NBA All-Star Weekend festivities are behind us and it’s time to look forward to the rest of the 2023-24 campaign. With about 30% of the season remaining, the fantasy playoffs are quickly approaching. The deals you make now are the deals that could make or break your chances in March.
Week 18, let’s get into it.
Check out the latest fantasy basketball expert consensus rankings 
Fantasy Basketball Trade Advice (Week 18)
Trade For
Deni Avdija was on an absolute tear heading into the All-Star break. The third-year forward turned in four 20-point performances in five games and then a career day with 43 and 15 boards just before the league’s recess. In Thursday’s loss to Denver, though, Avdija went an abysmal 2-12 from the field for a total of just five points. The outing marked his worst in a month, keep in mind.
The Wizards’ benching of Jordan Poole — who shot 4-17 on Thursday — certainly opens up room in the starting lineup for Avdija. It could very well be that because the Wizards are so far removed from contention that they’re pushing all of their chips in developing their young players as much as possible. Regardless, Avdija is a safe bet to provide strong all-around play the rest of the way.
Players to Trade Him For Who Are Ranked Higher: Ben Simmons, Obi Toppin, Bennedict Mathurin
Trade Away
The Mavericks have yet to drop a game since acquiring Daniel Gafford and P.J. Washington at the deadline. Early returns indicate these were fantastic on-court moves. For fantasy purposes, not so much. Gafford was great in the first three games with Dallas, averaging 15, 12 and 2.3 blocks. There’s a kicker, though: In four games as a Maverick, the big man has played 17, 24, 23 and 19 minutes, after averaging about 26 as a Wizard.
Compared to Gafford, the Mavs’ big man minutes checks out as, Washington playing more in every game, rookie Dereck Lively II mirroring his minutes in the two games they’ve played together and Maxi Kleber outplaying him in the two games they’ve both suited up for.
Waiting around to see if Gafford becomes the go-to big doesn’t seem to be the greatest position to be in with playoffs on the horizon.
Players to Trade Him For Who Are Ranked Lower: Jonathan Kuminga, Coby White
Trade For
According to Steve Kerr, Chris Paul “probably” returns to the Warriors’ lineup on their upcoming road trip. There hasn’t been any word on what the starting five will look like upon Paul’s return, but considering Golden State’s recent success, it’s safe to assume Klay Thompson remains on the bench and Brandin Podziemski stays a starter.
When Paul does make his way back, expect him to take a portion of the minutes Lester Quinones, Gary Payton II and Moses Moody have been getting in his absence. If you’re in need of a reliable guard down the stretch, Paul may fit the bill. Just don’t expect him to come roaring back from this hand injury.
Players to Trade Him For Who Are Ranked Higher: Jordan Poole, Russell Westbrook
Trade Away
Don’t pester your league mates about what they’d give up for Josh Hart because the Knicks’ injury situation at the moment is incredibly murky. Just play it by ear in the coming days. On Wednesday, Julius Randle didn’t rule out the possibility of undergoing season-ending shoulder surgery. Additionally, OG Anunoby is eyeing a return to the court at some point before the conclusion of the regular season.
Hart has been playing a ton since New York’s star forwards went down. His 38.5 minutes per game in February would see him easily top the league if done over the whole season. Hart is a phenomenal rebounder and solid distributor but don’t be shocked if Bojan Bogdanovic starts to eat into his minutes as the newest Knick acclimates.
Players to Trade Him For Who Are Ranked Lower: Jalen Duren, Brandon Miller, Miles Bridges
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