André SnellingsCloseAndré SnellingsESPN Senior WriterDr. André Snellings is a senior writer for men’s and women’s fantasy basketball and sports betting at ESPN. André has a Ph.D. in biomedical engineering from Michigan. He joined ESPN in 2017 after a 16-year career as a neural engineer, during which time he was also a writer and analyst for Rotowire. and Eric MoodyCloseEric MoodyESPN WriterEric Moody is a writer for fantasy football, men’s and women’s basketball, and sports betting at ESPN. Eric joined ESPN in 2021 after working as a senior fantasy analyst at Pro Football Network. Prior to that, he spent much of his career as a manager at a Fortune 100 financial services company.Follow on XMultiple AuthorsFeb 5, 2026, 04:13 PM ET
play0:21Nikola Vucevic drains it from downtownNikola Vucevic hits the 3 Indiana Pacers
Ivica Zubac’s trade to Indiana shakes things up for this season and beyond
Anthony Davis’ trade to Washington has wide-ranging impact
What swap means for Kristaps Porzingis, Jonathan Kuminga
James Harden joins crowded Cavs, Darius Garland gets opportunity with Clips
How Nikola Vucevic fits in Boston, and Anfernee Simons in Chicago
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Nikola Vucevic drains it from downtownNikola Vucevic hits the 3 Indiana Pacers
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.
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.
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.
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.
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’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
Moody: The Celtics and Bulls completed one of the most impactful frontcourt-backcourt swaps so far as we approach the trade deadline, with Vucevic heading to Boston and Simons moving to Chicago in a deal that also included second-round picks heading to Chicago. For Boston, the move addresses a clear need. After losing depth in recent seasons, the Celtics were searching for a reliable, floor-spacing center, and Vucevic fits that role perfectly.
The veteran big man has averaged 16.9 points, 9.0 rebounds and 3.8 assists this season. Since entering the league in 2011-12, no player has recorded more double-doubles than Vucevic (578), and he is one of only three players in league history with at least 10,000 rebounds and 900 3-pointers made. Over the past five seasons, only Karl-Anthony Towns has made more 3s among centers. Vucevic’s ability to stretch the court should open up Boston’s offense while stabilizing the paint.
Fantasy value increases: Anfernee Simons, Jalen Smith Fantasy value decreases: Neemias Queta, Luka Garza
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.
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.
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.