3 NBA DraftKings Value Plays to Target on 12/14/17

Willie Cauley-Stein, PF/C, Sacramento Kings

DraftKings Salary: $5,100

Willie Cauley-Stein returned Tuesday from a three-game absence and looked plenty healthy in his 30 minutes of court time against the Phoenix Suns, putting up 23.5 DraftKings points. Prior to his injury, he was in the midst of a five-game stretch in which he enjoyed averages of 32.7 DraftKings points, with ceiling performances of 38 and 43 DraftKings points. That type of production is more than enough to reach value at this price tag.

He came off the bench in his first game back, but he will likely return to the starting lineup sometime soon. Skal Labissiere started and saw just 13 minutes in that game, and it wouldn't be surprising to see the Sacramento Kings shift Cauley-Stein back to the starting five tonight to contend with the size of the Minnesota Timberwolves' frontcourt.

Cauley-Stein faced the Minnesota Timberwolves four times last season but only topped 10 minutes in the latter two matchups. In those games, he averaged 34 DraftKings points, which shouldn't be overly surprising given Minnesota's struggles defending centers.

Minnesota ranks eighth in DraftKings points per game allowed to opposing centers, thanks mostly to Karl-Anthony Towns. Towns ranks 68th among 73 centers in defensive real plus-minus, and his defense has been a liability for the past two seasons. If we get word that Cauley-Stein is starting, he is in cash-game consideration at his salary. If not, he is still an awesome tournament play.