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Buy, Sell or Hold: Nikola Jokic and Zach LaVine?

In addition to strategy on draft day, good eye for hidden talent and a little bit of luck a good basketball owner uses trends, slumps and surges to try and maximize his roster's potential. Offering a surging player with lower fantasy value for a slumping one with a higher ceiling at just the right time could prove vital, once their current form changes tides.

This week we will be talking about one of my favorite players in the NBA (that's no surprise since we come from the same little country) and an up-and-coming young player currently feeling under the weather. Below are my Week 13 fantasy basketball buy low and sell high candidates.

Editor's Note: New users that sign up on FantasyAces, make a $20 deposit, and enter any game will receive BOTH our full season NBA and NFL Premium Passes for free, a $119.99 value. Just email [email protected] with your new FantasyAces username - and boom, that's it! We will email you with your Premium Passes.

 

Buy Low, Sell High Advice for Week 13

Are You for Real, Nikola Jokic?

First of all, let me kick this one off by saying how much I like Nikola Jokic. He comes from a small town of Sombor in Serbia. That's about 50 miles from my own small home town of Subotica. His rise to basketball greats came as fast as a fat kid at a cake buffet. As a matter of fact, a couple of years ago, believe it or not, Nikola might just have been that kid. His professional career started only a few years ago, in the season of 2012-2013, and he spent most of that season playing for the junior team. And today, four years later, we might be talking about a future NBA Hall-of-famer. But let's take it one step at a time, just like Jokic is.

To start the season off, Jokic wasn't in an ideal spot, fighting for minutes against his frontcourt teammates Kenneth Faried and Jusuf Nurkic. And for the first month or so not everything was coming up roses. In the first 15 games of the season Jokic had averaged 8.8 PTS with 0.3 3PM on 50.5 FG% and 74.1 FT%, 6.0 REB, 2.6 AST, 0.8 STL, 0.5 BLK and 1.3 TO in just 23 minutes a night. Not really worth his average pick of 32.8 in Yahoo leagues, is it?

But since then, a lot has changed. When I look at the current rank for the last 14 days on a per game average, Jokic comes up at the top of my list. That is in a Yahoo 10-cat head-2-head league which counts double-doubles as the 10th category though. Furthermore, Jokic did only play in four games in that time, so it's not a huge reference sample. But to hell with that, my bro is killing it!!!

Just take a look at the averages in those four games. Jokic scored 29.0 points with 1.5 threes on 61.3 FG% and 81.8 FT%, grabbed 12.0 boards, dished out 4.3 dimes, stole the ball 1.0 times, blocked 1.5 shots and turned the ball over 2.5 times in 34 minutes per outing while getting a double-double in all four of those games. those are some insane numbers. And he's turning 22 in a month.

Jokic is a hit currently in media and internet circles that follow the NBA, and deservedly so with his great overall game. But the focal point of the interest he is attracting lies in his unique vision and passing ability. He sure has picked some tricks up from his national team buddy and captain Milos Teodosic. If you're not familiar with this master of assists from Europe, you should type his name into YouTube. I promise you won't regret it.

To sum it up, in Jokic we have a smart, young player with great and efficient shooting, wonderful vision and passing skill. Moreover he is a great rebounder who does his part on the defensive end too. He is  well-rounded and contributes in every category without hurting his owners anywhere. In other words, fantasy gold. And with the way he has been developing in the past few years it's quite possible for him to become even better.

So why would you be looking to sell Nikola? Well if you're in a dynasty league, DON'T! His potential is just too great. But if you're not then you could consider it, for the right price. Don't get me wrong, I love this guy and I don't think his performance will take a significant hit at any time during this season. Especially if Faried or Nurkic get moved as is rumored, which would mean less competition and might open up even more minutes for Jokic.

The thing is, I just don't see him being the number one fantasy player just yet. A few years from now maybe. I certainly hope so! But right now is a bit too early. So if you can get a proven top-10 player in return you wouldn't be crazy to swap him. I doubt you can get James Harden, Kevin Durant or Russell Westbrook, and depending on your team's strategy, you might not be looking to add any of them anyways. But if I could get for example Karl-Anthony Towns in return I would be tempted to part with one of the most talented players my country has seen. And it has seen some great talent.

Baller Move: Sell high

 

Time to Panic on Zach LaVine?

A big part of Zach LaVine's fantasy value has been in his efficiency. But he has been struggling lately with his shot. In his previous six games for the Timberwolves he has hit just 37.7% of his field goals. And even though he hasn't missed a free throw on 0.8 attempts per game some of his other averages are down as well. He is only scoring 12.5 points with 2.0 threes, 2.8 assists, 0.7 steals and no blocks in that period. His 5.8 rebounds and 0.8 turnovers in 35 minutes per game do salvage his value a bit, but he is still way off his seasonal averages in points (19.8), threes (2.8) and FG% (46.4%).

Now LaVine did suffer a hip injury in the middle of this six game slump and that might have slowed him down a bit too. And even though this is only his third season in the NBA, he is still a 44.6% career field goal shooter so that has got to improve soon.

Furthermore, it's rumored that Minnesota is looking to move Ricky Rubio and give more room to the rookie Kris Dunn. If that were to happen, it would probably mean that the ball will be in Zach's hands more and he would take on even more responsibility on the offensive end. His efficiency might take a bit of a hit (but not really 37.7 FG%) but his counting stats should be on the rise, especially the assists.

So if you're in the market for a three-point shooting PG/SG LaVine should be on your radar. He is around top-60 on the season and is well outside of top-100 in the past 14 days so you should be looking to offer someone in the top-75 to top-100 range for LaVine, not to overpay, but not to seem too cocky either. Someone like Lou Williams or Ersan Ilyasova could do the trick in an ideal scenario, but Eric Gordon or Danilo Gallinari would be a bit more realistic.

Baller Move: Hold or buy low




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REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Tyler Soderstrom

Returns to A's Lineup
Tyler Warren

Sidelined on Wednesday with Toe Injury
Jaylen Waddle

Questionable for Week 3 Against Buffalo
Joe Burrow

Bengals Not Closing the Door on Joe Burrow Returning This Year
CFB

LaNorris Sellers to Play Against Missouri?
Kyle Tucker

Progress has "Plateaued"
Isaac Paredes

has "Outside Chance" to Return This Weekend
CFB

Kaidon Salter Expected To Start for Colorado on Saturday
Willson Contreras

Goes on 10-Day Injured List, Done for Season
Justin Fields

Ruled Out for Week 3 Due to Concussion
Jayden Reed

Out Indefinitely After Foot and Shoulder Surgery
Washington Commanders

Preston Smith Signs With Commanders
Trey Jemison III

Joins Knicks on Two-Way Contract
Kevin McCullar Jr.

Signs New Two-Way Deal With Knicks
Matt Ryan

Returns to Knicks on Exhibit 10 Contract
New York Knicks

Alex Len Signs Exhibit 9 Deal With Knicks
Nickeil Alexander-Walker

Expected to Take on Larger Offensive Role With Hawks
Thomas Sorber

Undergoes Surgery
Dominic Canzone

Has Five-Hit, Three-Homer Game Tuesday
Cal Raleigh

Sets Single-Season Home Run Record for a Switch-Hitter
Jayden Reed

Undergoes Clavicle and Foot Surgeries, Out for Foreseeable Future
Bo Bichette

to Miss Rest of Regular Season
Zach Neto

Placed on 10-Day Injured List With Hand Injury
Yordan Alvarez

Out on Tuesday, Dealing With "Significant" Ankle Sprain
Aaron Jones Sr.

Vikings Place Aaron Jones Sr. on Injured Reserve With Hamstring Injury
CFB

Diego Pavia Refutes Report of Seeking Seventh Collegiate Season
Christian Kirk

Expected to Return in Week 3
CFB

Diego Pavia Seeking Another Year of Eligibility
Tarik Skubal

on Track to Start Thursday
CFB

Kevorian Barnes Questionable Against SMU
Bo Bichette

has Short-Term Knee Injury, Could Return for Postseason
Tosan Evbuomwan

Joins Knicks
NBA

Kai Jones Links Up With EuroLeague Team
Bismack Biyombo

Returns to Spurs
Bones Hyland

Rejoins Timberwolves
Kobe Bufkin

Moves to Brooklyn
Trey Yesavage

Sets Franchise Strikeout Record On Monday
Yordan Alvarez

To Receive MRI For Sprained Left Ankle On Tuesday
Willson Contreras

Exits Early Monday With Right-Biceps Tightness
Yordan Alvarez

Exits With Ankle Sprain
Brock Bowers

Officially Active on Monday Night
Jauan Jennings

Day-to-Day With Ankle Injury
Logan O'Hoppe

Activated Off Seven-Day Injured List
CBJ

Denton Mateychuk Dealing With Groin Issue
Bo Horvat

Fine for Training Camp
Kirby Dach

on Track to Be Ready for Opening Night
Jose Altuve

Returns Against Rangers
J.J. McCarthy

Expected to Miss 2-4 Weeks With High-Ankle Sprain
J.J. McCarthy

Likely Out for Week 3 With High-Ankle Sprain
Jean Silva

Gets Finished For The First Time In His Career
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Unlikely to Play in Week 3 Due to Hamstring Injury
Diego Lopes

Returns To The Win Column
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' Week 3 Status in Doubt
Rob Font

Outclassed In The Noche UFC 3 Co-Main Event
David Martinez

Wins His Second UFC Fight
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Suffers Brutal TKO Loss At Noche UFC 3
Rafa Garcia

Wins Back-To-Back Fights
Brian Thomas Jr.

Dealing with Wrist Injury
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Drops A Decision At Noche UFC 3
Kelvin Gastelum

Gets Back In The Win Column
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Suffers Second-Round TKO
Alexander Hernandez

Extends His Win Streak With A Brutal TKO
Quang Le

Suffers First-Round Knockout
Santiago Luna

Shines In His UFC Debut
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Earns his First Bristol Cup Series Victory
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Falls Short of Advancing Through Cup Series Playoffs
Chase Briscoe

Collects his Third Top-10 Finish at Bristol
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Strong Top-Five Bristol Performance Advances him to the Playoffs
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Alperen Sengün

Alperen Sengun Drops 28 Points in EuroBasket Finals
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Indiana's Lee Beebe Jr. Out for Season with Knee Injury
Dennis Schröder

Dennis Schroder Named EuroBasket MVP
Bryce Eldridge

Giants to Promote Bryce Eldridge
Jaren Jackson Jr.

Progressing in Recovery
Jonathan Kuminga

Receives New Offer From Warriors
Kenneth Walker III

Bounces Back with Big Week 2 Performance
Bijan Robinson

Rushes for 143 Yards in Week 2
Justin Fields

Currently in Concussion Protocol
Cincinnati Bengals

Bengals Calling Around to Available Free-Agent Quarterbacks
Joe Burrow

to Undergo Surgery, Out at Least Three Months
Emil Heineman

Aiming to Take the "Next Step" This Season
Braeden Cootes

Good to Go for Camp
Ivan Fedotov

Blue Jackets Acquire Ivan Fedotov From Flyers
Garrett Crochet

Punches Out 12 in Win
Cole Ragans

to Return on Wednesday
George Kirby

Strikes Out 14 in Win
Quentin Grimes

Still Not Close to a New Contract Agreement
Joel Embiid

"Looking Slender, Spry and in Positive Spirits"
Ty Gibbs

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Chase Elliott

Despite Crashing Out at Bristol, Chase Elliott Advances to Round of 12
Austin Dillon

Misses Round of 12 After Extremely Mediocre Bristol Run
Shane Van Gisbergen

Shane van Gisbergen Fails to Advance to Round of 12
Josh Berry

Finishes Last in All Three Round of 16 Races to Fail to Advance
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Ryan Williams Explodes In Return To Field
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Drew Allar Plays Mediocre Game In Blowout Win
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LaNorris Sellers Exits Game In Blowout Loss
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DJ Lagway Tosses Five Interceptions In Loss
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Garrett Nussmeier Plays Game Manager in Saturday's Win
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CJ Carr Remains Poised In Narrow Loss
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John Mateer Leads Oklahoma In Rout
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Arch Manning Struggles Against UTEP
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Jeremiah Smith Impresses In Win
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Sam Leavitt Shines As Arizona State Rebounds From Week 2 Loss
Ivan Demidov

Turning Heads in Rookie Camp
NHL

Calvin de Haan Signs With Swedish Team
Samuel Girard

Skates With Non-Contact Jersey
Mackenzie Blackwood

Dealing With Injury Ahead of Training Camp
Spencer Knight

Signs Three-Year Extension With Blackhawks
Chris Buescher

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Corey Perry

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Kyle Busch

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Ricky Stenhouse Jr

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Michael McDowell

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Chase Elliott

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NASCAR

Bubba Wallace Not as Strong at Bristol as Other Short Tracks
Alex Bowman

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Ross Chastain

has Never Led at Bristol but Has Been Pretty Consistent
Austin Dillon

Richmond Speed Unlikely to Carry Over to Bristol
Josh Berry

Might Run Well at Bristol, but Almost Certainly Won't Win to Advance
Justin Haley

Bristol One of Justin Haley's Few Recent Bright Spots
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Austin Simmons Listed As Game-Time Decision Against Arkansas
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Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen

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Corey Perry

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Antonio Williams Out Against Georgia Tech
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CJ Bailey Flashes Again in Win Over Wake Forest
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Jaxson Moi a Game-Time Decision for Tennessee on Saturday
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