Fantasy Basketball Impact: Breaking Down Thursday Morning’s NBA Trades

The NBA trades are starting to stack up again, so let's go over some recent ones, which have all occurred on Thursday morning.

To read about other trades, keep checking back to FantasySP.

For the latest player updates, be sure to head to FantasySP to utilize the real-time player news engine for all sports. The player news engine is the most robust and fastest player news system in fantasy sports. Signing up for a FantasySP membership can help you track all your fantasy players.

Dosunmu Dealt to Minnesota

The biggest move of the morning so far has been the Timberwolves acquiring Ayo Dosunmu from the Bulls. Chicago got Rob Dillingham and Leonard Miller, plus four second-round picks in return.

I really like this move for both teams. Chicago had a surplus of guards, while Minnesota needed to add more guards after a trade the other day.

Dosunmu is likely the top backup for Donte DiVincenzo at the point guard spot in Minnesota. Dosunmu could also be a backup option for Anthony Edwards at the shooting guard spot. Regardless of where Dosunmu is playing, he should get enough playing time to have fantasy value in his new home.

Moving on from Dillingham and Miller doesn't impact much else in Minnesota. The starting lineup is good with DiVincenzo, Edwards, Jaden McDaniels, Julius Randle and Rudy Gobert. Bones Hyland, Jaylen Clark, Joe Ingles, Naz Reid, Enrique Freeman and Joan Beringer are other depth options.

I think the Timberwolves will make another move or two before the deadline, but getting Dosunmu is a really nice add for the team and its chances in the Western Conference.

Moving on from Dosunmu means more playing time for guards like Tre Jones, Collin Sexton, Jaden Ivey and Anfernee Simons. Simons is probably the starter at shooting guard now, with Josh Giddey at point guard when he's healthy.

Isaac Okoro, Matas Buzelis and Jalen Smith are the other starters, with Patrick Williams, Ousmane Dieng and Guerschon Yabusele are other options at those positions.

Chicago has made a bevy of trades already, and they still might not be done.

Hawks, Lakers Swap Players

Luke Kennard and Gabe Vincent swapped teams in this deal. Atlanta also got a second-round pick along with Vincent.

Kennard will be a good 2 or 3 option for the Lakers. He should play plenty to have some fantasy value. 

Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, Marcus Smart, LeBron James and Deandre Ayton's starting spots should be safe, and the Lakers might not be done trading just yet.

Kennard is a good secondary option, with Jake LaRavia, Jarred Vanderbilt, Jaxson Hayes, Rui Hachimura and others helping out.

Kennard's fantasy value doesn't get altered too much by the deal. He just has to earn himself a role, so that's the most important thing.

Vincent will be a point guard secondary option in Atlanta, but is buried behind at least Dyson Daniels and CJ McCollum for now. At shooting guard, Atlanta has Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Buddy Hield and McCollum, so I don't love this trade for Vincent - not that he was a big-time fantasy asset anyways.

Atlanta has quietly assembled a nice starting five and has enough depth to hang with teams in the Eastern Conference. We'll see if everything comes together. But I don't see Vincent becoming a big asset in Atlanta, if he even stays with the team.

Bucks, Suns Get into the Action

Milwaukee is no longer going to trade Giannis Antetokounmpo, so the focus now shifts to trading other assets. The Bucks sent Cole Anthony and Amir Coffey to the Suns for Nick Richards and Nigel Hayes-Davis.

Antetokounmpo is still injured, so Richards or Hayes-Davis could both carve out roles with Milwaukee. Right now, Myles Turner and Bobby Portis are the starters, with Kyle Kuzma and Pete Nance being other options. I like Richards to play enough for some fantasy value though.

The trade more opens things up at point guard and forward. Ryan Rollins is the starting point guard, and Kevin Porter Jr. is soaking up a lot of minutes too. AJ Green is probably next in line for point guard minutes after the trade, so I'd expect Milwaukee to trade for a point guard, or add one after trades/drops finalize.

Green is the starter at shooting guard, with Gary Harris, Gary Trent Jr. Porter and Rollins other options there. Kuzma is the small forward starter for now, with Trent, Harris, Green and Andre Jackson Jr. being additional options.

I'd expect Milwaukee to make more moves before the deadline, so we'll probably cover them again soon.

Anthony and Coffey aren't likely to carve out big roles in Phoenix, unless the team is decimated by injuries.

Devin Booker and Jalen Green are more-than-capable guards, while Dillon Brooks and Royce O'Neale are the starting forwards. Mark Williams is the starting center for sure with Richards out of town.

Collin Gillespie is another guard Phoenix likes, and Jamaree Bouyea could also be ahead of Anthony. Grayson Allen, Jordan Goodwin and Ryan Dunn are other guards/forwards who will keep Anthony and Coffey from playing too much. 

Isaiah Livers, Rasheer Fleming, Oso Ighodaro and Khaman Maluach are power forwards or centers who will round out the rotation - if Phoenix doesn't make any other moves.

Knicks, Pelicans Complete Trade

New York added Jose Alvarado, sending Dalen Terry, two second-round picks and cash to New Orleans in return.

Terry didn't last long in New York. Alvarado has a better chance at playing time, but will be in a reserve role. Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart are the starting guards, with Miles McBride, Landry Shamet, Tyler Kolek and Jordan Clarkson being other options.

Alvarado could eventually play enough to be a deep-league fantasy asset, but I doubt he's ever more than that.

I'd be a bit surprised if New York doesn't trade some guard depth to upgrade elsewhere.

Mikal Bridges is the small forward, with Shamet, Clarkson and Hart  other options there. OG Anunoby is the power forward, with Mohamed Diawara and Kevin McCullar Jr. as additional options.

Karl-Anthony Towns is the center, and Mitchell Robinson is a good backup option. So really, the power forward spot is the weak spot, so that's where I'd expect the Knicks to add more help at eventually.

In New Orleans, Terry probably won't have a great chance at extensive playing time, so his fantasy appeal is down.

Not having Alvarado at point guard opens things for Jeremiah Fears, Jordan Hawkins and others. I think New Orleans is still going to trade Jordan Poole away, which would help out Fears and Hawkins even more. Trey Murphy III is the projected starter at point guard for now.

Herbert Jones, Saddiq Bey, Zion Williamson and Derik Queen are the other projected starters. Micah Peavy, Karlo Matkovic and Yves Missi are some of the top backups, with Bryce McGowens, Kevon Looney and DeAndre Jordan being other options for now. 

New Orleans is definitely looking toward the future, which is why I expect them to part ways with Poole soon.

If Terry sticks on the roster, he could be an option at a guard or forward spot, but I don't love his outlook right now.