This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Basketball series.
Thursday's six-game NBA slate is very balanced, with six current playoff teams and six non-playoff teams in action. The most appetizing matchup from a fantasy perspective is probably the Kings-Pelicans showdown pitting two bottom-five defenses against each other, though the Nuggets-Wizards clash featuring two bottom-eight units isn't far behind. Those teams and the Bulls (at the Lakers) may be the most conventional places to look for value, but it's important not to ignore some of the top individuals on other rosters as well. Regardless of which team they play for, all of the guys listed below should be able to return solid value at their current prices.
GUARD
Khris Middleton, MIL at MEM ($33) - Middleton has played exceptionally well of late, topping 20 points in 10 of his last 11 games while chipping in at least five assists eight times in that span. It should come as no surprise that his fantasy production has exceeded his current salary in all but two of those games, and the sample size is large enough at this point to argue that the fourth-year wing has made a permanent offensive leap. If a 20-point, five-assist baseline is his new normal, Middleton is criminally underpriced.
George Hill, IND vs. ATL ($16) - Although he put up a pedestrian 15 points and two assists, Hill played 40 minutes in his return to the starting lineup Friday against the Clippers. While he seemed a bit rusty in that performance, the point guard's previous contributions indicate that he's a solid bet for fantasy point production in the mid-20s when he plays his full complement of minutes. Hill's recent week-long absence due to the birth of his child has depressed his fantasy price to a mere $16, making the veteran a tremendous bargain based on his season-long statistics.
Guard to Avoid:
Monta Ellis, ATL vs. IND ($27) - Ellis' recent play has been far from befitting of a $27 player, as he has managed to top 30.0 fantasy points just once in his last seven games. The ball-dominant guard also seemed to have trouble adjusting to sharing the ball with George Hill in the latter's return to the starting lineup Tuesday, recording just 19.3 fantasy points for his second-lowest total since Dec. 18. With an almost equally productive guard on the same roster available for $11 less, it's hard to justify including Ellis in your lineup at the moment.
Others to Avoid: Michael Carter-Williams ($31), Arron Afflalo ($19), C.J. Miles ($19), Darren Collison ($17)
FORWARD
Otto Porter, WAS vs. DEN ($24) - Porter looked much more comfortable in his second game back from a hip injury Tuesday, scoring 34.6 fantasy points in 35 minutes. The third overall pick from the 2013 draft will once again be asked to carry a significant offensive load against Denver's 23rd-ranked defense, as fellow wing Bradley Beal will be forced to miss the contest unless he's able to pass league concussion protocol. Even if Beal plays, Porter's 32.2 fantasy point per game average in his last three playing alongside a healthy Beal back in December show that he can thrive regardless of who's in the lineup beside him.
Ryan Anderson, NOP vs. SAC ($25) - Anderson is rolling offensively heading into this home date with the league's worst defense, with 45 points and nine made 3-pointers in his last two games. With Anthony Davis (concussion) doubtful to play Thursday, Anderson will get all the minutes he can handle while being asked to shoulder a large portion of Davis' usual scoring and rebounding duties. Take advantage of Anderson's combination of opportunity and momentum, as chances like this don't come around every night.
Forward to Avoid:
Omri Casspi, SAC at NOP ($26) - Many expected Casspi to thrive after having a starting role handed to him in Rudy Gay's absence. That hasn't been the case, though, as he has averaged a disappointing 22.5 fantasy points per game in the three contests Gay missed over the past week. A matchup with the porous Pelicans defense offers a tantalizing shot at redemption, but $26 is too high a price to pay for a player whose best argument for inclusion in your lineup is the opposition's ineptitude.
Others to Avoid: Will Barton ($27), Zach Randolph ($26), Matt Barnes ($20), Jordan Hill ($16)
CENTER
Pau Gasol, CHI vs. LAL ($39) - Gasol has made his former employers in Los Angeles pay dearly since parting ways with them following the 2013-14 campaign, averaging 21.5 points, 11.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 3.0 blocks per game against them in two meetings since that point. The veteran center is sure to be motivated in his last career road game against former championship teammate Kobe Bryant, and his 20.7 PPG and 12.7 RPG averages over the last three games indicate that Gasol's current form is good enough to potentially top his previous performances against the Lakers. Expect Gasol to easily live up to his billing as Thursday's most expensive center.
Center to Avoid:
Greg Monroe, MIL at MEM ($30) - Monroe has been playing decently of late, but it's best to avoid him against one of the league's premier defensive centers in Marc Gasol. Memphis allows the second-most made three pointers in the NBA despite ranking sixth in total defense, and it doesn't make sense to plug an offensive weapon who can't exploit a defense's greatest weakness into your lineup. There are many more high-percentage uses of $30 available.
Others to Avoid: Al Horford ($29), Robin Lopez ($15)
