This article is part of our DraftKings NBA series.
Sixteen teams take the floor on Friday, so a lot of opportunity is spread across all positions. As injuries start to pile up, there are also several situations to exploit for value on this slate. We'll touch on those and more, but first we will take a look at the elite players in the 10K range.
The most striking detail of the slate is the status of Golden State's first unit, with Steph Curry, Kevin Durant, and Klay Thompson all listed as questionable for Friday's game on the road against the Magic, but I expect all of them to take the floor anyway. Curry's hand injury seems to be the most concerning ailment of the trio, as he shot poorly in his last matchup despite some overtime heroics. All three of these players could be in for lower ownership than usual.
Based on his excellent play against the Magic in their last outing, Kevin Durant ($9,600) is the best play in this one, but not the best overall in this range. DeMarcus Cousins and Anthony Davis are out there as well, and without Rudy Gobert and Rodney Hood the Jazz are vulnerable. Both are reasonable plays with a nod to Cousins ($10,900), but neither center has met value in the last few games, and it's not an ideal place to spend up on Friday.
Russell Westbrook ($11,400) stands out as the best player to spend up on Friday, and although he's officially questionable, he's definitely going play his full complement of minutes despite some caution about a hand injury he sustained on Wednesday against the Magic.
As usual I will highlight three players per position, ranging from high, mid-range and low salary considerations. Let's get to it.
GUARDS
Kyle Lowry TOR vs. IND ($8,100): In this battle between Victor Oladipo ($8,000) and Lowry, I'll opt for Lowry, although I like them both on Friday. You simply can't ignore Lowry's four-game stretch where the Toronto point guard is simply killing it. He's averaged 52 DKFP over that span, and although a drop-off will inevitably come, I'm content to ride this wave.
Kris Dunn, CHI vs. SAC ($6,200): Dunn stands out as he faces Sacramento at the DraftKings median price. The battle between Dunn and Jerian Grant for the starting point guard slot has certainly tilted Dunn's way of late, and this matchup is ideal against the Kings, who have their own well-documented list of struggles. It's a rare opportunity to own some Bulls on Friday.
Tomas Satoransky, WAS vs. DET ($3,800): You might be saying "who?" here but Satoransky has quietly outplayed Tim Frazier while John Wall has been sidelined. You can't expect a crazy amount of output from Satoransky, but if you're spending up at several positions, it's hard to find a better value in the basement.
Other guards to consider:Donovan Mitchell, UTA vs. NO ($6,600), Kelly Oubre, Jr., WAS vs. DET ($4,800), Alec Burks, UTA vs. NO ($3,600)
FORWARDS
Draymond Green, GS at ORL ($7,400): With the rest of the Warriors' first unit limping around with various injuries, Green should fare well as one of Golden State's only fully healthy scoring options. While some might flock to Aaron Gordon in this matchup after his huge 70-plus DKFP outing on Wednesday, I think Green's mettle on both ends of the floor will be the real difference-maker.
Tobias Harris, DET at WAS ($6,900): After bopping around a bit with a lot of deviation earlier in the month, Harris has hovered right around 30 DKFP over the past few games and he certainly has the potential for more against a Wizards team that struggles inside. While you'll expect Andre Drummond to grab a lot of those boards, Harris has also been prolific beyond the arc this season, which should balance his stat line out nicely.
Taj Gibson, MIN at OKC ($5,700): It seems like Gibson has the Thunder's number. In two matchups, he's averaged 13.5 points and nine boards against them, and it could just be one of those matchups where Paul George and Carmelo Anthony have difficulty containing him. Steven Adams hasn't been spectacular lately either, so I like Gibson's opportunities at this price.
Other forwards to consider:Carmelo Anthony, OKC vs. MIN ($6,700), Otto Porter, WAS vs. DET ($6,500), Thaddeus Young, IND at TOR ($5,600)
CENTERS
LaMarcus Aldridge, SA at MEM ($8,500): While others will flock to Andre Drummond and Karl-Anthony Towns at this price, I'm going to be a bit contrarian and target Aldridge. A coaching change and drama in the front office can certainly tilt a team, and while there isn't enough data to determine how much it's affecting the Grizzlies, I'm going to assume it's done more harm than good. Memphis' offense flows through Marc Gasol with Mike Conley out, and I see Aldridge stifling that output.
Dwight Howard, CHA at MIA ($7,500):Hassan Whiteside is out for the next couple of weeks, so Miami will be a soft spot for centers and power forwards during that span. Kelly Olynyk is an underrated playmaker, but Howard should have no problem getting to his double-double average, which will also count for some bonus points in DraftKings.
Robin Lopez, CHI vs. SAC ($5,100): I go back to the Bulls here for a good matchup against Willie Cauley-Stein, who has definitely had his share of struggles underneath the basket. Cauley-Stein leads his team with only 6.3 rebounds per game, and that's about all the data you need to support adding Lopez on Friday.
Other centers to consider:Andre Drummond, DET at WAS ($8,800), Karl-Anthony Towns, MIN at OKC ($8,600)
Always check your rosters before tip-off! Injuries and late scratches are plentiful during the holiday season. Have a great weekend!
