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 to help build lineups. A host of appealing value options are in play in the first post-All-Star break weekend, and we'll highlight several priced no higher than $4,550, leaving you plenty of room to fit in a few superstars.
Guards
Devin Booker, PHO vs. HOU (Fri.) vs. SAS (Sun.) ($4,400)- Booker closed out the first part of the season with an excellent 35.75 fantasy points against the Warriors that included a 15-point, 10-assist double-double. He has scored at least 20.00 fantasy points in nine of his last 10 games, while also playing at least 30 minutes in eight. Friday, Booker will also draw a fast-paced matchup against the Rockets, who are allowing the sixth-most fantasy points per game to shooting guards this season. While his Sunday affair versus the Spurs will likely be a much tougher proposition, Booker should have the luxury of significant playing time.
Norris Cole, NOP vs. PHI (Fri.) at DET (Sun.) ($4,300)- Cole is the starting point guard for the Pelicans now that Tyreke Evans has undergone season-ending knee surgery. However, his price remains essentially unchanged, offering an opportunity to nab a front-line player on a fast-paced offense for nominal cost. Outside of a clunker when he only scored eight fantasy points -- against the Lakers of all teams -- Cole scored between 21.50 and 39.75 fantasy points in seven of his last 10 games. Cole's Friday matchup against the Sixers will also afford him the opportunity to face one of the most defensively challenged and turnover-prone teams in the league, adding to his appeal.
Evan Fournier, ORL vs. DAL (Fri.), vs. IND (Sun.) ($4,500) and Mario Hezonja, ORL vs. DAL (Fri.), vs. IND (Sun.) ($3,600)- The pair of Magic small forwards stand to gain the most from Tobias Harris' trade to Detroit, yet they continue to be priced extremely reasonably, hence their joint listing. Fournier gets the first crack at the permanent job at the three, a position he's filled at times this season with spectacular results. Although he's undeniably had his ups and downs, Fournier was heating up prior to the All-Star break, scoring between 28.00 and 37.00 fantasy points over his last four games. Meanwhile, Hezonja began making some waves in his own right, scoring over 20 fantasy points thrice in the last 10 games, as well as between 12.00 and 15.25 in three other contests during that stretch, while still at minimum price. Although his price has risen slightly, he offers the promise of a potentially handsome return on his bargain bin price tag due to the added minutes he figures to receive.
Forwards
Bobby Portis, CHI vs. TOR (Fri.), vs. LAL (Sun.) ($3,850)- Portis looks to be on the verge of overtaking starter Taj Gibson for the starting role, and he is already receiving solid minutes in his reserve role. The rookie has played at least 20 minutes in eight straight games and has scored between 22.75 and 26.00 fantasy points in four of his last five. That includes a solid 13-point, 10-rebound performance against the Cavaliers on Thursday in Chicago's first game after the break, which also marked his second straight double-double. Matchups against a pair of two beatable frontcourts over the weekend only serve to brighten his prospects.
Marcus Morris, DET at WAS (Fri.), vs. NOP (Sun.) ($4,300)- Morris continues to be a mainstay as a value play, as his price continues to be locked in despite his string of solid performances. Leading into the All-Star break, Morris scored between 20.50 and 34.25 fantasy points in nine of 10 games, with the sole exception being a 15.00-fantasy point outing against the stalwart Jazz defense. He'll have the added motivation of facing off against his brother Markieff, who was just acquired by the Wizards. However, his primary individual matchup is what furthers his appeal, as Washington continues to surrender the most points and fantasy points to small forwards this season. His Sunday game against the Pelicans may offer a bit more resistance, but Morris has consistently shown the ability to produce in virtually any scenario.
Jabari Parker, MIL vs. CHA (Fri.), at ATL (Sun.) ($3,900)- The normally reliable Parker had DFS players a tad concerned with a pair of clunkers shortly before the All-Star break, but he bounced back nicely in the next two contests to close out the first portion of the season. The two sub-par outings served to bring Parker's price down several hundred dollars as well, and it remains parked just under $4K despite the fact that he scored 17.75 and 32.25 fantasy points in those last two games, respectively. He'll draw two favorable matchups over the weekend, with the Hornets potentially missing both Marvin Williams and Spencer Hawes and ranking as a bottom-10 unit in rebounds per game surrendered to opposing fours, a distinction shared by his Sunday opponent, the Hawks.
Centers
Robin Lopez, NYK at BKN (Fri.), at MIN (Sun.) ($4,450)- Lopez is the second selection that will be locked into a sibling rivalry game on Friday, and a head-to-head one at that. Brook Lopez and the Nets have been consistently vulnerable to centers throughout the season, ranking as the fifth-worst unit against fives in fantasy points allowed and as the most generous in points per game (22.1) surrendered to the position as well. Meanwhile, while certainly not as offensively proficient as his brother, Robin Lopez picked up his contributions on that side of the ball in the 10 games before the All-Star break. He scored between 17.25 and 26.50 fantasy points in eight of those contests, while posting 40.25 and 49.00 fantasy points in the other two. He also continues to make nice contributions in defensive categories, amassing multiple blocks in five of those outings.
Jared Sullinger, BOS at UTA (Fri.) at DEN (Sun.) ($4,550)- Sullinger closed out the first portion of the season on a tear, and he has a chance to pick up where he left off beginning Friday, particularly with Kelly Olynyk on the shelf. He provided a comforting measure of consistency over the last five games before the break, scoring between 25.25 and 47.25 fantasy points over that stretch. Furthermore, his matchups over the weekend could facilitate similar production. The Jazz have been increasingly vulnerable to opposing big men recently despite the presence of Rudy Gobert, and they kicked off the second half of their season by surrendering 22 points and 10 rebounds to Marcin Gortat on Thursday. Sullinger's Sunday opponent, the Nuggets, have been a bit stingier with centers in recent games, but are also beatable down low. With a reasonable cost and the added value of what would likely be plentiful minutes, Sullinger should have opportunity to provide a solid return.
Jusuf Nurkic, DEN at SAC (Fri.), vs. BOS (Sun.) ($3,800)- Speaking of the Nuggets, Nurkic gets a mention as an under-the-radar play who could reap the benefits of some added playing time and a pair of very favorable matchups this weekend. The second-year center, who's been brought along slowly this season in his return from knee surgery, scored 20.00 and 33.75 fantasy points over his last two contests, respectively, before the All-Star break. The latter game saw Nurkic receive a season-high 24 minutes, only one fewer than starter Nikola Jokic. With over a week to rest, Nurkic could be in line for a similar allotment this weekend against two of the most vulnerable frontcourts in the league. The Kings have given up the most fantasy points per game to centers in the last 10 games (56.2), while the Celtics reside just outside the bottom 10 in both fantasy points (47.5) and points (20.8) allowed per game to opposing fives.
