Denver Nuggets guard Bryn Forbes will not be making his team debut against the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday. Forbes was recently part of a three-team trade that sent him to Denver from the San Antonio Spurs. The trade was finalized on Wednesday, so it's just a matter of the Nuggets clearing Forbes. There should be opportunities for Forbes to make an impact in Denver. However, his role on the team remains uncertain right now. Fantasy managers shouldn't rush to add him, but keep him monitored. The Nuggets are desperate for scoring options, so Forbes could very well make an impact if given 20 or more minutes per game.
Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball (illness) will be available for Wednesday's game against the Boston Celtics. He was unable to play on Monday due to a non-COVID related illness. Kelly Oubre Jr. will rejoin the rotation as well on Wednesday. He has missed the last four games while following the league's health and safety guidelines. Fantasy managers should make sure Ball is back in their lineups on Wednesday. Oubre has been playing well enough lately to be worth a look in most formats.
Toronto Raptors guard Gary Trent Jr. (ankle) has been ruled out for Wednesday's game against the Dallas Mavericks. This marks the sixth game in a row that Trent has missed due to left ankle swelling. It's uncertain when Trent will be able to get back on the court. He has attempted to warm up pregame, but his ankle continues to hold him back. Head coach Nick Nurse has been using six or seven player rotation lately. That being said, Scottie Barnes and Fred VanVleet should play close to 40 minutes until Trent returns.
Dallas Mavericks forward Maxi Kleber (knee) and guard Reggie Bullock (knee) will play during Wednesday's game against the Toronto Raptors. However, neither player is expected to bring much to the table in this game. Kristaps Porzingis is back, which means Kleber won't be a recommended streaming option. Bullock normally gets significant playing time, but doesn't bring much in terms of stats. Possibly, Bullock could be a deep league option, but can be left alone in most formats.
Portland Trail Blazers guards CJ Elleby (ankle) and Dennis Smith Jr. (ankle) will be available for Wednesday's game against the Miami Heat. The Blazers are finally getting healthy, so neither of these players have too much value. Elleby is likely only going to play minutes in the teens going forward. Smith has shown flashes during this season, but is behind Anfernee Simons on the depth chart. That being said, neither are trustworthy streaming options for Wednesday's slate. Both are likely going to slide back into their rotational roles with minutes in the teens or possibly low 20s.
Memphis Grizzlies point guard Tyus Jones has been placed in the league's health and safety protocols, ruling him out indefinitely, beginning with Wednesday's game vs. Milwaukee. The absence will mark just the second of the season for Jones, who has been an invaluable member of the team's second unit (8.2 points, 4.2 assists per game), in addition to stepping into the starting five when Ja Morant went down. De'Anthony Melton -- who was already set to see a larger role with Desmond Bane and Kyle Anderson in the protocols -- is set to back up Morant and take on more offensive duties within the second unit. While Jones has shot a career-best 47.1 percent overall this season, he can remain on the waiver wire in all season-long formats at least until he returns to action.
New Orleans Pelicans guard Devonte' Graham (ankle) is listed as questionable for Thursday's game against the New York Knicks. He hasn't looked the same lately and continues struggling with his shot. Graham has been dealing with left ankle soreness, so possibly that's why he is struggling from the floor. His absence would likely be filled by a committee approach with Tomas Satoransky's status uncertain as well. Satoransky has cleared protocols, but it's unknown if he'll play on Thursday. Regardless, Brandon Ingram is likely to benefit the most from the loss of Graham. Fantasy managers will have to check back on Thursday for more information.
Phoenix Suns center Deandre Ayton (ankle) has been ruled out for Thursday's game against the Dallas Mavericks. He wasn't able to get through Wednesday's practice, so the team has ruled him out a full day in advance. JaVale McGee should be asked to make another start with Bismack Biyombo getting more playing time. Right now, Biyombo is looking like the better streaming option between the two. Fantasy managers might want to snag Biyombo for the short term. He has played well whenever Ayton is off the court this season.
Chicago Bulls shooting guard/small forward Zach LaVine (knee) and point guard Lonzo Ball (knee) have been ruled out for the team's upcoming four-contest stretch due to respective knee ailments. Both will stay back in Chicago to continue receiving treatment as the team embarks on its upcoming road trip. Without either in the mix, DeMar DeRozan and Nikola Vucevic stand to remain the Bulls' offensive focal points, while Coby White and Troy Brown Jr. continue to stand out as short-term upside plays. The sharpshooting duo both rank within the top 15 in the league in three-point buckets made on a nightly basis (Ball, 3.1; LaVine, 2.9). Their next opportunity to return comes Jan. 26, although a green light is far from guaranteed.
Utah Jazz small/power forward Rudy Gay (heel) has been ruled out for Wednesday's game against the Rockets due to right heel soreness. Gay's absence figures to open up more offensive usage among the second unit for Jordan Clarkson and Eric Paschall, although Utah's rotations stand to be in flux with Donovan Mitchell (concussion) also missing the contest. Gay has scuffled from the field across six January outings, shooting just 36.5 percent overall, averaging 9.5 points and 4.5 boards per game. The veteran's next chance to return to action comes Friday vs. Detroit.
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