Just hours before the NBA Lockout officially began, the Cleveland Cavaliers traded power forward J.J. Hickson to the Sacramento Kings in exchange for small forward Omri Casspi and a conditional first round pick. While the trade isn't going to catapult either team into playoff contention, it does come with fantasy changes. Here are the winners and losers from the first trade of the NBA off-season.
Winners
Tristan Thompson, PF, Cleveland: The first real surprise of the 2011 NBA Draft, the fourth overall selection now has an opening to start at power forward from day one. Thompson will need to improve offensively but his defensive numbers should be there from the start. The minutes will be there as the Cavaliers attempt to get as many fresh faces on the court.
Omri Casspi, SF, Cleveland: The other obvious winner here is Casspi. His only other competition at small forward will be Alonzo Gee and Christian Eyenga...exactly. Casspi should be a good source of points, threes and four or five rebounds in the later rounds of drafts.
Jimmer Fredette, PG, Sacramento: If the Kings are serious about making Fredette their point guard of the future, adding another weapon at power forward in Hickson will be important for his progression. The Kings will now line up with Fredette, Tyreke Evans, Marcus Thornton, Hickson and DeMarcus Cousins in the starting lineup, meaning Fredette will have plenty of assist opportunities.
Francisco Garcia, SF, Sacramento: Casspi logged 24 minutes per game in 2010, essentially splitting minutes evenly with Garcia (23.9 minutes). Post-trade, however, Garcia should see a rise in minutes and stats. Garcia had always been the better fantasy player and now will have a chance to improve on his numbers, specifically points, threes and steals.
Antwan Jamison, PF, Cleveland: Tristan Thompson is going to see minutes as the Cavaliers push their young guns along, but he will see fewer minutes than Hickson would have seen. A healthy Jamison will see increased minutes and, if Thompson busts in his rookie year, Jamison will be the go-to guy at power forward for a young Cavaliers team.
Losers
J.J. Hickson, PF, Sacramento: While the Kings improve with the trade, Hickson leaves a wide-open Cleveland front court and will now need to split touches with Cousins and Jason Thompson. He will still be worthy in fantasy leagues, but do not expect double-doubles on a nightly basis like fantasy owners were accustomed to in the second half of 2010.
Kyrie Irving, PG, Cleveland: While I am still high on Irving's prospects in 2011, losing Hickson, the team's best offensive player from a year ago, is going to hurt. Picking up Casspi in the trade will give Irving another shooter on the wing and a major X-factor will be Tristan Thompson's progression.
DeMarcus Cousins, C, Sacramento: The Kings' log jam at power forward in 2010 did not affect Cousins, but a proven power forward in Hickson who can score the ball will decrease Cousins' touches. While it will also take some of the heat off Cousins in the paint, Hickson will need his touches and it will ultimately hurt Cousins' scoring in the short-term.
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