It’s a crazy day — there will be tons of movement later today as news breaks, so keep an eye out for updates. Don’t forget to tune in to my NBA trade deadline show from noon ET until sometime after 3 when the deadline ends. I’ll be breaking down every single deal that comes in as we ramp up to the trade deadline. But for now, let’s focus on the best DraftKings NBA DFS picks for Thursday, Feb. 6, using Stokastic’s NBA DFS Sims, NBA DFS projections and NBA DFS ownership projections.
DraftKings NBA DFS Picks Today, February 6
5 – Jayson Tatum
Position: SF/PF | Salary: $9,800
Projections: 27.5 Points, 8.1 Rebounds, 5.9 Assists, 1.6 Stocks
Tatum has a matchup with the new-look Dallas Mavericks. Maybe they have Anthony Davis, maybe they don’t, but Tatum is locked in for around 36 minutes of action. On a six-game slate, his salary isn’t problematic. Right now, we’re seeing LeBron James pulling 30% projected ownership, and I actually prefer Tatum at a third of that. If you’re looking for a way to differentiate, Tatum is your guy.
4 – Ivica Zubac
Position: C | Salary: $7,200
Projections: 15.8 Points, 13.1 Rebounds, 2.4 Assists, 2.0 Stocks
The Clippers look really strong today in a solid matchup against the Indiana Pacers. Zubac has been logging about 33 minutes a night, and this is a great spot for him. Myles Turner is not a concern, and Indiana’s frontcourt depth doesn’t scare me at all. This is a pure price play. Zubac plays big minutes, produces well per minute and has the potential to absolutely dominate the glass tonight.
3 – Paolo Banchero
Position: PF | Salary: $8,400
Projections: 24.3 Points, 7.9 Rebounds, 5.6 Assists, 1.5 Stocks
Banchero has been struggling to hit shots recently, but he’s still worth a look at $8,400. Yes, it’s a tough spot against Denver, and yes, Orlando is on a back-to-back at altitude, but Banchero’s ownership is lower than I expected. I still believe in him turning things around. Maybe he and Franz Wagner don’t mesh perfectly on the floor, but they’ll figure it out. With Jalen Suggs expected to be out again, Banchero will be the focal point of this offense, and he’s going to take every shot he can get. That provides plenty of value at this salary.
2 – Buddy Hield
Position: SG | Salary: $4,200
Projections: 14.3 Points, 3.9 Rebounds, 2.3 Assists, 1.4 Stocks
The Golden State Warriors are going to be extremely short-handed tonight facing the new-look Lakers, and there’s no Luka Doncic tonight. The Warriors moved Andrew Wiggins yesterday, so he’s not available. That leaves them incredibly thin. With no Wiggins, no Kyle Anderson, no Dennis Schroder and no Jimmy Butler, this team is running out of bodies. That means more minutes for guys like Hield. His position, salary and role are all wildly underpriced relative to what he’ll be asked to do tonight. He’s a top-5 play no matter what, but there’s one guy I like even more.
1 – Brandin Podziemski
Position: PG/SG | Salary: $4,400
Projections: 12.0 Points, 5.6 Rebounds, 4.4 Assists, 1.3 Stocks
Again, the Warriors are just flat-out short on players. They’ll likely have only 10 active bodies, and a couple of those guys never see the floor unless it’s an emergency. Podziemski’s playing time is locked in at 30-plus minutes, and there aren’t many alternatives. Are they really going to run Pat Spencer over him? I don’t think so. Podziemski is the best value on the slate and my No. 1 ConTENder tonight.
