RADIO
Trading in fantasy basketball can help you improve your team in the short, as well as in the long term. More than that, it's just plain fun. Negotiating with your mate, going back and forth with offers, and hopefully, reaching a mutually beneficial agreement in the end.
It's not always easy to find the right deal that both parties could agree upon, so using the current form to your advantage could be helpful for you to get a deal done, and perhaps even get the most out of it.
Here are our current Sell High and Buy Low candidates for the NBA season, right here at RotoBaller.
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Andrew Wiggins
Andrew Wiggins has been a frustrating player to have as of late. After a hot start to the season, he was sidelined for a month due to an injury. And since returning on January 7, his production has not been the same.
In the eight games that he has played since returning, he has been averaging only 12.8 PTS on a subpar 36.1 FG%. For reference, Wiggins was averaging 19.1 PTS on 50.5 FG%, very impressive shooting numbers for a forward who averages 6.7 3PA per game. His performance before the injury was good enough to consider him an All-Star this year. However, watching him play this month, it seems as if Wiggins has become a completely different player.
To make matters worse, Wiggins missed three of the last 11 games. Two were due to a non-COVID-19 illness, and one was foot soreness. With Wiggins’ suddenly mediocre production and his frequent absences after his injury, fantasy managers are struggling to find reasons not to trade him.
Wiggins’ performance over the past month, however, should not discourage fantasy managers. Coming back from any injury can throw off an athlete’s rhythm, and it may take them anywhere from a couple of days to a few weeks to play like their usual selves. The Warriors’ star forward may be taking longer to return to full form, but when he does, he’ll put up the same top 50 value that we’ve seen earlier this season.
So if the Andrew Wiggins owner in your league is looking to give him away, don’t be afraid to throw out a trade offer. And if you have him on your team, be patient: holding Wiggins will pay great dividends down the road.
Baller Move: Buy Low/ Hold
O.G. Anunoby
O.G. Anunoby has exceeded expectations for his fantasy value this year. Even as the fourth scoring option on a struggling Toronto Raptors team, he’s still putting up a respectable 16.9 PTS on 45.7 FG%. And while his peripheral stats are fairly minimal, he is an absolute beast when it comes to forcing turnovers. In the 2022-2023 season, he is second in steals, averaging 2.1 per game, which puts him second only behind Jimmy Butler.
Unfortunately, the Raptors’ forward has been struggling as of late. Over his last 10 games, he’s only been averaging 11.7 PTS on 42.8 FG%. But more importantly, his steals, which provide most of his fantasy value, have dropped significantly. Compared to his season average of 2.1 STL, he has only been stealing the ball an average of 1.2 times over his last 10 games. His rebounds, assists, and blocks have not improved much either.
On top of his decreased production, Anunoby has faced another setback. On January 27, 2023, he injured his wrist while going up for a dunk. And while he has only been confirmed to miss their road trip that ends on February 5, his injury just gives fantasy managers another reason to put him on the trading block.
Anunoby’s current situation may seem like an obvious buy-low, but it’s actually much more complicated. First of all, it’s uncertain whether his scoring output will fully return back to his season average of 16.9 PTS. After all, his field percentage over his last 10 games is not much lower than his season average.
There is also no guarantee his steal numbers will go up. Throughout his career, he has never averaged more than 1.5 STL, which is 0.6 less than his season average this year. On the other hand, because of how deep we are into the season, some may argue that Anunoby’s 2.1 steals per game is no fluke. So while there is reason to believe that he’ll generate more steals down the line, it’s a risky bet to take.
Lastly, O.G. Anunoby has been the center of many trade rumors. Nothing has been confirmed yet, but a few teams are interested in the defensive talent, most notably the New York Knicks and the Phoenix Suns. If Anunoby does end up being on either of those teams after the trade deadline, he will most likely continue being a fourth or fifth offensive option. Whether he gets more or less usage on either team, no one knows. But his situation is something we want to closely monitor.
If you are interested in adding Anunoby to your lineup, he is still a nice buy-low candidate. His value is at a season-low right now, so it doesn’t hurt to offer a trade. However, it is important to be realistic about your expectations for the remainder of his season. There is no guarantee that the Raptors forward will be able to reproduce his stellar production from earlier this year.
Baller Move: Buy Low/ Hold
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