This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Basketball series.
After a couple of blockbuster trades were executed Tuesday, things could continue to be fluid in the NBA on Wednesday with the trade deadline only a day away. There will be six games on the schedule and several teams that just made deals will be in action.
After acquiring Domantas Sabonis from the Pacers, the Kings will take the floor against the Timberwolves for the second time in as many nights. The Cavaliers, who also made a trade with the Pacers earlier in the week when they acquired Caris LeVert, will play host to the Spurs. The rebuilding Trail Blazers, who have traded away CJ McCollum and Norman Powell over the last week, will take on the Lakers.
While things can change any minute, here are some players to consider for your Yahoo lineups, as well as a few to possibly avoid.
GUARDS
Anfernee Simons, POR vs. LAL ($25): The Trail Blazers look very different at guard now with McCollum gone and Damian Lillard (abdomen) still out. They are light on scoring options, in general, which means that Simons should be busy moving forward. In their first game after the McCollum trade, Simons scored 19 points on 17 shot attempts against the Magic. He should also be tasked with facilitating more for his teammates, making him a very intriguing option at a salary that won't destroy your budget.
Davion Mitchell, SAC vs. MIN ($15): With the Kings shorthanded Tuesday, Mitchell seemed prime to have a big night against the Timberwolves. However, he shot just 3-for-11 from the field on his way to scoring 14.4 Yahoo points. He had scored at least 29.1 Yahoo points in five of his previous six games and the Kings' depth chart should remain thin Wednesday, so it wouldn't be a surprise to see Mitchell have a bounce-back performance.
Guard to Avoid
D'Angelo Russell, MIN at SAC ($28): Russell has been battling injuries of late, which recently forced him to miss four straight games. He only logged 24 minutes in a blowout win Tuesday and now has a quick turnaround for the second game of a back-to-back set. The Timberwolves should be able to beat the Kings without him, so if he's not rested, he could at least be on a minutes limit.
FORWARDS
DeMar DeRozan, CHI at CHA ($43): DeRozan has to be considered in the MVP debate at this point. He's put the Bulls on his back while they deal with injuries, averaging 32.8 points, 5.9 rebounds, 6.2 assists and 1.2 steals over his last 11 games. He averaged a whopping 38 minutes during that stretch, as well. This is a great matchup for him to remain hot given that the Hornets have played at the second-fastest pace in the league.
Harrison Barnes, SAC vs. MIN ($23): It looks like the Kings are going to make a run at a playoff spot, so Barnes might not be on the move at the trade deadline. He's been productive leading up to it, averaging 20.6 points, 7.0 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 1.0 steals over the last seven games. With depth expected to remain a problem for the Kings until their acquired players arrive, Barnes could provide value.
Forward to Avoid
Keldon Johnson, SA at CLE ($21): The Spurs are in a rebuilding mode, so it will be interesting to see what they do leading up to the deadline. One player who likely isn't going anywhere is Johnson, who is averaging a career-high 15.4 points per game. The problem is, he provides very little in terms of assists or defensive stats. A scoring-dependent player facing a Cavaliers team that has the third-best defensive rating in the league could be a recipe for disaster.
CENTERS
Nikola Vucevic, CHI at CHA ($42): The Bulls play small around Vucevic because, frankly, they don't have any other viable options. He's done his part to try and help control the glass, averaging 11.6 rebounds per game. This could be a spot for him to thrive given that the Hornets have allowed the second-most rebounds per game in the league.
P.J. Washington, CHA vs. CHI ($12): It's been a disappointing season for Washington, who is averaging a career-low 24 minutes per game. However, he might be forced to play more moving forward with Gordon Hayward (ankle) out indefinitely. Washington has already scored at least 23.3 Yahoo points in three of his last four games and he has a favorable matchup against a Bulls team that is missing most of their key defenders, so he's worth considering at near the minimum salary.
Center to Avoid
Jakob Poeltl, SA at CLE ($28): If the Spurs wanted to trade Poeltl, they could probably get a nice haul for him given his breakout campaign. In his first significant run as a starter, he's averaged 13.3 points, 9.0 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.7 blocks per game. As reliable as he's been this season, this might be a night to fade him given the stellar defensive duo of Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley that he'll have to face.
