As hectic as this year's NBA trade deadline has been, with 28 out of the 30 teams making at least one trade, early Thursday morning at 1:00 am, a blockbuster trade went down that not many expected. However, if you had read my previous article, you could have gotten a glimpse of the future thanks to my magic ball, as the first "potential trade" I wrote about was sending Kevin Durant to none other than the Pheonix Suns.Kevin Durant is undeniably a top-three player and arguably even the best in the NBA right now. It's not surprising to hear how stunned the NBA world was after seeing this trade, as the Suns sold a huge chunk of their future for the Nets superstar but were somehow saved from involving Deandre Ayton in the trade!Any average NBA fan knows how much of an impact future Hall of Famer Kevin Durant has on any team, but to emphasize just how much, check this out: The Suns went from odds of +1800 of winning the finals to +450 on Thursday morning after the huge trade, now only behind the Boston Celtics, who lead the race with their odds being +350. 

Kevin Durant's Season Recap

Durant (knee) has been sidelined for over a month after getting hurt on January 8 against the Miami Heat and remains without a timetable to return to make his debut with the Suns. Before getting hurt, the 13-time All-Star was averaging 29.7 points, 6.7 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 0.8 steals, 1.8 blocks, and 36 minutes in 39 appearances this season.

FULL TRADE DETAILS:

Suns- Kevin Durant- TJ WarrenNets- ... [More]

Brooklyn Nets forward Ben Simmons does not appear on the injury report anymore as the team heads into their Tuesday night contest with the Phoenix Suns. For any fantasy managers that still have Simmons, this is big news since the team won't have Kyrie Irving, Spencer Dinwiddie, Yuta Watanabe (back), or Seth Curry (adductor) playing. That means plenty of vacated minutes and added opportunities for Simmons if he takes advantage of the situation.

Without a doubt, Kyrie Irving is arguably one of the most naturally gifted players in the National Basketball Association. He's a fantastic ball-handler and can get to the rim with ease. However, the former Duke Blue Devil's career has been surrounded by controversy, ultimately impacting his ability to win an MVP.The NBA trade deadline kicked off with a bang when Irving, who had demanded a trade out of Brooklyn, was traded to the Dallas Mavericks. NBA fans and fantasy managers are left wondering how things will play out.To keep close tabs on all of the news across the NBA, make sure to favorite or bookmark the RotoBaller Fantasy Basketball Newspage, or download the free RotoBaller fantasy basketball mobile app with push notification alerts on all the latest news. 

Kyrie Irving's Season Recap

Irving got suspended for an antisemitic social media post, keeping him out of the lineup for eight games. But since then, the 30-year-old stayed out of the limelight, so most had assumed he finally turned things around. He's played well all season, averaging 27.1 points, 5.3 assists, 5.1 rebounds, and 1.0 steals in 40 appearances.https://twitter.com/ShamsCharania/status/1622324668047794177?s=20&t=NTffJ2tRvNpjAA7bddjYHQHe was also selected to the All-Star team for the eighth time in his career. However, things were apparently going too well, as Irving dropped a bombshell by requesting a trade. His wish was granted, as he was sent to Dallas in exchange for ... [More]

Brooklyn Nets guard Ben Simmons (knee) has been ruled out for Monday's game against the Los Angeles Clippers. The 26-year-old will miss his fifth game in a row due to left knee soreness. It sounds like Simmons could've played, but the team decided to take the cautious approach and hold him out. That being said, Simmons seems likely to return to the court for Tuesday's contest. In the meantime, Edmond Sumner and Cam Thomas will look to build off their recent success. Both players should have a path to playing time with Simmons out and Kyrie Irving gone.

Brooklyn Nets guard/forward Ben Simmons (knee) will miss Saturday's matchup against the Wizards, marking his fourth consecutive absence. Kyrie Irving (calf), Kevin Durant (knee), and T.J. Warren (shin) are also out, meaning Edmond Sumner, Royce O'Neale, Yuta Watanabe, Seth Curry, and Nico Claxton may all see a sizable boost in fantasy production. As a result, all five could make excellent fantasy options, although Claxton has the highest upside by far.

Brooklyn Nets guard/forward Ben Simmons (knee) is listed as questionable ahead of Saturday's matchup with the visiting Wizards. He's missed the last three games because of left knee soreness, an injury he's dealt with for much of the year. With T.J. Warren (shin) also questionable, Yuta Watanabe should receive more work. The sharpshooter has averaged a career-high 6.8 points and shot an impressive 48.0% from deep this season, although his scoring output could be higher if Simmons and Warren aren't available.

Brooklyn Nets guard/forward Ben Simmons (knee) will miss Wednesday's game against the Boston Celtics. Simmons will sit out for the third straight game as he recovers from some soreness in his left knee. The Nets don't play again until Saturday so Simmons should have some added rest. Seth Curry and Day'Ron Sharpe should continue to see added minutes with Simmons out of the lineup against Boston.

Brooklyn Nets guard Ben Simmons (knee) has been ruled out for Monday's game against the Los Angeles Lakers. This will be the second game in a row that Simmons has missed due to left knee soreness. His absence will mean that Seth Curry will remain in the starting five. He finished with 14 points and three assists in 33 minutes on Saturday. That being said, Curry is a decent streaming option while Simmons is sidelined.

Brooklyn Nets guard/forward Ben Simmons (knee) will miss Saturday's clash with the Knicks. He hurt his left knee on Thursday against Detroit and hasn't been able to recover in time for Saturday's game. Simmons has had a rollercoaster of a season, averaging 7.4 points, 6.5 rebounds, 6.4 assists and 1.5 steals in 27.3 minutes. Edmond Sumner (Achilles) appears the likeliest candidate to replace Simmons in the starting lineup Saturday. He's been dealing with a sore left Achilles, but Sumner is available for the contest after being very productive in 19 minutes on Thursday with 24 points.

Brooklyn Nets forward Ben Simmons (knee) is questionable ahead of Saturday's meeting with the New York Knicks. Simmons exited Thursday's loss to the Pistons because of left knee soreness and didn't return. Considering he's already dealt with the issue this season, it's more likely that he won't be out there for this one. Nonetheless, with T.J. Warren (shin) doubtful, head coach Jacque Vaughn may move things around in the rotation, meaning Seth Curry, Joe Harris, and Yuta Watanabe could see an uptick in fantasy production.

Brooklyn Nets guard Ben Simmons (knee) was forced to exit early during Thursday's game against the Detroit Pistons. He only lasted 20 minutes before leaving the game due to left knee soreness. Simmons was held scoreless with one rebound and seven assists during Thursday's game. The Nets will likely use a committee approach to fill the void if Simmons misses time from this injury. Fantasy managers should see if T.J. Warren or Joe Harris is available because they could be seeing more minutes coming their way soon.

Brooklyn Nets forward Ben Simmons registered his first triple-double of the season in an eight-point loss to the San Antonio Spurs on Tuesday night. The 26-year-old ended the game with 10 points, 10 rebounds, 11 assists, four steals, and two blocks while shooting 40% on 10 attempts and knocking down both of his free throws. While he didn't contribute all that much in the scoring department, Simmons provided a lot of value everywhere else, especially on defense. He has more opportunities to score with Kevin Durant (knee) out, but he hasn't capitalized yet.

Brooklyn Nets forward Ben Simmons (illness) has been listed as probable to play in the team's game against the Charlotte Hornets on Saturday. He was suffering from a non-COVID illness that seems to be clearing up enough for him to remain on the court and not miss any time. He played well in a supporting role during the team's win over the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday. Fantasy managers should look for him to continue his all-around play, but shouldn't expect any sort of elite fantasy value.

Brooklyn Nets guard/forward Ben Simmons finished just shy of a triple-double on Friday in the win over Milwaukee. He played 28 minutes, amassing 12 points on an efficient 6-for-9 shooting from the field, and added 11 rebounds, eight assists, and three steals. The 26-year-old got off to a rough start this season. However, he's beginning to look like his former self. Although Simmons has never been the most impactful scorer on the planet, he's a triple-double threat whenever he steps on the floor. Hopefully, for fantasy managers, he'll remain healthy while continuing to see an uptick in minutes moving ahead.

Brooklyn Nets forward Ben Simmons (knee, calf) is out for Saturday's meeting with the Pacers. The 26-year-old returned from a four-game absence on Friday against Atlanta, logging 20 minutes. However, with Brooklyn beginning its four-game road trip, he'll get the night off. Yuta Watanabe (hamstring) will return from a lengthy absence and should slide into the starting lineup. He has averaged only eight points this season. Yet, considering the team will also be without Kevin Durant (knee), Kyrie Irving (adductor), Seth Curry (ankle), Joe Harris (ankle), and Nicolas Claxton (hamstring), Watanabe has an excellent chance to finish as a top fantasy producer, and his efficient 57% shooting from deep will be embraced by category managers.

Brooklyn Nets forward Ben Simmons is no longer listed on the injury report ahead of the contest against the Atlanta Hawks on Friday night. The 26-year-old missed the last four games due to a calf injury. He last suited up on November 30th against the Orlando Magic and only played 11 minutes before exiting the game. So far, he's had one good stretch of games when he rejoined the starting lineup, but outside of that, he hasn't returned much value. Based on playing time alone, he would still be a must-add in a lot of fantasy formats.

Brooklyn Nets forward Ben Simmons (calf) remains out for Wednesday's game against Charlotte. The 26-year-old has been sidelined by a strained left calf. However, there appears to be light at the end of the tunnel, as Simmons is hoping he can return on Friday versus the Atlanta Hawks. That said, until he finds his way back to the floor, Joe Harris, who had 13 points, six rebounds, and two steals while shooting 3-for-5 from deep in Sunday's meeting with Boston, may remain in the starting lineup.

Frustration builds as the Brooklyn Nets struggle to keep their best defensive player on the court. Ben Simmons will miss multiple contests due to a strained leg. Missing five games so early plays as an omen for what to expect for the duration of the season. Fantasy managers should be cautious as Simmons continues to suffer from various injuries. While Simmons stands as the assists and steals leader in per-game categories for the woeful Nets, there are healthier options on the waiver wire.

Brooklyn Nets point guard Ben Simmons played only 11 minutes against Orlando Monday, leaving the game with left knee soreness. He went scoreless in the game, missing three shots from the field, and collected four rebounds and three assists with two turnovers. Joe Harris and Seth Curry picked up the slack, with the former even ending up logging 36 minutes in the game. Simmons had just found some momentum, so it's very unfortunate that he has picked up another injury. The team hasn't yet said if he will miss any time but it seems likely. In addition to Harris and Curry, Edmond Sumner might also get a boost with Simmons out of the picture, although he logged only seven minutes Monday and hasn't really used his minutes well all season.

Brooklyn Nets forward Ben Simmons returned to Philadelphia on Tuesday night and stuffed the stat sheet in a 106-115 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers. The point forward posted 11 points, 11 assists, seven rebounds, three steals, and three blocks while shooting 4-for-7 from the floor and 3-for-6 from the free-throw line. He continued his four-game streak of double-digit points, but it ultimately wasn't enough to get a win. Nevertheless, his improved play as of late has been very encouraging for fantasy managers in all formats.