This article is part of our DraftKings NBA series.
DraftKings.com Value Plays for the Week
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GUARD
C.J. McCallum, PG, SAC ($3,300): McCallum hasn't done much to impress since being handed bigger minutes off the Sacramento bench lately, yet a matchup with the 76ers should serve as a proper remedy for his struggles. New York Knicks' guard Tim Hardaway Jr., who had also been suffering through a lull in production, saw his run of sub-par performances come to an end Monday, as he torched the Sixers for 28 points on 9-13 shooting and 5-7 from beyond the arc in only 28 minutes of work. It's unreasonable to expect such lofty totals from McCallum on Wednesday considering he'll likely attempt fewer field goals, but 20-plus fantasy points is a realistic projection for someone who's averaging north of 26 minutes per game over his last seven appearances, save for Tuesday's loss in Detroit, where he was planted firmly on the pine for all but 12 minutes. Philadelphia has coughed up the most fantasy points (45.3 FPPG), assists (10.5 APG) and second most rebounds (5.8 RPG) and steals (2.3 SPG) to opposing point guards, while surrendering the second most fantasy points (38.8 FPPG) to shooting guards on the season. With that in mind, McCallum should fare well as a bottom barrel punt play, regardless of where he logs the bulk of his minutes. The Sixers play small, so we can assume that his playing time will balance itself out on Wednesday night at the Wells Fargo Center.
NOTE: Isaiah Thomas' (PG, SAC) salary is lower than it's been in quite some time at only $6,800. He is an excellent mid-range option Wednesday night against the Sixers and in the future, as he has flashed 50-plus fantasy point upside several times since entering the Kings' starting lineup back in December.
A Look Ahead: It's yet to be seen how McCallum will be used going forward, however, the departure of both Marcus Thornton and Jimmer Fredette should allow him to continue logging serviceable minutes off the bench. His upside certainly appears to be limited, but there's little risk involved when 19 FPs equals value at only $3,300.
Tony Wroten, PG, PHI ($4,900): Wroten has been scorching hot over his last two outings, totaling a combined 53 points on 20-35 shooting (.571 FG%), while logging 30 minutes per game in that span. Wednesday's home tilt with the Kings owns the highest over/under on the evening (215.5), and the miniature Isaiah Thomas should have his hands full with Wroten, whose 6'6" frame towers over the league's shortest point guard (5'9"). Wroten played 31 minutes off the bench in his only other meeting with Sacramento this season, finishing with 21 points, four rebounds, three assists, one steal and 32.5 DraftKings points on the evening. He'll log similar minutes on Wednesday for a Sixers team that's devoid of consistent scoring at the point guard position, leaving little doubt that he'll fire the rock at will (14.3 FGA/G over his last five contests) in what could shape up to be a relatively close contest in Philly.
A Look Ahead: Wroten is in no danger of losing minutes in the future, however, his next four contests following Wednesday's meeting with Sacramento are against Indiana (2), Memphis and Chicago, making it difficult to advocate starting him in any of those four matchups. He's a streaky player who tends to disappear at times, but remains well worth a look in favorable matchups at only $4,900, as he is capable of posting high-end fantasy totals on any given night.
Randy Foye, PG/SG, DEN ($4,600): A few sub-par outings have left Foye in the basement on DraftKings, as he's totaled fewer than 18 DKPTs (DraftKings Points) in each of his last two starts and has looked anything but sharp from the field. That being said, Foye continues to log heavy minutes in the starting lineup, and is capable of catching fire from three-point land without any notice. His $4,600 salary leaves ample room for upside against an Orlando squad that's allowing the fourth highest field goal percentage (48%) to opposing shooting guards over the last two weeks, so consider utilizing his services on Wednesday night while his price tag remains depressed.
A Look Ahead: Foye will continue to warrant a look, especially in GPPs (Guaranteed Prize Pool), so long as his salary is exploitable. He'll run hot and cold throughout the remainder of the season, however, his upside from behind the arc keeps him in play at such a favorable cost.
FORWARD
Markieff Morris, PF/C, PHO ($5,400): Morris has been phenomenal of late, totaling 20-plus points and 32-plus DKPTs in six of his last ten outings, while averaging nearly 30 minutes per game in that span. He should see an uptick in playing time on Wednesday at home against the Cavaliers, as P.J. Tucker will serve his one game suspension for elbowing Blake Griffin in the mouth. Morris exploded for his best statistical performance of the season against Cleveland back in January, finishing with 27 points, 15 rebounds and 51.75 DKPTs through 33 minutes of work. He's recording an impressive one DKPT per minute through more than four months of his 2013-14 campaign, and is capable of producing gaudy totals Wednesday in Phoenix with Tucker on the sidelines. It's unclear whether Morris will start, but he remains an attractive fantasy option regardless, as he is a safe bet to log 30-plus minutes against the underachieving Cavs.
A Look Ahead: Morris' $5,400 price tag will keep him in play when Tucker returns to action on Friday against the Celtics. He has been far too productive to overlook at this point, and should continue to meet value (30 DKPTs) now that he appears to have carved out a sizeable role for himself in the Suns' rotation.
Reggie Evans, PF/C, SAC ($3,600): Evans started over Jason Thompson in Tuesday night's loss to the Pistons, and will potentially get the nod again versus the Sixers. He won't contribute much from a scoring standpoint, however, Evans is a rebounding machine who requires limited playing time to make an impact on the glass. Through three starts against Philadelphia last season, he totaled a combined 58 rebounds in only 88 minutes of work, while averaging nearly 40 DKPPG (DraftKings Points Per Game) in that span. He has seen a significant increase in playing time over the past ten days, and should make every minute count on Wednesday against a 76ers club that's surrendering the second most fantasy points (47.2 FPPG) and blocks (2.2 BPG) to opposing power forwards. Moreover, Philadelphia is allowing the third most points (22.3 PPG), fifth most rebounds (12.8 RPG) and the highest shooting percentage (.524 FG%) to the position this season. Evans qualifies as a high-end value option if he manages to work his way back into the starting lineup.
A Look Ahead: There isn't much to like about Evans outside of his extraordinary rebound skills, yet his price tag requires no more than 20 DKPTs to meet value. He'll continue to serve as a viable low-end power forward/center option so long as he can maintain his workload of 20-24 minutes per game.
CENTER
Andrew Bogut, C, GSW ($5,600): Bogut finally appears to have regained some traction in the Warriors starting lineup, as he logged 30 minutes on Tuesday for the first time in six games. He'll face the Clippers next, whom he's averaging a healthy 13.7 points, 12.3 rebounds and 34.9 DKPTs against through three meetings this season. Despite DeAndre Jordan's impressive play, Los Angeles has coughed up the most points (21.7 PPG) sixth most rebounds (14.7 RPG) and sixth most fantasy points (45.1 FPPG) to opposing big men this season, making Bogut an attractive option at only $5,600.
NOTE: Amir Johnson (PF/C - TOR), whose $5,800 price tag is comparable to Bogut's, is also an intriguing upper end value play now that Patrick Patterson will be sidelined for at least another week.
A Look Ahead: Bogut hasn't been the same player since returning from injury, but should continue to improve as his minutes climb and he begins feeling comfortable again. Three of his next four matchups are appealing ones against Cleveland, Orlando and Milwaukee, so continue to monitor his production, as he could be a steal on DraftKings with a sub-$6,000 salary.
