Fantasy Basketball: 9 Most Likely Deals That Will Impact Your Lineup the Most

While NBA fans all over the World impatiently wait to see how the litany of deadline deals impact their favorite teams, fantasy basketball owners know that more than just their favorite NBA teams' fortunes hang in the balance.

Changing teams can mean plenty of things.

New coach, new offensive system, new plays, new teammates. The new team the player in question lands on could offer more minutes or less. A guy who was grabbing nine rebounds a game before a potential trade could find himself playing alongside a new teammate who already grabs nine boards a game.

If the trade deadline is as active as some evidence suggests, it's a safe bet that no fantasy basketball team will be isolated from the impact of the deals that could take place.

Here are a few potential trades that could have major impact on fantasy basketball leagues all across the nation.  

Monta Ellis Lands in Minnesota

Monta Ellis is not one of those aging stars on the trade block. 

He's a dynamic 26-year-old athlete who is among the league's better scorers. Ellis has explosive leaping ability and can score from virtually anywhere on the court. 

He's also being shopped by the Golden State Warriors. The Warriors have Stephen Curry at the point guard position. Curry is an exceptional outside shooter and a solid passer as well. 

Ellis for all of his offensive proficiency is not known as a great defender. On the ball, he's shorter (6'3") than many of his shooting guard peers. Off the ball, he gambles. Sometimes, that can result in a steal, but too often is results in a defensive breakdown that other members of his team must attempt to recover from . 

Ellis has one year left on his contract and still has considerable value for teams looking for production at the shooting guard position. 

A potential trade that would land Ellis in Minnesota would have major fantasy ramifications. 

First of all, were Ellis to depart Golden State, it's a near certainty that whoever they got in return wouldn't shoot the ball as often. That would increase the scoring output on the Warriors especially for backcourt players such as Curry and Dorell Wright. 

Ellis in Minnesota would be a boon to Ricky Rubio's assist numbers. The rookie point guard who already averages over eight assists per game would finally have a top scorer playing alongside him in the backcourt. 

Adding Ellis could cost Kevin Love a few shots, but Love is such a prolific rebounder that he'd make up for less shots with offensive put-backs and second-chance points. 

The pairing of Ellis and Curry in Golden State has always been a bit awkward. Both are great scorers, and both are a bit undersized. Separating them may actually be a boon for both of them. 

Dwight Howard Wears Purple and Gold

Yes, Dwight Howard could end up in New Jersey or Dallas. 

He could even end up staying put in Orlando. 

The Lakers still loom as a potential destination as well. 

Howard has never played alongside a scorer such as Kobe Bryant. No shock there since Kobe is one of the greatest scorers in NBA history. More importantly is if Howard were to come to Los Angeles, one of their current big men would depart. Possibly both of them would leave Los Angeles in what would be a mega deal. 

Hypothetically speaking, if only one were to leave, Howard's presence would have major ramifications for either Pau Gasol or Andrew Bynum. In addition, Kobe's presence would impact Howard. 

Howard has been the centerpiece of Orlando's offense since his arrival in the league nearly eight seasons ago. 

In Los Angeles, he'd be the No. 2 option on offense, and while he'd retain his status as the premier low-post player if either Gasol or Bynum were playing next to him, he'd find himself paired with a more talented frontcourt player than what he's used to. 

Howard in Los Angeles would likely result in less shots and less plays run specifically for Howard than what he experiences in Orlando. 

His scoring could suffer as could his rebounding numbers. Howard's presence down low would be buffered by whichever current Laker big man remained, and Howard's mere presence would open the perimeter offense up for Kobe and other smaller Lakers who would probably see an increase in open shots and available lanes. More made field goals means less available offensive rebounds which would of course drag down his overall rebounding numbers. 

Kobe Bryant could see an uptick in both points and assists as he'd find an even more tempting offensive force lurking on the low blocks when he dribble drives toward the hoop. 

It's not just the Lakers that would be impacted. Adding either Gasol or Bynum to Orlando would place both players in a position they're not used to. 

Either one would become the primary low-post scoring option in Orlando. Either player would experience an uptick in both scoring and possibly rebounding as well. Gasol averaged 12.3 rebounds per game in November of 2010 while Bynum was injured. 

Bynum has spent the better part of his career playing alongside Gasol. He's only 24 years old, and the former first-round pick who passed up college and jumped straight to the NBA has experienced a serendipitous circumstance in Los Angeles getting to play alongside some of the league's best players, learning the low post at an incremental pace and also experiencing and contributing to championship teams. 

Landing Orlando would be the equivalent of a "graduation" of sorts. No more first-ballot Hall of Fame shooting guard on the court, no more perennial All-Star at power forward. He'd be expected to fill the gap left by the current "best center in the NBA" and continue his development into what many see as the heir to Howard's current place atop league centers. 

Bynum could—barring injury—explode into the stratosphere in Orlando. He already averages over 16 points and 12 rebounds per game with more than two blocks. As Orlando's primary low-post option, it's not a stretch to suggest that eventually Bynum could put up numbers better than what we've seen from Howard. That wouldn't happen this season, but down the road, it could pan out that way. 

Gasol in Orlando would be a different situation. Orlando would really feel the loss of Howard more if Gasol were all they got in return. That seems unlikely, but Gasol could end up as the primary low-post player Orlando receives in a Howard deal. 

Orlando would try and rectify that in the offseason, but for the remainder of this season, Gasol could be pretty production assuming his shoulder does not impact his play too much.

Gasol would up his rebounds and his scoring as well. If you're in a league that values field goal percentage that could take a hit as Gasol is counted on to take more shots and receives more attention from defenses no longer needing to worry about Bryant slashing or Bynum on the weak side when Gasol has the ball on offense. 

Chris Kaman to the Heat

Chris Kaman has a big contract and plays on a team that desperately wants to shed salary. 

The New Orleans Hornets are under control by the league office while they await a buyer. 

More importantly, the Heat who already possesses the league's second-best record have only one real weakness—the lack of an interior scoring presence and a big body to patrol the middle of the paint.

Kaman would fill both those needs. It would take some financial tinkering and a willingness to be flexible from both the Heat and from Kaman, but if Kaman who has player most of his career for weak teams really wants a shot at a ring heading to Miami would be a great idea.

It wouldn't be so great for those who own Kaman in fantasy leagues though.

Kaman's numbers have already fallen off precipitously since he was an All-Star in 2010. Going to Miami wouldn't help his fantasy numbers. He'd get to experience a lot more winning, and he'd get more easy baskets as a result of defenses focusing on his teammates such as Dwyane Wade, LeBron James and Chris Bosh. He wouldn't get as many shots though. His rebounding could experience an uptick.

Kaman would immediately supplant Joel Anthony in the starting lineup if he were to join the Heat. Anthony averages only 4.3 rebounds per game, but that paltry production is a large part of the reason the Heat would want Kaman in the first place.

The Heat don't need a center to do much more than play decent defense and eat up boards. Kaman could easily do that .

This deal could have a major impact on the Hornets. If Kaman were to depart, then pending his health, Emeka Okafor would get more minutes, more touches and take on a larger role on the team.

That hasn't always yielded the results the Hornets have wanted, and Okafor could be dealt as part of a total housecleaning in New Orleans as well, but were he to remain in the Bayou, then his numbers would at the very least be given every opportunity to increase.  

Ramon Sessions on the Lakers

The Lakers and their fans may want Dwight Howard, but acquiring a player like Ramon Sessions seems more likely as the trade deadline nears. 

Sessions is stuck in a backup role behind dynamic rookie Kyrie Irving in Cleveland. Irving who was last June's No. 1 overall pick in the NBA draft has been and will continue to be given every opportunity to develop and improve in Cleveland. 

That leaves Sessions as one of the leagues' better backup point guards. 

The Lakers are a team in need of a point guard. Derek Fisher was never one of the great point guards, but he was steady, dependable and understood the triangle offense employed by former Lakers' head coach Phil Jackson. 

Fisher is older now, and Jackson is gone. His age has impacted his durability and his athleticism. The presence of a crew of very athletic young point guards in the NBA has exposed Fisher's defensive liabilities even more. He just can't keep up with the blazing quickness of today's top point guards. 

Sessions would be a major upgrade and adding steady point play to the team would only improve the shots that the Lakers take. It could result in a slight improvement in scoring for all the big names on the Lakers such as Gasol, Bynum and of course Kobe. 

Playing alongside those talented offensive players would also allow Sessions to score with more frequency. Sessions on the Lakers would be a major fantasy upgrade for not just Sessions, but other players in purple and gold. 

Removing Sessions from Cleveland would only allow Irving more time on the court to learn and improve. That might not be as beneficial in the short term as some may think. Prior to this season, Irving had barely even played college basketball. His early-season injury in his freshman year at Duke caused him to miss almost all of last season. 

That limited time on the hardwood outside of the high school level makes even a high-energy younger player such as Irving prone to getting run down as his first NBA season begins to wind down.

Some of his numbers will probably increase, but more time on the court could be more fouls and more turnovers. In many fantasy leagues, those can generate negative points. Something to keep in mind if his minutes were to increase due to Sessions' departure. 

Josh Smith on the Celtics

The Boston Celtics are old and the future of the team, specifically the frontcourt, is a huge question mark. 

Acquiring Josh Smith from the Atlanta Hawks would be huge step for the Celtics and general manager Danny Ainge. 

Smith is a seven-year veteran, but having made the jump to the NBA directly from high school, he's only 26 years old. 

Smith would step in at the power forward position because it's very likely that any deal for Smith would include veteran Kevin Garnett and his expiring contract. Ray Allen probably would be required as well. 

If Smith were to join the Celtics, and if the Celtics were able to retain point guard Rajon Rondo, then Smith would be playing alongside a top point guard for the first time in his career. 

Playing alongside Rondo would only provide Smith new scoring opportunities. As Boston's premier frontcourt player he might even see both his points and rebounds increase. 

For Garnett and possibly Allen, Atlanta would be a difficult place to finish up the season. The team sports a good record, but they've lost center Al Horford for the remainder of the season, and the lack of a decent point guard means both players would be forced to create more of their own offensive opportunities. 

Smith in a Celtic uniform, paired with Rondo, could be a major fantasy win for his owners. 

Steve Nash Goes to Orlando

It would be a very risky move for Orlando to bring Steve Nash on board. Conceivably, the team could start next season having lost both Nash and Dwight Howard via free agency. That would be a worst-case scenario for the Magic. 

For fantasy basketball owners of Nash and Howard, this pairing could be a real winner for the remainder of the 2011-2012 season. 

Adding Nash would likely increase scoring output for the entire Magic team. Howard would be no exception. 

Nash's assists probably wouldn't get that much higher, but at a league-leading 11.0 per game, he's already providing plenty of those. 

Howard's interior presence would provide Nash with some more open looks from the outside as well as some open lanes to the basket when defenses over-commit on Howard and help doesn't make it in time to cut off a penetrating Nash.

As for the Phoenix situation, owners of Jameer Nelson who is likely to be dealt as part of a Nash deal would see him assume the starting point guard role on a Phoenix team that lacks anything in the way of serious high-scoring threat.

That could make Nelson even less valuable than his current standing.

Nash's departure would likely remove a spark from a Suns team that is already in the midst of a very subpar season. Production for players like Marcin Gortat, Jared Dudley and Grant Hill could suffer.  

Dwight Howard to the New Jersey Nets

If everything worked out exactly as the New Jersey Nets would dream of, then Dwight Howard won't be on the Nets before the end of this season.

He'll stay in Orlando or get dealt somewhere else and then sign with New Jersey as a free agent during the summer. 

Things don't always work out in neat little sequences like that.

New Jersey might find itself needing to make a deal for Howard in the next two weeks. If that deal were to happen, it would probably be a deal involving lots of players. 

For New Jersey, what seems most likely is that when the smoke cleared they'd still have one of the league's best point guards in Deron Williams paired with the league's best center in Dwight Howard. 

The rest of the Nets roster could look dramatically different. MarShon Brooks and Brook Lopez seem almost certain to be a part of any Howard-to-the-Nets deal. 

Still adding Howard to Williams in New Jersey would pair the big man with the best point guard he's ever played with. Assuming Anthony Morrow is not part of the deal, the Nets could have a situation where a skilled point guard has a dominant big man to dump the ball down to in the low post, and that big man would have a pretty good outside shooter to dish to on the perimeter in the event that the defense totally collapsed on him. 

That alone should make things interesting for owners of all three players. 

In Orlando removing Howard would probably open up shots for numerous other players. Brooks and Lopez would probably become the top two options on offense almost immediately. Both players have missed considerable time to injury this season, but when healthy, they've both produced. 

A deal of this scope would probably be beneficial to owners of all the key players involved. The only player whose fantasy production could really drop off is Nets big man Kris Humphries.

Humphries was putting up big numbers while Brook Lopez was injured, but his return could spell trouble for Humphries' production. Were Howard to show up on the scene then Humphries would really experience a decline in fantasy value as the low-post offense would run through Howard whenever he was on the floor.  

Michael Beasley to the Lakers

Micheal Beasley was the second overall pick in the 2008 NBA draft. He entered the NBA as an ambidextrous 6'10" scoring machine who many assumed would be a real force in the NBA.

Almost four years later, the league is still waiting to see Beasley play to his potential.

He's been typically inconsistent in Minnesota this season. With first-round pick Derrick Williams flashing his own offensive potential and with Ricky Rubio and Kevin Love installed as the building blocks of the franchise, Beasley has become expendable.

The Los Angeles Lakers could use another player who can generate his offense from a little further away from the basket. Both Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum get the bulk of their production from the low post.

Beasley, when he's playing well, is a more versatile offensive player. The arrival of Beasley would probably coincide with the departure of Pau Gasol.

Beasley could immediately step in and generate points, and the style he plays on the floor would open up the low post for Bynum to operate and more importantly remove some of the defensive pressure that Kobe Bryant receives whenever he touches the ball.

The lack of another player who can put the ball on the floor and score has allowed defenses to focus even more on Kobe. Beasley at his best would be a better scoring less guard-like replacement for Lamar Odom.

His arrival in Los Angeles would probably be boost to Beasley's numbers, and it certainly wouldn't hurt any of the current Lakers either.

Pau Gasol owners, however, could take a big hit were he to end up in Minnesota. Gasol isn't going to be able to grab 10 rebounds per game playing alongside Kevin Love, and with the Timberwolves looking to incorporate as many young players as possible into their rotations, Gasol's overall numbers could take a hit.  

Ray Allen to the Los Angeles Clippers

After the Clippers acquired Chris Paul the management and coaches shrewdly identified a weak spot on a team that wanted to make a serious run at the NBA Finals. 

Timely outside shooting, veteran leadership and dependable ball-handling and free-throw shooting will inevitably play a key role on a team with championship aspirations. 

That's why the Clippers signed Chauncey Billups when he was released by the Knicks. Unfortunately, Billups was lost for the season due to a torn Achilles tendon. 

Ray Allen would represent an ideal replacement for Billups. Letting Allen go would open up more outside shot opportunities in Boston, but it's unclear that there's anyone on the current roster who could take advantage of that to make a fantasy impact. 

Allen on the Clippers in intriguing though. Playing alongside one of the few point guards who could be considered a better ball-handler than Rajon Rondo, Allen would undoubtedly get the ball in good spots from Chris Paul. He'd also be depended on to shoulder less of the overall offensive burden since Paul is a decent scorer, and Blake Griffin is an offensive force as well.

Allen's presence can force one defender to completely commit to guarding him. That would mean Paul being allowed more freedom of movement and probably result in better looks for Griffin who is already having a great season. 

How the Clippers could fit Allen in under the cap is not entirely clear. A deal such as this one might take adding in a third team to help satisfy the Clippers cap issues and fill in the blank as to what exactly the Celtics would receive in return. 

Allen on the Clippers would be a solid boost to his fantasy value though.