With the NBA trade deadline passing a little over a month ago (February 8), let’s take a look at the five players who have been most effective for their new teams.

Team record plays a role in where a player is ranked. A player like Elfrid Payton put up fairly good numbers with the Phoenix Suns, and yet the team hasn’t really been winning.

5. Blake Griffin - Detroit Pistons

  • Stats with Pistons: 33.4 MPG, 20.2 PPG, 6.8 RPG, 5.8 APG, 0.5 SPG, 0.4 BPG, 42.5% FG, 31.9% 3PT, 77.9% FT
  • Record in Games Played: 7-10

Griffin was traded on January 29 from the Clippers to the Pistons.

While many would consider 28-year-old to be the best player involved in a trade this season, his presence hasn’t necessarily translated into team success. After Detroit won their first four games with him, they are 3-10 in their last 13. Griffin has been in somewhat of a scoring spree averaging 28.0 points in his last four games.

4. Larry Nance Jr. - Cleveland Cavaliers

  • Stats with Cavaliers: 25.0 MPG, 11.9 PPG, 8.5 RPG, 1.5 APG, 1.5 SPG, 1.0 BPG, 61.4% FG, 0-3 3PT, 71.9% FT
  • Record in games played: 6-5

Nance has been the most important piece to be acquired by the Cavaliers during their overhaul thus far. He has especially demonstrated that in the last three games starting in the place of the injured Tristan Thompson.

During those three outings, the 25-year-old has averaged 17.0 points, 13.3 rebounds, and 2.3 steals while Cleveland won two of those games.

3. Eric Bledsoe - Milwaukee Bucks

  • Stats with Bucks: 31.6 MPG, 17.4 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 4.7 APG, 2.1 SPG, 0.5 BPG, 45.5% FG, 35.5% 3PT, 78.9% FT
  • Record in games played: 31-24

Bledsoe has easily had the most time to make an impact for his new team.

He was traded to the Bucks all the way back in November after being exiled by the Phoenix Suns. A strong defender, the 28-year-old became more vital for the team when last year’s Rookie of the Year, Malcolm Brogdon, went down with injury and has missed significant time. Bledsoe has scored 20+ points for Milwaukee in 21 games.

2. Nikola Mirotic - New Orleans Pelicans

  • Stats with Pelicans: 31.0 MPG, 15.1 PPG, 8.2 RPG, 1.4 APG, 1.1 SPG, 1.1 BPG, 42.4% FG, 32.4% 3PT, 76.7% FT
  • Record in games played: 10-4

Losing the first three games Mirotic played in after being acquired by the Chicago Bulls, the Pelicans then racked up ten straight wins until falling to the Washington Wizards on Friday. While Anthony Davis has (deservedly) received most of the glory that came with the win streak, the 27-year-old, Nikola Mirotic, has carved out an important role, for a team missing a star a player in DeMarcus Cousins, this season. He has four double-doubles with new orleans, five games with at least 21 points, and double figures scored in 12 of his 14 appearances.

1. Tobias Harris - Los Angeles Clippers

  • Stats with Clippers: 35.0 MPG, 19.9 PPG, 7.2 RPG, 3.0 APG, 1.4 SPG, 0.8 BPG, 48.3% FG, 40.5% 3PT, 80.4% FT
  • Record in games played: 11-4

While Griffin got all the headlines in the January 29 trade, it has been Harris who has been the most effective player in the deal so far. The Clippers haven’t lost a beat since inserting the 25-year-old Harris into Griffin’s long-time starting power forward spot. Harris has two double-doubles with Los Angeles as well as nine games with at least 20 points (including each of the last four).
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