This article is part of our FanDuel NBA series.
FanDuel.com Value Plays for the Week
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POINT GUARD
Tony Wroten, PG, PHL ($5,400): Now that Evan Turner and Spencer Hawes are no longer in Philly, Wroten should have the gloves taken off a bit more. In the two games since the trade deadline, including his most recent game Monday in the starting lineup, Wroten has boosted his averages to 20.0 points, 3.5 assists, 3.0 rebounds and 1.0 steal in around 29 minutes per game. Just remember that with increased usage comes lots of turnovers with Wroten (3.5 per his last two games), but the offensive numbers, plus steals, will help raise his season average of 20.6 FDPPG (FanDuel points per game) and make him a strong play at $5,400.
Going Forward: In the next calendar week, Wroten has four matchups: Wednesday versus the Magic, Saturday versus the Wizards, Sunday versus the Magic, and Tuesday versus the Thunder. Wroten should be a great play in both matchups versus the Magic and should post strong numbers against the Wizards but things could be dicey versus the Thunder.
SHOOTING GUARD
Victor Oladipo, SG, ORL ($6,800): At first glance, a $6,800 salary figure for Oladipo at 26.6 FDFPP doesn't seem like a great value, but Arron Afflalo is out at least two games this week, and Glen Davis' buy-out means the Magic will be playing more small-ball the rest of 2014. This means Oladipo should finally be a permanent member of the starting five. Though he only had 11 points, five steals (that's nice) four rebounds, two assists and four turnovers this past Sunday, Oladipo went absolutely nuts in the Magic's overtime win over the Knicks last Friday, as he had 30 points, 14 assists, nine rebounds and two steals. As long as Afflalo is out ,Oladipo is a triple-double threat with steals potential every night.
Going Forward: Even when Afflalo returns, Oladipo will still be a strong play, so don't be shy. The Magic have four games in the upcoming calendar week: this Tuesday versus the Wizards, Wednesday versus the no-defense/tanking Sixers, Saturday versus the Heat and Sunday again versus the Sixers. Don't expect much against the Heat, but Oladipo should go nuts against the terrible Sixers and is a decent pay versus the Wizards.
SMALL FORWARD
Matt Barnes, SF, LAC ($4,600): Though still a bit pricey at a $4,600 salary given his 16.5 FDPPG, Barnes is starting to finally look like the player he is capable of being. Permanently moved back into the starting lineup, healthy and needed to help pick up for the absence of J.J. Reddick, Barnes has averaged 17.0 points, 5.7 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 0.67 steals and 0.3 blocks in 34 minutes, with only two total turnovers, over his last three games. Barnes is streaky, but he is on a roll right now, and the minutes will be there as long as he can handle them.
Going Forward: The Clippers only play three games in the next calendar week: this Wednesday versus the Rockets, Saturday versus the Pelicans and Tuesday versus the Suns. Barnes could have strong outings in every one of those games save perhaps the Rockets matchup, as he will probably have to expend some energy on the defensive end guarding that James Harden guy.
POWER FORWARD
Trevor Booker, PF, WAS, ($3,500): Booker is not the sexiest name around, but the slightly undersized workmanlike power forward is in line for a lot more playing time now that Nene Hilario is slated to be out for up to six weeks with a bad knee injury. Booker's current 15.3 FDPPG is a bargain at his minimum salary value. He has previously averaged 8.3 points, 8.1 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 0.6 steals in 25 minutes per game in the 19 starts already this year. Provided he does get to start for Nene, and he can hold off the likes of Kevin Seraphin, a finally healthy Al Harrington and the recently signed Drew Gooden, a similar run of near double-double production could be in order. Be wary, there are no guarantees here at this point, but then again, it's easy to take a chance on such a low-salary player with some potential upside.
Going Forward: The Wizards play four games in the next calendar week: this Tuesday versus the Magic, Wednesday versus the Raptors, Saturday versus the no-defense tanking Sixers and Monday versus the Grizzlies. Booker would probably struggle to do much of anything against the Grizzlies' stout front line, but he should have production opportunities abound against the Magic, Sixers, and to a lesser extent, the Raptors.
CENTER
Jermaine O'Neal, C, GSW, ($3,600): Injuries to David Lee and the just-returned but rusty Andrew Bogut have allowed O'Neal to seriously turn back the clock recently. Over his last three games, all starts, the 35-year-old O'Neal has averaged 13.7 points, 11.0 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks in about 33 minutes per game. That is some serious production, especially for only $3,600. While a combination of the Warriors bigs getting healthy, plus O'Neal's old and fragile nature, he could slow down in the next couple weeks. That being said, O'Neal will still get enough minutes to justify such a low salary and rostering him in most FanDuel formats when you want to go cheap at center. Plus, it's not like Bogut and David Lee are models of health themselves. Lee could potentially return Wednesday. Once Lee is healthy, we'll probably see O'Neal's value dry up.
Going Forward: The Warriors play four games in the next calendar week: this Wednesday versus the Bulls, Friday versus the Knicks, Sunday versus the Raptors and next Tuesday versus the Pacers. The Knicks and Raptors will probably be O'Neal's best chance for strong numbers, but don't count him out against the Bulls and Pacers as long as he's hot and getting minutes.
