It's been a busy week for sports fans, and at this stage of the season, fantasy basketball has perhaps taken a back seat to NCAA brackets and fantasy baseball drafts. But with a little more than a month left to play in the NBA regular season, there is still plenty of hoops to be played.
The biggest news in the fantasy hoops world this week was the NBA trade deadline, of course. My colleague, John Cregan, did a tremendous job of breaking down the trades, so I'll try my best to avoid repeating that analysis. Instead, my thoughts on the trades should be clearly noted by the swings in value in this week's Top 130.
As we inch closer to the end of the year, you will notice some major movement in the Top 130 rankings as injuries and hot/cold streaks carry more weight in a shorter time span. With that said, let's take a look at some of the biggest non-trade movers in this week's rankings update.
The Top 130
Note: Brian McKitish's top 130 players are ranked for their fantasy value from this point forward in the 2011-12 NBA season. Previous rank is indicated in parentheses.
1. LeBron James, SF, MIA (1)
2. Kevin Durant, SF, OKC (2)
3. Chris Paul, PG, LAC (3)
4. Kevin Love, PF, MIN (4)
5. Dwyane Wade, SG, MIA (5)
6. Russell Westbrook, PG, OKC (6)
7. Dwight Howard, C, ORL (7)
8. Kobe Bryant, SG, LAL (8)
9. Deron Williams, PG, NJ (9)
10. Derrick Rose, PG, CHI (10)
11. Josh Smith, PF/SF, ATL (11)
12. Al Jefferson, C/PF, UTAH (12)
13. Pau Gasol, PF/C, LAL (13)
14. LaMarcus Aldridge, PF/C, POR (14)
15. Dirk Nowitzki, PF, DAL (15)
16. John Wall, PG, WSH (20)
17. Andrew Bynum, C, LAL (18)
18. Monta Ellis, PG/SG, GS (16)
19. Marc Gasol, C, MEM (19)
20. Carmelo Anthony, SF, NY (34)
21. Blake Griffin, PF, LAC (22)
22. Ty Lawson, PG/SG, DEN (23)
23. Rudy Gay, SF, MEM (24)
24. Marcin Gortat, C, PHO (25)
25. Greg Monroe, PF/C, DET (26)
26. DeMarcus Cousins, PF/C, SAC (27)
27. Steve Nash, PG, PHO (28)
28. Paul Millsap, PF, UTAH (29)
29. Rajon Rondo, PG, BOS (31)
30. David Lee, PF/C, GS (35)
31. Paul Pierce, SF/SG, BOS (30)
32. James Harden, SG, OKC (32)
33. Marcus Thornton, SG, SAC (33)
34. Kyrie Irving, PG, CLE (37)
35. Ryan Anderson, PF, ORL (36)
36. Tony Parker, PG, SA (42)
37. Zach Randolph, PF, MEM (72)
38. Brandon Jennings, PG, MIL (39)
39. Serge Ibaka, C/PF, OKC (41)
40. Joe Johnson, SG/SF, ATL (50)
41. Nicolas Batum, SF/SG, POR (43)
42. Danny Granger, SF, IND (38)
43. Andre Iguodala, SF/SG, PHI (44)
44. Gerald Wallace, SF/PF, NJ (55)
45. Joakim Noah, C/PF, CHI (49)
46. Kevin Garnett, PF/C, BOS (52)
47. Jeremy Lin, PG, NY (40)
48. JaVale McGee, C, DEN (45)
49. Roy Hibbert, C, IND (46)
50. Tyreke Evans, PG/SG/SF, SAC (47)
51. Mike Conley, PG, MEM (48)
52. Nikola Pekovic, C, MIN (61)
53. Kris Humphries, PF, NJ (51)
54. Amare Stoudemire, C/PF, NY (60)
55. Chris Bosh, PF/C, MIA (53)
56. Luol Deng, SF, CHI (56)
57. Carlos Boozer, PF, CHI (57)
58. Evan Turner, SG, PHI (71)
59. Manu Ginobili, SG, SA (54)
60. Tyson Chandler, C, NY (59)
61. Danilo Gallinari, SF/PF, DEN (66)
62. Drew Gooden, PF, MIL (65)
63. Paul George, SF/SG, IND (62)
64. Andrea Bargnani, C/PF, TOR (63)
65. Antawn Jamison, PF, CLE (64)
66. Jason Terry, SG, DAL (67)
67. Nene, C/PF, WSH (69)
68. Luke Ridnour, PG, MIN (82)
69. Ersan Ilyasova, SF/PF, MIL (70)
70. Ray Allen, SG, BOS (68)
71. Kyle Lowry, PG, HOU (17)
72. Kevin Martin, SG, HOU (58)
73. Jarrett Jack, PG/SG, NO (74)
74. Jrue Holiday, PG, PHI (75)
75. Jordan Crawford, SG, WSH (96)
76. Jose Calderon, PG, TOR (76)
77. Tim Duncan, PF/C, SA (77)
78. DeAndre Jordan, C, LAC (73)
79. Jared Dudley, SF/SG, PHO (79)
80. Chris Kaman, C, NO (87)
81. Rodney Stuckey, PG/SG, DET (90)
82. Nate Robinson, PG/SG, GS (NR)
83. Channing Frye, PF/C, PHO (85)
84. Ramon Sessions, PG, LAL (NR)
85. Lou Williams, PG/SG, PHI (78)
86. Klay Thompson, SG, GS (NR)
87. Luis Scola, PF, HOU (80)
88. Wilson Chandler, SF/SG, DEN (103)
89. Jeff Teague, PG, ATL (84)
90. Raymond Felton, PG, POR (91)
91. Brandon Knight, PG/SG, DET (92)
92. Isaiah Thomas, PG, SAC (95)
93. Wesley Matthews, SG/SF, POR (119)
94. DeMar DeRozan, SG/SF, TOR (93)
95. Arron Afflalo, SG, DEN (88)
96. David West, PF, IND (86)
97. D.J. Augustin, PG, CHA (98)
98. Mo Williams, PG, LAC (89)
99. Jameer Nelson, PG, ORL (106)
100. Al Harrington, PF, DEN (81)
101. Corey Maggette, SF, CHA (100)
102. Jamal Crawford, SG/PG, POR (94)
103. Gerald Henderson, SG, CHA (110)
104. Jason Richardson, SG, ORL (101)
105. Elton Brand, PF, PHI (102)
106. Caron Butler, SF, LAC (97)
107. Nick Young, SG, LAC (105)
108. Andre Miller, PG, DEN (99)
109. Thaddeus Young, SF/PF, PHI (107)
110. Bismack Biyombo, PF/C, CHA (109)
111. Alonzo Gee, SG/SF, CLE (NR)
112. Devin Harris, PG, UTAH (111)
113. Goran Dragic, PG, HOU (NR)
114. MarShon Brooks, SG, NJ (83)
115. Stephen Jackson, SG/SF, SA (NR)
116. Mario Chalmers, PG, MIA (104)
117. Darren Collison, PG, IND (112)
118. Jason Kidd, PG, DAL (113)
119. Hedo Turkoglu, SF, ORL (114)
120. Trevor Ariza, SF/SG, NO (115)
121. Kenneth Faried, PF, DEN (121)
122. Derrick Williams, PF, MIN (126)
123. Anderson Varejao, PF/C, CLE (117)
124. Kemba Walker, PG, CHA (118)
125. Dorell Wright, SF, GS (NR)
126. Richard Jefferson, SF, GS (NR)
127. James Johnson, SF/PF, TOR (120)
128. Samuel Dalembert, C, HOU (108)
129. Gordon Hayward, SG/SF, UTAH (128)
130. Shawn Marion, SF/PF, DAL (122)
Wilson Chandler, SG/SF, Denver Nuggets: After signing a five-year deal Sunday, Chandler should be available as early as Monday for the revamped Nuggets lineup. As one of the league's more versatile players, Chandler should be able to help both the Nuggets and fantasy owners almost immediately. His presence makes things a little more complicated in Denver as he'll have to fight for minutes and touches with Danilo Gallinari, Aaron Afflalo, and Al Harrington, but I expect him to step in and earn nearly 30 minutes right away. Minutes will mostly come at the expense of Corey Brewer and Rudy Fernandez, but Afflalo and Harrington will likely see a decrease in minutes and production as well. I like Chandler, who averaged 12.5 points, 5.0 rebounds, 0.7 steals, 1.1 blocks and 1.2 3-pointers in 21 games for the Nuggets last season, the best of the group after Gallinari.
Carmelo Anthony, SF, New York Knicks: Melo has had a rough few weeks, but despite the struggles, he's still averaging a versatile 17.4 points, 6.0 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.0 steals and 1.2 3-pointers over his past five games. I don't think I've ever written this as a fantasy analyst, but Anthony should actually benefit from the departure of Mike D'Antoni, as they never quite meshed. New head coach Mike Woodson wants him be more of a focal point of the offense, and Anthony should be able to return to posting 22-23 points per game with around 6-7 rebounds and 3-4 assists per game under Woodson.
Amare Stoudemire, PF/C, New York Knicks: I'm not nearly as confident in Amare as I am in Melo, mostly because I think Amare has lost a step and has had a hard time finding his way with Tyson Chandler in town, but I have to admit that I like Mike Woodson's plans to make Melo and Amare the focal point of the offense in New York. Amare should at least be able to provide Chris Bosh-like stats as the Knicks will look to give him more shot attempts in the paint.
Jeremy Lin, PG, New York Knicks: Is Linsanity over? Perhaps, but that doesn't mean that he can't still be an effective fantasy point guard. Think about it, he's still running the point for a team that has some of the league's best finishers, and his biggest threat for playing time is the oft-injured Baron Davis. With 13.6 points, 4.0 rebounds, 6.4 assists and 1.6 steals over his past five games, Lin hasn't been as effective as he was at the start, but owners would be wise to take a wait-and-see approach on Lin's value with Mike Woodson at the helm.
Joe Johnson, SG/SF, Atlanta Hawks: Johnson has caught fire, averaging 24.0 points, 4.2 assists, 1.7 steals and 3.2 3-pointers in six games since returning from a knee injury. JJ had been in a bit of a shooting slump dating back to last season, but he's playing his best ball of the year now that he's found his touch again. With only a little over a month left in the season, Johnson looks primed for a big finish as the Hawks battle for playoff positioning in the East.
Luke Ridnour, PG, Minnesota Timberwolves: Ridnour made an appearance in the Top 130 last week after we learned of Ricky Rubio's injury, he but gets a major bump here for what he's done with the opportunity. Ridnour might not be flashy, but who needs flashy when you're averaging 12.8 points, 9.2 assists, 1.0 steals and 1.0 3-pointers per game over your past five games? He's always been great at creating scoring opportunities for his teammates, and he should be able to hand out assists in bunches with a couple of very efficient offensive players in Kevin Love and Nikola Pekovic at his disposal. With Rubio out for the season, and the Wolves fighting for the last playoff spot in the West, Ridnour figures to finish strong down the stretch.
Rodney Stuckey, PG/SG, Detroit Pistons: Stuckey has quietly posted 24.2 points, 5.1 assists, 0.9 steals and 1.0 3-pointers in nine games since the All-Star break, and he continues to climb in the rankings as a result. While I think he may be playing a bit over his head, there is no denying that Stuckey is a talented offensive player. He's begun to develop a nice chemistry with backcourt mate Brandon Knight, so he could certainly continue to play at a high level the rest of the way.
Indiana Pacers: After losing six of their last eight, the entire Pacers lineup (aside from George Hill) is in a bit of a funk at the moment. Roy Hibbert, who had been struggling mightily, bounced back with a 24-point, 12-rebound effort against the Knicks on Saturday, and I expect Granger and Paul George to follow suit sometime in the near future. Darren Collison and David West owners shouldn't get their hopes up, though. George Hill and Leandro Barbosa will cut into Collison's minutes if he doesn't turn things around soon, and West has been streaky at best this season.
Goran Dragic, PG, Houston Rockets: With limited news coming out of Houston, it's hard to say just how much longer Kyle Lowry will be out of action with a bacterial infection. Luckily for the Rockets, they have one of the league's best backup point guards in Goran Dragic, who has averaged 14.6 points, 9.4 rebounds, 2.0 steals and 1.2 3-pointers per game over his past five games. With Lowry out, Dragic is a top-10 fantasy point guard, and given his solid play, I wouldn't be surprised if he continues to earn around 25 minutes per game after Lowry's return.
Alonzo Gee, SG/SF, Cleveland Cavaliers: Gee has had moderate value for much of the season thanks to his high steal rate in limited minutes, but he's turned into a must-add after seeing an increase in playing time over the past month. With 13.6 points, 5.4 rebounds, 2.4 steals and 1.0 3-pointers in 32 minutes in nine games this month, Gee has made the most of his opportunity in Cleveland. His defensive intensity and strong play of late should keep him locked into the starting lineup the rest of the way.
Brian McKitish is a fantasy basketball analyst for ESPN.com and was named the Fantasy Basketball Writer of the Year by the Fantasy Sports Writers Association in 2011. He can be reached at bmckitish@yahoo.com, or follow him on Twitter @bmckitish.