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A blockbuster slate filled with stars was set to deliver a massive showdown Monday. Then, Luka Doncic got hurt. Devin Booker missed his most recent contest. Andre Drummond and Blake Griffin both enter the day as questionable. In short, things have been thrown into disarray, but fortunately, owners have enough time to read and react this time.
Injuries notwithstanding to those mentioned above, there still remains a pile of elite talent up for grabs Monday. Let’s parse through where some value lies, in addition to which stars to hunker down on.
In this article, I will be providing you with my daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for DraftKings on 12/16/19. You can also check out today's FanDuel lineup picks. Remember to monitor injury news as the slate can completely change before line-up lock.
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DraftKings DFS Guards
Tim Hardaway Jr. - SG/SF, DAL @ MIL ($5,800)
Well, that price ascension was rapid. Without Luka Doncic available, someone is going to need to shoot the ball for the Mavericks, and right now, they don’t have a scorer on a better roll than Hardaway. He logged 42 minutes during Saturday’s game versus Miami, firing up 22 shots, 14 of which came from long range. While his last three games have showcased his volatility (scoring 29, 2 and 28, respectively), watching Dallas operate on offense indicates that he is going to be involved heavily, which leaves the simple hurdle of the ball going into the bucket.
Donte Divincenzo - SG/SF, MIL v. DAL ($4,600)
While DiVincenzo is not a one-for-one swap into the starting five for the injured Eric Bledsoe, his starting role gives him incrementally more value and upside than veteran George Hill (who still makes for a very solid option, especially on this slate). A multi-category contributor, DiVincenzo has also scored in double figures in four straight -- and in eight of his last 10 -- starts. The staggering depth of Milwaukee’s roster likely caps his ceiling, but he is certainly a cash play in GPP clothing.
DraftKings DFS Forwards
Giannis Antetokounmpo - SF/PF, MIL v. DAL ($11,100)
With Doncic off the table, Antetokounmpo and James Harden loom large. For those owners who cannot fathom ponying up for Harden’s price tag, there is the league’s reigning MVP to build lineups around. Despite having exceeded the 30-minute mark just once in his last seven games, Antetokounmpo’s scoring has barely slowed. There is never truly a bad time to snag the Bucks’ cornerstone star, but with a potential convincing win on the horizon – and Harden on the board – he could feature low ownership on the GPP side. Having recorded a double-double in 23 of his 26 games this season, it’s usually not a matter of if Antetokounmpo will get there, but how quickly he’ll soar past it.
Christian Wood - PF/C, DET v. WAS ($4,500)
This is a selection that owners will absolutely want to confirm prior to tip-off. But with both Andre Drummond and Blake Griffin tagged as questionable against a moribund Washington defensive unit, the odds are that Wood will see a significant role in place of one of them, paving the way for him to become a near lock for most lineups no matter the contest. While Thon Maker earned the start Saturday with Drummond out, it was Wood who logged a double-double off the bench in just 22 minutes. There have been six contests this season in which Wood has logged at least 20 minutes; in those outings, he has averaged 16.2 points and 7.5 rebounds per game, while shooting 72.5 percent from the field overall. Of course, should both Drummond and Griffin be cleared prior to tip-off, owners will have to pivot.
DraftKings DFS Centers
Hassan Whiteside - C, POR @ PHX ($8,100)
On the heels of a monster 33-point, 13-rebound performance, Whiteside not only got three days off, he now gets to square off with a Phoenix frontcourt that has been shuffling their center spot around since Aron Baynes’ return. Couple that with the fact that Whiteside has averaged 20.2 points and 12.5 rebounds across six December contests (all of which have featured a double-double) and riding the hot hand for a game featuring a projected 228 points seems like a safe bet at the center slot.
