This article is part of our DraftKings NBA series.
DraftKings.com Value Plays for the Week
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POINT GUARD
Mike Conley, PG, MEM ($6,900): Conley isn't our typical value play at $6,900; however, he's considerably cheaper than his upside would dictate, and has flashed 50-plus fantasy point upside several times this season. Wednesday's meeting with the Lakers allows us an excellent opportunity to exploit this depressed salary, being that the Lakers are surrendering the fourth most fantasy points (42.7 FPPG) to opposing point guards this season. Even Deron Williams, whose struggles have been well documented this season, exploded against Los Angeles, finishing with 30 points, seven assists, five rebounds and six steals for 57.75 DKPTs (DraftKings Points) over the weekend. Conley should easily exceed the 35 DKPT mark at home in a favorable matchup with the Lakers.
A Look Ahead: Conley and the Grizzlies will enjoy another juicy matchup on Saturday as they host the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Cavs have been tortured by point guards this season, allowing the most rebounds (6 RPG) and second most assists (9.8 APG) to the position, so Conley should be in line for another quality fantasy performance at a conservative price come the weekend.
Tony Wroten, PG, PHI ($4,600): Wroten earned his first start of the season with Michael Carter-Williams active on Monday and finished with respectable fantasy totals, as he tallied 19 points on 9-15 shooting, five assists, two rebounds and a steal in 29 minutes of work. He remains discounted on DraftKings at only $4,600, and is capable of producing 30 or more fantasy points on any given night. Wednesday's home tilt with the Magic should give him little trouble, especially if Arron Afflalo is sidelined, as Wroten will be matched up with the rookie Victor Oladipo. This will be yet another high scoring game at the Wells Fargo Center (215 O/U), and may even remain relatively close for a quarter or three, so consider utilizing Wroten's services Wednesday in a fast paced track meet between two of the league's worst.
A Look Ahead: Wroten could be poised for a busy second half of the season now that the Sixers' front office has blown up the team. He should average around 30 MPG going forward, and possesses considerably more value if he remains in the starting lineup.
SHOOTING GUARD
Victor Oladipo, PG/SG, ORL ($6,200): Oladipo may be one of the finest plays on Wednesday night, as he'll square off against a 76ers club that he notched his first career triple-double against back in early December. Philadelphia is coughing up the second most fantasy points (38.9 FPPG) to shooting guards this season, and continue to allow more three-pointers to their opposition than any other team. Through two meetings with the Sixers in his rookie campaign, Oladipo is averaging 22 points, 6.5 rebounds, 7.5 assists and four steals for 50 DKPPG (DraftKings Points Per Game). He should receive ample playing time on Wednesday if Arron Afflalo is inactive again, but will continue to retain fantasy value regardless of his status, and should meet little resistance in his attempts to exceed the 35 DKPT mark against a 76ers club that's allowing 111 points per game (last) to their opposition on the year.
A Look Ahead: It's yet to be scene whether Oladipo has become a mainstay in Orlando's starting lineup, but that's looking more and more like the case every day. Now that Glen Davis is a Clipper, Oladipo will likely start at shooting guard with Afflalo sliding to the three. This boosts his fantasy value through the roof at only $6,200, and he continues to be an advisable play until his salary spikes. To make matters more favorable, the Magic will face Philadelphia again on Sunday, this time at home.
Kent Bazemore, SG/SF, LAL ($3,400): Bazemore has done what not many Lakers before him could figure out: gotten on Mike D'Antoni's good side. Through his first three appearances in a Lakers uniform, he has averaged 33 minutes per game and even started two contests since his arrival in Los Angeles. He has totaled 15-plus points in each of his three outings, while averaging a healthy 18.3 points (45% FG), 2.7 assists, 2.3 rebounds and 2.3 steals per game in that span. He'll face a stout Grizzlies defense in Memphis Wednesday, and will likely have to work twice as hard to get his shot to fall. However, he poured in 23 points against the best defense in the league (Indiana) on Tuesday, and should continue to grind out workmanlike performances in order to hold onto his spot in the starting lineup. You could do a lot worse at the position for $3,400, so it's fair to assume that Bazemore is capable of meeting value (19 DKPTs) as long as his minutes remain stable.
A Look Ahead: The Weather man and Lakers' players have a lot in common; their jobs consists of predicting what is most times unpredictable. Mike D'Antonio refuses to stick with a rotation, and is liable to change things up in the blink of an eye. So, although Bazemore's fantasy value is trending upwards at the moment, a sub-par performance on Wednesday night could send him straight to the doghouse. For now, however, continue to view him as a quality value option with upside so long as his minutes remain in the 30's.
SMALL FORWARD
Tobias Harris, SF/PF, ORL, ($6,600): Harris put up a stinker on Tuesday, as he failed to exploit a quality matchup with the injury riddled Wizards, finishing with only 11 points (5-11 FG), four rebounds and one assist in 32 minutes of work. He'll have a golden opportunity to redeem himself Wednesday night against the 76ers, who have coughed up more fantasy points (42.3 FPPG), rebounds, (8.9 RPG), assists (4.3 APG), blocks (1.2 BPG) and three-pointers (2.6 3PMG) to opposing small forwards. The Sixers have allowed the second most points (21.9 PPG) and fifth most steals (2 SPG) to the position as well, which should bode nicely for the third year Tennessee produce, as he is capable of doing a little bit of everything while he's on the court. $6,600 is a more than reasonable price to pay for Harris, who has shown glimpses of brilliance throughout the season, posting several 45-plus fantasy point performance through his 38 games played.
A Look Ahead: Harris will continue to see ample minutes in Orlando's starting lineup with Glenn Davis no longer in town. He'll face Philadelphia again on Sunday, and should have little trouble exploiting the best matchup in basketball for the second time in one week.
Dorell Wright, SF/PF, POR ($3,000): Wright's fantasy value is heavily dependent on the health of Portland's frontcourt. Meyers Leonard and Joel Freeland will both be absent on Wednesday, yet the status of LaMarcus Aldridge and Thomas Robinson is still unclear. If each of them are unable to take the court, Terry Stotts will be left with Robin Lopez and Wright as his only two capable frontcourt members. Wright hasn't done much to capitalize on his short term starting power forward role, but will be forced into playing heavy minutes if the majority of Portland's big men are in the infirmary. 20 DKPTs should come easy with 30-plus minutes of court time against the Nets, so continue to monitor this situation as we draw closer to tipoff.
A Look Ahead: Wright's run as a relevant fantasy contributor is abruptly coming to an end, and some would say it never began. Wednesday may serve as his last opportunity to benefit from being the only healthy body in the Blazer's frontcourt.
POWER FORWARD
Mike Scott, PF, ATL ($4,000): Scott is finally beginning to see his minutes increase, and deservedly so. He may still be coming off the bench for an injury riddled Atlanta squad, but is averaging a healthy 21 points, 7.5 rebounds and 31.5 minutes per game over his last two contests, while shooting an impressive 62% (16-26 FG) from the field in that span. Scott should continue to log heavy minutes on Wednesday with Pero Antic, Gustavo Ayon and Paul Millsap all expected to stay home as the Hawks travel to Boston. Mike Budenholzer will eventually have no other option but to provide the second year Virginia native with the playing time his deserves as long as he continues to produce at this impressive rate. Expect another 25-plus DKPT performance from him tonight as the Hawks are desperate for production, and aren't necessarily in the position to be picky about where it comes from.
A Look Ahead: Scott's fantasy value has fluctuated all season, due in part to erratic playing time and constant injuries in the Hawks' frontcourt. With that in mind, he should continue to serve as a viable low-end value play while Atlanta struggles to get healthy.
CENTER
Elton Brand, PF/C, ATL ($3,700): No one would've thought that the 34 year old Brand was still capable of throwing together productive fantasy performances, but increased playing time can work wonders for a player's value. Over his last four starts, he is averaging a respectable 28 DKPTs in 37 minutes per game, and will continue to be of relevance in daily fantasy circles until the Hawks get healthy. At $3,700, Brand has exceeded value by a total of 28 DKPTs over his last four games, and has failed to pay off his price tag only once in that span. He isn't nearly as an effective scorer as Mike Scott, however, he is far more polished in terms of accumulating peripheral stats such as rebounds, blocks and steals. It's safe to view Brand as a viable value option at the power forward/center position on Wednesday in Boston.
A Look Ahead: Much like Mike Scott, Brand's fantasy value is contingent on the health of Atlanta's frontcourt. His numbers and playing time will take a hit each time someone rejoins the rotation, but his minutes are safe for now, and potentially even in the near future.
Kyle O'Quinn, PF/C, ORL ($3,700): O'Quinn is an under the radar value play on Wednesday, as he should have no trouble exceeding 20 DKPTs given that he is averaging nearly 23 minutes per game over his last four contests. Glen Davis' departure should allow him to earn similar playing time against a putrid Sixers frontcourt that's surrendering the most fantasy points (53.3 FPPG) to opposing centers over the last two weeks. O'Quinn is surprisingly averaging north of 20 DKPPG in that four game span, and makes for a quality bottom barrel value center against the league's worst defense.
A Look Ahead: It's yet to be seen what Orlando's rotation will look like once Afflalo is back in uniform, but O'Quinn should be a safe bet for 20 DKPTs going forward, and especially on Sunday, when the Magic host Philadelphia in what should be another sloppy, yet high scoring affair.
