Bargain Plays - Wednesday's Top Sleeper Picks

Here are the the best sleeper picks for Wednesday, December 23's 13-game slate:

PG J.J. Barea, Mavericks (at Nets)

There is a rash of injuries plaguing the Mavericks' PGs; both Deron Williams and Devin Harris are dealing with hamstring issues. Harris' absence from the lineup Wednesday was expected and with Williams' injury in Toronto Tuesday, he's unlikely to play given his age and the quality of the opponent.

That leaves Dallas in the lurch, with no better option than Barea to run the point. He has averaged 8.3 points and 3.9 assists in just 19.5 minutes, so if he's pushed into heavier usage against a bad Nets' defense, a line of 15 points and 8 assists would certainly be within the realm of possibility.

SG Garrett Temple, Wizards (vs. Grizzlies)

The situation in Washington is even more dire, with essentially half of the team's core limping toward the new year. The wings are the hardest hit, with Bradley Beal and Alan Anderson out, and Otto Porter and Gary Neal unlikely to play. That's why Temple has played 38.5 minutes a night in his last two starts.

The gaping holes in the offense means that Temple has to help John Wall shoulder the load. He has taken 13 3-pointers over the last two games, making seven of those shots. Overall, he has combined to score 44 points with 10 rebounds and six assists. He has earned his keep as a temporary starter, so feel free to trust in his DFS potential.

SF Stanley Johnson, Pistons (at Hawks)

Detroit last played Tuesday, where they edged out the Heat in a hard-fought 93-92 victory. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope made headlines for his game-winning jumper, but backup SF Johnson presents the most upside.

With Caldwell-Pope playing 40 minutes Tuesday, expect Johnson to shoulder more responsibility, especially against a Grizzlies' rotation that has played Jeff Green as a small-ball PF of late. Johnson should build on the 9.8 points and 5.2 rebounds he's tallied over his last five games.

PF John Henson, Bucks (vs. 76ers)

Before Jason Kidd became the head coach of the Bucks, Henson averaged 26.5 minutes a game as a second-year player and put up some of the best per-36 block numbers in the league. His favor plummeted last year and now he's averaging just 15.3 minutes a night.

Kidd went under the knife Monday to repair an injured hip and his recovery will keep him off the sideline for the near future. Henson had cracked 20 minutes in three of his past four games. Hopefully interim coach Joe Prunty sees the value in his skill-set; the ability to disrupt shots in the paint will come in handy against the smooth post-scoring of rookie Jahlil Okafor.

C Enes Kanter, Thunder (at Lakers)

This game could very well be over at half-time, which would be a boon for a big statistical producer like Kanter. When Russell Westbrook, Kevin Durant and Serge Ibaka sit, Kanter basically has carte blanche to take his shots and hound for his rebounds.

Much has been made of Kanter's max contract, limited usage this season and questions of what his actual impact on the game is but one thing is clear: the man averages 11 points and eight rebounds in just 20 minutes per game. If he plays 30 minutes against the woeful Lakers' post-defense, you can pencil in a 16-point, 12-rebound double-double.