Khris Middleton Headlines Wild Six-Team NBA Trade: Fantasy Basketball Analysis

It's time to discuss some more NBA transactions, as Tuesday was another busy day around the league.

We have signings and a big trade to get to, so let's dive right in. Check back to FantasySP's fantasy basketball page for more offseason coverage.

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.

Six-Team Trade Goes Down

Khris Middleton signed a three-year deal worth $17.6 million with the Wizards, and he was part of a sign-and-trade with Dallas in what ended up as an elaborate six-team deal.

Washington also gets a 2033 second-round pick from the Mavericks in the deal. Dallas gets Santi Aldama (from Memphis), Marcus Sasser (from Detroit) and the draft rights to Tarik Biberovic (from Memphis).

Memphis got Isaiah Stewart (from Detroit), AJ Johnson (from Dallas), D'Angelo Russell (from Washington), a 2030 first-round pick, two 2029 second-round picks, a 2033 second-round pick and a 2032 second-round pick swap.

Detroit landed John Collins (from the LA Clippers), Taurean Prince and Gary Harris (from Milwaukee), the most favorable 2029 second-round pick between the Pistons, Knicks or Bucks, a 2031 second-round pick and a 2032 second-round pick.

Milwaukee got Caris LeVert (from Detroit), a second-round pick, a least favorable second-round pick between the Mavericks or Nets and cash.

Finally, the Clippers received a protected 2028 second-round pick.

Let's now discuss the five teams who received players in this deal.

Wizards' Outlook

Middleton adds forward depth for Washington, where he will be behind rookie AJ Dybantsa and Anthony Davis. It's a good signing for Washington considering Davis' injury history. Plus, Middleton is a nice veteran for Dybantsa and others to learn from.

Middleton should play enough minutes per game to have a little fantasy value, but likely just in deeper leagues. Him not playing every game (as he has an injury history too), should keep him out of standard leagues for large chunks of the coming season.

It's a good deal for Washington, which rosters Trae Young, Alexandre Sarr, Kyshawn George, Dybantsa, Davis, Bub Carrington, Tre Johnson, Bilal Coulibaly, Deandre Ayton and more. I like the roster, and think it could push for a playoff spot, especially if everyone stays healthy. The Wizards could also surprise in the playoffs, especially if Dybantsa looks good as a rookie.

Mavericks' Outlook

Aldama and Sasser are reserve options for Dallas, while Biberovic is a possibility down the line. Aldama will provide depth at forward and center. Sasser is a guard option.

Kyrie Irving, Max Christie, Cooper Flagg, P.J. Washington and Dereck Lively II are the projected starting five, with Aldama and Sasser part of the reserve group that also includes Ryan Nembhard, Klay Thompson, Morez Johnson Jr., Daniel Gafford and others.

It's a solid roster, but likely is just competing for a playoff spot. The Mavericks need more if they want to make some serious noise in the Western Conference. With a new coach and intriguing young players around Flagg, the Mavericks are on the rise.

Grizzlies' Outlook

Stewart is a forward/center reserve option for Memphis, while Johnson and Russell give the Grizzlies some guard depth.

Rookie Cameron Boozer and Zach Edey are the projected starters at power forward and center, which is who Stewart will be behind. He should play enough to have some fantasy relevance in the coming season.

Scotty Pippen Jr., Cedric Coward and Jerami Grant are the other three projected starters. Johnson and Russell will be other guard options, where Ty Jerome, Javon Small, Walter Clayton Jr., Cam Spencer and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope are too. Injuries could help anyone, but right now, it's hard to guess who will play enough for fantasy relevance in the Memphis backcourt.

Jaylen Wells, GG Jackson II and rookie Karim Lopez are some other forward options, and Memphis just signed someone else (we'll discuss that shortly), so it's a mess of a roster right now. 

Memphis will be rebuilding for at least another season, and this could be a frustrating roster to deal with in fantasy basketball, especially if injuries hit and guys are in and out of the rotation. We can address the roster and team a bit more as the season nears and things get a bit more clear.

Pistons' Outlook

Collins is projected to start in Detroit at power forward this coming season. He should be a solid fantasy asset in that role, and even if he comes off the bench.

Prince is forward depth, while Harris is guard depth. I don't see either playing enough to be more than deep-league fantasy assets, and they might only be owned in a few leagues, if they remain with Detroit.

Cade Cunningham, Duncan Robinson, Ausar Thompson and Jalen Duren are the projected starters around Collins. Ebuka Okorie, Isaiah Joe, Ron Holland II, Paul Reed, Daniss Jenkins, Kevin Huerter, Javonte Green, Prince and Harris are among the reserve options.

It's an OK roster overall, but still seems a couple steps below the top contenders in the Eastern Conference. Right now, I expect Detroit to make the playoffs with ease, but fall short of the NBA Finals, and by likely more than a round.

Bucks' Outlook

Milwaukee did well to open a roster spot and acquire some draft picks in the deal. LeVert will be a reserve guard option and have a decent fantasy outlook, if he sticks with Milwaukee - I'd be shocked if he were there by the end of the season.

Right now, the projected starters for the Bucks are Ryan Rollins, Tyler Herro, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kyle Kuzma and Myles Turner. Kevin Porter Jr., rookies Brayden Burries and Nate Ament, Ousmane Dieng, Kel'el Ware, Kasparas Jakucionis, Jericho Sims and now LeVert are reserve options.

It's actually a decent roster on paper, and it could surprise in 2026-27. The Bucks could push for a playoff spot, but are more likely a playoff contender and serious threat in the East in a couple seasons, after they can add some more young talent and move on from vets like Kuzma, Turner and more.

Post Signs with Grizzlies

The Warriors decided not to match the three-year, $30 million offer for restricted free agent Quinten Post, so the big man will now be joining the Grizzlies.

He will be another power forward/center option for Memphis. So Post joins Stewart, Taylor Hendricks and other players at those spots. Memphis is paying Post $10 million a year, so I like his chances of playing enough minutes to have a little fantasy relevance. 

He likely only will be a deep-league fantasy asset, but injuries could push him into some standard leagues. So Post is a player to keep tabs on for the coming season.

Looney Lands with Lakers

Kevon Looney is headed to LA, where he joins the Lakers on a one-year deal worth $3.9 million.

The Lakers needed center depth after trading Ayton away this offseason, and Looney fills that need. He will be a backup option to Walker Kessler, the new center for LA.

The signing opens the opportunity to slide the newly-signed Sandro Mamukelashvili down to power forward, where Jake LaRavia and Jarred Vanderbilt are other options. 

Looney isn't likely to play enough to have much fantasy appeal. He could maybe have some deep-league value, but that's for really, really deep leagues.

Mamukelashvili is a fantasy player I like for the coming season, and that's regardless if he's starting or coming off the bench. LaRavia could have some fantasy appeal as well, and I think Vanderbilt only is going to be worth deep-league usage, if any, this coming year.

Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves and Quentin Grimes round out the projected starting five, and are the guys who will help carry the team. Collin Sexton, rookie Cameron Carr, Dalton Knecht and others are reserve options.

LA's roster is evolving after moving on from LeBron James, and it's good enough to make the playoffs and make a little run. I think the Lakers would need monster performances out of Doncic, Reaves and others to push the top contenders in the West though, so we'll see if LA can add more talent to close the gap.