three-point specialist role this season, but Morrow's arrival will likely cut into his numbers.
Knicks traded Ronnie Brewer to the Thunder, sign Kenyon Martin
Brewer wasn't a fantasy option even when he was in the rotation, but his departure - for a second-round pick - clears a roster spot for the Knicks to add K-Mart. If nothing else, Martin is known for bringing defensive intensity - a quality noticeably lacking at Madison Square Garden of late.
This signing could also be an indication that the Knicks aren't optimistic that they'll get much out of Marcus Camby or Rasheed Wallace down the stretch.
Will Martin play enough to merit a roster spot? My guess is yes.
Warriors traded Charles Jenkins to Philadelphia and Jeremy Tyler to Atlanta for draft considerations
These deals will save the Warriors a nice chunk of change. Jenkins (0%) is a player to watch, as Jason Richardson's season-ending surgery has created a void in Philly's backcourt rotation.
Other deals:
The Suns acquired Marcus Morris from Houston for a second-round pick. This is notable mostly because it reunites the Morris twins, who last played together for the Kansas Jayhawks in 2010-11. I don't want any Phoenix Suns on any fantasy team until Lindsey Hunter stops running his rotation like he's coaching a in an "everybody gets to play 3/8 of the game" league.
The Suns also traded Sebastian Telfair to Toronto for Hamed Haddadi. Telfair (1%) could become an important player at some point, as Kyle Lowry is always getting hurt. Haddadi might be the exception to the "everyone plays 3/8 of the game" rule in Phoenix because he'll likely be waived or not play at all.
The Blazers acquired Eric Maynor from the Thunder and waived Ronnie Price. That's a pretty substantial upgrade at the backup point guard spot, but Maynor won't get enough minutes behind Damian Lillard to be roster-worthy in most formats unless the team opts to run Lillard at shooting guard some.
The Celtics picked up Jordan Crawford from Washington in exchange for Leandro Barbosa (who is out for the season anyway) and Jason Collins (who might as well be). Crawford could be a nice add for Boston, but his fantasy value will take a hit in a deeper backcourt rotation. Bradley Beal (63%) on the other hand, could get a nice boost to his numbers.
Charlotte shipped Hakim Warrick to Orlando and brought back Josh McRoberts. Warrick will be waived. McRoberts might get some frontcourt minutes, but he's not a fantasy option in anything but the deepest of leagues.
Miami sent Dexter Pittman to Memphis for the draft rights to Ricky Sanchez. This deal is interesting only because it opens up a roster spot for the Heat. It will be very interesting to see who Pat Riley intends to sign.
