Detroit Pistons: DFS picks for the Pistons vs Magic

A year ago, the Detroit Pistons were among the least fantasy-friendly teams to target in Daily Fantasy. The slow pace the Pistons prefer tended to keep Detroit’s games off the DFS radar. They’ll slow it down again this season, but value can still be found. Friday’s picks are focused on FanDuel Tournaments.

On Friday night, the Detroit Pistons will host the Orlando Magic, who are coming off a season-opening loss to the Miami Heat. Fortunately, Andre Drummond is fine for Friday, after taking an elbow to the face from Jonas Valanciunas. In his career he has averaged 16 points, 15.3 rebounds, 1.4 steals and 2 blocks per-36 minutes played.

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Drummond’s price is steep at $7.8k, but it’s about as cheap as he’s going to get this year. Nikola Vucevic has no real interest in defense, which should lead to a bounce-back game for Drummond. Orlando was seventh-worst against centers in Defense Vs Position in 2015-16 on Rotogrinders.

Bismack Biyombo‘s debut for the Magic makes this a less-than-ideal matchup, but on opening night, the Magic were second-worst in DvP against centers. If you’re rostering Drummond, you’re hoping he spends most of the night matching up with Vucevic.

Reggie Bullock is questionable for Friday night. If Bullock does not play, his minutes will probably be absorbed by starter Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and reserve Stanley Johnson, who played poorly in Wednesday’s loss, but can be had for the minimum. Neither of them are appealing Daily Fantasy plays right now.

In Orlando’s loss to the Heat, the Magic took a balanced approach, with no starter taking fewer than 11 shots. With Caldwell-Pope likely defending shooting guard Evan Fournier, the only Magic players I’m looking at are starters Aaron Gordon and Nikola Vucevic. Although Elfrid Payton is always a low-floor triple-double threat, I don’t like his chances with Andre Drummond hunting rebounds.

Magic small forward Aaron Gordon is in for a big season. At $5.6k, he’s worth considering even in a tough matchup versus Detroit. In 2015-16, Gordon averaged per-36 minutes 13.9 points, 9.8 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.1 steals, 1.1 blocks, and only 1.3 turnovers.

He played just 23.9 minutes per game in 2015-16, but he was on the court for 35 minutes in the Magic’s first game of 2016-17, finishing with 12 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal, 1 block and 3 turnovers. The Pistons were fifth in DvP against small forwards in 2015-16, they’ll be tough again this season, but his ability to put up decent numbers across multiple categories provides him with a safe floor, and big upside.

Magic center Nikola Vucevic is less appealing but still an option against last season’s 11th-ranked defense vs centers. In 2015-16 Vucevic averaged 20.9 points, 10.2 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 0.9 steals, 1.2 blocks and 2.2 turnovers per-36 minutes.

Next: Coming to terms with Darko Milicic

While Gordon is under-priced for the minutes he’s been given, at $7.8k Vucevic is priced right where he should be. There is some upside, but no bargain here.

*Defense vs Position rankings courtesy of Rotogrinders.com, and player statistics from Basketball-reference.com.

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