Daily Fantasy Basketball Preseason Picks For Monday, 10/17

After a light three-game slate on Sunday, the new week doesn’t deviate from the light slate game too much, with just four NBA games scheduled for Monday evening.

It should still be a fun time in daily fantasy basketball preseason play, as some star power could hit the hardwood with Blake Griffin, Andre Drummond and others potentially suiting up tonight.

As always, you’ll want to stay on top of the latest NBA news, injuries and inactives. Just last night a lot of people got burned by the Timberwolves sitting out their entire starting five.

Let’s take a look at each NBA matchup for tonight and see where the top picks rest:

Nets @ Celtics

• Jeremy Lin, PG, Nets ($6.3k)
• Isaiah Thomas, PG, Celtics ($6.2k)
• Jaylen Brown, SF, Celtics ($4.3k)
• Trevor Booker, PF, Nets ($4.6k)
• Brook Lopez, C, Nets ($6.1k)

This game could be shaken up by some guys being rested, but for now the top plays out of the regular starters are Lin, IT2 and Lopez. Lopez is the most likely to sit, but all three have been rested at times this preseason. Lopez would be the ideal center play in terms of value tonight, trumping Al Horford in this particular contest.

Per reports, Celtics coach Brad Stevens has ruled out just Kelly Olynyk, and is making everyone else “available” for tonight:

Coach Stevens says everyone is available except for Olynyk and that rotations will remain the same for tonight.

— Boston Celtics (@celtics) October 17, 2016

What that actually means is anyone’s guess, but that gives him 15 guys to work with tonight. If we go off of Boston’s last game, Boston’s starters could be tough to trust (none of them topped 20 minutes against the Knicks).

Isaiah Thomas can explode as a scorer in 15-20 minutes, but the other Celtics starters are going to be too risky.

Jaylen Brown could be a nice NBA DFS value pick regardless of rotations tonight, as he continues to see about 20 minutes or so as the rook tries to prove himself. His jumper has been shaky but he’s an explosive player with a versatile skill-set. At this price, he’s worth a look.

Booker is in the mix, too, as he logged 30 minutes in his last game and carries double-double upside with that kind of run. Just make sure he’s starting.

Terry Rozier and Bojan Bogdanovic (not listed) are cheaper options to consider. Rozier is a pure scorer that would need IT2 and maybe another guard to sit to really make sense, while Bojan could be looking at his minutes being increased after a busy summer.

Bucks @ Pistons

• Ish Smith, PG, Pistons ($5.5k)
• Matthew Dellavedova, PG, Bucks ($4.7k)
• Tobias Harris, SF, Pistons ($5.7k)
• Giannis Antetounmko, SF, Bucks ($8.7k)
• Jabari Parker, PF, Bucks ($6.7k)
• Andre Drummond, C, Pistons ($8.6k)

This is another game that we need to monitor closely, as Delly got rested recently and the Pistons keep switching up their lineup due to Marcus Morris being hurt.

That should remain the case tonight, as Morris and fellow forward Stanley Johnson have already been ruled out:

No Jackson, Morris, Johnson (foot) tonight for #Pistons

— Keith Langlois (@Keith_Langlois) October 17, 2016

No news has trickled out yet regarding other Detroit starters, so for now we can move ahead and use guys like Drummond and Tobias with confidence. Kentavius Caldwell-Pope is also an interesting value and Ish Smith continues to prepare to handle the starting point guard gig to begin the new season.

We’ll want a better idea of what the Pistons plan on doing tonight, but for now we can gauge Detroit’s value based on Morris and SJ resting.

Unless Delly is rested, he’ll probably start and see solid run tonight, as the Bucks continue to prepare him for a key role as the starting point guard. A recent trade of backup point guard Michael-Carter Williams probably demands Dellavedova plays, anyways.

Giannis and Jabari remain staple Bucks plays as long as they’re starting, while we’ll also want to see if Thon Make starts again and if bench scorer Greg Monroe is ready to go. Maker is a risky value play and we’ll want to be on Moose’s status after he rested on Saturday.

Hornets @ Bulls

• Kemba Walker, PG, Hornets ($6.7k)
• Rajon Rondo, PG, Bulls ($6.4k)
• Nicolas Batum, SG, Hornets ($5.7k)
• Jimmy Butler, SG, Bulls ($7.2k)

We actually got early lineup news for this one on Chicago’s side, as Rajon Rondo, Jimmy Butler, Dwyane Wade, Taj Gibson and Robin Lopez are all slated to start on Monday against the Hornets:

Rondo, Wade, Butler, Gibson and Lopez starting for the Bulls tonight. MCW not here yet. Could take physical today

— Vincent Goodwill (@vgoodwill) October 17, 2016

This probably kills all of Chicago’s fun bench plays, as guys like Bobby Portis, Doug McDermott and Jerian Grant were all solid value dives in their last game but are much riskier bets tonight.

Butler possesses the most upside for the Bulls and after sitting out the last two games to rest, he could get some good run in what will probably be his last preseason game ahead of the new season. All of the Chicago starters could be in play here, but Wade tends to feel like one of the riskier plays.

Rondo can fill it up with points, rebounds and dimes rather easily, so he enters the night as our favorite Bulls option. Gibson and Lopez look like solid values and can both chase a double-double, but there are more attractive options at PF and C to consider tonight.

On Charlotte’s end, we really only want shares of Kemba Walker and maybe Nicolas Batum. Their bench guys can be tough to trust and the likely return of big man Cody Zeller further complicates their big man rotation. Be sure to stay on top of their inactives, as any key starters sitting out could open the door to some interesting value.

Clippers @ Jazz

• Dante Exum, PG, Jazz ($4.3k)
• Blake Griffin, PF, Clippers ($8.2k)
• Trey Lyles, PF, Jazz ($5.9k)
• Rudy Gobert, C, Jazz ($6.9k)
• DeAndre Jordan, C, Clippers ($6.7k)

I know, where’s Chris Paul, right? Unless we get word he’s starting and will get solid run, we’ll need to pull the fade here.

Clippers said Paul has sprained left thumb, listed as day to day.

— Brad Turner (@BA_Turner) October 16, 2016

The star Clippers point guard (thumb) isn’t 100% and it’s already been reported that he’ll for sure sit out one of L.A.’s two remaining preseason games. With solid PG value on this slate, he’s not really worth the risk.

Exum is part of that PG value, as he can play both guard spots and has been showing well throughout the preseason. Rodney Hood is also expected to sit this one out, which further adds to Exum’s NBA DFS upside:

No Rodney Hood, no Derrick Favors at practice today. Quin Snyder told me he thinks both will miss tomorrow’s game against the Clippers

— Tony Jones (@tribjazz) October 16, 2016

As you can see, Favors is probably out tonight, too, which puts second-year big man Trey Lyles in a great spot. Lyles and Exum look like two stellar value plays in daily fantasy basketball preseason contests tonight, but if we’re picking one, it’d be the versatile Lyles.

Griffin, Gobert and DJ are all fairly obvious picks, provided they all start and we don’t hear of any minutes restriction. All three have looked sharp during preseason play, but it goes without saying that Griffin enjoys the most upside – especially with Favors out.

Gobert and DJ both defend well and don’t have amazing offensive games, so they just might cancel each other out. Gobert is the better defensive player, though, so if you’re picking one we like him at home tonight.

Hopefully these picks help you win big in preseason daily fantasy basketball leagues tonight. Remember, we publish our NBA DFS advice pieces early in the day so everyone can see which picks we like, so be sure to stay on top of any major roster news. Good luck!