After two days of exciting NBA action, the 2024-25 season is in full swing. Still, it’s nearly impossible to get a read on each team after just 48 minutes of action. That can make finding sleepers in season-long fantasy basketball and DFS contests a difficult task. Yet, if you look close enough, there’s plenty of players that could provide value across your lineups.
Set your DraftKings fantasy basketball lineups here: NBA 350K Fadeaway [$100K to 1st]
PG/SG Donte DiVincenzo, Minnesota Timberwolves at SAC ($5,200)
It was not a good first game for Donte DiVincenzo on Tuesday. The sharpshooter struggled mightily, going 3 for 11 from the field and even missing two straight free throws during the first quarter against the Lakers. It was obvious from the jump that DDV wasn’t quite comfortable in his new role, which is to be expected just a month after being traded from the Knicks.
Given how shaky Minnesota’s sixth man looked in primetime, plenty will stay away. That can be used to your advantage, as his track record suggests that this will be a bump in the road, rather than a sign of things to come. Most important for DiVincenzo is that he played 32 minutes, fourth-most on the team. Even if that isn’t quite how the rotation shakes out every night going forward, head coach Chris Finch clearly trusts the player. Going up against an offensively gifted Kings team, the Timberwolves will need their new acquisition to find his range on Thursday night.
C Dereck Lively II, Dallas Mavericks vs. SAS ($4,700)
The timeshare at center between Dereck Lively II and Daniel Gafford has been a constant headache ever since the Mavericks traded for the latter last season. If either of the two were to handle a full starter’s workload, they’d likely be one of the best centers in all of fantasy basketball. Both are supremely gifted defensive players, with the ability to snag lobs from Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving at the other end of the floor. However, head coach Jason Kidd seemed content to split their workload to a nearly even 24/24 minute split last year.
So, why back Lively II tonight? For starters, the second-year big is only getting better. If you were paying close enough attention, the former Duke product shined during Dallas’ run to the NBA Finals, posting averages of 7.9 points, 7.4 rebounds and 1.0 blocks over 21.1 minutes per game in the playoffs. Those numbers don’t necessarily jump out, but the Mavs leaned heavily on the then-rookie’s defense inside the paint. He’s also had some success against the Spurs, averaging 12.0 points, 6.7 rebounds and 2.0 blocks over 21.3 minutes in just three games against them last year. Should the young center see a slight uptick in playing time, this price will be well worth it.
PG/SG Stephon Castle, San Antonio Spurs at DAL ($3,800)
There was plenty of hype this offseason for the Spurs, but most of it was due to the progression of Victor Wembenyama and the offseason signing of Chris Paul. Lost in the shuffle was the team’s selection of Stephon Castle with the fourth overall pick in the NBA Draft last June. A key piece of last season’s title-winning UConn Huskies, the 19-year-old could be a major contributor for San Antonio down the stretch.
What if the rookie contributes right out of the gate? There’s obviously a steep learning curve in professional basketball, but there’s also plenty of opportunity for Castle. Devin Vassell is still rehabbing from foot surgery, while the rest of the roster lacks much scoring punch. Although Greg Popovich’s starters aren’t set in stone, there’s a clear path for the young combo guard to handle a workload close to 30 minutes. At such a dirt-cheap price, he’s worth a flier.
Set your DraftKings fantasy basketball lineups here: NBA 350K Fadeaway [$100K to 1st]
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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.
