In this post, I’m going to focus on players who have trade rumors floating around and whether or not it will benefit or hinder them, and how you can predict what will happen. The following players are up in the air right now: Kyle Lowry, Jordan Crawford, Omer Asik, Iman Shumpert, Jeremy Lin, Tyson Chandler, Zach Randolph, and Paul Millsap. If you’re interested in trying one of your own, just click the following link to work some magic! http://espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine
Now, obviously, some of these are more viable than others, so I’ll start with the ones that are extremely unlikely.
Tyson Chandler, Iman Shumpert, Pau Gasol: The Lakers are banged up, and New York is struggling. The Lakers are now down three point guards in Steve Nash, Jordan Farmar, and now Steve Blake. New York is down a center in Tyson Chandler, and has struggled to a record of 7-16. There has been trade talk involving sending Chandler and Shumpert for Gasol and I assume one of these injured point guards in L.A. However, Chandler is such a vital piece of the New York defense that even though he’s injured, I find it very unlikely New York would give him up especially for a player like Gasol. So scratch that. What I find more likely is L.A. makes a deal for Asik, but I’ll get to that.
Ryan Anderson for Zach Randolph: There has been talk that the Pelicans offered to deal the sharp-shooting Anderson to Memphis in exchange for Randolph. Although Randolph is unique at the power forward position considering his scoring and rebounding skills, Anderson is even more of a rarity, and as long as the Pelicans have Anthony Davis, their rebounding is in check. Not saying that if the Pelicans received a good offer for Anderson they wouldn’t trade him, but just saying that this particular trade is unlikely. Memphis doesn’t want to part with Randolph either, making this trade pretty undesirable. So scratch that.
Jordan Crawford in Miami?: Dwyane Wade isn’t at the level he once was. Maybe he can still produce, but he’s not going to be there on any and every given night. That being said, the Miami Heat are interested in bringing in Crawford as a scoring option while Wade rests. Crawford is currently having a nice season in Boston in lieu of the injured Rondo and defensive-minded Bradley. I don’t really see how Boston could benefit from a trade like this, though. Norris Cole is too important to the second unit that Miami wouldn’t trade him; Michael Beasley? Joel Anthony? Ray Allen back to Boston? Yeah, right. Personally, I just don’t see it happening, but it may appeal to a young player like Crawford to be put in a position to win a championship so young. So consider this. However, if this trade processed, D-Wade’s already declining value will drop, as well as Crawford’s, splitting time with Wade.
Kyle Lowry to New York: Not going to happen unless they get a player like Iman Shumpert, which hasn’t exactly been offered. Lowry, despite the numbers, is more important to any team that people realize. Lowry has the potential to flirt with a triple-double every night. He’s the kind of player that will give his team 12 points, 8 assists, and 7 rebounds, and consistently. He’s vital to Toronto; the offense runs through him. Meanwhile, New York needs a point guard that can create something, considering Carmelo Anthony is almost always the center of the offense. Now originally when I heard about this, I figured Toronto wouldn’t trade Lowry due to his necessity on the Raptors, despite their 9-13 record. However, a Greivis Vasquez complicates/interests things. He had a real coming out season in New Orleans, and he is much too good of a player to not be a starting point guard. He now sits behind Lowry in the depth chart, and I agree that Lowry is better, but having a startable guard in Vasquez might open up the possibility of dealing Lowry if the trade is good enough. So consider this. If a trade goes through and Toronto receives anything other than a point guard, Vasquez instantly becomes a top-20 fantasy option. He neared triple-doubles and posted a double-double almost every night. Last year, he had more double-doubles than even Chris Paul and Rajon Rondo, leading all guards. He’s worth a start, and if Lowry gets traded, picking up Vasquez is the first thing you do.
Omer Asik: Ahh Omer Asik. So much talk. Where’s he headed? The list goes on and on. Atlanta, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Cleveland, New Orleans, Charlotte, pick one. All that’s for certain is Houston wants to get rid of him. Asik is a double-double machine with 2-3 blocks per game in a full-time role, although his offense still could use some work. At this point, Houston just wants to get rid of him and his contract, and GM Daryl Morey is basically going to accept the best offer. In Atlanta, Paul Millsap is a possibility. As a Rockets fan, I like this. However, Millsap is having such a nice season that it seems strange to trade him away. On the other hand, Atlanta is starting two power forwards (Millsap and Horford), making this possible. This would benefit Houston offensively and rebounding-wise, and would benefit Atlanta defensively. Los Angeles, not happening. Charlotte, not happening. Philadelphia, maybe? Word on the street is Philadelphia currently has the highest offer for him. If this were true, they may be considering trading Thaddeus Young or even Spencer Hawes to Houston or a trade involving draft picks. This would bring defense to Philly and a strong big man to Houston. This is also a possibility. If Asik was traded to Cleveland, Houston would be getting Anderson Verejao in return. This is definitely a possibility, considering the shaky play of Andrew Bynum. Asik would thrive in Cleveland with Kyrie Irving running the show, but I don’t see this happening unless nobody else offers for Asik. He won’t be traded to New Orleans unless Houston gets Ryan Anderson for him. Ryan Anderson would bring versatility to the power forward position in Houston, but Rockets defense would then be almost nonexistent. However, either Anderson or Jones would be coming off the bench, and could provide a big spark for the second unit, which is what Houston needs. 
If you ask me? I think Houston should be looking to market Asik and Lin together for either a top-tier point guard or a startable wing coming off the bench to provide that second unit with some production. Obviously, not many teams, if any, would be willing to pick up both Asik’s and Lin’s hefty contracts, so that sort of rules it out, unless there’s a three-team trade. Either way, though, Asik could definitely be traded for a guard or forward who could run the show for the Rockets’ second unit. Maybe to Toronto for Terrence Ross or Orlando for Maurice Harkless? No idea how that kind of thing would work, but more likely than not, they will be receiving a power forward or center for Asik. The bottom line is wherever Asik gets traded, that team wants him as a starter. Nobody would buy Asik’s contract if they weren’t serious about playing him, so he will be a valuable fantasy asset. My guess is around 12 PPG, 13 RPG, 2.5 BPG. So try and get him now if you can. That’s my advice.
Danny Granger: There haven’t been as many rumors about this guy, but he hasn’t played much over the past two years, so nobody knows what sort of condition he’s in besides the Pacers organization. That being said, he’s still Danny Granger and Lance Stephenson has been playing well. I have a feeling Indiana may try to market Granger, and if that comes, his fantasy value will rise because, similar to Asik, any team that is trading for Danny Granger wants to use him as a first or second option. Keep an eye open.
