This article is part of our FanDuel NBA series.
We have a massive 11-game slate on tap for Wednesday, and it promises to be a wild one as we approach the NBA trade deadline. This year's deadline won't be as disruptive as it's been in previous seasons. We've already seen massive moves like the Nets/Rockets/Wizards/Pacers trade early on, and there likely won't be a blockbuster like that, but key names could be on the move before lineups lock tonight. While the following players would be great options if they played, this is a list of the most likely players on the hot seat could be dealt by day's end. We'll limit the list to players on our slate tonight.
Several possible Kings players
RotoWire will be on top of all the movements, so keep your ear close to the ground if you're playing within the next 48 hours. If any of these come to pass, use your best judgment regarding the value that opens up at key positions. I'll try to mention some pivots as we go through the article.
SLATE OVERVIEW
(odds provided by FanDuel Sportabook and are subject to change)
Games to Target in BOLD
Games to Fade in ITALIC
DET @ IND (-6) O/U: 217.5
DEN @ TOR (+1) O/U: 224.5
BOS @ MIL (-3.5) O/U: 230.5
CHA @ HOU (+3.5) O/U: 224
PHO @ ORL (+7.5) O/U: 214.5
CLE @ CHI (-6) O/U: 217.5
MEM @ OKC (+5.5) O/U: 221.5
DAL @ MIN (+8) O/U: 230
LAC @ SAS (+6) O/U: 220
BKN @ UTA (-6) O/U: 233
ATL @ SAC (+3) O/U: 236
INJURIES
IND Malcolm Brogdon (wrist) - QUESTIONABLE
IND Myles Turner (ankle) - QUESTIONABLE
Both of these players missed Monday's game, so they had a few days to rest. Both of them could return tonight, but Doug McDermott ($3,800) will go for Turner if they sit again. Edmond Sumner started for Brogdon and didn't do much. I'd shift my focus to Caris LeVert ($6,800) instead. I'm not as high on LeVert if Brogdon plays to the massive salary increase.
DEN Monte Morris (quad) - QUESTIONABLE
There's no word on Morris yet, but how about Will Barton ($5,900), who went off on Tuesday? Morris' absence would only affect the second-unit rotation, making PJ Dozier ($3,500) a value add in this spot.
TORONTO
Keep an eye on this roster! Multiple pieces could move by the end of the day. If you're gambling with the Raptors, my best advice would be to hammer the usual starters outside of Lowry and Powell, and pivot back to them if they are in. A move would give guys like Terence Davis ($3,500) and DeAndre' Bembry ($3,900) a boost.
BOSTON
If the Celtics and the Magic can make a deal today, Marcus Smart would likely be on his way to Orlando. This move would open things up for Jeff Teague ($3,500) and the other usual starters.
MIL Giannis Antetokounmpo (knee) - QUESTIONABLE
Giannis practiced Tuesday, and there's a good chance that he'll return to the lineup today. We'll discuss his place among the elites in a moment.
CHA LaMelo Ball (wrist) - OUT
CHA Cody Zeller (shoulder) - QUESTIONABLE
This will be the last time I'll mention Ball in the report for a while, but let's take a quick look at how things fell in his absence. I would not be too bothered by Devonte' Graham's ($5,000) subpar night. He's going to get his minutes, and I like him here due to some potential recency bias. Terry Rozier ($7,100) is a green light and probably my favorite of the bunch. Zeller could very well be back tonight, but if he can't go, Bismack Biyombo ($3,800) would get the start. P.J. Washington is also attractively priced at ($6,000). I like the Hornets overall against Houston, who could find themselves upended before tip-off.
HOUSTON
As I just said, this is another spot that could change quickly over the course of the day. The focus is on Oladipo. If a trade goes through, the pivot guy would likely be Sterling Brown ($4,200), but if Kevin Porter ($6,800) can play, I'd look to him. Use your best judgment.
ORLANDO
Here's another team that could see a seismic change before the end of the say. Terrence Ross (knee) is questionable, and if he can't go, I like Al-Farouq Aminu ($4,000) as a decent pivot. He would still be in play if Gordon goes, as well as Dwayne Bacon ($4,500). I'd only go with Bacon if a trade occurs, however.
SAS Lonnie Walker (wrist) - OUT
SAS Rudy Gay (foot) - QUESTIONABLE
These absences would push the action of DeMar DeRozan ($8,900) and Keldon Johnson ($6,400), who I also like as starters independent of the potential absences.
BKN Kyrie Irving (personal) - OUT
I got this spot wrong last night, as I expected Bruce Brown ($5,000) to do more. Instead, it was Tyler Johnson ($4,400) who saw the biggest boost. Things could flow back to Brown, considering he only played 21 minutes. It's definitely a risk-reward spot.
Ongoing injuries continue to be in play for the Thunder, T-Wolves, Clippers, Kings and Cavs. The pivots there continue to be relevant.
ELITE PLAYERS
We have five players at 10k or above today, and if there was ever a night to lock in solid, trade-proof dependable value, it's on this slate. My top play among this group is Luka Doncic ($11,000), who's taking on a Minnesota team that has shown recent improvement but still isn't great defensively. Giannis Antetokounmpo's ($11,400) questionable tag could slash his popularity, but a late pivot would require multiple moves due to the lack of power forwards close to his salary. A way to go would be to slot in Domantas Sabonis ($8,800) early and then move to Giannis at PF if he plays, while slashing costs at an additional position. Of course, Nikola Jokic ($10,800) is a nightly option, and despite the back-to-back risk on the road, his potential 70-FP upside is very alluring against the struggling Raptors. Nikola Vucevic ($9,800) hasn't met value over the past two games, and he struggled against Phoenix in their last matchup, so he is off the list for me today. Finally, in this range, we have James Harden ($11,300), who ultimately decided to play last night despite a questionable tag. I wouldn't fault a Harden play, but a rest night is always a possibility here.
We'll extend this category down into the mid-8k range due to the lack of 9k targets. The aforementioned Sabonis is a great option, and I also like Donovan Mitchell ($8,400) against the subpar Brooklyn defense. His teammate Rudy Gobert ($8,300) could also be poised to smash against the Nets.
Also consider: Karl-Anthony Towns, MIN ($10,200) vs. DAL, Kawhi Leonard, LAC ($9,500) @ SAS, Fred VanVleet, TOR ($8,200) vs. DEN
EXPECTED CHALK
John Wall, HOU ($8,000) vs. CHA
No matter what happens tonight, it's a reasonable assumption that Wall will play, and going with the certainty in Houston is a pretty sound direction to go against the Hornets. Christian Wood ($8,100) is also in play for the same reason in a crowded pool at center. Wall goes into tonight's contest after posting his first triple-double in five years, so he's brimming with confidence at present.
Jaylen Brown, BOS ($7,800) @ MIL
I see no issue in going back to Brown below 8k. Milwaukee has emerged as a rivalry game for the Celtics, and they should be pumped heading into Fiserv Forum. Brown has crushed value in five consecutive games, and a number above 40 FP is what we are looking for.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, OKC ($7,000) vs. MEM
SGA is a player that can burn you, but he's tough to avoid at this price point. He showed no ill effects from his shoulder injury in a 31-point return appearance. And he demonstrated great success against the Grizzlies with a 30-point showing a week ago. He's an excellent play in both cash and tournament formats.
Gordon Hayward, CHA ($7,000) @ HOU
We've gone a little guard-heavy in this section so let's add some love to other positions. We already covered Charlotte, but I made a call earlier in the week that Hayward would get a boost and to give him more exposure than the obvious guards, and we were spot on. He turned in his best game in ten days, and he sets up well against Houston, who are without Eric Gordon's services and might be without Oladipo as well. He has an inch on Danuel House, so he should be able to exploit inside tonight.
Also consider: Clint Capela, ATL ($7,200) @ SAC, Chris Paul, PHO ($7,400) @ ORL
VALUE PLAYS
Value will undoubtedly open up of trades get executed today, and we already identified some of those potential spots and some cheap value in the injuries section. Here are some other options below FanDuel's median price.
Evan Fournier, ORL ($6,600) vs. PHO
Fournier didn't get to play against the Suns in their last matchup, so he's an added element to the Magic's attack tonight. He gets a huge boost if Gordon is shipped today, but honestly, I don't think that will be finalized until tomorrow. Fournier won't give you a lot of secondary production, but he's been a prolific scorer of late, averaging 25.3 points over the past four games.
Buddy Hield, SAC ($6,400) vs. ATL
Few players have been as hot from long range as Hield in recent weeks. Although I'd place all Kings on yellow alert due to surprise movements at the deadline, Hield is a value-beating play in his home arena against the Hawks. He's gone for over 30 FP in seven of his last 10 games.
OG Anunoby, TOR ($5,400) vs. DEN
I'd be shocked if the Raptors dealt Anunoby, and if things go down today, he's been consistent when the team needs help. He's at a great price and is coming off of multiple days of rest after taking a seat on Monday.
Moses Brown, OKC ($4,700) vs. MEM
If you're spending up on multiple elites and need help at center, I think Brown is a totally reasonable play against the Grizzlies. Al Horford is headed out of town, and the job is now Brown's to lose. He isn't going to have elite-level games, but he will crush value as long as he stays below 5k, which won't be for long. He grabbed 17 rebounds in his last game, so he's starting to get the hang of his new role.
As per usual, on a large slate, I'm providing a small list of additional values to fill in your lineups.
PG Derrick White, SA ($5,200) vs. LAC
PF Nicolas Claxton, BKN ($5,000) @ UTA
PG Jordan Clarkson, UTA ($4,600) vs. BKN
SF Bogdan Bogdanovic, ATL ($4,200) @ SAC
