A few teams tipped off yesterday, but Wednesday is opening night in the NBA for 20 different squads. With so many new faces in new places, figuring out who to start in season-long fantasy and DFS formats is no easy task. Here are three centers I’m looking to back tonight.
Set your DraftKings fantasy basketball lineups here: NBA $500K Zone Special [$100K to 1st]
1. Alperen Sengun, Houston Rockets vs. CHA ($8,600)
One of the reasons behind Houston’s surprising surge to a .500 record was the improved play of Alperen Sengun. Although the Turkish big man missed the final month of the season with an injury, he established himself as one of the game’s best young players. The 22-year-old posted 21.1 points, 9.3 rebounds, and 5.0 assists per game last year, earning the nickname ‘Baby Jokic’ in the process.
With a weak Hornets team visiting the Rockets, expect a big time performance from Sengun. Last season, Charlotte gave up the eighth-most DK fantasy points to opposing centers. That already poor number might be overestimating their interior defense on Wednesday night, as starting big Mark Williams has already been ruled out with a foot injury. Considering the lack of quality big men on today’s slate, it makes sense to shell out for Sengun.
2. Bam Adebayo, Miami Heat at ORL ($8,200)
If not for Rudy Gobert and Victor Wembenyama, we’d be hearing more buzz for Bam Adebayo to win defensive player of the year. That doesn’t necessarily translate to high-level fantasy production, but it does give the three-time All Star a safer floor than other, more offensively-minded bigs. The Miami star is still capable of scoring; over the past three seasons, he’s averaged 19.8 points per game.
Buckets might be hard to come by against the stifling defense of the Magic, but Bam has had some recent success in this matchup. Over his past four games with Orlando, the 27-year-old has put up averages of 18.8 points, 9.3 rebounds, and 4.8 assists on 51.7% shooting from the field. While a quality opponent may have driven Adebayo’s price down, he’s a safer play than some of the pricer names at center.
3. Nikola Vucevic, Chicago Bulls at NOP ($8,300)
At this point in his career, we know what Nikola Vucevic is: a gifted offensive player with major issues on defense. That might knock down the 33-year-old’s real life value, but it doesn’t really hurt his fantasy stock. On a Bulls offense that will need scoring alongside Zach LaVine, Vooch is a safe bet for 17+ points and 10+ rebounds per game this season.
The veteran will get a chance to start the season off right when Chicago hosts the Pelicans, a supremely talented, but very flawed, team. New Orleans is going with a small-ball starting lineup this season, which could involve some combination of Zion Williamson and Herb Jones at the 5. At 6’10 and 260 pounds, Vucevic should have a decisive advantage down low, making him one of Wednesday’s top plays.
Set your DraftKings fantasy basketball lineups here: NBA $500K Zone Special [$100K to 1st]
The Crown Is Yours: Sign up for DraftKings and experience the ultimate host for games and betting experiences!
All odds provided by DraftKings Sportsbook, lines and odds subject to change.
I am a promoter at DraftKings and am also an avid fan and user (my username is barmy) and may sometimes play on my personal account in the games that I offer advice on. Although I have expressed my personal view on the games and strategies above, they do not necessarily reflect the view(s) of DraftKings and do not constitute a representation that any particular strategy will guarantee success. All customers should use their own skill and judgment in building lineups. I may also deploy different players and strategies than what I recommend above. I am not an employee of DraftKings and do not have access to any non-public information.
