Fansided

DraftKings NBA picks January 12: Kawhi has it

By Mike Marteny

LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 10: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the LA Clippers looks on against the Denver Nuggets before a pre-season game on October 10, 2019 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Chris Elise/NBAE via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 10: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the LA Clippers looks on against the Denver Nuggets before a pre-season game on October 10, 2019 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Chris Elise/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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DraftKings NBA
Julius Randle #30 of the New York Knicks in action against the Portland Trail Blazers(Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /

DraftKings NBA early slate picks:

There are some injuries to watch on the early slate. Beal is questionable yet again, but he did go through a full practice yesterday, so he may screw this whole slate. Jordan McRae isn’t worth using with Beal back and Beal himself will likely be on a minutes limit.

Conley, Hachimura, Wagner, and Winslow are out for sure, but Thomas Bryant may also be making his return. If he does, don’t trust him just yet since the minutes will be limited. That takes Pasecniks off the board for me though and makes me really nervous about Mahinmi.

Guard is tough since Beal might return. If he remains out, I’ll use McRae. For purposes of this article though, I’ll act as though Beal with play with limited minutes. I’m going to use Jordan Clarkson because he got good run last game in a blowout. This will likely be the same. It’s also the same reason I’m off of Mitchell.

Jimmy Butler might be worth the money if McRae is out, but this game also has blowout potential. If I’m spending that kind of money, it’s going to be for Julius Randle and Rudy Gobert or Bam before Butler. If I still have the money left for him, so be it. I think I would rather use Tyler Herro or Duncan Robinson.

Going cheap at guard allows us to use Joe Ingles and Butler with Randle and Bam. That’s the way I’m leaning. If you really want Butler you can still use him, but Troy Brown seems a safer option even with Washington getting more healthy. You can still use both if you don’t have Gobert with Bam.