The Wizards and Mavericks have made the first big move of the trade season, with Caron Butler(notes), Brendan Haywood(notes), and DeShawn Stevenson(notes) headed to Dallas in exchange for Josh Howard(notes), Drew Gooden(notes), James Singleton(notes), and Quinton Ross(notes). Let’s take a look at the adjusted depth charts and how fantasy fortunes will be affected by this deal.
Washingon Wizards
PG: Randy Foye(notes), Earl Boykins(notes), Mike James(notes), Gilbert Arenas(notes)
SG: Mike Miller(notes), Nick Young(notes), Quinton Ross
SF: Josh Howard, James Singleton, Dominic McGuire(notes)
PF: Antawn Jamison(notes), Drew Gooden
C: Andray Blatche(notes), JaVale McGee(notes), Fabricio Oberto(notes)
The deal was clearly motivated by finances for the Wizards. Howard’s salary is actually higher than Caron’s, but he’s a team option next season at $11.8 million, so it’s a pretty good bet that it won’t be exercised. The Wiz would then have shed almost $17 million in salary for next season in the deal. Howard has been a huge disappointment this season but should improve in the second half – he’ll once again be looking at starters’ minutes, plenty of usage, and has to realize that he’s likely playing for his next contract (at age 30). Haywood’s departure obviously creates an opportunity at center. If the rebuilding Wizards are truly thinking about their future, then they’ll let Blatche and McGee monopolize the minutes there. Gooden’s value to the team should be as an expiring contract, and it’s unlikely that he’ll be heavily utilized. Keep in mind that this is what the team should do – it would be surprising if they plug in Gooden at center, but stranger things have happened. The immediate upgrades here are Howard and Blatche, and Foye and Miller should also see a bit more usage in the Butler/Howard exchange. Jamison should be largely unaffected by the deal.
Dallas Mavericks
PG: Jason Kidd(notes), Jose Juan Barea(notes), Rodrigue Beaubois(notes)
SG: Caron Butler, Jason Terry(notes), DeShawn Stevenson, Matt Carroll(notes)
SF: Shawn Marion(notes), Tim Thomas(notes)
PF: Dirk Nowitzki(notes), Eduardo Najera(notes)
C: Brendan Haywood, Erick Dampier(notes)
While it may not happen immediately, figure on Butler replacing Terry in the starting five. It represents a significant upgrade on defense and allows Terry to return to his role as a catalyst off the bench. And even if Butler is in for a drop in usage overall, it will be offset
by a substantial increase of the quality of his looks, as well as a general upgrade by virtue of his going from a disaster in Washington to
a contender in Dallas. The trade should represent a lateral move for Haywood for the most part, as he’ll step right in ahead of Dampier, who continues to be slowed by left knee problems. The Mavs now have little reason to push Damp to his limits. Don’t count on Marion being positively affected by this deal – Butler’s versatility will have him on the floor at small forward plenty moving forward (Kidd-Terry-Butler-Dirk-Haywood), giving the Mavs a very potent offensive mix, backed by the strong defense of Haywood in the middle.
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