NBA Player News

Freedom, Fernando, and Dennis Schroder are all headed to Houston, with the Celtics receiving Daniel Theis in return. In the case of Freedom, he could make for an attractive buyout candidate, as he’ll be a free agent this summer. Houston moving Theis ensures that Alperen Sengun will get all the minutes that he can handle, which is great news for managers who have him rostered. Fernando wasn’t a rotation player in Boston, and that’s unlikely to change in Houston.

Carter picked up two technical fouls after Heat center Kel’El Ware rejected his layup attempt. WCJ believed goaltending should have been called, and his argument led to an early trip to the locker room. Carter finished with five points, one rebound, one assist, one block, and one 3-pointer in 13 minutes.

The Bucks are without Damian Lillard (calf) and Giannis Antetokounmpo (back) for Saturday’s game, but Middleton will make his first start of the season. Joining him in the lineup are Rollins and Portis, who step in for Lillard and Antetokounmpo. While Portis offers reliable fantasy value, Rollins isn’t worth the risk in most fantasy leagues.

The Warriors are without Draymond Green, who is out with an ankle injury, so SloMo will start against his former team. The other change is Jackson-Davis, who replaces Kevon Looney in the starting lineup. Anderson and Jackson-Davis offer limited streaming value as starters, but their ceilings rise slightly.

Merrill is good to go after being considered probable on the initial injury report. His role won’t change, with the Cavaliers sharpshooter providing 3-pointers as part of the second unit. Merrill can get hot, but that isn’t enough to merit being rostered in most fantasy leagues.

Ivey returns after a two-game absence, which pushes Ausar Thompson back to the bench. Thompson and Malik Beasley will take hits to their respective fantasy values, but they’re worth holding onto in deeper leagues.

Banton’s continued absence will not impact fantasy basketball, as the Trail Blazers stuck to a nine-man rotation in Thursday’s win over Denver. Expect the same on Saturday night.

Initially questionable for Saturday’s game, Green has been ruled out. The injury pushes Kyle Anderson into the starting lineup, increasing his fantasy value. However, Jonathan Kuminga is a better target for managers needed production with Green sidelined.

George had just five points as he struggled mightily from the field against the Hornets Friday. Without Joel Embiid Saturday, though, George remains one of the 76ers key pieces and having him available avoids the domino effect his absence would have on their depth chart.

The Jazz are without Keyonte George, who injured his ankle during Thursday’s win over the Pistons. Mykhailiuk will fill the resulting void in the starting lineup, but he offers limited streaming value. Sexton’s fantasy value should increase because he is the starting point guard.

As has been the case on multiple occasions this season, O’Neale is Mike Budenholzer’s choice to step in for an injured wing player. The promotion gives him added fantasy value, especially among managers needing 3-pointers and steals. Tyus Jones, Bradley Beal, Kevin Durant, and Jusuf Nurkic complete the starting five.