One of the most important factors that goes in to the fantasy values of pending free agents in the NBA is where they end up and whether or not they end up in a situation that is better or worse for them in terms of production. Basketball fans don’t have to look any further than Kevin Love’s trade from the Minnesota Timberwolves to the Cleveland Cavaliers as an example of how a star fantasy player’s value can dip substantially when they go to a new team. Or Lance Stephenson to the Charlotte Hornets. Or Rajon Rondo to the Dallas Mavericks.
But there have also been plenty of examples of players doing better after moving to a new squad as well and the fact that free agents get to choose where they go should at least –from an outside perspective – improve their chances of ending up in a better situation. Here is a look at three players whose fantasy value could be on the rise if they changed destinations.
Kevin Love, Power Forward
Fantasy owners of Love that expected big things with his move to the Cleveland Cavalier shave been very disappointed with his numbers this season. Even after the trade, a lot of fantasy general managers invested a high draft pick, assuming he’d be an integral member of a Big Three that would dominate the league. However, Love has been more a complementary member of the cast than he has been a central figure.
After averaging 26.5 points per game, 12.5 rebounds and 4.4 assists last season, Love is down to 16.6, 10.1 and 2.4.
That being the case, there is still a very good chance he ends up somewhere else next season. It’s almost a guarantee that Love will exercise his player option and become a free agent in 2015. While some feel he could sign a long term deal with the Cavaliers, there are plenty of experts that think he will eventually sign somewhere else where he can be a star again.
Rajon Rondo, Point Guard
From the moment the Dallas Mavericks acquired Rondo the Boston Celtics, there were critics that called out the move as being a major negative to Rondo’s fantasy production. While he has maintained his average points per game since the move, he is averaging 4 assists and 3 rebounds less per game since the trade. Rondo’s numbers were already down from his 2012-13 season when he averaged 13.7 points and 11.1 assists with the Celtics but there is a very good chance we see his numbers bounce back depending on where he signs this offseason. In Dallas, he’s clashed with head coach Rick Carlisle and hasn’t been a good fit for the system. But if he signs in a place with the Los Angeles Lakers, he should have a huge opportunity to rebuild his fantasy stock.
DeAndre Jordan, Center
The Los Angeles Clippers would love to have Jordan back but it’s pretty obvious they don’t have the money to match some of the offers he will get as a free agent. Jordan will be among the most sought players available on the open market and as he has shown what he’s capable of since Blake Griffin went down with an injury. Since the All-Star break, he’s pouring in 12.7 points per game, 17.7 rebounds, 1.9 blocks, 1.2 assists and 1.1 steals. Those are the type of numbers that lend credence to the argument that he can be one of the top two or three options on a team.
The New York Knicks are among the teams that will likely push hard for Jordan and his numbers could be even better as the No. 2 option behind Carmelo Anthony playing in the triangle offense in the Eastern Conference where there are far fewer top tier big men to match up against him. And while he’s averaging 34.5 minutes per game for the Clippers, that number might go up even more as he’s likely to see more playing time with the talent-limited Knicks.
