The NBA Cup is over, but the regular season is just getting started. Hoops action resumes on Wednesday with a select two-game slate. Tipping off first will be the Cavaliers and Bulls in a Central division showdown. Later, the Timberwolves will host the Grizzlies in Minneapolis.
There aren’t many options available tonight for fantasy basketball managers. Still, that doesn’t make it impossible to build a winning lineup. There are several underpriced role players worth consideration this evening. Here are two names to target on Wednesday in DFS and season-long formats.
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PG/SG Bones Hyland, Minnesota Timberwolves vs. MEM ($4,800)
Full disclosure: this selection only makes sense if Anthony Edwards (foot) is held out tonight. The guard missed Sunday’s contest vs. the Kings, and is currently listed as questionable. If Ant-Man is sidelined, Minnesota will have to rely on some depth pieces out of the backcourt. That means more work than usual for Bones Hyland. Against Sacramento, the former first round pick impressed. Over 36 minutes, he notched 18 points, three rebounds and five assists (30.8 FPTS). However, he’s only averaging 5.1 points, 1.1 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game this season.
Other than Edwards, the Timberwolves don’t possess much guard depth. That’s especially true with veteran Mike Conley (Achilles) out as well. Hyland’s path to 25+ minutes will never be more wide-open than tonight. Wednesday’s opponents, the Grizzlies, are allowing the sixth-most fantasy points to point guards. In addition, Memphis has surrendered the fifth-most three-pointers made per game (14.5). In comparison, Hyland is shooting 39% from beyond the arc this season. Given the lack of quality guards available for fantasy managers, Minnesota’s talented backup is worth a closer look.
PF/C Dean Wade, Cleveland Cavaliers at CHI ($4,100)
Speaking of notable injuries, Evan Mobley won’t be active for the next few weeks due to a calf strain. That leaves the power forward position up for grabs in Cleveland. Second-year pro Jordon Tyson ($6,200) has been a welcome two-way presence. However, he’s not the only member of Kenny Atkinson’s rotation that will see playing time tonight. Dean Wade offers a much different, but still valuable, skillset for the Cavs. This season, the stretch-four is averaging 5.5 points per game on 38/30/70 shooting splits. He’s also chipped in with 4.0 rebounds and 1.6 assists.
Those numbers, while uninspiring, don’t tell the whole story. Throughout his seven-year NBA career, Wade is shooting 36% from beyond the arc on over three attempts per game. On Sunday against the Hornets, he delivered a 14-point, eight-rebound performance (30.5 FPTS). Most important, the 29-year-old logged a season-high 32 minutes. Now, Wade will get another shot at helping Cleveland, this time against the rival Bulls. Chicago has coughed up the second-most fantasy points to opposing power forwards this season. At $4,100, it won’t take much for the veteran to deliver solid value.
