DraftKings NBA Picks April 9: Play the guys with something to play for

LOS ANGELES, CA – FEBRUARY 17: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Utah Jazz competes in the 2018 Verizon Slam Dunk Contest at Staples Center on February 17, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Bob Donnan – Pool via Getty Images) /

DraftKings NBA Picks April 9: Play the guys with something to play for

We are back up to nine games in the NBA as the season winds down. The Thunder, Timberwolves, Pelicans, and Nuggets are all in action, and are all still needing to win. The rest is a crapshoot. We saw some Raptors sit yesterday, and that wont be an isolated incident. However, that does leave plenty of value open.

Point Guards:

Best Bets:

Russell Westbrook ($11,900): I don’t know that Westbrook will hit value against Miami, but few players have as much incentive to produce as Westbrook does tonight. He still put up 59.25 DraftKings points on Miami in the first meeting. If he can do that again, I don’t think many of us will be disappointed in that output.

Damian Lillard ($9,000): Lillard has seven straight games over 42 DraftKings points. That gives him a very high floor. The Blazers are still trying to hang on to the three seed in the West. They need one more win to clinch a home playoff game. Expect Lillard to put up some good numbers here.

Honorable Mention:

Rajon Rondo ($6,700): There are plenty of good options out there, but I’m not touching anyone on a team that has their playoff position locked up or an aging veteran on a team playing young players. Rondo is playing the point on a high scoring team that is still fighting for their playoff lives. There is plenty of potential here.

Dejounte Murray ($6,300): Murray has averaged 32.6 DraftKings points against the Kings in three games this year. This should be another productive game for Murray. The Spurs rest veterans anyway. They may do it more now that they pretty much have a playoff spot locked up. They don’t seem to care about the seeding too much.

Dark Horses:

De’Aaron Fox ($5,400): Fox has scored 100 DraftKings points on the Spurs this year, which would put him well over value. Fox has at least 28 DraftKings points over the last four games. He is outplaying the other guards right now, so maybe Fox will see a few more minutes down the stretch.

Sean Kilpatrick ($4,800): Kilpatrick continues to play big minutes for the Bulls. He has at least 20 DraftKings points in five straight games, topping 30 in two of those. Someone has to take the court for the Bulls. It seems like Kilpatrick will be playing about half the game.

Patty Mills ($4,600): Mills has at least 24 DraftKings points in five of the last six games. There isn’t a lot of upside with Mills, but with Parker and Ginobili likely taking more rest than usual, there is decent value potential here.

My pick: Kilpatrick(PG); Fox(PG), Kilpatrick(UTIL)

NEW YORK, NY – FEBRUARY 10: Jrue Holiday #11 of the New Orleans Pelicans works against Allen Crabbe #33 of the Brooklyn Nets in the first round of overtime during their game at Barclays Center on February 10, 2018 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images) /

Shooting Guards:

Best Bets:

Jrue Holiday ($8,400): Holiday has dropped back to back 50+ DraftKings points games. The Pelicans still have a shot at getting a home game. They also could fall completely out of the playoffs if they lose both games. Look for Holiday to play a significant role down the stretch. He has averaged 43.5 DraftKings points on the Clippers this year. Expect him to hit value at the very least.

Khris Middleton ($8,300): Middleton is taking a high number of shots, so there is always value to be had. Middleton is one of the more consistent players for fantasy purposes. He is also capable of putting up pretty big numbers. At the very least, Middleton is good for at least 35 DraftKings points. That makes him worth a look. The Bucks would love to keep their current seed, then they could avoid Toronto and the red hot Sixers. They have plenty to play for.

Honorable Mention:

Jimmy Butler ($7,000): Butler played very well in limited minutes in his return, putting up 29.5 DraftKings points in 23 minutes against the Lakers. I would bet that Butler is going to be on a minutes limit once again, but he should see minutes in the high 20’s. There is a good chance that he could put up some very good numbers for this price. However, there is very little upside here.

MarShon Brooks ($6,200): Brooks continues to impress, even off the bench. He has at least 30 DraftKings points in every game he has played, and more than 35 in each of the last four. I see no reason not to use Brooks with his price still at a favorable point.

Dark Horses:

Allen Crabbe ($5,500): Caris LeVert is still out, so Crabbe should once again see good minutes. Crabbe has put up 73.75 DraftKings points over the last two games with LeVert out. There is very good potential here against the Bulls.

Dillon Brooks ($5,400): Brooks had yet another strong game, putting up over 40 DraftKings points for the second straight contest. Only the Pelicans have held Brooks under 30 DraftKings points in the last five games. Look for strong play over the last two games for both sets of Brooks in Memphis.

Luke Kennard ($4,000): The Pistons are moving Kennard into the starting lineup for the rest of the season. That alone makes him worth a look at this low price. I’m all in on this one!

My pick: Kennard(SG), D. Brooks(G); Middleton(SG), D. Brooks(SF), Kennard(G)

PHILADELPHIA, PA – APRIL 6: LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers talks with referee Tom Washington #49 in the fourth quarter against the Philadelphia 76ers at the Wells Fargo Center on April 6, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The 76ers defeated the Cavaliers 132-130. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /

Small Forwards:

Best Bets:

LeBron James ($12,100): Cleveland is in the playoffs, but they also have their sights set on that number three seed in the East. I expect LeBron to continue carrying the team. I’m not sure he will be in long enough to drop 60 on the Knicks, but the potential is there for that and more.

Paul George ($7,800): George continues to have a solid floor, but the upside is limited with Westbrook playing out of his mind. There are likely better options out there, but George continues to see a high number of shots. There is always good potential here.

Honorable Mention:

Will Barton ($7,400): Gary Harris is still considered doubtful, so look for big minutes for Barton once again. The Denver offense hasn’t really skipped a beat with Harris out thanks to the skilled shooting of Barton. This is a tougher matchup, but there is still really good potential here for Barton.

Jabari Parker ($6,300): I don’t really see any reason for the Bucks to bring Giannis back tonight. That would put Parker in position to start another game. Even if Parker doesn’t start, he has been playing at least 30 minutes per game regardless. There is good potential here with Parker if you are worried about high ownership on Memphis players.

Dark Horses:

Mario Hezonja ($5,900): Hezonja continues to start for Orlando down the stretch. He isn’t quite the force that he was when Gordon was out, but Hezonja is still putting up solid numbers. I think that he is still priced a little high, but there is still some upside against Cleveland.

Rudy Gay ($4,800): Gay has been strong off the bench for the Spurs lately. He is not the player that he once was. Gay has at least 20 DraftKings points in nine straight games. There isn’t much room for upside here, but Gay is a solid pick strictly for value.

Damyean Dotson ($4,200): Earlier in the season, it was Beastley who budged his way into the lineup. Now it seems to be Dotson. With Beasley out on Friday, Dotson had a huge night. Beastley returned on Saturday, but only played 23 minutes. There is still some potential with Beasley, but Dotson is going to get the extended look over the last few games.

My pick: Dotson(SF); N/A

SAN ANTONIO,TX – NOVEMBER 2: LaMarcus Aldridge #12 of the San Antonio Spurs watches his block of shot attempt by Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors at AT&T Center on November 2, 2017 in San Antonio, Texas.(Photo by Ronald Cortes/Getty Images) /

Power Forwards:

Best Bets:

Anthony Davis ($11,600): Davis has averaged 63.5 DraftKings points over three games against the Clippers. Another big game should be in store for Davis here as the Pelicans try to get a home playoff series. Expect a third straight game over 60 DraftKings points for the Brow.

LaMarcus Aldridge ($9,900): It was another strong performance for Aldridge on Saturday, putting up more than 45 DraftKings points per game for the fifth straight game and the 11th out of the last 12. LMA is practically carrying the Spurs into the playoffs right now. Expect another strong performance tonight.

Honorable Mention:

Paul Millsap ($6,900): Millsap has a load of potential for Denver, but with Jokic playing like he is, Millsap is content to play second fiddle. Portland is solid, but not great up front. This could be a good place to look for some value with Millsap.

Lauri Markkanen ($6,600): Markkanen was rested on Saturday for no apparent reason than to guarantee the Bulls a loss. The Bulls should play Markkanen tonight against the Nets. What they will do could be another story. If Markkanen is in there, he definitely deserves a look.

Nikola Mirotic ($6,100): I don’t really see how the Pelicans can sit Mirotic now. He has put up 110 DraftKings points over the last two games. With Tobias Harris being on the smaller end of power forwards, MIrotic should be in there again. That means he should be a huge value once again.

Dark Horses:

Serge Ibaka ($6,000): Ibaka has six straight games of more than 30 DraftKings points. It appears as though the Raptors are going to ride Ibaka through the end of the regular season. However, since they rested DeRozan and Jonas yesterday, it could be Ibaka and Lowry tonight.

Anthony Tolliver ($5,800): Tolliver has been given a lot of minutes with Griffin out. There really isn’t any reason for the Pistons to bring Griffin back for the last two games. There is solid potential here for Tolliver, but the upside isn’t great.

Khem Birch ($4,400): Birch has been money over the last four games. Even with Vucevic back in the fold yesterday, Birch put up 34 DraftKings points. I like him a lot as a value play. He just seems a lot safer than Vucevic considering the Magic are out of it.

My pick: Davis(PF), Birch(F); Davis(C), Mirotic(PF), Birch(F)

DENVER, CO – APRIL 03: Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets brings the ball down the court against the Indiana Pacers at the Pepsi Center on April 3, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) /

Center:

Best Bets:

Nikola Jokic ($10,800): Like Aldridge has been carrying the Spurs, Jokic has been carrying the Nuggets. Jokic has six straight games of more than 55 DraftKings points. That makes him the safest play on the board today. He may not have quite the upside that Davis does, but he is also $800 cheaper.

Andre Drummond ($9,700): Drummond keeps chugging along, and is pretty much the Detroit offense right now. The problem is that Detroit has nothing to play for. There is no guarantee that Drummond will play more than 25 minutes or so. There is pretty big risk involved here.

Honorable Mention:

Nikola Vucevic ($7,700): Vucevic has dominated the Bucks on the interior this season, but he only played 23 minutes yesterday. Chances are that he wont see a lot more minutes tonight. However, if he does, Vucevic is a huge value at this price. Keep an eye on the news leading up to this.

Kyle O’Quinn ($6,700): O’Quinn has been a monster with Enes Kanter out. The Knicks haven’t said anything about Kanter’s status for tonight. If Kanter is out, O’Quinn is in every lineup I build. Even if Kanter doesn’t start, I would still consider O’Quinn.

Dark Horses:

John Henson ($5,500): Henson is averaging 29.5 DraftKings points per game against Orlando this season. We know that Henson’s been putting up solid numbers since the trade of Monroe, but there is pretty good upside with the value play as well tonight.

Ivan Rabb ($5,000): Rabb still got the start even with Gasol in there yesterday. There is a good chance that Gasol is rested again in the second of a back to back series. That would mean even more minutes for Rabb. I don’t trust him as much with Gasol in there, but if Gasol sits, go forward with Rabb.

Cristiano Felicio ($4,500): Felicio put up 29.75 DraftKings points on the Nets on Saturday. He is a sure source of value against that front line. The Nets haven’t been as bad up front lately, but this is still a good value pick.

My pick: Jokic(C), Felicio(UTIL); N/A

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