Al Harrington

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The NBA 08-09 season has been by far one of the most exciting and energetic seasons in quite some time. Players are emerging as big time all stars, while others are just beginning to get noticed around the entire league. Trades have changed teams overall play dramatically this season.

Here is a breakdown and the fantasy impact on the biggest trades that have gone through this season.

Detroit Pistons trade Chauncey Billups to the Denver Nuggets for Allen Iverson and Antonio McDyess

Fantasy Impact:

Chauncey Billups (PG, DEN)- has played in 50 games with the Nuggets since being acquired and is averaging career-high numbers in PPG with 18.4 per game, along with 6.1 APG, 2.5 RPG, and 1.4 SPG. Billups is having a very solid fantasy season and has certainly helped Denver’s record of 37-18 (third best record in the Western Conference) this year.

Allen Iverson (PG, DET)- Iverson is averaging career low numbers in PPG (18.3) and MPG (38.4) this season. A.I is now in his 12 season in the NBA and is slowly beginning to lose his fantasy value, especially with up and coming Rodney Stuckey in the line-up. Being shipped to Detroit was a horrible move in the eyes of every fantasy owner this season.

Charlotte Bobcats trade Jason Richardson and Jared Dudley to the Phoenix Suns for Boris Diaw, Raja Bell, and Sean Singletary

Fantasy Impact:

Jason Richardson (SG, PHX)- J-Rich’s season averages 16.3 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 2.1 APG, 1.2 SPG, are down from last year’s 21.8 PPG, 5.4 RPG, 3.1 APG, and 1.4 SPG. Richardson is now on a team with more prolific players and that has clearly been the main reason for his decrease is numbers.

Boris Diaw (SF, CHA)- Since being traded to the Bobcats, Boris Diaw is averaging similar numbers to his breakout 05-06 season when he won the NBA’s Most Improved Player Award. He has currently played 32 games for Charlotte this season averaging a career-high 38.1 MPG, 14.4 PPG, 6.6 RPG, 4.9 APG, 0.9 SPG, and 0.9 BPG. Diaw has turned from a fantasy dud to a fantasy stud this season and is filling up the stat sheet each and every night.

Raja Bell (SG, CHA)- Bell is enjoying a great season this year averaging 13.2 PPG, with career-high 2.7 APG and 3.7 RPG. He is also shooting a career-high 88.9% from the free-throw line. Bell is worthy of owning in 12 plus team fantasy leagues and as a fantasy stop-gap as a replacement for injured players.

Los Angeles Clippers trade Cuttino Mobley and Tim Thomas to the New York Knicks for Mardy Collins and Zach Randolph

Fantasy Impact:

Zach Randolph (PF, LAC)- Randolph averaged career-high numbers in RPG with 12.5 per game in 10 games with the New York Knicks early on this season. Since being shipped to the Clippers his PPG average has gone up to 21.9 per game, as well as his APG (2.4), and MPG (36.2). Randolph has been injured for the majority of the season thus far, but has been a fantasy monster when healthy.

Mardy Collins (PG, LAC)- Collins started in 10 games this season with Baron Davis on the sideline. He was used as a decent stop-gap during that period and put up solid averages in the points, assists, rebounds, and steals totals.

Cuttino Mobley retired this season and Tim Thomas was used as a stop-gap periodically throughout the season.

Golden State Warriors trade Al Harrington to the New York Knicks for Jamal Crawford

Al Harrington (PF, NYK)- Harrington is averaging career-highs in PPG (21.0) and FT% (78.7) in 41 games since joining the Knicks roster. He has started in 24 games this year and is having an excellent fantasy season. Al is averaging 6.6 RPG as well as 1.3 APG and 1.0 SPG.

Jamal Crawford (PG/SG, GS)- Crawford is putting up similar numbers to last season’s averages with 18.9 PPG, 3.1 RPG, 4.6 APG, in 38 games with the Warriors. He is shooting a career-high 90.4% from the free-throw line and is considered a solid number 2 guard option in fantasy leagues.

Toronto Raptors trade Jermaine O’Neal and Jamario Moon to the Miami Heat for Shawn Marion and Marcus Banks

Jermaine O’Neal (PF/C, MIA)- Jermaine is now the starting Center for the Miami Heat and has played in one game with the squad thus far. He will continue to average more MPG, PPG, RPG, and BPG throughout the remainder of the season with the Heat. If O’Neal can stay healthy, his fantasy production could be a big help during the fantasy playoffs.

Shawn Marion (SF/PF, TOR)- Marion will look to increase his season averages on Toronto’s roster and become a number one forward option in all fantasy leagues. He is capable of filling up the stat sheet in every category each night and will increase his fantasy value within a week of play.

Jamario Moon will become nothing more than a bench player for the Heat and should not be picked up in any fantasy league at this time.

Memphis Grizzlies send Kyle Lowry to the Houston Rockets, Rafer Alston sent to the Orlando Magic

Kyle Lowry (PG, HOU)- It is said that the Rockets think very highly of Lowry’s talent and will look to work around him in the long run. It seems that Aaron Brooks will remain the starting point-guard for the Rockets as of now, but if Lowry is placed into the line-up, his fantasy value could increase immensely.

Rafer Alston (PG, ORL)- Alston will remain in the starting line-up for the Orlando Magic and seems like the perfect fit for their team. He will get plenty of looks from the three-point line and you can expect his assists and points totals to increase as well. Alston should be considered a number three guard option in all fantasy leagues.

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