2024-25 Fantasy Basketball Buy or Sell: Friday, November 8

Alex Burns discusses his favorite fantasy basketball players to buy low, sell high, and hold after a handful of games in the 2024-25 season. (November 8)

It’s Friday, and you know what that means: another edition of Buy, Sell, or Hold!

Yes, we’re far enough into the season to start forming some opinions—but don’t get too comfortable! It’s still early, and the fantasy landscape can flip instantly. Just because Player A is off to a rough start doesn’t mean they’re doomed, and Player B lighting it up might just be riding an unsustainable wave.

In this weekly piece, I will mention a handful of guys I believe fit the following criteria: sell high, buy low, or hold. This list will be rooted in data and context, as opposed to emotional tilts or excitement over individual performances. So, let’s dive in—this is where the real magic happens!

RJ Barrett, G/F - Toronto Raptors

Baller Move: Sell High

After missing the first three games while recovering from a preseason injury, RJ Barrett has come back absolutely sizzling. He’s averaging 25.7 points, 5.3 rebounds, 7.0 assists, and 2.5 threes per game—stats that would crush his previous career highs across the board (except for rebounds). But the wildest part? Barrett’s 32.9% usage rate is higher than Jayson Tatum, Donovan Mitchell, Trae Young, and James Harden. So, why sell high on a player having what looks like a breakout season?

For one, Barrett has yet to share the floor with Immanuel Quickley this season, and Scottie Barnes was injured in Barrett's first game back. With both sidelined, the Raptors have had no choice but to hand him the keys. But with Quickley and Barnes expected to return soon, this all-star treatment won’t last. For context, in the 32 games these three shared last season, Barrett averaged a solid but less jaw-dropping 21.8 points, 6.4 rebounds, 4.1 assists, and 1.5 threes with a 25.7% usage rate. When we compare those numbers to this year’s output, it’s clear Barrett is enjoying a temporary boost from his teammates’ absences.

Right now might be the perfect time to sell high on Barrett. Quickley has been doing his best Mark Williams impression with the doubtful tag and Barnes is only a couple of weeks away from his return. Once those two are back in the mix, Barrett’s inflated role will likely shrink, and so will his production. While it’s been a blast watching Barrett’s scorching start, I’m not betting on a player who’s never finished inside the top 150 in per-game value to keep this top-90 pace once the roster is healthy. Capitalize on this peak while you can.

Nikola Vucevic, C - Chicago Bulls

Baller Move: Sell High 

The only logical explanation for Nikola Vucevic’s red-hot start to the season is that he must have sipped Michael Jordan’s “Secret Stuff.” Whatever he did, it’s working! Through his first eight games, Vucevic is putting up a solid 20.8 points and 10.8 rebounds—not exactly shocking for a player of his caliber. But here’s what will truly make you do a double-take: he’s shooting 56.1% from the field, 45.7% from three, and 95% from the free-throw line. Yes, you read that right. These video-game numbers have vaulted him into the top 10 in per-game value.

Let’s cut to the chase—if you think this level of efficiency is sustainable, I’ve got some beachfront property in Nebraska to sell you. We’re talking about insane efficiency for a guy who’s never shot better than 52% from the field, 40% from three, and 87% from the line in his career. And here’s the kicker: these insane shooting numbers aren’t even resulting in career-high counting stats. Why? His 32.1 minutes per game are his lowest since 2018-2019, and his 21.7% usage rate is the lowest it’s been in over a decade. When his shooting comes back down to Earth—and it will—we’re likely to see some of his lowest averages in years.

And to make things even dicier, recent reports suggest the Bulls are shopping both Vucevic and Zach LaVine to jumpstart a rebuild. If Vucevic ends up on a contending team with a reduced role, his fantasy value could take a serious hit. So, while he’s still putting up elite numbers, now’s the time to sell high and cash out before the inevitable regression—and potential trade—kicks in.

The Bulls are expected to once again shop Zach LaVine and Nikola Vucevic on the trade market, per @JamalCollier (https://t.co/MDG9P1F3gH).

Both players generated little interest in the summer, but Chicago hopes for a better market heading towards the trade deadline. pic.twitter.com/3des0sx733

— Evan Sidery (@esidery) November 7, 2024

Brandon Miller, F - Charlotte Hornets

Baller Move: Buy Low

Miller was one of my guys heading into the season, but his sophomore debut was cut short by a glute injury after just 10 minutes on the floor. He made his return last weekend, but the rust is still showing. Over his last three games, he’s averaging 15.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 3.7 assists—not bad, but he’s shooting under 35% from the field and just 29% from three. The Hornets also seem to be managing his minutes, as he’s only topped 30 minutes in two of those three games. As a result, Miller’s per-game ranking has tumbled to 156—a disappointing start for a player projected by many (myself included!) as a top-80 fantasy pick.

Despite the slow start, there’s a silver lining here. Miller is averaging 14.7 shot attempts per game since his return, which would mark a slight bump from last season’s 14.6 attempts. This is huge because most of last season’s shots came when Charlotte’s roster was depleted. Now, he’s getting those looks with LaMelo Ball and Miles Bridges on the court. His usage rate is also up by 2% compared to last year, even with the Hornets’ backcourt and wing players relatively healthy. Factor in the recent news that Bridges is expected to miss a few weeks with a hyperextended knee and the pathway to an even bigger surge in usage is on the table for Miller.

BRANDON MILLER BUZZER BEATER FOR THE WIN 🚨🔥 pic.twitter.com/1rjo3iDE1E

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) November 7, 2024

Once Miller’s efficiency bounces back—and it will—his solid usage and the Hornets’ up-tempo playstyle will put him right back on track for fantasy success. If the Miller manager in your league is glued to that per-game ranking and feeling antsy, now is the perfect time to swoop in and snag him at a discount. Let the numbers—and the law of averages—be your guide!

Keyonte George, G - Utah Jazz

Baller Move: Buy Low

Many (myself included) had George on breakout watch heading into the season. While we knew he might have a few rough patches with his shooting, I don’t think anyone expected it to be this rough. Through seven games, he’s hitting just 32% of his shots from the field and only 28% from three. To make matters worse, his free throw percentage has dipped below 80% after hitting 85% from the stripe last season.

I’ll skip the full “law of averages” speech, but as with any player shooting either insanely well or unusually poorly, things tend to level out. George might be struggling with his jumper now, but he’s not a true 32% shooter by any stretch.

Just look at his performance on Monday night: 33 points and nine assists on 44% shooting from the field and 84% from the line. Here’s the kicker—he didn’t need a superhuman shooting night to hit 33 points. It wasn’t a random, red-hot heat check; it was steady production even with below-average efficiency. This tells me that once his shooting stabilizes—and it will—he’s got enough minutes and usage to be a serious fantasy asset. The slump won’t last forever, and when the shots start falling, George is going to reward patient managers in a big way.

KEYONTE GEORGE HAS 29 POINTS AND 5 3'S. pic.twitter.com/Nz5h8Efxcy

— Jazz Lead (@JazzLead) November 5, 2024

Onyeka Okongwu, C - Atlanta Hawks

Baller Move: Hold

So… how much longer are we waiting for the Okongwu breakout? Because my patience is running thin. This was supposed to be the year he’d start tipping the minutes split with Clint Capela in his favor. But no—the Hawks’ head coach Quin Snyder just dangled that hope in front of us in Game 1 when he gave Okongwu the majority of minutes. Since then, it’s been an infuriating back-and-forth. One game Capela logs 26 minutes to Okongwu’s 19; the next, it’s flipped. If you’re frustrated, trust me—you’re not alone.

Still, I’m holding onto Okongwu a little longer if I can, and I recommend the same to anyone who drafted him. Yes, the timeshare is annoying, but he has top-50 potential if Capela misses time, or if Snyder finally realizes what he has in Okongwu. You probably picked him around the top 100, which makes him worth a little patience. And who knows? Capela’s name has floated in trade rumors for ages now. I’d hate to cut bait on Okongwu only to see my league mate snag him off waivers right after a breaking news alert from Shams Charania. (Side note: Why does he always drop big news when I’m busy?)

I’m not saying go out and buy low—no one has a crystal ball. But if you already have him, hang in there and enjoy the occasional big spike games. The breakout may just be around the corner!