The calendar flips to March on Friday, meaning the fantasy basketball season is almost over. You have officially reached the stretch run in your league. Today will be the last “buy and sell” article of the season. The trade deadline likely comes this Friday at the latest.
That does not mean fantasy managers should let their roster go unchanged, though. Make sure you are using the waiver wire to your advantage in the final weeks. Grabbing a hot pickup and riding him can be the path to fantasy glory.
Watch for other managers getting desperate too. They may be forced to drop a top-75 player to grab a streamer in a must-win matchup. Snagging the discarded option can give your squad a massive leg up. Without further ado, here are four players worth trading just before the deadline.
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Buy
Here’s a look at two players fantasy managers should acquire for the remainder of the year.
Trae Young (PG – ATL)
Young ranks 60th on the player rater for the season, but he appears ready to finish the season well above that mark. Since Dec. 29, Young is averaging 20.1 points, 3.8 rebounds, 8.1 assists, 2.6 three-pointers made, and 1.0 steal per game on 43.5 percent from the field and 83.6 percent on his free throws.
Over the Hawks’ last 14 games, Young averages 23.1 points, 8.9 assists, and 3.2 three-pointers made per game on 45.1 percent from the field. Those statistics place Young 14th on the player rater over the last 30 days.
He likely cools down a bit, but he should easily be a top-30 player from today forward. Young’s ADP on the season was 77, and his current owner may just be happy with the profit he already received. Offer a player just inside the top 50 and snag Young for the stretch run.
Lauri Markkanen (PF/SG – CHI)
Markkanen injured his elbow and did not play at all this season until December. The 21-year-old appears to have taken a massive step forward, though. Since Jan. 1, Markkanen has played 24 games. In those contests, he averaged 20.5 points, 10.0 rebounds, 2.5 three-pointers made, 1.5 assists, 0.7 steals, and 0.6 blocks per game on 45.4 percent shooting from the field and 89.6 percent on his free throws.
The Bulls have given Markkanen the green light this season. He is shooting 15.5 field goal attempts per game on the year and looks poised to average 20 points and 10 rebounds per game down the stretch.
On the player rater for the last 30 days, Markkanen ranks 11th. The Bulls are not going to stop feeding him the ball, meaning fantasy managers can buy Markkanen for a player down in the 40s and get a nice bargain.
Sell
Here are two players fantasy managers should trade away before the trade deadline.
Chris Paul (PG – HOU)
CP3 is a perennial top-25 talent, but exactly the type of player to sell just before your trade deadline. He has missed time with hamstring injuries this year and has not played more than 70 games since the 2015-2016 season. The lower body injuries are adding up for Paul and make him a risky option who is always productive when he is on the court.
Give me a safer option, though. Having Paul go down with an injury now can virtually eliminate you from contention. CP3 had an ADP of 23 this season. Someone is always searching for assists and steals, which are two things Paul excels at providing.
The Rockets know they need Paul healthy in the playoffs, so they also could be a bit more cautious with their star point guard. Regardless, trade away CP3 now for any player inside the top 30 and enjoy the safety and production in the final weeks.
Tobias Harris (SF/PF – PHI)
For the year, Harris is 15th on the player rater. He was outstanding for the Clippers and deserved an All-Star nod for his performance. Harris was traded to the Sixers at the deadline, which unfortunately did not do his fantasy value any favors.
So far, Harris has been better in Philadelphia. He is shooting an unsustainable 54.5 percent from the field, but producing 20.4 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 2.6 assists. All those numbers figure to decrease when Joel Embiid returns to the lineup.
Some less savvy managers think Harris is going to keep producing at that top-20 level. He had an ADP of 42 for the season, but he likely finishes outside the top 50 when Embiid returns. Trade him now for any top-40 player and enjoy the final weeks with a bit of increased production.
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Tyler Watts is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Tyler, follow him @tylerpwatts.
