Not to be too stereotypical about Wednesdays, but they often mean a pretty big NBA slate, and tonight is living up to that claim with nine games listed in DraftKings’ featured contests.
Not to be too stereotypical about DFS value articles, but they often break down the slate and offer prospective owners inexpensive options of their lineups, and I’ll live up to that claim below.
Let’s dive in.
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C Moussa Diabate, Charlotte Hornets vs. Brooklyn Nets, $3,700
With LaMelo Ball (ankle), Mark Williams (foot) and Josh Green (foot) all already ruled out on Wednesday, there’s going to be a variety of ways to find value on this Hornets roster. I mean, that’s three starters. Three. Nick Smith Jr. ($5,000) will surely have a massive role and Josh Okogie ($4,300) could be popular after dropping 19 points off the bench in Monday’s loss to the Lakers. However, it’s Diabate that really catches my eye. The former second-round pick has taken over as Charlotte’s back-up center since the Nick Richards was traded to Phoenix and he’s shown the ability to produce with ample opportunity. Diabate isn’t a high-usage asset or a skilled scorer, yet he can certainly rebound, as he’s averaging 11.5 boards in his four starts in 2024-25. More recently, Diabate logged 28.9 minutes in the Hornets’ win over the Pelicans on January 25. He’d finish with nine points, 13 rebounds, three assists and 33.25 FPTS. You don’t have to squint too hard to see the ceiling here.
SG/SF Bruce Brown, Toronto Raptors at Washington Wizards, $4,500
In a vacuum, Brown would be viable on tonight’s slate with his recent play. The veteran wing underwent another knee surgery to begin 2024-25, which delayed his season debut, but the procedure appears to have worked, because recently Brown looks like the guy that was a key piece of the Nuggets’ championship run. In his last five games, Brown is averaging 14.0 points and 6.0 rebounds. It’s a span where the 28-year-old has exceeded 30 FPTS on three occasions. With the trade deadline just over a week away, it’s easy to say the Brown is peaking at exactly the right time for the Raptors. Specific to tonight’s slate, Brown’s value should only be increased by a matchup with the Wizards, who sport the league’s worst defensive rating (118.6). Also keep tabs on the status of Gradey Dick ($4,300; illness) as the sophomore was added to Toronto’s injury report on Wednesday morning. If Dick is ruled out, Brown might even draw his first start of the season. At the very least, there would be some open minutes and shots.
PG Lonzo Ball, Chicago Bulls at Boston Celtics, $4,800
Here’s what we know about the Bulls’ backcourt situation on Wednesday. First and foremost, Zach LaVine (personal) has been ruled out, which leaves Chicago without its leading scorer (24.0) and the man that owns the team’s highest usage rate (26.5%). Ranking directly behind LaVine in usage rate? Coby White ($6,200; ankle), who is questionable to suit up this evening — though he did participate in shootaround on Wednesday morning. If White eventually ends up in street clothes, that would leave a massive void in the Bulls’ rotation, one that Ball would be asked to help fill. The former second-overall pick has started Chicago’s past four games and he really seems like he’s rounding back into form after a couple injury-plagued campaigns. Ball’s registered at least 20 FPTS in eight straight contests, including registering a season-high 18 points in the Bulls’ victory over Denver on Monday. In short: He looks good. With a price tag below $5,000, he needs to be considered in your lineups.
