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Buy, Sell or Hold: LaMarcus Aldridge and Nikola Jokic?

The first week of the season is over. And boy what a week it was! Too many injuries put a damper on a very exciting start to the NBA season. The reigning champions Golden State lost two out of three, and their arch nemesis Cleveland was humiliated a few days ago by Orlando, who was missing two of their starters, by the way. Phoenix already decided to thank their head coach Earl Watson for his services and Bledsoe's "I don't want to be here" tweet is having a ripple effect on the franchise, and on our fantasy lives.

Amid all of this drama, a few players surprised us with how they performed. Some pleasantly, some not so much.

Let's take a look at some early over- and under-achievers in our Week 2 fantasy basketball buy low and sell high column here at RotoBaller.

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Buy Low, Sell High Advice for Week 2

Are You for Real, LaMarcus Aldridge?

The answer is: Probably not.

First of all, let's take a look at how good Aldridge actually was over his first two games. He averaged 26.5 PTS with 0.5 3PM on 46.7 FG% and 90.9 FT%, 10.0 REB, 3.5 AST, 0.5 STL, 2.0 BLK and 2.0 TO while playing 36 minutes a game. Now let's put that into perspective by comparing it to his best season averages. If he were to keep this up, LMA would set career highs in points, three-pointers made, blocks, assist, free throw percentage and would come dangerously close to his best rebounding season (11.1 in 2013-14).

LaMarcus is a great player, but there's just no way he can keep this up. Why you ask? First of all, he is 32 and is playing for Gregg Popovich who is notorious for taking it easy on his "Old Stars." Second, he has seen most of his stats decline each year since coming to San Antonio two years ago. Third, and probably most important, the Spurs' leader and best player Kawhi Leonard has been absent with an injury and is set to return sooner or later. Once Kawhi returns LMA will see his usage and probably even playing time take a dip.

There's been some speculation that Kawhi is still a ways away from returning so Aldridge will have the increased opportunity in the near future, but it may be a good idea to cash in your chips now if the right opportunity comes up.

I would give up LaMarcus for most players in the top 30, and if some poor sap is willing to swap his struggling Nikola Jokic or Jimmy Butler for your Aldridge, you could count yourself very lucky.

Baller Move: Sell high

 

Time to Panic on Nikola Jokic?

Nikola Jokic is a top 10 fantasy player when he plays like he can. He showed that last season after Denver sorted out their rotation issues and unleashed him. He showed that this year in the preseason. He hasn't shown it yet in his first two regular season games though with averages of 3.5 PTS and 0.5 3PM on 23.1% from the field, 10.5 rebounds, 7.5 assist, 0.5 steals, no blocks and 3.5 turnovers in 33 minutes per game. That's just appalling.

He saw his usage drop from team-leading 23.4% last season to just 13.6% in those two games. Now Nikola is a team player, but that's just too much. It's enough to say that he hasn't taken a single free throw yet.

One could make a point of Paul Millsap's arrival eating into the Joker's offensive touches. But Millsap is not James Harden or Russell Westbrook to make such drastic an impact on Nikola's stats. Also, Millsap and Jokic played together during the preseason and they worked together just fine. So the real reason for this slip is probably just a bad game or two. I must remind you that this is still the same guy who averaged 17.7 PTS with 0.6 3PM on 57.5 FG% and 84.2 FT%, with 11.6 REB, 6.1 AST, 1.0 STL, 0.6 BLK and 2.8 TO in just under 30 minutes a game after the All-Star break last season. And he is only going to get better.

If his owner is panicking, this is the right time to try and get him. Nikola Vucevic, Marc Gasol, Blake Griffin are all bigs that have vastly outperformed Jokic so far this season, and all of them will most probably be less valuable to their fantasy teams going forward. So if you can get the Joker for any of these guys, or any player outside of the top 15-20, I would take it!

Baller Move: Hold or buy low

 

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POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

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REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

NHL

Nicholas Paul Available Against Predators
Nikita Kucherov

Remains Out Sunday
Mason Lohrei

Unavailable Sunday
Dmitri Voronkov

Considered Week-to-Week
Artyom Levshunov

Out With Fractured Hand
Sidney Crosby

Practices Fully on Sunday
Geno Smith

"No Doubt" That Geno Smith is Jets' Starting Quarterback
George Kittle

49ers Hopeful George Kittle Will be Ready for Week 1
NFL

Eric McAlister Diagnosed With Fractured Foot
Zach Charbonnet

Could Return to a Wide-Open Backfield
Brian Thomas Jr.

Uncertain Future Could Make Him a Buy-Low Candidate
Isaiah Jackson

is Ruled Out for Sunday
Kyle Larson

Is Likely to Pay Off for DFS at Martinsville
Bobby Portis

to Miss Third Straight Game
Luke McCaffrey

Is Luke McCaffrey Still Worth Stashing on Dynasty Benches?
Ryan Rollins

is Absent on Sunday
Christopher Bell

Could Have Another Top-10 Performance At Martinsville
Kyle Kuzma

Remains Out on Sunday
Myles Turner

Gets Downgraded to Out
William Byron

Is A Threat to Win Again at Martinsville
NFL

Elijah Sarratt's Contested-Catch Ability is a Double-Edged Sword
Jayson Tatum

is Upgraded to Available
Chase Elliott

is A Solid DFS Option for Martinsville Lineups
Jaylen Brown

to Miss Second Straight Game
Roman Wilson

a Cut Candidate for Dynasty Managers Facing Roster Decisions
Chase Briscoe

has Plenty of Upside for DFS Lineups at Martinsville
Patrick Mahomes

Andy Reid Doesn't Offer Timeline on Patrick Mahomes
Carlos Estévez

Carlos Estevez Unlikely to See High-Leverage Opportunities in Near Future
Tre' Harris

The Buy-Low Window for Tre' Harris Could Be Closing
Dont'e Thornton Jr.

Is Dont'e Thornton Jr. Still Worth Rostering in Dynasty Formats?
Braelon Allen

Has Clear Buy-Low Upside Coming Off a Lost Year
Michael Mayer

Is Michael Mayer a Sneaky Buy-Low Candidate for Dynasty Managers?
KaVontae Turpin

Blocked Off from a Significant Offensive Role in Dallas
Jacob deGrom

Feels "Much Better," Hopeful he Can Start This Week
Josh Allen

"Good to Go" After Foot Surgery
Cole Hutson

Delivers Two Assists Saturday
Mikhail Sergachev

Ties Mammoth Record With Four Assists
Connor McDavid

Reclaims Scoring Lead With Three-Point Effort
Dmitri Voronkov

Unavailable Sunday
Aliaksei Protas

Suffers Upper-Body Injury Saturday Night
Ty Gibbs

Should Fantasy Managers Roster Ty Gibbs at Martinsville?
Josh Anderson

Limited Due to Illness Saturday
Ryan Preece

Is A Solid DFS Option for Martinsville Lineups
Josh Berry

Could Josh Berry Pay Off for Tournament DFS Lineups At Martinsville?
DAL

Nathan Bastian Makes Early Exit Saturday
Carson Hocevar

May be Too Inconsistent to Start in Martinsville DFS Lineups
Dejounte Murray

Uncertain for Sunday
Austin Cindric

Is Austin Cindric Worth Rostering for DFS At Martinsville?
Jerami Grant

Won't Play Against Wizards
Pascal Siakam

Iffy for Sunday
Chet Holmgren

Available Against Knicks Sunday
Norman Powell

May Miss Sunday's Game
Jaylen Brown

Questionable Sunday
Kevin Porter Jr.

Unlikely to Return This Season
Denny Hamlin

the Favorite to Win at Martinsville
Ryan Blaney

Should Contend at Martinsville
Tyler Reddick

Should Come Back Down to Earth at Martinsville
Joey Logano

Will Be Strong at Martinsville
Deshaun Watson

in "Pole Position" to be Week 1 Starting QB?
NASCAR

Bubba Wallace Looking to Rebound at Martinsville
Shane Van Gisbergen

Shane van Gisbergen Showing Progress, Qualifies Fifth at Martinsville
Gabriel Vilardi

has a Two-Point Performance
Ivan Demidov

Collects Two More Points on Saturday
Alexandre Sarr

Out Sunday vs. Trail Blazers
Neemias Queta

Questionable for Sunday
Jayson Tatum

Could Rest on Back-to-Back
Derrick White

Could Miss Hornets Game
Immanuel Quickley

Remains Sidelined vs. Magic
Brandon Ingram

Questionable Against Orlando
Luka Dončić

Luka Doncic to Serve One-Game Suspension Monday
Dylan Cease

Fans 12 in Blue Jays Debut on Saturday
Kyler Murray

Dynasty Value Gets New Life With Move to Minnesota
Rachaad White

Is Rachaad White the New RB1 for the Commanders?
Shane Wright

Exits Early Saturday
Connor Zary

Remains Out Saturday Night
Noah Laba

a Game-Time Call Sunday
Jonathan Quick

to Remain Unavailable Sunday
Stefon Diggs

Still a Free Agent With April Approaching
Joel Hanley

to Miss Rest of Season
Alvin Kamara

Workload Expected to Look Drastically Different in 2026
Ethen Frank

Remains Out Saturday
Andrew Vaughn

Needs Hand Surgery, Expected to be Out 4-6 Weeks
Jacob deGrom

"Confident" he Will Make his Next Start
Trey Benson

Facing Uphill Battle for Playing Time in Arizona
Jacob deGrom

Scratched From Saturday's Start Due to Neck Stiffness
Jeferson Quero

Brewers Calling Up Catching Prospect Jeferson Quero
Deyvison De Los Santos

Marlins Promote Deyvison De Los Santos to Major Leagues
Shea Langeliers

Hits Two Home Runs on Opening Day
Kevin Gausman

Picks Up No-Decision But Strikes Out 11 on Opening Day
Tanner Bibee

Day-to-Day, Could Make his Next Start
Shane Baz

Orioles Agree to Five-Year Extension
Jeremy Peña

Jeremy Pena Making Season Debut on Friday Against Angels
Tiger Woods

Involved In Rollover Car Crash
Tanner Bibee

Shoulder Issue Not Considered Serious
Joe Pyfer

Set For UFC Seattle Main Event
Israel Adesanya

Returns At UFC Seattle
Maycee Barber

Looks To Extend Her Win Streak To Eight
Alexa Grasso

Looks To Get Back In The Win Column
Dominic Canzone

a Top Pickup After Two-Homer Game
Niko Price

In Dire Need Of Victory
Michael Chiesa

Set For Retirement Fight
Chase DeLauter

Launches Two Home Runs, Emerges as Top Waiver-Wire Target
Lerryan Douglas

Set For His UFC Debut
Julian Erosa

Looks To Bounce Back
Tanner Bibee

Leaves Opening Day Start Early With Shoulder Inflammation
Cristopher Sánchez

Cristopher Sanchez Makes a Statement on Opening Day With 10 Strikeouts
Kevin McGonigle

has Four Hits in Impressive MLB Debut
Nico Hoerner

Cubs Agree to Six-Year Deal With Nico Hoerner
Jacob Misiorowski

Shows Off his High-Strikeout Upside in Opening Day Win
Ryan Fox

a High-Upside Value in Houston
Marco Penge

a Boom-or-Bust Option in Houston
Aaron Rai

Looks to Bounce Back in Houston
Jason Day

a Volatile Option at the Texas Children's Houston Open
Harris English

Eyes a Bounce-Back at the Texas Children's Houston Open
Ben Griffin

Looks for Turnaround at the Texas Children's Houston Open
Rickie Fowler

Brings Strong Form Into Texas Children's Houston Open
Ryan Gerard

Can Continue Rolling at Texas Children's Houston Open
Pierceson Coody

Bounces Back at Valspar Championship
Rasmus Hojgaard

Trying to Get Back on Track at Texas Children's Houston Open
Michael Thorbjornsen

Playing Well Heading to Texas Children's Houston Open
Harry Hall

Looking for Consistency at Texas Children's Houston Open
Brooks Koepka

Continues Building Momentum
Scottie Scheffler

Withdraws From Texas Children's Houston Open
Luke Clanton

Might Have a Problem in Houston
Sam Stevens

Happy to See Houston This Week
Keith Mitchell

Tries to Rebound After The Players Championship
Will Zalatoris

Returning This Week at Houston
Wyndham Clark

Trending in the Wrong Direction Heading to Houston
Shane Lowry

Seeking Better Luck in Houston This Weekend
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