NBA DFS Picks Breakdown on DraftKings (Wednesday, April 9)

Wednesday features a six-game main slate starting at 7 p.m. ET.

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Note: Projections and Leverage Scores/Ratings may change throughout the day after this article is posted. The NBA DFS landscape changes quickly. 

Consult the NBA Player Models directly for any updates as we get closer to lock.

Stud

There are just four slates left in the NBA season. The entire league will play on Friday and Sunday – and get the day off on Saturday – so we are nearing the finish line.

The Jazz have already secured one of the three worst records in the league this season, giving themselves the maximum number of ping pong balls in the 2025 Draft Lottery. However, they’re not giving up on the tank quite yet. They’ve already ruled out eight players for Wednesday’s game vs. the Blazers, while Isaiah Collier is questionable.

Collin Sexton is one player who is notably absent from the injury report. He’s suited up in nine of the team’s past 10 games, but his playing time over that stretch has been inconsistent. That said, his minutes are trending in the right direction. Sexton has played at least 32.7 minutes in back-to-back games, and he’s responded with at least 39.75 DraftKings points in both contests. He’s projected for another 33 minutes on Wednesday, and if he plays that much, he’s a great bet to return value. He’s averaged 1.12 DraftKings points per minute over the past month, and he should continue to serve as one of the team’s offensive focal points with so many regulars out of the lineup.

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Value

Carlton Carrington has played all the minutes he can handle for the Wizards down the stretch. He’s averaged 40 minutes per game over his past three outings, including 43 minutes on Tuesday. It’s possible that he gets the night off on the second leg of a back-to-back, but Carrington is one of the youngest players in the league at just 19 years old. It seems more likely that he’ll be in the lineup than some of the Wizards’ veterans.

Carrington has posted a positive Plus/Minus in four of his past five outings, and he’s displayed a ceiling of more than 56 DraftKings points during that stretch. He’s averaged 0.86 DraftKings points per minute, so he can do some damage with 40+ minutes once again.

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Fast Break

The Celtics have nothing to play for at this point after officially locking in the No. 2 seed on Tuesday. With that in mind, it’s not a shock that most of the team will get the night off. They’ve already ruled out Jayson Tatum, Jrue Holiday, Kristaps Porzingis, Derrick White, and Al Horford, while Jaylen Brown is listed as questionable. That leaves Payton Pritchard to pick up the slack. He’s seen a massive +12.19% usage bump with all five of the unavailable Celtics players off the floor this season, resulting in an average of 1.35 DraftKings points per minute. Pritchard isn’t cheap at $6,700, but he still has more upside than his price tag suggests.

Quentin Grimes continues to put up big numbers for the shorthanded 76ers. He’s averaged 1.31 DraftKings points per minute over the past month, and he has at least 46.25 DraftKings points in two of his past three games. Ultimately, he has the fifth-highest ceiling projection on a slate with limited pay-up options.

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NBA DFS Shooting Guard Picks

Stud

The Blazers’ injury report will be important to monitor on Wednesday. They currently have Anfernee Simons and Deni Avdija listed as questionable, and if both players are ruled out, Shaedon Sharpe is going to have to carry the load offensively.

Sharpe has done plenty of that for the Blazers of late. He’s posted an average Plus/Minus of +6.76 over his past 10 games, and he’s had two games with at least 56.0 DraftKings points in his past four. He’s another player with an excellent ceiling on this slate, especially in a juicy matchup vs. the Jazz. They’re dead last in defensive efficiency this season, and the Blazers’ 118.0 implied team total is the top mark on the slate.

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Value

A.J. Johnson is another potential value target for the Wizards. The Wizards acquired him in the deal that sent Kyle Kuzma to Milwaukee, and he’s had some moments since landing in Washington. He has two games with at least 29.75 DraftKings points in his past six, though he has posted a negative Plus/Minus in three straight games.

Johnson’s volume has been down a bit recently, but that doesn’t figure to be an issue on Wednesday. He’s currently projected for 34 minutes in our NBA Models, which is more than enough for him to potentially return value at $4,900.

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Fast Break

Baylor Scheierman should get his opportunity to shine for the shorthanded Celtics on Wednesday. He’s played sparingly as a rookie, but he’s generally been productive when he’s been on the floor. He’s averaged 0.80 DraftKings points per minute over the past month, and he should play all the minutes he can handle vs. the Magic.

Johnny Juzang also stands out on a slate with plenty of value options to choose from. He’s been excellent for the shorthanded Jazz of late, posting a positive Plus/Minus in nine of his past 10 games. He’s played limited minutes in most of them, but his volume has been cranked up over his past two games. Juzang has played at least 35.3 minutes in both outings, and he’s averaged 0.82 DraftKings points per minute over the past month.

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NBA DFS Small Forward Picks

Stud

The Lakers are still playing for seeding in the highly competitive Western Conference. They’re currently in sole possession of third place, but there are four teams just 1.0 game behind them. The Timberwolves are 2.0 games back in eighth, so there’s still plenty up for grabs for all of these teams down the stretch.

Theoretically, that gives the team plenty of incentive Wednesday vs. the Mavericks. That makes LeBron James a viable pay-up target. He hasn’t been at his best recently, but he still has the potential to go off against anyone. The Lakers have the second-highest implied team total on the slate, so that’s particularly true vs. the Mavericks. He’s a whopping $2,600 cheaper than Luka Doncic, making him the team’s preferred stud to target.

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Value

Lonnie Walker has had a long journey this season. The Celtics ultimately waived him on October 19, and he decided to go overseas and play in the Lithuanian Basketball League. He led the team to a successful season and played well enough to earn another shot in the NBA with the 76ers to close out the year.

Walker has played at least 33.2 minutes in four of his past five games, and he’s posted a positive Plus/Minus in each of them. He’s played even more in his past two outings, and he’s responded with 35.25 and 32.75 DraftKings points. There’s no reason to expect much different on Wednesday, and Philly draws an excellent matchup vs. the Wizards. They’re 28th in defensive efficiency and fourth in pace, and Walker leads the position in projected Plus/Minus and optimal lineup rate.

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Fast Break

Justin Champagnie has also seen a bunch of minutes for the Wizards of late. He’s played at least 35 minutes in back-to-back contests, and he’s scored at least 38.25 DraftKings points in both. He’s currently projected for just 23.5% ownership on this slate, but his optimal lineup rate is north of 36.3%.

DaQuan Jeffries hasn’t been the best per-minute producer this season, but he could return value through sheer volume on Wednesday. He’s currently projected for 30 minutes at $4,000, and players with comparable salaries and minute projections have averaged a Plus/Minus of +3.25 (per the Trends tool).

NBA DFS Power Forward Picks

Stud

Paolo Banchero has been a usage monster for the Magic down the stretch. He’s posted an average usage rate of 37.0% over his past nine outings, which is an elite figure. For context, LaMelo Ball leads the league in usage this season, and he’s at just 35.9%.

Unsurprisingly, all those opportunities have led to some big performances. He’s gone for at least 51.75 DraftKings points in four of his past seven games, including more than 70 DraftKings points two games ago. The Magic are still playing to secure the No. 7 seed in the Play-In Tournament, so expect another heavy workload for Banchero on Wednesday. Ultimately, he has an elite ceiling against the shorthanded Celtics, making him arguably the best pay-up option on the slate.

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Value

Tidjane Saluan was the Hornets’ first-round pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, and he’s the youngest player in the NBA. He’s definitely a bit of a project, but with the Hornets playing for nothing at this point, they’ve unsurprisingly given him a longer leash down the stretch. He’s played at least 27 minutes in three of his past four games, and he’s coming off 29.25 DraftKings points in his last outing.

Saluan could play a bit more on Wednesday. He’s projected for 31 minutes in our NBA Models, making him one of the strongest values on a slate loaded with them. He leads all players in projected Plus/Minus.

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Fast Break

Sam Hauser is another fantastic value option at either SF or PF. He should take on a more prominent role for the Celtics on Wednesday, and he’s averaged 1.21 DraftKings points per minute with all of the unavailable Celtics off the floor this season. He’s projected for 34 minutes in our NBA Models, and his $4,200 salary comes with an 83% Bargain Rating.

Anthony Davis revenge game? He’s taking on the Lakers, and the Mavs are technically still fighting for a spot in the Play-In Tournament. He’s played limited minutes since returning from injury, but he’s made up for it with a usage rate of at least 43.9% in back-to-back games. He has a game with 68.25 DraftKings points in less than 30 minutes vs. the Hawks, so he still has one of the higher ceilings on the slate.

NBA DFS Center Picks

Stud

There isn’t really a true “pay-up” option at center on Wednesday. The top ceiling projection belongs to Adem Bona, who is priced at just $5,700. However, Bona has been delivering stud-like production at a discount of late. He’s posted an average Plus/Minus of +9.96 over his past 10 games, and he’s scored at least 38.75 DraftKings points in two of his past three games. There’s no reason to shy away from him on Wednesday, especially in an elite matchup vs. the Wizards.

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Value

Jusuf Nurkic looks very similar to Bona on paper. He’s not projected for quite as many minutes as Bona, but he makes up for it with superior per-minute efficiency. Nurkic has long been one of the best in the business in that department, and he’s historically averaged a Plus/Minus of +6.40 with a comparable salary and minute projection.

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Fast Break

Neemias Queta is the Celtics’ value option to target at center. He’s yet another player who should see a boost in opportunities with the team resting so many regulars, and he’s averaged better than a fantasy point per minute. He’s priced near the minimum at $3,400, so he’s another fantastic option at the position. Playing him alongside Bona or Nurkic is definitely viable, with all three ranked in the top five in projected Plus/Minus on this slate.

Alex Sarr is coming off more than 50 DraftKings points on Tuesday, racking up 20 points, 12 rebounds, six assists, and three blocks. He’s been a strong per-minute producer as a rookie, averaging 1.14 DraftKings points per minute over the past month, and he has the potential for another strong showing vs. a weak 76ers frontcourt.

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Pictured: Paolo Banchero
Photo Credit: Getty Images