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Fantasy

Fantasy Basketball Trade Bait: J.R. Smith

Over his last three games, Cleveland Cavaliers guard J.R. Smith is averaging 25.3 points per game while going 18-for-30 from beyond the arc over that span. Going back a bit further he has at least 11 points is six of his last eight games, with at least four three-pointers made in five of those contests.

Kyrie Irving‘s return to action has helped Smith, as could have been foreshadowed. But he still doesn’t contribute much in other categories (2.7 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game this season), and if his shooting touch goes away his consistent contribution will mostly dry up too. That’s why now is the time for fantasy basketball owners who have added Smith recently, and presumably benefited from his hot streak, to trade him at the high point in his value.

Smith had a productive run around this time last season too, averaging 15.9 points (five 20-plus point games) while making over 41 percent of his three-pointers for 11 games from Jan. 2, 2015 and Jan. 23, 2015. This most recent three games are obviously on a different level than that, and it’s worth noting that Smith’s production did not fall off a cliff last season (12.1 points per game over the final 37 games).

Even if he remains reasonably productive going forward, which can be assumed as long as Cleveland’s top three players stay healthy, Smith simply can’t sustain what he has done over the last three games. Sunday’s game against the Philadelphia 76ers looks like an opportunity to produce another big effort in what should be a one-sided game, but savvy Smith owners should be dangling him in trade discussions as soon as possible.

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