Is it just me, or is it hard to believe that we are already through the NBA trading deadline and now the All-Star break is upon us? Time waits for no one, and the break will be over before we know it. The fantasy stretch run begins immediately when play resumes and every manager has decisions to make. The players involved in the trades a week ago will impact fantasy rosters. The question is just how much? Should a manager make a waiver move or a trade? Are there players a manager shouldn’t trade for? To help navigate through all of this, may we present this fantasy post break preview? Let’s get right to work as there is a lot to dig through.

Trade Deadline Deals and Their Fantasy Impact

Obviously, the deal between Brooklyn and Philadelphia featuring James Harden and Ben Simmons was the headline to last week’s trades. There were many immediate reaction articles written on the trade, including how it would affect each in fantasy. One of those was written by this humble correspondent. Just as obvious, however, was that those two players weren’t the only ones involved in the deal.

The other player going to the 76ers was Paul Millsap. Milsap made his debut for Philadelphia Tuesday night against Boston, playing nine minutes and scoring nine points. It is only the fourth game for Milsap since December 10. The fact is that in fantasy, Milsap has no value and should not be on anyone’s roster. He will not be discussed further.

Meanwhile, the two players going to Brooklyn should provide immediate fantasy impacts for their managers. Andre Drummond gives the Nets much needed size and will be a fixture in the lineup while Kevin Durant is away from the team. Even when Durant does return, Drummond should play meaningful minutes down the stretch. If on the waiver wire, Drummond is a must add player on this fantasy post break preview edition. If on another team’s roster, it would benefit a manager to see what it might take to acquire Drummond.

In much the same way, Seth Curry will play significant minutes while Simmons makes his way back into basketball shape. His excellent three-point shooting will force opponents to guard the perimeter and open the middle for the Nets. Even when Simmons is on the court, Curry will find playing time. He is certainly a trade worthy candidate in fantasy basketball coming down the stretch. A trade is the only way to get Curry, as there’s simply no way he is on any league’s waiver wire.

Other Impact Fantasy Trade Deadline Deals

Davis Bertans, PF, Dallas Mavericks, 0.9% Rostered

Of all the players widely available, Davis Bertans has the biggest chance to make a fantasy impact down the stretch. Nearly invisible in Washington, Bertans has the size Dallas will find especially valuable since Kristaps Porziņģis was shipped out in the deal.

He made his Mavericks debut Tuesday and scored 12 points in just 13 minutes against Miami. It wasn’t that long ago that Bertans averaged double figures in points two seasons in a row. If he can get anywhere close to that again, he most certainly will positively impact his manager’s fantasy roster.

Donte DiVincenzo, SG/PG Sacramento Kings, 36% Rostered

Without question, another traded player worth investigating is Donte DiVincenzo. It is certain that DiVincenzo is bummed being sent from the defending NBA champions to the outpost that is Sacramento. However, for managers, there is fantasy potential here. In his first two games for the Kings, DiVincenzo played right around 30 minutes and scored 41 and 21 fantasy points.

Coming down the stretch and into the fantasy playoffs, Divincenzo should be leading Sacramento’s second unit and getting the occasional start. That makes him valuable to fantasy rosters. See if he is on your league’s waiver wire. If so, act today and go get him.

Serge Ibaka, C/PF Milwaukee Bucks, 5.9% Rostered

While DiVincenzo is playing in obscurity in Sac Town, the fortunes for Serge Ibaka have gone in the exact opposite direction. Ibaka was traded to the Bucks from the Clippers and now is in for an intense battle to win the Eastern Conference. In his first Milwaukee start, Ibaka played 31 minutes as Giannis sat. Ibaka then played 24 minutes in his next game.

Between those two-minute totals should be where Ibaka will find himself the rest of the season. Depending on the standings, Giannis will sit occasionally down the stretch. When he does, Ibaka will be in the starting lineup. Even when coming off the bench, Ibaka provides value as he should score right around 20 fantasy points per night. For that reason and because he is so widely available, Ibaka gets a high pickup recommendation on this fantasy post break preview.

Waiver Wire Impact Players

Coby White, PG, Chicago Bulls, 23% Rostered

In his last four games, Coby White has exploded like few other players. During that stretch, White has scored 22, 16, 24 and 31 points. In addition, White has put up 42, 40, 44 and an amazing 58 fantasy points. There have been plenty of his teammates missing games of late and Zach LaVine is expected back soon. Even so, Alex Caruso and Lonzo Ball remain out with no known return.

When all of the other players have returned to the team, White’s minutes will necessarily see a down tick. However, if he continues to play the way he has of late, the Bulls will have to keep him on the court for significant stretches. Seeing the potential fantasy impact he can have, adding White is clearly the play here. Check the waiver wire immediately and if available, don’t hesitate a single second. Add White today!

Kevin Huerter, SG/SF, Atlanta Hawks, 13.9% Rostered

When looking over the NBA landscape the past couple of weeks, few players can be counted on for consistency night in and night out like Kevin Huerter. Over his past nine games, Huerter has scored in double figures in seven of them. Over his past five, he has scored at least 27 fantasy points in four games. In addition, Huerter is getting the minutes fantasy managers like to see as he has played at least 31 minutes in six of his last nine appearances.

Combining all of that with his wide availability makes for a wise fantasy investment. For the season, Huerter is averaging 11.6 points. Over the past seven games, though, his averages kick up to 12.3 points per night. Add in the fact that he qualifies as both a shooting guard as well as a small forward, and it is clear that Huerter deserves some fantasy love. He is definitely worthy of his place on this fantasy post break preview edition.

Other players worth a look:

Jaxson Hayes, C/PF, New Orleans Pelicans, 4% rostered, and Isaac Okoro, SF, Cleveland Cavaliers, 4.7% rostered

Fantasy Trade Targets

Isaiah Stewart, C/PF, Detroit Pistons

Obviously, as an organization, the Pistons are a clown show this season. A surprising victory over Boston the other night is the only thing keeping Detroit from the worst record in the NBA. However, there are a few players on their roster worth acquiring in trade. One of those players is Isaiah Stewart. The value of Stewart really comes into focus when considering that he plays center. Without question, that has always a difficult position to fill in fantasy in recent years.

That will not be a problem, though, if Stewart is acquired. He heads into the break having scored in double figures in five straight games. He also has double digits in rebounds seven times since January 30. If center is a roster problem, see what it will take to get Stewart in trade. Equally important is Stewart is just 20 years old. There will not be any rest concerns as the season comes to a close.

Saddiq Bey, SF, Detroit Pistons

One other Detroit player worthy of trading for is Saddiq Bey. A look at his stats reveals Bey is on the court as much as almost any superstar out there. Over his last 32 games, Bey has played 30 minutes or more in 30 of them. Significantly, like Stewart, Bey is young at only 22, which means that the Pistons will have him on the court every night the rest of the way.

One only needs to glance at his stat sheet against Boston to see just how good Bey is. He scored 20 points with 11 rebounds and six assists in the 112-111 victory. Over the past three games, Bey has scored 56, 39 and 44 fantasy points. Clearly, that makes Bey fantasy gold. Check in with his manager and see just what it might take to acquire him. Bey gets the highest of recommendations to trade for on this fantasy post break preview edition.

Trade Targets to Avoid: Any Player on the Knicks

Speaking of clown shows, The New York Knicks are in a race to dethrone the Pistons at the top of the list. Coming into the break, the Knicks are nine games below .500 and in 12th place in the Eastern Conference. Even more distressing is the fact that they have blown three 20-point leads in the month of February. However, as damning as those stats are, they are not the reason to avoid pursuing any of their players.

No, the determining factor is what coach Tom Thibodeau said after the Knicks blew a 28-point lead to the Nets. Hinting at huge changes to come, Thibodeau said, “everything is on the table now.” No one can be sure exactly what that means. Will veterans sit the rest of the way for youngsters? If so, who plays? Will the coach even be there much longer? There are no definite answers.

Unfortunately, what all of this means for fantasy managers is not a single Knicks player is worthy of pursuing in trade. Further, none are worth adding from the waiver wire, either. There will be no consistency in minutes played from any New York player, let alone performance. Forget any of their players even exists in fantasy. If a Knicks player is already on the roster, sell, sell, sell!

The Last Word

Thank you for joining me for this fantasy post break preview edition! As always, I welcome suggestions, questions and input from all of my readers. Follow me on twitter @kevin62wilsea. Please feel free to share this article. Be sure to turn to Belly Up Sports and Belly Up Fantasy Sports & Picks for all the latest NBA, NFL, NHL happenings and all the sports news!