Fantasy Tips: Breaking Down the '08-'09 NBA Season Trades

The 2008-09 NBA season has been, by far, one of the most exciting and energetic campaigns 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 of the fantasy impact of the biggest trades that have occurred this season.

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

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

Allen Iverson, PG, Detroit: Iverson is averaging career-low numbers in PPG (18.3) and MPG (38.4) this season. A.I. is now in his 12th NBA season and is slowly beginning to lose his fantasy value, especially with up-and-coming Rodney Stuckey getting more and more minutes in the Pistons' backcourt. Iverson being shipped to Detroit was bad for every one of his fantasy owners.

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

Jason Richardson, SG, Phoenix: J-Rich's season averages of 16.3 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 2.1 APG, and 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 scorers and that has clearly been the main reason for his numbers' decrease.

Boris Diaw, SF, Charlotte: Since being traded to the Bobcats, Diaw has been posting similar numbers to those of his breakout 2005-06 season, when he won the NBA's Most Improved Player Award. He's played 32 games for Charlotte this season and is 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, Charlotte: Bell is enjoying a great season this year, averaging 13.2 PPG, and career-highs of 2.7 APG and 3.7 RPG. He is also shooting a career-high 88.9 percent 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

Zach Randolph, PF, L.A. Clippers: Randolph averaged a career high 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 has gone up to 21.9 per game, and his APG (2.4) and MPG (36.2) have increased as well. Randolph has been injured for the majority of the season, but has been a fantasy monster when healthy.

Mardy Collins, PG, L.A. Clippers: Collins has started 10 games this season with Baron Davis on the sideline. He performed as a decent stop-gap and put up solid averages in the points, assists, rebounds, and steals categories.

Cuttino Mobley retired shortly after the trade and Tim Thomas was used only sporadically by the Knicks until later traded.

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

Al Harrington, PF, New York: Harrington is averaging career-highs in PPG (21.0) and free-throw shooting (78.7 percent) in 41 games since joining the Knicks. He has started 24 games this year and is posting great fantasy numbers. Al is averaging 6.6 RPG as well as 1.3 APG and 1.0 SPG.

Jamal Crawford, SG, Golden State: Crawford's stats look similar to last season's averages: 18.9 PPG, 3.1 RPG, and 4.6 APG in 38 games with the Warriors. He is shooting a career-high 90.4 percent from the free-throw line and is considered a solid two-guard in most leagues.

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

Jermaine O'Neal, C, Miami: 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 through the remainder of the season with his new club. If O'Neal can stay healthy, his production could be a big help during the fantasy playoffs.

Shawn Marion, SF, Toronto: Marion will look to increase his season averages after moving to Toronto's roster, hopefully again becoming a No. 1 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, Rockets send Rafer Alston to the Orlando Magic

Kyle Lowry, PG, Houston: It is said that the Rockets think very highly of Lowry's talent and will look to build around him in the long run. It seems that Aaron Brooks will remain the starting point guard for the Rockets for now, but if Lowry cracks the rotation, his fantasy value could increase immensely.

Rafer Alston, PG, Orlando: Alston will remain a starter 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 assist and point totals to increase as well. Alston should be considered a No. 3 guard option in all fantasy leagues.