From Harden and JJJ to Vucevic: Fantasy reaction to the latest NBA trades

When the deals go down leading up the Feb. 5 NBA trade deadline, check back in as our fantasy experts Andre Snellings and Eric Moody provide their reaction.

Our NBA trade tracker is updated as each deal happens, to help you keep track of all the player movement.

So who are the players that benefit most from each deal? Who could see their fantasy value sink?

Here's the latest following a hectic stretch leading up to Thursday's deadline day.

Moody: The Zubac trade signals a clear pivot for both the LA Clippers and Pacers. Los Angeles is committing to a retool after moving James Harden, prioritizing youth and draft capital by acquiring Bennedict Mathurin, Isaiah Jackson, two first-round picks (including an unprotected 2029) and a second-rounder. With no control of its own first-rounder this year, the Clippers focused on long-term upside, with Mathurin offering a potential scoring wing to pair with Kawhi Leonard.

Indiana's rationale centers on stability at center after losing Myles Turner. Zubac fills that need immediately on a team-friendly deal through 2027-28. He has averaged 14.4 points and 11.0 rebounds on 61.3% shooting this season with 24 double-doubles while ranking among the league's best interior defenders. Since last season, he has contested the fourth-most shots and limited opponents to 44.8% shooting. Offensively, his high-volume screening makes him an ideal long-term pick-and-roll partner for Tyrese Haliburton.

Zubac's presence should immediately stabilize the front line and improve both areas when he's on the floor. However, with Indiana well outside the playoff picture, the short-term outlook is murkier. Zubac should step in as the starting center immediately, but the odds of a late-season shutdown are real as the Pacers protect lottery positioning. For fantasy managers, he profiles as a high-floor option with increasing volatility due to potential late-season rest. Overall, the Clippers gain flexibility and upside, while the Pacers secure their center of the future, though not one they are likely to fully unleash this season.

Fantasy value increases: Brook Lopez, Bennedict Mathurin, Isaiah Jackson
Fantasy value decreases (for this season): Ivica Zubac

Moody: The Mavericks officially closed the book on the brief, injury-marred AD era by sending him to the Wizards in a blockbuster multi-player deal. Dallas also included Jaden Hardy, D'Angelo Russell and Dante Exum, while receiving Khris Middleton, AJ Johnson, Malaki Branham, Marvin Bagley III, plus two first-round picks and three second-rounders.

For the Mavericks, the move reflects a clear shift toward long-term stability. Davis played in just 20 of Dallas' first 50 games this season, with the team going 10-10 when he was available and 9-21 when he was sidelined. Durability remained the defining issue. Including this year, Davis will have failed to reach 60 games played in five of the last six seasons, missing at least 29 games in back-to-back years.

During his brief tenure with the Mavericks, he appeared in only 29 regular-season games, with the team going 16-13 in those contests, while he missed 54 of a possible 83 games. Despite averaging 20.4 PPG and 11.1 RPG when healthy, Davis' inconsistent availability made him difficult to build around. By moving him, Dallas gains draft capital and financial flexibility as it reshapes its roster around younger talent, including former No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg. The move could also make it less likely that we see Kyrie Irving suit up in a game for the Mavericks this season.

For the Wizards, the deal represents a calculated gamble. When healthy, Davis remains one of the league's most impactful two-way bigs and could eventually form a strong defensive pairing with Alex Sarr. His presence also gives the Wizards a potential frontcourt anchor alongside Trae Young. Still, with Davis currently injured and Washington in rebuilding mode, patience will be required, as he may not play again this season.

Fantasy value increases: Daniel Gafford, Naji Marshall, P.J. Washington, Bilal Coulibaly, Tre Johnson
Fantasy value decreases (for this season): Anthony Davis

The Warriors have finally made their trade to move on from Kuminga, but it was not as part of a deal for Giannis Antetokounmpo. Instead, the Dubs sent Kuminga and Buddy Hield to the Hawks on Wednesday night for Porzingis. The Warriors get an All-Star center, when healthy, while the Hawks get Kuminga's upside.

Let's start with Porzingis. His fantasy value is predicated most on his availability. He has played more than 57 games in a season only once since 2016-17, and he missed 35 of the Hawks' first 52 games this season. With that said, even when he played, Porzingis was on pace for career lows in minutes (24.3 MPG), rebounds (5.1 RPG), blocks (1.3 BPG) and steals (0.5 SPG) with his lowest scoring average (17.1 PPG) since his rookie season. Though some of that might be due to injury management, more is likely a matter of finding minutes on a deep and talented Hawks front line next to Jalen Johnson, Onyeka Okongwu and Zaccharie Risacher. Porzingis will have no similar competition with the Warriors, where he immediately becomes the unquestioned lead front-line producer whenever he is on the court.

This season, Porzingis' per-36 minute scoring (25.4 PP36) and assists (4.0) increased since last season and represent some of the highest marks of his career. Porzingis' fantasy average of 37.9 FP/G last season would rank inside the top 50 in 2025-26. That is a reasonable ranking for Porzingis in Golden State ... when healthy. But that's a big caveat, so his overall fantasy value remains limited to "big risk/big reward" moving forward.

Meanwhile, Kuminga teased his outstanding potential with the Warriors but tended to fall out of coach Steve Kerr's rotations even when he was healthy. Presumably, Kuminga will be in the Hawks' rotation, but he still has to battle for playing time in the Hawks' young, deep front line. For the past three seasons, Kuminga's per-36 averages (21.7 points, 6.9 rebounds, 3.2 assists) indicate he could be a fantasy impact player as a starter, but his likely limited playing time keep him as more of a fantasy streamer or fringe roster-worthy player with upside moving forward.

Hield is one of the best shooters of this generation, but it's hard to see him getting fantasy-worthy playing time in a deep Hawks wing unit already full of shooter-scorers and realizable young potential.

Fantasy value increases: Kristaps Porzingis, Jonathan Kuminga
Fantasy value decreases: Buddy Hield

The Hornets have acquired Coby White and Mike Conley in exchange for Collin Sexton, Ousmane Dieng and three second-round picks according to ESPN's Shams Charania, ending White's tenure in Chicago.

White had drawn interest from multiple teams, and Charlotte ultimately won the sweepstakes. With Sexton now headed to the Bulls, White is expected to step into the sixth-man role that Sexton previously occupied and could also see spot starts when LaMelo Ball rests on back-to-backs. While this isn't an ideal landing spot from a fantasy perspective, White should still log enough minutes and usage to remain a reliable option in most leagues. He's averaged 19.5 PPG and 4.8 APG over the last three seasons, starting 177 of 182 games during that span.

Conley's role is less clear. The veteran guard has been used sparingly this season and could become a buyout candidate, limiting his fantasy relevance unless he lands in a more favorable situation.

For the Bulls, Sexton becomes the centerpiece of the return, but his fantasy outlook is complicated. He's averaging career lows in MPG (22.3), PPG (14.2) and RPG (1.9), and now joins an already crowded Bulls backcourt. Unless Chicago makes additional moves, Sexton's path to consistent fantasy value will be limited by competition for minutes and touches.

Fantasy value decreases: Collin Sexton, Mike Conley

Snellings: The Clippers and Cavaliers have swapped All-Star point guards, with Harden headed to Cleveland in exchange for Garland and a second-round pick. Both teams are claiming this to be a "win-win" deal, with the Cavaliers getting the 36-year-old Harden to try to "win now" and the Clippers acquiring a 26-year-old two-time All-Star to compete now and grow for the future. But how will fantasy managers be affected by this deal? Let's explore.

Harden on Cavaliers

Harden was having one of his best fantasy seasons in recent years. He currently ranks 12th in the league in total fantasy points and 13th in fantasy points per game, and for category leagues he ranks eighth in the ESPN Player Rater. But Harden accomplished this for a Clippers team with him and Kawhi Leonard as the only true offense generators (and Leonard sat out 13 games in the first half of the season), so Harden was often a unipolar offensive threat. Harden dominated the ball with the Clippers, usually bringing it up the court and acting as one of the main decision-makers for who would shoot and when. Harden's usage rate (percentage of possessions he ended with a shot, assist or turnover) was 31.3%, his highest mark and the first time he had a mark over 30% since his last full season with the Rockets in 2019-20.

Though Harden will still run the point for the Cavaliers, his usage should go way down since he will go from the co-main option to either No. 2 or No. 3. Donovan Mitchell is the No. 1 option for the Cavaliers and has had a usage rate over 30% every season he has played in Cleveland. Evan Mobley is the main frontcourt scoring option for the Cavaliers and will have to get his touches as well. The departed Garland had a usage rate of 25.4%, and Harden's usage in Cleveland probably will fall somewhere in the middle of his own Clippers' usage and Garland's in Cleveland.

For Harden, the lower usage probably means fewer points and assists. Instead of being a borderline top-10 fantasy player as he has been all season, Harden projects to more of a top-25 player moving forward. Mitchell might also see a decrease in usage and production while sharing the backcourt with Harden, sliding from seventh in total fantasy points to more of a top-15 option. Interestingly, both Mobley and Allen could see an uptick in scoring and field goal percentage as Harden's pick-and-roll partners. Both are excellent finishers and should be able to take advantage of the good looks Harden creates.

Garland on Clippers

Garland's situation is the opposite of Harden's. After sharing the backcourt with a higher-usage threat on a deep Cavaliers team, he will now get the chance to be more of a unipolar offense producer on a Clippers squad that lacks creators outside of Leonard on the wing. Garland's career-best averages of 21.7 points and 8.6 assists came in his third season, at age 22, before Mitchell's arrival with the Cavs. Garland has the upside to reach or surpass that level of production for the Clippers ... if he can get healthy.

Garland sat out 25 of the Cavaliers' first 51 games because of a lingering toe injury, and hasn't played since Jan. 14. Garland ranked 83rd in fantasy scoring average this season, but his average was down more than five FP/G from last season and it was clear the injury was hampering him. Garland's scoring average from last season (38.9 FP/G) would rank in the top 40 this season, so if he gets fully healthy, his upside is at least top 40 with a chance at top 30. But health is a big if.

Fantasy value increases: Darius Garland
Fantasy value decreases: James Harden, Donovan Mitchell

Snellings: The Jazz have acquired Jackson, John Konchar, Jock Landale and Vince Williams Jr. from the Memphis Grizzlies in exchange for Walter Clayton Jr., Kyle Anderson, Taylor Hendricks, Georges Niang and three first-round picks. Several of the players involved were in both teams' rotations and could have impact on fantasy streaming options, but here we'll focus on the fantasy implications for the main impact player in the deal, Jackson.

Jackson was second on the Grizzlies in scoring average at 19.2, just behind Ja Morant's 19.5 and ahead of Santi Aldama (14.0), who ranks third. But since Morant has sat out 28 of 48 games this season, Jackson has been the primary scoring option for the Grizzlies for much of 2025-26. On the Jazz team as currently constructed, Jackson would move to a third option on offense behind Lauri Markkanen (27.4 PPG) and Keyonte George (24.2 PPG). Jackson is a strong shooter from outside, and he is also solid at linear drives to the rim and finishing in the paint. He operates in similar areas as Markkanen and probably will alternate with Markkanen as the pick-setter for George in the pick-and-roll/pop.

Jackson's volume likely decreases a bit, but his percentages could increase. Before the trade, Jackson ranked around 60th in points and 30th in category leagues. After the trade, Jackson probably slides a bit to top 80 in points and top 50 in category leagues.

Fantasy value increases: Santi Aldama, Cedric Coward
Fantasy value decreases: Jaren Jackson Jr., Jusuf Nurkic