As trade winds continue to blow across the NBA, fantasy managers can also wheel-and-deal to
help their chances of winning a championship. Here are some players to consider buying low
on, selling high on or who are worth holding onto in fantasy at this time.
Buy
Paolo Banchero, Orlando Magic
Banchero recently missed 10 games with a groin injury. He jumped right back into the starting
lineup when he returned, but the Magic limited him to fewer than 25 minutes in each of his first
two games. He has seen his playing time increase in both games since, topping out at 35
minutes in Saturday's game against the Knicks. In that matchup, he produced 25 points, eight
rebounds, three assists and one steal.
Banchero's overall stats haven't been great this season. He is shooting just 26.6% from behind
the arc, which is down from 32.0% last season. His scoring is also down to 20.5 points per
game, compared to 25.9 last season. However, he is healthy now and should see his normal
allotment of minutes moving forward. His scoring production could increase, given that Franz Wagner (ankle) and Jalen Suggs (hip) are both out. This might be a rare buy-low window for the
All-Star forward.
Jalen Duren, Detroit Pistons
Duren produced a disappointing stat line against the Celtics on Monday, posting six points and
three rebounds over 29 minutes. The only silver lining was that he had two steals and two
blocks. It marked the fourth time over his last five games that he has hauled in fewer than 10
rebounds. It was also his second game with fewer than 10 points during that span.
Even with Duren's recent struggles, he is averaging 18.0 points, 11.0 rebounds and 1.0 blocks
for the season. After shooting 66.9% from the free-throw line last season, he has shot 74.7%
from there this season. All his recent struggles might have done was create an opportunity to
acquire him in a trade at a slight discount.
Sell
Lauri Markkanen, Utah Jazz
Markkanen is having a fantastic season with averages of 27.8 points, 7.0 rebounds and 2.9
three-pointers. After shooting just 42.3% from the field last season, he is at 46.9% through 24
games. He is also playing a lot, logging 35 minutes a game. The 28-year-old has a ton of talent
and is, without question, a top fantasy option when he is on the floor.
The last part of the above statement is key. Markkanen has missed only one game after playing
a total of just 102 games the previous two seasons. The Jazz are 10-15 and could turn to their
tanking ways again in the near future. Monday's game against the Mavericks was concerning
because they sat Jusuf Nurkic for rest and removed Svi Mykhailiuk from the starting lineup.
They were replaced by youngsters Kyle Filipowski and Brice Sensabaugh. It might be best to
sell high on Markkanen now to avoid possible rest day issues down the stretch.
Jerami Grant, Portland Trail Blazers
Grant has started each of his last 13 games. In the role, he has averaged 22.1 points, 4.8
rebounds, 2.8 assists and 3.0 three-pointers. After a disappointing 2024-25 campaign in which
he shot 37.3% from the field and 36.5% from three, he has shot 43.8% from the field and 39.5%
from behind the arc this season.
Grant was moved into the starting lineup when Jrue Holiday (calf) went down. He has missed a
month with the injury, and the Trail Blazers have not given any updates regarding his potential
return. However, when Holiday does come back, Grant could see fewer minutes and shot
attempts off the bench. Now is the time to float him out in trade offers.
Hold
Jaylen Brown, Boston Celtics
The absence of Jayson Tatum (Achilles) has set up Brown to have the best season of his
career. He hasn't disappointed those who drafted him, putting up 29.3 points, 6.2 rebounds, 4.9
assists, 1.1 steals and 2.1 three-pointers per game. Not only has his usage rate increased to
36.2%, but he is shooting 50.0% from the field.
Even with Tatum out and the Celtics losing Holiday, Kristaps Porzingis and Al Horford during the
offseason, they are currently the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference. They should remain
playoff contenders, so any potential of them taking a "gap year" and trying to improve their draft
lottery odds without Tatum has probably gone out the window. This is not a sell-high situation
with Brown. Sit back and enjoy the ride.
Onyeka Okongwu, Atlanta Hawks
After the Hawks benched Clint Capela during last season, Okongwu thrived in a starting role.
Despite his success, the Hawks still added Kristaps Porzingis during the offseason. That left Okongwu to come off the bench to begin the season. Over his first 12 games, he averaged 13.4
points, 7.9 rebounds and 1.1 three-pointers over 28 minutes a night.
Porzingis has since been in and out of the lineup with injuries and illness, opening the door for
Okongwu to play 33 minutes over his last 14 games. During that span, he provided 18.4
points, 7.2 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 1.1 steals, 1.6 blocks and 2.6 three-pointers a game. It has
been reported that Porzingis is dealing with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS).
He has battled this before, and it could be something that impacts him throughout the season.
Okongwu should continue to play a lot moving forward, so don't view this as a sell-high
opportunity with him.
