FanDuel Economics: NBA Saturday, April 9th Picks
Welcome to FanDuel Economics! This is the NBA Saturday, April 9th Picks edition. FanDuel Economics is a daily fantasy column focused on FanDuel player salaries and FanDuel points-per-game (PPG) trends. The purpose of this column is to evaluate player salary and PPG averages over a seven day period to provide daily fantasy sports players with a vital tool in their lineup tool belt. Finding the best value options often leads to a big pay day!
Only five more days left in the NBA regular season. Some teams are now either in a locked-in playoff spot or eliminated. With that in mind expect, yet again, several teams resting starters to prepare for the playoffs, or playing other prospects, and back-ups, with great FanDuel value tonight. We have six games on the NBA schedule Saturday and a few have playoff impacts. Boston is playing in Atlanta as each team tries to position for a 3 through 6 seed. It’s possible each team will play their starters. It’ll be interesting to see who the Cavs play agains the Bulls or Thunder against the Kings. So let’s take a look at our best value options for tonight:
Next: Point Guard
Point Guard (PG)
I thought I was going to be done with Tim Frazier after his salary jumped by $1,600, to $6,600. That’s quite a climb and tells you his salary was perviously very undervalued. Well, surprisingly, he’s still valuable. Over the last week Frazier averaged 38.1 PPG. On a $6,600 salary, that’s still a very good 5.8X value. Also considering Frazier is playing the Suns, who have been terrible defending the PG position, Frazier seems like a no-brainer once again. You have to play Frazier in at least one lineup tonight!
Marcus Smart is a good example of finding value with a team who is also playing for ‘something’ tonight. I’ve read some articles claiming Smart ‘hasn’t been playing well lately’, but from a FanDuel perspective I have to disagree. Over the last seven days Smart is 23.1 PPG. That’s not a big number, but his salary is only $4,500 making him a 5.1X value. So you’re getting a 20-25 point player for a very cheap $4,500. If you combined Frazier and Smart as a pairing, you’ll get 60-70 points on a $11,100 salary which is pretty fantastic. You also have plenty of money left in case someone is expensive in another position.
Next: Shooting Guard
Shooting Guard (SG)
I wish we could pretend the Memphis game didn’t happen for Jimmy Butler, but it did. I have previously been skeptical of Butler b/c his play seems to nose dive here and there and it skews his trend, but is also a warning sign. However, for tonight, we should talk about Jimmy. Before we review the stats, Butler is playing the Cavs tonight who will likely sit some staters, and the Bulls are playing for a playoff spot so he’ll likely see a high amount of minutes (35-40). Over the last week, Butler averaged 41.4 PPG, including a 12.8 point stinker against the Grizzlies, which tells you how great the rest of his games have been. Jimmy’s salary tonight is $8,400, which is pricey. But, that puts butler just below 5X, at 4.9X, which is a decent value for an expensive SG. I think Butler’s game tonight may put him over 4.9X for the 7-day trend, after tonight.
Well I talked about the Celtics with Smart, PG’s, and I think we should also address Avery Bradley. Bradley had a hot March and is hot in April. He took Sunday night off for the birth of his 2nd child but has otherwise played 35 minutes per game for the Celtics. I expect that to continue tonight. Over the last week Avery averaged 30.4 PPG and tonight’s salary is only $5,800 making Bradley another 5X value. A Butler with Bradley pairing is very attractive with enormous upside potential.
Next: Small Forward
Small Forward (SF)
Al-Farouq Aminu has been very hot lately. Aminu, in his sixth-year, seems to be settling in well as a key swingman for the Trail Blazers. Over the course of the year, Aminu had been up and down but has been consistent the last part of the season. Over the last seven days, Al-Farouq averaged 32.3 PPG. Aminu’s salary increased to $5,700 but that lands him at a 5.7X value which is a great bargain for a top 10 PPG small forward over the last week. Al-Farouq should continue to roll at home against the Wolves.
Dating myself, I was a huge fan of Vince Carter when he played for UNC back in 1997. I’ve very honored to be able to write about Carter now and will seriously consider his value for a play tonight in one or several lineups. With injuries impacting the Grizzlies lineup toward the end of the season, Memphis seems to be content on leaning on Carter as a key part of their lineup. Over the last week, Vince 25.1 PPG and his salary held steady today at $4,000. At a 6.3X value, Carter is a tremendous value tonight and could have another great game against the Warriors at home tonight. It’s great to see Vince Carter playing so well at the age of 39!
Next: Power Forward
Power Forward (PF)
I’m going to assume Paul Millsap plays tonight because he jumps off the 7-day trend chart. Millsap has been on an absolute FanDuel tear lately! Over the last week Paul is averaging 49.4 PPG and is number 1 in PPG for all Power Forwards. Considering Millsap’s salary has held steady at $8,500 for tonight, he’s a very attractive lineup option. Pauls’ value is 5.8X and is much more attractive than Draymond Green (4.9X), who also isn’t a bad option. I highly recommend finding a way to afford Paul Millsap tonight, and I’ve already given you several ways to do that!
Here’s another way to plug Millsap into your lineup, Mirza Teletovic. Mirza’s sharpshooting seems to have earned himself very good playing time for the Suns during the last stretch of the season, averaging around 30 minutes per game. In the last week, Teletovic averaged 32.2 PPG and with a salary tonight of $5,500 he’s a 5.8X value. Mirza is a tremendous value option against the Pelicans tonight and would be a nice pairing with Millsap.
Next: Center
Center (C)
Even when the Thunder are at full strength, Enes Kanter has been hot lately. If Oklahoma City decides to sit several key players again tonight, he’s a very attractive value option. Over the last seven days Kanter averaged 32.9 PPG. Tonight Enes’ salary jumps to $5,800 but he’s still a 5.7X value, which is outstanding for a top 10 PPG 7-day average Center. Kanter is yet another option to allow you to play a pricer player like Paul Millsap. Also, there’s no guarantee someone like Cousins will be in the lineup tonight.
Next: FanDuel Picks For April 9
I wish you all well tonight FanDuelers! Spend smartly and enjoy the return on your savings!