This article is part of our NBA Waiver Wire series.
The dust is still settling from the NBA-record sixteen trades that were made before Thursday's deadline. Countless players will be affected in one way or another, from the league's most impactful stars to those trying to carve out a career for themselves.
As we scan the waiver wire, this week's column will focus primarily on players whose fantasy value may be in flux following the trade deadline.
TOP RECOMMENDATIONS
Alec Burks, Knicks (53% rostered)
Burks earned a nod in last week's column, since which he has only bolstered his case for long-term fantasy relevance. It was a quiet trade deadline for the Knicks, and Burks has scored 20-plus in five consecutive games while racking up double-digit points in nine straight. On a team with an impressive defensive identity and a need for consistent offense, Burks' scoring ability may keep him on the court for significant minutes as New York fights for a playoff berth.
Moses Brown, Thunder (56% rostered)
Al Horford is still in Oklahoma City, but the Thunder finally announced Saturday that the veteran will be shut down for the remainder of the season. That officially clears the way for Brown, who's managed a double-double in three of the last four contests and has 12 blocked shots across the last six. Even with Horford playing in Wednesday's game against Memphis, Brown chipped in 19 points, 12 boards, three blocks and two steals in 31 minutes. He followed up with a monster, 21-point, 23-rebound effort in Saturday's loss to Boston.
The acquisition of center Tony Bradley may put a small dent in Brown's minutes going forward. Nevertheless, Brown is a virtual must-add if he's still available in your league. And while we're talking about the young Thunder, keep an eye on Aleksej Pokusevski (18% rostered), Isaiah Roby (13% rostered), and Kenrich Williams (3% rostered), as well.
Gary Trent Jr., Raptors (45% rostered)
Just as Portland was getting healthier and Trent's fantasy value was set to decline, the trade to Toronto provides a potential jolt. He will likely take Norman Powell's place in the starting lineup, and the Raptors run more of an equal opportunity offense than the Trail Blazers. Trent is intriguing for those in need of points and threes, in particular, and it's possible his contributions in other categories are also in line for a small boost. In his debut Friday night, Trent finished with just eight points (0-5 3Pt), but he played an encouraging 31 minutes.
Danny Green, 76ers (43% rostered)
Green has come on strong over the last several weeks, stuffing the stat sheet with threes, steals and blocks galore. While that didn't prevent his name from surfacing in trade rumors, Green responded by providing 28 points, eight treys, five boards, two blocks and one steal in 33 minutes during Thursday's victory over the Lakers. He then put up 17 points and five threes against the Clippers on Saturday night.
The acquisition of George Hill (thumb) adds another sturdy veteran to a roster that was already fairly deep. However, given Green's level of play lately, it's unlikely that the eventual presence of Hill will significantly hurt Green's stock moving forward.
WIDELY AVAILABLE
Talen Horton-Tucker, Lakers (27% rostered)
Los Angeles held firm in refusing to include Horton-Tucker in offers for Toronto's Kyle Lowry. With LeBron James (ankle) expected to miss about four-to-six weeks and Anthony Davis (calf) still without a timetable to return, Horton-Tucker could be a decent short-term solution. However, he has earned fewer than 20 minutes in three of the last six games. If you trust him to hold onto a larger workload, Horton-Tucker has more upside than the other widely available Lakers on the waiver wire, such as Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (10% rostered) and Alex Caruso (5% rostered). Horton-Tucker finished Saturday night's win over the Cavs with 15 points, three rebounds, three assists and two steals in 32 minutes.
Jae'Sean Tate, Rockets (33% rostered)
Tate has been among the most consistently mentioned players in waiver wire pieces (both mine and others) throughout the season. And Houston finally moved Victor Oladipo at the deadline, thus propping open the door of opportunity for Tate, Danuel House Jr. (11% rostered), KJ Martin Jr. (10% rostered) and Sterling Brown (3% rostered). While it's possible that none of these players will prove consistent enough to hold meaningful value outside of deeper leagues, Tate is probably the most likely of the bunch to establish himself as a reliable cog in 12-team leagues. In the Rockets' Friday/Saturday back-to-back against Minnesota, Tate averaged 10.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 2.5 blocks and 1.5 steals in 36.0 minute across the two-game set.
Tomas Satoransky, Bulls (19% rostered)
Chicago's acquisition of Nikola Vucevic may sneakily bode well for Satoransky's fantasy value. The efficient, veteran guard offers a steady source of assists and steals, and Vucevic's ability to put the ball in the basket from almost anywhere may mean even more easy dimes for Satoransky going forward. Furthermore, Vucevic is also a superb passer, so Satoransky could be in line for more clean looks thanks to the frequent double teams the star center is sure to draw.
Malik Monk, Hornets (27% rostered)
Monk stands to benefit, not from trades, but from the recent injury to LaMelo Ball (wrist). With Ball out for at least the next several weeks, Monk's role off the bench should be a consistent one, this after it looked like he was the odd man out in the backcourt rotation once Devonte' Graham returned to the lineup following the All-Star break. Keep an eye on the foot injury that sidelined him Sunday, but if it proves to be minor, Monk could be a major boost in the scoring category. In Friday's win over the Heat, Monk went for 26 points in the first half and finished with 32 points and five three-pointers in just 26 minutes.
Michael Carter-Williams, Magic (16% rostered)
For those in leagues that don't place much (or any) value on shooting percentages and turnovers, Carter-Williams is an obvious add -- at the very least until Cole Anthony (ribs) is healthy. The current situation in Orlando is nearly indistinguishable from that which Carter-Williams found himself in years ago when he earned Rookie of the Year honors for the 76ers, and his counting stats could be similarly copious this time around. Fellow Magic players Chuma Okeke (35% rostered) and Dwayne Bacon (5% rostered) are worth keeping an eye on, as well.
Rajon Rondo, Clippers (4% rostered)
Rondo has looked more like a rando this season than the Playoff Rondo we saw in the bubble last fall. Still, he fills a major need for the Clippers, who have lacked a traditional point guard who can consistently create good looks for others. It's possible that Rondo will fail to leapfrog Reggie Jackson and/or Patrick Beverley (knee) in the backcourt rotation. However, Rondo is clearly the superior passer among the three, and with no shortage of offensive talent at his disposal, the former All-Star could have some nights where he tallies double-digit dimes. Rondo won't be an every-week starter, but he could be worth a speculative add for managers in dire need of assists.
Nemanja Bjelica, Heat (3% rostered)
Miami was thought to be the landing spot for LaMarcus Aldridge, but with the veteran landing in Brooklyn, Bjelica becomes an intriguing fantasy option. Bjelica is more versatile on both ends than recent-departure Kelly Olynyk and could very well earn the nod as the team's starting power forward. As such, after being buried on Sacramento's depth chart, Bjelica's stock is on the rise, by default.
