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After eight games on Tuesday, we have a jam-packed 10-game slate Wednesday. Usually I wait till the mornings to post my articles to make sure all the latest injury updates have been recorded, but I'm feeling ambitious. There are plenty of solid matchups and while I always make sure I include value picks, I would suggest looking for those ideal mid-level priced options that can anchor down your lineup with a solid 30-FPTS outing. Mike Conley seems like a low-risk play versus the Spurs backcourt, Ben Simmons should significantly exceed his projected versus the Wizards, and there is a ton of upside in both the Trail Blazer-Bulls and Hawks-Nets games. It seems important to point out that Jarrett Allen's price tag has dropped in recent games, although he's only scored below 30 FPTS in one of the his last four games.
Luka Doncic versus the Phoenix Suns has potential to be his best game of the season. It might get overshadowed because the leagie-wide impact of destroying the Suns is minimal, but this game specifically should allow him to see some inexperienced defenders, allowing him to create offense anywhere and get easy buckets for his teammates.
In this article, I will be providing you with my daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for DraftKings on 1/9/19. These DFS lineup picks can vary from higher-priced players and elite options to lower-priced players and value picks on DraftKings.You can also check out today's FanDuel lineup picks. As always, don't set your lineups to early and check player statuses prior to opening tip. Find me in the NBA Chat Room or @HalfCourtJester on Twitter.
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DraftKings DFS Guards
Frank Jackson - PG/SG, vs. CLE ($3,100)
You won't find a much cheaper option that has as much upside as Frank Jackson. Last game against the Memphis Grizzlies, a blowout favored Jackson's production and he was able to make the most of his minutes. Even though the Pelicans haven't been as dominant as they were to start the season, I expect them to have no problem out-sccoring the Cavaliers, allowing Jackson to see a few extra minutes against one of the weaker backcourts. This is one of those games where you see the difference between the talent levels of both conferences. The Cavaliers struggling is on an entirely different level from the Pelicans struggling. The Pelicans bench has upside tonight and Julius Randle should get the chance to see extra minutes. Don't be surprised if Anthony Davis decides to rest this game.
Zach LaVine - PG/SG, at POR ($6,600)
This game should stay close, but only because I have faith in both Zach Lavine and Lauri Markkanen to produce against Portland. Playing on the road means that certain players will struggle. Unfortunately, this could lead to Jabari Parker being one of the safe spots for the Bulls, but other than that I expect all the usage to fall right into the laps of both Lavine and Markkanen. Even with certain Trail Blazers playing well and Maurice Harkless giving them a boost on defense, I just can't see Damian Lillard or C.J. McCollum from keeping Lavine under 30 points. The rest of the Bulls struggling is the only thing that can really cap Lavine's upside, but even then, the more shots he takes the better.
DraftKings DFS Forwards
Aaron Gordon - SF/PF, at UTA ($6,400)
With a similar price to Zach Lavine (and play-style now that I think about it), it's easy to gloss right over Aaron Gordon. The Jazz are going to keep the pace on the slower side and while Gordon plays better in transition, he can produce with some of the best in isolation situations. Since the Magic have been struggling to keep up with some of the league's faster teams, look for a solid rebound game against Utah. The Jazz are able to defend against some of the most potent offenses, but their slower place allows bad teams to stay competitive in games. It's hard to really assume the Magic will just flat-out win this game, but they absolutely have the tools to do so. If Nikola Vucevic, Evan Fournier, and Terrence Ross can offer the tiniest bit of spacing, it will open up the paint for Aaron Gordon. Rudy Gobert is there, but from what I've seen of Aaron Gordon, I expect him to see Gobert as a mountain to conquer rather than a rim-protecor to avoid.
Rodions Kurucs - SF/PF, vs. ATL ($3,900)
So Rodions Kurucs made the most of his garbage minutes and while the 24 points looked great in the box score, it didn't reflect too much of the game. The Nets really struggled to score against the Celtics and while Kurucs does offer perfect spacing, this does carry serious risk. He is going to get minutes and every game the Brooklyn Nets make sure to try and help him get his shot going. While his role does have a "Ben McLemore-ish" feel to it, playing him on the right night automatically makes him a top sleeper. Everyone should happily fade Kurucs because it's hard for him to repeat performances and that alone carries risk, but let me talk about Kenny Atkinson. No other coach would get the same type of production out of a player like Kurucs, and the trust he has in his players helps them string together big games. Even though he is mismatched on defense, the Hawks lack strength when it comes to their frontcourt, so I'm hoping Kurucs will see closer to 25 minutes.
DraftKings DFS Centers
Andre Drummond - C, at LAL ($8,600)
You could go with either Blake Griffin or Andre Drummond here. Drummond is guaranteed to dominate this matchup and his price justifies why he should be at the top of your list for centers Wednesday night. The Pistons need to work through their frontcourt so Drummond is a safe play every single night. JaVale McGee won't be able to keep both Pistons bigs out of the paint and the Lakers quicker pace should actually give Drummond closer to 20-20 upside. While this might not be the most aesthetically-pleasing game, any Dennis Rodman enthusiast should appreciate the rebounding clinic Drummond is about to put on.
