Fantasy Basketball Week 14 Trade Values: Chris Paul, Brandon Ingram, Caris LeVert could be second-half difference-makers

The All-Star break and trade deadline are less than a month away, so if you're going to make the playoffs it's already starting to become pretty clear. Still, just because things are looking good right now doesn't mean you can afford to stand pat.

You should still look for every opportunity to improve your standing, especially if you're in good enough shape that you can afford to potentially take a small step backward in the next few weeks in order to improve your upside down the stretch.

The good thing about building an early lead is you can afford to take a few risks that may increase your chances of taking home the title.

So, whether it's just underperforming or injured stars, or young guys with a chance to snag a bigger role in the second half, here are six players you should target in trades with an eye on the playoffs and a championship run.

Tyreke Evans New Orleans Pelicans PG

We've seen certainly seen flashes from Evans, but he pretty clearly hasn't been himself so far this season. That he hasn't played more than 28 minutes in any game certainly doesn't help his appeal, but Evans' minutes were trending up before an ankle sprain Monday. The Pelicans should be ready to unleash him without limitations before long, and if you can snag him for a cheap price, we already know Evans can be a difference maker. Take advantage of a disappointed owner who is growing impatient.

Chris Paul Los Angeles Clippers PG

Paul is out for at least the next five weeks as he recovers from a torn ligament in his left thumb, and the reeling Clippers may not have the luxury of working him back in slowly. Given the rash of injuries they've faced in recent years, this could be one of the most desperate teams in the league down the stretch, which could benefit Fantasy owners. You'll be wasting a bench spot through the All-Star break, but if Paul returns shortly after that, he's an obvious must-start option who can put you over the top.

Chandler Parsons Memphis Grizzlies SF

If I've had one failing this season in Fantasy, it has been my unwillingness to quit Parsons. He has been restricted to 19-22 minutes per game for nearly the entire season, and is shooting just 36.6 percent from the field and 24.6 percent from 3-point range in his first season in Memphis. He has hardly been worth a roster spot, and yet there he is, on my bench in nearly every league. That could turn out to be a wasteful decision -- you could argue it already has been -- but it's hard for me to give up on him when I know how his 2015-16 season went. Parsons struggled for months on end, but hit his stride beginning in February, as he averaged 17.6 points, 5.6 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 2.3 3-pointers and 1.2 steals per game in his final 20 appearances. He is still facing an uphill climb, but Parsons' minutes are climbing up slowly, and he can still be an all-around stud if he finds his stride. There may not be a better buy-low candidate, because wh0ever owns him in your league may not be as crazy as I am.

Brandon Ingram

There's no questioning Ingram's talent, as the No. 2 pick in the draft, but he has proven to be a lot less ready than many probably expected coming out of Duke. I for one thought he would be a useful Fantasy option from day one, especially if I knew he was going to be playing 28-plus minutes a night from the word "go." However, his shot has been a real hindrance, as he is making just 36.9 percent of his attempts from the field, and a very disappointing 29.7 percent on 3-pointers. He has shown solid playmaking ability, but on the whole, Ingram has been more of a role player for the Lakers this season, taking a back seat to fellow recent lottery picks D'Angelo Russell and Julius Randle. Still, the shot has been falling lately, and the Lakers' development of Ingram as a point guard might actually increase his eventual upside. If you want to bet on an elite talent figuring it out, Ingram is as good a place to look for the second half of the season.

Alex Len Phoenix Suns C

Given where they are in the standings and the amount of youth on the team, it remains surprising just how much Tyson Chandler plays. Not that Alex Len is necessarily a star, or even a sure-fire long term piece for the Suns, but shouldn't they be at least trying to figure out if he is? Chandler might be the better, more dependable player at this point in their careers, but Len at least has a chance to be on the roster the next time the Suns are relevant; Chandler doesn't. Maybe they are just auditioning Chandler for a trade, in the hopes that allowing him to continue racking up huge numbers will convince some contender to make a play for him. In that case, Len's limited role -- he has topped 25 minutes just once in the last month -- might just be a short-term thing. With Len averaging 13.6 points, 11.7 rebounds and 2.4 blocks per-36 minutes, that's certainly the hope.

Caris LeVert Brooklyn Nets SG

As the president of the Caris LeVert fan club, my infatuation with his game should come as no surprise. The Nets are still being careful with his minutes, and even sat him out Monday in an efford to limit his exposure after he played in both halves of a back-to-back last week. Still, there is clearly a lot to like about him, as LeVert is averaging 13.4 points, 4.9 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 2.0 3-pointers and 1.7 steals per-36 minutes in his first 23 NBA games. He will likely never get above 30 MPG this season, but if he can consistently get to the 28 mark in the second half, you've got yourself a reliable Fantasy option for cheap. Given that he might just be the team's most interesting long-term asset, don't be surprised if the Nets feature him more and more as the season goes on.

Point Guards

Player	ROTO	H2H
James Harden	49	45
Russell Westbrook	41	45
Giannis Antetokounmpo	44	31
John Wall	25	26
Isaiah Thomas	24	26
Stephen Curry	38	24
Damian Lillard	22	23
Kyle Lowry	28	21
Kemba Walker	20	21
Kyrie Irving	23	20
Jeff Teague	19	19
Eric Bledsoe	17	17
Goran Dragic	11	17
Mike Conley	17	16
CJ McCollum	22	15
Dennis Schroder	10	15
Zach LaVine	16	14
Reggie Jackson	10	14
Jrue Holiday	11	13
Ricky Rubio	12	12
Elfrid Payton	5	11
Derrick Rose	4	10
Tyreke Evans	6	8
Deron Williams	4	8
George Hill	9	7
Marcus Smart	6	6
D'Angelo Russell	5	6
Eric Gordon	8	5
Darren Collison	4	5
Malcolm Brogdon	6	4
Chris Paul	5	4
Patrick Beverley	7	3

Shooting Guards

Player	ROTO	H2H
James Harden	49	45
DeMar DeRozan	20	25
Jimmy Butler	27	23
Nicolas Batum	14	16
CJ McCollum	22	15
Andrew Wiggins	11	15
Zach LaVine	16	14
Devin Booker	6	14
Klay Thompson	17	13
Bradley Beal	14	13
Dwyane Wade	9	12
Victor Oladipo	14	11
Avery Bradley	12	11
Evan Fournier	8	9
Gary Harris	9	7
Will Barton	4	7
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope	9	6
Wesley Matthews	8	6
Marcus Smart	6	6
Lou Williams	4	6
Eric Gordon	8	5
Caris LeVert	4	5
Tyler Johnson	6	4
Malcolm Brogdon	6	4
Brandon Ingram	4	4
Brandon Knight	3	4
Patrick Beverley	7	3
JJ Redick	7	3

Small Forwards

Player	ROTO	H2H
LeBron James	33	33
Giannis Antetokounmpo	44	31
Kevin Durant	44	28
Jimmy Butler	27	23
Kawhi Leonard	36	20
Paul George	28	20
Carmelo Anthony	14	18
Gordon Hayward	19	17
Jabari Parker	15	17
Nicolas Batum	14	16
Andrew Wiggins	11	15
Harrison Barnes	11	15
Markieff Morris	9	10
Evan Fournier	8	9
Otto Porter	17	8
Danilo Gallinari	6	7
Trevor Ariza	15	6
Thaddeus Young	15	6
Jae Crowder	12	6
Tobias Harris	9	6
Wesley Matthews	8	6
James Johnson	7	6
Marcus Smart	6	6
Aaron Gordon	3	5
Robert Covington	7	4
Ben Simmons	4	4
Brandon Ingram	4	4
Moe Harkless	3	3

Power Forwards

Player	ROTO	H2H
DeMarcus Cousins	28	32
Anthony Davis	34	27
Nikola Jokic	31	27
Paul George	28	20
Kevin Love	23	20
Paul Millsap	22	20
Draymond Green	26	19
Blake Griffin	12	18
Jabari Parker	15	17
Harrison Barnes	11	15
Joel Embiid	16	14
LaMarcus Aldridge	13	14
Julius Randle	6	13
Kristaps Porzingis	17	11
Serge Ibaka	15	10
Gorgui Dieng	14	10
Markieff Morris	9	10
Myles Turner	19	9
Otto Porter	17	8
Derrick Favors	7	7
Danilo Gallinari	6	7
Trevor Ariza	15	6
Thaddeus Young	15	6
Tobias Harris	9	6
Trevor Booker	7	6
Dirk Nowitzki	7	6
James Johnson	7	6
Ryan Anderson	7	6
Wilson Chandler	2	6
Ersan Ilyasova	5	5
Aaron Gordon	3	5
Nerlens Noel	7	4

Centers

Player	ROTO	H2H
DeMarcus Cousins	28	32
Karl-Anthony Towns	32	28
Anthony Davis	33	27
Nikola Jokic	31	27
Al Horford	22	18
Hassan Whiteside	21	17
Andre Drummond	9	16
Marc Gasol	23	15
Brook Lopez	19	15
Joel Embiid	16	14
DeAndre Jordan	13	14
Mason Plumlee	8	14
Rudy Gobert	16	11
Marcin Gortat	12	11
Enes Kanter	9	11
Nikola Vucevic	8	11
Greg Monroe	9	10
Dwight Howard	8	10
Myles Turner	19	9
Steven Adams	12	8
Jonas Valanciunas	8	7
Derrick Favors	7	7
Clint Capela	2	6
Cody Zeller	7	5
Tristan Thompson	3	5
Nerlens Noel	7	4