With the holiday season in full swing, it’s time to focus on what really matters: Fantasy basketball trades. What exemplifies the spirit of giving and receiving gifts like fantasy hoops deals?
Though perhaps unlike holiday gift exchanges, we’re looking to win our trades outright. Assessing your league’s trade market and surveying the needs of your league mates can help you get that leg up in deals. It’s Week 9 of our fantasy basketball trade advice. Let’s dive in, and happy holidays.
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Fantasy Basketball Trade Advice (Week 9)
Trade For
Jarrett Allen (C – CLE)
The Cavaliers are in a pretty serious rut. They’re 15-13 and haven’t won consecutive games in nearly a month. Injuries to Darius Garland, Sam Merrill and Evan Mobley have held Cleveland back from returning to the top of the East.
In the case of Jarrett Allen, who recently returned from an injury of his own, he’s long been a reliable, high-floor fantasy player. Coming off a season in which he averaged 13.5 points and 9.7 rebounds on over 70% shooting from the field, 2025 hasn’t been too kind to the former All-Star.
Allen’s minutes and rebounds per game, along with his field goal rate, are at their lowest since his rookie year. Though with the injury to Mobley, Allen’s short-term fantasy stock should see a bump.
Consider buying low on a player experiencing an atypical season.
Players Ranked Higher to Trade Him For:
Trade Away
Nikola Vucevic (C – CHI)
After opening this season averaging 17.1 points, 10.3 rebounds and 3.7 assists through 10 games, Nikola Vucevic has cooled off considerably.
Looking at the bigger picture, Vucevic is averaging 12.7% fewer fantasy points than last year, when he was among the best centers in all of fantasy. Considering this is his age-35 season, there’s no real reason to expect Vucevic to return to his past form.
Plus, we can also anticipate the big man’s name to again circulate in trade rumors as the deadline approaches. It’s difficult to say whether a change of scenery would boost Vucevic’s production, but playing the guessing game isn’t exactly beneficial for fantasy managers.
Players Ranked Lower to Trade Him For:
Trade For
P.J. Washington Jr. (C, PF, SF – DAL)
The absence of Dereck Lively II and the inconsistent playing time of Anthony Davis and Daniel Gafford have allowed for P.J. Washington Jr. to have a career-year thus far.
The seventh-year forward is averaging 16 points, 7.9 rebounds and 2.4 stocks (steals plus blocks) per game on albeit subpar shooting splits of 44.8%/32.7%/67.4%. What’s been most encouraging, though, is the volume. Washington has attempted at least 17 shots in four of his last seven games and is averaging 13.3 per game.
Making a bet on high-volume players who rebound well and contribute defensively is often safe to make. Washington should be fairly easy to acquire, as he’s rostered in just 47% of Yahoo! leagues and 57.4% of ESPN leagues.
Players Ranked Higher to Trade Him For:
- Ausar Thompson (PF, SF, SG – DET)
- Mark Williams (C – PHO)
- Alex Caruso (PG, SG, SF – OKC)
Trade Away
Paul George (SG, SF, PF – PHI)
Between Paul George’s recent strong play and Tyrese Maxey missing time with an illness, things scream to sell high on the veteran wing.
The 35-year-old George played his best game as a 76er last Sunday in Atlanta, where he posted 35 points with seven made threes. Alas, performances even somewhat close to resembling those have been few and far between since George landed in Philly.
While he’s undoubtedly been better through 10 games this season than last, George is still incredibly difficult to trust in fantasy.
Players Ranked Lower to Trade Him For: