Team-By-Team Breakdown - First Half
Atlanta Hawks – Jeff Teague is the starting point guard and we’re expecting him to break out this season. Joe Johnson is poised for a bounce-back year with Jamal Crawford talking to the Knicks and Pacers, among others, and should be a solid fourth-round value pick. Josh Smith has lost a ton of weight and says he’s going to shoot fewer threes this season. With his weight down he could easily turn back into a shot-blocking beast and have a big year. Another value pick. As of today, Pape Sy is the backup point guard, but he should only be looked at in 30-team leagues, and maybe not even then. Kirk Hinrich is out for a month after surgery, leaving Teague the space to blow up. Tracy McGrady, Jerry Stackhouse and Vladimir Radmanovic are on board for now, and while all of them may end up teasing fantasy owners, you’re probably best just staying away. Draft results: Horford 22nd, Smith 28th, Johnson 39th and Teague 117th.
Boston Celtics – Rajon Rondo (ankle) and Paul Pierce (heel) are already banged up and missing some practice time, although both should be fine by the start of the season…should be. Meanwhile Jeff Green is set to miss another day or two after a red flag was raised in his physical exam after he signed a one-year deal with Boston. We’re going to assume he’s OK, but we won’t know for a couple days. The arrival of Brandon Bass doesn’t do green any favors, while Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen appear to be healthy. Jermaine O’Neal is still the center of record in Boston, but once he goes down, look for Chris Wilcox and Jamal Sampson to get plenty of run. And when you think about picking up Wilcox when it happens, keep in mind the fact he doesn’t block shots. Draft results: Rondo 23rd, Pierce 48th, Garnett 68th and Allen 78th.
Charlotte Bobcats – Still no word on Gerald Henderson’s surgically repaired hip, but we’re guessing no news is good news. He’s slated to start at SG, if healthy enough. D.J. Augustin will be pushed by rookie Kemba Walker, and word out of camp is that Augustin has never looked so focused. Walker might be worth a late flier in drafts, but the job is clearly DJA’s at this point. Boris Diaw is a trade candidate, but we have him as the starting power forward in Charlotte and think he’s a value pick in the later rounds of drafts. Tyrus Thomas, as usual, is worth keeping an eye on, but is coming off of major knee surgery, which is a red flag. Bismack Biyombo is expected to challenge for a starting job at PF, but has yet to be cleared due to a legal mess happening in Spain that’s affecting his buyout. The Bobcats plan on using Corey Maggette as their primary scorer, but I find it hard to believe he’s going to be healthy enough to be relied upon long term. The Cats are still desperately searching for a starting center, as DeSagana Diop is coming off a ruptured Achilles. They might sign Kwame Brown, who would be worth a late look as their starting center. Draft results: Augustin 82nd, Walker 87th, Diaw 91st, Maggette 94th, Thomas 104th and Henderson 112th.
Chicago Bulls – Derrick Rose is ready to blow up again and has been a popular pick (over Dwyane Wade and Chris Paul) at No. 3 in fantasy drafts. Tough to argue with that one, but I am taking Wade at No. 3 in my drafts. Richard Hamilton is expected to be signed to start at shooting guard, while Carlos Boozer, Luol Deng and Joakim Noah are expected to fill out the front line. All appear to be healthy right now, and Noah’s fantasy value is closely tied to his plantar fasciitis, which is under control for now. Draft results: Rose 1st (homer pick), Boozer 36th, Noah 43rd, Deng 53rd and Hamilton 139th.
Cleveland Cavaliers – Kyrie Irving is my pick for ROY and is projected to start at PG for the Cavs. Baron Davis has been waived, so Irving is going to get run. Target him after the veteran PGs are off the board. As for Davis, he’s got a back injury that could linger all season, and I would not recommend drafting him this year. I also doubt he is with the Cavs for too much longer. Anthony Parker re-signed and will split time with Daniel Gibson, giving both of them borderline fantasy value and making them possible last-round picks in your draft. Antawn Jamison is still in Cleveland and should start, but he’s also on the trading block. Rookie Tristan Thompson is worth drafting late in your draft. Omri Casspi is projected as the starter at small forward, but is dealing with a sore knee. However, it sounds like he’ll be healthy by opening day. If not, Alonzo Gee will be worth keeping an eye on. Anderson Varejao will play both PF and C, and given the fact the other C’s are Semih Erden and Ryan Hollins, Varejao is going to be a sneaky source of double-doubles this season. You could do worse for a starting center. Ramon Sessions is also still on board in Cleveland and will get run at both guard spots if Davis doesn’t get healthy. Draft results: Irving 66th, Jamison 85th, Varejao 109th and Sessions 132nd.
Dallas Mavericks – Jason Kidd is back and ready to roll for the Mavs and it looks like Roddy Beaubois and Delonte West will back him up. Roddy B is reportedly healthy, but the Mavs just have too many guards for me to get overly excited about him this year. Rudy Fernandez, Jason Terry, Vince Carter and DeShawn Stevenson are all on board in Dallas, creating a true logjam, especially at shooting guard. Terry may end up starting, with Rudy and Vince being his primary backups. However, we’re still waiting for Rudy to show up from Spain, while he and Corey Brewer could be moved soon in a trade. Jose Juan Barea signed with the Timberwolves, but the shooting guard spot for Dallas is one of the most confusing clusters in the league. The forward spots are also a bit of a mess since the Mavs acquired Lamar Odom for a six-pack of Natty Light. Dirk Nowitzki will start at PF, while Shawn Marion and Odom will battle it out for the small forward job. Marion should start, but I think we’re looking at a true timeshare here, while Odom will also play some PF while Dirk is resting. Surprisingly, the center position is the most clear-cut thing they have going outside of Kidd and Dirk, as Brendan Haywood has the job with Tyson Chandler now playing for the Knicks. You could do worse than having Haywood as your second center in fantasy leagues, as he should be fine with the minutes that are coming his way. Draft results: Dirk 10th, Odom 77th, Kidd 86th, Terry 115th, Carter 135th and Haywood 148th.
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Denver Nuggets – The Nuggets are still awaiting word on where free agent Nene will play this season and it’s entirely possible he’s back with Denver. If not, Timofey Mozgov, not to be confused with Tina Fey, is slated as the starter at C for the Nuggets. He’d be worth a late-round look in two-center leagues if Nene is gone. Ty Lawson is the starter at PG with Andre Miller slated to back him up. Stay away from Miller, and look at Lawson as a solid value pick in the middle rounds. Free agent Arron Afflalo’s status is still up in the air, but our guess is he’s back with Denver and starting at SG this year. If so, he should be a solid fantasy pick with so many teammates in China. Al Harrington will battle rookie Kenneth Faried for the starting job at PF, while Danilo Gallinari should have a big year as the starter at SF. Gary Forbes signed an offer sheet with the Raptors and remains in limbo. Wherever he ends up he’ll be worth keeping an eye on. Don’t draft him, but do watch him. Chris Andersen is also worth a look for blocks, but has trouble staying healthy. J.R. Smith, Kenyon Martin and Wilson Chandler are all stuck in China, and it remains to be seen if they’ll be allowed to return this season. My guess is they will remain in China until further notice. Draft results: Nene 54th, Lawson 65th, Gallinari 73rd, Miller 107th and Afflalo 140th.
Detroit Pistons – SG Richard Hamilton has been waived and is expected to sign with the Bulls, meaning Ben Gordon could easily start at shooting guard. Maybe this is the year he’ll bounce back. Rodney Stuckey and rookie Brandon Knight should split time at PG, while Will Bynum is also going to get some minutes. This just looks like a fantasy mess to me. Charlie Villanueva and Jonas Jerebko, who is back from a ruptured Achilles, should split time at PF, and it’s anyone’s guess who will win the starting job. Tayshaun Prince surprisingly re-signed with the Pistons, further clouding the picture in Detroit. His signing is possibly a disaster for young Austin Daye, who we have dropped substantially in the Draft Guide. I love Daye, but Prince looks like the starting SF at this point, as we’re looking at yet another timeshare. Greg Monroe at C is the only sure bet in Detroit, and he should pick up where he left off after averaging a double-double in the second half last season. I love Monroe as a fantasy center sleeper. Draft results: Monroe 56th, Stuckey 81st, Gordon 111th, Prince 122nd and Knight 136 (and rising fast).
Golden State Warriors – Stephen Curry and Monta Ellis are locked into the starting backcourt spots and both warrant first- and/or second-round selections. Curry dinged his ankle again over the summer, but should be good to go. David Lee is your starting PF, Dorell Wright will start at SF and Ekpe Udoh and Andris Biedrins will share time at center. It sounds like Biedrins might bounce back this year, but don’t draft him until late. Same goes for Udoh. Reggie Williams will likely be lost to free agency after the Warriors rescinded their qualifying offer to him in order to sign DeAndre Jordan to an offer sheet. Jordan is heading back to the Clippers, meaning the Warriors may have lost Williams for nothing. We still don’t know what the GSW offense will look like under new coach Mark Jackson, but at least the starting five looks pretty stable and reliable in fantasy. Draft results: Curry 19th, Monta 21st, Lee 33rd and Wright 69th.
Houston Rockets – The Rockets still have several things up in the air, but here’s what we know. Kyle Lowry is back at point guard and will try to duplicate last year’s amazing season. And that’s it. Goran Dragic is trade bait and could end up having value if he ends up helping to replace Chris Paul in New Orleans, but that deal now looks dead. Kevin Martin and Luis Scola were part of the initial CP3 fail, but are back as starting SG and PF for now. Martin was surprisingly healthy and a beast last year and should have another big year whether he ends up in Houston or New Orleans. If Martin is dealt, Courtney Lee might land a starting job, while Terrence Williams could actually become relevant. Patrick Patterson is worth keeping an eye on as a F/C in Houston, while rookie Marcus Morris and Jordan Hill are also worth a look. Someone is going to have to start at center and my early money is on Hill. Chase Budinger currently projects as the starting SF and will be a nice source of threes this year. Target him late in your draft. C Hasheem Thabeet seems to be in the perfect spot with Yao Ming’s early retirement, but could end up being waived in the near future. What a bust. Draft results: Martin 32nd, Lowry 57th and Scola 61st.
Indiana Pacers – I see the Pacers starting Darren Collison at PG, Paul George at SG, Danny Granger at SF, new acquisition David West at PF and Roy Hibbert at C. Assuming Collison bounces back from an off year and George builds on his skills from last year, the Pacers are going to be a sneaky team. George Hill will back up both guard spots after being acquired from San Antonio for rookie Kawhi Leonard, while Tyler Hansbrough takes a big hit with the arrival of West. Keep in mind West is coming off major knee surgery. I don’t love him this season, but if he can stay healthy, he’s going to have a nice year as Indy’s second-best player. I am a big Hibbert fan and expect him to be a quality No. 1 center all season for fantasy owners. Free agent Jamal Crawford could also end up in Indy, which would really hurt the value and development of George. Draft results: Granger 31st, West 38th, Hibbert 45th, Collison 93rd, George 105th, Hansbrough 120th and Hill 142nd.
L.A. Clippers – Where do I start? I spent most of Monday blurbing about Chauncey Billups, Chris Paul and DeAndre Jordan, but here’s what we know. They acquired Billups off waivers after losing out on the CP3 bonanza, and re-signed Jordan after matching the Warriors’ offer. Billups threatened teams not to claim him off waivers after being dropped by the Knicks, but the Clippers didn't listen. Our guess is he shows up and plays for his new team, so that he can get paid and all. The starters should be Billups at PG, Eric Gordon (traded) at SG, newly acquired Caron Butler at SF, Blake Griffin at PF and Jordan/Chris Kaman (traded) at C. The CP3 deal is still not dead (it’s like that cow in Me, Myself & Irene), so this entire entry could be toast in the near future. The Clips might send PG Eric Bledsoe, SG Eric Gordon, SF Al-Farouq Aminu and C Chris Kaman to the Hornets for Paul, which would decimate their team. If it happens (it did), your starters would be Paul at PG (sorry, Chauncey), Randy Foye at SG (or maybe Billups? Yes), Griffin at PF, Butler at SF and Jordan at C. Hopefully you don’t have to draft until this mess is cleared up. Draft results: Paul 7th, Griffin 8th (points league), Butler 95th, Billups 99th and Jordan 101st (I forgot he was still there).
L.A. Lakers – The Lakers gave away Lamar Odom to the Mavericks in hopes of landing Chris Paul or Dwight Howard later on. Both deals look dead to the Lakers, and seeing Odom toil for the Mavs is going to draw the ire of Lakers fans all season, and possibly longer. Once Andrew Bynum’s knee acts up, Pau Gasol is going to have to play center, meaning the new PF in L.A. could be Devin Ebanks. Sure, Kobe loves him, but come on. The Lakers still have not addressed their gaping hole at PG, where Derek Fisher and Steve Blake are still the two best options, but keep in mind they’re no longer running the triangle with new coach Mike Brown. Kobe Bryant, Pau and Bynum are all solid fantasy draft choices again this year, but the Lakers could be a real mess without Odom around. And if you’re thinking about drafting Metta World Peace, feel free to do so. Just be ready for him to wreck your field goal percentage one brick at a time. Draft results: Kobe 15th, Pau 16th and Bynum 41st.
Memphis Grizzlies – The Grizzlies are another team in a bit of limbo, as O.J. Mayo appears to possibly be headed for Indy. Mike Conley is a solid No. 1 fantasy PG, Tony Allen and Mayo (if he’s still around) will share SG duties, Rudy Gay is back from shoulder surgery and ready to roll at SF, Zach Randolph is in shape and dunking for the first time in forever at PF, and C Marc Gasol is going to be back for Memphis after being pursued by Houston. Conley, Gay, Z-Bo and Gasol are all top fantasy options this season and are benefitted by two 5-game weeks in the fantasy playoffs, if you’re in a head-to-head league. I still like Mayo over Allen whether he’s leaving or staying, while the fact Gasol is the only center on the team makes him very legit. Draft results: Randolph 18th, Gay 40th (steal?), Conley 51st, Gasol 59th and Mayo 143rd.
If you’re interested in finding out more about Memphis’ fantasy playoff schedule, check out this column, as well as the Draft Guide for further analysis.
Miami Heat – The Heat made a huge move by picking up Shane Battier and are my favorites to win it all. We should see a starting lineup of Mario Chalmers at PG, Dwyane Wade at SG, LeBron James at SF, Chris Bosh at PF and Joel Anthony at C, with Battier and Udonis Haslem coming off the bench at SG/SF and PF respectively. They could still pick up a PG to replace Chalmers, who is not worth drafting in most leagues, and keep in mind that Mike Miller is out again with a hernia. Eddy Curry is in Miami and reportedly in good shape, but falls into the “fool me twice, shame on me” category. Draft results: LeBron 2nd, Wade 4th and Bosh 25th.
Atlanta Hawks – Jeff Teague is the starting point guard and we’re expecting him to break out this season. Joe Johnson is poised for a bounce-back year with Jamal Crawford talking to the Knicks and Pacers, among others, and should be a solid fourth-round value pick. Josh Smith has lost a ton of weight and says he’s going to shoot fewer threes this season. With his weight down he could easily turn back into a shot-blocking beast and have a big year. Another value pick. As of today, Pape Sy is the backup point guard, but he should only be looked at in 30-team leagues, and maybe not even then. Kirk Hinrich is out for a month after surgery, leaving Teague the space to blow up. Tracy McGrady, Jerry Stackhouse and Vladimir Radmanovic are on board for now, and while all of them may end up teasing fantasy owners, you’re probably best just staying away. Draft results: Horford 22nd, Smith 28th, Johnson 39th and Teague 117th.
Boston Celtics – Rajon Rondo (ankle) and Paul Pierce (heel) are already banged up and missing some practice time, although both should be fine by the start of the season…should be. Meanwhile Jeff Green is set to miss another day or two after a red flag was raised in his physical exam after he signed a one-year deal with Boston. We’re going to assume he’s OK, but we won’t know for a couple days. The arrival of Brandon Bass doesn’t do green any favors, while Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen appear to be healthy. Jermaine O’Neal is still the center of record in Boston, but once he goes down, look for Chris Wilcox and Jamal Sampson to get plenty of run. And when you think about picking up Wilcox when it happens, keep in mind the fact he doesn’t block shots. Draft results: Rondo 23rd, Pierce 48th, Garnett 68th and Allen 78th.
Charlotte Bobcats – Still no word on Gerald Henderson’s surgically repaired hip, but we’re guessing no news is good news. He’s slated to start at SG, if healthy enough. D.J. Augustin will be pushed by rookie Kemba Walker, and word out of camp is that Augustin has never looked so focused. Walker might be worth a late flier in drafts, but the job is clearly DJA’s at this point. Boris Diaw is a trade candidate, but we have him as the starting power forward in Charlotte and think he’s a value pick in the later rounds of drafts. Tyrus Thomas, as usual, is worth keeping an eye on, but is coming off of major knee surgery, which is a red flag. Bismack Biyombo is expected to challenge for a starting job at PF, but has yet to be cleared due to a legal mess happening in Spain that’s affecting his buyout. The Bobcats plan on using Corey Maggette as their primary scorer, but I find it hard to believe he’s going to be healthy enough to be relied upon long term. The Cats are still desperately searching for a starting center, as DeSagana Diop is coming off a ruptured Achilles. They might sign Kwame Brown, who would be worth a late look as their starting center. Draft results: Augustin 82nd, Walker 87th, Diaw 91st, Maggette 94th, Thomas 104th and Henderson 112th.
Chicago Bulls – Derrick Rose is ready to blow up again and has been a popular pick (over Dwyane Wade and Chris Paul) at No. 3 in fantasy drafts. Tough to argue with that one, but I am taking Wade at No. 3 in my drafts. Richard Hamilton is expected to be signed to start at shooting guard, while Carlos Boozer, Luol Deng and Joakim Noah are expected to fill out the front line. All appear to be healthy right now, and Noah’s fantasy value is closely tied to his plantar fasciitis, which is under control for now. Draft results: Rose 1st (homer pick), Boozer 36th, Noah 43rd, Deng 53rd and Hamilton 139th.
Cleveland Cavaliers – Kyrie Irving is my pick for ROY and is projected to start at PG for the Cavs. Baron Davis has been waived, so Irving is going to get run. Target him after the veteran PGs are off the board. As for Davis, he’s got a back injury that could linger all season, and I would not recommend drafting him this year. I also doubt he is with the Cavs for too much longer. Anthony Parker re-signed and will split time with Daniel Gibson, giving both of them borderline fantasy value and making them possible last-round picks in your draft. Antawn Jamison is still in Cleveland and should start, but he’s also on the trading block. Rookie Tristan Thompson is worth drafting late in your draft. Omri Casspi is projected as the starter at small forward, but is dealing with a sore knee. However, it sounds like he’ll be healthy by opening day. If not, Alonzo Gee will be worth keeping an eye on. Anderson Varejao will play both PF and C, and given the fact the other C’s are Semih Erden and Ryan Hollins, Varejao is going to be a sneaky source of double-doubles this season. You could do worse for a starting center. Ramon Sessions is also still on board in Cleveland and will get run at both guard spots if Davis doesn’t get healthy. Draft results: Irving 66th, Jamison 85th, Varejao 109th and Sessions 132nd.
Dallas Mavericks – Jason Kidd is back and ready to roll for the Mavs and it looks like Roddy Beaubois and Delonte West will back him up. Roddy B is reportedly healthy, but the Mavs just have too many guards for me to get overly excited about him this year. Rudy Fernandez, Jason Terry, Vince Carter and DeShawn Stevenson are all on board in Dallas, creating a true logjam, especially at shooting guard. Terry may end up starting, with Rudy and Vince being his primary backups. However, we’re still waiting for Rudy to show up from Spain, while he and Corey Brewer could be moved soon in a trade. Jose Juan Barea signed with the Timberwolves, but the shooting guard spot for Dallas is one of the most confusing clusters in the league. The forward spots are also a bit of a mess since the Mavs acquired Lamar Odom for a six-pack of Natty Light. Dirk Nowitzki will start at PF, while Shawn Marion and Odom will battle it out for the small forward job. Marion should start, but I think we’re looking at a true timeshare here, while Odom will also play some PF while Dirk is resting. Surprisingly, the center position is the most clear-cut thing they have going outside of Kidd and Dirk, as Brendan Haywood has the job with Tyson Chandler now playing for the Knicks. You could do worse than having Haywood as your second center in fantasy leagues, as he should be fine with the minutes that are coming his way. Draft results: Dirk 10th, Odom 77th, Kidd 86th, Terry 115th, Carter 135th and Haywood 148th.
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Denver Nuggets – The Nuggets are still awaiting word on where free agent Nene will play this season and it’s entirely possible he’s back with Denver. If not, Timofey Mozgov, not to be confused with Tina Fey, is slated as the starter at C for the Nuggets. He’d be worth a late-round look in two-center leagues if Nene is gone. Ty Lawson is the starter at PG with Andre Miller slated to back him up. Stay away from Miller, and look at Lawson as a solid value pick in the middle rounds. Free agent Arron Afflalo’s status is still up in the air, but our guess is he’s back with Denver and starting at SG this year. If so, he should be a solid fantasy pick with so many teammates in China. Al Harrington will battle rookie Kenneth Faried for the starting job at PF, while Danilo Gallinari should have a big year as the starter at SF. Gary Forbes signed an offer sheet with the Raptors and remains in limbo. Wherever he ends up he’ll be worth keeping an eye on. Don’t draft him, but do watch him. Chris Andersen is also worth a look for blocks, but has trouble staying healthy. J.R. Smith, Kenyon Martin and Wilson Chandler are all stuck in China, and it remains to be seen if they’ll be allowed to return this season. My guess is they will remain in China until further notice. Draft results: Nene 54th, Lawson 65th, Gallinari 73rd, Miller 107th and Afflalo 140th.
Detroit Pistons – SG Richard Hamilton has been waived and is expected to sign with the Bulls, meaning Ben Gordon could easily start at shooting guard. Maybe this is the year he’ll bounce back. Rodney Stuckey and rookie Brandon Knight should split time at PG, while Will Bynum is also going to get some minutes. This just looks like a fantasy mess to me. Charlie Villanueva and Jonas Jerebko, who is back from a ruptured Achilles, should split time at PF, and it’s anyone’s guess who will win the starting job. Tayshaun Prince surprisingly re-signed with the Pistons, further clouding the picture in Detroit. His signing is possibly a disaster for young Austin Daye, who we have dropped substantially in the Draft Guide. I love Daye, but Prince looks like the starting SF at this point, as we’re looking at yet another timeshare. Greg Monroe at C is the only sure bet in Detroit, and he should pick up where he left off after averaging a double-double in the second half last season. I love Monroe as a fantasy center sleeper. Draft results: Monroe 56th, Stuckey 81st, Gordon 111th, Prince 122nd and Knight 136 (and rising fast).
Golden State Warriors – Stephen Curry and Monta Ellis are locked into the starting backcourt spots and both warrant first- and/or second-round selections. Curry dinged his ankle again over the summer, but should be good to go. David Lee is your starting PF, Dorell Wright will start at SF and Ekpe Udoh and Andris Biedrins will share time at center. It sounds like Biedrins might bounce back this year, but don’t draft him until late. Same goes for Udoh. Reggie Williams will likely be lost to free agency after the Warriors rescinded their qualifying offer to him in order to sign DeAndre Jordan to an offer sheet. Jordan is heading back to the Clippers, meaning the Warriors may have lost Williams for nothing. We still don’t know what the GSW offense will look like under new coach Mark Jackson, but at least the starting five looks pretty stable and reliable in fantasy. Draft results: Curry 19th, Monta 21st, Lee 33rd and Wright 69th.
Houston Rockets – The Rockets still have several things up in the air, but here’s what we know. Kyle Lowry is back at point guard and will try to duplicate last year’s amazing season. And that’s it. Goran Dragic is trade bait and could end up having value if he ends up helping to replace Chris Paul in New Orleans, but that deal now looks dead. Kevin Martin and Luis Scola were part of the initial CP3 fail, but are back as starting SG and PF for now. Martin was surprisingly healthy and a beast last year and should have another big year whether he ends up in Houston or New Orleans. If Martin is dealt, Courtney Lee might land a starting job, while Terrence Williams could actually become relevant. Patrick Patterson is worth keeping an eye on as a F/C in Houston, while rookie Marcus Morris and Jordan Hill are also worth a look. Someone is going to have to start at center and my early money is on Hill. Chase Budinger currently projects as the starting SF and will be a nice source of threes this year. Target him late in your draft. C Hasheem Thabeet seems to be in the perfect spot with Yao Ming’s early retirement, but could end up being waived in the near future. What a bust. Draft results: Martin 32nd, Lowry 57th and Scola 61st.
Indiana Pacers – I see the Pacers starting Darren Collison at PG, Paul George at SG, Danny Granger at SF, new acquisition David West at PF and Roy Hibbert at C. Assuming Collison bounces back from an off year and George builds on his skills from last year, the Pacers are going to be a sneaky team. George Hill will back up both guard spots after being acquired from San Antonio for rookie Kawhi Leonard, while Tyler Hansbrough takes a big hit with the arrival of West. Keep in mind West is coming off major knee surgery. I don’t love him this season, but if he can stay healthy, he’s going to have a nice year as Indy’s second-best player. I am a big Hibbert fan and expect him to be a quality No. 1 center all season for fantasy owners. Free agent Jamal Crawford could also end up in Indy, which would really hurt the value and development of George. Draft results: Granger 31st, West 38th, Hibbert 45th, Collison 93rd, George 105th, Hansbrough 120th and Hill 142nd.
L.A. Clippers – Where do I start? I spent most of Monday blurbing about Chauncey Billups, Chris Paul and DeAndre Jordan, but here’s what we know. They acquired Billups off waivers after losing out on the CP3 bonanza, and re-signed Jordan after matching the Warriors’ offer. Billups threatened teams not to claim him off waivers after being dropped by the Knicks, but the Clippers didn't listen. Our guess is he shows up and plays for his new team, so that he can get paid and all. The starters should be Billups at PG, Eric Gordon (traded) at SG, newly acquired Caron Butler at SF, Blake Griffin at PF and Jordan/Chris Kaman (traded) at C. The CP3 deal is still not dead (it’s like that cow in Me, Myself & Irene), so this entire entry could be toast in the near future. The Clips might send PG Eric Bledsoe, SG Eric Gordon, SF Al-Farouq Aminu and C Chris Kaman to the Hornets for Paul, which would decimate their team. If it happens (it did), your starters would be Paul at PG (sorry, Chauncey), Randy Foye at SG (or maybe Billups? Yes), Griffin at PF, Butler at SF and Jordan at C. Hopefully you don’t have to draft until this mess is cleared up. Draft results: Paul 7th, Griffin 8th (points league), Butler 95th, Billups 99th and Jordan 101st (I forgot he was still there).
L.A. Lakers – The Lakers gave away Lamar Odom to the Mavericks in hopes of landing Chris Paul or Dwight Howard later on. Both deals look dead to the Lakers, and seeing Odom toil for the Mavs is going to draw the ire of Lakers fans all season, and possibly longer. Once Andrew Bynum’s knee acts up, Pau Gasol is going to have to play center, meaning the new PF in L.A. could be Devin Ebanks. Sure, Kobe loves him, but come on. The Lakers still have not addressed their gaping hole at PG, where Derek Fisher and Steve Blake are still the two best options, but keep in mind they’re no longer running the triangle with new coach Mike Brown. Kobe Bryant, Pau and Bynum are all solid fantasy draft choices again this year, but the Lakers could be a real mess without Odom around. And if you’re thinking about drafting Metta World Peace, feel free to do so. Just be ready for him to wreck your field goal percentage one brick at a time. Draft results: Kobe 15th, Pau 16th and Bynum 41st.
Memphis Grizzlies – The Grizzlies are another team in a bit of limbo, as O.J. Mayo appears to possibly be headed for Indy. Mike Conley is a solid No. 1 fantasy PG, Tony Allen and Mayo (if he’s still around) will share SG duties, Rudy Gay is back from shoulder surgery and ready to roll at SF, Zach Randolph is in shape and dunking for the first time in forever at PF, and C Marc Gasol is going to be back for Memphis after being pursued by Houston. Conley, Gay, Z-Bo and Gasol are all top fantasy options this season and are benefitted by two 5-game weeks in the fantasy playoffs, if you’re in a head-to-head league. I still like Mayo over Allen whether he’s leaving or staying, while the fact Gasol is the only center on the team makes him very legit. Draft results: Randolph 18th, Gay 40th (steal?), Conley 51st, Gasol 59th and Mayo 143rd.
If you’re interested in finding out more about Memphis’ fantasy playoff schedule, check out this column, as well as the Draft Guide for further analysis.
Miami Heat – The Heat made a huge move by picking up Shane Battier and are my favorites to win it all. We should see a starting lineup of Mario Chalmers at PG, Dwyane Wade at SG, LeBron James at SF, Chris Bosh at PF and Joel Anthony at C, with Battier and Udonis Haslem coming off the bench at SG/SF and PF respectively. They could still pick up a PG to replace Chalmers, who is not worth drafting in most leagues, and keep in mind that Mike Miller is out again with a hernia. Eddy Curry is in Miami and reportedly in good shape, but falls into the “fool me twice, shame on me” category. Draft results: LeBron 2nd, Wade 4th and Bosh 25th.
