Adding players off the waiver wire can help fantasy basketball managers navigate injuries to their squad. However, for those who need more of a long-term solution, a trade might be the best way to increase their chances of winning a championship. Here are some players to consider buying low on, selling high on or who are worth holding onto in fantasy at this time.
Buy
De'Aaron Fox, San Antonio Spurs 
The Spurs are 5-4 over their last nine games. Despite their winning record, Fox underwhelmed with averages of 15.7 points and 1.4 three-pointers. One of the biggest reasons for his decline was him shooting 27.1% from three during that span. For the season, he has shot 34.3% from deep.
The good news is that Fox still averaged 5.0 rebounds, 6.3 assists and 1.0 steals during that nine-game span. His usage rate won't match his tenure with the Kings because of all the talent around him on the Spurs, but he is an efficient scorer, shooting 47.0% from the field for his career. His recent shooting woes might have created a rare buy-low opportunity for him in fantasy.
Ivica Zubac, Los Angeles Clippers 
Since returning from injury, Zubac has averaged 12.1 points and 9.9 rebounds over his last nine games. In four of those games, he played fewer than 28 minutes. However, he has logged at least 30 minutes in three of his last five games as he continues to be further removed from his ailment.
Zubac hasn't been
Adding players off the waiver wire can help fantasy basketball managers navigate injuries to their squad. However, for those who need more of a long-term solution, a trade might be the best way to increase their chances of winning a championship. Here are some players to consider buying low on, selling high on or who are worth holding onto in fantasy at this time.
Buy
De'Aaron Fox, San Antonio Spurs
The Spurs are 5-4 over their last nine games. Despite their winning record, Fox underwhelmed with averages of 15.7 points and 1.4 three-pointers. One of the biggest reasons for his decline was him shooting 27.1% from three during that span. For the season, he has shot 34.3% from deep.
The good news is that Fox still averaged 5.0 rebounds, 6.3 assists and 1.0 steals during that nine-game span. His usage rate won't match his tenure with the Kings because of all the talent around him on the Spurs, but he is an efficient scorer, shooting 47.0% from the field for his career. His recent shooting woes might have created a rare buy-low opportunity for him in fantasy.
Ivica Zubac, Los Angeles Clippers
Since returning from injury, Zubac has averaged 12.1 points and 9.9 rebounds over his last nine games. In four of those games, he played fewer than 28 minutes. However, he has logged at least 30 minutes in three of his last five games as he continues to be further removed from his ailment.
Zubac hasn't been able to replicate his production from his breakout campaign last season, but he hasn't exactly been a disappointment by providing 14.8 points, 10.8 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game. He is also shooting 60.5% from the field and 72.2% from the charity stripe. His slow start in his return from injury makes him someone to try to acquire at a discount.
Sell
Michael Porter Jr., Brooklyn Nets 
There is nothing about Porter's stats that indicates he should be someone to sell in fantasy. He is having the best season of his career, averaging 25.7 points, 7.4 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.1 steals and 3.8 three-pointers. After never averaging more than 13.6 shots per game for a season in his career, he has jacked up an average of 18.8 shots a night with his new team.
The reason to consider selling high on Porter is that he has sat out two of the last six games for the Nets. As they build up losses, they are looking for excuses to rest Porter, not play him more. If Porter isn't dealt by the trade deadline, we could see plenty of rest days for him down the stretch. Now might be the time to capitalize on his excellent first half.
LaMelo Ball, Charlotte Hornets 
Trading Ball right now isn't exactly moving him at his peak value. He has seen his role decline this season, averaging the fewest minutes of his career. He has even come off the bench in two of the last six games. In his last two games, he played a total of 40 minutes. With his reduced role, Ball has averaged 19.0 points, 4.5 rebounds, 6.0 assists, 1.2 steals, and 3.7 three-pointers over his last 10 games.
The Hornets have not won many games during Ball's tenure with the franchise. With Kon Knueppel emerging in his rookie campaign and Brandon Miller finally healthy, Ball may continue to see fewer minutes during the second half of the season. His production hasn't completely torpedoed, and he has a lot of name value, so see if you can still trade him for a valuable return. Rest days could also come into play for Ball down the stretch with the Hornets likely to miss out on the playoffs again.
Hold
Desmond Bane, Orlando Magic 
Jalen Suggs (knee) remains out for the Magic, but their depth chart has improved lately with Franz Wagner returning from injury. He played limited minutes in both of his first two games back, yet the initial results were not encouraging for Bane. In Wagner's first game back, Bane scored 13 points on 13 shot attempts. In the second game, he produced 11 points over 12 shot attempts.
Wagner's return from injury hurting Bane's usage rate is worrisome because Bane is already having the least efficient season of his career. He is shooting 44.8% from the field and just 33.2% from behind the arc. Across his last 12 games, he has shot 24.1% from deep. Even with all of that in the fold, it's difficult to complain too much with Bane averaging 18.9 points, 4.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 1.6 three-pointers for the season. Wagner's return doesn't help his fantasy value, but also don't panic and trade Bane away at a discount.
Miles Bridges, Charlotte Hornets
Bridge has hit a rough patch. Over the last seven games, he has only averaged 14.0 points. That's despite him shooting 50.7% from the field and 44.1% from three during that span. For the season, he shoots 44.6% from the field and 33.7% from behind the arc.
Part of the reason for Bridges' recent decline in scoring is that the Hornets have been involved in some blowouts. Four of their last seven games were decided by at least 20 points. In two of those games, he logged 22 and 23 minutes. He averages 33 minutes per game for the season, so as the Hornets are involved in closer games, Bridges should play a lot. Don't read too much into his recent disappointing stat lines.
