Wednesday Fantasy Basketball Streaming Targets and Trade Deadline Analysis
Streaming players from three NBA teams with good matchups on Wednesday.
And just like that, trade season is underway! Jaren Jackson Jr., James Harden, Nikola Vucevic, and more changed teams yesterday, setting up what is expected to be a huge deadline.
More stars could be on the move, but even if no bigger name gets traded, we have already had an eventful deadline, and it's surely not done. With the first stars on the move, other teams will be trying to keep up with small improvements, if nothing else.
Switching to fantasy, let's look at streaming players from three NBA teams with good matchups on Wednesday. We'll focus on the guys who get on the court and are widely available in fantasy leagues. Most stats are from NBA.com.
Use FantasySP's waiver wire tool to find the players who are being added to fantasy teams most often!
Milwaukee Bucks vs. New Orleans Pelicans
New Orleans plays at the 12th-fastest pace and has the fourth-worst defensive rating. The Pelicans have held steady around those rankings for more than a month now. We would prefer that they play a little faster, but New Orleans is less than one possession per 48 minutes below sixth place, making them a prime target.
We had the Bucks listed here yesterday against the Bulls, a game Milwaukee won 131-115. Really, nothing else matters in Milwaukee until there is a resolution to the Giannis Antetokounmpo situation; fans would surely prefer to keep the superstar and try again, but everything points toward him moving before Thursday's trade deadline.
Guard
Kevin Porter Jr. hasn't played since January 19, but he could return for this one. If he plays, he takes away fantasy value from these two. Green averages 10.1 points and 2.9 3-pointers per game but doesn't add much else, limiting his fantasy impact. Anthony is just a deep reserve no matter who else plays, not a guy to put in your lineup.
Forward
Kuzma is the best fantasy player here, averaging 12.8 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game. Yesterday, he had 31 points, 10 boards, and six assists in 31 minutes.
Harris hasn't played the past three games but could come back for this one; he's a bit of a risk and doesn't put up many stats. Trent is another guy below a fantasy level and better left on the free agent heap.
Center
Portis missed yesterday's game but could play here. He is productive (13.2 points, 6.7 rebounds per game) and a decent streamer if he is active. Nance is just a backup, but he gets a little bump if Portis is out. Nance had 15 points and eight rebounds in 27 minutes yesterday.
Memphis Grizzlies @ Sacramento Kings
We'll finish today with a set of teams facing off against each other who we can target. Neither the Grizzlies nor the Kings are one of our top targets, but on a day when we are missing our favorite teams to go after (Utah, Washington, Chicago, and others), these groups will fit in just fine.
Sacramento is here more often, ranking in the middle of the league in pace but holding the third-worst defensive rating. Memphis plays at the 11th-fastest pace and sits in the middle in defensive rating, even a weaker target than the Kings, but again, we are looking for secondary (and tertiary) targets today, and the Grizzlies will have to do.
Memphis Grizzlies
Everything turned sideways when Memphis sent out Jackson yesterday (along with three other players) for four guys in return and three first-round picks. The new guys won't play today, meaning those who were on the roster are going to get forced into more action. It's hard to know what to expect from the players below, but there is upside in a good matchup.
Guard
Jerome finally made his season debut on Saturday and only has two games under his belt, playing exactly 20 minutes in both and combining for 39 points and 14 assists. There is intrigue here, especially as he works his way into more minutes.
Spencer puts up decent numbers, averaging 11.7 points, 5.6 assists, and 2.2 3-pointers per game. He is a strong streamer today with a nice outlook. Caldwell-Pope will be on the court plenty, though he's generally a low-level statistical player.
Forward
Coward scores the ball, averaging 13.8 points per game (and adding 6.2 rebounds). Wells is just a step below, more of a deep-league player and low-level streamer. Both guys are decent options today, with Coward as the top man. Jackson isn't much of a statistical guy, but he might get more chances at power forward and center with so many guys out.
Center
Aldama is questionable here and might not play after appearing just once since January 18. Memphis' frontcourt is in major flux, so whoever is healthy will get plenty of time and could be a decent fantasy streamer.
Sacramento Kings
Guard
Sacramento's starters are heavily owned in fantasy, but Monk is the first guy off the bench in the backcourt and can score the ball (12.2 points, two 3-pointers per game), though he doesn't add much else. Clifford is a deeper reserve and generally doesn't do enough to be under fantasy consideration.
Forward
Hunter was acquired on Saturday from Atlanta and hasn't yet played for the Kings. He is set to debut in this one and has a little intrigue, though he probably has a capped ceiling while trying to fit in with a new team. Achiuwa doesn't do enough to get onto the fantasy radar most days.
Center
Domantas Sabonis is listed as questionable for this one after missing the past two games. If he plays, Raynaud is nothing more than a reserve player who isn't on the fantasy radar. If the starter is out, Raynaud has decent streaming value; he combined for 28 points and 20 rebounds the past two games without Sabonis.
