This article is part of our FanDuel NBA series.
FanDuel will exclude the early Knicks-Trail Blazers game from the main slate, leaving 10 games for Saturday's DFS contests.
SLATE OVERVIEW
MEM (-7) @ CHA O/U: 235.5
SAC (-1.5) @ WAS O/U: 221
NOP (-4.5) vs. SAS O/U: 224.5
PHI (-4.5) vs. CLE O/U: 207
TOR (-3) vs. DEN O/U: 222.5
CHI (-13( vs. OKC O/U: 220.5
MIA (-10) vs. BKN O/U: 219.5
DAL (-7) vs. LAC O/U: 214.5
GSW (-7) vs. LAL O/U: 224
PHO (-16) vs. ORL O/U: 225.5
There's no doubt that value will open up on this slate as we learn more about the status of traded players. You should pivot as needed, although we've tried to single out the most likely scenarios and don't see many spots where we need to utilize the new additions just yet.
The Grizzlies and Hornets carry the best-projected total tonight, and although we didn't give much love to Memphis, their starting lineup will allow for some contrarian value.
INJURIES
SAC Trey Lyles (trade) - QUESTIONABLE
SAC Maurice Harkless (ankle) QUESTIONABLE
SAC Donte DiVincenzo (trade) - QUESTIONABLE
SAC Josh Jackson (trade, back) - QUESTIONABLE
The Kings carry some question marks due to the recent trades, but I doubt they'll have much of an impact on the overall rotation if they play, at least not yet. Still, this is a team I am largely fading.
WAS Kristaps Porzingis (trade) - QUESTIONABLE
Reports indicate that Porzingis is ready to play, making any Washington frontcourt player a risky proposition. If he plays, he's an interesting play at $6,500, but there are better options for the Wizards tonight that we'll visit shortly.
SAS Tomas Satoransky (trade) - OUT
SAS Josh Richardson (trade) - OUT
SAS Romeo Langford (trade) - OUT
SAS Goran Dragic (trade) - OUT
Although I am certain some of the guard talents will play a more significant role soon, we can safely say that most of these players won't be heavily involved. The loss of Derrick White seems to have opened up more opportunities for Devin Vassell ($4,900), who is one of my favorite value plays on the slate.
PHI James Harden (Hamstring, trade) - OUT
PHI Paul Millsap (trade) - OUT
Harden is far from game-ready, but he'll be sure to wreak havoc on the backcourt rotation when healthy. Millsap's addition is intriguing, but neither player will figure into Saturday's action.
DEN Monte Morris (concussion) - OUT
Morris is unlikely to play, so Bones Hyland ($4,600) will draw the start again. I would exercise caution in this spot, as Facundo Campazzo ($3,500) could also factor into the backcourt rotation, and the two guards could adversely affect each other's production.
TOR Fred VanVleet (groin) - QUESTIONABLE
If VanVleet can't go, Gary Trent ($7,000) and Scottie Barnes ($6,400) are my favorite candidates for the missed usage.
OKC Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (ankle) - OUT
The Thunder are extremely frustrating at the moment. Some nights, their rotation is tight enough to warrant consideration, and other nights, their entire roster takes the floor. I think Darius Bazley ($6,000) will be a necessary play against the Bulls, but I have an issue endorsing anyone beyond Bazley.
BKN Kevin Durant (knee) -OUT
BKN Ben Simmons (trade) - OUT
BKN LaMarcus Aldridge (ankle) - OUT
BKN Seth Curry (trade) - QUESTIONABLE
BKN Andre Drummond (trade) - QUESTIONABLE
BKN Nicolas Claxton (ankle) - OUT
Be ready for a wild ride if you go with Brooklyn tonight. I think Seth Curry ($5,300) has a great shot at thriving in this system, but it looks like it's too early to go with the traded players yet. We also may have a hard time predicting the frontcourt, as Aldridge is traveling with the team and could be back. If he misses, Day'Ron Sharpe ($4,100) played exceptionally well in his last game. The best pivot for Harden depends on Irving, but since this is an away game, I think Cameron Thomas is best suited to assume a backcourt role.
MIA Tyler Herro (knee) - QUESTIONABLE
The Heat are not a vital part of my equation tonight, but one can assume that Kyle Lowry's ($5,900) usage will increase if Herro sits.
LAC Norman Powell (toe) - QUESTIONABLE
If Powell can't go, Robert Covington ($6.300) could see more time, but Marcus Morris ($5,700) is probably the cheaper and safer play.
LAL LeBron James (knee) - QUESTIONABLE
LAL Anthony Davis (wrist) - QUESTIONABLE
LAL Russell Westbrook (back) - QUESTIONABLE
LAL Cole Anthony (hamstring) - OUT
One must assume that morale is pretty low in the Lakers locker room right now. Some players have voiced displeasure about the team's inaction at the deadline, and your starting point guard is well aware that he would have been expendable if the right deal came along. It's anyone's guess who will play Saturday.
ELITE PLAYERS
Saturday's slate suggests fielding as many elites as possible, and although there are some cheaper big men to be had, they dominate the top end of the player pool. Joel Embiid ($11,100) and Nikola Jokic ($11,300) are very expensive, but their salaries are well warranted. Embiid has played light out recently, but I like Jokic a bit more against the Raptors, as Cleveland has a trio of big men who can give Embiid some trouble.
The guard position is where I am more likely to spend up, starting with LaMelo Ball ($8,500), who still sits at a ridiculously low price. For a little more coin, you can't go wrong with Luka Doncic ($11,400) and Dejounte Murray ($10,600). Doncic is working 40 minutes per game, and Murray turned in a triple-double in his first game without Derrick White. I would also include Ja Morant ($10,300) in the conversation. Although Memphis employs a deep rotation, Morant's minutes should continue to be safe.
Even though I said I would fade the Kings, Domantas Sabonis ($9,900) is a decent contrarian call among these high-cost big men, and he looked great in his first game with the Kings. We also need to throw some love Chicago's way. DeMar DeRozan (10,400) and Zach LaVine ($8,100) are great plays against the lowly Thunder.
Also consider: Devin Booker, PHO ($8,800) vs. ORL
EXPECTED CHALK AND VALUE PLAYS
Kyle Kuzma, WAS ($7,700) vs. SAC
Kuzma continues to excel as Washington's offensive engine. He's averaged 38.5 FP per game over his past five matchups. Although he struggled through a poor shooting night in his last game against the Kings, it occurred in a completely different game script. His salary is set right at 5x value relative to his recent success.
Deandre Ayton, PHO ($7,200) vs. ORL
Ayton makes the list because his salary is too low, especially in this matchup against the Magic. His salary is somewhat understandable due to his floor, which has set right around 30 FP in recent contests, but he saw signs of life with almost 40 FP against the Bucks in his last outing, where he connected on 86 percent of his shots. If he can replicate the upside, he becomes a great alternative to the more expensive centers in the player pool.
Klay Thompson, GSW ($6,700) vs. LAL
Thompson is at an appropriate salary, but Thompson's history against the Lakers is excellent, and he always seems to turn it up when he sees the purple and gold. Consistency has been an issue for Thompson since his return, but he's been excellent over his past three games, averaging 37.5 FP thanks to a 50 percent three-point conversion rate over that span.
Terry Rozier, CHA ($6,400) vs. MEM
Rozier also allows us to mention other Charlotte performers like Kelly Oubre ($6,100), Miles Bridges ($7,400) and P.J. Washington ($4,800). Oubre's popularity will be lower after getting into foul trouble in his last game, and although I like Bridges and Washington, I've pegged Rozier as the most likely to pay off his salary. He posted a masterful 66-FP triple-double in his last game, and although we can't expect nightly numbers like that from Rozier, you can't argue the fact that he's running incredibly hot right now.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, WAS ($4,300) vs. SAC
As we hunt for salary cap support, KCP emerges as an excellent option. Caldwell-Pope posted 27 FP against the Kings in their last game, and with an average of around 30 minutes of court time, he should be integral in this game alongside Kuzma.
Aleksej Pokusevski, OKC ($5,400) @ CHI
I've already discussed the risks with the Thunder, but Pokusevski appears to be free of the G League and back in the rotation. It's hard to argue with his voluminous court time in recent days, and he's posted numbers in the 30-FP range during his tenure. He's a bit shot-dependent and a little too expensive for my taste, but he still represents great savings.
Also consider: Coby White, CHI ($4,400) vs. OKC, Jonas Valanciunas, NOP ($6,900) vs. SAS
My favorite values from the injury section: Vassell, LeVert, Thomas
