Mid-season fantasy basketball roster management requires exploiting market value, especially with recent NBA injuries sidelining key players like Zion Williamson. This guide offers essential trade tips to help you capitalize on the changing landscape.
We analyze prime buy-low targets such as Shaedon Sharpe, who is due to regain his starting role after a calf injury, and Naz Reid, who offers immense upside should his star teammates miss time. Conversely, we advise looking to sell high on LaMelo Ball while he is healthy and look to hold value like Ryan Rollins, whose prominent role remains secure despite Kevin Porter Jr.'s return.
Buy
Shaedon Sharpe, Portland Trail Blazers 
Sharpe recently missed four games with a calf injury. He has come off the bench in all three games since making his return, playing 22 minutes or fewer in two of them. However, he did play 30 minutes in Tuesday's loss to the Raptors. Over those three games, he averaged 13.7 points, 3.0 rebounds and 1.0 steals.
Prior to suffering his injury, Sharpe had started the first 14 games for the Trail Blazers. During that span, he averaged 22.6 points, 5.0 rebounds, 1.4 steals and 1.8 three-pointers in 29 minutes per game. The Trail Blazers are likely being cautious with their young guard right now, as calf injuries can become a more serious issue if not handled properly. He should return to his normal starting role and minutes in the near future, so see if you can acquire him now at a discount.
Naz Reid, Minnesota Timberwolves 
Last season, Reid set career highs by averaging 14.2 points, 6.0 rebounds and 2.2 three-pointers per game. The main reason for his increased production was that he averaged 28 minutes. Prior to that, he had never played more than 24 minutes a game in his career. There was a 17-game stretch at one point in the season in which he started and averaged 36 minutes with Julius Randle and Rudy Gobert both missing parts of it because of injuries. During that span, he averaged 18.3 points, 9.0 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.3 blocks and 2.8 three-pointers.
Reid's production is down slightly this season at 13.3 points, 5.7 rebounds and 2.1 three-pointers a night. His minutes are down to 25 a game. The main reason for his muted numbers is that Randle and Gobert have yet to miss any time. It only takes an injury to either of them for Reid to be vaulted into a leading role. Acquiring him now at a discount could pay off in the long run.
Sell
LaMelo Ball, Charlotte Hornets 
Ball's scoring is down at 18.9 points per game, but he is averaging 6.1 rebounds and 8.9 assists. He is only shooting 37.8% from the field, which is one of the main reasons for his decline in the scoring department. His usage rate is still high at 31.6%. That puts him on pace to have a usage rate of at least 30.0% for the fourth straight season.
The main reason that Ball is a sell-high candidate right now is that he is healthy. He has played in four straight games, which included both ends of a back-to-back set. That's the first time that he has played both halves of a back-to-back set since the second and third games of the season. Ball has a checkered injury history, and the Hornets are bad again, posting a 6-15 record. Ball runs the risk of another injury and/or rest days down the stretch as the Hornets try to improve their draft lottery odds. Look to move Ball now while he is healthy.
LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers 
James has appeared in five of the Lakers' six games since returning from injury. His minutes have been fine at 32 per game. However, his production is way down at 15.2 points, 4.0 rebounds, 7.2 assists and 1.4 three-pointers per game. He is shooting 46.0% from the field and 55.0% from the free-throw line, but the biggest concern is his 12.6 shot attempts per game. He has never averaged fewer than 18.1 shot attempts for a season in his career.
James is not a sell-high because his production is excellent right now. He's a sell because he probably has more name value than he does actual fantasy value. Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves are the driving forces behind the Lakers' scoring attack. James can be a good source for assists, but his scoring and rebounding production could remain muted in his current role.
Hold
Ausar Thompson, Detroit Pistons 
Thompson was expected to see a significant increase in playing time this season, and that has come to fruition. After logging 23 minutes per game last season, he has played 28 minutes a game this season. However, he hasn't seen a significant leap in production. He is averaging 11.6 points and 6.1 rebounds, compared to 10.1 points and 5.1 rebounds last season.
The good news with Thompson is that he is averaging 1.5 steals. He's not jacking up a ton of threes, but he is making his three-point attempts at a rate of 33.3%. His trade value isn't all that high right now, especially with Jaden Ivey back from injury. However, he can still be a valuable source for rebounds and steals, while also shooting for a high rate from the field. Hang onto him for the time being.
Ryan Rollins, Milwaukee Bucks 
An injury to Kevin Porter Jr. in the first game of the season unexpectedly thrust Rollins into a prominent role. He stepped up in a big way, producing a 19-game stretch in which he averaged 18.8 points, 4.2 rebounds, 6.1 assists, 1.5 steals and 2.5 three-pointers. The Bucks played him 33 minutes a night during that span.
Rollins has remained a starter since Porter has returned from injury. He had 10 points and four assists over 31 minutes against the Nets, which he followed up with 14 points and five assists over 30 minutes versus the Wizards. While fewer shot attempts will likely be coming his way with Porter in the fold, Rollins can still provide enough value across the board to be worth holding onto. The Bucks don't have great depth, so Rollins should remain an important part of their team.
