👉 TAP TO SAVE 30% WITH CODE NEW
X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Compare Any Players
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

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.

Featured Promo: New Novig users get a $25 purchase match (50% discount up to $25) on your first Novig deposit, and 6 free months of RotoBaller's "Big-4" Premium Pass (NBA, NFL, MLB, NHL) which includes exclusive tools for Betting, Props, DFS and more! CLAIM IT NOW

 

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

 

More Fantasy Basketball Analysis

 

NBA DFS Premium Subscription

Get a free trial of our powerful NBA Premium Tools. Our famous DFS Cheat Sheets, and NBA Lineup Optimizer & Generator with daily matchup projections.

Win more. Try the most advanced lineup optimizer in daily fantasy basketball.

Sign Up Now!




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Compare Any Players
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Trey Lance

Returns to the Chargers on a One-Year Deal
A.J. Brown

Rams Out on A.J. Brown, Trade to Patriots Likely?
Calvin Ridley

Restructures Deal with Titans
Jonathan Taylor

Is Jonathan Taylor Being Undervalued in Dynasty?
Tony Pollard

Can Tony Pollard Keep the RB1 Spot for Titans?
David Montgomery

Has Contract Updated by Texans
Chris Godwin Jr.

Can Chris Godwin Jr. be the Buccaneers' WR1?
LeQuint Allen Jr.

Can LeQuint Allen Jr. Emerge as the Primary Receiving Back in Jacksonville?
Isaiah Davis

Appears Buried on the Jets Running Back Depth Chart
Merrill Kelly

Expected to Open Season on the Injured List
Christian Kirk

Dynasty Value is Fading Heading into 2026
Anthony Richardson Sr.

Packers Interested in Acquiring Anthony Richardson Sr.?
Kevin Gausman

Named Toronto's Opening Day Starter
Oronde Gadsden

Has High-End Dynasty Upside After Promising Rookie Year
Kyle Stowers

Back in Grapefruit League Lineup
Jerome Ford

Commanders Agree With Jerome Ford on One-Year Deal
Nick Bosa

49ers Restructure Nick Bosa's Contract
Kevin Porter Jr.

Questionable Against Hawks
Devin Carter

Out Saturday Against Clippers
Russell Westbrook

Set to Return Against Clippers
Derrick White

Expected to Play Saturday Against Wizards
Michael Porter Jr.

Likely to Miss Second Straight Game
Nicolas Claxton

to Rest Saturday Against Philadelphia
Ace Bailey

Leaves Friday's Game Early with Concussion
Radko Gudas

Handed a Five-Game Suspension
Auston Matthews

to Miss Rest of Season
Tory Horton

Faces Stiff Target Competition Again
Kaleb Johnson

a Cut Candidate in Dynasty Leagues?
DK Metcalf

Has More Competition for Targets in Pittsburgh
Emil Heineman

Scores Twice Against the Kings
Trey McBride

to Repeat Incredible Season with Quarterback Returning?
Joel Hofer

Shuts Down the Oilers
Mark Andrews

Set Up for a Productive 2026 Season?
Giannis Antetokounmpo

Could Miss Saturday's Game Vs. Hawks
Keegan Murray

to Be Re-Evaluated in Two Weeks
Aaron Gordon

Expected Back Saturday Vs. Lakers
Jamal Murray

Expected to Suit Up Saturday
Collin Sexton

to Miss Third Straight Game
Jalen Smith

is Ruled Out for Friday's Game
Robert Williams III

is Unavailable for Friday's Contest
Cameron Ward

Cleared to Throw the Football
Draymond Green

is Downgraded to Out on Friday
De'Anthony Melton

to Play on Friday
Ayo Dosunmu

is Cleared for Friday's Game
Anthony Edwards

is Available on Friday
Roger McCreary

Lions Agree With Roger McCreary on One-Year Deal
Norman Powell

is Tagged as Questionable for Saturday
Victor Wembanyama

Questionable Saturday Vs. Hornets
Andrew Wiggins

to Miss Fifth Straight Game
Francisco Lindor

Takes Full Batting Practice on Friday
Brandon Woodruff

Still TBD for Opening Day
Trevor Rogers

to Start on Opening Day for Orioles
Kevin Vallejos

Looks To Remain Undefeated In The UFC
Josh Emmett

In Dire Need Of Victory
Gillian Robertson

A Favorite At UFC Vegas 114
Amanda Lemos

Set For Co-Main Event
Oumar Sy

Looks To Win Back-To-Back Fights
Ion Cutelaba

Looks To Get Back In The Win Column
Nathan MacKinnon

Racks Up Four Points in Victory Over Kraken
Alexis Lafrenière

Alexis Lafreniere Stays Hot in Winnipeg
Semyon Varlamov

Won't Return This Season
Alexander Romanov

Could Return for Playoffs
Declan Carlile

Hurt on Thursday Night
Wyatt Kaiser

Sustains Upper-Body Injury Thursday
Erik Gudbranson

Could Be an Option Saturday
Auston Matthews

Exits Game With Injury
Jimmy Snuggerud

Scores Twice Versus Carolina
Michael Misa

Delivers Multi-Point Performance on Thursday
Blake Snell

Around Six Weeks From Being Fully Built Up
Bobby Brink

a Game-Time Decision for Meeting with Flyers
Evander Kane

Available Against Predators
Mark Stone

a Game-Time Call Thursday
Carter Verhaeghe

Anton Lundell Won't Play Thursday
Sam Reinhart

Returns to Action Thursday
Andrew Copp

to Sit Out Two Weeks
Dylan Larkin

Ruled Out for Two Weeks
Zack Wheeler

to Face Hitters in Live Batting Practice on Saturday
Gerrit Cole

Could Pitch in a Spring Game Next Week
Matthew Boyd

Named the Cubs' Opening Day Starter
Francisco Lindor

Remains on Schedule for Opening Day
Bryce Miller

Shuts Down Bullpen Due to More Oblique Discomfort
Zac Gallen

Named Arizona's Opening Day Starter
Kyle Teel

Could Miss 4-6 Weeks With Hamstring Strain
Hideki Matsuyama

Brings Strong Course History to TPC Sawgrass
Josh Hader

to Start the Year on the Injured List
Adam Scott

in Strong Form Ahead of The Players
Kyle Teel

Exits Tuesday's Game With Hamstring Injury
Rickie Fowler

on Quite the Run Heading to TPC Sawgrass
Sepp Straka

Needs to Forget What Happened Sunday at Bay Hill
Jordan Spieth

an Enigma Heading to The Players Championship
Justin Rose

Trying to Pick Up the Pieces in Florida
Maverick McNealy

Bounces Back at Arnold Palmer Invitational
Brooks Koepka

Continues His Florida Swing With Some Momentum
Nicolai Hojgaard

in Strong Form Ahead of The Players
Robert MacIntyre

a Volatile Option at The Players
Matt Fitzpatrick

Looks to Return to Top Form at The Players
Sam Burns

a High-Risk, High-Reward Option at The Players
Keegan Bradley

Hard to Trust at The Players
Xander Schauffele

Rounding into Form Heading to Players Championship
Rory McIlroy

Set to Return at Players Championship to Defend Title
Jake Knapp

Set to Return at Players Championship
Viktor Hovland

Continues Strong Start to 2026 Season
Rasmus Hojgaard

Looking for Bounce-Back at Players Championship
Tommy Fleetwood

Will Need to Find Putter to Compete at Players Championship
Akshay Bhatia

Continues Improving Heading to Players Championship
Merrill Kelly

Set to Make Spring Training Debut on Friday
Francisco Lindor

"100 Percent Optimistic" he Can be Ready for Opening Day
Justin Thomas

Continues Competitive Return at The Players Championship
Corbin Carroll

Set to Play in Cactus League Game on Wednesday
Kyle Stowers

to Make Grapefruit League Debut on Saturday
Hunter Greene

to be Sidelined Through July
Max Holloway

Drops Decision At UFC 326
Charles Oliveira

Becomes The New BMF Champion
Caio Borralho

Bounces Back
Reinier de Ridder

Reinier De Ridder Loses Back-To-Back Fights
Rob Font

Gets Dominated
Raul Rosas Jr.

Extends His Win Streak
Michael Johnson

Suffers Second-Round Knockout Loss
Drew Dober

Knocks Out Michael Johnson
Ryan Blaney

Earns his Second Consecutive Phoenix Cup Series Win
Christopher Bell

Falls Short of Victory Despite Dominating at Phoenix
Kyle Larson

Earns Hard-Fought Finish of Third at Phoenix
Denny Hamlin

Quietly Gains Another Top-Five Finish at Phoenix
Joey Logano

Crashes out at Phoenix Despite Strong Run
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF