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How three potential deadline deals would change the fantasy landscape

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PF/C Nerlens Noel to the Boston Celtics

How to get it done: Noel to Celtics; PF/C Amir Johnson, PG Terry Rozier and a draft pick to the 76ers

Who it would help: Noel, Rozier, C Jahlil Okafor

Who it would hurt: SF/PF Jae Crowder, PG/SG Avery Bradley, PG T.J. McConnell

The Celtics' struggles on the glass are well-noted -- they have the fourth-worst rebounding rate (47.9%) in the NBA. The 76ers are trying to break up a major logjam in the frontcourt but have failed to drum up interest in Okafor.

Moving Noel ahead of his restricted free agency avoids the potential of having to match a large contract offer in order to retain Noel, while netting a prospect and an asset from the Celtics' war chest. Boston gets a more traditional rim protector and rebounder to pair with the versatile Al Horford and the Sixers balance out the distribution of players in their frontcourt and backcourts.

Noel has averaged 11.9 points, nine rebounds, 2.1 steals and 1.9 blocks in 82 games in which he's played between 30 and 40 minutes. Even if he didn't score 12 points per game in Boston, Noel's fantasy value as a rebounder and defensive specialist would cement his value as a top-100 player rest of season.

In Philadelphia, Rozier is given an opportunity to log significant minutes in a backcourt rotation with no clear long-term pieces; maybe even emerging as a starter over T.J. McConnell, a solid passer but far from a scoring threat. Amir Johnson's expiring contract helps balance the books.

PG Deron Williams to the Los Angeles Clippers

How to get it done: Williams and PG Devin Harris to Clippers; SG Jamal Crawford, PF Brice Johnson or a draft pick to the Mavericks

Who it would help: PG Yogi Ferrell, C DeAndre Jordan

Who it would hurt: PG/SG Austin Rivers, PG Raymond Felton

Williams will likely be plying his services for another franchise after his contract expires in the offseason, and the Mavericks seem to have found a major rotation piece in Yogi Ferrell. Dallas has little to lose from dealing Williams.

The Clippers have stayed afloat through Chris Paul's absence but a thin point guard rotation doesn't leave much margin for error. D-Will's fantasy outlook doesn't look great in Dallas, but a month or so running pick-and-rolls with DeAndre Jordan and Blake Griffin until Paul returns would help with him maintain top-120 value in the interim.

It's tough to say whether Dallas will consider taking on any additional contracts that extend beyond this season, but if the Clippers or any other potential suitor pairs the larger salary of a veteran (Crawford) with a young talent (Johnson), that's one way to make a deal more palatable, as would taking on the remaining year and a half on Devin Harris' contract.

SG/SF Nick Young to the Toronto Raptors

How to get it done: Young to Raptors; PF/C Jared Sullinger and a draft pick to the Lakers

Who it would help: PG Kyle Lowry, PG/SG Lou Williams

Who it would hurt: Young, SG Norman Powell

The Raptors sacrificed some wing depth by moving SG/SF Terrence Ross for PF/C Serge Ibaka this week and it seems likely they'll try to add a veteran wing for the playoff push. A simple swap of Young for Sullinger works perfectly as far as salary hits go, with the Raptors likely having to throw in a future second-round pick to sweeten the deal.

This move definitely wouldn't help Young, who would struggle to match the playing time (26.5 minutes per game) or shot opportunities (10.7 per game) that he has enjoyed with the Lakers this season; with Lowry, DeMar DeRozan and Ibaka in the fold, there are already plenty of mouths to feed.

Young would be called on to fill Lou Williams' old role from his one-year stint with the Raptors, bringing some instant floor-spacing off the bench. The move would give Lowry an extra outlet option that could help his assist totals. Williams, another trade candidate, would see his opportunities increase back in Los Angeles.

(Photos courtesy: Action Images)

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