This article is part of our FanDuel NBA series.
Friday, once again, features a full slate of 14 games. The trade deadline, now a week passed, has renewed the value of some while depleting it for others. It's a good time to catch a player on an upward trend, benefiting from surplus playing time and production due to injury and/or a new team scenario. The player pool has considerable depth with plenty to choose from at every position in practically every price range.
Friday Value Plays
Point Guard
Russell Westbrook, OKC, $11,200
Westbrook is the easiest and most common player recommendation. When Durant is out, Westbrook's production skyrockets (from an already high place). He had 74.3 FPTs last time out; he's a value no matter how high his price goes.
Elfrid Payton, ORL, $5,900
His shooting form (field goals and free throws) is lacking at the moment, going 1-of-8 from the field and 1-of-4 from the charity stripe. Despite this, coach Borrego has displayed confidence in games even when being intentionally fouled. Fortunately, Payton can accumulate FPTs handily with or without making his shots, averaging more than six rebounds and nine assists over his last three outings. Although he scored just three points Wednesday against the defensive prowess of the Heat, he reached double-digit scoring in his previous five games.
Mo Williams, CHA, $5500
Pretty much the anti-Payton; Williams can and, in the current dynamic of the Hornets, needs to shoot the ball extremely well, averaging 21 points over his last three games. His rebounds are sparing, but with enough time on the court anybody gets lucky to have a few fall in their lap. Assists are inconsistent two to 12 assists over his last four games. His scoring itself is nearly enough to carry his fairly cheap price, and he provides considerable upside on nights when he can dish dimes.
Shooting Guard
Avery Bradley, BOS, $5,600
Bradley has established himself as the Celtics' primary scorer, especially in the absence of both Jared Sullinger and Kelly Olynyk. He also is proficient in stealing the ball, which is necessary production as he isn't proficient in neither assists nor rebounds. If you want to focus on more widespread FPT production, teammate Evan Turner at $500 more could be more to your taste. At that price discrepancy, Bradley serves as the better value.
Iman Shumpert, CLE, $4,000
This is more of a conditional recommendation than anything, condition being if Kyrie Irving does sit out Friday night. In nights that Shumpert gets considerable court time and takes over point-guard duties he can be counted on to put up numbers well worth his price.
Shooting Forward
Jae Crowder, BOS, $4,500
With more than 30 FPTs in each of his last three outings, Crowder isn't too difficult to justify recommending. There is slight concern over the odd rotation the Celtics use at times, but Crowder has been productive across the board lately, and it's hard to imagine him not retaining his usual court time.
Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, CHA, $5,900
Charlotte and Boston don't have explosive offenses, but the prices on many of their players are mightily hard to pass up. Kidd-Gilchrist looks to have finally regained his health and looks to now get all the playing time he can handle. He's a double-double threat on any given night, putting up an impressive 35.9 FPT performance against the defensively proficient Chicago Bulls on Wednesday.
Power Forward
Serge Ibaka, OKC, $7,200
Ibaka, in similar but not as substantial fashion as Westbrook, sees an uptick in production when Durant is out. Ibaka is highly productive in points, rebounds and blocks. Admittedly, he'll match up with one of the best fours in the NBA in Portland's Lamarcus Aldridge, but expect both to put up similar stats Friday night with Ibaka being $2,000 cheaper.
Center
Rudy Gobert, UTA, $6,400
Gobert looks the prominent big man in a game of two struggling sides. At least three blocks over his last four and consecutive 14-rebound performances show Gobert's upside. Sixteen points and 36 minutes in his last outing provide considerable proof of his prominent role for the Jazz with the trade of Enes Kanter. Gobert is a slight risk as he hasn't proven he can be consistent, but he's on an upward trend in every category and is worth whatever the risk may be (especially in GPPs).
Nikola Pekovic, MIN, $6,500
At nearly the identical price as Gobert, Pekovic provides possibly a little more consistency with more than 30 FPTs in each of his last four games. The Bulls defense against opposing centers hasn't been good a Pekovic's streak of four consecutive double-doubles appears a good bet to continue.
Omer Asik, NO, $4,900
On the cheap side of the center production, Asik's production for the Pelicans has seen a considerable uptick in the absence of Anthony Davis. The Pelicans don't have an easy matchup with Hassan Whiteside and the Heat, but Asik still provides as good of value as there is at his position and price range.
