Exile on DraftStreet
This segment is here every day, in part to promote upcoming events like the Sheridan Hoops Freeroll, which closes at 7:00 EST on Friday and has almost 500 entries already. There’s always room for one more. It’s free to join DraftStreet, no credit card or deposit is required, and there’s no catch or obligation.
The salary cap game is a classic, with simple rules — pick the eight NBA players you like best that night — and challenging strategy. I compare it to an 8-piece jigsaw puzzle. High-salaried players (LeBron James costs $23,141 tomorrow) are big pieces who produce big value. The trick is to find “smaller pieces” (players with bargain salaries) who contribute to your team’s totals.
Cash leagues, with entry fees as little as $2, feature a capped number of entries, and pay out considerably more prize money to more than twice as many winners. Only the top 15 (out of 1,000+) get paid in the Freeroll; there are 50 prizes (out of 550) in money leagues.
Last night, I struck out in the salary cap game but joined two $5 3-man Snake drafts and won both ($13.50 each) thanks to the incredible Stephen Curry and the magnificent Al Horford. My $100 weekly bankroll is exactly $50 ahead after three nights, and we will be back in action this evening. Just click the DS logo above to get started immediately if you don’t want to wait for tomorrow’s Freeroll.
| DraftStreet 15 | Feb. 28 |
| Stars | Over $13,000 |
| Kobe Bryant | $20,906 |
| Dwight Howard | $17,184 |
| Paul George | $17,283 |
| Joakim Noah | $16,902 |
| Chris Paul | $16,037 |
| Scrubs | Under $9,000 |
| Antawn Jamison | $8,728 |
| Lamar Odom | $8,678 |
| Lance Stephenson | $8,375 |
| Marco Belinelli | $5,160 |
| DeAndre Jordan | $8,856 |
| Starters | $9,000 to $13,000 |
| Evan Turner | $12,387 |
| Ian Mahinmi | $9,132 |
| Metta World Peace | $9,390 |
| Jamal Crawford | $9,170 |
| Steve Nash | $11,744 |
Even with only three NBA games, there are Thursday leagues, and the chart tries to narrow down the 75 available players to the best 15 candidates. You can make unlimited roster moves until the 7:00 EST deadline.
F1 Carlos Boozer (CHI-F) $13,953
F2 Luol Deng (CHI-F) $13,412
G1 Kobe Bryant (LAL-G) $20,906
G2 Steve Nash (LAL-G) $11,744
C1 Joakim Noah (CHI-C) $16,902
C2 Ian Mahinmi (IND-C) $9,132
U1 Antawn Jamison (LAL-F) $8,728
U2 Marco Belinelli (CHI-G) $5,160
It was a tough call between Joakim Noah and Dwight Howard; Nikola Pekovic ($15,785) is the only other center priced above $10,000. The middle class is also thinner than usual because of the light schedule, but I’ve learned that wins come when you least expect them and the lineups you feel great about often disappoint. My consistent daily play is entering the maximum three teams at $2 each in the $1,000 GPP (Guaranteed Prize Pool) tournament, but I also try the Snake and Pick ‘Em formats. Good luck with all your teams!
The Fantasy Spin is here every morning, by 10:00 EST. Follow me on Twitter — @SheridanFantasy — for updates.