Alright. Everyone just relax.
The NBA’s trade deadline has passed. No teams on tonight’s six-game DraftKings featured slate are on the second night of a back-to-back set. Heck, it’s literally Friday. The vibes are good! The mood is high!
Let’s dive in and find some value options for your lineups this evening.
Set your DraftKings fantasy basketball lineups here: NBA $300K Friday 8’s [$100K to 1st]
For up-to-the-minute news, analysis and lineups, download the DK Network app. You also can follow DK Network on Twitter @dknetwork.
PF/C Jonathan Mogbo, Toronto Raptors at Oklahoma City Thunder, $3,100
Sometimes rosters get a little thin after the trade deadline. That’s especially true when we’re still within 48 hours of most trades going down, which means teams don’t even have a full compliment of players available. That is very much the case with the Raptors on Friday — specially as it pertains to big men. Seriously, the Raptors don’t have any centers for tonight’s tilt against the Thunder. Jakob Poeltl (hip) is injured. Kelly Olynyk was traded to New Orleans. Even Orlando Robinson had his second 10-day contract expire. There’s no one left. This means Toronto is going to have to get creative. Expect Scottie Barnes ($9,100) and Chris Boucher ($3,400) to get some work as small-ball fives, but the biggest beneficiary from a minutes perspective should be Mogbo. The 31st-overall pick in this past summer’s draft, Mogbo has already started six games for the Raptors in 2024-25, averaging 6.3 points, 5.2 rebounds and 2.3 assists. Mogbo also logged 18.4 minutes in Wednesday’s loss to the Grizzlies, registering 10 points, six boards and 21.5 FPTS. The rookie will have all the work he can handle in a script that could get pretty lopsided.
PG Ty Jerome, Cleveland Cavaliers at Washington Wizards, $4,700
The question with the Cavaliers on Friday is simple: How risky do you want to be? It’s a rare situation where a team is expected to have all its starters available — Donovan Mitchell ($8,600; shoulder) is probable after sitting out Wednesday — yet there’s still the opportunity for so much value. That’s because Cleveland is essentially without its entire second unit. Caris LeVert and Georges Niang were both traded to Atlanta yesterday, while Dean Wade (knee), Isaac Okoro (shoulder) and Sam Merrill (personal) are all out. I guess there’s a chance that De’Andre Hunter plays tonight, but I have my doubts. If Hunter is unable to make his Cavaliers debut, that would basically leave Jerome and Craig Porter Jr. ($3,000). This is the Morpheus red pill or blue pill situation. On the one hand, Jerome feels incredibly safe, as he’s been in Cleveland’s rotation throughout 2024-25 and has back-to-back 35-FPTS performances as recently as late January. However, Porter Jr. is priced at the bare minimum and is coming off dropping a season-high 16 points two days ago. Both are viable against a Wizards defense that’s allowing the second-most FPTS per game to opposing point guards, yet I’d lean Jerome if you’re choosing between the duo.
PG/SG Bub Carrington, Washington Wizards vs. Cleveland Cavaliers, $3,300
The Wizards have [checks notes] …won three straight game coming into Friday’s action? That’s not something I thought I’d write at any point this season, but here we are. Washington has also recently embraced the youth movement, particularly after dealing Kyle Kuzma to the Bucks and Jonas Valanciunas to the Kings. On Wednesday, Carrington was re-inserted into the Wizards’ starting five and he responded in a big way, with 16 points, 10 assists and 41.0 FPTS in a team-high 35.5 minutes. I’d expect that role to stay consistent this evening. Heck, the rookie guard might even seen a few extra possessions with Malcolm Brodgon (foot) sitting due to injury management. Kyshawn George ($3,800) and Richaun Holmes ($3,500) are the other names to watch in this one.
