Posts Tagged Amare Stoudemire
Trade Fallout: So many trades, so few roster spots
Posted by fantasy hoopster in Fantasy Basketball, Fantasy Basketball Pickups, Fantasy Basketball Rankings, Fantasy Basketball Strategy, Fantasy Basketball Trades, Fantasy Fallout on February 18, 2010
Wow, that was a busy trade season. I haven’t seen that many players swapped since baseball cards were still cool to collect. But since, realistically, most of us only had one or two roster spots to tinker with, how do we make sense of all the trade winners and losers? Well, here’s my preliminary ranking (by tiers) of guys who are available in 50+% of Yahoo leagues (at least, before the trading deadline):
MUST-OWNS
Andray Blatche
First game post-Jamison and Haywood said it all, even if it came against the undersized T-Wolves.
Omri Casspi
Put up top 50 numbers when Martin was out earlier this year, and is a clear building block of the franchise.
Tyrus Thomas
With ample playing time, expect some wild stl/blk stat lines in the future.
JaVale McGee (at least in deeper leagues)
Like Blatche, he had an eye-opening effort against the T-Wolves, Before that, he’s been very promising in stretches, albeit inconsistent. He’s in the top tier because of his upside and the fact that his FT% isn’t nearly as bad as another C I’ll mention below.
NICE-TO-OWNS
Taj Gibson
Should see a nice boost while Joakim Noah is out. Otherwise, at least he should enjoy a nice boost in confidence with Thomas gone.
Sergio Rodriguez
This guy might belong in the top tier if he can take Chris Duhon’s starting job, as has been rumored. He’s probably a must-own in deeper leagues based purely on speculation.
Tracy McGrady
It’s kind of sad I would rather own Sergio Rodriguez right now, but T-Mac probably has more upside than anyone on this list. He’s the true wild card of this group.
Josh Howard
Okay, he’s probably already taken in your league. But if not, I’d rank him right below T-Mac.
Rasual Butler
Al Thornton’s exit and Travis Outlaw’s uncertain return mean big minutes for Butler.
DeAndre Jordan
Mixed bag in first two games post-Marcus Camby. His upside is equal to McGee’s, but in his career as a starter he’s shooting a putrid 36% on a substantial 4.4 FT attempts per game. His inconsistency might not be worth that negative pressure.
Craig Smith
Doesn’t do much besides score and score efficiently. Those looking to make a last minute charge up the FG% ranks in roto leagues should consider him.
Francisco Garcia
He was a stud last year after the Kings traded away John Salmons. The only problem this year — Tyreke Evans, Donte Greene, and Omri Casspi are all emerging and playing well. And who knows what Larry Hughes’ role will be.
Donte Greene
See: Garcia, Francisco.
KEEP AN EYE ON
Nate Robinson
I dropped Nate for JaVale McGee in what was a needs-based move in one league, but BOS might actually be a good situation for Nate. You know they want to rest Ray Allen for the playoffs, so it’s possible Nate could get 25-30 mpg as an instant offense sixth man. Or, he could get the same minutes Eddie House was getting. Who knows? So keep an eye on him.
Nick Young
WAS is playing for the future, and Young would qualify as such. If you need 3’s, they might start falling soon…
Rudy Fernandez and Jerryd Bayless
Even with Steve Blake gone, these guys kind of cancel each other out. If Brandon Roy continues to be hampered by his hammy, both would enjoy instant upgrades.
Jared Jeffries and Hilton Armstrong
Jeffries’ skills are a perfect match for Houston’s style of play. However, he probably won’t get close to the minutes he was getting in NY. We’ll have to wait and see what that averages out to. And speaking of playing time, Armstrong will be battling Jeffries for the minutes that Carl Landry vacated in Houston. He hasn’t done much this year, but has been useful for stretches in the past.
Hakim Warrick
He doesn’t do much besides score, but CHI chose him over more defensive big men like Kurt Thomas and Francisco Elson for a reason. With Salmons gone, Warrick could be leaned on for some (unorthodox) post scoring.
Beno Udrih
Udrih was useful the first time Martin was missing games, but the return of Francisco Garcia complicates that backcourt enough for me to be cautiously optimistic about Udrih the rest of the way.
Al Thornton
A change of scenery might do him good, but he’s still playing behind Mike Miller and Howard.
IT’S NOT YOU, IT’S ME…
You might not want to cut some of these guys right away, but if you have to in order to snatch one of the “Must-Owns” I’d probably make the move.
Channing Frye
I’m sticking Frye on this list because he was probably hurt the most by the Suns’ inability to trade Amare Stoudemire. He could still very possibly get hot for multiple games at a time, but Robin Lopez is entrenched as the starter now, killing Frye’s consistency. (I’d hang onto him in deeper leagues though.)
J.J. Hickson and Anderson Varejao
Again, maybe wait at least a couple days before dropping these guys, but that CLE frontcourt is awfully crowded now. But do what you gotta do and don’t look back.
Drew Gooden
Looks like he’s staying in Clipperland, where he might actually be somewhat useful, but his upside is limited.
Ronnie Brewer and Charlie Bell
Brewer and Bell are headed to the MEM and MIL benches, and there are definitely more attractive fish in the sea.
Zydrunas Ilgauskas
If his contract is bought out, he’s worthless for 4 weeks. If he rejoins CLE or goes to DAL, it’s not much better.
Erick Dampier
I was down on him from the start. A broken finger sealed his fate.
Did I miss anyone? Of course I did. Feel free to let me know below…
Trade Fallout: Emir Preldzic traded!
Posted by fantasy hoopster in Fantasy Basketball, Fantasy Basketball Pickups, Fantasy Basketball Strategy, Fantasy Basketball Trades, Fantasy Fallout on February 17, 2010
That’s right — Cleveland has traded the rights to Emir Preldzic to Washington (in exchange for Antawn Jamison). This was actually a three-team deal, with CLE getting Jamison and Sebastian Telfair, WAS getting Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Al Thornton, Brian Skinner, and of course EMIR PRELDZIC(!), and LAC getting Drew Gooden. Ilgauskas and Gooden will likely both be bought out, with Ilgauskas likely returning to CLE and Gooden likely heading back to DAL. (If true, both should be dropped, as they won’t even be in action for 30 days.)
The fantasy fallout? No immediate hot pickups (that I haven’t already discussed in detail) jump out at me. Here’s the quick rundown:
Biggest winner: Besides the entire city of Cleveland? Thornton might have a chance to jumpstart his season, but I’m not rushing to own him as he’s still behind Mike Miller, Josh Howard, and possibly even James Singleton on the depth chart. And oh yeah, Andray Blatche is a must-own now (I’ve mentioned him so much lately I almost forgot to include him), while JaVale McGee deserves a long look.
(The other winners here? Amare Stoudemire and Troy Murphy owners, as they won’t have to worry about their big men being destroyed by that CLE frontcourt situation.)
Keep an eye on: Rasual Butler and Travis Outlaw now only have each other to compete with for minutes at the SF spot in LAC. Both should be solid weekly plays the rest of the way, with Butler especially roster-worthy as long as Outlaw is still injured.
Biggest loser: The entire city of New York. The much-anticipated LeBron sweepstakes of 2010 might not even happen if the LeBron/Jamison experiment works out.
From a fantasy perspective, Jamison takes a hit in value, as do all the other bigs in CLE: J.J. Hickson, Anderson Varejao, Shaquille O’Neal, and Ilgauskas (when he returns). Hickson made my last weekly pickups list because I assumed the team willing to deal their stud PF would at least get him in return. WAS failed me, and Hickson’s fantasy value is on life support now. Damn you, Wizards!
Week 16 Recap (That was short) and Week 17 Pickups
Posted by fantasy hoopster in Fantasy Basketball, Fantasy Basketball Pickups, Fantasy Basketball Strategy, Fantasy Basketball Trades on February 15, 2010
WEEK 16 RECAP
After a shortened week and a lackluster dunk contest, I have to admit the All Star game itself was kind of exciting, at least for an exhibition game. You could tell the 108,000+ spectators helped to motivate the players (or distract, in the case of one Deron Williams).
Hmm, did anything else happen last week? Well, there was that trade. And oh yeah, Stephen Curry put up a ridiculous triple-double (36, 10, and 13 with 7 treys) thanks to a buzzer-beating rebound with the help of one of the most clutch box-outs I’ve ever seen…by Anthony Tolliver (more on him below). Check out the 6:30 mark for the play:
In fact, Curry has been so impressive lately, I’m not even going to mention those two other guys until they show me they’re capable of making this a Fantasy ROY race again.
See, I told you Week 16 was short.
WEEK 17 PICKUPS
As has been the theme around here lately, most of these pickups will actually be speculative long-term adds based on trade rumors. Others will be named Anthony Tolliver. (p.s. Anthony Morrow and Darren Collison have both cleared the 50% ownership mark required for this list, but make sure neither are taken before continuing below.)
Andray Blatche (34%)
See my post from over the weekend. But essentially, with Brendan Haywood out of the picture and Antawn Jamison likely (but not surely) to follow, the door is open for Blatche to get 35+ minutes a night. In 4 games as a starter this year, Blatche is only averaging 11 ppg and 7.5 rpg with 1.8 bpg in 34 mpg, but that was as a starting PF playing alongside Haywood. Last year, he averaged 12 ppg and 6 rpg with ~1 spg/bpg in 28 mpg as a starting C without Haywood. Project that to 35 mpg, and those numbers come out to roughly 14 ppg and 8 rpg with 1+ spg/bpg. Add in the Wizards’ great playoff schedule in H2H leagues, and you want to own this kid.
Drew Gooden (28%)
I also like Gooden’s value to take a step up as he’ll get more consistent minutes in WAS (assuming he isn’t flipped to a contender). In fact, the only downside to owning Blatche will be seeing Gooden gobble up double-digit boards on certain nights, while Blatche only snatches 5 or so. That being said, I’d still prefer Blatche for his steals and blocks, but Gooden will be an excellent source of rebounds.
Anthony Tolliver (7%)
Curry and Tolliver probably won't lead Golden State to many W's this year. Good thing we live in a fantasy world. (Getty)
Gasp! What is this — a player who likely doesn’t stand to benefit from a trade on this list? Well, with the rate that Monta Ellis, Corey Maggette, and the rest of the Warriors get injured, Tolliver is essentially getting theboost in minutes a trade would have. (Not to mention Andris Biedrins actually has been mentioned in some rumors. But then again, who hasn’t this year?) There are so many different ways to hype Tolliver, but I’ll just go with his averages from the last 3 games: 17 ppg and 8 rpg with 1.3/1.0/0.7 3s/stl/blk.
The Warriors recently decided to cut Speedy Claxton’s valuable expiring contract to keep Tolliver (a move that angered many GS fans), so you can expect management will give him plenty of minutes to prove himself the rest of the way. I recently picked up Tolliver, then dropped him for Blatche. If Carlos Boozer doesn’t get traded, I’m dropping Paul Millsap for this kid.
[02/18/10 UPDATE -- Boozer didn't get dealt, but Ronnie Brewer did, freeing up time for both Andrei Kirilenko and Millsap. Add in the fact that Millsap has been on fire lately and looks to get 30+ mpg, and no, I am in fact not dropping him for Tolliver at this point. Just to clarify...]
Robin Lopez (38%)
He sputtered a bit last week, but with Amare Stoudemire trade rumors swirling faster than a Mid-Atlantic snowstorm, Lopez is worth owning (or at least keeping a close eye on) over the next 3 days.
J.J. Hickson (9%)
Speaking of Amare trade rumors, Hickson will be a likely beneficiary of any trade the Cavs make because the Cavs will likely be bringing in a stud PF (Amare, Jamison, or Troy Murphy), leaving a nice, empty starting PF spot on the other team. Of course, Hickson wouldn’t have LeBron James feeding him for easy scores anymore, but considering the opposing team would most likely be rebuilding (except in the case of the Suns), and Hickson should get more run than he did/does in CLE.
Keep an eye on:
Wow, I didn’t realize this list was so F-C heavy. Here are some other guys to keep an eye on (including G’s!), either due to trade speculation or strong play: Brad Miller and Taj Gibson (43% and 10% respectively — Joakim Noah still hurting and Tyrus Thomas on the trade block), Ryan Gomes (32%), Marcus Thornton (38% — coming back from injury and should still benefit from Chris Paul’s absence), DeJuan Blair (25%), George Hill (38% — better with Tony Parker healthy?), Luc Richard Mbah a Moute (8% — 11 rpg over last 3), Jared Jeffries (8%), T.J. Ford (33% — don’t get your hopes up, but back in rotation), Marquis Daniels (2%), Charlie Bell (4% — a trey in 12 straight games)
Week 14 Recap (Who Dat? It’s Darren Collison) and Week 15 Pickups
Posted by fantasy hoopster in Fantasy Basketball on January 31, 2010
Week 14 was business as usual for the most part… until it was reported Sunday that Chris Paul will undergo arthroscopic surgery on his left knee and miss 1-2 months. Before you even read anything else, run out and pick up Darren Collison, who had 18 assists in Paul’s absence on Saturday. More on that below, but first the (abbrev.) recap:
Darren Collison, it's time to shake up some fantasy basketball leagues. (Getty Images)
WEEK 14 RECAP
- Mike Miller exploded for 25, 9, and 8 including 7-10 from downtown against the Knicks on Saturday. When news of Gilbert Arenas’ legal woes first broke, I thought Miller would give Randy Foye a run for his money in terms of being the most valuable pickup. It’s just one game (and chances are the Knicks won’t play zone against WAS when they meet again this week), but at the very least make sure Miller isn’t a FA in your league.
- Attention, Tyreke Evans and Brandon Jennings: Stephen Curry is running away with the fantasy ROY race.
- The Detroit backcourt is slowly getting healthy… putting a dent in the fantasy values of every member of that team, as there are only so many minutes to go around.
- Channing Frye might be better as a sixth man, as he’s become a much more efficient player. Lou Williams: better as a sixth man? Not so much. (Although Lou posted a nice line Sunday, it seems whenever Jrue Holiday or Willie Green are playing well, Lou is the odd man out.) Both are worth holding, especially Frye, as the Suns and 76ers figure to make deals before the trade deadline. (I dropped Lou for Paul Millsap in one league though.) And if Amare Stoudemire gets shipped out of Phoenix, Frye could very well end up back in the starting lineup starting alongside Robin Lopez.
- Andrew Bynum is learning to coexist with Pau Gasol.
- And after nearly getting suspended earlier in the week, J.R. Smith had his best week of the year, averaging 17 ppg, 3.3 threes and 2.3 spg in Carmelo Anthony’s absence. Meanwhile, Kenyon Martin continues to dominate the boards, hurting Nene Hilario’s value. I expect that to even out (some) in the long term though, and since KMart is a perennial injury risk, I would sell high. (Nene could be a sneaky buy low as well, as nagging injuries have slowed him down some lately.)
WEEK 15 PICKUPS
In New Orleans, everyone's saying "Who Dat?" lately. Why, it's Darren Collison again. Pick him up. (Getty Images)
Darren Collison (15%)
At the time I’m writing this, Collison has already jumped up from being owned in 2% of Yahoo leagues to start the week to 15% and rising. He filled in admirably for Paul on Saturday night and could deliver some teams to fantasy victory in the coming months.
Marcus Thornton (25%)
Likewise, Thornton should benefit from Paul’s absence. I was already going to include him on this list as he was recently inserted into the starting lineup, but now his playing time/value increases even more. In 4 games as a starter (one without CP3), Thornton is averaging 18 ppg and 2.3 treys.
Goerge Hill (23%)
Continuing with the point/combo-guard theme, Hill is a great add with Tony Parker out in the short term. And, like Thornton above, Hill had recently been inserted into the starting lineup anyway, where he was already being productive. I give a slight nod to Thornton in preference, but only because the Hornets will need him to step up without CP3 the next 1-2 months, whereas Parker’s injury isn’t as serious.
Brandon Rush (39%)
One of my preseason sleepers, Rush is quietly averaging 13.6 ppg and 5 rpg to go with 2.1/0.6/1.0 threes/stl/blk per game over the last two weeks. Like I mentioned last week, Danny Granger’s return has really sparked him.
Robin Lopez (40%)
There’s no reason Lopez should be owned in less than half of Yahoo leagues (unless all his owners are dropping him for Collison). If Amare Stoudemire does in fact get traded, Lopez should get all the minutes he can handle, with Steve Nash spoon-feeding him buckets. He had a mediocre week last week, but he’s still worth a calculated gamble in my book.
Jared Jeffries (5%)
If you need defensive help in deeper leagues, Jeffries has averaged 1.3 spg and bpg over the last two months.
Keep an eye on: Keyon Dooling (2% — check Devin Harris’ status), Brad Miller (41% — resurrected his season this past week), Kris Humprhies (7%), Chase Budinger (3% — second guy off the bench with Kyle Lowry out), Goran Dragic (16%)
And before I go…
Corey Brewer (54%)
He’s made my “Keep an eye on” list the last several weeks, and Brewer has finally cleared the 50% hurdle with another stellar 3-pt shooting week. Add in the fact that MIN only has 2 games this week, and you’re probably wondering why I’m including him here though. Well, I just needed an excuse to post this video. (Apologies, Derek Fisher.)
Fantasy Fallout, Rumor Edition: Tyrus Thomas, Tracy McGrady, Andre Miller, and Elton Brand
Posted by fantasy hoopster in Fantasy Basketball, Fantasy Basketball Pickups, Fantasy Basketball Strategy, Fantasy Fallout on December 4, 2009
Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports just posted a must-read article on the latest trade rumors in the NBA. Some highlights:
Is Thomas the next Stoudemire? Marion? Or just the next heckling target for New Yorkers? (Getty Images)
Tyrus Thomas
“Several sources believe the Bulls are agreeable to a package of Thomas and Jerome James for Knicks forward Al Harrington.”
Mike D’Antoni has apparently coveted Thomas’ athleticism for years, although I’m not exactly sure how Thomas would be used on offense. Is he more the Shawn Marion or Amare Stoudemire type?… because he seems somewhere in between and not necessarily in a good way, although I can’t really pinpoint why. Maybe because he’s more generally regarded as a defensive player. Anyway, he takes a nice speculative bump in value going to that open offense and is worth a roster spot if you can afford it.
Meanwhile, Al Harrington could be taking Ben Gordon’s old 6th man/instant offense role, but going to a more structured offense makes it hard to predict exactly how his value will be affected. It probably goes down though, as Al likely can’t jack up 5 three-pt attempts per game anywhere outside of NY or GS.
And even though Al would be coming in, Taj Gibson gets a nice boost in confidence/value, while it becomes more likely that Joakim Noah can maintain his nice start. (I was thinking of selling high on him as late as last week, but will hold off on that until news breaks.)
Tracy McGrady
“Houston seems willing to take back a longer-term contract for McGrady, but most executives believe his high salary makes it hard to put together a package.
“Rockets GM Daryl Morey and coach Rick Adelman don’t want McGrady back with the team, and have insisted that he isn’t physically ready to return to the lineup. McGrady would love a trade, but knows he must start playing again for it to be possible.”
This situation seems messier and messier to me, although this is the first “new” news I’ve heard in a while. (And updating my last post here, apparently there are T-Mac trade rumors. Of course!) In my last post, I also said this all reminded me of Allen Iverson’s past couple weeks, but it actually might be more reminiscent of the Stephen Jackson situation in GSW.
Remember that night Jackson got benched the entire second half when things got really heated/awkward, then played almost the entire next game? It’s called “showcasing”… and I’m guessing the Rockets are waiting for the right time (i.e., until T-Mac is absolutely healthy) to showcase his skills and ship him off. To where? Who knows. But a lot of New Yorkers on this message board from The Knicks Blog think it will be, you got it, the Knicks.
Andre Miller
“Sources say that Brandon Roy clearly prefers playing with Blake over Miller, and that’s an issue that Pritchard must contend with.”
This all stems from the Blazers’ need to fill the gap left by Travis Outlaw’s injury. It’s great news for anyone who recently picked Steve Blake off waivers. I’ve been saying I’d rather own him than Miller all year, so gooo me! (Unfortunately I don’t own him in any leagues though. So, hypooocrite!) It’s probably good news for any Miller owners too, as he’s clearly good enough to start on most NBA teams and this seems like more of a personal preference (on Brandon Roy’s part) rather than a big character issue that would hurt Miller’s value.
Elton Brand
“Sixers GM Ed Stefanski is desperate to unload forward Elton Brand and the $66 million owed over the remaining four years of his crippling contract, sources say, but that will be incredibly difficult.”
Not totally surprising, and hey, maybe that’s why he was getting big minutes before his hamstring got overheated. (Showcasing, anyone? No wait. That Marreese Speights guy got injured. Anyway.) Doesn’t look like anything will happen, but it’s worth keeping an eye on.
Schmuck Bait: Amare Stoudemire (buy low!)
Posted by fantasy hoopster in Fantasy Basketball, Fantasy Basketball Rankings, Fantasy Basketball Strategy, Schmuck Bait on November 13, 2009
I'd be wearing shades if I just got pummeled by Andrew Bynum and friends too. (Getty Images)
There were only two games on Thursday night, with one line that really jumped out at me…
Amare Stoudemire
With 8 pts and 5 reb on 2-15 shooting, Stoudemire easily had his worst game of the season on Thursday, the third of three very mediocre games in a row (although two of them were blowouts where he didn’t top 26 min). I actually had a chance to see the game at Staples last night (thanks for the tix, Frank), and honestly, it was one of those games that didn’t look as bad (for Amare) in person as it did on paper. (Although the missed dunk was slightly embarrassing.)
That being said, I think he is at his absolute lowest BUY LOW point of the season right now, for a few reasons:
The Tough Schedule
As Bright Side of the Sun pointed out, the Suns were finishing a back-to-back, which also happened to be the 4th game in 5 nights, which also happened to be the 7th game in 10 nights (with 6 of those 7 games on the road). And even though an eye injury doesn’t seem as serious as, say, a knee injury, Amare still had to sit out several months this year. So you can imagine how winded he was trying to guard Andrew Bynum and Lamar Odom last night (which, by the way, just might be the best combo of size, speed, and strength to contain someone like Stoudemire).
The Robin Lopez factor?
Stoudemire is only averaging a mediocre 7.9 rpg and sub-1 bpg, not to mention an uncharacteristic 71% on FT. For the latter, he’s shot over 80% over the last four years, so I’m not worried about that. As for REB, Stoudemire has never been an elite rebounder, so I wouldn’t be surprised if that hovers between 8-9 per game.
Schmuck Bait: Buy Low Sell High, Week 1
Posted by fantasy hoopster in Fantasy Basketball, Fantasy Basketball Rankings, Fantasy Basketball Strategy, Schmuck Bait on November 3, 2009
Jason Kidd is a nice buy-low target. His wife has nothing to do w/ this article but she, uh, looks not so bad. (SI)
A week into the season is plenty of time for people to start panicking about their teams. It’s also a perfect time to make some sneaky trades. And so, the first installment of Buy Low Sell High. (I know, I know. I’ll try to come up with a better name once my brain isn’t fried.)
As a bonus, I’ll throw in some salesman-y schmuck bait you can use with each player.
BUY LOW
Al Jefferson
He missed a good chunk of the pre-season due to a sore Achilles, and his minutes were limited the first couple games. So, in a way, he’s still getting into basketball shape. I know, because he’s sinking one of my teams right now. But if the guy who owns Big Al in your league isn’t as patient, feel free to lob him an offer.
The schmuck bait: He’s one wobbly knee from imploding your entire season. (This is actually true, but I like him to stay relatively healthy.)
Jason Kidd
Kidd hasn’t been a scorer in years, but he’s only made four shots in three games so far! I’m not even expecting double-digit scoring from him, but if he can hit 1.X threes per game, his numbers will be pretty close to last year, when he was a top 10 player by totals. And according to some of my readers, his owners are already getting antsy with his lack of 3’s/scoring, even though all the other numbers are there.
The schmuck bait: He’s old (i.e., fantasy finished).
Jose Calderon
A lot of people, including me, expected big things from Calderon this year after he took the summer off to improve his conditioning. Looks like he should’ve spent more time getting acquainted with Hedo Turkoglu. Here’s a telling stat: Calderon has already missed 4 FTs this year — more than all of last year. To me, that would hint that this initial slow start is more mental than anything else. It might take him a while to get used to Hedo, in which case you have time to decide whether he’s worth the “gamble”, but I’d act sooner than later.
The schmuck bait: He’s a Spaniard. Just kidding. He’s still unproven over an entire year as a go-to PG.
11/o6/09 UPDATE: Please see my Tough Questions post about Calderon to see exactly what I mean by “gamble”.
Fantasy Basketball Draft Rankings: 31-40
Posted by fantasy hoopster in Fantasy Basketball, Fantasy Basketball Draft, Fantasy Basketball Rankings on September 30, 2009
Fantasy basketball draft rankings: 31-40
These rankings are based on a standard 9-category format, with a slight leaning towards H2H leagues, although differing strategies for roto leagues are noted when applicable.
| Player | Team | POS | Analysis | |
| 31 | David West | NO | PF | What West lacks in flashiness he makes up for in consistency. He would be a great complement to a riskier early round pick, say an Al Jefferson or Amare Stoudemire. Even if you don’t have either of those guys, drafting consistent players like West also frees you up to make calculated risks in other rounds, like a Camby or a Bynum. |
| 32 | Kevin Martin | SAC | SG | While Martin has increased his scoring every year in the league, he’s done it at the expense of his FG%. I’m not sure starting alongside a rookie PG will help in that respect. But the scoring, 3’s, and amazing FT% (at a high attempt rate) are why you draft Martin anyways. |
| 33 | Brook Lopez | NJ | PF, C | Although D-Rose and Mayo get the hype, B-Lo should be the first sophomore taken in fantasy drafts. With VC out of town, I wouldn’t be surprised if Lopez averages 17+ PTS while shooting solid percentages and blocking 2 shots per game. Although Duncan will go much earlier, I’d actually rather have Lopez next year. |
| 34 | Troy Murphy | IND | PF, C | Is Murphy a one-hit wonder? I don’t think he’ll be quite as good as last year. (He shot 45% on 3’s.) But there are several reasons to believe last year wasn’t a fluke. His career 3P% is actually 39.7%, meaning if he keeps shooting about 5 3’s per game, he should still make 2. Not bad for a C. Also, whenever he’s gotten 30+ mpg, he’s averaged double-digit REB that season. Despite the drafting of Hansbrough, with no Jermaine O’Neal around, Murphy should still continue to log big minutes. |
| 35 | Elton Brand | PHI | PF, C | If C-eligible in your league, I’d consider taking him earlier, as all reports are that his shoulder and Achilles have healed. Just be prepared for a slow start, as the Sixers no longer have a true PG and Brand will essentially be starting over. Again. |
| 36 | Carlos Boozer | UTA | PF, C | Like Brand, I would consider taking him earlier if he’s C-eligible in your league. However, if you play him as a C, just prepare for his mediocre bpg accordingly. Also, don’t be surprised if Millsap steals a few minutes from him. All reasons why I’m choosing brandy over booze. |
| 37 | Rajon Rondo | BOS | PG | After nearly averaging a triple-double in the playoffs last year, Rondo is on a lot of people’s “Must-Have” lists. But while it was one of the most impressive 14-game stretches in basketball last year, he only really came close to replicating it one month during the regular season (Feb). That being said, I would love to own Rondo (despite the lack of 3PM and low FT%), but I think someone else will overpay for him before I have the chance. Oh well. |
| 38 | Vince Carter | ORL | SG, SF | You’re probably wondering why I have VC ranked so low. I’ll be the first to admit, I always underrate him. Every year. And he always proves me wrong. Maybe he burned me once when he was still Air Canada. Maybe I should be telling my psychiatrist this instead of all of you. On the positive side, there are few better sources of AST from the F position than Carter. And a motivated VC (as he should be with a championship contender) could be a scary VC. |
| 39 | Gilbert Arenas | WAS | PG | It comes down to this: Who is a sure bet you would not be embarrassed to draft even if Agent 0 explodes? If there are none left, scoop Arenas up. Since Arenas is a risk, if I land him I probably won’t draft similarly risky players early in the draft, such as Baron, Brand, or Camby, although I will take risks later. (ADDENDUM: Looks like people are gambling on Gil as early as the low-30’s, so if you crave the Hibachi, adjust your draft order accordingly. Just please don’t pay too much.) |
| 40 | Baron Davis | LAC | PG | Like Josh Smith and Gerald Wallace, Davis is a perennial injury risk. However, the Clippers have assembled a nice pool of talent, and, playing in his hometown, you have to think Baron has something to prove after last year’s debacle. You can probably get him in the fourth round (just be sure to draft some depth at PG). Although the DNPs will pop up, I like the Clippers to contend for a playoff spot this year (yes, I actually said that), which means Baron should be playing/trying deep into the fantasy playoffs… |
Fantasy Basketball Draft Rankings: 11-20
Posted by fantasy hoopster in Fantasy Basketball, Fantasy Basketball Draft, Fantasy Basketball Rankings on September 30, 2009
Fantasy basketball draft rankings: 11-20
These rankings are based on a standard 9-category format, with a slight leaning towards H2H leagues, although differing strategies for roto leagues are noted when applicable.
| Player | Team | POS | Analysis | |
| 11 | Dwight Howard | ORL | C | It’s the same old story with Howard. Is it worth sacrificing FT% to dominate in FG%, REB, and BLK? Yes, in H2H leagues if you decide to punt FT%. In roto leagues you would need to draft the likes of a Kevin Martin or Chancey Billups later to have a shot in FT%. Personally I like Big Al and Amare better. Things get a little fuzzier with Bosh and Pau – it just depends on your personal strategy. |
| 12 | Chris Bosh | TOR | PF, C | Like Al Jefferson, Bosh will give you 20+ and 10 with nearly a steal per game. Given his track record, he’s probably a slightly safer bet as well. The only downside is his mediocre 1.0 bpg. But if you’re confident you can account for that elsewhere, Bosh should be in store for a nice bump in efficiency this year, with a healthy Calderon and newly-acquired Turkoglu setting him up. |
| 13 | Pau Gasol | LAK | PF, C | Some people are taking Pau in the first round, but I’d wait until early second. Just take a look at Pau’s splits with (18 and 9) and without (21 and 10) Bynum last season. Of course Pau’s real value is in his FG%, but I’m betting on Bynum to play 60+ games this year, which means Pau’s final numbers should be closer to the former. |
| 14 | Brandon Roy | POR | SG | He’s officially a fantasy stud, but the biggest question is how Andre Miller will affect him. A steady Steve Blake already ate into Roy’s assist numbers last year, so you’d have to think those will take another slight hit. However, the %s and scoring might creep up with a more experienced floor general at the helm. |
| 15 | Andre Iguodala | PHI | SG, SF | With shoot-first Louis Williams replacing pass-first Andre Miller at PG, AI will probably control the ball more and pad his AST. Unfortunately, Miller’s departure might also negatively affect AI’s FG% and TO. (And AI’s owners already have to deal with his subpar FT%.) With a healthy Brand back in the lineup, AI’s scoring might not go up as much as expected, but it’s hard to argue against the AST value from a forward. |
| 16 | Chauncey Billips | DEN | PG | Billups is a stud PG who, like Nash, has seemingly defied Father Time. Although Nash has higher FG% and AST, I give Billups a slight edge b/c of his superior 3PM and STL. Many think having a year in Denver under his belt will lead to a slight boost in Billups’ numbers, although I think it will be negligible considering his age. In H2H leagues, I give a clear nod to Billups given Denver’s great schedule. |
| 17 | Steve Nash | PHO | PG | This guy never ceases to amaze me. After a slow start last year, Nash was back to around 10 apg the rest of the year when PHO returned to its shoot-early offense. With Shaq out of town, expect more of the same. The biggest question mark: Will his 3PM return to the 2+ range? If so he will be a steal here. If not, he’s still a solid building block. |
| 18 | Joe Johnson | ATL | PG, SG | ATL is still Joe Johnson’s team. The addition of Jamal Crawford will more likely negatively impact Bibby. I was surprised Johnson’s FG% wasn’t closer to the mid-40s last season playing off a capable set-up man in Bibby. Now that he’ll be playing off two capable set-up men nearly every second he’s on the court, I expect his FG% to get back to his early ATL years. |
| 19 | Tim Duncan | SA | PF, C | While still a solid fantasy C, Duncan’s minutes have declined in 7 of the last 8 seasons. His numbers have followed suit. Dissecting the stats another way, his minutes also declined month-to-month last year, to the point where he was essentially a glorified David Lee during the fantasy playoffs. While I wouldn’t mind owning him, I’d rather take a quality wing or guard at this point in the draft and target an up-and-coming C later. (See: Lopez, Biedrins, Horford.) |
| 20 | Carmelo Anthony | DEN | SF | Melo has come a long way in fantasy hoops. Once a notorious “brand name” player who only provided scoring, Melo has steadily raised his 3PM (not to mention 3P%) the last four years. He’s gotten his REB to a respectable level for a SF, and his AST and STL are above average for his position. He started last year in a horrible shooting slump en route to his worst FG% since his sophomore year, but now that he’s found his groove with Chauncey, I expect him to shoot 47-49% next year. |
Fantasy Basketball Draft Rankings: 1-10
Posted by fantasy hoopster in Fantasy Basketball, Fantasy Basketball Draft, Fantasy Basketball Rankings on September 30, 2009
Fantasy basketball draft rankings: 1-10
These rankings are based on a standard 9-category format, with a slight leaning towards H2H leagues, although differing strategies for roto leagues are noted when applicable.
| Player | Team | POS | Analysis | |
| 1 | LeBron James | CLE | SF | As if LeBron needs any more motivation, how about these two words: Contract year. LBJ’s FT% has increased the last three years after decreasing his first three as a pro. His only stat that might regress? REB, as the additions of Shaq and Leon Powe to Varejao, Hickson, and Big Z crowd the frontcourt. But on the other hand… |
| 2 | Chris Paul | NO | PG | Strictly by the numbers, CP3 is more valuable than LBJ. Guards who shoot 50% are rare, and we all know about the AST and STL. In roto leagues, I take CP3 first. In H2H leagues, I take LeBron b/c CLE has a superior schedule to NO. In fact, NO has one of the worst skeds in the league, especially during the fantasy playoffs. |
| 3 | Dwyane Wade | MIA | SG | The big question: Can he stay healthy two years in a row? Barring freak injuries, I see no reason why not. Although his FT% was erratic month-to-month last year, there’s not much to complain about when D-Wade drops 2+ spg and 1+ bpg as a guard. |
| 4 | Kevin Durant | OKC | SG, SF | I like Durant over Kobe because of a) his position eligibility b) his 1/1/1 potential and c) he’s still getting better. As a bonus in H2H leagues, OKC has a great playoff schedule. I have a feeling he might lead some squads to a fantasy championship… |
| 5 | Kobe Bryant | LAK | SG | Kobe is as consistent as they come, willing to play through broken fingers to deliver fantasy glory for his owners. (He probably owns himself in a dynasty league.) But his PTS, FTA, and 3PM have dropped the last four seasons. If you’re willing to take a slight risk, go with Durant or Granger. (On the other hand, the Lakers’ favorable sked in H2H formats might be enough to take Kobe ahead of those young’ns.) |
| 6 | Danny Granger | IND | SG, SF | While it will be hard for Granger to improve at the same rate as his first four seasons, there is one category with room for growth. DG managed to keep his FG% level last year despite taking 4 more shots per game. With Brandon Rush maturing and Dunleavy returning (eventually), I like DG’s FGA to stay relatively level, while his FG% ticks back above his lifetime avg of 45%. Also, his improving supporting cast should take some pressure off that achy knee. |
| 7 | Dirk Nowitzki | DAL | PF | Dirk Diggler is consistent to the point of being boring. With the exception of his slowly dwindling REB rate, his stats haven’t changed much over the last 4 years, and that’s what you’re paying for with him. Also, he’s played in 76+ games the past 10 seasons. I hope I didn’t just jinx him… |
| 8 | Amare Stoudemire | PHO | PF, C | Traditionally a top-5 pick, Amare could be a steal late in the first round thanks to a mediocre and injury-plagued 2008 campaign. With Shaq gone and the Suns’ shoot-early offense back, Amare will provide great value here. (I also expect him to get back to 1.5+ bpg without Shaq clogging the middle.) If you don’t want to be stuck without a stud center, I would consider taking him ahead of Dirk. |
| 9 | Al Jefferson | MIN | PF, C | Big Al is progressing well in his rehab. When healthy, he gives you exactly what you would expect from a stud center. The added bonus? He’s averaged 0.9 spg the last two years. Added bonus #2? He’s improved his FTA and FT% every year as a pro. While I’m not thrilled MIN will start a rookie PG not named Rubio, Big Al’s ability to create on his own should prevent a steep drop in efficiency. |
| 10 | Deron Williams | UTA | PG | He’s improved on all the major stats every year in the league, with the exception of FG% last year, when he got off to a horrible start after an offseason ankle injury. I’d expect the PTS and AST to level off around 20 and 11, with his FG% to trend back towards 50%. It’d be nice if he got more than a 3PM and STL per game, but D-Will is still the clear second-best PG in the league. |
Rotoworld- Miller listed as starting center vs. Magic - Brad Miller (C) Chicago Bulls
- Evans (flu) held from Thursday's game - Maurice Evans (G/F) Atlanta Hawks
- Pietrus inactive Thursday due to neck strain - Mickael Pietrus (G/F) Orlando Magic
- Arenas wants to change his number - Gilbert Arenas (G) Washington Wizards
- Love not happy with Rambis - Kevin Love (F/C) Minnesota Timberwolves
- Green open to extension in Okla City - Jeff Green (F) Oklahoma City Thunder
- M. Beasley is a game-time decision for Friday - Michael Beasley (F) Miami Heat
- Balkman not going on trip - Renaldo Balkman (F) Denver Nuggets
- Lawson listed as questionable for Fri - Ty Lawson (G) Denver Nuggets
- Wiz considering bringing back Howard - Josh Howard (G/F) Washington Wizards
- Adrian Wojnarowski
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- WojYahooNBA: Column: Donald Sterling has big plans for the Clippers now. Next, he should fire himself. http://tinyurl.com/yhbokyp
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