This article is part of our FanDuel NBA series.
Although the trade deadline has a reputation for one of the wildest days of the NBA season, the teams involved in Thursday's slate are going to be mostly immune from the day's events.
A scratch for James Harden makes that trade possibility irrelevant, and the other teams have been surprisingly devoid of trade rumors. Of course, you should be vigilant as the day rolls on because the deadline is always good for at least a surprise or two.
SLATE OVERVIEW
MEM (-10) @ DET O/U: 225
WAS (-2.5) vs. BKN O/U: 220
MIA (-4.5) @ NOP O/U: 217
TOR (-7) @ HOU O/U: 226.5
DAL (-6) vs. LAC O/U: 216
GSW (-9) vs. NYK O/U: 218.5
PHO (-3.5) vs. MIL O/U: 223
I'm an obvious fan of the nightcap, as two of the league's best meet in what should be the signature game of the evening. I also like the NYK-GSW game for value, and the Raptors-Rockets game holds some interest, as well.
The Clippers, Nets and Grizzlies run with deep rotations that limit our ability to mine for value, and the Pistons... well, they are just plain bad. I have a hard time going there tonight unless Cade Cunningham plays.
INJURIES
DET Cade Cunningham (hip) - QUESTIONABLE
The low-cost pivot for Cunningham should be Hamidou Diallo ($5,700), although a check of the starting lineup is probably the wiser alternative in this spot.
BKN James Harden (hamstring) - OUT
BKN LaMarcus Aldridge (ankle) - OUT
BKN Nicolas Claxton (hamstring) - QUESTIONABLE
Harden's status is a blessing in disguise. With his absence a guarantee, we won't care if he's traded or not. The Nets frontcourt still has its share of injury problems, and although there's variance in this spot, I'll take James Johnson ($4,700) over the other potential contributors. Cam Thomas ($6,000) is the soundest budget pivot off of Harden.
NOP CJ McCollum (trade) - PROBABLE
It's worth mentioning that McCollum will probably make his Pelicans debut tonight, but I wouldn't expect more than 25 minutes out of him, and he'll likely come off the bench.
DAL Kristaps Porzingis (knee) - OUT
Maxi Kleber ($5,100) and Dwight Powell ($5,000) are pivots, but they are little more than punt plays on this slate.
Run with Immanuel Quickley ($4,200) if Barrett misses. Cam Reddish ($3,500) is another low-cost possibility in this scenario. Taj Gibson ($4,100) could start with both Robinson and Noel listed as iffy.
ELITE PLAYERS
Thursday's slate definitely favors more of a stars-and-scrubs approach, as several elites are in very exploitable spots. Giannis Antetokounmpo ($11,500) tops the slate, and after his 82-FP beatdown Wednesday, you have to like him at this salary. Giannis is always dependable in a competitive game, and you probably can't find a tighter game than this classic rematch. Chris Paul ($9,500) and Devin Booker ($8,700) are also very viable on the other end of this game.
With a slew of absences for Brooklyn, Kyrie Irving ($9,400) is set up for an excellent line on the road, but he joins a group of guards that hold immense value. Luka Doncic ($11,200) continues to play massive minutes, and since he laid down the hammer with almost 60 FP against the Clippers in their first matchup, he's a solid, elite chalk play.
There's some blowout risk for Ja Morant ($10,200), but the chance of a lopsided match against the Pistons could drive down his popularity. Basically, you have a host of excellent options at guard, and it's probably where you should buy high.
As for big men, it's hard to fade Pascal Siakam ($10,400), who continues to put up 50-plus FP on a nightly basis. He's got another nice matchup against the Rockets, and I think Christian Wood ($8,200) is also a viable big man in this game.
Also consider: Fred VanVleet, TOR ($8,500) @ HOU
EXPECTED CHALK AND CORE TARGETS
Bobby Portis, MIL ($6,500) @ PHO
This is an excellent salary for Portis, who should be hungry to tackle the Suns again in what could be another Finals preview. Giannis may be a bit gassed after his tour-de-force Wednesday, and it could yield a few more opportunities for Portis, who's been instrumental in keeping the frontcourt competitive.
Scottie Barnes, TOR ($6,400) @ HOU
Even though Barnes is the third-best scoring option for Toronto, his salary is hard to beat. His numbers over the past couple of weeks have just been okay, hovering in the 30 FP range, but he's popped above 30 FP in three of his last four games. If he can do that again, he pays off and works as a decent SF anchor.
Mikal Bridges, PHO ($6,100) vs. MIL
There's no denying Bridges' recent production, and although you have to embrace a little variance, he sets up well if he logs 30 minutes or more. The return of Jae Crowder complicates things a bit for Bridges, but he has done enough in recent weeks to justify continued usage. I believe he is a trustworthy call in the slate's most competitive game.
Also consider: Jalen Brunson, DAL ($5,900) vs. LAC , Evan Fournier, NYK ($5,900) @ GSW
VALUE PLAYS
My favorite value plays from the injury section are Thomas and Gibson.
Spencer Dinwiddie, WAS ($5,700) vs. BKN
Dinwiddie is a great play, especially if you are into an ancient revenge-game narrative. Even if that doesn't appeal to you, the production has been there for Dinwiddie with Bradley Beal sidelined. While his scoring has fluctuated, his assist numbers have remained high, and he recently popped for a rare triple-double. He is far from a favorite guard on the slate, but low popularity could make him a decent GPP play.
Kyle Lowry, MIA ($5,400) @ NOP
As we've said, the slate is swarming with great guard options, and I think Lowry is one of the better plays at a discount. A fully healthy Heat roster has been a rarity, so it's difficult to measure. Lowry's impact, but he doesn't have to do a whole lot to beat value at this salary. He's had two consecutive decent games after returning from an extended absence and should be suitable for 30 minutes on the floor.
Alperen Sengun, HOU ($5,100) vs. TOR
Unless you've kept tabs on Houston, you're probably quick to discount Sengun if Wood is healthy. Interestingly, the Rockets have opted for a dual-center approach in the starting lineup, and Sengun has risen to the occasion. He's probably a game away from a double-double if he starts again and is an excellent under-the-radar candidate for Thursday's slate.
Alec Burks, NYK ($4,700) @ GSW
In your hunt for value, you're going to probably come across several options for Knicks value with RJ Barrett likely out, and Burks is a good candidate to take some of Barrett's run. Barrett leaves a huge gap in the offense, and although guys like Quickley and Fournier will have an impact, there should be enough to go around. Burks' salary in this spot is also quite favorable, as he's in decent shooting night away from crushing value.
Also consider: Dorian Finney-Smith, DAL ($4,700) vs. LAC, Jalen Green, HOU ($4,800) vs. TOR
