NBA SuperCoach Risk Mitigation: Tanking Teams to Avoid and Best Trade Targets Next Week
If your NBA SuperCoach team was burned this week, chances are it was not bad luck. It was bad risk management.
Let me break down why many of the biggest scores this round were lost before lockout even hit. Injuries, late outs, and tanking teams are no longer edge cases. They are predictable patterns that coaches must actively manage.
This article distils the episode into a clear, repeatable framework you can apply every week.
1. Risk Mitigation Is the Most Important Skill in NBA SuperCoach
NBA SuperCoach rewards games played more than almost any other factor. When a player misses one game, the damage is real. When they miss two, your round is often over.
The core principle is simple. If a player looks injured, sounds injured, or is ruled out before lockout, you trade them.
Hope is not a strategy in fantasy NBA.
Key examples this week
Deni Avdija had visible back issues, exited straight to the locker room, and was surrounded by negative reporting. Best case was never a full week.
Anthony Edwards was ruled out before lockout, turning a three-game week into a two, and then potentially one or zero.
Kawhi Leonard has lived on the injury report for weeks. Eventually, the rest game always comes.
If the signs are there, act early. Protect games played.
2. Why Tanking Teams Are Fantasy Traps Late in the Season
As the season progresses, more teams shift focus from winning games to improving draft position. When that happens, fantasy reliability disappears.
This shows up as:
Sudden illness tags
Late scratches
Minutes restrictions
“Reassessments” with no clear timeline
These are devastating in NBA fantasy.
Teams to actively avoid for premium pickups
Utah Jazz - Laurie Markkanen sitting with illness is the template. Utah has no incentive to push veterans. Expect more rests.
Washington Wizards - Injuries appearing post All-Star break are not a coincidence. The goal is draft position, not wins.
Indiana Pacers - This profiles as a gap year. Expect conservative player management and reduced upside.
Brooklyn Nets - Injury maintenance plus trade window uncertainty equals major risk.
Sacramento Kings - Unclear direction and trade risk make even elite names dangerous.
Dallas Mavericks - Depending on injury outcomes, they may pivot toward draft protection mode.
One exception
Cheap role players on tanking teams can gain value as starters rest. Premiums almost never benefit.
3. Trade-Out Priorities: Who Loses Value Next Week
Your goal heading into next week is to convert low-game or high-risk players into four-game options.
Strong sell candidates
Players on three-game weeks when alternatives have four
Players whose role has changed negatively after trades
Players on teams with nothing to play for.
The hot take: Jalen Johnson
Usage matters more than talent. Since CJ McCollum arrived, Jalen Johnson’s offensive role has dropped sharply. On a three-game week, that combination is enough to justify a trade.
4. Best Trade-In Targets for Next Week
Priority premiums
Giannis Antetokounmpo - A four-game week makes Giannis a top target. Funding him by moving a three-game premium is a classic SuperCoach play.
Cade Cunningham - Returning into a four-game week, fresh, and immediately relevant. One of the cleanest upgrades available.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Tyrese Maxey, Donovan Mitchell - All four-game holds if already owned. These are structure anchors.
Watchlist options
Chet Holmgren - Four games and improving rhythm after an interrupted season. Strong upside play.
Jamal Murray - Only consider if he survives the current week cleanly and backs up with another four.
5. Cheap Options: When Downgrades Make Sense
Late in the season, downgrades should be intentional, not automatic.
Avoid forcing cheapies unless structure demands it
If needed, target role players on tanking teams who benefit from extra minutes as stars rest
These players gain opportunity while premiums lose reliability.
6. The Forward Plan: Prepare for the Next Must-Have
A major premium return is approaching in the coming weeks. Even with minutes restrictions, elite players can still post strong SuperCoach scores.
The key is preparation. Do not spend yourself into a corner. Keep cash or upgrade paths open. Think two weeks ahead, not one.
The NBA SuperCoach Lockout Checklist
Use this before every round:
If ruled out before lockout, trade immediately
Trust injury signs, not hope
Avoid premium players from tanking teams
Prioritise four-game weeks
Monitor role and usage after trades
Keep money available for upcoming elite returns
For real-time trade analysis, captain calls, and weekly breakdowns, follow:
Fantasy TikTok and Instagram: @SuchIsFantasy
Watch the podcast episode on YouTube: @SuchIsSport
Full episode available on Spotify or YouTube.
