This article is part of our FantasyAces NBA series.
RotoWire aims to help you win on Fantasy Aces, as we break down a few value plays for this weekend that can help you build your lineups. Below are several priced no higher than $4,700, leaving plenty of room to fit in a few superstars.
Guards
Zach LaVine, MIN at MIL (Fri.), vs. BKN (Sat.) ($4,650)- After briefly alternating starts with veteran Tayshaun Prince, LaVine has settled in as a starter, and unlike a lot of other players at his position, he hasn't been overly scoring-dependent for fantasy production. In tallying between 28.75 and 32.75 fantasy points over his last three, LaVine has hauled in 17 rebounds and dished out seven assists. He'll have the benefit of drawing two bottom-10 defenses versus shooting guards over the weekend, with Milwaukee giving up the seventh-most fantasy points per game (57.9)to the position this season and Brooklyn checking in as the sixth-worst (58.9).
Donald Sloan, BKN at DEN (Fri.), at MIN (Sat.) ($4,200)- Sloan has scored between 21.75 and 32.25 fantasy points over his last five games. While he won't typically provide an explosive return, Sloan's recent production has him netting 5x-7x value. He'll draw two favorable matchups this weekend that could facilitate a continuation of his recent success, as both Denver and Minnesota rank in the bottom 10 in fantasy points and points surrendered per game to points guards this season.
Avery Bradley, BOS vs. NYK (Fri.), at CLE (Sat.) ($4,400)- Bradley remains as steady as ever, as does his very modest price tag. He's scored between 24.50 and 32.50 fantasy points over his last four, and has netted between 17 and 25 points in eight of his last 10. He often boosts his fantasy production with some defensive prowess as well, as he has recorded multiple steals in three of the last four. With the Celtics fighting to stay near the top of the Eastern Conference, Bradley should be in for plenty of minutes in two competitive matchups over the weekend.
Forwards
Luol Deng, MIA at PHI (Fri.), vs. PHI (Sun.) ($4,700)- Deng has produced considerably offensively in the absence of Chris Bosh (calf) and has the benefit of a home-and-home series against the lowly Sixers over the weekend. He's scored between 25.00 and 50.75 fantasy points in seven games since the All-Star break and will be up against a Sixers defense that ranks second-worst in fantasy points (67.1), third-worst in points (22.1) and sixth-worst in rebounds (11.2) surrendered to power forwards this season.
Bojan Bogdanovic, BKN at DEN (Fri.), at MIN (Sat.) ($3,900)- Bogdanovic has scored between 22.50 and 32.25 fantasy points in three of four starts since Joe Johnson was let go, and he draws two matchups over the weekend against questionable defenses. Both the Nuggets and Timberwolves rank in the bottom half of the league in fantasy points surrendered to small forwards, and Minnesota is also notably tied for second with several other clubs for most three-pointers allowed per game (2.6) to the position, a potentially relevant stat in the case of the sharpshooting Bogdanovic.
Mirza Teletovic, PHO at ORL (Fri.), at MEM (Sun.) ($3,950)- Teletovic has established himself as the clear backup to Alex Len at the four, and he has played at least 20 minutes in seven straight contests. He's scored double-digit points in each of those games and has amassed between 21.00 and 41.25 fantasy points in eight straight as well. Besides his solid work on the glass, Teletovic's deft shooting touch frequently provides a nice boost to his fantasy production, and he's tallied multiple three-pointers in nine of the last 10 games. He draws a premium matchup Friday against a Magic team surrendering the fourth-most fantasy points (65.8), second-most points (22.2) and most three-pointers (1.8) this season to power forwards, and Sunday he'll draw a Grizzlies frontcourt that's surprisingly surrendered the second-most rebounds (11.7) and third-most three pointers (1.6) per game to the position.
Centers
Alex Len, PHO at ORL (Fri.), at MEM ($4,100)- Power forward has been one of the very few bright spots for Phoenix lately, and Len currently forms the starting component of a formidable 1-2 punch with Teletovic. The third-year big man continues to produce despite the adverse conditions around him, scoring between 28.50 and 47.50 fantasy points in five of the last six games. He's also collected double-digit rebounds in four of those contests and has received his minutes regardless of the score. Despite the recent production, Len's price remains firmly parked at just over $4K, allowing him to often return outstanding 7x-10x value recently. He'll draw the vulnerable Magic and Grizzlies frontcourts over the weekend, furthering his appeal.
Nikola Jokic, DEN vs. BKN (Fri.), vs. DAL (Sun.) ($4,600)- Rostering Jokic can admittedly be a bit of a roller coaster at times, as the big man's tendency to get into foul trouble can significantly compromise his minutes. However, he tends to return solid 5x-6x value when he manages to stay on the court, and he has scored between 23.00 and 45.25 fantasy points in five of the last six. Friday, he'll draw the always-appealing matchup against Brook Lopez and a Nets defense allowing the sixth-most fantasy points per game (48.8) to centers this season, and gets a Mavs defense Sunday that has been more vulnerable to opposing big men recently. Dallas has given up 57.20 fantasy points per game to centers over the last five, fourth-worst in the league over that span.
Robin Lopez, NYK at BOS (Fri.), vs. DET (Sat.) ($4,450)- Lopez's price has remained stagnant despite some standout performances lately, and his matchups over the weekend certainly make him worthy of consideration. Although he underwhelmed with just 11.00 fantasy points against his former Blazers teammates Tuesday, he only played 19 minutes. In the five prior games, all playing at least 25 minutes, Lopez scored between 18.25 and 47.00 fantasy points. Friday, he'll face off against a soft Celtics frontcourt that he had 17 points and 13 rebounds against in their last meeting on Feb. 2, and that surrenders the ninth-most fantasy points per game (48.4) to centers this season. Saturday's tilt against the Pistons puts him up against a Detroit defense that's giving up 21.1 points per game to centers, tied with the Celtics and Nuggets for seventh-most in the league.
