Buy-Sell Candidates and Fantasy Impact of NBA Trade Deadline

February 24, 2023

Biggie Lisbon lays out a few players worth acquiring or trading in fantasy basketball who should see their fantasy value increase or decrease as a result of the moves made by NBA teams at the deadline.

The NBA trade deadline has come and gone, and as expected, some significant moves were made by teams looking to improve their chances of making a deep playoff run. While some trades may have seemed more impactful than others, there are always fantasy implications to consider when evaluating the players involved.

While the Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving trades may have dominated the headlines, the reality is that most fantasy basketball owners will be focused on the non-superstar players who were moved at the deadline. While it's always tempting to go after the big names, the lower-tier players can often make the biggest difference for your team down the stretch.

With that in mind, this article will focus on some potential buy-and-sell candidates among the players that aren't superstars, not yet, at least. I will discuss three players who are buy-or-sell candidates and their fantasy impact on their new teams.

Mikal Bridges:

Let's kick off with the former shooting guard/small forward of the Phoenix suns. Bridges was recently traded to the Brooklyn Nets as part of the Kevin Durant deal. He is coming off a career-high 45 points in just his third game with the Nets. At just 26 years old, Bridges is still developing his game and has the potential to thrive on his new team. His usage rate has already spiked in his first few games with the team, from 19 to 29 percent, making him a strong buy candidate for fantasy owners.

Fun Fact: Mikal Bridges has the same number of 45-point games as Kyrie and KD this season. pic.twitter.com/xxZZfMM0Pn

— StatMuse (@statmuse) February 16, 2023

Additionally, Cameron Johnson, who was also involved in the trade, has seen an increase in minutes and should be considered a viable waiver wire addition for teams in need of some scoring and three-point shooting. Still available in 69 percent of ESPN leagues, Johnson has averaged 29 minutes in his first three games with the Nets and has recorded 12-plus points in each.

Bridges is a guy to consider trading for in your fantasy league, as I expect his value to skyrocket with the Nets. With his usage rate on the rise while no longer playing alongside a dominant scorer like Devin Booker, Bridges has the opportunity to be the new leader for his team and should thrive in value.

Baller Move: BUY Mikal Bridges, ADD Cameron Johnson

Mason Plumlee:

While some players can thrive on a new team, others may struggle to find their role. This could be the case for Mason Plumlee, who was recently traded from the Charlotte Hornets to the Los Angeles Clippers. Plumlee has been playing well this season with the Hornets, averaging a solid 12.2 points, 9.7 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 28.5 minutes. But it's clear he will lose value and usage with the Clippers, who already have Ivica Zubac on their roster. Plumlee will see a decrease in minutes and production, so fantasy owners who want to make the most of their player's value may want to consider selling Plumlee for a higher price before opponents realize how his value is about to drop altogether. It's always possible that Plumlee can become the starter of the Clippers, but for now, we'll have to wait and see and the safer option is to sell him.

Plumlee has taken a massive decrease in production, from averaging 28.5 minutes to a low 17.5 minutes so far with the Clippers. His 15.5 usage percentage has dropped to just 9.5 percent. Although it is too early to jump to conclusions, it seems that Plumlee will transgress in value and should be considered a sell-high candidate.

As the saying goes, when one door closes, another one opens. With Mason Plumlee's trade to the Clippers, there's an opportunity for another player to step up and fill his shoes, and that's where Mark Williams comes in. Williams, available in 85.3 percent of ESPN leagues, has taken over as the starting center for the Hornets. Williams has been showing some promising signs in his increased playing time, hitting 24-plus fantasy points in three of his first four games as a starter. He has also proven to be a great rim protector, averaging 2.2 blocks recently as a starter. As he continues gaining experience and building chemistry with his teammates, Williams has emerged as a solid waiver wire pickup for fantasy owners looking for a center.

Mark Williams turning defense to offense in crunch time 🔥@hornets in front late on the NBA App!
Watch now ➡️ https://t.co/qZ7mIYNC8r pic.twitter.com/1OaRC75pNV

— NBA (@NBA) February 14, 2023

Baller Mover: SELL Mason Plumlee, ADD Mark Williams

Jakob Poeltl:

To wrap things up, Jakob Poeltl, the new center for the Toronto Raptors, is quickly adjusting to his new team. After being traded from the San Antonio Spurs, Poeltl has put up impressive numbers with the Raptors, including a 30-point and nine-rebound game against the Magic. For fantasy owners in need of a center, Poeltl is definitely worth targeting.

Jakob Poeltl tonight:

30 points
9 rebounds
6 blocks
88% FG
W 🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/45x8uGph2b

— NBA Retweet (@RTNBA) February 15, 2023

Despite concerns about his value after the trade with playing alongside Chris Boucher, Poeltl has proven to be a viable asset as a starter and should continue to thrive with the Raptors. His value with the Spurs was already decently high, and he should maintain and even increase that value with the Raptors.

At 7 feet tall, Poeltl is a dominant force in the paint and a valuable source of rebounds and blocks. As long as he gets playing time, he will have a high fantasy value. If the owner of Poeltl in your league is concerned about his value with the Raptors decreasing, it could be a great opportunity for you to make a trade offer and acquire him before the playoffs.

Baller Move: BUY Jakob Poeltl

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