Saturday’s eight-game NBA slate is an odd one. Typically, there are a ton of high-priced studs we want to pay up for and we are scrounging around trying to uncover cheap value options to fit them in. However, on Saturday’s slate, there are so many cheap value options available I could throw a snowball off my deck and probably hit one. Meanwhile, the challenge is actually finding players that I want to spend my leftover salary on.
Note that some of the stats referenced in this article are my custom DvP calculations that combine both season and last five games data along with blending similar positions production allowed together.
One Stud
LeBron James (SF/PF – LAL): $10,600 @ MEM
LeBron is the only player with a five-figure salary on Saturday’s slate and he doesn’t even have that good of a matchup against the Grizzlies on the road. However, with so much salary available to spend, he is easy to fit in and there aren’t many options that have a higher expected raw points projection. While the matchup isn’t great, James is capable of putting up a big game against anyone and he should play significant minutes in a game with a close Vegas line.
Core Plays
Nikola Jokic (C – DEN): $9,200 @ ATL
If we didn’t have so much salary to use to get LeBron, then Jokic would have been my one stud of the night. He has posted at least 44 DraftKings points in each of his last three games and gets a plus-plus matchup on Saturday against the Hawks. The Hawks have given up increased production in points (+2.5%), rebounds (+3.0%) and maybe most importantly for Jokic, assists (+30.1%). Jokic’s usage also gets a 10.3 percent bump with the collection of Nuggets players that are out for Saturday’s tilt.
Saturday’s eight-game NBA slate is an odd one. Typically, there are a ton of high-priced studs we want to pay up for and we are scrounging around trying to uncover cheap value options to fit them in. However, on Saturday’s slate, there are so many cheap value options available I could throw a snowball off my deck and probably hit one. Meanwhile, the challenge is actually finding players that I want to spend my leftover salary on.
Note that some of the stats referenced in this article are my custom DvP calculations that combine both season and last five games data along with blending similar positions production allowed together.
One Stud
LeBron James (SF/PF – LAL): $10,600 @ MEM
LeBron is the only player with a five-figure salary on Saturday’s slate and he doesn’t even have that good of a matchup against the Grizzlies on the road. However, with so much salary available to spend, he is easy to fit in and there aren’t many options that have a higher expected raw points projection. While the matchup isn’t great, James is capable of putting up a big game against anyone and he should play significant minutes in a game with a close Vegas line.
Core Plays
Nikola Jokic (C – DEN): $9,200 @ ATL
If we didn’t have so much salary to use to get LeBron, then Jokic would have been my one stud of the night. He has posted at least 44 DraftKings points in each of his last three games and gets a plus-plus matchup on Saturday against the Hawks. The Hawks have given up increased production in points (+2.5%), rebounds (+3.0%) and maybe most importantly for Jokic, assists (+30.1%). Jokic’s usage also gets a 10.3 percent bump with the collection of Nuggets players that are out for Saturday’s tilt.
Bradley Beal (SG – WAS): $8,800 @ CLE
John Wall missed the last game due to personal reasons and it is uncertain if he will return for Saturday’s game against the Cavaliers. If he remains out, then Beal becomes the top dog on offense for the Wizards. He scored 36 points (58.5 DK points) in his last game and gets a small increase in points, rebounds and steals with his matchup against the Cavs.
Jamal Murray (PG/SG – DEN): $7,800 @ ATL
Murray has been playing big minutes with players like Gary Harris and Will Barton out. Over his last nine games, Murray is averaging over 38 minutes per game and has reached at least 34 DK points seven times during that stretch. He has the potential for a spike game on Saturday against the Hawks who have been destroyed by opposing PGs with double-digit increase production in points (+16.2%), rebounds (+19.0%) and steals (+11.6%) this season.
Bam Adebayo (PF/C – MIA): $5,400 @ LAC
Using Bam depends on the status of Hassan Whiteside for Saturday’s matchup with the Clippers. With Whiteside out on Friday night, Adebayo drew the start and played 32 minutes while piling up 22 points and 10 rebounds for 43 DK points. His salary has risen over $1,000 for Saturday but he is still a value at his $5,400 price tag assuming that Whiteside sits out another game.
Value Plays
Kent Bazemore (SG/SF – ATL): $4,800 vs. DEN
The Hawks are suffering through a few injuries including Taurean Prince and Jeremy Lin. Bazemore stepped up in their absence in the last game playing 35 minutes while scoring 22 points with six assists and four steals. His matchup against the Nuggets isn’t the best but with big minutes and increased usage, he should have more than enough production to exceed five times his current salary.
Juan Hernangomez (SF/PF – DEN): $4,300 @ ATL
Hernangomez was already playing about 30 minutes most nights but should see even more run now that Paul Millsap is out. On Friday night, Hernangomez posted a double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds while playing 36 minutes. He gets the same favorable matchup that I feel like I have been writing about this entire article against the Hawks. Hernangomez has scored more than 25 DK points in four straight games and should coast to his fifth straight over that number on Saturday in Atlanta.
Alec Burks (PG/SG – CLE): $3,900 vs. WAS
With the Cavaliers trading away George Hill, Burks saw a minutes spike up to 38 on Friday night. He should get 30-plus minutes again on Saturday against the Wizards while Matthew Dellavedova is unlikely to be ready to suit up and contribute. Burks put up 22 points, seven rebounds and nine assists on Friday and gets a small bump in points (+2.0%) and assists (+5.7%) with the matchup against the Wizards.
Kyle O’Quinn (PF/C – IND): $3,000 vs. SAC
With Domantas Sabonis out on Friday, O’Quinn played 27 minutes while putting up a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds on his way to 37 DK points. O’Quinn is only an option on Saturday if Sabonis remains out, but with his minimum-priced salary, he is almost certain to smash value if he gets another 27 minutes against the Kings who have allowed increase production in points (+14.5%) and rebounds (+4.7%) to opposing PFs. If Sabonis returns than a couple other options to consider in the value section include JaMychal Green ($4,700) and Justise Winslow ($4,300).
Brad Richter is a correspondent at FantasyPros and a contributor at DailyOverlay and GoingFor2. For more from Brad, you can view his archive or follow him @RotoPilot.
