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Often I struggle to find cheap options, but Thursday’s slate is kind of unusual in that I had a harder time finding expensive players I really like. For that reason, I suggest choosing your studs first and filling in around them so you don’t get stuck playing someone like Blake Griffin who will probably be just fine but may not represent much of a value.
Point Guard
Rajon Rondo is averaging 15.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, 8.5 assists and 2.5 steals per game against the Cavaliers. Rondo missed a triple-double by one rebound and one assist Sunday, and we could see similar production in this game.
Damian Lillard has scored at least 19 points in 18 consecutive games, and he is averaging 28.9 points, 4.4 rebounds and 5.7 assists in March. Lillard is exceptionally safe, and I will happily lock in his position on a day in which the point guard class is underwhelming, to say the least.
Kris Dunn has played at least 24 minutes in four consecutive games, and he is averaging 12.3 points, 4.3 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 3.0 steals over his last three games. Dunn may not have the upside of someone like Jeremy Lin or Tyler Ulis, but Dunn is safe and cheap.
| PLAYER | TM | H/A | OPP | GP | MPG | FT% | 3PTM | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | FG% | USAGE | FDPTS/G | DKPTS/G | YPTS/G | $FD | $DK | $Y |
| Rajon Rondo | CHI | H | CLE | 64 | 26.5 | 63% | 0.7 | 7.5 | 4.9 | 6.5 | 1.4 | 0.2 | 2.4 | 41% | 17.40% | 23.9 | 25.7 | 24.2 | $6,500 | $6,600 | $21 |
| Kris Dunn | MIN | H | LAL | 69 | 17 | 61% | 0.3 | 3.9 | 2.2 | 2.2 | 1 | 0.5 | 1.2 | 39% | 14.50% | 11.7 | 12.5 | 11.8 | $3,900 | $3,900 | $10 |
| Damian Lillard | POR | H | HOU | 69 | 35.8 | 89% | 2.8 | 26.7 | 4.9 | 5.8 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 2.7 | 45% | 31.40% | 40.9 | 43.9 | 42.3 | $9,300 | $9,200 | $46 |
Shooting Guard
This may be your last chance to use David Nwaba as a punt play. Nwaba is averaging 9.0 points and 5.3 rebounds in 26.0 minutes per game over his last three games. With Brandon Ingram expected to sit again, Nwaba will likely play a large role in the Lakers’ tanking effort once again.
Eric Gordon was one of my worse calls Tuesday, but I’m going back to the well Thursday. Gordon is averaging 21.0 points, 5.0 rebounds and 3.5 assists against Portland this season, and it doesn’t hurt that Ryan Anderson remains out.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope is averaging 17.0 points, 5.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists against the Nets this season. He is a fine alternative if you don’t quite trust Eric Gordon.
Phoenix is hosting a Clippers’ team on the second half of a back-to-back, and the Clippers could be without Austin Rivers, who suffered a hamstring injury Wednesday. Booker is always a risky cash play, but it certainly looks like a favorable situation. Booker is averaging 23.8 points, 2.5 rebounds and 3.3 assists on 3+ days rest this season.
| PLAYER | TM | H/A | OPP | GP | MPG | FT% | 3PTM | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | FG% | USAGE | FDPTS/G | DKPTS/G | YPTS/G | $FD | $DK | $Y |
| Kentavious Caldwell-Pope | DET | H | BKN | 70 | 33.7 | 84% | 2.1 | 14.1 | 3.2 | 2.6 | 1.2 | 0.2 | 1.1 | 41% | 19.10% | 23.5 | 25.3 | 24.5 | $4,700 | $5,200 | $19 |
| David Nwaba | LAL | A | MIN | 14 | 16.9 | 63% | 0.1 | 4.6 | 2.9 | 0.4 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 59% | 10.40% | 10.4 | 10.7 | 10.4 | $3,700 | $3,300 | $10 |
| Eric Gordon | HOU | A | POR | 68 | 30.8 | 84% | 3.4 | 16.4 | 2.6 | 2.6 | 0.6 | 0.5 | 1.7 | 41% | 22.30% | 24.1 | 26.8 | 25.8 | $4,800 | $5,300 | $16 |
| Devin Booker | PHX | H | LAC | 72 | 34.9 | 84% | 1.9 | 21.6 | 3.2 | 3.2 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 3 | 42% | 28.20% | 29.5 | 32.2 | 30.5 | $7,600 | $7,200 | $28 |
Small Forward
Tobias Harris and Marcus Morris are averaging 23.5 points and 4.5 rebounds and 18.0 points and 4.0 rebounds respectively against the Nets. Given the choice between the two, I would rather play Harris, but I would be perfectly content to save some money with Morris.
Jimmy Butler is averaging 21.3 points, 8.0 rebounds and 8.0 assists in three games against the Cavaliers this season. Those numbers are even more impressive considering Dwyane Wade played in all of those games and Butler has been much better with Wade off the floor.
| PLAYER | TM | H/A | OPP | GP | MPG | FT% | 3PTM | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | FG% | USAGE | FDPTS/G | DKPTS/G | YPTS/G | $FD | $DK | $Y |
| Marcus Morris | DET | H | BKN | 74 | 32.9 | 79% | 1.5 | 14 | 4.7 | 2.1 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 1.1 | 41% | 20.10% | 23.6 | 25.2 | 24.4 | $4,900 | $5,100 | $20 |
| Tobias Harris | DET | H | BKN | 75 | 31.5 | 85% | 1.3 | 16.2 | 5.1 | 1.7 | 0.7 | 0.5 | 1.2 | 48% | 21.70% | 26 | 27.5 | 26.6 | $5,400 | $6,000 | $21 |
| Jimmy Butler | CHI | H | CLE | 68 | 36.9 | 86% | 1.1 | 23.5 | 6.2 | 5.5 | 1.9 | 0.4 | 2.1 | 45% | 26.40% | 41.7 | 43.6 | 42.3 | $10,000 | $10,000 | $48 |
Power Forward
On the one hand, I’m pretty sure Nikola Mirotic has never put together four good games in a row in his entire NBA career. On the other hand, Cleveland’s defense is pretty terrible, and Mirotic is averaging 10.7 points and 7.7 rebounds against the Cavs this season. I would rather play Mirotic than Julius Randle or Marquise Chriss, and he is cheaper than Randle as well.
Kevin Love has been inconsistent since returning from his knee injury, but he has two double-doubles in six games since his return. As good as Nikola Mirotic has been offensively, the idea that he, Bobby Portis and Joffrey Lauvergne could slow down Kevin Love is laughable. I might be reticent in a cash lineup, but at the very least Love belongs in a GPP lineup.
Especially on a smaller slate, it can be helpful to identify the cheapest player at a given position who you can play without hating yourself. At power forward on Thursday’s slate, that player is Jon Leuer. Leuer has scored two points twice in the last 10 days, and one of those games came against Brooklyn, which could be problematic. That being said, Leuer had double-digit points twice in that span as well, which cannot be said for guys like Larry Nance Jr. and Trevor Booker. The Nets are still the worst team in the NBA in points allowed, and I feel pretty confident Leuer will get his this time around.
| PLAYER | TM | H/A | OPP | GP | MPG | FT% | 3PTM | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | FG% | USAGE | FDPTS/G | DKPTS/G | YPTS/G | $FD | $DK | $Y |
| Nikola Mirotic | CHI | H | CLE | 62 | 23.5 | 76% | 1.7 | 10.1 | 5.2 | 1 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 1.1 | 41% | 19.60% | 19.7 | 21.3 | 20.5 | $5,200 | $5,800 | $15 |
| Jon Leuer | DET | H | BKN | 69 | 26.5 | 89% | 0.7 | 10.7 | 5.5 | 1.6 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.9 | 49% | 17.40% | 20.4 | 21.4 | 20.7 | $4,100 | $4,200 | $11 |
| Kevin Love | CLE | A | CHI | 52 | 31.2 | 88% | 2.5 | 19.3 | 10.9 | 1.9 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 2 | 43% | 26.60% | 35.6 | 38.4 | 36.8 | $7,400 | $7,300 | $36 |
Center
Brook Lopez has at least 23 points and seven rebounds in each of his last two games, and he could make it three in-a-row against the Pistons Thursday. Lopez had 29 and seven against Detroit last week, and he was even better in their first meeting.
Clint Capela is averaging 18.0 points and 8.0 rebounds against the Trail Blazers this season. I don’t necessarily expect Capela to match that Production Thursday, but he is averaging 14.0 points and 9.2 rebounds over his last five games.
| PLAYER | TM | H/A | OPP | GP | MPG | FT% | 3PTM | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | FG% | USAGE | FDPTS/G | DKPTS/G | YPTS/G | $FD | $DK | $Y |
| Brook Lopez | BKN | A | DET | 68 | 29.6 | 81% | 1.8 | 20.7 | 5.3 | 2.4 | 0.5 | 1.6 | 2.5 | 48% | 29.30% | 32.4 | 34.8 | 33.3 | $7,100 | $7,000 | $29 |
| Clint Capela | HOU | A | POR | 59 | 23.7 | 54% | 0 | 12.5 | 7.9 | 0.9 | 0.5 | 1.2 | 1.3 | 65% | 19.70% | 25.6 | 26.6 | 25.6 | $5,600 | $5,600 | $17 |