There is a LOT going on Friday’s main slate and a lot of news still to come, per usual in the NBA. We know for a fact stars such as Stephen Curry, Luka Doncic and Kevin Durant are already out, while the return of LeBron James COULD be tonight against the Celtics. There is a LOT of value opening up with all of these absences and even more could be viable depending who’s in and who’s out. For now, check out my favorite value for tonight and I’ll keep it updated as we go! Happy Friday!

DraftKings

Tim Hardaway Jr. vs. Phoenix ($5,500)

We’re going right back to the well for Hardaway as DraftKings failed to raise his price even though there was a strong possibility Luka Doncic would miss this game and sure enough, he’s out. With Doncic and Maxi Kleber off the floor this year, THJ sports an elite 26.8% USG rate and averages 1.17 FP/min, which is the same mark as Jalen Brunson who’s significantly more expensive across the industry. Getting THJ at this price is a steal considering all the three-point bonus points we get out of him in this role. Fantastic value on this slate. 

Franz Wagner vs. Brooklyn ($4,300)

This price tag is a little surprising to me, but it’s something we have to jump on. Wagner put up 28+ DKP in two straight games and in three of four. He plays big minutes too, averaging 32.2 per game. This is the cheapest price tag we’ve seen in 10 games and what we love is that we avoid Kevin Durant defense here with Durant sitting out. Wagner gets a pace up spot here against the Nets to boot.

FanDuel

Jordan Poole vs. Detroit ($5,600)

This right here, this is value. No Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, Otto Porter and Andre Iguodala. Poole is in line for a HUGE workload here and without those four on the floor this year, he’s led the team with a 36.4% usage rate and 1.3 FP/min. Poole’s a walking bucket when he gets going and draws a match-up against the 21st ranked defense according to DvP in the NBA. Fire Poole up in any and all formats on Friday.

Nemanja Bjelica vs. Detroit ($3,800)

Who knows what Steve Kerr is going to do here with his rotation, but Bjelica feels tethered to at LEAST 20 minutes. With Andre Iguodala out on Thursday, Bjelica played 23 and now there’s no Iggy, Porter or Green standing in his way for minutes. He’s just 3.8K and we’ve seen what he can do when he gets the time. As I mentioned, he was extended on Thursday and put up 30+ FDP. It’s not something I’d be comfortable with in cash unless I knew he were starting.

Yahoo! Fantasy

Alex Caruso vs. Denver ($18)

As the Bulls figure out their best lineups sans Patick Williams and Nikola Vucevic, Alex Caruso is making it VERY hard to take him off the floor. He has started the last few games and was an assist shy of a triple-double last time out. Not to mention he would have gotten you 12 points from blocks and steals on Yahoo! Fantasy. He went for 48.5 DKP and although that’s the ceiling game, he’s now put up 35+ DKP in three of his last five. He’s playing HEAVY minutes on top of all that making it all possible.

LaMarcus Aldridge vs. Orlando ($16)

Without Kevin Durant on the floor tonight, there are going to have to be a lot of pieces around James Harden chipping in and Aldridge is one of those guys. He has been a bigtime fantasy producer with Kevin Durant off the floor this year averaging 1.19 FP/min while notching a 31% USG rate. Orlando ranks 27th in DRtg this year and Aldridge is coming off a game in which he scored 24 actual and 37.4 Y! points.