This article is part of our FantasyAces NBA series.
Monday's don't usually present a big slate of games, but that will be the case this week with seven games on the schedule. Some of the top teams to find values play Monday night, which will make it a fun one on FantasyAces.
We'll break down a few value plays, some players who are currently trending up and others who are trending down for the given slate.
There is value to be had on FantasyAces, which will allow you to spend on top-tier players to round out your lineup.
Keep an eye on the inactives throughout the day to stay up to date with the latest changes in the NBA.
Without further ado, here's Monday's NBA breakdown for games on FantasyAces.
Value Plays
Guard
Trey Burke, UTA, $4,400 – Despite being benched in favor of rookie Dante Exum earlier this season, Burke's fantasy value has been on an upswing in the last two weeks. Even in a reserve role, he has averaged over 32 minutes in his last six games.
What makes him so appealing at his price is his high usage. Burke is averaging over 15 field-goal attempts over the past eight games. With his price at just $4,400, Burke will need 26.4 fantasy points to reach value. Considering his shooting volume, he would need to shoot over 40 percent from the field to score 15 points. Those last 11 fantasy points will come from his secondary statistics, where he is averaging just under eight combined assists and rebounds while also contributing 11 total steals in his last four games.
Burke's price is sure to rise, as he's exceeded value in five of his last six games, so be sure to take advantage of his price point for Monday's slate on FantasyAces.
Forward
Furkan Aldemir, PHI $3,000 – With news that Nerlens Noel is likely to start at power forward for the rest of the season, Aldemir will likely see the bulk of the starts at center. Currently priced at the minimum salary ($3,000), Aldemir makes for an absolute steal in his new starting role.
Aldemir has played just 11.3 minutes per game this season in 34 appearances. He has averaged 1.9 points and four rebounds per game. While that may seem like nothing on the surface, Aldemir is averaging 0.8 fantasy points per minute, which is a solid rate for a player priced at the minimum. If he approaches 30 minutes as a starter, his pace will bring him close to 24 fantasy points. With that production, he is worth up to $4,000 on FantasyAces, so be sure to watch his price as it rises.
In Aldemir's first start, he scored 11 points and grabbed 10 rebounds en route to 25 fantasy points. While his points scored were higher than his pace has indicated, he will see more shots as a starter, which gives him double-double upside. At the minimum price, Aldemir is worth a spot in your lineup.
Center
Jordan Hill, LAL, $4,400 – Hill is back in the Lakers' rotation, as he burst back onto the scene with 22 points and 16 rebounds in 27 minutes against the Nets on Sunday. The last six times Hill has played 27 minutes or more, he has scored 43.7,18, 41.9, 32.5, 23.6, 23.5 fantasy points, respectively. The one game he scored under 23 fantasy points was against the Jazz, who have arguably the best defensive frontcourt in basketball.
If Hill continues to see 27 minutes or more, he is a great value at center. But how can we determine Hill's playing time going forward? Currently, Carlos Boozer continues to sit for the Lakers. In three games without Boozer this season, Hill is averaging 33 minutes per game, and he has a double-double in each of those three games. In those three contests, Hill has averaged 15 points and 13 rebounds, which easily meets value at his current price of $4,400. If Hill is active and Boozer continues to miss time, he is a solid pick on FantasyAces at center.
Trending Up
Ersan Ilyasova, MIL, $4,200 – Ilyasova has reached value in seven of his last 10 games and has posted 40 or more fantasy points in three of his last five. With his price at just $4,200, he is likely to be highly owned. With his ability to score (19 points per game in the last five games) he is trending up!
Markieff Morris, PHX, $4,850 – In the last six contests, Morris has averaged 19 points, eight rebounds and three assists per game. He has reached value in seven of his last nine games and looks to be a feature of the Suns offense, as he has taken 16 shots or more in each of his last four games.
Trending Down
Michael Carter-Williams, MIL, $5,050 – Since being traded to the Bucks, Carter-Williams' fantasy value has taken a major hit. In 30.5 minutes per game, he is averaging 13.4 points, 3.4 rebounds and 5.4 assists.
At his current price, over 30 fantasy points is needed to reach value. Carter-Williams has only reached or exceeded that plateau seven times since joining the Bucks. His shooting percentage is still low (39.1 percent from the field) and he has only made two three-pointers in 18 attempts in addition to his turnover issues, which have plagued him throughout his career. Carter-Williams has 23 turnovers in the last six games and is averaging four turnovers per 36 minutes, which is disturbing because he does not handle the ball as much in Milwaukee as he did in Philadelphia.
Since being traded, Carter-Williams' per-36 statistics have dropped off as well, likely due to the fact that he is no longer the focal point of the offense. Before the trade, Carter-Williams averaged 15.9 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 7.8 assists per 36 minutes. After the trade, he averages 15.8 points, 4.1 rebounds and 6.4 assists per 36 minutes. In addition, Carter-Williams rarely sees 36 minutes in a game for him to reach that production. In the Bucks last game, he saw just 21 minutes and has only played over 36 minutes twice since being traded.
His productive nights are few and far between, so be sure to stay away from the Bucks' point guard on FantasyAces for the foreseeable future.
