Fantasy Basketball Stock Up Stock Down: Donovan Clingan levels up

As we near the end of 2025, let’s take a look at which players are closing out the year strong and which may need a reset once the ball drops.

Without further ado…

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Fantasy Basketball Waiver Wire: Anthony Black lights it up

Announcement

Anthony Black had his best game of the season on Saturday, but he has been impressive over the last three weeks.

STOCK UP

Maxime Raynaud — C, D

Raynaud has become a reliable starter for the Kings Domantas Sabonis‘absence. The rookie has scored four doubles in his last six games, including a career-high 29-point game in an overtime loss to the Trail Blazers in mid-December. Raynaud doesn’t make three-pointers or score many assists and only occasionally produces more than a couple of blocks, potentially limiting the fantasy basketball ceiling a bit. However, there’s no denying that he’s being counted on heavily for production, and his stock is currently trending upward during what was a pretty strong rookie season. What will happen to his production once Sabonis returns to the Kings’ starting lineup? We’ll have to wait and see.

Announcement

Anthony Black – PG/SG, Magic

If I were capable of stealing Antonio Nero from your league’s pool of available players, congratulations! He has been one of Orlando’s best and most productive players over the past week, averaging 27.8 points and 4.3 three-pointers over his past four games while also tallying 4.5 assists and generating multiple steals in three of those four contests. In other words, Black is doing Very and delivered strong fantasy performances. There’s no reason to believe he won’t remain aggressive on the offensive end and try to create for both himself and others. Its production is even more necessary in the absence of Franz Wagnerwhich remains without a timetable for return.

Donovan Clingan – C, Trail Blazers

Portland has had a fun season, even with the team seemingly on a never-ending roller coaster ride when it comes to wins and losses. The recent absences of veteran players such as Jrè Holiday AND Jerami Grant they allowed a younger nucleus to form and find its own path. Among the many, Donovan Clingan it has been one of the most consistent in recent times. He’s averaging double-doubles on the season and has five in his last six games, including a monster line of 18/18 against the Celtics recently. What makes the sophomore center unique is his ability to space the floor that complements rebounding and shot blocking: He’s gone 9-of-13 from deep in his last six games and is slowly returning as a three-point shooter after a rough start to the season. Clingan is clearly “the guy” under center for Portland and should move on.

STOCKS RUNNING OUT

Anfernee Simons – PG/SG, Celtics

I was waiting for a breakthrough game from Simons to reset his path, but not even a recent return game in Portland against his former club could serve as a turning point. While the veteran guard’s shooting efficiency held up over the first two months of his Celtics tenure, he struggled throughout December, posting shooting ranges of 38.4/29.2/95.2 on the way to just 11.4 points per game. Simons has logged more than 20 minutes just once in the last three games and is firmly entrenched in his reserve role behind the starting backcourt of Payton Pritchard AND Derrick White – that shouldn’t change as long as the Celtics continue to win games. Perhaps Simons will leave the cold roll in December and regain his touch in the new calendar year.

Announcement

Zaccharie Risacher – San Francisco/PF, Hawks

The sophomore leap has yet to come for the first overall pick in the 2024 draft, nor is it on the horizon. The Hawks have lost seven straight games and Risacher has been held to single digits in three of those contests despite hardly being involved offensively. His inability to make a difference on the glass or as a facilitator, combined with limited inventory, left him with little fantasy impact. Recent Marc Stein rumors mention Risacher as a potential trade candidateand that buzz could potentially get louder as long as the Hawks’ slide and its lack of production continue to coincide.

Deandre Ayton – C, Lakers

Ayton’s fantasy production has slowed since a relatively strong November. Lately he has had some small injuries which have caused him to miss a couple of games. But in his three games since returning, the former No. 1 overall averaged just 11.0 points, 7.7 rebounds and less than 1.0 blocks per game. Limited field goal attempts, no three-point production and almost no free throw activity are some of the reasons for the low point production, things that likely won’t change overnight. Ayton’s high field goal efficiency is notable, but without more activity, he won’t provide much value from a fantasy basketball perspective at the moment.