The ESPN Fantasy Basketball trade deadline is mere days away (March 4), so here is some final advice: trade for Denver Nuggets C Nikola Jokic! Wow, great advice there, Eric. What about making a move for Golden State Warriors PG Stephen Curry and Philadelphia 76ers C Joel Embiid, too. Anyone else?
Sure, but what would trades of that potential ilk look like? It is rather easy for us to write about great players we all would gladly trade for, but getting something done is a different story.
To be fair, I have not seen trades of top-5 fantasy basketball options in my redraft leagues. While there was a whole lot of Anfernee Simons, Oshae Brissett and Kemba Walker (someone would always, foolishly, believe until recently) trades, we rarely see Milwaukee Bucks PF/C Giannis Antetokounmpo or other MVP-caliber talents on the move. Fantasy managers wisely love to build around superstars, so trading one away for another or lesser players is often nonsensical.
Just not always.
In redraft roto leagues, there is always a pathway to a trade and anyone is fair game, because it is all about the categories. Antetokounmpo, for example, enters Monday as the No. 8 option on the ESPN Player Rater and second to Jokic in points leagues. Who would trade him away? Well, a fantasy manager in desperate need of moving up in free throw percentage -- addition by subtraction! -- may consider a trade package. Perhaps someone in need of more assists. Giannis for 76ers PG/SG James Harden? Done!
As I think I noted in a recent column -- honestly, I am not sure what year it is at this point -- I oddly loaded up on efficient-shooting, low-turnover centers in one league because it appears the only path to winning. Eschewing better players such as Chicago Bulls SG/SF Javonte Green and Oklahoma City Thunder PG Tre Mann, for example, to acquire LA Clippers PF/C Isaiah Hartenstein because of team need may seem foolish, but it is not. Trading is no different.
Winning a trade means nothing. Winning a league means everything.
There are several pathways to acquiring a superstar. One way is moving need for need, and there is no need to lie or stretch truth to the other manager. My team needs a better shooter. Or more assists and steals. Antetokounmpo for Harden is a prime example, actually. Harden may average 12 assists per game playing with Embiid. Antetokounmpo is awesome, but different awesome.
Curry is also awesome, but not a rebounder and not shooting well from the field, but Minnesota Timberwolves C Karl-Anthony Towns does these things well. Done! Of course, the more popular style on trading is moving two for one, and it is so often misunderstood. The goal of securing the best player in any fantasy trade is a bit of a myth.
Sure, it may feel and look better to send two or three role players packing for one superstar -- the real-life Harden trade, for recent example -- but all that really matters is team need. Absolutely consider moving Curry for New Orleans Pelicans C Jonas Valanciunas plus a relevant player -- say Detroit Pistons SF Saddiq Bey or LA Clippers SF/PF Robert Covington -- if it makes the fantasy team better.
If you are the contending team moving the superstar like Curry or Antetokounmpo, you already have the upper hand. People love superstars. Focus on your team needs and the roto statistics those stars do not offer. Covington does not score much, but it is March and your team may not need scoring. It may need his rare combination of steals, blocked shots and 3-pointers. If your roto team is set in points, consider moving Atlanta Hawks PG Trae Young for the rebounder you may covet plus a lesser assist fellow such as Dallas Mavericks PG Jalen Brunson.
Here are some categories of trades I see as relevant for the final days before the deadline, and this is for roto leagues. In points leagues, with one final, triumphant number providing literally all the value and results, it is about who you think is going to score more fantasy points. That is it. Harden outscores Giannis in my opinion. Done. Make the move. Roto is different and, contrary to the start of this column, Jokic is the one player I cannot make any case to trade away. Everyone else, sure!
Star for star, statistical need for need: Giannis for Harden. Curry for Towns. Easy to offer, but make sure you are not aiding your trading partner/league mate more than your own team. Moving up potentially two spots in assists at the risk of the guy or gal you are in the second-place tie with gaining more in other stats seems silly. Trades can help both teams, but the goal is to do so equally.
Star for two/three almost stars: Valanciunas is a great example. He fails to average the oh-so-noticeable 20 PPG, so some may overlook him, but he is a top-20 fantasy talent. Memphis Grizzlies SG/SF Desmond Bane, Phoenix Suns SF Mikal Bridges, Bucks PF/C Bobby Portis and Brunson are others that may come at a lesser cost than they should. Just be wary in taking on the extra players in any trade. Utilize bench spots with worthy options, but some teams may not have room.
Surprise stars in a 2-for-1: Portland's Simons really does have Steph Curry-like stats the past two months. Perhaps Damian Lillard returns in March to ruin the Simons stats, but that seems rather unlikely. A 2-for-1 with fellows such as Simons, Toronto Raptors SG/SF Gary Trent Jr. and Pelicans PF/C Jaxson Hayes as key parts may look one-sided, but actually may not be.
Moving the overrated stars: Name value can be overrated. This may come as a shock to many, but Grizzlies PG Ja Morant is barely top-50 on the 30-day Player Rater, and he is No. 35 for the season. Oh, he scores a ton of points and makes all the highlight reels, but Simons hitting four times the 3-pointers Morant does -- it is true -- may be more critical to your team needs by this point. Morant for Simons plus a versatile big such as Boston Celtics PF/C Robert Williams III? Oh yeah, for sure!
Getting the key throw-ins: Some managers may be so eager to acquire someone that they may overlook the rest of the trade. Pelicans SF/PF Herbert Jones averaged only 10.1 PPG and 4.6 RPG in February, but with 1.5 SPG and on 48.1% shooting from the field and 96.6% from the line. His teammate Hayes hit 75.7% of his field goals for the month, and now seems entrenched as a starter. These may be throw-ins for your league, especially with low roster percentages. Take advantage of it.
Healthy for injured: We have some clarity that is so risky to trade for compromised stars such as Lillard, Chris Paul, Paul George and Anthony Davis (and myriad others), for they simply may not play again this regular season, but, in redraft formats, see if someone is buying anyway. You hardly need a superstar in return. Perhaps you missed getting promising Indiana Pacers PF Isaiah Jackson in free agency. Trade injured Trail Blazers C Jusuf Nurkic to get him.
Guessing on playing time: Los Angeles Lakers PG/SF/PF LeBron James is currently healthy and playing like a top-10 fantasy option, but his team is struggling. Oh, the Lakers should qualify for the play-in playoff round, but they may achieve this giving their star some days off, too. It is a guess. Same with the Brooklyn Nets and their top star SF/PF Kevin Durant. Even a patient fantasy manager may opt to trade for more clarified situations.
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March 02, 2022 at 01:00AM
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Fantasy basketball trade index - Now is when trading stars for stars makes sense - ESPN
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