The only thing better than a nine-game NBA slate is a 10-game slate (well, and an 11-, 12-, 13-, and so on). Thankfully, that’s what we have on tap today as the league gears up for the home stretch towards the playoffs.
With two-thirds of the league’s teams in action, there will be plenty of stars to choose from, so supplementing them with bargains is important. Here are my three favorite bargain plays from today’s action:
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PF/C Kessler Edwards, Dallas Mavericks at San Antonio Spurs, $4,000
The injury bug is so bad in Dallas that it might be possible that the Mavericks will have fewer than the minimum eight healthy players for tonight’s all-Texas clash. After last night’s 125-116 loss to the Phoenix Suns, Jason Kidd seemed to indicate that none of PJ Washington ($7,200), Kai Jones ($5,000), Jaden Hardy ($4,500), or Brandon Williams ($4,500) would be available for tonight’s game, leaving Dallas down to just eight healthy players. Edwards and Dwight Powell ($3,200), furthermore, bashed heads midway through last night’s game, and Powell didn’t return, so if he can’t play, the Mavericks would be down to seven players and potentially have to forfeit the contest.
Because of how thin the rotation is, any deep bench guy on Dallas’ roster is a critical value play. Edwards has played around 30 minutes in each of the last three games and averaged 10 points, 2.7 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 1.3 steals (22.7 FPTS) per contest, and he should continue a high-usage role tonight with Powell the only other front-court player who might be available. San Antonio has been horrible since Victor Wembanyama’s season-ending injury, allowing the third-most points, second-most rebounds, and fourth-most assists per game since the All-Star break. The Spurs are just 3-7 and own the league’s seventh-worst net rating without Wembanyama.
C Orlando Robinson, Toronto Raptors vs. Washington Wizards, $3,700
The injury list for both teams in this game is incredibly long: Jakob Poeltl ($5,900), Jonathan Mogbo ($4,400), Gradey Dick ($4,200), Ochai Agbaji ($4,200), Ulrich Chomche, Brandon Ingram ($7,600), and Ja’Kobe Walter ($4,300) are out for the Raptors, and Richaun Holmes ($4,400), Saddiq Bey ($4,300), Malcolm Brogon ($4,700), Colby Jones ($3,000), Khris Middleton ($5,700), and Marcus Smart ($3,800) won’t suit up for Washington. That leaves several deep bench players on both rosters as intriguing value plays, starting with Robinson, who has received around 24 minutes per game in each of the past five games and averaged 6.8 points and 6.8 rebounds (21.1 FPTS) per game across that span. He should start in place of Poeltl (rest) tonight.
As has been the case all season, the Wizards are awful on defense, even if Alex Sarr ($5,600) has shown some flashes as an interior defender in his up-and-down rookie season. Washington allows the second-most fantasy points to opposing centers and has conceded the second-most points, most rebounds, and sixth-most assists to opposing players this season, so Robinson should have no trouble returning good value on his minuscule salary.
SF/PF Justin Edwards, Philadelphia 76ers at Atlanta Hawks, $4,200
The 76ers will likely be happy when April 14 hits and their hellish season comes to an end, and for now, their priority should probably be to lose enough games to drop into the bottom six, which would put them in position to keep their draft selection in a relatively deep class. Philadelphia’s injury list is long — in addition to Joel Embiid’s season-ending injury, Paul George ($7,500) is out with a groin injury and Tyrese Maxey ($9,000) is questionable with a back injury. Andre Drummond ($5,400) is ill and also might miss tonight’s game. With so many players out, there have been plenty of minutes to go around. Edwards has accumulated 97 minutes over the last three games and has averaged 13.7 points and 4.7 rebounds (23.8 FPTS) per game. His ceiling might go down slightly if Maxey plays, but he should be fine overall.
Atlanta’s defense has been okay for much of the season, thanks to the ball-hawking tactics of Dyson Daniels ($7,000), but the Hawks have conceded loads of fantasy points because they play at the league’s second-fastest pace. Since the All-Star break, Atlanta’s defensive efficiency has been the league’s fourth-worst and it’s given up the second-most points and fifth-most assists per game. Jalen Johnson was an okay perimeter defender before his season-ending injury, but rookie Zaccharie Risacher ($4,500) and trade deadline acquisition Georges Niang ($4,300) aren’t as stout on that end of the floor.
