This article is part of our FantasyDraft NBA series.
Lottery positioning is on the line Thursday, as the last-place Nets host the third-to-last Suns in a matchup loaded with fantasy potential. On the other side of the standings, the Grizzlies visit the Spurs in a rematch of last week's 104-96 Memphis win.
GUARDS
Damian Lillard, POR vs. NY ($18,100): Fantasy managers looking at Lillard will want him to score around 40 fantasy points Thursday. Well, he's scored at least 27 points in each of his last seven games, including five times with at least 31, and three with at least 36. He's averaging 34.9 points per game in that stretch – and that's just regular points, not fantasy points. Add in his 4.6 assists, 4.1 threes and 3.9 rebounds per game, and he easily eclipses that 40-fantasy-point goal. Additionally, the Knicks are still bad, allowing the most points per possession over the last 10 games of any defense playing Thursday.
Goran Dragic, MIA vs. TOR ($14,700): Dragic is one of the league leaders in drives, drive field-goal attempts and drive field-goal percentage. A ton of his value comes from his ability to penetrate into the lane. The Raptors will be without their best rim protector, Serge Ibaka (suspension), which makes Dragic's job a whole lot easier. Dragic is averaging 21.3 points, 4.5 rebounds and 4.3 assists in 32.8 minutes per game over his last four.
Devin Booker, PHO at BKN ($12,700): Booker is now cheaper than his backcourt teammate Tyler Ulis, who is a good fantasy option but nowhere near Booker's ability level. Booker has played at least 30 minutes in seven straight games, and in all but one game since the All-Star break. The Suns face the Nets, one of the fastest teams in the league, and one of the worst at per-possession defense.
FORWARDS/CENTERS
Brook Lopez, BKN vs. PHO ($13,000): Lopez averages 5.0 free throw attempts per game, connecting at an 81.6 percent rate. Meanwhile, Suns opponents average the most free throw attempts in the league, and by a hefty margin. Lopez is also averaging 25.5 points and 6.0 rebounds per game over his past six, both substantial improvements over his season-long numbers.
DeAndre Jordan, LAC at DAL ($12,600): The Mavericks are the worst rebounding team in the league, by an inconceivable margin. In terms of rebound percentage, they are almost twice as far from the league average as the third-worst Nets. Only two teams have had a worse rebound percentage in the last five seasons. Jordan is the league's second-leading rebounder, and he has posted a double-double in each of the past four games.
Jonas Valanciunas, TOR at MIA ($10,200): Since the Raptors acquired Serge Ibaka in a deadline trade, Valanciunas' value has tumbled, playing fewer than 25 minutes in all but two games since the trade. Even below that cap, his minutes have fluctuated significantly. But with Ibaka suspended Thursday, Valanciunas should be in line for a much bigger role. In the two games Valanciunas saw more than 30 minutes since the Ibaka trade, he averaged 18.0 points and 12.0 rebounds.
UTILITY
Tyler Ulis, PHO at BKN ($13,300): Ulis is averaging 14.5 points and 9.5 assists in 41.0 minutes per game over his last four, and Eric Bledsoe (knee) was active for three of those. As mentioned before, the Nets are one of the most favorable opponents playing Thursday.
Noah Vonleh, POR vs. NY ($7,400): Vonleh's workload has increased over the past six games, playing at least 23 minutes in all six, including at least 26 in his last four. He's averaging 8.5 points and 8.0 rebounds in 26.0 minutes per game over the six game period. In addition to the "the Knicks aren't good stats" mentioned above, they also rank 22nd in rebound percentage and 25th in opponent turnovers.
