Mitchell Thoennes 
With an end to the regular season near, we have a five-game NBA GPP Picks 5/15 slate to evaluate. Only two days remain of the season and injuries/rest will be massive in these two days. Looking just at the star power on top we see Lebron, AD, Sabonis, and Caris LeVert all entering today questionable. The Discord Chat rooms will be where you want to be to follow all news and get the WinDaily staff’s latest adjustments. Due to the noon slate, I am writing this the night before and don’t have many totals but I expect BKN vs CHI and MIN vs BOS to be among the highest totals today. Let’s get into this Saturday afternoon NBA slate!
In today’s article, I will be using DraftKings pricing to select my two top players at each position using a GPP/Tournament mindset.
Bombcarlo’s NBA GPP Picks 5/15
Point Guard
Lonnie Walker – ($4,500)
If Dejounte sits Walker will be a fantasy play due to all the injuries for San Antonio. Taking off all the players ruled out and Murray we see Walker number two in usage on the team at 28% behind Rudy Gay who is also questionable today. In five of six games Walker has shot double-digit attempts. With Derozan already out that should hold steady again for quality performance.
Payton Pritchard – ($3,800)
When we take all the injured Celtics off the floor Walker, Smart, Brown, Thompson, and Williams, Pritchard sees a massive 10% usage increase. His usage in that time is 27% which is second on the team behind only Jayson Tatum. With that time on the court, Pritchard averages 1.17 fantasy points per minute at a bargain price. To top it off the Wolves have given up the second-most fantasy points to point guards this year and rank in the bottom five in defensive rating with a top-five pace this season.
Shooting Guard
Zach Lavine – ($9,300)
This game has no meaning for the Bulls and slight meaning to the Nets. If Lavine gets full minutes he will be a great GPP option against the seventh-worst defense in the league. These two squads squared up two games ago where Lavine went for over 50 fantasy points with a 37% usage rate. In the past three games, he has yet to see under 35 minutes and I’m comfortable with him if he plays that.
Evan Fournier – ($6,200)
The Celtics were without Brown, Walker, and Smart last game when Fournier saw his highest usage rate with Boston at 26%. All those guys are out again and Fournier didn’t get enough of a price increase for this matchup. As mentioned with Pritchard the Wolves rank fourth-worst in defensive rating and have played at the fifth-fastest pace. The former Magic has scored at least 33 fantasy points in five of six games and that will continue here.
Small Forward
Kyle Kuzma – ($5,800)
A big reason I mentioned Kuzma is due to the injury news to watch in LA. I believe if one of Lebron or AD plays that still leaves Kuzma in play. For Kuzma’s fantasy sake, we hope is AD where Kuzma averages just under a fantasy point per minute. In three of his last four games, he has scored over 30 fantasy points and tonight he faces the fourth fastest team in the league. If both Lebron and AD play, I’m uninterested in Kuzma.
Alec Burks – ($3,900)
Burks has been injured for most of the past month and returned to play 34 minutes and score over 50 fantasy points. He shot 11-20 and 5-10 from three so it wasn’t like he was blazing hot. The Knicks forward did however hoist a team-leading 31% usage rate. I believe the Knicks will sit Rose again which makes Burks a fine option as he averages over a fantasy point per minute with Drose out.
Power Forward
Jayson Tatum – ($9,800)
Last time out Tatum saw a 38% usage rate with Brown, Smart, and Walker out. If we add that he has played at least 38 minutes in three of his last four we see a solid stud to build around. The Wolves as already mentioned are atrocious on defense ranking fourth-worst and giving up the sixth-most fantasy points to power forwards. A massive usage rate and an enticing date with Minnesota make Tatum my main stud option.
Keldon Johnson – ($4,300)
With DeRozan, White, and Poeltl already ruled out I just love the upside Johnson presents. The kid has flashed 30 and even 40 fantasy point upside. Today he should receive more opportunities especially if Dejounte Murray sits where Johnson averages .95 fantasy points per minute. Johnson saw 31 minutes last game with DeRozan and Poeltl both play so I would expect him to clear 30 minutes again. Let’s not forget this is the cheapest he has been in well over a month.
Center
Karl-Anthony Towns – ($10,100)
Boston will be without both Robert Williams and Tristan Thompson. That leaves Luke Kornet and Tacko Fall to guard the Wolves star, big man. I’m sorry but Towns should eat those two alive. The Celtics have been the fifth-worst in defensive rating. They also allowed the sixth-most fantasy points to centers over the past five games. Towns led the Wolves in usage and played 39 minutes last game which Is encouraging for a team with no incentive to win.
Dario Saric – ($3,100)
Deandre Ayton sat last game which allowed Saric to draw the start and play 31 minutes. In those minutes Saric managed to score over 21 fantasy points which is plenty for a near minimum priced player. Ayton comes into today questionable again if he sits Saric is too cheap not to play. He saw a 23% usage rate last game without Ayton. We can also add that the Spurs have given up the third-most fantasy points to centers this season.
Closing Bombcarlo’s NBA GPP Picks 5/15
The NBA season is coming winding down with tonight’s NBA GPP Picks 5/15 slate and one more day of games with a split slate. A ton of tonight’s lineup building will depend on the status of the Lakers stars. I can’t forget about Sabonis either because if he sits Brissett will be tough to avoid. With all this value expected for today’s slate don’t forget to check out the projection models to find our top point per dollar plays. Thanks for tuning in and good luck on this Saturday matinee.
