The trade deadline in both real life and fantasy basketball is right around the corner. We are just weeks away on both fronts. Like real-life GMs, fantasy basketball managers should be asking around and gauging the market on players. Sometimes a season-altering moving is just a message away.
Today, we will look at five players who you should consider trading for. Our goal is to help you create some value in that potential transaction, so let’s jump right into it!
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Buy
It is the perfect moment to make a move to acquire these three players.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (OKC – PG/SG)
SGA is up to 24th on FantasyPros Player Rater for the season. Over the last month, he is the third-ranked player, but not many people are noticing. The second-year player is having a breakout, and it looks like he’ll be one of the top players in the league for the next decade-plus.
Gilgeous-Alexander is averaging 19.8 points, 5.9 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 1.2 steals, 0.5 blocks, and 1.2 3-pointers made per game while shooting 47.0 percent from the field and 82.4 percent on his free throws. Since Dec. 6, he is averaging 21.1 points and 6.7 rebounds on 50.3 percent shooting from the field. That number should only keep improving for the 21-year-old. The Thunder could become sellers at the deadline and open up a larger offensive role for SGA too.
Expect Gilgeous-Alexander to be a top-20 player over the rest of the season. He can likely be had for well below that value in most leagues.
Julius Randle (NYK – PF/C)
Randle is finally finding his footing in New York. Since Dec. 11, he is averaging 21.9 points, 10.1 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 1.8 3-pointers made on 45.9 percent shooting from the field and 78.2 percent on his free throws. Those are the numbers managers expected all season. Randle ranks 89th on the Player Rater for the season, but he jumps to 52nd over the last month.
Expect him to be inside the top 50 for the rest of the way. Plenty of fantasy managers are still looking at the season-long numbers. Try to acquire him for any player ranked outside the top 60 and grab a nice bargain for the stretch run.
Josh Richardson (PHI – SG/SF)
Richardson is also finally finding his stride on his new team. Over the last month, he is averaging 16.5 points, 3.1 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 0.9 steals, 0.7 blocks, and 1.4 3-pointers made on 44.2 percent from the field and 86.5 percent shooting from the foul line.
A slow start has him sitting 95th on the Player Rater for the season. That jumps to 51st over the last 30 days. He should hover around the top 50 for the rest of the way. His ability to average one steal and one block per game could unlock even more upside.
Fantasy managers should trade for Richardson, especially if they need help in those defensive categories. He can likely be had for a player outside the top 75, and that would be a nice bargain.
Sell
Some players have reached the apex of their value and should be traded away before their stock begins to slip.
Derrick Rose (DET – PG/SG)
Rose is on fire right now. He has scored over 20 points in nine straight games. Over the last month, he is averaging 21.6 points, 2.8 rebounds, 5.6 assists, 1.0 steals, 0.4 blocks, and 1.1 3-pointers made on 51.9 percent shooting from the field and 87.0 percent on his free throws.
It’s an incredible turnaround, as D-Rose looked like he might be out of the league two years ago.
There are still some major concerns here, especially since Rose has not played 70 games in a season since 2011. His injury history is real, and it could crop up at any point. The Pistons also look like they are going to be sellers at the deadline. That could mean that Rose gets traded to a team with more scoring options.
The 31-year-old is playing out of his mind right now. Sell high. He ranks 54th on the Player Rater for the season. Do not be afraid to trade him for a player just outside the top 60 if no other manager is biting.
Bam Adebayo (MIA – PF/C)
Adebayo is in the midst of a breakout season. He grabbed the starting center role for the first time and has taken off. Bam is averaging 16.0 points, 10.5 rebounds, 4.7 assists, 1.2 steals, and 1.2 blocks per game on 59.0 percent shooting from the field and 68.8 percent on his free throws.
That stat line has him ranked 20th on the Player Rater for the season. However, his numbers are a bit inflated. Adebayo is more of a top-35 player to me. Expect a slight regression across the board that bumps him down.
Now is the perfect time to try to trade away the young star in the midst of a breakout, though. It is unlikely he climbs higher, so grabbing another top 25 is good business in fantasy leagues.
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Tyler Watts is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Tyler, follow him @tylerpwatts.