Fantasy Hoops | Trade Targets

Spice things up by going after these via trade

We’re a few weeks away from the halfway point of the fantasy basketball season, and the dust is clearing around the league. At least that’s what people think. About eight times out of ten, assumptions made at this point in the season correctly project the rest of the season. For example, Lauri Markkanen has been disappointing this year and will probably disappoint for the remainder of the year. ‘Probably’ is the important word here. This is a good time to start trading. Over the last seven weeks, fantasy owners have been making their own opinions about their players. People with Lauri are probably fed up with him and willing to move on. Also, owners are entering a time frame in which they feel they have to make moves to make the playoffs. Teams with losing records are more likely to accept trades.

PF – Draymond Green

It’s hard to blame Green for the Warriors’ lack of success. Green’s been playing without Steph Curry, Klay Thompson and D’angelo Russell more often than not this season. Green isn’t the type of player to generate instant offense, he needs other stars on the court to be effective. The Splash Brothers will remain out until late in the season, but Russell has already returned from injury. Anything that can keep the Warriors in games will be good for Draymond’s fantasy output. There are brighter days for Golden State and for Green, and this is as cheap as he’s ever been.

PF – Blake Griffin

If you drafted Blake, you probably did it under the assumption that he was healthy. Unfortunately, he was held out for a month with a hamstring injury. Recently he played in his first back-to-back and produced his first double-double of the season. His rebounding and scoring rates have been lower than expected this year, but I expect him to bounce back. As Griffin gets closer to 100 percent, I expect he’ll turn it up a notch. The Pistons are an improved shooting team compared to last year. With more floor space and more shooters, Griffin should thrive in this offense. Now is a good time to send a lowball offer for him.

C – Nikola Jokic

Jokic might be a hard player to trade for. He was drafted in the first round in most leagues. The Joker is averaging a line of 15/10/6, which is disappointing compared to last year’s 20/11/7 line. It’s a slow start for him, no doubt, but I expect him to improve his current numbers by the end of the season. From last year to this year, the Nuggets have the same head coach and a similar roster. Positive regression is probable for Jokic moving forward. If you can get him at a discount, you should.

PG – De’Aaron Fox

Whether or not you pursue Fox depends on your roster situation. If you’re injury-free or you have an empty IR spot, then Fox is someone you should target. The Kings haven’t found a worthy replacement for the 22-year old yet. This season, his average night consists of 18 points, seven assists and four rebounds. He hasn’t played since he sprained his ankle in mid-November. Fox might not play until January, but he’s going to be a valuable asset once he comes back. Since his exit, Richaun Holmes has emerged as a potential top-20 center. Once PF Marvin Bagley returns from injury, Fox will have plenty of options to dish the ball to.

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