This article is part of our FanDuel NBA series.
With the regular season winding down, there are several interesting situations in play for Monday's 12-game slate.
The Kings are missing their two top contributors in DeMarcus Cousins (foot) and Rudy Gay (concussion), which has allowed for its lower tier players to get a nice boost in value, especially with a matchup with an equally limited Lakers roster.
Another game worth keeping an eye on is the Dallas-Utah tilt. Dallas is resting several starters, which not only gives a boost to their own role players but also opens favorable matchups for Jazz players.
There are several Western Conference teams fighting for playoff seeding, which means you don't have to worry about some top-salary guys being rested in some cases (although some games have major blowout potential).
Another situation to monitor throughout the day is what Memphis chooses to do with their starters. Marc Gasol and Mike Conley are both ailing, which could mean that some of its reserve players will get a bump in value should the Grizzlies sit Gasol and Conley. If Memphis holds off on announcing its inactives, guys like Beno Udrih or Kosta Koufos should get most of their consideration for late contests as there are several value plays with more concrete situations going earlier in the night.
Use your best discretion on some of the low-salary guys with increased minutes because a minutes bump doesn't always equate to a production bump.
Monday's Value Plays
Point Guard
Devin Harris, DAL, $4,000: Although Rajon Rondo is going to play Monday, Harris should get some extended run with several starters being rested. Harris could fill in at shooting guard for Monta Ellis and share ball-handling duties with Rondo. He's a risky play considering he's topped 20 FanDuel points just once in his last nine outings, but the utter lack of other options for Dallas should bolster Harris' value tonight.
Beno Udrih, MEM, $3,700: Udrih is only usable if Mike Conley sits out. Conley is dealing with a foot injury that has sidelined him for two straight games. In those two games, Udrih has put up 25.3 and 18.9 FD points against the Clippers and Jazz. There is some inherent risk in deploying Udrih even if he starts because he draws a matchup against the top defense in the league in terms of efficiency (Golden State), but the uptick in minutes should allow him to reach value on his $3,700 price tag.
Other Suggestion: If you're really desperate, J.J Barea, DAL ($3,600) is a decent option for the near-minimum price. Don't expect much more than 20 FD points at most, however.
Shooting Guard
Jabari Brown, LAL, $3,800: Brown has been getting extended run since the end of March, and his production has been a little up-and-down, but he has strung together two very solid outings of 32.1 and 22.4 FD points. With all of the injuries to the Lakers' guards, Brown is one of the last guys standing and should be in line for another big game Monday against the equally depleted Kings. The Kings are allowing the most FD points to opposing shooting guards this season and for the last 10 games, so the recent ineptitude is right in line with the season-long struggles. For under $4K, Brown should be able to provide a great return tonight.
O.J Mayo, MIL, $4,400: Milwaukee has the sixth seed wrapped up so there isn't a lot at stake tonight against Philly, but Mayo should still be able to post some solid numbers. He has scored in double figures in five of his last six games off the bench, averaging 26.3 minutes of run over that span. It doesn't hurt that Mayo gets a matchup with the 76ers, so even if it turns into a blowout, he should be able to at least provide a good return on the bargain price tag.
Ben McLemore, SAC, $4,300: McLemore is coming off a 40.5 FD point outing Sunday and remains a good option given Sacramento's current situation. He has topped 20 FD points in five of his last seven outings, including two straight. McLemore has been a capable scorer of late with seven double-digit performances in seven of his last 10 games, but his overall FD point production is hamstrung by his lack of contributions in other categories. That said, he took advantage of a weak Denver team Sunday and added five rebounds, seven assists, and four steals to his 20 points. Even if McLemore doesn't quite reach those totals again tonight, he should be able to come close to that type of production against the Lakers. While banking on another 40 FD point outing from McLemore isn't something a sane person would do, he's still a good candidate to at least provide a good return for his price.
Small Forward
Rodney Hood, UTA, $4,800: Hood has been a nice late-season story since he started getting legit playing time. He's averaging 20.2 points on 51 percent shooting in five games this month and gets one of the most favorable matchups on the docket Monday against the Mavericks. Dallas is resting essentially everyone except for Rajon Rondo, which means Hood will get a minus defender matched up on him in all likelihood. Even if Utah is at full-strength with Gordon Hayward and Derrick Favors (both coming off rest), Hood should still be able to get his normal allotment of shots, and his shooting efficiency means that he'll be able to easily outshine his sub $5K salary against a junior varsity version of the Mavericks.
Omri Casspi, SAC, $4,600: I'm not going to spend a ton of time on Casspi because he's been a mainstay in our value articles over the last week, but I can't just omit him either. His current situation as Sacramento's go-to scorer, coupled with a cupcake matchup, makes him as good a value play as any tonight. Just don't expect Casspi to be your secret weapong, as he'll likely have a very high usage in most contests.
Al-Farouq Aminu, DAL, $4,300: This is mostly by virtue of the Mavericks resting everyone, but Aminu legitimately deserves some consideration at small forward tonight. The matchup is far from ideal, but Aminu's likely increased role helps his case. He has topped 20 FD points in five of his last six outings, including a 27.6 FD point outing against Houston on April 2. Aminu is a very solid rebounder and should get more chances tonight with Tyson Chandler not being out there to grab every board. Keep an eye on the situation ahead of tip-off, but even if Aminu doesn't get the start, he should log more than enough playing time to have a solid outing.
Other Suggestion: Richard Jefferson, DAL, $3,800
Power Forward
Mike Muscala, ATL, $4,300 and Mike Scott, ATL, $4,100: These picks hinge on Paul Millsap (shoulder) getting another night off, but that wouldn't be surprising when you consider why Millsap would be thrust back into the lineup in a meaningless game against the Knicks. Muscala is more likely to get the start in that situation, but Scott has shown throughout the season that he can score the ball when given a chunk of minutes off the bench. Scott is averaging 11 points on 42 percent shooting since returning from a toe injury. Muscala has been a little hit-or-miss since moving into the lineup for the injured Millsap, but getting to go against the Knicks makes me feel less uneasy about using Muscala tonight. Again, Millsap's absence is key to either of these guys being viable, but they should be solid value plays if that's the case tonight.
Jason Thompson, SAC, $4,900: Thompson is teetering on being too expensive for what you can realistically expect from him, but a matchup with the Lakers gives him another day as a value play. He has only cracked double figures in scoring once in his last five games, but his rebounding and blocks have buoyed his FD point totals. At just under $5K, a 20-25 point outing would be a very nice return for rostering Thompson tonight, and that estimation is definitely attainable thanks to the favorable matchup.
Noah Vonleh, CHA, $3,500: Vonleh got 29 minutes of run in Sunday's blowout loss and capitalized on the added playing time with his first double-double of the season (16 points, 12 rebounds, 30.4 FD point). Deploying Vonleh tonight is definitely a roll of the dice, but Charlotte may be inclined to see what it has in its reserve players for the final two games of the season now that the playoffs are no longer a possibility. Vonleh got 10 more minutes of run than their other healthy power forward, Marvin Williams, on Sunday, but that could be chalked up to the fact that the game was a blowout. Still, Sunday wasn't the first time that Vonleh got significant minutes lately. He has topped 20 minutes in three straight games, posting 12.2, 12.7, and 30.4 FD points in those outings. While the 30.4 is likely an outlier, Vonleh's minimum price tag means that anywhere from 17-20 FD points out of the rookie would be a nice return. Proceed with caution on Vonleh given the amount of other solid power forward options for under $5K, but he could be a steal for the minimum salary if he gets a good amount of playing time again.
Other Suggestion: Just throwing this out there, but Anthony Davis ($11,700) is playing the T-Wolves tonight, and the Pelicans are desperate for a win. Also, Ryan Kelly ($4,800) against Sacramento is worth a look.
Center
Justin Hamilton, MIN, $4,900: As one of the last guys standing for Minnesota, Hamilton is guaranteed a big chunk of minutes tonight. He's not a big threat on the offensive end, but he is capable of cracking double figures. He's coming off a 34.5 FD point outing Saturday against the Warriors, who are relatively stingy against opposing centers as far as FD scoring is concerned. Hamilton draws a matchup against the Pelicans tonight, who are allowing the most FD point to opposing centers over the last 10 games and second-most over the last five. If you're not targeting one of the top salary guys at center Monday, Hamilton is a nice value play that gives you flexibility to get the elite options at other positions.
Kosta Koufos, MEM, $3,700: Koufos figures to draw the start Monday with Marc Gasol (ankle) questionable with a badly sprained ankle. Memphis is battling for playoff positioning, which might mean Gasol plays through the injury tonight, but if he doesn't, Koufos becomes a viable option for just over the minimum salary. Don't expect a monster game out of Koufos if he gets the nod (10 points, four rebounds in his one start at center), but he should be able to hit value with the added minutes.
