Fantasy Basketball: Which Players Should You Buy, Sell or Hold on the Exchange?

With the first month of the 2021-22 NBA season over, we come to Week 5 of the fantasy basketball season.

Now, owners have had plenty of time to dissect and learn about their team, knowing exactly what areas they need to improve on and what players they would be willing to trade off to fill the void.

We’re here to help you make decisions about some of the players you might see pop up in the trade requests, play buy, sell or hold games with some of the names trending in the league.

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Fantasy Basketball: Buy, Sell or Hold?

Buying

Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers

Lillard’s early-season struggles are well-documented and the fantasy owners who got him into the first round may be growing increasingly impatient. Impatient enough to trade off a prolific scoring superstar? It’s worth checking the temperature there.

Lillard was like a shell of his own in the first nine games of the season, averaging just 17.8 points and 2.0 3-pointers per game while shooting 33.7% from the field and 21.7 % from deep. While his assist average has remained the same (posting 8.8 per game), he hasn’t contributed much else and certainly hasn’t been as active as the player he was enlisted in.

He’s started to find a groove in the last few games, averaging 24.8 points, 6.8 assists, 5.0 rebounds and 3.6 3 points per game. His shot rate is also close to normal, converting 47.1% from the field and 39.1% from 3.

He is dealing with abs on a daily basis, but that could be the perfect excuse to try to get him now. It’s worth a try.

Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics

Tatum is another player whose early-season gunfight has improved dramatically. The star forward has become a perennial first-round draft pick in fantasy this season and owners may feel frustrated with their pick.

Tatum’s average has dropped from last year, though he’s still scoring 23.5 points per game. His efficiency, however, is going down, as his career low shots are 38.6% from the field, 31.6% from 3 and 76.8% from the free throw. While his heals are growing – and he has 5 doubles as a result, an increase if you’re in an H2H league using that stat – the assist average and His theft is all reduced.

Tatum is an amazing talent and his entire work suggests he’ll be back performing at the high levels we’ve seen before. Make a move for him now before he starts going.

Deandre Ayton, Phoenix Suns

Ayton hasn’t had a slow start like the other two “buy” candidates, but he is dealing with a foot injury that has left him missing six of the team’s 13 games so far. While the former No. 1 overall pick has just returned to the lineup, doing it aggressively with a 22-point brace and 12 rebounds, you can still capitalize on his missed time and make a profit. recommended to him.

Ayton has been a recovery machine, scoring double digits in five of the seven competitions he appeared in. While his GPA is down from last year, it can be assumed that number will continue to trend upwards as the season progresses. He had two games with less than 10 points before the injury but there’s no denying he remains at the center of Phoenix’s offense.

The Suns are just starting to look like the team we saw make it to the NBA Finals last season, and Ayton will no doubt be the beneficiary of the team’s success once he’s back.

Sell

Brandon Ingram, New Orleans Pelicans

After a strong start to the season, when Ingram averaged 25.0 points, 7.3 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 2.5 3-pointers in his first six games, the star striker suffered a hip injury that caused him to miss the next seven games.

The one-time All-Star has since returned to the squad, catching up right where he left off, but leaving the game 31 points, now could be the perfect time to move him. . The Pelicans recently announced that Zion Williamson has been allowed contact in practice and can also participate in 1-on-1 drills, meaning his return is getting closer and closer.

THAN: When will Zion Williamson return?

Once Williamson returns, it is inevitable that Ingram’s imaginary value will suffer, forced to sacrifice some shot efforts and count stats with how often the ball is in Zion’s hands. Try and move Ingram before Williamson’s next injury update, scheduled for November 24, according to the team’s announcement.

Miles Bridge, Charlotte Hornets

Bridges got off to such an absurd start that he was even included in the top 5 mentioned on the list. Sporting News’ first MVP ladder of the season.

He’s still average career highs across the board with 21.5 points, 7.3 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.7 steals and 2.5 3s per game, proving that His productivity from the first week was not luck. His minutes or roles are unchanged, which means there’s no harm in keeping the Bridge if you’re happy with what he’s given you so far.

This is only to say that if you are going to explore commercial offers for the 23-year-old striker, now is the time to do so. Don’t expect his numbers to drop much as it’s a contract year, but might be worth a look if you can pack the Bridge and another solid part to get a top player like some mentioned. in the “buy” section above.

Montrezl Harrell, Washington Wizards

Harrell identified the “sell” and “hold” lines, because he’s likely to perform better than where you’ve outlined and he’s not exactly a blockbuster name to get you a big deal. But even with that said, Harrell has had such a great start to the season that it would be naive not to at least test the commercial waters for him.

With an average of 18.0 points, 8.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.0 blocks per game with five doubles, Harrell is returning to the same form as the player who won the Player of the Year award. best of the year just two seasons ago.

It was expected that once Daniel Gafford returned from a minor injury, Harrell’s production would shut down, but that didn’t happen. However, the Wizards are still awaiting the return of Rui Hachimura, who has yet to compete this season due to personal reasons, and that could affect Harrell’s fictitious outcome when he returns.

Send a few reviews and see what you can get in return for Trezz.

Organization

DeMar DeRozan, Chicago Bulls

DeRozan has been a legitimate MVP candidate to start the season. With an average of 26.9 points, 5.4 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game, the four-time All-Star has revived his career in Chicago and he has the ability to take the team Your fantasy ball is at the top of the leaderboard because he is outperforming his average draft position.

While players with unusually hot starts like this are often the top “selling” candidates, you’re better off holding onto DeRozan. You won’t get the same or better returns and the Bulls are clicking all the turrets with the trio of him, Zach LaVine and Lonzo Ball.

THAN: DeRozan to Lakers a “done deal”?

Dejounte Murray, San Antonio Spurs

Murray is one of my favorite breakout fantasy players entering this season, and he’s lived up to the hype.

Averaging at a career high of 18.9 points, 8.1 rebounds, 8.1 assists, 2.1 steals and 1.33 seconds per game, he’s completely taken the house. Dominion of the rebuilt San Antonio. With two triples, three doubles and a number of other nights where he was just one or two stats behind to hit those benchmarks, Murray has been one of the best players in football. fantasy basket this season.

He’s another player you won’t get a better or equal return on in a deal, so it’s best to keep him in your squad.

Pascal Siakam, Toronto Raptors

Siakam missed the start of the season due to off-season shoulder surgery, but the fantasy owners who hit him in the draft have reaped the benefits.

Siakam’s early games were a bit rough, but the one-time All-Star is getting off to a good start, averaging 22.5 points, 9.0 rebounds and 6.5 assists while shooting from long range. efficiency (55.2%) and 3-point range (44.4. %) in his last two games.

The Raptors desperately need his offensive output and he will continue to have plenty of opportunities to come up with big numbers in all categories of counting stats, making him of great fantasy value, especially is based on where you might have sketched him.

Siakam could certainly find his name on the “buy” or “sell” lists at some point this season, but for now, hold on tight and see what he’s capable of.