The tank is on. Take a look at any NBA-focused outlet, and it’s impossible not to find opinions, data, outrage and potential solutions surrounding the league’s tanking epidemic.
While the on-court product suffers, so do fantasy managers. After the trade deadline, which tells you a lot about how a team’s brass feels about their trajectory, you can make the argument that one-third of the NBA is trying to lose on purpose.
This puts plenty of fantasy managers in a vulnerable position. Competing for a fantasy championship over the next two months will prove incredibly difficult while rostering star players of those 10-or-so teams.
This week’s fantasy basketball trade advice column is here to help you work through that.
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Fantasy Basketball Trade Advice (Week 17)
Trade For
Franz Wagner (PF, SF – ORL)
Making a bet on Franz Wagner for the home stretch is a bet on his health. The Orlando forward seemed like an All-Star lock before injuries derailed the first half of his season. Wagner has played in just 28 games thus far.
Nevertheless, he’s as healthy now as he’s been in months. Wagner played in Orlando’s two games (38 total minutes) before the All-Star break and is currently without an injury designation.
With this extra time to get as healthy as possible, now is a good time to pounce on a star player for a potentially low price. Wagner’s average fantasy points per game (36.16) is in a crowd with Brandon Ingram, Brandon Miller and Zion Williamson.
Players Ranked Higher to Trade For Him:
Trade Away
Alex Sarr (C – WSH)
Alex Sarr will be sidelined for the next two weeks with a hamstring injury after missing three of Washington’s last six games. Plus, the second-year big man has been on a slight downward trajectory in minutes per game since January.
Trading Sarr now seems like selling low, and it is, but considering Washington’s place in the standings, his price will probably sink even lower.
The Wizards owe the Knicks their first-round pick should it fall from 9-30. Playing Sarr for 30 minutes per game doesn’t exactly help them retain their selection. Additionally, the hamstring injury could very well serve as an excuse to support giving Sarr fewer minutes upon his return.
Play the situation by ear, of course, but don’t be surprised if Sarr comes back from this hamstring injury and doesn’t play very much. After all, Washington has shut down Anthony Davis and could do the same with Trae Young later down the road.
Players Ranked Lower to Trade Him For:
Trade For
Andrew Wiggins (PF, SF, SG – MIA)
Andrew Wiggins was ruled out last Wednesday with a minor toe injury after enjoying a sustained stretch of success due in part to injuries to Tyler Herro and Norman Powell. Over the last two weeks, Wiggins ranks 45th in fantasy points per game (34.70).
While Wiggins is averaging a career-low in scoring, he’s posting his highest mark in rebounds, field goal rate and three-point rate since the 2022-23 season. Plus, Wiggins is averaging an impressive 2.2 stocks (steals plus blocks) per game.
Per Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra, Herro is without a timetable for a return with a rib injury. This clears the way for Wiggins to remain the third option when playing alongside Bam Adebayo and Powell.
Wiggins isn’t a flashy addition, by any means, but he’s productive, versatile and can likely be had for a cheap return.
Players Ranked Higher to Trade For Him:
Trade Away
Other Players on Tanking Teams
Alex Sarr felt like a name that “earned” his own place because of his breakout season. As for players on the Bulls, Jazz, Mavericks, Nets, Pacers — you get the idea — they deserve a collective spot here. Through no fault of their own, of course.
After the Jazz and Pacers were fined six figures for suspicious late-game substitution patterns, the tanking strategies implemented post-All-Star break will be fascinating. And, no, $500,000 fines won’t stop teams from chasing the rights to draft Cameron Boozer, AJ Dybantsa and Darryn Peterson.
Being held at the mercy of teams trying to keep their best players — your fantasy players — off the floor is a miserable way to go about the rest of the season. If you roster the likes of DeMar DeRozan, Keyonte George, Josh Giddey, Lauri Markkanen, Andrew Nembhard, Michael Porter Jr., Pascal Siakam and more, it’s best to explore moves for more trustworthy players.
Whatever deals you’re able to make, the discrepancy in name-value won’t be pretty. George, Markkanen and Porter have all had strong seasons. At least Josh Hart plays just about every game.
