After the injuries to Tyrese Haliburton and Ja Morant, it’s time we refresh the NBA Fantasy: Buy Low, Sell High list, as a lot of new minutes have come available for players that may not have been on your radar. We’re almost halfway through the season at this point, so the moves you make now, will set up your playoff run!
My favorite difference between the NBA and the NFL is that there is a game every single night. You have a rough night in fantasy basketball? Ok, that’s fine. Get over it! Tonight is a new night! That said, it can be tough to stay up to date on the entire league’s dealings, injuries, role changes, and performances.
That’s where our NBA Fantasy Basketball Hype Report comes in! Every week, we’ll give you two players you should be buying low on (either via trade or waiver wire), and two players you should be selling high on (dropping, trading, or benching). When it comes to fantasy sports, FantraxHQ will always have your back! Let’s get into this week’s Hype Report.
Fantasy Basketball Buy Low, Sell High
Buy Low
TJ McConnell, Indiana Pacers, PG
Somehow, this man is only 31% rostered at the moment. I truly don’t get it. Even when Haliburton was healthy, McConnell should’ve been on rosters. Here are the facts: Haliburton was diagnosed with a Grade 1 hamstring strain, which will leave him out for at least two weeks. Considering that he had to be carried off of the court, I think this is a welcomed diagnosis from all parties involved. With that said, that means TJ McConnell will have the reigns of the #1 team in pace in the entire NBA, for at least two weeks. Probably a bit more if we’re being realistic. I’ve always called McConnell diet Chris Paul (prime Chris Paul), and if you’ve ever watched him play you understand why. He’s a pass-first point guard, who you’ll dare to shoot, and wish he would’ve passed it instead. His Per 36 Min this year: 18 PPG, 12 Ast, 6 Reb. You’re going to be able to pick him up off the waiver wire. That’s insane production. Act quickly.
Jacob Gilyard, Memphis Grizzlies, PG
I’m not pounding the table with this pick like I was for TJ McConnell, but I feel confident that Jacob Gilyard will be getting his fair share of minutes down the stretch this year. Ja Morant is out for the year with a shoulder injury that felt like it came out of nowhere. Derrick Rose is the backup PG and is week-to-week with an injury. That means Marcus Smart and Jacob Gilyard are the only listed point guards on the roster. But here’s the thing: Memphis is now 14-23 with the 13th seed in their conference. Now they’ve lost their best player. It makes more sense to me to give Gilyard more minutes than Smart and start tanking for the best pick they can get/see what they have out of their young talent. However, whether they take my advice or not, Gilyard is likely thrust into a 20+ minute per game role, whether they decide to tank or not. He should be on your radar.
Sell High
Ivica Zubac, LA Clippers, C
Zubac has been nothing short of excellent in the past 40-ish games. He’s averaged 13/10 for the year. But the fact of the matter is that Daniel Theis has been great in his limited minutes, and Mason Plumlee is starting to get back into basketball shape after being out with injury. That’s three potential Centers that could make a case to cut into Zubac’s minutes, and I think they will. The reason is, Zubac is fairly cement-footed, and more fits the old NBA, than the new NBA. Any time LAC goes up against a small-ball lineup, I would prefer to start Plumlee or Theis. It remains to be seen whether this will play out, but I would prefer to trade him at the peak of his stock this year, than after the moves get made.
Anthony Davis, LA Lakers, PF/C
I’m sorry. I am. I don’t mean to be negative Nancy. I’m just trying to help folks win their fantasy basketball leagues. But…Anthony Davis…the All-NBA Anthony Davis. The Anthony Davis that makes you gasp any time he falls. Well, he’s 2nd only to Demar DeRozan in minutes played this year. He’s been nothing short of the most durable player in the league, and quite frankly, I don’t think that’s a great stat for him. Heck…the Spurs have Wemby (a teenager) on a 24-MPG limit. The whole league has accepted managing players’ minutes is better for their long-term health, so leading the league in minutes doesn’t seem smart to me. Especially for a player that has had such injury woes in his career. I don’t want to be this guy, but it appears I am this guy. Expect AD to get hurt. You might want to trade him while he’s still at the top of his game.