It's Game Time!!!

Finally! The time that we've all (or at least basketball junkies) been waiting for. The Lakers will be getting their rings tonight meaning the start of the NBA Season. That only means fantasy basketball is also starting (duh!).

Like most experts are saying, this season seems to be a 4 or 5 team battle for the championship. The favorite has to be the reigning champs, but there hasn't been a repeat champion since 2001. History is on the Lakers side though as they were the last team to go back-to-back. They'll face stiff competition from Western Conference rival, the San Antonio Spurs. If there's ever a year the Spurs can do it, this has to be it since their roster is aging rapidly.

For quite some time, it's always been about the Western Conference, but the East certainly have some beasts to reckon with. Runner-up Orlando Magic are back to make another run with Vince Carter in town; Boston Celtics, the last team to beat the Lakers in the Finals are reloaded with Rasheed Wallace; and the Cleveland Cavaliers traded for the former Laker, Shaquille O'Neal, to go along with LBJ. It's going to be fun watching these teams beat up on each other.

Other rising teams that will be interesting to watch are the Portland Trailblazers (seems like it's being said every year) with another year of experience and hopefully, a healthy Greg Oden; the Washington Wizards with Agent 0 returning; and the Phoenix Suns returning to their up-tempo-style offense. I don't think any of these teams have what it takes to compete for the championship, but for the sake of entertainment, they'll sure be fun to watch.

On with the fantasy news...

It's too early to be looking at schedules, but that's what I'll do for this week, for beginners. If you're in a weekly league, this is extremely important as you try to maximize the amount of games. Later on in the season, I'll get into more details about the importance of schedules if you're in a daily league. For now, one week won't kill you in fantasy basketball as it can in fantasy football. It's a MUCH longer season, and easier to recover from. The majority of the teams play three games this week, except for the teams below.

2-games
Golden State Warriors
Indian Pacers
Milwaukee Bucks
Utah Jazz

4-games
Boston Celtics
Cleveland Cavaliers
Los Angeles Clippers
Portland Trail Blazers

Week 1 surprise picks:
1) Leandro Barbosa-The Suns will look to open the gate running, and with J-Rich gone for a couple games Barbosa will have plenty of minutes to run.

2) Ryan Anderson-Rashard Lewis is suspended, and it looks like Anderson will get the starting nod over Brandon Bass

3) Channing Frye-Besides from the Suns running out of the gate, they also play relatively weaker teams (Clippers, Warriors & T-Wolves).


(L-R: Leandro Barbosa, Ryan Anderson, Channing Frye)

Last, but not least, good luck to you all!! Thanks for continuing to follow the blog, and be sure to follow throughout the season for frequent updates!

It's game time!

Team-by-Team (Deep) Sleepers

I know I wrote a previous post listing the Top-10 sleepers, but that was then, this is now. Preseason is over, so there are more games to judge by. Here are my predictions on the best potential sleepers for each team. I wouldn't necessarily draft all these guys unless you're in a deep league (14+ teams), but I would certainly keep them on my watch list once the season begins.

ATLANTA HAWKS-Jamal Crawford
No real sleeper on this team. Crawford is a Joe Johnson or Mike Bibby injury away from getting a chance to put up nice numbers.

BOSTON CELTICS-Marquis Daniels
Some teams have exposed Rondo's size in the past. Doc Rivers now has a bigger guard who can handle the ball to prevent that from happening. He'll also try to limit minutes to his veterans allowing Daniels, possibly, to put up some stats.

CHARLOTTE BOBCATS-D.J. Augustin
After the injury to Raja Bell, D.J. Augustin's stock has risen dramatically. He's one of Larry Brown's favorite players on the team, and the team's future point guard. Augustin will get plenty of minutes, and a potential trade of Felton will only skyrocket his value.

CHICAGO BULLS-John Salmons
The Bulls are going to need to replace Ben Gordon's 20 ppg. Salmons is the guy who can do that whether he starts or not. Averaged 18.3 ppg with Gordon, so a slight increase won't be a surprise. Can also distribute the ball, and will help Derrick Rose with that.

CLEVELAND CAVALIERS-Anthony Parker
Parker will be in the starting lineup replacing Delonte West. His main job is to play defense, but showed his ability to score in Toronto two years ago. With LBJ creating open looks, Parker could be a nice sleeper for treys and steals.

DALLAS MAVERICKS-Drew Gooden
Gooden won't be in the starting lineup every night as it will vary based on match ups. Whether he's starting or not, he figures to get plenty of minutes. Starting will be a bonus to Gooden owners. Mavs are looking to increase the tempo, and Gooden gets up-and-down the court much better than Dampier.

DENVER NUGGETS-J.R. Smith/Chris Anderson
With Smith in the starting lineup, that means he'll get even more shots with Melo' drawing double-teams and Billups creating open looks. His FG% may hurt even more than last year with the increased attempts, but the potential of him getting hot on a week-by-week basis can pay huge dividends. Plenty of points, treys and steals from Smithy. Anderson was a nice mid-season acquisition last season. He figures to do the same this season being a specialist in blocks, with some rebounds.

DETROIT PISTONS-Kwame Brown
Yes, I said it...Kwame Brown! as Stephen A. Smith famously went off after the trade happened. Now, don't have high expectations from Kwame, but he can help in a couple of categories- FG%, rebounds and blocks. Detroit lacks big men, so they'll turn to Brown to be a presence in the middle.

GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS-Anthony Morrow
I've mentioned several times before that I expect a big season from Anthony Randolph (as had plenty of others), so I'll go with Anthony Morrow. He's had a great summer league and preseason putting the ball in the basket. That's more than enough to find some time on the court in the Nellie system. The Nellie system also comes with unexpected changes. One night, Morrow could start, the next night he could see 10-minutes. Ultimately, I think he finds enough minutes to make an impact on a fantasy roster. Threes and points are his specialties.

HOUSTON ROCKETS-Kyle Lowry
Aaron Brooks is slated to be the starter. His inconsistencies scare me, which could pave the way for increased minutes for Lowry. Lowry is the better play maker than Brooks, and also contributes to more stat categories. This could be a position battle to watch for once the season kicks off.

INDIANA PACERS-Brandon Rush/Roy Hibbert
Brandon Rush is the starting shooting guard while Mike Dunleavy rehabs. As I've said before, I believe he'll start the entire season after having to shut Dunleavy down multiple times last season. Rush will get you threes, points and steals. If you're looking for the remaining other stats (FG%, rebounds & blocks), look no further than Rush's teammate Roy Hibbert. Hibbert's impressive preseason play has him on the brink of claiming the starting job. It's only a matter of time that he'll take it away from Jeff Foster for sure during the season. Hibbert provides a defensive presence the Pacers have lacked the past couple of years. I'd go with Hibbert before Rush.

LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS-Rasual Butler
Butler isn't one of those flashy players, but does a solid job on the court. Right now, it looks like he could take over the starting small forward spot from Al Thornton. Butler does a little of everything, so think of him as fantasy "glue" player. He will have occasional nights where he goes on a scoring spree.

LOS ANGELES LAKERS-Shannon Brown/Jordan Farmar
Hard to find a sleeper on such a talented squad. The back-up point guards could see increased minutes to help keep Derek Fisher fresh for the playoffs. Whoever wins the job may have limited value. I like Brown to receive more minutes than Farmar because he's more athletic and can guard bigger guards. His shot has looked very good in the preseason.

MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES-Mike Conley
AI should be coming off the bench the whole year, so Conley's value shouldn't be impacted too much. He's been inconsistent in the preseason, but has the ability to post versatile stat lines. His shot has improved a little to be somewhat of a threat. A nice #3 point guard you could add late in your draft to have on your roster.

MIAMI HEAT-Mario Chalmers
I wanted to put Michael Beasley on here, but that wouldn't be going out on a limb much. Chalmers doesn't put up exciting fantasy numbers, but is usually consistent on what he delivers. There isn't much behind him so he'll get plenty of run as the starter. Another year with Wade only means more trust from him. I added him late in my draft after drafting Wade, only to kind of protect myself from any injury issue DWade might suffer.

MILWAUKEE BUCKS-Brandon Jennings/Hakim Warrick
I believe Jennings will eventually take over Luke Ridnour's starting spot. Jennings is an interesting rookie coming over after a year overseas instead of college. He's one of the quickest players in the league so the steals will be there. His shot, however, isn't one of the prettiest. Lets hope Michael Redd will give him some shooting lessons. He'll be a nice source for assists and steals at the expense of FG% and turnovers. Hakim Warrick is in the perfect situation to try to earn a nice contract next summer...starting at small forward with no firepower in Milwaukee. Look for a solid year from Warrick so long as he's starting. The blocks will come over time since Andrew Bogut doesn't block too many shots.

MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES-Corey Brewer/Ryan Gomes
Both players saw their values jump once the news broke that Kevin Love would be missing 6-8 weeks after hand surgery. I really think this is the year for Corey Brewer after getting injured last year. He's not the greatest shooter, but provides a very versatile stat line. He'll be leaned on to provide perimeter scoring to ease the pressure off rookie Johnny Flynn, and Brewer has always been a defensive stud going back to his days at Florida. On the other hand, Ryan Gomes value comes back. He won't do much outside of what he's been doing the past two years, so you know what you're going to get from him (12 pts, 5 rebs & 1 3ptm). He'll have nights where he scores a bunch. Brewer is obviously the more upside pick. Take him if you want to gamble, or take Gomes if you want to play it safe.

NEW JERSEY NETS-Courtney Lee
There are plenty to choose from in New Jersey (Yi Jianlian or Terrence Williams), but I love Lee. He's always been an underdog his entire career (even back at Western Kentucky when they made their run in the NCAA tourney) to being under-appreciated in Orlando (yes, he did miss that wide open alley-oop in Game 2 of the Finals). For being a rookie last year, he was able to bring stability to the shooting guard position when the Magic couldn't find anyone. Now that he's starting all over in New Jersey, Lee is out to show Orlando made a mistake. Lee and Harris will be a nice backcourt combo for years to come.

NEW ORLEANS HORNETS-Julian Wright
If Julian Wright gets the starting nod over Peja, Wright can help in the energy categories...steals and blocks. He'll also provide some treys as CP3 will need shooters to space the floor to penetrate. Peja replaces Wright here if starts as he'll be looking to rebound after a injury-plagued year. He's still one of the deadliest shooters when healthy.

NEW YORK KNICKS-Wilson Chandler
Started strong last season, but faded away. With a season under his belt in the D'Antoni system, I expect another great season from Chandler. I'm really surprised to be seeing him go around the 8th/9th round when he has round 4/5 value. He provides an all-around game similar to Phoenix version of Shawn Marion. Chandler won't be as great as the Matrix was, but a mini-Marion isn't out of the question. It also helps being in the D'Antoni system where just about any player that plays puts up good numbers.

OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER-Etan Thomas
Nenad Krstic figures to be the starting center. However, the Thunder lack a true defensive presence inside. Thomas could help that situation when splitting minutes with Krstic. He's not really an offensive threat, and will get his points by cleaning up the mess. With Westbrook and Durant jacking shots up, there will be plenty of bricks to clean up.

ORLANDO MAGIC-Brandon Bass/Ryan Anderson
It all depends on how Orlando plays it out. If they go big, Bass is the guy to watch for. If they go small to space the floor out for Dwight Howard, Anderson is the guy. Bass was a rebounding machine in Dallas when he was on the court, and provided great FG%. Anderson is a nice throw-in piece they got in their summer trade for Vince Carter. This guy can shoot the ball and can be very valuable since Orlando loves to surround Dwight with shooters along the perimeter. I'd watch for the direction Stan Van Gundy goes. My guess is Anderson.

PHILADELPHIA 76ERS-Lou Williams
Bye bye Andre Miller, hello Lou Williams. Williams is nothing like the player Miller is, so don't expect the same contribution from him. Lou-Lou is a scorer who can put the ball in the hoop. Because he'll get as many minutes as he can handle, Williams will have a career year. Assists will eventually come, but will probably have a low FG% and higher turnovers.

PHOENIX SUNS-Channing Frye
Frye was another late preseason bloomer. Phoenix love big men who can spread the floor; Frye does exactly that. With Robin Lopez injured, Frye will be the starting center/power forward, however you want list Amare' as. Threes and rebounds are what he'll provide, a couple blocks will come with the minutes he receives. Just don't count on him as being one of your true centers.

SACRAMENTO KINGS-Jason Thompson
Spencer Hawes received his fair share of hoop-la, and it was supposed to be Jason Thompson as well. That was until a rookie by the name of Tyreke Evans opened the eyes of many with his all-around play. So, instead of Evans being on here, I'll put Thompson to give him some love. Thompson is a nice late-round pick to boost your FG%, rebounds and points. Blocks aren't quite what you want for a power forward, but he'll get a couple with the minutes he'll be receiving.

SAN ANTONIO SPURS-DeJuan Blair
After dropping to the second round, Blair is out to show the league why he should've gone in the first. Playing with a chip on his shoulder coupled with likely DNPs from Tim Duncan will give occasional value to Blair. You'll just have to guess right on when Timmy will get his rest. Blair is a rebounding machine and could help your team if Duncan's knee problems flair up at any point in the season. He'll get garbage points near the basket so his FG% will be up there as well.

TORONTO RAPTORS-Marco Belinelli
DeMar DeRozan is likely to start at shooting guard, but I think Belinelli will play at least half the game giving him value in deeper leagues. Belinelli can shoot with the best of them, and with two good playmakers in Toronto (Jose Calderon and Hedo Turkoglu) he should see plenty of open looks.

UTAH JAZZ-Ronnie Brewer
Ronnie Brewer was a nice waiver wire pickup last season, and could very well do the same this year. The injury to C.J. Miles and Kyle Korver will give increased minutes to Brewer. Brewer is a thief on defense and has occasional scoring outbursts. Steals are a hard category to get, so his value will go up. Look for him to be a late-round pick or keep a close eye on him if he's in your waiver wire.

WASHINGTON WIZARDS-Andray Blatche
With Antawn Jamison out 3-5 weeks with a shoulder injury, look for Andray Blatche to fill in nicely for the all-star forward. I wouldn't have used a late draft pick on Blatche a week ago, but with the recent news of Jamison I would definitely use one. Those shoulder injuries can linger the entire year, so he's worth a spot with his potential. He'll be a nice source for rebounds and blocks. He's also very versatile when it comes to position eligibility.

One Man's Loss is Another Man's Gain

Throughout the season players will miss time through various reasons (via injuries, suspensions, personal leave). This opens the door for others to step up giving them short-term value, which could ultimately lead to long-term value depending on the situation. So far, we've seen a couple of significant injuries happen to key players during preseason, and we haven't forgotten about some of the suspensions handed out in the summer to others. Here are some guys that currently have short-term value and players for you to keep an eye out on.

Out: Kevin Love
In: Ryan Gomes
So much for Love's big season. He vowed to average a double-double this season, but that's going to have to wait 6-8 weeks meaning a mid-December return. I expected a big season out of him with the lack of depth in Minnesota. In steps Ryan Gomes who didn't have a bad year last season. Gomes will have some value while Love is out. Don't forget Al Jefferson is also dealing with an injury himself, so someone will have to do the scoring for Minnestoa.

Out: Mike Dunleavy
In: Brandon Rush
There's been several different timetables on Dunleavy's return to the lineup. I believe he'll be back in mid-December. Even when he returns, Indiana won't make the same mistake this season by rushing him into the lineup. Therefore, I see Rush starting most of the year, if not, the whole season giving him great value and a nice late-round pickup. Last season, Rush was one of the popular late season pickups as he can really score and provides a lot of treys.

Out: Antawn Jamison
In: Andray Blatche
Sucks to have drafted Jamison if you're one of the early-bird drafters. He's gone in the 2nd round in most drafts. His latest setback will drop him a round or two lower. Missing 3-5 weeks with a shoulder injury scares me as it's one of those injuries that can linger throughout the season. I'd stay away from him. Andray Blatche is an interesting pickup. He can certainly get boards and blocks, but his offense is inconsistent. Either way, he's a poor man's Tyrus Thomas, and worth a late-round flier or a guy to keep an eye out on in the waiver wire.

Out: Rashard Lewis
In: Brandon Bass/Ryan Anderson
Bass will have increased value for 10 games after Lewis is serving his serving his drug suspension. He'll be a nice short-term source for rebounds and high FG%. Outside of that, I don't see him offering much value unless Dwight Howard gets injured. Anderson is very intriguing if he ends up taking over the starting spot instead of Bass. Anderson is very similar to Lewis in respect to numbers. They both don't do much outside of getting a couple rebounds, points and treys. Whoever gets the starting nod is worth a last round pick, and can get cut once Lewis returns.

Out: Robin Lopez
In: Channing Frye
Channing Frye has certainly turned heads the last two weeks with his outstanding late preseason performances. He's demonstrated the ability to spread the floor by hitting threes. Because he can do that, he'll definitely see time with the type of offense the Suns play. Nash can and will find his shooters so he'll get many looks. He's a nice source for threes and rebounds.

Out: Jason Richardson
In: Leandro Barbosa
Okay, this isn't really enough time for Barbosa to make an impact, but J-Rich will still be missing 2-games. In the Suns offense, that could mean a lot. We've seen Barbosa explode when given enough minutes, so it's worth noting this suspension. I wouldn't go out to reach for Barbosa, just an added bonus for Barbosa owners.

Out: Francisco Garcia
In: Desmond Mason/Andres Nocioni
Garcia was going to be on my sleeper list until he had his unfortunate weight room accident causing him to miss at least four months. Unfortunately, I happened to have drafted him in one of my leagues. Sadly, like this post is called, one man's loss is another man's gain. Paul Westphal seems to be infatuated with Desmond Mason, all but giving him the starting spot, but I wouldn't be surprised if Nocioni received just as many minutes as Mason. If that's the case, Nocioni offers more fantasy value. Just keep an eye out for both.

Out: Raja Bell
In: D.J Augustin
Devastating news came to the Bobcats as Bell may miss the entire season. This paves the way for D.J Augustin to gain even more minutes. Augustin = scoring, 3s, steals. Not sure how the lineup would work with he and Felton in at the same time, but Augustin will definitely see more minutes. He's worth a late-round selection, and could prove to be a nice sleeper.

Out: J.R. Smith
In: Arron Afflalo
Smith is out of George Karl's doghouse (finally!...or at least for now), but couldn't escape the NBA's doghouse. He'll miss the first seven games of the season due to reckless driving. Arron Afflalo will take those seven starts. I don't see too much value owning him, as he'll be used more for his defensive specialties. He could be a nice source for steals if anything, but would look to one of the other guys mentioned above before aiming for Afflalo.

Top 10 Sleepers

Every year there's always a bunch of guys that are bound for stardom (via FA signing, trade, late season run). These guys are known as "sleepers" in the fantasy world. I define sleepers as guys who can push your team to the top in the later rounds of your draft. By no means should you rely on these players to carry your team. Also, fantasy players have a tendency to reach for sleepers. If you're reaching, they're not really considered sleepers anymore. Here is the list of Top 10 sleepers for this season.

1) Anthony Randolph (GSW)- SF/PF Probably the worst kept secret fantasy sleeper of the off-season. Started to get recognition at the end of last season putting up 15-10 w/ 1.5 stl and nearly 1 bpg in the month of April. He proved that it wasn't a fluke after his MVP performance in summer league. Randolph keeps moving up draft boards that he shouldn't be considered a sleeper anymore. It also doesn't hurt that he's in the Nellie system where everyone puts up good numbers when given the minutes.
Prediction: 17 ppg, 10 reb, 1.5 stl, 1.5 bpg

2) Tyrus Thomas (CHI)- SF/PF
Should start at PF for the young Chicago Bulls. This bodes really well for Tyrus Thomas as minutes will determine how much of a fantasy impact he'll have this season. He's averaging an astounding 3.3 bpg per 48 min. The sky's the limit for the young Thomas. T-squared is one of those players that will help your squad out in the energy categories (stls & blks)
Prediction: 13 ppg, 8 rbp, 1.5 spg, 2 bpg

3) Spencer Hawes (SAC)- C
The big man in the middle is another version of the departed Brad Miller, one of the reasons Sacramento didn't mind trading Miller away to Chicago. Hawes has all the tools Miller has plus a nice shooting touch from beyond the arc. Burst onto the fantasy radar towards the beginning of last season, but injuries hit him in the middle. He bounced back strong the last month to give owners one last look of what he'll do this season.
Prediction: 17 ppg, 9 rpg, 1.5 bpg

4) Jason Thompson (SAC)- PF
Another building block along with Hawes, I expect a good season from. He has the starting power forward locked up with injury prone Sean May backing him up. Plenty of minutes will be there for Thompson. Came onto the scene last season when the Kings were lacking big men thanks to the injuries/trade of Spencer Hawes and Brad Miller. The last two months of the season were an indication of what he'll put up this season. He developed more confidence and is primed for a breakout year.
Prediction: 14 ppg, 8.5 rpg, 1 bpg

5) Thaddeus Young (PHI)- SF/PF
Young really took advantage of the minutes after Brand went down from injuries. Quietly took the starting role in Philly and put up some nice numbers. He demonstrated his ability to score with a high percentage as well as help out in other categories. With Brand back, his numbers will likely take a small hit, but he's gotta be a part of the 76ers future plans. He's only a Brand injury away from having a breakout year.
Prediction: 15 ppg, 6 rbg, 1.5 spg

6) Roy Hibbert (IND)- C
Dr. Hibbert has surely grabbed the attention of many during the preseason. After flirting with a triple-double (20 pts, 11 reb, 8 blks-yes, 8!!!!) in nearly 33 minutes, what's not to get excited about Hibbert? The Pacers lack presence in the middle with Jeff Foster and Troy Murphy (neither had more than 50 blocks last season). Hibbert could definitely change all of that this season. He could be a nice #2 center on fantasy squads once Hibbert takes over the starting spot...and it's only a matter of time before that happens.
Prediction: 11 ppg, 10 rpg, 2 bpg

7) Luis Scola (HOU)- PF/C
With the season ending injury to Yao Ming, there's no one left to play center for the Rockets. Luis Scola figures to start the year at center giving him every opportunity to put up some nice fantasy numbers. He's never had the defensive statistics, but that's because Yao Ming was there to clean up the mess. Yao's not there, so Scola will have to step it up. The Argentinean put up nice numbers against the Lakers in the playoffs last year after Yao went down, so you know he's capable. I expect a great season out of Scola as he'll be the man like he has been for his native Argentinean squad where he's the team MVP.
Prediction: 16 ppg, 10 rpg, 1 bpg

8) Mario Chalmers (MIA)- PG
Miami had no other true point guard on the roster up until the recent signing of Carlos Arroyo. However, Chalmers is the main man after developing a bond with Dwayne Wade. In his rookie campaign, the former Jayhawk averaged a solid 10 ppg with 5 apg. These numbers will likely increase a little with a year of experience under him. If you're a D-Wade owner, I would scoop Chalmers up just in case.
Prediction: 11ppg, 6 apg, 2 spg

9) Julian Wright (NOH)- SF/PF
Wright was a nice late-season pickup for many fantasy rosters after grabbing the starting SF spot. He looked to build on the late-season success after being named starting SF by Byron Scott in the preseason. However, he's looked completely lost, and it's not looking like he's locked up the starting position. He'll likely be the opening night starter, so Wright will have to turn it around quickly. Playing with CP3 can mean nice numbers as a starter. I would only use a late round pick on Wright, or not even draft him at all, but certainly keep him on your radar.
Prediction: 10 ppg, 3 rpg, 2 spg, 1 bpg (if he's the starter)

10) JaVale McGee (WAS)- C
McGee is one big man to watch out for especially if Brendan Haywood goes down with any type of injury. After watching him play this summer, McGee has the tools to be Marcus Camby type of player (without the jumper). He's REALLY long and is disruptive on the defensive end. McGee definitely won't be relied on to score as the Wizards have plenty of weapons, but he's a nice source for rebounds and blocks if he were to seize the starting center spot. He'll probably be a nice mid-season flier.
Prediction: 8 ppg, 5 rpg, 2 bpg


Others to keep an eye out for:
Hakim Warrick (MIL)- SF/PF
Marco Belinelli (TOR)- SG
Greg Oden (POR)- C
Yi Jianlian (NJN)- SF/PF

Preseason Position Battles

Every year teams alter their lineups for the upcoming season based on performances by a young player, veterans aging, or talented rookies having great summers. This is huge in fantasy because that could mean a player receiving 5-10 extra minutes than he would get coming off the bench. We'll take a look at a team-by-team breakdown of player to look out for regarding each team's position battle.

Atlanta Hawks-
Not much to say about the Hawks. Their core lineup is intact and should boast the same starting lineup they had at the end of last season. The only major question is just how much time newcomer Jamal Crawford will take away from Mike Bibby and Joe Johnson's PT. My guess would be Crawford would take a little more away from Bibby than JJ, but all three should receive enough minutes to contribute to fantasy rosters.

Boston Celtics-
Two names stand out that could threaten minutes from an aging roster. Rasheed Wallace (yes, he's old himself) and Marquis Daniels. Both guys will be used to ease the minutes of the big 3. Daniel's is a sneaky play since Doc Rivers could use him at multiple positions. He can handle the ball, so if the C's want a big lineup, he'll go in for Rondo. I don't see much of this happening early in the season, but keep an eye out as the season gets rolling.

Charlotte Bobcats-
The point guard battle is intriguing to watch. DJ Augustin is the clear future point guard of the team. Raymond Felton was brought back on a one-year contract, so this tells us that he's not in their future plans. Both are undersized, so only one will see time. I think Felton gets the minutes early in the season. This will allow the Bobcats to display Felton to increase his trade value paving the way for Augustin to take over. Augustin has been putting up nice numbers in the preseason, and definitely showed what he's capable of producing last season whenever he got the minutes.

Chicago Bulls-
An interesting team to say the least. We already know Derrick Rose has locked up the PG spot all to himself. Hinrich has even embraced his role of coming off the bench behind Rose. This turns our attention to the forward position. Tyrus Thomas and Luol Deng seem to be the favorite to start with Joakim Noah looming not too far behind. It should be interesting to see how this all unfolds as they all have shown they can produce. My guess is T-squared and Deng will see the majority of the minutes. Noah has versatility where he'll get minutes backing up the power forward and center positions allowing him to get about 25-30 minutes a game, enough to make him worthy of a spot on your roster.

Cleveland Cavaliers-
Shooting guard is the position to watch for here. Delonte West is quickly playing himself to the bench with all his off-the-court issues. This paves the way for Anthony Parker (younger brother to WNBA star Candace). His ability to play defense also enhances his chance at winning the position. Parker can be a deep sleeper with his ability to make shots. He'll see plenty of them with all the attention LBJ commands on defense, plus his play-making skills allows him to find the open man.

Dallas Mavericks-
Not exactly sure how everything will pan out in big D. With the injury to Josh Howard, Shawn Marion will likely claim the starting small forward spot. This will allow Marion to run up and down the court with Jason Kidd like they did in Phoenix. At the center spot, it's inevitable that Drew Gooden will, sooner rather than later, take over Eric Dampier's starting position. This bodes well as Gooden can run with Kidd better than Dampier. Look for Gooden to be a nice backup fantasy center.

Denver Nuggets-
JR Smith will be the prime beneficiary if he cracks George Karl's lineup. He's primed for a big season, after being in Karl's doghouse last year. Smith is not shy about getting his share of shots, and being in the starting lineup will only increase his attempts. Denver's scoring depth isn't very deep meaning Smith will be relied upon to score in bunches.

Detroit Pistons-
UConn buddies, Ben Gordon and Charlie Villanueva, will steal minutes away from current starters, Rip Hamilton and Tayshaun Prince, respectively. This may be the end of the road for both guys in Detroit. Gordon will likely come off the bench the whole season since he's shown he can produce with the second string like in Chicago. Villanueva can be a nice steal. He has a chance to crack the starting lineup if Detroit looks to add more offense. Whether both guys are starting or not, they will see plenty of minutes to make an impact on rosters.

Golden State Warriors-
Not sure what to say about Don Nelson's Warriors. Nellie is as unpredictable of a coach as there is in the NBA with his lineups altering every night. You just need to have the perfect timing on Golden State players. Ride them while they're hot because you never know when an unexpected DNP shows up in the box score. Monta Ellis, Andris Biedrins, and Anthony Randolph are likely to be locked into the starting lineup leaving the other two spots up for grabs on a nightly basis.

Houston Rockets-
Whoever starts at power forward for the undermanned Rockets has a chance to put up nice fantasy numbers. David Anderson is having a nice preseason pushing for a spot. Chuck Hayes will likely start the year as the starter, but Anderson may eventually take over.

Indiana Pacers-
Some depth charts list Dahntay Jones as the starting SG, but I believe Brandon Rush will start. Rush is very versatile, and has shown the ability to put up huge numbers. He'll have at least a month in the starting lineup with Mike Dunleavy not expected back until sometime after November. Dr. Hibbert's preseason line of 20 pts, 11 reb & 8 blks has gotten the attention of everyone. This is the huge potential Hibbert can give fantasy owners, and I think it's only a matter of time before he overtakes Jeff Foster's spot as the starter.

Los Angeles Clippers-
Nothing big happening in Clipperland...only Blake Griffin. Coach Dunleavy intends to slowly work him into the lineup by bringing him off the bench. You know he'll get the minutes whether he's starting or not. He's only an injury away (don't forget Camby is the starter) from getting major minutes. Griffin will be a stud.

Los Angeles Lakers-
No real position battle here. Odom won a championship coming off the bench, and embraced the role because of that. If there is one, it'll probably be the backup point guard spot. Shannon Brown and Jordan Farmar's minutes will likely increase to save Derek Fisher for the playoffs. Neither will have a major fantasy impact.

Memphis Grizzlies-
Only Allen Iverson had a chance to battle for a starting lineup spot, but after his injury that will cause him to miss a couple weeks, Mike Conley will be the starter. The rest of the lineup is pretty much set in stone as the young Grizzlies hope to improve from last season.

Miami Heat-
Four of the five starters are set in stone. Michael Beasley should be the fifth starter assuming he's focused on basketball after having a life crisis in the off-season. I expect Beasley to be ready to go and primed for a breakout year. Miami doesn't have much to choose from down low, so Beasley may even see time at the power forward spot.

Milwaukee Bucks-
A couple positions up for grab in Milwaukee. At point, Luke Ridnour is likely to start, but rookie Brandon Jennings is surely getting minutes in the preseason so far to showcase why he should be the starter. Lets not forget his youtube moment after the draft that caused a little controversy. He'll be looking to back up what he said. Jennings will replace Ridnour early into the season if he keeps his high level of play going.
At the forward positions, I like Hakim Warrick and Ersan Ilyasova to take the starting spots. Both players could be deep sleepers on a depleted Bucks squad. Both could be big if Michael Redd doesn't come back right from injury, or sustains another one.

Minnesota Timberwolves-
Johnny Flynn looks like he'll take the reign at point guard even after the T-wolves signed Ramon Sessions. However, Kurt Rambis, won't hesitate one bit to going with Sessions, who has the experience, if Flynn struggles early. The other spot is at small forward. Ryan Gomes put up solid fantasy numbers, and should be the starter, but a push by Sasha Pavlovic (shooting touch) could land him a spot. Both are worthy of keeping an eye out on during the season.

New Jersey Nets-
Rookie Terrence Williams is fighting hard for a starting spot, and Coach Lawrence Frank seems to favor him. I'm not exactly sure what position he'd start at, but Williams' versatility will allow him to play one of three positions (SG, SF, PF). He'll take one of the forward spots along with Yi Jianlian. He may be worthy of a late round flyer.

New Orleans Hornets-
The shooting guard position is up for grabs. Peja Stojakovic, Devin Brown, and rookie Marcus Thornton will all try to seize that opportunity. Whoever it is will likely be a 3-point specialist to space the floor for CP3 and David West. Playing with the leading assist guy in the league will mean plenty of good looks.

New York Knicks-
The Knicks are very similar to the Golden State Warriors as it doesn't really matter who starts. D'Antoni will go with whoever is hot. Chris Duhon will be the point guard ahead of Nate Robinson, but Lil' Nate will do his best to earn himself a better contract next summer. The center spot is most intriguing. Darko Millicic could be a nice fantasy center in a fantasy friendly offense. He should get plenty of playing time as he can run the floor a lot better than Eddy Curry.

Oklahoma City Thunder-
Nothing really to mention here. The young Thunder look to have their squad all set. Westbrook, Harden, Durant, Green, Kristic will all be in the starting lineup opening night.

Orlando Magic-
The small forward spot will be battled for between Matt Barnes and Mickael Pietrus. I think the edge goes to newly acquired Matt Barnes because Pietrus has had some success in the past coming off the bench. Whoever starts, I don't see much fantasy value from this spot.

Philadelphia 76ers-
The 76ers have the squad ready to go. Lou Williams will make the transition to the starting spot after the departure of Andre Miller. Samuel Dalembert was very inconsistent last season driving his owner crazy. If it continues this season, look for Marreese Speights to step in. Speights could be a nice pickup if he were to get the starting gig.

Phoenix Suns-
With the departure of the Big Cactus, that means Amar'e Stoudemire will be the center. This allows Channing Frye to move to power forward. He has the ability to space the floor out with his mid-range game. Jason Richardson will start the year serving his suspension allowing Leandro Barbos to start a couple games. After his suspension, there's no real threat of anyone cracking the starting lineup.

Portland Trail Blazers-
With the recent comments from coach Nate McMillan not liking the way his 'RAMBO' starting lineup is playing, who knows what will happen. "They didn’t have any flow," McMillan said. "We just weren’t sharp. We turned the ball over, the passing was a little lazy and we were slow getting back in transition."
Andre Miller seemed like a lock to get the starting spot when he signed in Portland, but it doesn't appear to be so anymore. Steve Blake could get a look after he had nice success letting Brandon Roy take the lead guard role during games with his ability to shoot the long ball. The only other change that may also come is Travis Outlaw overtaking Nicolas Batum's spot. However, I think Batum's athletic ability and tremendous potential will allow him to stay in there.

Sacramento Kings-
With the devastating news to Francisco Garcia, it opens up the door for a new player to take Garcia's minutes. Garcia was probably going to be the opening night starter, but it looks like that will go to Desmond Mason. I don't really like Mason in the fantasy game as he doesn't really do much with his minutes. However, I do like Andres Nocioni, who will now see more minutes coming off the bench.
The point guard spot seems to be a lock for rookie Tyreke Evans. Beno Udrih is vastly overpaid, and is nowhere in the Kings' future plans. Look for the athletic guard to put up some decent numbers along with inconsistent ones. Don't be surprised if you see some nights of ugly numbers from the #4 pick of the draft.

San Antonio Spurs-
A lineup full of veterans, the Spurs are built for the playoffs. This means they'll do anything it takes to keep them all healthy until June comes around. Occasional night offs for the veterans seem likely to happen throughout the season, so don't let it surprise when you see an unexpected DNP from any one of their starters.

Toronto Raptors-
The only spot up for grabs is the shooting guard position. Right now, former Southern California star DeMar Derozan is listed as the starter, but sharp-shooter Marco Belinelli may win out the spot. If Belinelli doesn't start, he'll still see plenty of minutes as a short leash will be placed on the rookie.

Utah Jazz-
Biggest position battle to look out for is between Carlos Boozer and Paul Millsap at power forward. It looks like Boozer will go into the season as the starter, saying he's focused and forgotten about last season's contract talks. It'll be interesting to see how it all unfolds, but look for Boozer to back to putting up Boozer-like numbers. Utah will certainly entertain trade offers, so just be aware. If you plan on drafting Boozer, think about grabbing Millsap in the later rounds to protect yourself.

Washington Wizards-
Nothing big to discuss in Washington. If all goes right for Gilbert & Co. Washington may make a surprise move to the top half of the Eastern Conference. Players to look out for include Randy Foye (if Arenas gets injured), JaVale McGee & Andray Blatche (if Brendan Haywood gets injured). All three guys could be nice mid-season pickups if anything were to happen to the respective starters.

New Faces in New Cities (part 2)

Here are the rest of the New Faces in New Cities:

Ron Artest (SG/SF)- Los Angeles Lakers (via Houston Rockets)
Ron-Ron technically is replacing Trevor Ariza, but his numbers surely won't. Ariza only averaged 24 minutes a contest last season with the purple & gold. Artest will command a lot more minutes than that, as well as more shot attempts. Because he'll need to put up his share of shots, his fg% will decrease. I think his overall numbers though will increase to ease the load off Kobe Bryant. The Lakers are one of the most talented teams ever, so Bryant won't have to carry the team. Artest will benefit from this the most.

Shaquille O'Neal (C)- Cleveland Cavaliers (via Phoenix Suns)
"The Cleveland Steamer" rejuvenated his career last season, and a change of scenery & conference will lead many to believe similar numbers will be put up. He's on a mission to get King James his first ring. We all know what happened after his arrival to Miami after he said he was going to get D-Wade a ring, the big man delivered. Not to forget, he's back in the inferior eastern conference.

Shawn Marion (SF/PF)- Dallas Mavericks (via Toronto Raptors)
Marion won't ever be the fantasy star he once was back in his Phoenix days. Coming to Dallas will probably mean the closest to those numbers he'll reach. This is because he gets to play with a point guard (J-Kidd) who loves to run, just like Steven Nash. Marion loves to run and does most of his damage on the break. The Mavs aren't going to win the inside game, so they'll like to go small meaning mor running for them, which in turn means more numbers for Marion.

Trevor Ariza (SF)- Houston Rockets (via Los Angeles Lakers)
Ariza's move to Houston will definitely mean more numbers for him. He'll get all the minutes in the world to put up stats. However, I'm not sure if this is a good thing or not for Ariza. He's always been a role-player his entire career, feeding off the open looks created by the superstars. Ariza hasn't really demonstrated the ability to create his own shot as well, so it'll be interesting to see what his role is in Houston.


Tyson Chandler (C)- Charlotte Bobcats (via New Orleans Hornets)
Chandler has never been a big defensive guy considering his height (7-1), only averaging a measley 1.4 bpg his entire career. In fact, he's never average more than 2 bpg in any season. This may change though. He's joining the defensive-minded Larry Brown. Other than a slight increase in blocks, his numbers will be the same. If he's healthy this year, he'll average double-digit rebounds again.

Vince Carter (SG/SF)- Orlando Magic (via New Jersey Nets)
Vinsanity has often been criticized for taking immature breaks from his teams because he's bored. However, his arrival to the runner-ups, will spark the fire and revive his game. Carter has always been a legitimate 20+ ppg scorer in the league. This season won't be any different as he'll try to carry the Magic to the final step they couldn't complete last year.

Zach Randolph (PF/C)- Memphis Grizzlies (via Los Angeles Clippers)
It doesn't matter where Z-Bo plays, he always manages to put up 20-10. Nothing else more or less. Some call him a "black hole" since a shot is more than likely to be put up once the ball reaches his hands in a possession. Because he only cares about offense, he doesn't make a splash in any defensive category. Moving to Memphis won't be any different.

New Faces in New Cities (part 1)

The summer of 2009 certainly didn't 'Wow' anyone, but it had its fair share of action. Teams weren't willing to spend much in order to prepare for next year's free agent class (some are calling the best ever). To make matters worse, once the new salary cap figures were released (decrease of about $1 million), teams had to alternate plans and get creative.

For fantasy purposes, we'll look at the major acquisitions that went on in the off season and see what kind of impact they will have for their new teams.

Allen Iverson (PG/SG)- Memphis Grizzlies (via Detroit Pistons)
It took awhile for AI to find a team to play for. The keyword is getting to "play" since the Grizzlies aren't going anywhere fast. Why would the franchise take away growing time from their young players? But then again, why would a team trade their franchise player (Pau Gasol) for a #1 overall bust (Kwame Brown). Hard to explain what's going to happen here. Iverson will probably have a similar role in Memphis as he did in Detroit, and that wasn't very pretty. Draft at your own risk.

Andre Miller (PG)- Portland Trailblazers (via Philadelphia 76ers)
Miller is certainly getting up there in age (33), but his play remains at a high level. Leaving Philly won't hurt his value as the Blazers are loaded with talent. This young talent will look up to Miller and rely on him as a leader with his veteran experience. The assists should increase from last season since he won't be relied on to score as he was when EB went down. Will be a solid fantasy player, nothing spectacular.

Ben Gordon (SG)- Detroit Pistons (via Chicago Bulls)
B-b-b-b-Ben Gordon finds himself in a similar role in the motorcity as he had with his early years in Chicago. With Rip Hamilton and Rodney Stuckey glued in the starting lineup, Gordon will be the first man off the bench. This hasn't stopped Gordon from putting up good numbers. In fact, in 2006 & 2007, he averaged better overall stats. The Bulls didn't pay $50 million to sit, so the minutes will be there.

Charlie Villanueva (SF/PF)- Detroit Pistons (via Milwaukee Bucks)
Many projected last season to be the breakout year for CV31. Inconsistent minutes made fantasy owners unsure of when to put him in the lineup. Villanueva diplayed the type of numbers he's capable of putting up night in and night out when given the opportunity. In Detroit, just as it is with newly acquired Ben Gordon, both former Uconn stars didn't sign ($35 million) to sit. Minutes will be given to him.

Emeka Okafor (PF/C)- New Orleans Hornets (via Charlotte Bobcats)
Brought over by New Orleans to be a defensive presence in the paint, look for Okafor's offense to increase slightly. Okafor unquestionably, has a better offensive game than the man he was traded for, Tyson Chandler. Chandler was able to average 10+ ppg, when healthy, so Okafor will surely score even more. Having CP3 doesn't hurt too, as he'll set up very easy looks for him just as he did for Chandler with the lob pass.

Hedo Turkoglu (SG/SF)- Toronto Raptors (via Orlando Magic)
Why Toronto over Portland? Turkoglu has 53 million reasons why he chose to play in Canada. This was the biggest contract he'd ever see in his lifetime, and he jumped on it by spurning the Blazers.
Unlike his role in Orlando, Hedo won't have the ball in his hands as much. He'll be a nice floor spacer to free up Chris Bosh downlow. His value will most likely decrease since Calderon will be their main distributor.

Mike Miller (SG/SF)- Washington Wizards (via Minnesota Timberwolves)
Miller is one of the best shooters in the game and he'll definitely get to show that touch off in Washington. After somewhat of a down year in Minnesota, Miller's numbers will likely be revived thanks to a change of scenary. A lot can happen when you're playing for a playoff contender. He'll see plenty of looks to take the scoring load off of the Wizards' big 3 of Arenas, Butler and Jamison. He may even see time with the 2nd team giving him even more shots.

Ramon Sessions (PG/SG)- Minnesota Timberwolves (via Milwaukee Bucks)
A nice building block to add to the T-wolves rebuilding team. His scoring increased by 4 points last season, and should remain at that level with his new team (12.4 ppg). Will be interesting to see how rookie Jonny Flynn will affect his playing time at point. A solid backup pg for your fantasy team.

Randy Foye (PG/SG)- Washington Wizards (via Minnesota Timberwolves)
Foye had somewhat of a rebound season last year after coming off an injury plagued season before that. He's in a much better winning situation in real life, but for fantasy, his value has decreased. Probably won't see enough minutes to put consistent numbers up. However, if Arenas' knee doesn't hold up all season, make sure you scoop Foye up quick as he'll fit in perfectly.

Rasheed Wallace (PF/C)- Boston Celtics (via Detroit Pistons)
Sheed's days of being a top scorer are over as are his days of being relied upon as a main threat. Joining Boston gives him his best chance at another ring. If you want a fantasy championship ring (or trophy), don't rely on him to carry your squad. He can still fill every category on the stat sheet, but won't dominate any of them. Obviously, he's only a KG injury away from stepping into the starting lineup.








(Remember, if you have any fantasy questions or need advice, feel free to email them to thefantasysportshall@gmail.com)

Pass this along to all your other fantasy friends!

Rookie Impact

Rookies are always a risk in fantasy because the game speed is so different compared to college. Very few draft classes have rookies that make a huge splash in the fantasy world (unless you're talking about 2003 draft class, by far the best in the last decade). From Blake Griffin to Tyler Hansbrough, we'll take a look at the lottery picks from the 2009 NBA Draft and point out what kind of impact (if any) they will have on their respective teams. Most of these guys are worth keeping an eye out on throughout the season as their roles could expand.

Blake Griffin (LAC)- SF/PF:
The most gifted athlete of the class. Will put up the best numbers of the class as well. Griffin is in the perfect situation too with the Clip Show. The only thing that needs to happen is getting enough PT, which I'm sure he'll get sooner, rather than later. He was already given the keys to the franchise by the Clippers, so it's only a matter of time.
-Definitely draft him.

Hasheem Thabeet (MEM)- C:
As Griffin the most athletic, Thabeet is the rawest of the lottery picks. Didn't have much of an offensive game at Uconn, so it's unlikely one training camp would help much. His role for fantasy teams would be a shot-blocking specialist. He won't get enough field goal attempts to significantly help your FG% even though he'll shoot a high one (majority of his shots will be from offensive rebound put backs). It also hurts that he won't even be in the starting lineup as he'll spell Z-Bo and Marc Gasol.
-May be worth a late round pick, but certainly wouldn't reach for him.

James Harden (OKC)- PG/SG:
Harden is the best pure scorer of the class. His silky smooth play and unlimited range makes him a deadly weapon for what is already a young-talented Thunder squad. He'll most likely start at the SG spot for them. Being surrounded by Durant, Green and Westbrook should take the pressure off Harden from having to score points. This could translate into decent scoring, nice percentages, and his playmaking ability will lead to some assists (since Westbrook isn't a pure PG).
-Draft somewhere in the late rounds.

Tyreke Evans (SAC)- PG/SG:
The former Memphis diaper dandy (as Dickie V would call them) doesn't exactly have a set position in the NBA just yet. He played PG for the Tigers, but could very well be a better scorer than setting up other teammates. Evans will probably begin the season coming off the bench, but could eventually work his way into the starting lineup. His stats may be a bit sporadic as his shooting still needs improvement.
-Probably stay away from him.

Ricky Rubio (MIN)- PG/SG:
Only if you're playing fantasy European basketball should you draft him...maybe next year?
-Don't draft at all.

Johnny Flynn (MIN)- PG/SG:
Flynn, now won't have to compete with Rubio for PT, but will now have to challenge, newly acquired, Ramon Sessions. It was a strange signing for the T-wolves after drafting 3 PGs (traded Ty Lawson to the Nuggets). It seemed like Flynn was going to be their man until then. The signing, however, could increase his value as he'll split time at point guard and shooting guard giving you scoring and assists.
-Probably wouldn't draft him.

Stephen Curry (GSW)- PG/SG:
Curry couldn't have been more thrilled after being selected by the Warriors. His game fits Nellie's system perfectly in the run n' gun styled offense. The best shooter in the draft class, and is already a favorite of Nellie. There will be plenty of shots to go around Golden State. Looks like he'll start the year at point guard as well.
-Definitely draft him.

Jordan Hill (NYK)- SF/PF:
At least a year away from finding enough minutes on the court to have any fantasy value. The Knicks drafted Hill as insurance, if they had lost David Lee via free agency. As long as Lee is in the Big Apple, Hill won't be needed.
-Stay away from him, unless he somehow manages to find minutes.

DeMar DeRozan (TOR)- SG/SF/PF:
Has the athletic ability for the NBA. Never had the ability to create his own shot back at USC. It's a good thing the Raptors have Jose Calderon and, free agent acquisition, Hedo Turkoglu, to create open opportunities for DeRozan. He's listed as the starter at SG, but could lose the job to the sharp-shooting Marco Belinelli.
-May be worth a late flier on. Keep an eye on him as the season progresses.

Brandon Jennings (MIL)- PG:
Tough to tell how Jennings will do in the NBA since he went overseas to play. He's lightning quick and has the ability to show his high-fly acts. The Bucks will probably hand him the starting spot later in the season as Luke Ridnour isn't part of their future plans. The Bucks also don't have a lot of talent on the squad.
-Worth a very late round pick.

Terrence Williams (NJN)- SG/SF/PF:
Williams is very intriguing given his ability to play three different positions out on the court. The Nets really love what he brings to the table. They also have tons of young talent, so it's hard to judge which guy will get the majority of the minutes.
-Late round-don't draft at all.

Gerald Henderson (CHA)- SG/SF:
It's very hard for a rookie to crack the rotation of a Larry Brown coached team. Henderson is no different. Brown loves to rely on his veterans. Henderson is athletically gifted, but if he sees time on the court it'll most likely be for his defense rather than his offense.
-Stay away.

Tyler Hansbrough (IND)- SF/PF:
The ACC player of the year has a motor that doesn't stop. Hansbrough only knows how to play one way, and that's all-out. This could help him find his way onto the court as the Pacers seriously lack toughness inside the paint. Won't do much in the stat sheet other than rebounding.
-Worth a very late round pick.

Top 10 Player Looking to Bounce Back

This list of players is not sorted by order; it's just a list of 10 guys looking to rebound after a disappointing year. The names qualified for this list are players who missed about 30 games last season (or about 35% of their games). These guys all may not be ranked high in this year's rankings because their stats aren't up there. People may tend to forget about injuries last year (and that's a big mistake when entering your draft). The earlier you draft (date-wise), the lower they probably will be listed as fantasy sites will slowly move them up the board the closer it gets to the season. So, if you're an early drafter, here are 10 guys to keep your eyes on.

*Draft round predictions are based on a standard 12-team league*

1) Al Jefferson (MIN)-PF/C (GM:32)-

Big Al was off to a career year before suffering a season-ending ACL injury. He's trained hard to get back to game speed and is ready to start a new season. With new head coach Kurt Rambis, he'll be relied upon to carry the franchise. There's not much talent in Minnesota, so he'll get more than his share of looks/touches.
I've always loved this guy because he turned down the money because he felt he didn't do enough to deserve it. Who does that these days in the NBA? Gotta respect Big Al for that.
-Late 1st round-Early 2nd round

2) Elton Brand (PHI)-PF/C (GM:53)-

Everyone in Philly was equally disappointed in their new acquisition as Clipper Nation was ecstatic that EB got what he deserved after spurning their contract offer. Brand will be anxious to help his .500 ball club reach the playoffs again. One thing to keep a note on is that he has played in only 37 games the last two seasons because of a ruptured Achilles' tendon in 2007 and missed the rest of last season due to shoulder surgery. It could be a huge gamble reaching for EB, but the reward is a fantasy star that is capable to leading your team to the top.
-2nd round-3rd round

3) Gilbert Arenas (WAS)-PG (GM:80)-

Agent 0 is determined to prove his critics wrong that his career is over, a bust, overpaid, etc. Reports say his knee has looked really strong and the best it's ever looked after several knee surgeries. Let's not forget he was a top 10 player just two years ago and he's only 27-years-old. There's plenty left in the tank after missing practically the past two seasons. He, also, won't have to carry the bulk of the scoring in Washington anymore with the arrival of Randy Foye and Mike Miller. Both guys will play huge roles for the Wizards, and they still have their big 3 intact with Caron Butler and Antawn Jamison. One downside is that he recently said he was only going to shoot 100 3ptrs in the season and will display his mid-range game. That certainly won't make fantasy owners happy as he's capable of making 200+ 3s.
Like Elton Brand, he definitely puts up 1st round numbers when healthy, but is he worth the gamble?
-2nd round-3rd round

4) Carlos Boozer (UTA)-PF/C (GM:45)-

Here are a few quotes Boozer have made:
~ "I'm looking forward to playing, looking forward to proving a lot to everybody, to myself, and getting back to being an All-Star player."
~ "Honestly, I don't know," he said. "I hope they support me. I hope the fans support me. I love our fans. I hope they know that I'm happy to be here, love being here. I'm going to bust my tail for them and give them everything I've got and prove everything on the court."

Not sure what to make of anything he's said after he really wanted out of Utah last season. One positive thing going for him, besides getting the starting nod over Paul Millsap, is Utah will definitely try to display him to increase his trade value later in the season. That means Boozer-like numbers will definitely be up there.
-3rd round

5) Kevin Martin (SAC)-SG (GM:31)-

K-Mart will surely get his share of shots in Sac-Town. With the rebuilding process in full gear, he's the cornerstone of the franchise. Martin is already buying into new head coach Paul Westphal's philosophy so good things will soon follow. His unorthodox shot is certainly one of the ugliest we've seen in a long time, but it's also one of the deadliest shots. If you enjoy scoring, he'll get plenty of it. Also, one of the better FT% guys out there in fantasy as he gets to the stripe about 10 times per game making nearly 90% of them. Definitely a guy to look at if you have a big man that shoots around 60% at the line.
-3rd round-early 4th round

6) Monta Ellis (GSW)-PG/SG (GM:57)-

Ellis never got off to the right start once he signed his new contract after getting into a moped accident. He was suspended 30 games due to a contract violation (although the majority of the games missed were due to his injury). This off-season didn't go so well with the blazing quick guard after the Warriors drafted college standout Stephen Curry, who plays the same position as Ellis. He'll be looking to display his skills to ensure not losing his spot to the rookie. We saw the numbers he's capable of putting up in the month of March as he averaged just under 24 ppg, 4.5 reb, 4.4 ast, & 1.2 stl. I forgot to mention that in the last game he played last year he dropped 42 pts, 9 reb, 9 ast!
-3rd round

7) Andrew Bogut (MIL)-C (GM:46)-

Not the biggest name out there, but Bogut is a good backup center capable of putting up decent numbers. 10-10 is what you'll most likely get out of him with a couple of assists and blocks. However, I believe his scoring will increase slightly, especially if Michael Redd misses any time this season. He does get lots of turnovers for a big man who doesn't put up dominating numbers (i.e. Dwight Howard); which could annoy Bogut owners. I certainly wouldn't reach for him, but keep an eye on him as it gets in the later rounds of your draft.
-Mid 8th round-9th round

8) Jameer Nelson (ORL)-PG (GM:40)-

Nelson best represents The Little Engine that Could. A healthy Nelson could've meant a different outcome in the NBA Finals, but showed how important he was to the team. At times, the Magic were stagnant suffered with no true ball handler on the court. He'll be even more crucial as the loss of Hedo Turkoglu takes away their other key playmaker. The all-star won't wow you with his numbers, but is a type of fantasy player that glues your roster together...high shooting percentages in all aspects.
-Mid 5th round-6th round

9) Chris Kaman (LAC)-PF/C (GM:51)-

Just one year removed from putting up career numbers, it looks like the Cave man's time has come and gone at Los Angeles. With the #1 overall pick, Blake Griffin, waiting in the wings, Kaman's PT could be limited as the season goes along. A few bright notes to keep in mind come draft day, Kaman WILL be starting ahead of Griffin (for the time being), so that'll give him at least a month to show Coach Dunleavy he deserves to stay in the lineup; and also, the other big man the Clippers have is Marcus Camby. Camby is notorious for getting injured (after all, he's never played a full season in his career), so Kaman owners could reap the benefits. On another side note: he could be traded early in the season if the Clippers decide to speed up the future.
-Mid 7th round-8th round

10) Michael Redd (MIL)-SG/SF (GM:49)-

Redd is already an intriguing player as he does most of his fantasy value in the scoring category. However, in H2H leagues, he can single handedly win the 3ptm category. He's another one of those players where his name recognition increases his value over his actual fantasy value. If you enjoy scoring, Redd's another player for you, as he won't fill up any boxscores. In the current Bucks lineup, there isn't much firepower, so Redd will be asked to score even more. This may not bold well for him as he's trying to recover from ACL/MCL surgery. So far, his knee has looked pretty good, but he hasn't seen action since January. It may take him some time to get back to game speed.
-5th round-early 6th round

(GM: Games Missed)