DraftKings NBA Picks March 16

The NCAA tournament gets under way in earnest today, but there are still six NBA games in the main DraftKings tournament. Bracket busted already? That’s okay. The NBA is never busted, except when the court is!

Point Guards

Best Bets:

Russell Westbrook ($13,000): Westbrook’s alma mater (UCLA) is the favorite of quite a few people to win the NCAA tournament this year. As for Westbrook, he scores so many DraftKings points that he is the foundation for quite a few winning lineups, even at his price. In the first meeting against Toronto, he put up 58.75 DraftKings points. If he does that again tonight, that may actually be a bit of a disappointment. It is still close enough to 5x value, but he has topped that mark in four straight and ten of the last 11 games.

Chris Paul ($8,800): Paul’s Wake Forest teams were the last ones to make the NCAA tournament for that school. They were ousted by Kansas State on Tuesday night already! Paul racked up 51.5 DraftKings points on Denver in the first meeting. Denver is scoring quite a few points lately, which means they aren’t getting blown out. Keeping the games close means more time for guys like Paul to hit value. Paul was cold against Milwaukee on Tuesday, but he should be back on track against Denver. They hand out good shots by the bucket full.

Honorable Mention:

Mike Conley ($7,600): Conley’s alma mater (Ohio State) missed the tournament this year, so he shouldn’t be distracted, right? Conley played at tOSU with Greg Oden! Remember him? Conley shredded the Bulls last night with 51.25 DraftKings points. He is certainly capable of doing that to the Hawks, even though he only had 33.75 DraftKings points against them a week ago. That games was a blowout though, so he only played 32 minutes. He is worth this price to see if the Grizz can keep it close tonight. If they do, Conley is a sure source of 40.

Elfrid Payton ($7,400): Payton stayed home to play at Louisiana-Lafayette in college. He led the Cajuns to the NCAA tournament in 2014, which was the last time they made it there. Payton picked up 46 DraftKings points on the Warriors in the first meeting this year. He has reached that mark in five of the last nine games, but he has been under 5x value in the other four. The Warriors have been cold from the floor lately, so there is a good chance that Payton gets enough minutes to keep his hot streak going.

Dennis Schroder ($6,400): Schroder made the jump from the German league to the NBA, so he was never involved in March Madness. He is an interesting choice today. His price is depressed because he is playing Memphis, but he put up 40.25 DraftKings points on them in the first meeting in just 28 minutes! Schroder has quietly found some consistency lately, averaging 36.7 DraftKings points since the All Star break. He is a nice GPP option tonight.

Dark Horses:

Jamal Murray ($4,900): Murray spent one year at Kentucky, who is back in the tournament as a two seed. Denver committed to playing Murray more minutes down the stretch. That experiment has gone very well so far. Murray has at least 5x value when playing 24 minutes or more since the break. He put up 35.5 DraftKings points in 30 minutes against the Lakers on Monday. If he continues to carve off minutes, he is a huge bargain.

Cory Joseph ($4,800): Joseph’s alma mater (Texas) is at home, so they can watch him in the NBA instead of wasting time like the rest of us on the tournament. He is still starting, but to mixed results. Dallas and Miami have locked him down over the last two games, but he gets some relief with the Thunder today. He has the potential to go into the 30’s in DraftKings pionts, but that is certainly not a foregone conclusion.

My picks: Westbrook(PG), Murray(G); Conley(PG), Schroder(UTIL)

Shooting Guards

Best Bets:

DeMar DeRozan ($8,300): DeRozan’s USC team played its way in last night with a thrilling comeback against Providence. DeMar assaulted the Thunder in the first meeting, accosting them for 55 DraftKings points. And before you go making excuses, Kyle Lowry was healthy and Oladipo was guarding him. Without Lowry, he could have a huge game, though most will be off of him because of Oladipo’s defense. That’s better for us!

Klay Thompson ($7,000): Thompson’s Washington State team has not made the NCAA Tournament since 2008, which was before his time. Thompson is the only Warrior that can find the basket from the perimeter right now, which makes him a pretty good prospective play. He has at least 34 DraftKings points in four of the last five games. He is keeping the team afloat from outside. He may to the same for your lineup.

Honorable Mention:

Victor Oladipo ($6,500): Oladipo’s Indiana team missed the tournament this year. For shame! The Hoosiers are a March staple! He picked up 37 DraftKings points in the first game against Toronto. Even with Westbrook producing the way he is, Oladipo has at least 30 DraftKings points in seven of the last ten games. He may get 6x value.

Gary Harris ($5,800): All Michigan State does is go to the tournament. They did when Harris was there, and have done so since. Harris has racked up at least 30 DraftKings points in four of the last five games. He consistently plays around 35 minutes a game, and that hasn’t wavered hardly at all since the break. His price is still low enough that you can take a chance on his consistent 5.5x value. His lack of upside may make him a better cash game play at this point though.

Evan Fournier ($5,700): Fournier played professionally in France, so he never knew the chaos of the NCAA tournament. The Warriors don’t really defend the perimeter well, so Fournier is a solid prospective play. He has a fairly low ceiling though, so expecting anything over 6x value is probably too ambitious.

Dark Horses:

Norman Powell ($4,500): Powell was able to play in his hometown during the NCAA tournament while with UCLA. How many can say that? Powell is a nice play tonight if DeMarre Carroll is out again. He picked up 30.75 DraftKings points against Dallas on Tuesday. Carroll is still questionable, but if Powell starts, he is a nice value play.

J.J. Redick ($4,300): Redick’s Duke team is in the tourney….again. They are a favorite by Vegas to win…..again. Redick may not be the most consistent guy, but he has certainly had Denver’s number. In just 51 minutes against the Nuggets this year, he has 64 DraftKings points. He is a good way to go cheap tonight.

My pick: DeRozan(SG); Thompson(SG), Oladipo(G),

Small Forwards

Best Bets:

LeBron James ($10,400): LeBron didn’t go to college. He has been terrorizing the NBA since coming out of high school! His price is tempered because he is playing a tough Jazz team, but he still managed 51.5 DraftKings points on them in the first meeting. Expecting a huge game may be misguided, but he has the potential to get into the low 50’s again.

Carmelo Anthony ($8,100): Melo’s Syracuse team won a championship in his one-and-done year. His season stats against the Nets are under value, but he put up 41.25 DraftKings points on them on Sunday. He proceeded to do the same to the Pacers on Tuesday. If he is going to get a sure 40, there isn’t much reason to go with LeBron for $2,300 more.

Honorable Mention:

Gordon Hayward ($6,900): Hayward was a member of that Butler team that went all the way to the Championship game in 2010. Remember them? He put up 47.75 DraftKings points in his first meeting with Cleveland. He put up that many against Detroit last night, and they are one of the best teams in the league against small forwards. He is on fire from the floor right now, and could be a huge bargain for this price!

Will Barton ($5,300): Barton’s Memphis team is out of the tournament yet again. He is going to be the target of many bargain hunters tonight with Danilo Gallinari and Wilson Chandler out again. Barton racked up 37.5 DraftKings points against the Lakers on Monday. The Clippers are solid against small forwards, so temper your expectations, but 5x value is likely with the potential for more.

Dark Horses:

Vince Carter ($4,200): It seems like eons ago when Vinsanity was in its infancy at North Carolina. Some 20 years later, Carter is proving he still has it. He racked up 41.75 DraftKings points on Milwaukee on Monday. With Chandler Parsons sidelined once again, Carter is going to get at least 30 minutes going forward, which makes him a great prospective value play.

Caris LeVert ($4,000): He had to watch Michigan’s tournament run from the bench last year because of injury. His teammates – all of the starting five – are back to help Michigan make another run. LeVert picked up 29 DraftKings points on the Knicks on Sunday and followed that up with 30.75 against the Thunder on Tuesday. Can he keep his hot streak going?

Matt Barnes ($3,900): Imagine that….another UCLA product in the NBA! Barnes has picked up more minutes for the Warriors because of his success on Tanking Saturday against the Spurs. Golden State has been desperate for production at small forward with Kevin Durant out. They may have found it.

My Pick: Carter(SF), Barnes(F); Hayward(SF), Barton(F)

Power Forwards

Best Bets:

Draymond Green ($8,000): The legend of Draymond was born at Michigan State, and he continues writing it with the Warriors. He doesn’t always reach value, but when he does, he destroys it. This time around against the Magic, he will be dealing with Aaron Gordon instead of Serge Ibaka. The potential is here for another good game, but probably not another 60 like he dropped on Philly.

Serge Ibaka ($5,900): Ibaka played in Europe before making the jump to the NBA. He dominated the Thunder in his one game against them this year. He racked up 50.25 DraftKings points in that game. While he may not get 31 points again, Ibaka has been a strong presence up front for the playoff bound Raptors. Look for another big revenge game here.

Honorable Mention:

Taj Gibson ($4,400): Gibson was the leading player on USC’s Pac 12 championship team of 2009. It seems peculiar that the Thunder would bring in Gibson to play him just 22 minutes per game, but at least he is starting now. Considering he dumped in 17 points on Tuesday, he could be in line for an increase in minutes. Especially since Enes Kanter isn’t setting the world on fire.

Lance Thomas ($4,000): Thomas played four years at Duke and went undrafted before catching on in the D-League. Now he is starting for the Knicks with Kristaps Porzingis likely out again. Thomas went nuts on the Nets on Sunday with 28.75 DraftKings points, and that was with Porzingis in there. He should be in line for a similar night, if not better.

Dark Horses:

Rondae Hollis-Jefferson ($4,000): Hollis-Jefferson left the east for Arizona for college, and was a huge part of the 2015 tournament run for the Wildcats. Afraid of the high ownership of Thomas? RHJ actually had more DraftKings points on the Knicks (30.75) than Thomas put on him on Sunday. There is a ton of value at PF tonight.

Juancho Hernangomez ($3,900): Juancho racked up 26 DraftKings points in his last start on March 8th. He will be back in there with the Nuggets ravaged by injuries once again. The only way I’m moving off Juancho here is if by some miracle Kenneth Faried is cleared. Otherwise, he could be a very good play, even against Blake Griffin.

My pick: Thomas(PF); Hernangomez(PF)

Center

Best Bets:

Nikola Jokic ($10,600): Jokic also never knew the NCAA tournament. In fact, he was a second round pick! Jokic only played half the game against the Lakers because Denver had a comfy lead, so he was nowhere near value on Monday. With Denver decimated up front, he could end up with some more minutes tonight. The Clippers are resting Griffin and DeAndre Jordan tonight, so Jokic getting 53 DraftKings points is likely.

Brook Lopez ($6,800): The Stanford product doesn’t have his team in the tournament this year, so he can concentrate on embarrassing the Knicks again. He struggled against them with Joakim Noah in there, but with Noah out, Lopez racked up 40.5 DraftKings points on them on Sunday. He could do the same tonight.

Honorable Mention:

Willy Hernangomez ($6,200): A Hernangomez stack may be in order tonight! Willy only played 17 minutes against Brooklyn on Sunday, but with Porzingis out, he will be given free reign in the frontcourt. He put up 46.5 DraftKings points on the Pacers on Tuesday. There is potential for at least that tonight!

Mason Plumlee ($5,500): This Duke product has his fair share of NCAA tournament experience! Tonight, he could enter the starting lineup at power forward with Gallinari, Chandler, and Darrell Arthur out and Faried doubtful. He has played very well with Denver, and the Nuggets look really good with him and Jokic on the floor together. Just saying…..

Dark Horses:

Zaza Pachulia ($3,900): Pachulia is a constant go-to bargain play because he is so efficient even in his sparing minutes. He rarely tops 20 minutes, but is rarely under 5x value. He is a good cash game punt play.

Marreese Speights ($3,300): Speights is the only Florida product in my column today! He is going to be targeted by many since he is the only true center on the roster for the Clippers tonight. Hell, he is about the only power forward as well. Using him or LSU product Brandon Bass are risky propositions, but you have to take risks and hit on players like that to take down a GPP.

My pick: Hernangomez(C), Plumlee(UTIL); Hernangomez(C)

Stay tuned for our FanDuel picks, and our picks for NHL and the PGA tour! We even have some EPL picks coming your way! I will also have the round by round picks for the NCAA Tournament, the place where your bracket is never busted. Once again, make sure to follow our Twitter feed leading up to tipoff!