In my experience, one of the things that can help in the upcoming stretch run is trading away players who may carry injury risk but still have high trade value. But, what may carry even more value is trading for superstars who come with a discount because of their injury risk or injury history. At this point, I am thinking about players such as Anthony Davis, Luka Doncic, Stephen Curry, and Donovan Mitchell. Would you trade for these players if you get a decent discount? Or is it too risky? And are there any other players who come to mind? — Zigg B.
I don’t think anyone will be trading away Luka or Davis at a discount right now, and it’s been reported that Curry and Mitchell are eyeing returns sometime this week. So try to get them at a discount if you can, but it may not be easy. I especially like targeting Mitchell, because the Cavaliers will want to finish the season strong to maintain their current seed (No. 3 in the East) for the playoffs, thus ensuring they won’t have to face the Boston Celtics in the second round.
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If those options fail, how about targeting lesser stars, such as Tyler Herro or Khris Middleton? Herro and Middleton haven’t played in several weeks, but their teams would love for them to find their rhythm in time for the postseason. And they should be pretty attainable from a trading standpoint.
What should I do with Julius Randle? — Jude C.
This is a tough one. The latest update on Tuesday is that Randle is practicing in “controlled contact situations,” but he’s yet to participate in any scrimmages. At this point, I wouldn’t expect more than 10 games out of Randle to close out the season. If that’s good enough for you, then hang on to him. But if you’re hoping for more than that, it might be best to drop him for a hot free agent. It’s also tough to answer without knowing the quality of free agents available in your league.
Which of these clowns do you see making a legit impact during the fantasy playoffs — Paul Reed, Isaiah Hartenstein, Daniel Gafford, P.J. Washington (Please don’t say “None”)? I just need one of them to be a (semi) reliable double-double with two steals/blocks kinda guy. It’s a weekly league, so I can’t just stream based on opponent or last second injuries. — Andrew C.
After barely playing for a brief stretch, Gafford is back in Dallas’ starting lineup and thriving. He’s gone an unreal 33-of-33 from the field over his last five games, while totaling 22 steals plus blocks. I’d trust him the most out of that group.
Who are the currently-injured players keeper league managers should be stashing on benches/IR spots as possible Top 150 players for next season? — Jonathan D.
Well, I’m going to assume that all of the big-name players who are currently injured are already being kept, so I’ll leave them out of this response. Beyond the stars, I would consider stashing the following players for next season: Mark Williams, Zach LaVine, Marcus Smart, Onyeka Okongwu, Tari Eason and Cam Whitmore.
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Who are your favorite wings to target in a dynasty league? — Ben M.
Hey Ben, did you peruse my recent dynasty rankings article? If so, you would have noticed that I’m high on the futures of Jalen Suggs, Austin Reaves, Brandin Podziemski, Jalen Green, Shaedon Sharpe, Keegan Murray, Ausar and Amen Thompson, Devin Vassell, Brandon Miller, Desmond Bane, Jalen Williams and Scottie Barnes. I consider all of those players wings, and all of them are 25 years old or younger.
Is Jerami Grant a drop candidate? — Gregory P.
It wouldn’t be surprising if Portland decided to shut Grant down over the final month of the season, but you may want to wait until they actually declare that they’re going to do so. But if there’s a hot free agent who you’re itching to add, then go for it!
What to do about Franz Wagner and his recent struggles? (10-team, H2H, standard) — Andrew L.
Wager has been ice cold from behind the 3-point line since the All-Star break, but he’s still shooting 47% from the field, just a tad lower than his pre-All Star FG%. He’s also still contributing across the board, and he could go on a hot streak at any moment. So I think it’d be foolish to drop Franz, even in a shallow 10-team league.
Desmond Bane is rumored to be back this week. Worth taking a gamble on? — Gregory P.
Well, I’ve been hanging onto Bane in a couple of leagues, but I’m not super optimistic that the long wait will have been worth it. As we’ve seen with Jaren Jackson Jr., Bane might be in the starting lineup one night, then out with an “injury” the next game. Gamble is the right word choice, as there are no guarantees with any of the Memphis Grizzlies right now.
What should I do with a player like Bradley Beal? Should I keep him or drop him for a free agent? — Jude C.
I’m confused by this question, as Beal has been back on the court and balling for over a week now. You should definitely hold onto him, unless you’re in an uber-shallow league.
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As a team that had no shot this year, rostering a bunch of guys from teams that had no shot this year, which of the Blazers periphery guys (not Grant/Simons/Sharpe/Scoot) would you want to keep rostered over the offseason? — Spencer L.
It’s interesting that you didn’t include Deandre Ayton as part of Portland’s core. I’m not sure if that was a mistake, or if you are one of the many people who no longer trust him. Even if the Blazers decide to trade Ayton away this summer, I think he’s talented enough to still be a reliable fantasy center wherever he lands. Beyond Ayton, I’m intrigued by Toumani Camara, and I’m hopeful that Robert Williams III will have a nice bounce-back season next year.
Which three players would you keep from the list below (I am in a roto auction league that allows only three keepers) — Jalen Duren @$10, Alperen Sengun ($22), Ausur Thompson ($1), Keyonte George ($2), Miles Bridges ($9), Devin Vassell ($18), Scoot Henderson ($7), Immanuel Quickley ($6), Ja Morant ($27)? — Ioannis H.
After some thought, I’m liking the idea of locking in your young trio of Duren, Thompson and George. They’ll only cost you $13 total, so you’ll enter your auction with lots of dollars to spend on a couple of superstars.
What makes you so good at fantasy hoops? What does your process look like? Teach us how to fish. — Stan Son
Ahhh, finally a bigger picture question — thanks Stan!
I think my first piece of advice for finding success in fantasy sports is for people to think for themselves, rather than going along with the “herd mentality.” It’s just easy to be influenced by any narratives that are being thrown at you, which is why I try to limit as much outside noise as possible. There are plenty of sheeple out there, and I try to avoid them.
Along those same lines, when it comes to drafting season, I try not to focus too much on last season’s player rankings. While a select group of players are going to be reliable year in and year out, the majority of players are going to see their fantasy values ebb and flow from year to year. Last year’s rankings are last year’s rankings. Moreover, if you stare at numbers for too long, thinking those numbers are telling you the 100% truth, you’re bound to get duped.
Instead, rather than poring over statistics, most fantasy managers would stand to benefit from studying a player’s abilities and tendencies on the court as much as possible. The eye test can be very fruitful, if you have a keen eye for talent. I think I recall you asking me a couple of years ago what I liked about Jonathan Kuminga, and my reply was something like, “isn’t it obvious?”
I also suggest focusing on a player’s personality off the court as well, as lots of times I will target or avoid a certain player, simply due to me liking or disliking their personality. For everyone who’s serious about improving your fantasy skills, I also suggest doing an honest assessment of how your season went once the regular season has ended. Which draft picks did you nail? Which breakout players did you miss out on, and why? How would you rate your free agent pickups? Et cetera.
Following the above principles has worked well for me most of the time, but of course, your results may vary.
(Top photo of Julius Randle: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports)
