RADIO
Adam King discusses what to do with several NBA players in Fantasy Basketball Leagues this week. (February 9)
G'day RotoBallers! The trade deadline has come and gone for another season. While there was a lack of star power when it came to trades, there were certainly several key moves across the association. With the All-Star break also just around the corner, managers need to be firming up their playoff rosters. If you can execute a trade at this time of the season, both managers can walk away feeling validated and in a better spot ahead of the playoffs.
However, executing a trade can be harder said than done. Not all managers love the idea of a trade, especially if they believe they will be the attempted target of a fantasy heist. Ensure you know your league and who might be willing to consider a player swap. While the option does exist, I recommend not having a league veto system. Ensure your commissioner is knowledgeable and transparent, and allow them to dictate trade decisions.
With all that out of the way, here are our current sell-high and buy-low candidates as you prepare for Week 16 of the fantasy basketball season.
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Donte DiVincenzo, G - New York Knicks
Baller Move: Sell High
Having scored at least 25 points in five of the past six games, it's fair to say this is one of the biggest sell-high opportunities of the season. With the Knicks down on troops, DiVincenzo has stepped up in a big way. Not only is he scoring the ball a ton, but he is also adding assists, steals, and an abundance of three-pointers. Over the past two weeks, he has been the 15th-ranked player in standard leagues, averaging 26.6 points, 3.9 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 1.4 steals and 5.4 triples.
Despite the injuries, the Knicks have won 10 of their past 12 games, pushing hard for a top-four seed in the East. To continue their quest, they are going to need DiVincenzo to maintain his recent form, even if the production scales back a bit. He has clearly worked his way into Tom Thibodeau's good books, logging at least 40 minutes in four of the past six games.
Although his contributions will almost certainly decline somewhat once the Knicks start getting healthy bodies back on the floor, DiVincenzo should be able to maintain 12-team value ROS. However, consistent second-round value feels unlikely given what we have seen from him in the past. If you can swing a deal in which you land any top-40 player, taking a short-term hit for long-term value might be the way to go here.
Miles Bridges, F - Charlotte Hornets
Baller Move: Sell High
Bridges has strung together back-to-back 40-point games, becoming just the third Hornet to do so. He has been the 17th-ranked player across the past two weeks, compiling averages of 25.9 points, 7.4 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 3.1 three-pointers, and 1.9 combined steals and blocks in 38.0 minutes per game. With several key personnel on the sideline, Bridges has been serving as the primary option on the offensive end.
Despite trade rumors, Bridges was not moved at the deadline, instead remaining in Charlotte for the remainder of the season. Whether the team chooses to re-sign him remains to be seen, although he is doing a decent job of proving why he is worthy of a new contract. While LaMelo Ball is obviously the future of the franchise, Bridges has proven he can play as the Robin to Ball's Batman. Their chemistry is obvious, something that the powers that be will undoubtedly factor in when making their decision regarding his future.
Bridges is going to cool off at some point, that much we can be sure of. However, he has been a top-40 player this season, a range that should be considered his floor moving forward. Even if Ball does return soon, Bridges should be able to maintain significant value. With that said, if you can find a trade partner who is willing to give up a second-round player based on the uncertainty in Charlotte, it might be the way to go, especially if you are skeptical when it comes to rest or shutdown later in the season.
Paul George, F - Los Angeles Clippers
Baller Move: Buy Low
Although he has been a borderline first-round player this season, George has only been able to put up top-75 value over the past two weeks. During that time he has averaged 15.6 points per game, adding 4.0 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 1.9 steals, and 2.0 three-pointers. While these are still fantastic numbers, he has been well below his best outside of the defensive contributions. When we dig a little deeper, we notice that he has only played 28.4 minutes per game in that time, likely as a result of an ongoing groin issue.
He is yet to miss significant time this season, something that managers have to be thrilled about. However, the fact he has logged fewer than 30 minutes in five of the past seven games does indicate he is not at 100 percent. The Clippers are relatively healthy at the moment, something that is foreign in Los Angeles given the past few years. Having won nine of their past 11 games, they are in a position to be able to manage George on a nightly basis. While this does provide managers with consistent production, it does also increase the risk of re-injury.
All things considered, George has been a nice surprise this season when it comes to durability. However, the thought of him missing time due to injury remains apparent, perhaps allowing managers to buy low. If you can sell the narrative that he is going to be limited for the foreseeable future and you can afford to take a small risk yourself, acquiring him for a top-40 player could prove to be a masterstroke if he can slowly ramp up his playing time without any setbacks.
Tyrese Haliburton, G - Indiana Pacers
Baller Move: Buy Low
Not unlike George, while Haliburton has been playing over the past two weeks, it is clear he is far from healthy. He has played fewer than 26 minutes in five of the past six games, during which time he has been the 91st-ranked player in nine-category leagues. With averages of just 13.7 points, 2.3 rebounds, 6.3 assists, 0.8 steals, and 1.7 triples in 23.4 minutes per game, Haliburton has been very underwhelming of late.
Although his minutes have crept up ever so slightly in the past two games, he managed just five points to go with 11 assists in Thursday's loss to the Warriors. The points are a concern but the 11 dimes are the most he has delivered since returning from injury. If his minutes continue to trend upward, it's safe to assume the production will follow suit, meaning the buy-low window could potentially close over the coming days.
Keeping that in mind, now is the time to strike should you wish to lure Haliburton away from his current manager. Given what we have seen from him this season, you are unlikely to get him for anything less than a first-round player. However, if you can offer up someone who has been on a tear lately, as opposed to a proven top-12 talent, there could be a small amount of meat on the bone when it comes to returning value.
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