The NBA trade deadline is days away, with plenty of fantasy basketball implications incoming. Here is the best advice for fantasy managers to prepare for February 6.
Fantasy Basketball 2024-25 NBA Trade Deadline Advice
Stay Updated and Set News Alerts
The most important piece of advice is to know what’s going on. Managers need to be quick. A trade can strike at any time, as seen with the blockbuster Luka Dončić–Anthony Davis swap. ESPN’s Shams Charania is the best source to follow and set alerts for. Following basketball analysts is also helpful for trade breakdowns and examining the fantasy implications.
While most trades are unexpected, monitoring rumours also helps give an idea of who’s on the move. This allows fantasy basketball managers to stash players before a deal even happens. For example, Jimmy Butler is headlining rumours, indicating Nikola Jović is a good stash. Although the return can prevent Jovic’s value from benefitting, it’s a chance managers take.
Save Your Adds
Trades can help elevate a waiver wire player’s value, so it’s crucial to have multiple adds saved up to capitalize on the opportunity to pick them up. Don’t waste adds streaming before the deadline for just one game. Having at least two or three moves available is crucial, even if that means sacrificing a win for the week (if you’re fighting for a playoff spot, using an add may be necessary). If managers have some adds left over after the 3 p.m. EST deadline, that still leaves Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday for streaming.
Avoid Streaming, But Do So In Bulk
Streaming isn’t recommended, but if managers really need a head start on the week, the best move is to add players in bulk. Only the Boston Celtics, Dallas Mavericks, Los Angeles Clippers and Los Angeles Lakers play one game between Monday and Wednesday in week 16, so adding players from these teams is not worth it.
The Golden State Warriors, Houston Rockets, Indiana Pacers, Minnesota Timberwolves, Orlando Magic, Portland Trail Blazers and Sacramento Kings play three games in the next four days (Monday through Thursday). These are the best teams for bulk streaming. Depending on how many moves you have, avoid using more than one before the deadline.
Know Your Worst Players
As soon as the news of a trade breaks, be ready to make a move. Knowing your worst player helps save time from debating who to drop, which sometimes isn’t an easy or fast decision. Make a list of players at the bottom of your roster, and be prepared to move off them to get that hot waiver wire pickup.
Streamer-level players are easy to drop because they only have short-term value. Also, look at stats and rankings over the past several weeks. Ultimately, consider who will benefit you more in the second half of the season.
Look At Depth Charts
If a starting player is traded and the return doesn’t play their position, their backup will likely move into the first unit. This isn’t always the case, but it happens oftentimes. Looking at depth charts helps provide some clarity on how a roster could shape up.
Assess Your Team’s Strengths and Weaknesses
This advice is more tailored to category leagues than points. Know which categories you’re punting, what you need to improve, what you can sacrifice and which are already strong. Understand the structure of your team and its strengths and weaknesses to determine how the player you’re picking up fits into that.
However, if a trade makes a player must-roster or boosts their value, it’s wise to pick them up even if they don’t fit your build. This gives managers a few options. You can either use them as trade leverage or hold out and wait to see how their production changes. Sometimes, players start providing in categories they don’t usually contribute to because a team’s dynamic has changed.
Don’t Make Fantasy Trades Until After the Deadline
The NBA landscape can drastically change in the next few days. Making fantasy trades before then can hurt managers if the player they acquire is moved in real life to a situation that will hurt their value. Managers who recently acquired Daniel Gafford, Dereck Lively II, Chris Paul or Austin Reaves are examples of this. Trading for a player who could have value if their teammate is traded could work, but it’s still taking a chance.
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