Fantasy Basketball Sell-High Trade Candidates: Deni Avdija, Jamal Murray, Kawhi Leonard and More

Most of our time as fantasy basketball owners is spent adding and dropping players throughout the season. For those of you looking to trade, this is an article for you.

Let's look at some sell-high fantasy basketball players. Check back later this week for a buy-low trade article!

Use the FantasySP fantasy basketball trade value chart and trade analyzer to help you with trades all season!

Kawhi Leonard, Los Angeles Clippers

Leonard has seen his fantasy value rise steadily over the past couple weeks. He's actually averaged the most fantasy points per game over his past five contests, using numbers from NBA.com.

Leonard is a well-known player, and has been one of the league's better players for a while, but injury concerns knocks his value, both in real life and for fantasy. It makes times like now - where he's playing extremely well - a time to possibly sell high on him in a trade.

He has played 24 games this season, and scored under 20 points just three times. Leonard has played in every Clipper game since November 23, which is a great thing. Since then, he has had his top-five scoring games of the season.

Overall, he's averaging 28.3 points per game on the season, which is way above his 21.5 mark he posted last season. Leonard hasn't ever scored this many points in a season ever, and at 34 years old, I'm not convinced that he can continue this level of play all season.

Leonard ranks 43rd on the trade value chart here at FantasySP, and on his big name, he might even be a bit higher to some. The way he's playing now, you could land almost any other player in a one-for-one trade, so I'd at least throw his name on the trade block.

You might be set at forward, and can use Leonard to land a much-needed guard or big man. I'd look into making that move before another injury concern hits for Leonard, or his production starts dropping.

Deni Avdija, Portland Trail Blazers

Avdija ranks 24th on the trade chart, and he's been a pretty solid fantasy asset most of the season. He has averaged the fifth-most fantasy points per game over the past five contests though, so it's a time to cash in on his fantasy value, as it's hard to imagine it being higher than this ever.

He has scored 29 and 34 points over his past two games. Over 36 games overall, Avdija has 20 games over 20 points, while having nine over 30 points.

Avdija is enjoying a career season, averaging 25.7 points, 7.3 rebounds, 7.1 assists, 0.8 steals and 0.6 blocks per 35.3 minutes a game. He averaged 16.9 points per game last season, but at 25 years old, this looks more like a player entering his prime than a surge, like in the case with Leonard.

I think Avdija could remain a high-end fantasy asset for the rest of this season, plus several seasons to come, but it's hard to imagine him being a top-five fantasy performer for long stretches, so I'd cash in on his stellar play of late.

You can land a really good player in a one-for-one swap, or maybe move Avdija for a multi-player return. He's not the big sell-high candidate that I believe Leonard is, but I'd at least be tempted to cash in on Avdija's soaring value right now. 

Keyonte George, Utah Jazz

George sits 60th on the trade value chart today, but has been a top-10 fantasy performer over his past five games.

He missed the first game of January, but played 36 minutes in the last contest and had 22 points, nine assists, two rebounds and one steal. George had scored at least 24 points in the four games before that.

George is enjoying his first breakout season in the NBA. After averaging 16.8 points per game last year, he's up to 24.5 points so far this season. Add in averages of 6.9 assists, 4.2 rebounds, 0.9 steals and 0.3 blocks over his 34.5 minutes a game and you have a really good fantasy asset.

Those who drafted George, or scooped him up off waivers, are probably not wanting to part with him, but at the same time, he has a sky-high fantasy value right now, and that could get you a big return. 

Especially considering where he was drafted, trading George high now could be a chance to get a forward or center that your fantasy team desperately needs. Most fantasy owners would love to add George to their teams, so you can probably land several players currently ranked above George on the trade chart.

George has played 67 and 75 games in his first two NBA seasons, so make sure the return player(s) you are getting for George are guys who play regularly. Availability is a huge thing in fantasy basketball, so don't dump a player who plays nearly every night for a guy who misses games regularly.

Anyways, I think now is the time to try selling high on George. You should get a really good single player in return, or you could maybe expand the deal to really inject some life into your squad.

If you don't get a return you like, just keep holding George and hope he continues to trend up. He might not be a top-10 fantasy asset the rest of the season, but a top-50 player is even a win when talking about George.

Jamal Murray, Denver Nuggets

Murray is the 22nd player on the trade chart, and his value has gone up over the past week. That coincides with Nikola Jokic's injury, which is why I included Murray in the first place.

With Jokic injured and out, Murray is the top fantasy asset for Denver on a nightly basis. Every fantasy owner knows this, and knows Jokic will eventually return and bring Murray's value back down, but those desperate for wins and help over the next few weeks might still be interested in Murray.

I'd at least throw Murray's name on the trade block. You might be surprised at the offers that come in. If you don't love the offers, simply hold on to Murray and enjoy his fantasy surge for the next few weeks. 

Murray is averaging 25.4 points, 7.2 assists, 4.6 rebounds, 1 steal and 0.3 blocks over 35.4 minutes a night this season. He has scored 27 and 34 points over the past two games, and has six or more assists in four straight - something that should stick until Jokic is back.

Murray is the No. 18 fantasy player over his past five games, so his value is ever so slightly up. He should be a top-20 fantasy asset until Jokic returns, then drop back in the 20s most likely.

See if someone is willing to pay up to get Murray. Maybe the move will help you more in the long run, while getting Murray will help the other owner more in the meantime.

Again, he's not a player that I'd insist you sell high, but it might make sense for some of you.

Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers

Embiid sits 62nd on the trade chart today. Over his past five games, he's the No. 19 fantasy player.

He's enjoyed some really nice fantasy showings since December 12. In seven games since (out of 10 possible), Embiid has scored 22 or more points in every game, with three 30+ point showings. He's a pretty solid source of rebounds most nights, and has been tacking on several assists of late.

Over his 16 games played this season, Embiid is averaging 22.8 points, 6.8 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 1.3 blocks and 0.6 steals over 28.6 minutes a night. The biggest number there to focus on is the 16 games played.

That's simply not enough, regardless of what he does when he's on the court. I wasn't a fan of drafting him before the season, but now is a perfect time to move off him if you got stuck with Embiid.

The return might not seem the best, but if you get a player who plays more (which is going to be pretty easy), moving on from Embiid should work in your favor in the long run. See if you can flip Embiid, and I bet your fantasy outlook will improve the rest of the season.