Preseason Daily Fantasy Basketball Picks For Wednesday Night

The NBA preseason slate picks up for the fourth night in a row, as we get a heavy seven-game slate after not seeing more than five games in any of the last three nights.

Teams are piling it on with the preseason schedule winding down, however, and we’re running out of time to take advantage of value picks we probably won’t see quite as much once the regular season arrives next Tuesday.

Tonight’s column focuses solely on the best value picks listed below $6k on this slate, but you should also be aware of two new things:

• DK Lineup Lock
• Position Versatility

Use this opportunity to get used to the new lineup lock at DraftKings. We’re not really a fan, but now DK and FD are exactly the same in that department when it comes to their daily fantasy basketball contests.

That makes lineup news and injuries as crucial as ever, so be sure to get all the info you can before finalizing your NBA DFS lineup tonight and going forward.

The position versatility is also new. DK controls it and it’s not always perfect, but you’ll notice a ton of guys can be used at multiple positions. How you build your NBA DFS rosters will naturally change from this, and each slate could drastically impact the type of lineup you piece together.

With that, let’s break down each game and see who the top plays are for tonight’s preseason daily fantasy basketball slate:

Knicks @ Celtics

• Isaiah Thomas, G, Celtics ($6k)
• Brandon Jennings, G, Knicks ($4.9k)
• Carmelo Anthony, F, Knicks ($6.9k)
• Kristaps Porzingis, F, Knicks ($7.4k)

I’m not really enamored with this game, as Boston hasn’t been giving the key guys much run lately and isn’t a lock to change up things tonight.

Isaiah Thomas was quite effective in under 20 minutes last game, though, so he remains in play at a good price. I don’t particularly trust the volatile Brandon Jennings, but he’s even cheaper and should start tonight with Derrick Rose still dealing with legal issues in California:

Derrick Rose won’t play until opening night https://t.co/YYOSWpqDgu

— Rotoworld Basketball (@Rotoworld_BK) October 19, 2016

The guys you really need to consider are Melo and Zinger. Melo can explode in limited action and Kristaps Porzingis returns from a groin injury:

Coach Hornacek says @kporzee will play tonight against the Celtics. #NYKvsBOS

— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) October 19, 2016

I’ll toss Al Horford’s name in here, too, but given the run Brad Stevens has been giving his starters, he carries considerable risk.

Top targets: Melo and Zinger

Raptors @ Pistons

• Ish Smith, G, Pistons ($5.6k)
• Kyle Lowry, G, Raptors ($7.5k)
• DeMar DeRozan, G, Raptors ($7.2k)
• Tobias Harris, F, Pistons ($6.3k)
• Andre Drummond, C, Pistons ($8.9k)

Let me be clear: the only guy I actually plan on considering here is Ish, just because he’s cheap and the Pistons still want to get him work to prepare him for the starting job.

If I’m paying up for anyone, it’s Lowry and Drums. DMR is always worth talking about because he scores the ball so well, but I don’t really trust him or Tobias in limited minutes. Jonas V is too expensive ($6.7k) to take a dive for on this slate, too.

Lineup news could be big for this one, so keep an eye out for any fresh word. We’ll update if we catch anything, but we really don’t love the pricing/value in this one tonight.

Top targets: Lowry, Ish and Drums

Pacers @ Bucks

• Giannis Antetokounmp, G, Bucks ($8.7k)
• Jeff Teague, G, Pacers ($6.9k)
• Monta Ellis, G, Pacers ($5k)
• Paul George, F, Pacers ($8.8k)
• Jabari Parker, F, Bucks ($7k)
• Thaddeus Young, F, Pacers ($6.8k)
• Greg Monroe, C, Bucks ($5.5k)
• Myles Turner, F/C, Pacers ($5.3k)

I can see the interest in Giannis and PG-13, so if their run is good tonight I can see fitting them in a GPP team. I just hate their prices compared to other guys and I also don’t like that with this new position versatility Giannis is somehow glued to the PG spot. That’s really weird and it might have me fading him (Stephen Curry is cheaper!).

Teague and Parker are also in the mix if they start, but their prices are jacked up a bit. If we knew they were getting big minutes I’d feel a little more comfortable. Moose and Turner represent value, too, but again, the minutes and their naturally erratic play might scare me off.

All of these guys are in play if they are starting/active, but my favorite guy here is probably Thad. He seems to actually come in at correct value and he’s been really solid throughout the preseason. If he starts and is set for solid run, I’ll feel confident rolling him out there.

Top targets: Giannis, PG13 and Thad

Grizzlies @ Timberwolves

• Mike Conley, G, Grizz ($6.8k)
• Ricky Rubio, G, Wolves ($5k)
• Zach LaVine, G, Wolves ($5.8k)
• Andrew Wiggins, F, Wolves ($6k)
• Troy Williams, F, Grizz ($4.4k)
• Karl-Anthony Towns, C, Wolves ($8.1k)

Any game with the Grizzlies can be a mess, as they play slow and emphasize defense. Not having Marc Gasol (foot) should make life easier on Minnesota, though, and could end up making KAT the top center on the night.

Towns is still pretty pricey here, as he comes in as the second most expensive center on tonight’s slate. I like him plenty with Gasol out, though, so as long as he’s out there he could put up some strong numbers.

I’m mostly eyeing the value buys for Minnesota, where Rubio, LaVine and Wiggins all can return a profit on the money I’m dealing out. Of the lot, I actually like Wiggins the most, as he’s been looking better and seems to be able to score the easiest of the three.

Troy Williams could be a fun deep dive that helps you piece a good team together. DK’s awful salaries tonight might demand it. Trusting him is another thing, but he’s poured in 22 and 23 points in his last two outings and Gasol being out could give him a shot at doing something close to that again.

Top targets: Wiggins and KAT

Rockets @ Mavericks

• James Harden, G, Rockets ($10.9k)
• Deron Williams, G, Mavs ($4.8k)
• Eric Gordon, G, Rockets ($5.1k)
• Dirk Nowitzki, F, Mavs ($5k)
• Harrison Barnes, F, Mavs ($5.4k)
• Ryan Anderson, F, Rockets ($7k)

James Harden is the top elite play to target tonight and it looks like he’ll start at the point again with Patrick Beverley still out.

That also puts Eric Gordon in the starting lineup:

With guard Pat Beverley out through the start of the season, Eric Gordon will move into the Rockets starting lineup tonight.

— Jonathan Feigen (@Jonathan_Feigen) October 19, 2016

The value Gordon could provide is off the charts, as he’s been thriving in Houston this preseason.

You’ll want to target Harden for sure and then get either Gordon or Ryan Anderson. Gordon is a little more volatile, but he’s way cheaper so he gets our vote.

For Dallas, they have a ton of veterans so you’ll certainly want to be sure who is playing and if anyone has a sharp minutes cap.

D-Will has looked good and could be a great value play if he starts. Dirk and Barnes could also be worth a look, but it’s tough to buy Nowitzki logging 20+ minutes and Barnes has been awful for much of the preseason.

Top targets: Harden and Gordon

Blazers @ Jazz

• Damian Lillard, G, Blazers ($9k)
• C.J. McCollum, G, Blazers ($6.9k)
• Dante Exum, G, Jazz ($4.5k)
• Rodney Hood, G, Jazz ($5.6k)
• Trey Lyles, F/C, Jazz ($5.8k)
• Rudy Gobert, C, Jazz ($7.1k)

It’s never easy to play in Utah against an elite Jazz defense, but for some reason Dame always carves them up. I see no issue with deploying him and/or C.J. tonight, provided they start and don’t have any restrictions.

They’re the only Blazers I’d touch, but again, I do have mild reservations about this game being in Utah and the matchup not being ideal.

Utah’s big play is Lyles, who should see a lot of run again with Derrick Favors (knee) still out:

He did not. Derrick Favors expected to be out for tonight. Gordon Hayward and Alec Burks out too. https://t.co/6cYRz5rzsD

— Andy Larsen (@andyblarsen) October 19, 2016

Rudy Gobert could also benefit, but he’s a little more expensive than I’d like and there are a lot of centers to consider. That, and you can just slide Lyles in at center on DK if you want.

Hood and Exum represent value, as Exum is dirt cheap and has kind of been killing it during the preseason. The return of Hood probably keeps him on the bench and limits his upside, but if Hood ends up being limited Exum could be a necessary GPP value dive.

Hood (hand) should be back tonight, though, which means he’ll probably start and shoulder some of the scoring load:

Rodney Hood (hand) expected to play Wednesday https://t.co/ItkKPpjrKX

— Rotoworld Basketball (@Rotoworld_BK) October 19, 2016

Gordon Hayward remains out and may miss some time to start the year, so Utah needs to get Hood ready for a bigger offensive role.

Warriors @ Lakers

• Stephen Curry, G, Warriors ($8.6k)
• D’Angelo Russell, G, Lakers ($7.7k)
• Jordan Clarkson, G, Lakers ($5.3k)
• Klay Thompson, G, Warriors ($6.8k)
• Kevin Durant, F, Warriors ($9.1k)
• Draymond Green, F/C, Warriors ($6.4k)
• Julius Randle, F, Lakers ($6.2k)

There is mild interest in reserve Patrick McCaw, but I can’t take the dive with Steve Kerr letting it be known he wants to get his starters about 30 minutes in their last two preseason games:

Steve Kerr said he wants to get his starters around 30 minutes in both these last two preseason games, including 4th quarter run.

— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) October 19, 2016

Obviously that makes this game one to target on the Dubs’ side, putting Steph, Klay, KD and Dray in play as elite options.

The fact that Curry is the fourth most expensive point guard on this slate makes him my top target at the position. I’ll just slide Harden over to SG, THANKS.

I’m not sure I want a ton of exposure to Klay and Dray, as Green isn’t going to be a big scorer with Durant in town and Klay doesn’t do much besides score. They’re the value plays for the Dubs, but Curry and Durant are the guys you’ll want in the end.

On the other side, I love DLo’s game, but he has burned me thrice in the preseason and he’s too expensive for this slate. Clarkson, on the other hand, feels like the safer (and cheaper) play.

Randle is in the mix, too, but the matchup is not good for him at all. I’d rather pay up for Thad or Jabari or save on Lyles.

Remember, news will continue to trickle out as we get closer to the first tip off, and with the rules change, both DraftKings and FanDuel now lock their daily fantasy basketball lineups once the first game begins.

That makes all of that player and lineup news as crucial as ever. Refresh our page for our latest updates and finalized picks, but be sure to do your due diligence so you don’t end up with a bunch of inactives on your NBA DFS preseason roster tonight.

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