Have you seen what’s going on in San Antonio with the perennial contender Spurs? Thursday night the Spurs dropped their third straight game to slip to 4-6 – the first time they’ve had a losing record through 10 games since 1996. But stranger yet, it was Utah that walked into the AT&T Center and emerged victorious, the first win for the Jazz in San Antonio in a decade – snapping a run of 20 straight losses.

In the second game of a back-to-back, San Antonio was missing both Manu Ginobili, who started at shooting guard Wednesday, and Tony Parker, who’s been out four of the past five games because of his nagging ankle injury.

With Ginobili out of action for another week or so because of his groin, it was Keith Bogans getting the start at the two guard. Uh, ya. May I suggest you do not stop reading this and go pick him up? Don’t do it. Please. Bogans has shown flurries of minimal value over the years, most recently coming off the Buck bench last season, but even as a starter in San Antonio, he’s just not getting it done.

Bogans did manage a season-high seven boards and three assists while adding a block despite playing in foul trouble, but he wasn’t exactly lighting it up. He’s actually shooting very well this season (50 per cent from the field), but simply isn’t getting enough touches for anyone to care. Besides, as a career 39.5 per cent shooter, his numbers can only go down from here, and he’s never been a rebounder. The Spurs really struggled with their perimeter game on Thursday, sinking just 4-of-20 from downtown, and Bogans did manage to play a big part in that, missing all three of his attempts from beyond the arc. There….see? He did do something after all.

Meanwhile, George Hill has been starting for Parker, but he’s struggling with his shot, sinking just 13-of-32 the past two games. Richard Jefferson shot better on Thursday, sinking 6-of-12, but with just 16 points, he didn’t exactly pick up the slack. How about getting a little aggressive, RJ? Eight trips to the line in the past three games? No wonder he’s struggling to put up points since arriving in San Antonio. This isn’t what the Spurs paid for, is it?

Another big free agent acquisition that hasn’t exactly paid dividends yet is Antonio McDyess. He’s shot the ball well this year, but is getting so few touches that no one has noticed. For instance, he’s drained 10-of-15 over the past three games. Obviously, five shots a game isn’t going to offer any Fantasy value.

Off the bench, Roger Mason is finally getting a bit of burn the past two games, and he showed some life Thursday, sinking 2-of-5 from 3-point range. It’s about time, dude. The normally excellent source of 3-balls has been ice cold this season, sinking just 23.5 per cent from downtown.

I’m sure no one is panicking in San Antonio. This team spun its wheels at the start of last season, yet still wound up winning 54 games and finishing first in their division.

Still, it is kind of weird to look at the Western Conference standings and see the Spurs sitting in 10th place, looking up at…the Thunder?

All the talk today is on what rookie Brandon Jennings did Saturday as Milwaukee rebounded to outlast Golden State in a good old fashioned shootout.

But one Buck I’ve had my eye on all year is Ersan Ilyasova. He didn’t get a lot of burn Saturday as the Bucks went small against the run-and-gun Warriors, yet he still managed to go a perfect 5-for-5 from the line while scoring nine points with four boards and a block off the bench. Not bad considering how little he played.

Ilyasova is battling starter Richard Luc Mbah a Moute for minutes at SF, with Carlos Delfino and Joe Alexander also in the mix. Alexander, of course, is out for several more weeks with a hamstring injury, while Delfino took a DNP-CD Saturday.

I really think Ilyasova could be a serious producer given more PT. On Wednesday, he put up 17 points, eight boards and two blocks off the bench. The game before that, he pulled down 13 rebounds.

I’m not recommending picking him up yet, unless your league is quite deep, but Ilyasova should be on your watch list. There’s tremendous upside here.

Game of the Night

Toronto @ Phoenix

If that Buck-Warrior game was a shootout, what the hell will this one be? Bring out your marginal Fantasy players for this game…there’s going to be some serious fireworks.

Consider that the Raptors are 5-4 yet have one of the worst defenses in the league, having surrendered 106.4 PPG. That tells you how much they’re scoring this year. And we all know that the Suns can light it up every night.

If Toronto is going to avoid dropping back to .500, however, it will have to end a seriously sick skid against Phoenix. The Raps have dropped 10 straight against the Suns, a fact that must make current Toronto GM (and ex-Sun head man) Bryan Colangelo fly into a rage. Come to think of it, he sort of always looks like he’s about to lose it.

Chris Bosh is again da man for the Dinos. He’s making an early case for a fifth All-Star appearance with 28 points and 11.8 RPG per game, both career highs. Uh, can you say contract year? On Friday, Bosh only got to the line eight times – the first time all season that he hasn’t reached double digits in trips to the charity stripe, a fantastic indication that he’s being extremely aggressive in the early going.

How about that 6-for-6 performance from beyond the arc so far? Bosh tied his career high with a dozen treys last season, and he’s already halfway there. If this truly is becoming a bigger part of his arsenal, Bosh may be ready to take the next step and join the truly elite players of the game.

Welcome to Week Four of The Wire Troll, our weekly look at the ins and outs of working your Fantasy league waiver wire. This week, those ins and outs abound: Let’s look at who’s in, who’s out and who’s back.

The big news of the week concerns Fantasy uber-guard Chris Paul, who sprained his ankle Friday night and is expected to miss at least a week of action – though I’ve seen estimates of up to a month. There’s no way to know for sure at this point, but stop reading right now and go pick up Darren Collison, who figures to take over at point guard while CP3 is sidelined. Go ahead, do it…I’ll wait.

In other news, Golden State coach Don Nelson is rumoured to be on his way out, and the axe could reportedly fall as early as this week. Nellie’s lineup Tilt-A-Whirl has long been the bane of Fantasy owners everywhere, and if he departs many things stand to change in Golden State. Stay tuned.

Orlando Magic forward Rashard Lewis returns from his 10-game suspension on Monday, so it should be safe to activate him in weekly leagues. Coach Stan Van Gundy has made no secret of the fact that Lewis will step right back into the starting lineup when he returns. Washington Wizards Antawn Jamison and Mike Miller are scheduled to return from shoulder injuries, but both should be expected to show signs of rust, making them riskier plays in weekly leagues.

Four game weeks: ATL, CHA, CLE, DET, HOU, IND, MIA, MIL, NO, OKC, ORL, POR, TOR

Two-game week: MIN

CENTRES

Brendan Haywood, Washington Wizards: We recommended Haywood two weeks ago, but he’s still available in roughly one-third of all Yahoo! leagues and about three-quarters of ESPN groups. His numbers might slip slightly when Jamison returns, but he was still averaging a double-double and over two blocks per game as of November 14. Grab him if he’s still available.

Marreese Speights, Philadelphia 76ers: Elton Brand continues to struggle with adapting to the Philly offense, and Speights has been the beneficiary of that saga. Through nine games, Speights’ average line stood at 13.8/6.9 with 1.0 block in 24 minutes per game, while Brand has posted 9.7/5.2/0.7 in 26-plus minutes. Speights’ play should have him on your roster in larger leagues, and at least on the radar screen in medium-sized formats.

Ben Wallace, Detroit Pistons: No, this isn’t the NBA Seniors Division Report — Wallace has awakened the echoes of bygone days this season, averaging 9.5 rebounds, 1.5 blocks and 1.5 steals through eight games. He looks like the Big Ben of old (minus the hair), but just like Old School Ben, New School Ben can’t score a lick (only 3.1 PPG). If you’re set with points but lacking for boards, blocks and steals, turn back the clock and look to Big Ben in your hour of need.

FORWARDS

Carl Landry, Houston Rockets: Landry was featured in our first Wire Troll of the season, but despite averaging 14.1 points, 5.1 rebounds and 1.1 blocks through nine games he is owned in only about half of Yahoo! leagues. He has picked it up a bit in November, posting 15.3/5.3/1.3 through his first six games.

Kelenna Azubuike, Golden State Warriors: With all the tumult in Golden State, Azubuike just keeps rolling along, averaging 15.8 points, 5.6 rebounds, 1.2 treys and 1.2 blocks through six games in November. He generally stays on the court through most of Nellie’s line-up tinkering, making him a rare “safe” Warrior option for Fantasy owners.

Mike Miller, Washington Wizards: Before going down with a shoulder sprain November 4, Miller was averaging 8.4 points, 8.2 boards, 3.2 assists, 1.2 treys and 1.4 steals per game. Talk about filling up the box score. Many owners panicked when Double M hit the shelf, and he’s currently owned in about half of Yahoo! leagues. Miller is scheduled to return this week, and his skill as a facilitator should make Washington’s scorers even more effective, Don’t look for big points from Miller, but he’ll provide at least modest help in just about every other category.

GUARDS

Toney Douglas, New York Knicks: The 29th pick in the 2009 draft earned his first start of the season November 11, and responded with 23 points, four rebounds and one assist. Coming on the heels of his 21-2-1 line off the bench the previous game, the effort has thrust Douglas onto Fantasy radars all across the land. Though it’s tempting to say Douglas will supplant the struggling Chris Duhon at point guard, the fact is that the rook is more of a two-guard than a point. He averaged only 2.9 dimes per game at FSU, so running an offense is not his strong suit. That doesn’t mean that deep leaguers shouldn’t be all over this kid for his points and treys – just keep an eye on how the backcourt minutes sort out now that Nate Robinson is back on the court.

Darren Collison, New Orleans Hornets: If you heeded my advice above, hopefully by now you own Collison in at least a few leagues. The injury to CP3 creates an enormous opportunity for the rookie, and he cashed in that chance by throwing in 18 points, dishing out two assists and posting two steals in 26 minutes the night Paul went down. Reports vary on how long Paul will be out of action, but Collison’s value will skyrocket while the superstar is sidelined…and if the youngster delivers, he should see increased run even after CP3 returns. Don’t forget: Collison was a rock-solid point guard at UCLA, so the kid can run an offense. Weekly leaguers take note: New Orleans plays four games this week, but only twice in Weeks Five and Six.

Anthony Morrow, Golden State Warriors: Morrow has averaged 14.2 points and 2.5 treys through his first six games in November. He and the aforementioned Azubuike are about as consistent an option as can be found in Golden State right now, so if you’re in a league with 12 or more teams, Morrow is definitely worth a roster spot; just be prepared to cut bait depending on how Nellie’s situation plays out.

Nate Robinson, New York Knicks: Little Nate played almost 23 minutes in his first game back from an ankle injury that had sidelined him for six contests. The diminutive backcourt man amassed nine points, four assists and one steal; let the Duhon bench-watch begin. Robinson and Douglas figure to cut into Duhon’s minutes, but Nate is more of a true point than Douglas is. Little Nate is available in about half of Yahoo! leagues, so grab him if you needs threes or steals – with the upside for considerably more if he supplants Duhon.

There hasn’t been much to be overjoyed about so far this season if you’re a Memphis Grizzlies fan. This team has dropped six straight, Allen Iverson is already a major distraction and they have to play Wednesday in Houston, a place where Memphis has lost six straight times.

I wondered about how much better – if at all – Memphis would be with the addition of volume shooters Iverson and Zach Randolph, and the early answer is not at all, as the team is off to its worst start since 2005-06.

Iverson started the year on the sidelines with a torn hammy, missing the first three games. He came back and was unimpressive in three games off the bench and the whining about being a reserve started almost immediately. Now, AI has left the team for personal reasons and is apparently at home in Atlanta. And the way the team is talking, it’s not a sure bet that he’ll be back.

“If we get to that place, and it’s good, then if Allen does come back, then obviously, he has to fit into that place,” said Coach Lionel Hollins. Note the key phrase in this sentence: “if Allen does come back.”

Hell, if his own freaking coach doesn’t know if he’s coming back or not, what’s a Fantasy owner to think?

Iverson is only owned now in just over half of Yahoo! leagues, and I can see that number falling rapidly as his leave of absence extends.

Meanwhile, the defense in Memphis has been a joke. The Grizz are giving up 112 points per game after showing progress in that area last year. Of course, The Answer isn’t the answer to that problem whether he’s there or not.

This team has such a great young core, but the mistakes they made this offseason that everyone seemed able to spot except them are coming back to haunt them already. No, obviously it’s not too late to salvage this season, but Memphis has serious work to do to get off the schneid. And it’s going to have to start with some good old fashioned D.

With Minnesota continuing to struggle, especially defensively (Sunday the T-Wolves let Portland shoot 50 per cent from the field and were outrebounded 49-39), isn’t it time to give someone else a chance to fill in for the injured Kevin Love? Sure, Oleksiy Pecherov had that one big game last week, but he’s disappeared since. And on Sunday, Ryan Hollins saw more action than Pecherov. Might Minny give the young big a chance to start? I’m not suggesting you run out and pick up Hollins, who is clearly still a project, but I’m keeping my eye on this situation. We expected Hollins to be a key bench player for the Wolves, but perhaps he’ll emerge with some value if he gets a chance to start. Deep sleeper alert.

Speaking of the Blazers, coach Nate McMillan has refused to send Steve Blake to the bench, so instead, he’s shifted two-guard Brandon Roy to SF (sending Martell Webster to the bench) so he can finally insert Andre Miller into what is now a three-guard starting lineup. Well, it’s weird, but it’s working as the Blazers have won both games since the change. Roy isn’t off to a great start, and not surprisingly — given all the PG turmoil — he’s struggled with his shot. Sunday, he sunk just 1-of-6 in his worst offensive game of the young season. He didn’t even get to the line once, which really sucks considering he’s been superb from the charity stripe so far, draining a career best 85 per cent. On the plus side, Roy was able to pitch in despite the offensive stinker. He matched his season high with six boards and set a new season high with seven assists. Yes, it’s been a somewhat sluggish start for the hugely popular Roy, but don’t worry – you’ll get a great return on your first round investment soon enough.

Game of the Night

New Orleans, surprising many with their struggles in the early going, visits the Clippers, who are surprising no one with their losing record. However, this is a chance for the Clippers to get back to .500 against a team that is floundering. And they come in to this game hot, having won three straight games to shake off an 0-4 start. Unbelievably, this matches the longest winning streak LA had all of last season. Yes, the Clips are pathetic. But how about some love for Chris Kaman? I grabbed him in the ninth round this year, and so far am loving the results. He is LA’s leading scorer and rebounder and, with Blake Griffin still MIA, Kaman is getting as much PT as he can handle and he’s making the most of it. I’m sort of torn here…I keep cringing when I see the workload he’s tackling, knowing full well that he’s among the most injury-prone men in the game. But how can I help but be overjoyed at all those minutes when Kaman is suddenly the go-to guy in the Clip offense? He’s averaging 16 FGAs per game, a huge boost considering his previous high was 12.5. His FT shooting has even improved (career-best 79.5 per cent) and the big mountain man is scoring a shocking 23 PPG. I’m loving the production, but am wondering if I should sell high. The Hornet D has been pretty sad so far, so Kaman could be in for another big night Monday.

Welcome to the Week Three edition of The Wire Troll, our weekly look at players who may be available on your league waiver wire but could see a spike in their Fantasy value in the immediate future.
This past week, injury news ruled the landscape, and the players involved ranged from the shocking (Tayshaun Prince of Detroit saw his streak of 496 consecutive games come to an end) to the utterly predictable (Kevin Martin of Sacramento, Devin Harris of New Jersey and Michael Redd of Milwaukee…you didn’t really blow a high draft pick on any of the Gossamer Guards, did you?)

Redd will be reportedly miss two weeks with a strained patellar tendon in his knee, while Harris may miss another three weeks with his groin injury. K-Mart underwent surgery on his wrist and will be out 6-to-8 weeks, but at least there’s a reasonably good chance he won’t get hurt off the court.

The same cannot be said for Chicago’s Tyrus Thomas, who fractured his arm while weightlifting and is down for 4-to-6 weeks. Another notable injured star is Troy Murphy of Indiana, whose back injury was reportedly so bad he couldn’t tie his shoes (guess they wouldn’t let Murph play barefoot). Meanwhile, Vince Carter of Orlando is still trying to get back in the lineup after suffering a sprained ankle back on October 30.

Murphy, Carter, Prince and the Knicks’ Nate Robinson are all expected back this week – though all are risky plays in weekly lineup leagues. Bench Murphy, whose Pacers only play twice anyway. Weekly leaguers will again have to muddle through without Orlando’s Rashard Lewis (suspension), but they will have access to the long-range bombing (and maddening inconsistency) that is Denver’s J.R. Smith, who should be back in action following his seven-game ban. Smith is not a recommended play until he shakes off the inevitable rust.

Though we have a whole new slate of potential waiver wire grabs for you this week, don’t forget to review our picks from the first Wire Troll of the season, as many of those players could provide some value if they’re still languishing on the wire.

Four game weeks: DAL, GS, HOU, LAC, MIN, NO, OKC, PHI, PHO, POR, TOR, UTA

Two-game weeks: IND, MIL, SAC, WAS

CENTRES

Roy Hibbert, Indiana Pacers: Hibbert was a popular sleeper pick after his stellar pre-season performance, but the seven-footer was slow out of the gate when the games started to count. Many Fantasy owners were quick – too quick – to cut bait, and now you can take advantage. Hibbert racked up three straight double-doubles – along with 11 blocks – November 3, 4 and 6, and could be poised to deliver on the promise he showed back in late October. He is owned in roughly half of Yahoo! leagues, but that number is sure to grow if he continues scoring, boarding and blocking at his current rate. Add the big fellow immediately; he looks like he has found his comfort zone and should be helpful in just about every Fantasy league at this point.

Oleksiy Pecherov, Minnesota Timberwolves: Pecherov has stepped into Kevin Love’s big shoes and is faring quite nicely, thank you – averaging 15 points and 6.3 rebounds through his first three starts of the season. Don’t over-invest here: Love is talking about returning from his broken hand November 20, and Pecherov’s NBA track record is not impressive. However, if you’re in a deeper league you could do a lot worse than Pecherov in the short term.

Erick Dampier, Dallas Mavericks: Yes, you read that right; the man once referred to as the best pick-setter in the NBA (yee-haw!) has actually become Fantasy-relevant. With Drew Gooden nursing a strained rib cage muscle, ED is seeing big minutes and putting up strong numbers. Dampier has always been a good shot blocker, but he was averaging nearly a double-double through his first five games of the season – to go with 14 blocks. It remains to be see how long Dampier’s body can withstand 30-plus minutes per night, and he’s sure to lose playing time when Gooden returns – but for now Dampier is a good short-term add if you’re in need of boards and blocks (or picks).

FORWARDS

Chris Douglas-Roberts, New Jersey Nets:  Douglas-Roberts looks to have taken over as the top scoring threat in Jersey now that Harris is on the shelf. Harris may be out for as long as three more weeks, so the time is definitely right to grab CDR. He tossed in 25, 20 and 19 points in consecutive games after Harris went down, so it’s clear that the Nets will look to their swingman to be Mr. Outside to Brook Lopez’s Mr. Inside. Douglas-Roberts is worth rostering in just about every Fantasy league while Harris is sidelined, and he has enough upside to possibly be a season-long member of your squad. He’s battling a case of the flu at the moment, so weekly lineup players may want to stay their hand until CDR is confirmed healthy.

Andres Nocioni, Sacramento Kings: Oops – Just a few hours after logging 14 points and six rebounds in his first start of the season, Nocioni was busted for suspicion of DUI. It’s doubtful that he’ll miss much – if any – time, though, and the fact remains that he’s now the Kings’ starter at small forward. The injury to Martin (Martin? Injured? Wow – who knew?) opens the door for someone to take over as the top scorer in Sac Town, and Nocioni has never been shy about taking a shot. Add Nocioni in deeper leagues, and be prepared to add him in all formats if he goes on a hot streak.

Matt Barnes, Orlando Magic: Barnes’ Fantasy value is directly tied to the absence of Lewis, who will return from his league suspension November 16. For now, Barnes is knocking out some solid Fantasy lines, but the party figures to end for both he and Ryan Anderson when Lewis makes it back onto the court. Either Barnes or Anderson makes a nice filler for the back end of your roster this week, but be ready to cut bait (or sell high) on both these players come the end of next week.

Taj Gibson, Chicago Bulls: With Thomas out of the lineup for 4-to-6 weeks with a broken arm, Gibson becomes the undisputed starter at power forward for the Bulls. Don’t look for big-time blocks or steals (a la Thomas) from Gibson, but the rookie should be a decent source of points and rebounds as long as he’s playing starter’s minutes. Gibson is worth adding in deeper leagues right away, and all Fantasy managers should have him on their radar screens in case he has a breakout game.

GUARDS

Larry Hughes, New York Knicks: Hughes will remain in the Knicks’ starting lineup for the immediate future, at least according to head coach Mike D’Antoni. Hughes has stepped into the void created by the absence of Robinson, who’s expected to miss up to two weeks with a sprained ankle, but the veteran should retain some Fantasy value even after little Nate returns. Hughes can be inconsistent, but he should be good for at least a dozen points per night.

Corey Brewer, Minnesota Timberwolves: Brewer has quietly (which is the way basketball-related things happen in Minnesota) cobbled together a pretty decent stat line over the first six games of the 2009-10 campaign (12.8/4.8/2.8). His 6′9″ frame creates match-up problems aplenty in the backcourt, and he has cashed in by averaging over two steals and one block per game. Brewer should not be available in leagues with more than 12 teams, and some mid-size league managers should take a hard look at the one-time hot prospect that finally seems to be delivering on that promise.

Randy Foye, Washington Wizards: Mike Miller looks to be out for at least another week, and while he’s gone Foye should be in line for increased minutes. Nick Young is the starter at the two for now, but Foye’s ability to score the ball makes him a much more palatable Fantasy option. Add Foye if you’re in a deep league and in need of points, assists and threes, but his role as a reserve makes him not yet ready for widespread Fantasy relevance.

Dahntay Jones, Indiana Pacers: Jones has outperformed former starter Brandon Rush this season, and earned his first start of the season November 4. Thirty-eight minutes, 19 points and 12 rebounds later, a change could be in the offing in Indy. Jones does not have Rush’s outside shot (only 44 treys in 329 lifetime games), but appears to have found a home in the Pacer offense. Don’t over-invest in Jones, but he makes a fine short-term pickup in larger leagues – especially while Murphy is on the mend.

Beno Udrih, Sacramento Kings: Udrih was thoroughly underwhelming as the Kings’ starting point guard last season, but the injury to K-Mart means a chance at redemption. Former starting point guard Tyreke Evans will likely slide over to Martin’s two-guard spot, with Udrih once again manning the point. Don’t set the bar too high – this is Beno Udrih, after all – but he could be a serviceable Fantasy option for those managers in dire need of backcourt help.

J.J. Redick, Orlando Magic: A quick word on Redick, who has been a popular waiver target this week: His numbers have been solid, but his value is directly tied to the absence of Carter. Once Vinsanity returns (and that looks like it could be very soon), Redick’s minutes will plummet. Proceed with caution and be prepared to cut bait.

Ty Lawson was a hot pickup in Week One after his great NBA debut, even making an appearance in our first NBA Wire Troll of the season. But let’s take a bit of a chill pill here. While Lawson deserves to be on your watch list and has already exhibited that he’ll be a huge pickup if Chauncey Billups gets hurt, right now he’s only worth rostering in deeper leagues. Tuesday night, for instance, Lawson saw only 13:25 worth of action, even though Denver won easily in Indy. I love the fact that the former Tar Heel has gotten at least one steal in every game so far, so clearly he’ll be a great source of steals once he lands a steady 20 to 25 MPG gig, but like I said, for now, just watch.

We all knew that Kevin Durant was poised for superstardom this year, but how about the leap that Jeff Green has taken? He’s getting seriously heavy minutes this season and has responded brilliantly. Green is employing his perimeter game more, but he’s not simply settling for outside shots – he’s also getting to the line more often. His rebounds and steals are up too, and Green is truly proving to be an across-the-board talent in the early going, so kudos to those of you who drafted him. It’s early, but what a combo: heavy minutes, over 50 per cent shooting from the field, 83.3 per cent from the line, two treys per game, 7 RPG, 2 APG, 1.5 SPG, 1.3 BPG and over 19 PPG. Wow. Can you say Fantasy stud? And he’ll play the entire season as a 23-year-old! No wonder we were so bullish on the young Thunder corps when we previewed the team in September.

As we expected, Matt Barnes is starting to have an impact off the Magic bench, making him a decent wire target as long as Rashard Lewis is suspended (another six games to serve) and Vince Carter is out. In the last two games, Barnes is starting to get more touches and has picked up the rebounding, assists and blocks while scoring in double figures in both contests. Barnes is averaging 1.5 SPG, but all six of his thefts came in one game, so that’s an anomaly. If you need a short-term boost, Barnes makes for a nice pickup for the next week or two.

Game of the Night

The Golden State Warriors are seeking their first win of the season – one of just three teams still winless so far – and will get a good opportunity Wednesday at home against the Grizzlies, who have only won once in their first four games. Defense is once again the issue in the early going for the Warriors. Last season, they gave up more points than any other NBA team, and through their first two games this year, they’re even worse. Fortunately, the Grizzlies are coughing up even more points than Golden State, so tonight could be a serious offensive bonanza – bring out your fringe Fantasy players! Look for a big night from Monta Ellis, who’s off to a fine start. He’s taken a bigger role in the offense, and although he no longer shoots many from downtown – he’s used to put up almost two 3-ball attempts per game, but has only hoisted one try in the first two games – he’s improved his scoring by being more aggressive. Ellis is getting to the line more often, upping his average to 22.5 PPG along the way. It’s a tradeoff Fantasy owners are probably willing to take, although having a guard that doesn’t sink 3-pointers does force you to seek treys from a non-traditional source.

Raymond Felton continues to struggle from the floor as an NBA point guard. His FG percentage has dipped in each of his three seasons, and judging by his performance Monday (4-for-12), he’s not about to start draining them soon. The fact that this stinker came against New Jersey – one of the worst teams in the NBA as far as opponents’ FG percentage goes – makes it even more alarming. Felton showed signs of life when he shot the ball very well down the stretch last season, but he has not carried that over into this campaign. Felton’s six assists to 14 turnovers in the last two games can’t be thrilling you, either.

D.J. Augustin has a chance to make hay with Felton struggling, and he’s sunk 46.4 per cent of his shots in the past three games. Note that Augustin almost played as many minutes as Felton did on Monday. This could brew into a position battle very soon – especially with the Bobcats’ offense in such desperate need for a kick start. As long as the team is doing okay (2-2 so far), coach Larry Brown probably won’t rock the boat, but if the Cats slip into a losing skid, there could be changes.

Not much attention has been paid to Chuck Hayes in the wake of Yao Ming’s injury. While guys like Luis Scola and Carl Landry have been hyped, no one is talking about Hayes. Well, have you noticed that it has been Hayes getting the starts at centre for the Rockets? Okay, so he’s not going to be lighting it up with 20-point games, but he’s a solid rebounder who will pitch in given the minutes he’s been getting. Monday, Hayes shot very well (6-for-8), scoring 12 points with nine rebounds, three steals and three assists. You could do worse from your centre spot, so I suggest at least putting Hayes on your watch list. Just saying…

Brook Lopez was a ridiculously hot commodity during the drafting season, and with good reason – he’s poised to take a major step forward. So far, so good for the sophomore centre, but we need to remember that he’s a very young big man, and with that comes inconsistency. So you’ve got to rein in your expectations somewhat and learn to take the good with the bad. Monday, for instance, as the Nets fell to 0-4 on the season, Lopez shot very well, going 8-for-14 for 18 points while swatting another four shots. Fantastic, right? But then you see that he only managed five rebounds, failed to get an assist or steal and worst of all – committed seven turnovers. Gulp. That’ll leave a mark.

Didn’t it seem like Darius Songaila might have a chance to have value with the Hornets this year? Uh, maybe not. Now that Emeka Okafor is healthy, Songaila isn’t seeing nearly enough PT off the bench to be worth tracking. In fact, he’s never been more useless.

The Sacramento Kings finally busted their victory cherry Monday, beating the equally woeful Memphis Grizzlies in overtime. Andres Nocioni has been quiet so far, but he did pitch in with a pair of treys plus two blocks on Monday as he managed a 13-point game. Not bad, but he’s seeing less PT than needed to provide a serious boost for your team. Has he already been passed on the depth chart by rookie Omri Casspi? Given the amount of minutes Casspi’s gotten the past couple of games, that seems to be the direction this team is headed. I’d recommend giving Nocioni another couple of games and then cutting bait if he doesn’t start getting closer to 25 MPG.

Tuesday’s Action

The Jazz is off to its worst start in seven years and things don’t get any easier with a trip to Dallas on Tuesday night. What’s going on with Utah? Well, for starters, the defense has been atrocious. The Jazz D wasn’t great last year, but so far this season it’s been ugly, with the team giving up more than 108 PPG. On offense, team leader Deron Williams has been struggling with his shot. Two years ago, D-Will shot 50.7 per cent, but last year he slipped to 47.1 per cent. Okay, maybe the ankle was a problem last season, but he’s over that now, right? Well, he’s hit just 14-of-39 (35.9 per cent) in his last two games, dropping him to 42.6 per cent for the season. It’s early, but this is a troubling trend for those of you who spent your first rounder on Williams.

I’ll be interested to see how the Wizards — who are definitely improved so far, despite all the injuries — match up against the Cavs in Cleveland Tuesday. Antawn Jamison won’t be back for another couple of weeks, but Washington will get Caron Butler (bruised left kneecap) back, so make sure he’s in your lineup. Butler’s return will likely mean that Randy Foye heads back to the bench, while Mike Miller returns to SG after starting at SF last game.

Welcome to a new season of The Wire Troll, NBA version, where we take a look at some productive players who, for one reason or another, might be languishing on your league’s waiver wire. Just as there’s no crying in baseball, languishing is not to be tolerated in the world of hoops…so we’ll seek to give you an early heads-up on some up-and-coming players who just might be ready for prime time duty on your Fantasy roster.

The NBA season is barely out of the starting gate, but already some patterns are beginning to emerge that may affect Fantasy rosters for at least the near future. Injuries and suspensions have claimed a couple of stars, leaving the door open for their replacements to rack up a bevy of Fantasy points. Meanwhile, a few rookies have stepped to the fore and served notice that the class of ‘09 just might have as many pleasant surprises in store as their counterparts from a season ago.

The season is in its infancy, but acting upon these early indicators may allow you to get in on the ground floor of a budding Fantasy Cinderella story.

Weekly line-up leaguers take note: Orlando Magic forward Rashard Lewis will remain on league suspension for the entire week, while Suns’ two-guard Jason Richardson should be back in action following his two-game suspension.

On the injury front, Antawn Jamison and Kevin Love will not play this week, and keep an eye on the status of Pau Gasol (hamstring), Vince Carter (ankle), Rip Hamilton (ankle) and Mehmet Okur (knee/ankle). The news looks to be good for Charlotte guard Raja Bell (wrist), who may return this week. Fantasy owners in deeper leagues should have Bell on their radar.

Note that two other very high draft picks — Devin Harris and Caron Butler — are now out. Harris will miss Monday’s game, meaning another start for Rafer Alston, who put up a good line the other night. Butler, meanwhile, is expected to be back in action Tuesday night.

Four-game weeks: ATL, BOS, DEN, DET, LAL, MEM, MIN, NJ, NO, NY, ORL, PHO, SAC, UT, WAS

Two-game week: SA

CENTRES

Andray Blatche, Washington Wizards: While Jamison is on the shelf – and that’s expected to be at least two more weeks – Blatche should see plenty of minutes. He made good on that run in his first game this season, posting 20 points, seven boards and two blocks against Dallas. While Jamison is out, Blatche should be on most Fantasy rosters. Even after ‘Tawn makes it back, Blatche will be the first big off the bench for the Wizards, and his rebounding and shot blocking ability make him a worthwhile roster addition in deep (180 or more rostered players) leagues.

Marc Gasol, Memphis Grizzlies: The arrivals of Zach Randolph and Hasheem Thabeet were supposed to cleave the Fantasy value of Gasol, but the big man apparently didn’t get that memo. He went off for 21 points, 15 boards and three blocks in his first game of the year, and looked every bit the part of a dominant big man. The jury’s still out on whether Gasol will be able to score on a consistent basis, but the boards and blocks figure to be there in any event.

Marreese Speights, Philadelphia 76ers: Speights may become the Sixers’ top big off the bench after tossing in a career-high 26 points in the opening game. Caution is advised, though, as he followed up that big night by playing only 12 minutes in his next game. The 6-foot-10 inch Speights is certainly a player to watch in all Fantasy formats, and may see his minutes increase if Elton Brand continues to struggle with picking up the “Princeton” offense. Speights is a good add in deeper leagues at this point, but be prepared to pull the trigger in all formats if he wins the job as sixth man in Philly.

Channing Frye, Phoenix Suns: Now that Frye has finally landed a starting gig, he’s definitely making the most of his time on the floor. He averaged 17 points, six boards and 3.5 trey balls through his first two games, and looks like a worthwhile add in just about every league. He’s not a shot blocker, but Frye’s quickness and ability to run the floor makes him an ideal fit in Phoenix’s up-tempo system. He should produce solid steal numbers as a result, and those treys are oh so sweet indeed. Friday night he looked absolutely sick, canning his first half dozen tries from beyond the arc before finally missing one.

FORWARDS

Travis Outlaw/Martell Webster, Portland Trail Blazers: The shoulder injury to starting small forward Nicolas Batum, who’s out until at least January, has opened the door for both Outlaw and Webster. Outlaw tossed in 23 points, while grabbing four rebounds, dishing two assists and posting two steals and a block his first game, while Webster responded with 14/3/2/2/1 in eight fewer minutes. Outlaw may still be available in some leagues, while Webster is almost certainly hanging around out there somewhere. Don’t over-invest here, but recall that Webster put up decent numbers back in ‘07-08 before missing all but one game last year due to injury.

DeJuan Blair, San Antonio Spurs: The rookie appears to have won the job as Tim Duncan’s backup in San Antonio, and that can translate to some very nice Fantasy lines for Blair when the Big Fundamental takes a night off. Blair also figures to rack up some solid minutes when the Spurs are involved in a blowout, and that nifty 14 points and 11 boards he posted in his NBA debut should show you that the talent is definitely there. Add Blair in deeper leagues, and Duncan owners should strongly consider rostering the rookie as well.

Ryan Anderson, Orlando Magic: Anderson also carries centre eligibility in some leagues, and his 16 points, four treys and five boards in the Magic’s opening game makes him add-worthy in some deeper leagues. Make your move now if you need his support, though – Anderson’s minutes should plummet after Lewis serves his 10-game suspension.

Yi Jianlian, New Jersey Nets: Yi is averaging 14.5 points and 8.5 rebounds with two blocks per game through his first two outings, and his potential makes him worth a dice roll in most league formats. He has been inconsistent to say the least during his career, though, so be prepared to cut bait if his fortunes head south.

Danilo Gallinari, New York Knicks: Gallinari looks to have rediscovered his shooting touch in the regular season, and can be of help to owners in need of threes. His health will always be a concern, but while he’s dialed in he’s worth a look for Fantasy owners in larger leagues.

Shelden Williams, Boston Celtics: Those same deep league owners should keep an eye on Williams; the Celts figure to be on the good end of a lot of blowouts this season, and Williams looks to be in line to rack up plenty of garbage time minutes. It may not be quality time, but Fantasy owners won’t complain about the 12 points, nine rebounds, three assists and a block he posted during one rout, nor the 10/10/2/2 he put up the following night. He won’t see meaningful minutes if the game is close, but if things get out of hand – and they often will – Williams could shine.

GUARDS

Rasual Butler, Los Angeles Clippers: Butler had a tough opening game (having Ron Artest in your face all night will do that to you), but he rebounded nicely with 19 points, three treys and four assists the following night. Butler should see plenty of action off the bench for the hapless Clippers, and his scoring, three-point shooting and serviceable shot-blocking talent are welcome additions for owners in deeper leagues.

Brandon Jennings, Milwaukee Bucks: All Jennings did in his first NBA start was just miss posting a triple-double – though his 17-9-9 line was marred by five turnovers. The young PG figures to make mistakes aplenty as he learns the NBA game, but the talent for Fantasy stardom seems to be there. Jennings is worth adding in just about every league – though his value is diminished if your league counts turnovers.

Ty Lawson, Denver Nuggets: Lawson may be backing up one of the game’s most durable players in Chauncey Billups, but the rookie’s impressive 17-4-6 line in his NBA debut may well earn him more minutes going forward. If you own Billups, Lawson is a must-add if you can spare the roster space; he looks like a polished NBA point guard who could pile up monster numbers should Mr. Big Shot suffer an injury.

Tyreke Evans, Sacramento Kings: Sacramento plans to emphasize youth this season, and point guard Evans is at the forefront of that movement. The fourth overall pick in the 2009 draft averaged 16 points, 3.5 boards, two assists and 1.5 steals through his first two games, so he’s definitely worth grabbing in most formats if he’s still available. Beware the turnovers that are bound to come (3.0 his first two games) but Evans’ skill set should allow him to blossom into a solid Fantasy starter – possibly as early as the second half of this season.

The 2009-10 RotoRob NBA Draft Kit wraps up today with our final team preview. As the games start to count Tuesday, let’s take a closer look at the Cleveland Cavaliers, a team built to win that will look to shake off last season’s playoff disappointments.

The NBA’s top team in the regular season at 66-16, the Cavaliers breezed through the first two rounds with sweeps over the Detroit Pistons and Atlanta Hawks before running into the Orlando Magic in the Eastern Conference Finals. Presented with some difficult matchups, the Cavs dropped Games One and Four by a combined three points en route to being eliminated in six games despite a nearly superhuman effort from LeBron James, who averaged 35.3 points, 9.1 rebounds and 7.3 assists per game in the playoffs.

Facing the knowledge that James could be donning another uniform in 2010-11, the Cavs swung for the fences during this offseason by picking up Shaquille O’Neal from the Phoenix Suns in exchange for a fistful of magic beans. O’Neal is coming off his best statistical showing in several years, but he turns 37 this season and it remains to be seen how much is left in the tank. Still, the team felt it needed an inside presence to deal with the size of players like Orlando’s Dwight Howard as holdover Zydrunas Ilgauskas is primarily a perimeter threat and Anderson Varejao is undersized at the five.

For scoring purposes, Cleveland’s second banana remains Mo Williams, who is a good player that was artificially elevated to All-Star status because of the Cavs’ success. Williams isn’t a prototypical point guard, but with James around to facilitate the offense, that isn’t really required of him. What Williams can do well is knock down jumpers, and he was deadly from beyond the arc last year (43.6 per cent). He’ll be joined in the backcourt by newcomer Anthony Parker, an import from North of the border (and before that, was the top player in Europe) that can bury the open trey. He’s also a solid perimeter defender, and at 6-foot-6 offers more size than either Delonte West (6-foot-3) or Daniel Gibson (6-foot-2).

While the additions of O’Neal, Parker and Jamario Moon should help, Cleveland’s hopes once again sit squarely on the shoulders of King James. Given the uncertainty surrounding James’ future in Cleveland, we should see maximum effort from the supporting cast, who certainly can’t be looking forward to life without LBJ and will want to convince him to stay by showing they can win an NBA title. That goes for the front office as well, so don’t be surprised to see the Cavs be very aggressive if they have a chance to upgrade their roster before the trading deadline (Rudy Gay, anyone?).

Entering the season, there are only five or six teams you must mention when discussing potential NBA champions: Boston, Orlando, Los Angeles Lakers, San Antonio and Cleveland (Denver is No. 6). Playing in a shaky division should help the Cavs stay in the hunt for home court advantage, and if they can get enough support for James this could be the year Cleveland finally breaks through.

Projected Starting Lineup

PG: Mo Williams
SG: Anthony Parker
SF: LeBron James
PF: Anderson Varejao
C: Shaquille O’Neal

Key Bench Players

Ilgauskas, Gibson, Moon, West

Position Battles

While we couldn’t consider there to be too many “battles” going on in Cleveland, the team will almost certainly juggle minutes in an effort to keep O’Neal and Ilgauskas relatively fresh throughout the season. Also, look for their wing rotation to take some time to settle with Parker, Moon and West jockeying for position. Of course, if West brings his guitar case to practice expect him to start seeing the bulk of the playing time.

Stud

While I’m sure some people will talk themselves into Chris Paul as the top overall pick, the bottom line is that nobody fills up a box score like LeBron. The guy can shoot, rebound, pass and play lockdown D. Expect another season of close to 30 points and better than seven rebounds and seven assists a night along with solid shooting numbers.

Dud

O’Neal enjoyed a bounce back season in 2008-09, averaging 17.8 points, 8.4 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per contest while playing in 75 games — his most in nearly a decade. That’s all well and good, but Phoenix’s training staff worked miracles last year, which included coaxing 82 games out of Grant Hill, and anyone expecting the Cavs to ask O’Neal to play that many games or minutes this season is fooling themselves. Ultimately, Cleveland wants Shaq to be a force in the playoffs, so expect him to sit out the second game of back-to-backs while ceding minutes to Ilgauskas on those nights he does play. As a result, look for O’Neal’s numbers to drop across the board.

Sleeper

Outside of James, there isn’t a ton of value to be found in Cleveland. Williams is steady, but O’Neal and Ilgauskas should be see dips in production, which doesn’t leave much room for sleepers. Of the remaining group, we’d say Parker has the most upside because his size should earn him more burn than West, and he’s a capable three-point shooter when left unguarded. That being said, Parker still isn’t worth drafting in standard leagues.

Rookies to Watch

First-round pick Christian Eyenga chose to remain in Spain this season, leaving Daniel Green as the only rookie on the roster. Green’s areas of strength (three-point shooting, defense) appeal to Cleveland’s game plan, but there simply aren’t enough minutes to go around right now.

Fantasy Stories to Watch

There’s not much to see Fantasy-wise in Cleveland outside of James, which leaves watching how the Cavs split the minutes between O’Neal and Ilgauskas as the most interesting subplot by default.

For the second straight year, I was invited to join Charity Stripe, a H2H Fantasy basketball league featuring various sports media types from outlets such as TSN, CBC, Hoopsworld, Yahoo!, RapsHQ, 82games and Rotowire. The draft was held last week, and I was picking out of the dreaded (this year, anyways) five slot. As part of the 2009-10 RotoRob NBA Draft Kit and to help you with your upcoming draft, I will explain my draft, round by round, and discuss various highlights and surprises of each round.

Round One

I was really, really hoping that Kevin Durant would fall to me here, but unfortunately — thanks to my recent Podcast — the dude picking in front of me knew this. And so I was stuck between the hated Kobe Bryant and the riskier pick – with more potential reward, albeit – of Danny Granger.

Given Granger’s recent injury history, I opted for the durable Bryant, despite my distaste for having to root for him. Sure, his name may be bigger than his slowly declining numbers these days, but Kobe still provides plenty of points, he’s a great FT shooter and will be a very good source of steals. There’s no real downside to owning Bryant, so I had to bite the bullet.

LeBron James went first over Chris Paul, and you can make an argument either way. Personally, I would have taken CP3, despite word that the Hornets are determined to reduce Paul’s minutes this year, but these two are both slam dunks.

I was surprised to see Dwight Howard go seventh overall; I had him pegged as an early second rounder, maybe reaching for him at the end of the first round. Brandon Roy, meanwhile, lasted to end of the first round, and I think that’s fantastic value.

Round Two

The second round started more or less as expected; I thought Tim Duncan went a bit early at No. 16, but I was quite pleased that Joe Johnson fell to me at No. 20. Yes, it’s another guard for me, but I was surprised to see that Yahoo! had him qualified at both backcourt positions. The beauty of Johnson is that he racks up a good amount of dimes from the off-guard position, so I wasn’t forced to reach for a true PG before I needed to. That’s why I was stoked to see he qualified there anyways. Yes, the Hawks’ addition of Jamal Crawford may affect Johnson’s touches, but when the two are on the floor at the same time, opponents are going to have a far tougher time double-teaming Johnson.

Here’s another big scorer for my team who will light it up from downtown to take care of the 3-pointers made category. The downside: he’s going to hurt my FG percentage and won’t offer anything in the way of blocks.

The first big reach of this round came right after my pick, when Jason Kidd went 21st. To me, Kidd is a third rounder these days and the fact that Devin Harris was still on the board made this pick all the more surprising. Brook Lopez going 23rd was an even bigger surprise – but, unlike J-Kidd, at least this is a reach that can be justified by Lopez’s tremendous upside. Apparently, everyone is grabbing Lopez in the second round this year.

Antawn Jamison capped the second round, and that’s another pick I wasn’t fond of — and that was before news hit that he’d miss several weeks. Better PF options like David West, Josh Smith and even Elton Brand are still on the board.

Round Three

Rashard Lewis is the first pick of this round (25th overall), and that’s far too early for a player who will be sitting out the first 10 games of the season thanks to a drug-related suspension. I wouldn’t have considered Lewis until as late as the fifth round given that he’ll miss at least 12 per cent of the season. The very next pick is Troy Murphy, and I believe that’s extremely early as well. Sure, he had a fantastic season last year, but many believe he maxed out, and I could see him still sitting there another round from now. Several of the picks this round seemed early, but those two stood out.

Needing to address my frontcourt, I was very happy to find Carmelo Anthony – a second rounder to me – still sitting there at No. 29. Yet another scorer here – clearly, putting up points won’t be a challenge for my team – and Melo also provides with me with some much-needed rebounding and will be a decent source of steals. Unfortunately, his FG percentage could hurt me and he’s not going to help me in blocks.

Right after I took Anthony, Harris was taken – a very strong pick this late. Other picks I really liked this round from a value perspective included Kevin Martin at 32, Paul Pierce at 33 and Rajon Rondo at 35. Jason Richardson was the final pick of the third round, but that was unnecessary – he could have sat there for another round and a half or so.

Round Four

I’m surprised that David West is still sitting there through three rounds, so I target him with my pick, but I don’t get anywhere near him as he flies off the board with pick 37 – a superb selection for this late. Vince Carter goes next – another great value this late, and then things settle in a bit. Shawn Marion is taken early at 41 – I believed he’d still be there a round later and once he goes, I’m thinking about nabbing Brand with the 44th overall pick. Unfortunately, he goes a pick before me, so although I had planned to build the frontcourt, Derrick Rose is too tempting to not pluck this late.

Yes, I’m getting guard-heavy here and don’t have a single PF or C through four rounds, but Rose gives me a true point guard who can deliver the dimes and yet more scoring power – I’m pretty sure if nothing else, I’m going to be heavily outscoring my opponents on a weekly basis. The athletic Rose should also pitch in with steals and FG percentage. Unfortunately, 3-pointers is not his forte, and taking him still leaves my team sadly lacking in blocks.

LaMarcus Aldridge goes at 46, a pick I really like and one I considered from a team needs perspective, but again, I couldn’t let Rose slip by. Point guards make up the final two picks of the round, with Jameer Nelson going somewhat early at 47 and Baron Davis going somewhat late at 48. That B-Diddy pick could be huge.

Round Five

The first player off the board this round is Marcus Camby – a shockingly early selection of such an injury-prone player. I wasn’t going to touch him for another round and half at least, and it wouldn’t have surprised me had he sunk even lower than that. Carlos Boozer goes 51st – nice value for this spot, assuming he doesn’t get hurt as usual or get dealt somewhere that negatively affects his Fantasy performance. Andrea Bargnani is taken next, and it could be a round too early, but there’s a decidedly Toronto-centric influence among this league, so I shouldn’t be surprised.

At 53, I’m eyeing Tony Parker, but my frontcourt is severely lacking, so I take Rudy Gay. More scoring power here and more steals, but Gay will also help me in boards. Unfortunately, my percentages take a hit with this selection.

Andris Biedrins and Al Horford are the next two picks as the run on centres – a run I have ignored, yet grown increasingly worried about – continues. I believe each of these picks is around one round or more too early, but I do understand the need to reach for size at this juncture in the game.

Mr. Eva Longoria finally goes next – a fantastic pick at No. 56, and then Mehmet Okur is taken 58th – also a wonderful pick, and one I had considered before opting for Gay.

Round Six

Stephen Jackson was still sitting there as we began this round, and despite the drama and crappy FG percentage, this dude produces, so was I targeting him. Unfortunately, he went the pick before me, leaving me scrambling for other options.

Anthony Randolph was the first player selected this round at No. 61. I thought this was early, but totally not surprising considering all the hype. Let’s hope for his owners’ sake that he’s not the 2009-10 version of Andray Blatche. Nene went next, and this was a great pick, taking yet another quality centre off the board, much to my chagrin. Al Harrington went shortly after this, right on target, and then Andrew Bynum was taken, a wee bit early I thought, but this could be just fine if he stays healthy for once. That was followed by another big man, Emeka Okafor, and then the S-Jax pick – tremendously value this late in the draft.

I need a centre badly, so I opted for Zach Randolph, who qualifies at both the four and the five. This gives me a legitimate rebounder, and yes, yet another scorer. He should give my FG percentage a much-needed kick in the pants, but could hurt my FT shooting. Unfortunately, Z-Bo is a double-double machine who doesn’t help in blocks and he won’t be contributing in 3-pointers either. Randolph was probably my first reach, but my team was looking way too small, and I had allowed the centre run to pass me by while focusing on other things (probably shiny things on my floor).

The second last pick of this round (71st overall) was John Salmons – another superb selection at this juncture.

Round Seven

Lou Williams was taken first this round, 73rd overall, and considering he’s never been a starter before, I think this is a risky pick. Established PGs like Andre Miller, T.J. Ford and Mike Bibby are still on the board and developing PGs Mike Conley, Mario Chalmers, Aaron Brooks, Rodney Stuckey, Raymond Felton, Ramon Sessions and Nate Robinson are also all still available, so going with Williams could be a reach.

Two picks later, Ben Gordon is taken — a fantastic pick this late in the draft. I had been looking at him, and that leaves me torn between Jason Terry and Eric Gordon. I opt for Terry and his PG/SG eligibility; he’ll bring me 3-pointers and more scoring (!), but also will help in steals. Of course, he offers no rebounding or blocks and I’m left swearing to myself that I will address these cats…soonish.

Blake Griffin goes next. Too early for my taste, but I can totally understand taking the chance on that upside. This could be a fantastic pick. Or not. I would prefer Boris Diaw, who went next; that’s a very good pick in the middle rounds here. Eric Gordon was next off the board (I was shocked he was still there), and I believe this is also a wonderful selection this late.

A couple of picks late, perennial sleeper J.R. Smith was plucked We’ll see. Given that he’ll be suspended for the first seven games of the season, I would have waited on him at least another round, but this could be a good selection if Smith doesn’t do something stupid, as he is wont to do. The rest of the round consists of high-upside players going a bit early, but I can see taking Greg Oden here. Leandro Barbosa 84th overall is a too early, I think. Yes, he’s a good sleeper and many expect him to bounce back in a big way this year, but I’m not crazy about this pick.

Round Eight

Bibby is the second pick of this round (86th overall) and it feels early. Hell, Andre Miller is still sitting there if it’s dimes you’re after. Guess that owner really needed the treys. Jason Thompson goes next; guess that 20/20 game the other night sure jacked him up the sleeper list. I like Thompson, but it’s hard to imagine he wouldn’t have stuck around for another round or so.

Shaquille O’Neal is the next pick, and again this feels early. But centres have been disappearing and I’m having my own issues with big men, so what the hell am I going to say? Still, I would have preferred Andrew Bogut, Chris Kaman or Spencer Hawes here. Of course, Bogut is taken with the very next pick, so there you go.

Paul Millsap, someone I’m looking at, is taken with pick 91, and I think this may turn out to be a huge selection. I’m up next, and still needs bigs, but again, I can’t resist the fact that Andre Miller is still there. I help myself in assists, steals and scoring with this pick, but he’s not a three-point shooter and I am still sadly lacking in blocks. Uh ya….I’ll deal with that later.

Joakim Noah is the next pick, and how soon he’s taken surprises me. I didn’t expect him to go for another two, maybe three rounds. Another big off the boards. Lamar Odom is the last player selected in this round (96) and that’s the kind of guy I could have used. Nice pick.

Round Nine

The first pick of this round raised a few eyebrows – Kevin Love? This would normally be a perfect time to take the second-year big man for the Wolves, but with news emerging a couple of days before the draft that he broke his hand and would require surgery that should sideline him for six-to-eight weeks, this is a gutsy call. I might have taken him in the last round, but there are options out there that can help you now, not two months from now.

If that pick surprised me, I was even more shocked when Anthony Morrow was the next player taken. Morrow as a top 100 pick? No. I think he’s a fringe draft worthy player, perhaps a decent gamble as a last round flier, but surely he’d still be there in the last round. You have to understand that there are still consistent big scorers like Josh Howard and Allen Iverson on the board at this time. Point guards like Conley and Chalmers are still sitting there. Potential breakout players like Michael Beasley and Thaddeus Young are still available. Quality bigs like Kaman and Hawes can still be had. This is no time to be taking Anthony freaking Morrow and all the Don Nelson-induced headaches that go along with owning him. Phew. I feel better now.

In fact, the bigs start dropping then and there when the next three picks are Hawes, Brad Miller and my pick, Kaman. I got sucked into drafting Kaman last year on an auto-pick glitch, but he was actually pretty good for me – until he got hurt, as usual. Supposedly healthy this year, I’m counting on him boosting my FG percentage, giving me some much-needed blocks and helping my rebounding. Of course, Kaman won’t be doing anything in the way of 3-pointers, steals or assists, but I think I’m covered in those areas.

Two picks later, Thad Young is taken, and I think he could provide tremendous value from this slot. Immediately following him, Iverson is grabbed – 104th overall. When was the last time you thought AI had a chance to deliver great value relative to his draft slot? It could easily happen this season.

Stephen Curry is taken next, and while I am a big fan of this kid, I don’t see it happening this year for him. I like Curry as a 13th, maybe 14th round flier based on the tremendous potential, but not in the ninth round. Chalmers is the next pick, and that could be huge. Kudos.

Round 10

The first pick in this round is Roy Hibbert – great upside, but also a great risk. That’s immediately followed by Chris Andersen, also a bit early, but if you needs blocks, you’re now set. Two picks later, Marvin Williams goes at No. 112. I think this could be a wonderful value pick. Johnny Flynn is taken next – too early, but the very next pick is fantastic – although not without its own risks, as Beasley is taken 114th overall. If not for his summer of rehab, he’s got to be a top 100 pick, maybe going as early as the eighth round.

Felton goes next, and I like this one, too. I’m up next, and once again can’t resist who I feel is clearly the top available player – Josh Howard. I am finding time and time again in this draft one particular player who slips several rounds falling to me, and I’m overlooking team needs to take the best available player. JoHo gives me yet another scorer, who will also pitch in with 3-pointers and steals. This could hurt my FG percentage a bit and won’t provide any assistance with assists, but I had to do it.

Two picks later (118), Conley is finally taken. This is great, great value at this stage. Stuckey is taken next, and that’s also a very strong pick.

Round 11

The first few picks of this round go more or less according to plan, and I didn’t have an issue with any of them. In fact, I like the Grant Hill (122) and Andrei Kirilenko (123) picks from a value perspective. My pick is two slots away and I desperately need a big man. I’m torn between taking a chance on the perpetually day-to-day Jermaine O’Neal and the upside of sophomore Marc Gasol. Thankfully, the decision is removed when JO is plucked with the pick before me. Gasol it is. This gives me a rebounder and shot blocker who will also provide a nice boost to my FG percentage. He’ll probably hurt my FT percentage and obviously won’t be bringing me any treys, but I needed Gasol on my team badly.

The next two picks are Channing Frye – hate it – and Brooks – love it. Frye is a deep sleeper who could surprise, but I wouldn’t have done anything but take a last round flier on him. Brooks is poised for a breakout year, and will return serious value from the 127 slot. Next up is Tyson Chandler, and I don’t like it. I just think he’s a shell of his former self now and I’m not sure he’s going to ever return to being a star.

I’m not thrilled with the next pick either – Chris Duhon at 129. There are better PG options still available. For instance, two picks later, Kirk Hinrich is taken, and I see him providing much more value than Duhon this year. Antonio McDyess rounds out what is mostly an underwhelming 11th round.

Round 12

Kendrick Perkins is the second pick of this round, 134th overall, and I think that’s a solid pick as one of the few dependable big men remaining. I also like the Al Thornton selection, two picks later, even though there’s talk he’ll be coming off the bench. I’ve got pick 140, and I’m looking at a pair of Pistons – Richard Hamilton and Tayshaun Prince. I need another forward option and Prince offers a more well-rounded game – I’ve already got enough scoring power. Prince will pitch in on the boards, offer me a bit of scoring and some assists. Unfortunately, his FG percentage may bring me down a tad, but overall he does a bit of everything, so I opt for the well-rounded player here.

Two picks later, Francisco Garcia is selected. Normally, this would a tremendous steal at this stage of the draft, but I guess the owner picking him hadn’t heard that Garcia would miss several months with an injury. Anyways, he has since rectified that pick by dumping Garcia and picking up Zydrunas Ilgauskas on waivers. The next pick is D.J. Augustin, and that could be huge with the subsequent injury to Raja Bell. I liked Augustin here regardless of the fact his role was unclear, but with Bell out, this is a serious bonus.

The final pick of the round is Sessions, and despite the Gomes hype, I think Sessions is going to be an extremely valuable player before all is said and done.

Round 13

As we neared the end of the draft, I expected to start seeing more fliers. And it begins right away with Joel Przybilla. If Oden keeps fouling out of every game or getting hurt, Przybilla will again be a rebound machine. Two picks later, Rip is stripped off the board. How the mighty have fallen – Hamilton as the 147th overall pick? Yes, there are concerns about how he’s going to get his touches with Gordon in town, but I think this is a super value pick this late. Kudos.

Danilo Gallinari is taken next – another fine sleeper selection. Up next, I choose to go big again, grabbing the finally healthy Brendan Haywood. I’m seeking boards, blocks and FG percentage with this pick. He’ll hurt my FT percentage, doesn’t sink 3-pointers and isn’t much of a scorer, but that’s not what I need.

Two picks later, Yi Jianlian goes with the 151st selection. Another super sleeper here – this could be massive. Next is Tracy McGrady. I know – what a headache, but if you get half a season out of him, this could be an excellent return on your investment from this late slot. Definitely worth the flier.

The next pick is the deepest sleeper of all – DeJuan Blair. Yes, there’s tremendous potential here and he could surprise many, but where does the PT come from? To me, Blair is a better waiver wire selection. This is one gutsy sleeper pick.

Next up, Hakim Warrick is taken with the 154th pick. This is another fine sleeper selection. I’m not as thrilled with Mikael Pietrus as a sleeper, however. He might be somewhat valuable while Lewis serves his suspension, but I have my doubts.

Round 14

The final round opens with the selection of Randy Foye. What a great last round pick – despite the uncertainty of his role, he’s got so much untapped potential. Next up, Eddie House is taken, and I don’t see him as a draft-worthy player. Need a boost of treys? Rudy Fernandez is still available, so are Peja Stojakovic and Roger Mason Jr., and I think all three of them bring more to the table than House.

Three picks later, at 161 overall, Jamal Crawford finally goes off the board. I was wondering when this would happen and had him targeted if he was still there. What a splendid pick for the last round. Three picks after that, it’s time for my last selection. I opt for a rook, James Harden from OKC, who strikes me as an across-the-board contributor. I think he’s going to surprise some people this year. At least I freaking hope he does.

And the very final pick of the draft is another rookie, New Jersey’s Terrence Williams. This is a fine sleeper selection, as T-Will has drawn rave reviews in training camp and could also surprise people. He’ll have plenty of opportunity to do so on a weak Net squad.

Overall, I think my team is a bit guard heavy. I’m going to have to scour the wire for rebounding and blocks, but big men tend to emerge as in-season possibilities quite often. I’m confident I will rarely be outscored and I should do quite fine in assists and 3-pointers.

I think the keys for my team will be Kobe being Kobe for at least 80 games, D-Rose taking the expected leap into elite PG status, Melo producing a more well-rounded game, Gay getting enough touches to take the next step, and getting through the year without injuries to guys like Kaman, Haywood and Howard.

Let the season begin!

We’re back with yet another team preview as the 2009-10 RotoRob NBA Draft Kit nears completion. While Memphis worries that its shiny new toy might not be ready for opening day, let’s take a look at the Houston Rockets, a team that will be faced with its own challenges this season.

The Houston Rockets were a very solid team in 2008-09, both from a real-life and Fantasy perspective. Houston finished second in the Southwest Conference with a record of 53-29, then knocked off the Portland Trail Blazers 4-2 in the first round of the playoffs. Though they weren’t given much chance against the powerful Los Angeles Lakers, the Rockets took the eventual champs to seven games before finally bowing out.

What was perhaps most impressive about the effort was that Houston played the final four games without its iconic centre Yao Ming, who suffered a broken foot in Game Three – an injury which is still preventing the Great Wall of China from playing. The big man will miss the entire 2009-10 season, leaving Houston without its top scorer and rebounder – and depriving Fantasy hoops of one of its biggest stars.

The news gets worse: seven-time All Star shooting guard Tracy McGrady underwent microfracture surgery on his left knee February 24, and doesn’t figure to be back until December at the earliest. In addition, the Rockets lost small forward Ron Artest to free agency, leaving the club without its three leading scorers from a season ago. Houston signed defensive specialist Trevor Ariza in the offseason, perhaps with the hope that bolstering their already formidable defense will help them compensate for their massive offensive losses over the past several months.

It may be an ugly season in Houston, and in fact, there probably won’t be a lot to talk about from a Fantasy perspective, either. There are, however, a few players who could emerge and return solid Fantasy value to those owners savvy enough to dig deeply enough. Dig, you say? Heck, grab a shovel, son – this is Texas after all, and you never know what untapped riches might be lying beneath the prairie sand.

Projected Starting Lineup

PG: Aaron Brooks
SG: Trevor Ariza
SF:  Shane Battier
PF:  Luis Scola
C:   Chuck Hayes

Key Bench Players

Carl Landry, Kyle Lowry, Pops Mensah-Bonsu, David Anderson, McGrady

Position Battles

The Houston frontcourt is loaded with question marks, beginning with last year’s starting power forward Scola. If Scola moves to centre as has been speculated, his vacated power forward spot becomes a wide-open job. Landry has appeared in 111 NBA contests, but has yet to start a single game. When he wasn’t getting shot, the 26-year-old posted a “per 36″ line of 15.7/8.4 last season, while Hayes pulled down 10.5 rebounds per 36 minutes. Hayes is a good bet to at least start the year as the No. 1 centre, but his lack of offense makes him undraftable in Fantasy play.

Landry can also play the three, and even rookie Chase Budinger – who has shown the ability to both score and dish the ball this preseason – might get a taste or two. Big Aussie centre Anderson (the only active Rockets player over 6′9″) may also eat up some minutes in the post, with Scola manning his old digs at the four. Landry’s versatility makes him a potential sleeper in deeper leagues – just watch how the minutes shake out before you pull the trigger on any Houston big man other than Scola.

Shooting guard may also be an issue, as neither Battier nor Ariza is a natural two. Both have outstanding defensive skills, but neither is a great spot-up shooter or ball handler. Both players should get starter’s minutes, but who actually ends up starting at the two is something of a mystery at this point.

Stud

Scola put up some strong numbers last season: 12.7 points and 8.8 rebounds per game. What’s most interesting, though, is the line he hammered out in two games starting at centre for Yao: 18.5 points and 9.5 boards. While the sample size is small, it is clear that Scola is in for some big lines this year as he tries to fill Yao’s big shoes. Scola is not a shot blocker, and mediocre from the stripe – but he should deliver points and boards by the bucket load this season. He is currently nursing a mild ankle sprain, but it’s not expected to linger into the regular season. With Yao out, Scola will be asked to score more than at any time in his career, and something close to a 20/10 average this season is not out of the question.

Dud

There are some folks out there touting Brooks as a Fantasy sleeper this season, but it’s hard to tell why they’re so excited. Brooks started 35 games last season, averaging 13 points, but a rather lethargic 3.7 assists and 0.7 steals in almost 31 minutes of playing time. He’s not a skilled passer, has only an average shooting touch, and at only 6′0″ is not a defensive force – quite the opposite, in fact. Brooks’ lack of defensive acumen figures to limit his minutes given Houston’s preference for playing in-your-face D, so he is decidedly lacking in upside. Look elsewhere (Sacramento, maybe?) for your breakout point guard this season.

If one dud wasn’t enough, we have a special bonus dud for you: McGrady is scheduled for an MRI on his surgically repaired left knee November 23. T-Mac is practicing on a limited basis, and is reportedly ahead of schedule in his rehab, but we just won’t know his return date until his November MRI. Even if McGrady makes it back in, say, December, the fact remains that, over the past six seasons, T-Mac has played more than 71 games only one time. When he’s on the floor, McGrady can still put up solid numbers across the board, but the constant threat of injury makes him too great a risk for most Fantasy managers.

Sleeper

Battier’s defensive skills are well documented, but his career high water mark for points per game was 14.4 way back in 2001-02. What’s more, his second-highest season was a mere 10.1, so scoring the ball is not Shane’s forte. With the Rockets’ two biggest weapons sidelined, though, Battier may be called upon to air it out more than at any point in his career – and the fact that he threw in 26 points this preseason against Toronto bodes well for his chances. At the very least, Battier will heave in plenty of three-pointers – but how the rest of his offensive game develops will ultimately determine his Fantasy worth this season.

If Battier indeed gets his offensive game going, to the point of, say 13-15 points per game – he would become a viable starting option in just about every format. Threes, rebounds, steals, and close to one block per game – all currently available for cheap at the end of your Fantasy draft. This is a chance worth taking, folks.

If it’s a deep sleeper you’re looking for, recall those nifty “per 36″ numbers Landry put up last season. Also, know that Landry is averaging 12.7/4.9 in 20.4 minutes this preseason, so the tools for success are there. He’s not a shot blocker, but Landry should be a cheap source of points and boards as long as he’s playing close to starter’s minutes. Again, watch Houston’s frontcourt rotation closely before committing to anyone other than Scola.

Rookies to Watch

The Rockets selected Budinger with the 44th overall selection in this year’s draft, and while he may not see relevant minutes this season, his story’s worth telling. The 6′7″ forward not only averaged 18 points, 6.2 rebounds and 3.4 assists for Arizona last season, but he was also one of the nation’s best volleyball players during his time at AU. Budinger’s success on the volleyball court was due in no small part to his enormous 40-inch vertical jump; this kid has more hops than Anheuser-Busch.

Budinger will try to parlay his impressive athleticism into meaningful minutes this season, but the odds are definitely against him. He has had a nice preseason, but barring a major injury, we’re not likely to see the former Wildcat getting much run this season.

Fantasy Stories to Watch

Ariza should provide plenty of pilfers to pad your production, but what else he’ll provide is cause for question. He can shoot a little bit, rebound a little bit, and steal the ball as very few others can – 1.7 swipes in just 24.4 minutes per game last season. Unfortunately, there isn’t much of a sample size to project what kind of numbers Ariza will produce when given starter’s minutes. He added treys to his repertoire last season, but the .319 he shot from downtown did not inspire much confidence. Many eyes will be on Ariza as he tries to expand his game and become a true Fantasy force in 2009-10.

I can still remember when developer Visual Concepts launched the NBA 2k series a decade ago on the Sega Dreamcast. It was a revelation. After years of titles failing to capture the essence of pro hoops, NBA 2k had delivered an unrivaled experience on the virtual hardwood. Fast forward 10 years and the latest release — NBA 2k10 — is no exception, as this series remains the standard bearer, adding enough visual polish and new features to keep would-be challengers at bay.

Controls (4/5)

As in past installments, NBA 2k10 once again puts a ton of basketball moves at your disposal, mapping the vast majority of them to the left stick. Combining the left and right triggers unleashes even more ankle breaking tactics, while manipulating the right stick in different directions will allow you to fire standard jumpers, floaters and runners. It’s a system that can be finicky at times and takes some getting used to, but in a sport like basketball that is fluid in real life it’s essential these things be ready accessible and not require hitting combinations of buttons.

That doesn’t mean face buttons won’t be involved, however, as you’ll still be using them to do things like passing (A) and rebounding (Y). The game also offers the option to execute some of the left/right stick moves (like shooting) with these buttons, but you’ll be limiting yourself if you play that way.

Play calling is once again activated by pressing the d-pad, allowing you to quickly call things like pick and rolls and post ups. That’s only the beginning this season, though, as you can now use the bumpers to cycle through position-specific plays. It’s nice that you’ve been given more options to call plays on the fly, but it can be a little time consuming and it necessitates you basically standing still with your player as you try to find the play you want to execute.

The “Intense-D” feature feels a bit improved, although I still think that offensive players slip coverage too easily. It also seems the computer shoots an unrealistic percentage against my defense even when I’m practically in the CPU’s jersey. Despite these occasional frustrations, the overall control scheme is rock solid and even feels a bit tighter than last season.

Graphics/Sound (5/5)

In a word, “Wow.” After churning out an excellent-looking release last year, I thought 2kSports had pushed things about as far about as it could. I was wrong. The graphics in NBA 2k10 are fantastic, highlighted by tremendous lighting effects and even more realistic looking movements from the players. On top of that, 2kSports has added a layer of polish that creates a broadcast experience with stat overlays, upcoming schedules and highlight packages.

There are a few nitpicking details that could be improved upon, such as the occasional unnatural fluttering of the jerseys in close ups or the fact that sometimes the overlays will remain on screen even after the ball has been inbounded, obscuring the action. Overall, though, this is the best looking basketball game I’ve ever seen.

The audio has also been ratcheted up this season with stronger commentary work by Kevin Harlan and Clark Kellogg, who generally follow along with the action and react with appropriate enthusiasm. One nice touch that helps each game feel more like part of an 82-game schedule is their referencing of recently played or upcoming games. If your team laid an egg in their last outing, expect to hear that mentioned during your next game. If one player went off for 40 points, expect to hear that too. Yes, the announcers will still make the occasional nonsensical comment, but it’s nothing more than a blip on the radar in what ranks as one of the top announcing efforts I’ve heard in a sports title.

On the court, all the requisite squeaking sneakers and yells are present, while the soundtrack is surprisingly diverse and should appeal to more than just hip-hop fans.

Gameplay (4/5)

NBA 2k10 offers two deep single-player modes: The Association (franchise) and My Player. The latter serves as this year’s signature addition with My Player allowing you to create an NBA hopeful from scratch and then guide them through their career. Anyone who downloaded and completed NBA 2k10: Draft Combine will be able to import their creation and hop right into the draft. Those that skipped it will instead create their player from scratch and go from there.

After joining a team you’ll play in the summer league with the hopes of being invited to training camp. It was after the summer league that I encountered a glitch, wherein I was told the team that drafted me (Phoenix) didn’t want me in camp and that I should choose a team to go to camp with. So I did, and then there I was in Suns’ camp anyways. However, many items (like depth charts) listed me with the other club. It’s primarily an annoyance and a patch is planned to correct it, but those without Xbox Live capabilities might want to scan the message boards for a workaround.

Once in training camp you’ll need to play well to make the cut. If you do, you’ll likely find yourself glued to an NBA bench early on. You can also be sent down to the Developmental League, which is a cool addition and really helps highlight the importance of each possession since you’re breaking in as a fringe NBA player. After each game you’ll get feedback from the 2k Insider and earn skill points, which you’re free to allocate to any of the dozens of available attributes. You can also complete drills to improve, though none of them are particularly engaging and the dribbling drill borders on unplayable.

The pre-game goal and in-game grading systems work identically to the draft combine (see our review of the game for details), and as such the same flaws are retained. I still feel the grading works well the majority of the time, but there are enough instances of faulty logic that some tweaks should be made before next year’s release.

For instance, I was praised for grabbing an offensive rebound, but then dinged for being in “bad position” after kicking the ball back out despite being in the key for less than two seconds. However, easily my biggest pet peeve with the grading comes on defense, where you are docked whenever your man scores even if it’s in transition or you switched on a screen and are no longer defending him. Knowing this, I generally find myself following my man wherever he goes to the detriment of my team’s overall defense, which makes me play a less realistic brand of basketball.

The other two knocks on My Player are some frame rate hitches that pop up once you’re playing in front of full NBA arenas and some shaky teammate A.I. in late-game situations. The frame rate issue can be a bit jarring the first couple times you see it, and it may cost you defensive position or a basket here or there, but it isn’t a huge deal. Downloading the game to your hard drive seemed to help, however it didn’t fix the issue completely.

Teammate A.I. is a larger concern. Yes, when you’re down, the coach may choose to dust off the full court press, and intentional fouls will be committed late in games. Unfortunately, the A.I. appears to have no sense of urgency on the offensive end. In one game, I inbounded the ball to Steve Nash with 10 seconds left and the team down four points. Instead of hoisting a three, Nash simply held the ball for several seconds before passing to Grant Hill, who made a jumper with less than two seconds left. I lost. In theory you can tell your CPU buddies to shoot by pressing the X button, but I’ve found it unresponsive.

Even with those issues, the My Player Mode is a welcome addition and should be a staple of the series for years to come. I love its individualistic nature because it asks you to play a complete game from filling the lane to boxing out or even setting screens for your teammates. With game, season and career goals that make you want to keep playing and improving your player, the replay value is off the charts.

For those that prefer more control over their team’s performance both on and off the court, The Association has returned with some added features, including a new player progression system, the addition of the D-League and an improved handling of contracts. There’s nothing in that group that would be considered a game changer, but the NBA 2k series has always boasted a strong franchise mode, and NBA 2k10 falls in line.

You’ll be able to micromanage to your heart’s content, assigning roles (from starter to bench warmer), situational subs and rotations down to the last minute. You can schedule practices to work on specific areas of your team’s game, ship guys down to the D-League or mastermind complex three-team trades. There’s simply a ton of options at your fingertips both as the GM and coach, and the revamped menu system seen in NBA 2k10: Draft Combine and NHL 2k10 makes accessing the information a much more user friendly experience than it’s been in the past.

One new item I was excited to see added, but that didn’t quite work properly is restricted free agency, which is when a player can negotiate with other clubs but the team they played for previously retains the right to match any offer. During one offseason, I offered Joakim Noah a three-year deal at around $7 million with a player option for a fourth season. He weighed his offers and agreed to sign with me on the second-to-last day of free agency. However, the game informed me that Chicago had matched my offer, but in reality it hadn’t. Instead, the Bulls had been allowed to retain him with their one-year qualifying offer. It’s fairly minor, but I’d love to see it get straightened out.

Beyond the two primary modes you’ll also be getting Living Rosters and the all-new NBA Today, which ensures you’ll have access to the most up-to-date rosters and ratings available. Being that it’s a feature that’s worth will be determined over the course of the season, I’m forced to reserve judgment, but the early returns from pre-season games are positive. Conceptually, the idea of daily updates that allow you to play any game with the most current information possible is a great one. Plus, the commentary and overlays will update as well to add to the experience.

NBA 2k10 also dusts off NBA Blacktop, which is a street ball mode that allows you to play pickup games or compete in three-point shooting and dunk contests. The game also offers the option to create and experiment with various situations — such as down two with 10 seconds left and the ball. Single season and playoff modes are also available.

Lastly, online play has received an overhaul. It’s much more accessible now, allowing you to play against actual opponents in basically any mode (that includes Association) with the push of a button. You can once again join online leagues as well as team up with other gamers to form crews with either real NBA teams or your created player to earn more skill points. Unfortunately, I’ve encountered issues with the crew pick-up games crashing almost immediately and more than a few instances of the 2k servers being down, though to be fair I do much of my gaming after 11 p.m. PST so they could just be down for maintenance. I do like the online options, now it’s simply a matter of tightening up server performance so they can be easily enjoyed.

Overall (4.5/5)

A handful of issues hold NBA 2k10 back from reaching its full potential, but it’s still the best option on the market and the addition of the My Player Mode helps elevate this to being the new measuring stick for basketball games. If you’re a hoops fan, this is a must buy.

We’re back with more of the 2009-10 RotoRob NBA Draft Kit. While the Minnesota Timberwolves’ frontcourt falls apart, let’s preview the Miami Heat, who will look to build on last season’s rebound and take the next step up the Eastern Conference ladder.

The Miami Heat made a miraculous recovery last season in the wake of the 15-win, injury-induced disaster that was 2007-08. The team finished with a winning record and got back into the playoffs. And while constant worries about the luxury tax prohibited this team from making any key additions this offseason, organic growth by some of its young players should allow the Heat to improve upon its 43-win total of a season ago, perhaps even leapfrogging the Hawks for second place in the Southeast Division behind the Magic.

But the real master plan of this organization involves opening the coffers next summer, when the much-publicized free agent class of 2010 becomes available. Of course, the Heat must start by retaining their own key member of this class – Dwyane Wade, who, despite his constant moaning about the team not doing enough to build a winner around him, is expected to re-up with Miami after the season. But to truly meet its goals, Miami must also be able to add one or two other big-name free agents to play alongside Flash.

For now, however, this will mostly be a stand-pat year. Yes, Quentin Richardson has been added to the mix – after being dealt about 17 other times this summer – but he hardly qualifies as a marquee acquisition. If nothing else, Q-Rich and Daequan Cook will give the Heat a pair of serious long-distance threats this season.

Carlos Arroyo was also recently signed, as the team made a long-delayed move to add depth at point guard. Compared to Richardson, this move means even less, unless starter Mario Chalmers gets hurt for an extended time. Of course, any serious injuries to the starting five could prove disastrous to Miami, considering its paucity of depth.

We all know that, if healthy, Wade will be Wade. But the real key here is the development of sophomores Chalmers and Michael Beasley. Chalmers improved his ball distribution skills as the season wore on last year, but then again, with this offense, Flash has the ball in his hands at almost any given moment. Beasley, however, seems poised to explode and emerge as a legitimate double-double threat. If his drug and personal problems are truly behind him after spending summer vacation in rehab, the second overall pick in last year’s draft can give the Heat what it truly needs – a bona fide second scorer behind Wade. Of course, he’ll have to do that with the pressures of making the transition from PF to SF, not to mention that he’s just 20 years old and everyone will be watching him like a hawk to see if he goes squirrely again.

Projected Starting Lineup

PG: Mario Chalmers
SG: Dwyane Wade
SF: Michael Beasley
PF: Udonis Haslem
C: Jermaine O’Neal

Key Bench Players

Chris Quinn, Cook, Richardson, James Jones, Joel Anthony

Position Battles

There’s been some talk that Beasley could come off the bench in favour of Q-Rich or even Jones (although Jones seems to have worked himself out of contention). Richardson’s value will get a nice bump if he’s starting, but even if Beasley isn’t in the starting five, he’ll see enough time at the three and four that his value is assured.

Stud

Duh…it’s Flash. The consensus No. 3 overall pick in any Fantasy draft, Wade bounced back from a pair of injury-riddled seasons to post his finest year yet in 2008-09. He’s going to be hard-pressed to duplicate those kind of numbers – especially with Beasley expected to take a bigger role in the offence – and a host of pre-season injury issues are troubling, but Wade is still a superb choice to anchor any Fantasy team.

Dud

O’Neal is already struggling with injury woes this preseason. Problems with his foot, groin and shoulder should remind Fantasy owners why JO is such a headache despite his tremendous rebounding and shot-blocking ability. As always, draft with extreme caution here.

Sleeper

Beasley is an obvious pick, but he’s on too many people’s radar to truly be considered a sleeper. Instead, take a look at the work done this preseason by Joel Anthony, who has emerged as O’Neal’s main backup at centre. If (read: when) O’Neal goes down, Anthony has a chance to be extremely useful. And if O’Neal’s injuries are of the long-term variety, Anthony could be one of the most pleasant surprises of the season.

Rookies to Watch

Miami doesn’t have a single freshman on the squad. The Heat traded away its 2009 first round pick back in 2007 as part of the deal that brought Ricky Davis and Mark Blount to Miami. Miami had three second round picks: it selected Marcus Thornton and then dealt him to the Hornets for a pair of future second rounders; it dealt away another second rounder last year as part of the deal that sent the draft rights to Mario Chalmers to the Heat; and Miami picked Robert Dozier with the final pick of the draft, but he has since signed with a Greek League team.

Fantasy Stories to Watch

Is Beasley past his troubles and ready to justify being the second overall selection in 2008? What’s the over-under for games played by O’Neal this season? Are these injuries Wade is dealing with this preseason truly minor, or is he going to have another season filled with health woes? Can the Heat survive a major injury to any of its starters? Is Anthony ready to bust out and take advantage of JO’s incessant aches and pains? Can Q-Rich wrestle the starting SF job from Beasley and re-establish himself as a decent Fantasy play?

We’ve got more of the 2009-10 RotoRob NBA Draft Kit today with the release of another team preview. While news of LeBron James’ cancer scare from earlier in the year surfaces, let’s put the Utah Jazz under the microscope.

The 2008-09 season was business as usual for the Utah Jazz: Play inspired ball at home (33-8 record), putrid ball on the road (15-26), do enough to make it into the playoffs (third in the Northwest Division and eighth in conference), then take a playoff beating from a clearly superior team (lost to the Lakers 4-1). Such has been the history for the Jazz, which, despite earning a playoff berth 23 of the past 26 seasons, has yet to reach NBA pay dirt. Utah also has possibly the least appropriate nickname in sports; seriously, when was the last time you heard anyone gush about the smokin’ hot jazz scene in Salt Lake City, Ogden or Provo? Your days in the French Quarter are 30 years’ worth of over, fellows – what about updating the nick to something more Utah apropos? Such as…maybe…umm…ahhh…well, there has to be something better than Jazz, doesn’t there?

One would think that such a long history of frustration would have moved Utah management to action, but the past offseason was a very quiet one in Salt Lake City. Most of the activity surrounding the team involved speculation as to when and where star power forward Carlos Boozer would be traded. Boozer elected not to opt out of his hefty (and expiring) contract, leading many to believe that a trade was in the works.

Rumours flew, names were dropped, speculation ran its rampant course and…nothing happened. Boozer is still in town, and his contract has the Jazz well above the luxury tax ceiling, prompting – you guessed it – trade rumours.

If Boozer were to indeed depart, his leaving (and arrival somewhere else) would have serious Fantasy implications. The guy’s injury-prone, doesn’t block shots and can’t shoot free throws, but he has averaged double-digit rebounds in three of the past four seasons, and eclipsed 20 points per game in two of those campaigns. Watch this situation closely, as the Fantasy fallout from this potential deal figures to win (and lose) a lot of leagues this year.

Projected Starting Lineup

PG: Deron Williams
SG: Ronnie Brewer
SF: Andrei Kirilenko
PF: Carlos Boozer
C: Mehmet Okur

Key Bench Players

Paul Millsap, Kyle Korver, Ronnie Price, Kosta Koufos, C.J. Miles (injured to start the season)

Position Battles

Incumbent starting small forward Miles will miss 6-to-8 weeks after undergoing surgery to repair a ruptured ligament in his left thumb. Sixth man Kirilenko looked like the logical stand-in for Miles, but Jazz coach Jerry Sloan has publicly floated the idea of moving bruising power forward Millsap to small forward, while leaving Kirilenko in his bench role. Millsap was an absolute beast last season while filling in for an injured Boozer, racking up an average of 16 points, 10.3 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.2 steals and one block per game as a starter. If Millsap gets the nod at the three, his Fantasy value would take a significant jump upward, while Kirilenko would earn a slight downgrade.

Stud

Williams was one of only two players to average double-digit assists last season (the other was some guy named Chris Paul from New Orleans), and the 25-year-old point guard still has a fair amount of upside in his game. It would be nice to see Williams increase his three-point shooting (only about one trey per game) and cut down on his turnovers (a beefy 3.4 per contest each of the past two seasons). His turnover rate is really the only dent in D-Will’s armor, but even in nine-category Fantasy leagues, he is still an elite backcourt player. More of the same should be in store for ‘09-10, so give Williams a look at the end of the first or beginning of the second round in your Fantasy draft.

Dud

Once upon a time, Kirilenko – the Russian Rifle, AK-47 (still one of the coolest nicks out there, by the way) — was a fantasy monster, racking up steals, blocks and boards aplenty whilst endearing himself to Fantasy owners the world over. Well, for the past three seasons, the “rifle” has been little more than a popgun, and his 1.2 blocks per game a season ago represented a career low. His rebounds have plummeted from 8.0 per game in 2005-06 to a pedestrian 4.8 last year, while his point-per-game average has tumbled from 15.3 four seasons ago to just 11.6 last year – which actually was a significant jump upward from the 8.3 stinker he laid on the board in 2006-07.

Now there is talk – public, straight from the coach kind of talk – that AK-47 might not gain the SF starting gig while Miles is on the mend. Perhaps the 37 games Kirilenko has missed over the past three seasons is inspiring his coach to limit his minutes. Clearly, this is not good Fantasy news at all, so don’t reach for AK-47 based on your memory of his days of Fantasy stud-dom – they appear to be just dots in the rear-view mirror.

Sleeper

Millsap will, at worst, play about 26-to-28 minutes off the bench in relief of either Boozer or Okur. Look for about 10-to-12 points, 7-to-8 rebounds and close to one block per night on those occasions. Not bad, but with the recent talk from coach Sloan about Millsap possibly sliding into the starting SF spot, the ceiling is much, much higher. We talked earlier about how effective Millsap was while Boozer was on the shelf, and there’s little reason to believe he couldn’t match – or even surpass – those numbers banging the glass alongside the Boozer-Williams pick-and-roll show. Of course, if Boozer is dealt, Millsap’s Fantasy value figures to skyrocket.

Watch the Utah lineup carefully as the preseason winds down; if Millsap wins the job, he should immediately be reckoned a Fantasy starter in just about every format. Most draft “cheat sheets” still have him slotted as a high-end reserve, making him a potential draft day steal for the savvy Fantasy manager (that would be you, Sparky).

Rookies to Watch

The Jazz selected VCU point guard Eric Maynor with the 20th overall selection in this year’s draft, and the youngster may be in line for at least modest run this season. Maynor is a polished and intelligent player who averaged 22.4 points, 6.2 assists and 1.7 steals per game in his senior season. He is currently in competition with combo guard Price for the back-up point guard role, and if he can win the job, Maynor could see about 10-to-12 minutes per game spelling Williams. Don’t forget, though, that D-Will missed 14 games due to an ankle injury last season – and has been dealing with some knee tendinitis this preseason.
Don’t draft Maynor in most leagues, but if he indeed wins the back-up job keep him on your radar in case Williams needs some time off.

Fantasy Stories to Watch

The big story this offseason was the supposedly impending trade of Boozer, but after much cyber-ink was spread and countless rumours mongered, The Booze Cruise is still sailing in Utah. Boozer’s contract situation would seem to point towards him being traded this season, and if that happens, every Fantasy owner will hasten to dissect the players (and potential role changes) involved.

After a break of a couple of days, the 2009-10 RotoRob NBA Draft Kit is back with another team preview as we near the finish line for these puppies. While Shawn Marion deals with a calf injury in Dallas, let’s check in on one of the other Texas teams, the San Antonio Spurs, who will look to reverse a trend of three straight seasons of declining win totals.

The regular season was pretty much business as usual for the Spurs, who won better than 64 per cent of their games and reached the playoffs for the 12th consecutive time. However, injuries left Manu Ginobili unable to play in the postseason, and without his slashing offense the team succumbed to a first-round exit for only the second time in Gregg Popovich’s 12 full seasons at the helm.

With the window closing on Tim Duncan and the club as a whole getting a bit long in the tooth, GM R.C. Buford bundled a handful of expiring deals to acquire former All-Star forward Richard Jefferson from Milwaukee. RJ upgrades the team’s offense while also giving the Spurs a much needed injection of relative youth, though age and health will remain concerns as Jefferson (29) and Tony Parker (27) are the only core players under 30.

In addition to Jefferson, the Spurs also signed Antonio McDyess, who is an excellent under-the-radar pick up. The veteran not only adds rebounding and low-post toughness, he should complement Duncan’s skills nicely on offense since McDyess’ game is the midrange jump shot. Theo Ratliff was brought on board to help combat the Los Angeles Lakers’ size in the frontcourt, and even at 34 he’s still a capable shot blocker. Rounding out their additions up front is DeJuan Blair, who is widely considered to be the steal of this year’s draft. That threesome should provide Duncan with a lot more help in the post than last season’s group of stiffs could muster.

San Antonio is a virtual lock to rattle off 50-plus wins and be a top-three seed in the West. However, with the amount of mileage on its stars’ legs, it will be fighting an uphill battle in 2009-10. Of course, Duncan, Popovich and everyone else with the Spurs understand they only have so many years left to contend for a title with Duncan as the centrepiece. Expect an inspired effort from them come playoff time and a possible showdown in the Western Conference Finals with the Lakers.

Projected Starting Lineup

PG: Tony Parker
SG: Roger Mason
SF: Richard Jefferson
PF: Tim Duncan
C: Antonio McDyess

Key Bench Players

Ginobili, Michael Finley, Matt Bonner, Blair

Position Battles

The Spurs are pretty well established in terms of roles, though when Ginobili is healthy you could see some jostling for minutes between Finley and Mason. However, we fully expect Popovich to rest his veterans (including Finley) whenever possible in an effort to keep them relatively fresh for April.

Stud

Hampered by knee injuries, Duncan posted some of the lowest totals of his career. Of course, when you’re talking about one of the greatest players in NBA history, those lows were still 19.3 points, 10.7 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game. Given that Duncan is 33, the team will probably be even more judicious with his minutes in 2009-10, but he should still be a walking double-double and the presence of McDyess might help save some wear and tear for the stretch run.

Dud

The Spurs couldn’t get the job done without Ginobili last year, which is why we anticipate they’ll handle him with kid gloves this season. The addition of Jefferson (and to a lesser extent McDyess) helps spread the scoring load, and it’s hard to imagine Ginobili playing much more than the 26.8 minutes per game he logged in 2008-09. Those banking on a bounce back year from Ginobili are likely to be disappointed as Popovich wants to save Manu’s troublesome ankles for the playoffs.

Sleeper

George Hill didn’t get to play a ton as a rookie, but he did a solid enough job when he was on the court to be part of the Spurs’ rotation this season. He will be the primary backup to Parker and should also see some burn at off guard. With so many names in the mix you can’t expect a lot from Hill when everyone’s healthy. When they aren’t though, Hill might be a name to know.

Rookies to Watch

Blair is a banger down low and only lasted until the second round because of concerns about his height and his knees. He is NBA ready, though, and he should spell Duncan and McDyess for 15-20 minutes a night. That won’t be enough to produce much more than around six points and five boards per contest, but he’d be worth a look if those minutes jumped.

Fantasy Stories to Watch

The big story in San Antonio is how Popovich distributes his minutes in an effort to keep his best veterans fresh for the postseason. It wouldn’t be shocking to see statistical declines from all four of the Spurs’ top players (Duncan, Ginobili, Parker and Jefferson), which would obviously hurt their value.

The 2009-10 RotoRob NBA Draft Kit surges forward with another team preview today. And while Kevin Durant fights back against dissing bloggers, we take a look at Hornets, who will seek to return to Western Conference contender status.

After their shocking finish atop the Southwest Division in 2007-08, the New Orleans Hornets took a rather pronounced step backward last season. While the team’s 49 wins was respectable enough, it was good for only fourth in the Southwest – and the 4-1 thrashing the Hornets suffered in the first round of the playoffs left a bitter taste indeed in the mouths of hoops fans all over the Big Easy. Even a cup of the Café Du Monde’s finest Joe couldn’t wash away the 58-point home-court drubbing the Denver Nuggets laid on the Hornets in Game Four of their series.

The Hornets clearly are a team with something to prove – namely, that they belong among the NBA’s elite. With that mandate, it was surprising to see New Orleans remain fairly quiet this offseason. The team swapped centres with the Charlotte Bobcats, and while Emeka Okafor should be an upgrade over Tyson Chandler, he’s not the imposing low post presence the Hornets sorely lack.

The Hornets feature two of the NBA’s best players in point guard Chris Paul and power forward David West, but the talent level drops off quickly after that. If New Orleans is going to return to championship caliber status, the team’s role players need to step up and provide better support for the Hornets’ dynamic duo. Coach Byron Scott has his work cut out for him, but there is enough talent in the Big Easy to carry the Hornets to the playoffs once again this season. Beyond that, though…

Projected Starting Lineup

PG: Chris Paul
SG: James Posey
SF: Julian Wright
PF: David West
C:   Emeka Okafor

Key Bench Players

Peja Stojakovic, Devin Brown, Hilton Armstrong, Darius Songalia, Darren Collison

Position Battles

It’s not much of a battle any longer, but it looks as though there will be a new starting SF in ‘Nawlins this season. Wright has relegated Stojakovic to the pine, and Wright could become a major Fantasy sleeper by the time Week One rolls around. We’ll chat more about Wright a little later on.

Stud

This just in: That Chris Paul guy can play a little bit. CP3 did it again in ‘08-09, bumping both his points and rebounds average northward – while still averaging 11 dimes per contest. Want more? – He shot over 50 per cent from the floor, 86 per cent from the line, lobbed in 64 treys and posted 2.7 steals per outing. Why are you still reading this – go out there and draft him…he’s a top-two Fantasy talent in just about every format.

Dud

Stojakovic is a one-trick pony that isn’t very good at his trick anymore. Peja’s prolific trey totals have kept him Fantasy relevant for years, but his rather, well, putrid 39.9 field-goal percentage of a season ago has led to a major fall from Fantasy grace. The problem is, Stojakovic isn’t much of a contributor in any other departments, and his declining skills have made him not worth the Fantasy hit he brings in virtually every other category. Perhaps the 32 year old with the creaky back can regain some Fantasy worth as the Hornets’ sixth man, but we’d recommend you let someone else roll the dice on Stojakovic this season.

Sleeper

Third-year man Wright appears to have unseated veteran Stojakovic as the starter at small forward, and has leaped onto the Fantasy sleeper radar as a result. Wright averaged only 14 minutes per game last season, but the 6-foot-8 former Kansas Jayhawk tossed in 12 points and grabbed 7.8 rebounds per game his sophomore (and final) year with the ‘Hawks. He also showed a propensity for blocking shots (1.3) and grabbing steals (1.4), so he is quite capable of making some meaningful Fantasy contributions as long as he remains a starter. Don’t reach for Wright, but he’s a great late-round grab in deeper leagues.

Rookies to Watch

Point guard Collison was a curious choice as the Hornets’ No. 1 draft pick, but the rookie from UCLA could see a fair amount of playing time if the Hornets stick to their plan of reducing CP3’s minutes. That is, of course, a colossal “if,” but Collison could play about 10 minutes off the bench every night. Since he is listed at only six-foot-zero, Collison is not much of a two-guard candidate, so spelling Paul figures to be his only game action.

Guard Marcus Thornton averaged 21.1 PPG for the LSU Tigers last season, but he’s essentially a pure shooter who lacks the size (6′4″) and defensive skills to crack the Hornets’ rotation in a Fantasy-relevant way this season.

Fantasy Stories to Watch

Okafor is a solid defensive centre, but attempted fewer than 10 shots per game last season. There are hopes that the presence of uber point guard Paul will vault Okafor back into the 15-plus PPG range, and make him a viable starting No. 1 Fantasy centre. Recall that Okafor averaged 17.6 points in his final season at UConn and 15.1 in his rookie season in Charlotte, so he knows how to score the ball when he’s called upon to do so.

Keep an eye on Wright’s development; as mentioned earlier, the Hornets are in desperate need of a No. 3 scoring option – and Julian could be the Wright guy for the job.

We’re back with more of the 2009-10 RotoRob NBA Draft Kit as we near the end of the team previews. While both Dwyane Wade and Jermaine O’Neal deal with pre-season injury woes for the Heat, let’s check in on one of Miami’s Eastern competitors – the Detroit Pistons, who came crashing down to earth with a big thud last season.

There may have been some grand plan when Joe Dumars traded Chauncey Billups to Denver for Allen Iverson, but it certainly didn’t help last year. Detroit barely made the playoffs and was quickly eliminated. The cap space freed by the trade was then used to sign free agents Ben Gordon and Charlie Villanueva, two high scorers who think defence is a four-letter word. That should make the Pistons interesting to watch if nothing else and a big change from the plodding aging team they were becoming.

The Pistons also signed big men Chris Wilcox and Ben Wallace, which should help clog up the middle at the very least, but also creates a three-way battle for playing time at centre. But the more interesting dilemma for first-year head coach John Kuester is what to do with Gordon. Richard Hamilton did not like coming off the bench when The Answer came to town, and his numbers naturally declined. Rip’s numbers bounced back when Iverson was eventually forced out of the starting five, and A.I. found himself looking elsewhere for employment at season’s end. Veterans Antonio McDyess and Rasheed Wallace have also left.

Gordon is comfortable coming off the bench—he was the NBA’s Sixth Man Award winner in his rookie season—but how he and Hamilton will divide up the time could be key to their production and happiness, especially since Rodney Stuckey will chew up a lot of time at point guard. It seems likely that both players and probably all three will be on the court at the same time, which means the Pistons may be the best thing coming out of Detroit these days—and that’s not high praise. The Pistons will be one of six or seven teams battling for the last two or three playoff spots, but that’s about it.

Projected Starting Lineup

PG: Rodney Stuckey
SG: Richard Hamilton
SF: Tayshaun Prince
PF: Charlie Villanueva
C: Kwame Brown

Key Bench Players

Gordon, Jason Maxiell, Will Bynum, Wallace, Wilcox

Position Battles

Hamilton is the starting shooting guard for the moment, but Gordon could take over if Rip doesn’t recover from the sub-par season he had last year when Iverson disrupted his career.

There’s also a nice battle at centre: Kwame Brown is being touted as the starter, but face it, he doesn’t provide much in the way of offence–or defence for that matter. The return of Wallace is intriguing, but he’s not the player he once was (he was leaning towards retirement this summer) and will probably get limited minutes. That leaves newcomer Wilcox, who could supplant Brown with a nice camp, although the Pistons may not need another scoring threat with all the firepower they have at the other positions. Look for all three to get minutes depending on match-ups and the situation.

Finally, PT for guards Chucky Atkins and Bynum could be squeezed as a result of all the team’s Pistons moves. Atkins, coming off two injury-plagued seasons, has a non-guaranteed contract and would seem to be an easy cut unless he can outplay Bynum in the preseason. But if the plan is to have Gordon spell Stuckey, then neither will get significant minutes. Look for Bynum to stick.

Stud

The Pistons are Stuckey’s team and he should thrive under coach Kuester, who is noted for his offensive acumen. But newcomer Gordon is getting paid $11 million a year to score and he better score a lot. The Pistons were a plodding team last year, not able to score or even defend particularly well. Nobody averaged 20 points a game and Gordon has that ability, having led the Bulls in scoring four years in a row.

Dud

This could easily end up being Gordon depending on how he and Hamilton play together, but here’s betting that Rip fares worse. He’s the only Piston left from the 2003-04 championship team and he still managed to average 18.3 points per game last season even though Iverson disrupted the team and affected Rip’s PT. Hamilton is still likely to start, but there’s potential for his numbers to decline if Gordon becomes the go-to guy. As last season showed, When Hamilton isn’t playing, Hamilton isn’t happy.

Sleeper

Wilcox? Are you kidding me? The same guy who averaged 7.2 points and 4.5 rebounds in a mere 17 minutes with Okalahoma and New York last year? But don’t forget that he put up around 13.5 points and seven rebounds in his last two years in Seattle and could put up similar numbers if he gets decent playing time.

Rookies to Watch

First-round pick Austin Daye is a 6’11” forward out of Gonzaga who can score, although he gives up a lot on the defensive end; thankfully, the Pistons are less concerned about that aspect these days. Two second-rounders, 6’8” DaJuan Summers (Georgetown) and 6’9” Jonas Jerebko (from Sweden), will battle for time at power forward, but neither are expected to get major minutes just yet.

Fantasy Stories to Watch

Will Gordon be happy being the sixth man again after establishing he can be a starter? If he starts, will Hamilton be happy? Can these two co-exist? CV is a nice guy who can score in bunches, but he’s never been on a real winning team and he is inconsistent. Now that he’s been rewarded with a five-year, US$35-million contract, can he step up and be consistent? If the kid Daye is all that and a bag of chips, look for Hamilton and Prince to be mentioned in mid-season trade talks, especially if the Pistons are flailing.

The 2009-10 RotoRob NBA Draft Kit continues to run amok with the release of yet another team preview. While we wonder when Delonte West will return this time, let’s check in on the Charlotte Bobcats, who will look to build on the best season in franchise history and finally earn their first playoff berth.

The Charlotte Bobcats are committed to instituting a running game this season in the hopes of jump starting what was the NBA’s worst offense last season. The question is, will the minor personnel changes they made this offseason be enough to affect legitimate improvement in this club? Sorry to say, but I believe the answer is no. Expecting the Bobcats to finally reach the postseason this season for the first time in franchise history is a fool’s bet. It’s not impossible – this is the Eastern Conference after all – but it’s going to take a crapload of good luck.

Emeka Okafor – the very first player the Bobcats ever selected in the draft – is gone, and in his place as part of a money-motivate deal is Tyson Chandler. Chandler is coming off an injury-plagued season that necessitated ankle surgery this summer. He’s still recovering and is also dealing with a toe woe, but should be good to go for the regular season. While Chandler isn’t capable of supplying the offense that Okafor could, he’s a tremendous defender and is a more athletic player, meaning he could fit in better with the team’s new commitment to a higher tempo pace.

Boris Diaw’s ankle is also hurting, a souvenir of his time at Eurobasket ’09. The team’s starting PF – who really stepped up his game after a mid-season deal to Charlotte – should be fine once the games start to count. At least he better be, because the four spot is a real weak area for this team, and any prolonged absence of Diaw would be disastrous to the club’s limited chances to earn a playoff berth. The club is high on rookie Derrick Brown, but he’s an unproven commodity and Alex Ajincas is buried deep in Coach Larry Brown’s doghouse right now.

Charlotte won 35 games a year ago, which, despite being a new franchise record, was not good enough to make the playoffs. Still, the Cats were in the hunt most of the season in Coach Brown’s first season at the helm, and that has to be considered progress. Now, if this club can just step up offensively, without sacrificing too much of the defensive improvements it made last season, then it might be on to something. But where is the incremental scoring going to come from?

Certainly the addition of backup Ronald “Flip” Murray will help. Expected to back up both guard positions and even play some three as well, Murray adds some much-needed offensive firepower to the Bobcats’ second unit. He’s been around the block a time or two, but can still light it up with some instant offense off the bench. The only concern here is whether Murray’s addition will cut into the PT of promising sophomore D.J. Augustin at all.

But can Coach Brown – who notoriously favours vets over youngsters – coax enough improvement out of his team to make up the difference and get this team into the playoffs? If he does, it might be the irascible coach’s finest job yet.

Projected Starting Lineup

PG: Raymond Felton
SG: Raja Bell
SF: Gerald Wallace
PF: Boris Diaw
C: Tyson Chandler

Key Bench Players

Augustin, Murray, Gerald Henderson, Vladimir Radmanovic, Derrick Brown, DeSagana Diop

Position Battles

Felton had a pretty good season last year, but his poor shooting has led many to suggest that the Cats would have a hell of a lot more offensive prowess with Augustin running the show. Augustin, whose third year option was recently picked up, led all NBA rookies in FT shooting last season and stands to improve quite a bit this season. If Charlotte is truly interested in beefing up its offense, sending Felton to the bench — or just dealing him right out of town — in favour of Augustin may be a very good move.

Stud

Wallace is still the most desirable Bobcat to own. Since joining this team five years ago, Crash has settled into a very consistent groove. Injuries are always a concern given how hard he plays the game, but he managed to reach 70 games played for the third time last season. While he didn’t have as many touches, I like the fact that his FG percentage bounced back and he’s done a superb job the past couple of seasons becoming a much strong FT shooter.

Dud

Bell salvaged his season last year after arriving from Phoenix in a mid-season deal, but the Bobcats are already trying to get rid of him, so I’d be surprised to see him last the season in North Carolina. Bell can shoot the ball, but with Augustin in need of more PT, I can’t imagine he’ll last long in this environment – especially if Charlotte finds itself out of the race earlier than expected.

Sleeper

With the Bobcats re-signing Felton (although not to a long-term deal), and bringing in Murray, Augustin will slide on many Fantasy owners’ cheat sheets, but this kid lit it up when he got a chance to start last year, and he deserves to be in the team’s starting five. He’s gotten stronger and more flexible this offseason in the hopes of avoiding some of the injury issues he dealt with last year, and if – or when – Charlotte decides to divest itself of Felton, Augustin is going to be a serious Fantasy stud.

Rookies to Watch

Two-guard Henderson out of Duke was the team’s top pick in June. A Michael Finley-type, Henderson brings a great mid-range game to the table, but he’s uncomfortable being “the man” on his team, which is fine for now, because he’s in a low-pressure situation. The Bobcats have enough depth in the backcourt that they won’t need to lean on Henderson. That’s a damn good thing, because he certainly failed to impress in the pre-season opener.

Second rounder Derrick Brown was plucked out of Xavier, and as I mentioned earlier, he’s got a lot of fans in the organization. Although he showed a little something-something (10 points) in the pre-season opener, Brown’s offensive game needs work, but he has tremendous potential as a defensive standout.

Antonio Anderson was invited to training camp after a strong senior season at Memphis, and while the combo guard will get a long look during the exhibition schedule, his chances of sticking with the team are slim and his chances of being Fantasy-relevant are virtually non-existent.

Fantasy Stories to Watch

Can Chandler rebound from an awful season and get back to being a defensive powerhouse? Will Augustin get enough PT to be Fantasy relevant? Does Ajinca have a hope in hell of impressing Coach Brown? Can Diaw continue his studly play as a Bobcat?

We’re back with another team preview as the unstoppable beast that is the 2009-10 RotoRob NBA Draft Kit continues to wreak havoc. The news just keeps getting worse for Allen Iverson, who has so much to prove this season. Meanwhile, let’s check in on one of his former teams, as the Nuggets look to build on a very successful 2008-09 campaign.

Last season, the Denver Nuggets tied a team record with 54 wins and were that close to making their first-ever NBA finals, falling just short by losing to the eventual champion L.A. Lakers. So what did they do to put them over the hump—and a formidable hump the Western Conference is? Why, sign Toronto Raptors castoff Joey Graham, of course. Frustratingly athletic and maddeningly inconsistent, Graham leaves fans and coaches scratching their heads one minute, and oohing and aahing the next.

Meanwhile, the Lakers acquired Ron Artest, the San Antonio Spurs picked up Richard Jefferson, the Dallas Mavericks got Shawn Marion and Drew Gooden and the Portland Trail Blazers only signed Andre Miller. Graham? Well, he doesn’t fit in with that caliber of player and he certainly isn’t going to make or break Denver’s season. Instead, the Nuggets are counting on some of their core players improving, namely Nene, Chris “Birdman” Andersen, J.R. Smith and Carmelo Anthony. Call it addition by doing nothing.

The Nuggets let defensive specialist Dahntay Jones go in free agency and shooter Linas Kleiza split for Europe. Jones is the bigger loss and Denver is expecting Arron Afflalo to provide some of that missing grit. But perhaps the team’s biggest move was acquiring University of North Carolina guard Ty Lawson in a draft day trade with the Minnesota Timberwolves. Lawson could be something special and is the heir apparent for Chauncey Billups, who really saved the Nuggets after an early-season trade for Allen Iverson last year.

Denver will be a solid team again, but with its chief rivals all improving, the Nuggets may need another big trade—ideally for a big man—to make it to the top.

Projected Starting Lineup

PG: Chauncey Billups
SG: J.R. Smith
SF: Carmelo Anthony
PF: Kenyon Martin
C: Nene

Key Bench Players

Andersen, Afflalo, Anthony Carter, Renaldo Balkman, Malik Allen, Graham

Position Battles

Smith will be suspended for the first seven games of the year because he killed a man in a 2007 auto accident. He received a 90-day sentence for that offence this summer and served 24 days in jail. But that’s not the only reason the NBA suspended him: the league also cited his poor driving record. Oh yeah, never mind that he killed a man, he just drives too fast. In his place, Afflalo will start and get a chance to prove he should get the nod when Smith returns. Other than that, there will be some battles for mop-up time by the likes of Balkman, Graham and James White (acquired in a trade with Houston), but nothing that will upset the balance of this team.

Stud

The Nuggets were floundering until the team made the steal of the year by swapping A.I. for Billups, who brought in leadership and the knowledge of what it takes to win, something Iverson never had The Answer for. But Anthony is still gold. He averaged 22.8 points, 6.8 rebounds and 3.4 assists last season, but scored 27.2 points per game in the playoffs, hinting at greater things to come.

Dud

Nene enjoyed a career year in 2008-09, but do you really believe he’ll be capable of playing in 77 games again? Uh, good luck with that. Draft at your own peril.

Sleeper

If Afflalo is named the starting shooting guard (an unlikely scenario), Smith could still be a real steal. He’s likely to play close to 30 minutes a night whether he starts or not and would be a legitimate Sixth Man of the Year Award candidate again (he was second last year in the voting). Last season, he averaged 15.2 points, 3.7 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game, all career highs for the five-year veteran.

Rookies to Watch

The Nuggets only have one worth keeping an eye on: Lawson, a guard from UNC who was named ACC player of the year. In his junior year, he averaged 16.6 points, 3.0 rebounds and 6.6 assists per game and had a very healthy shooting stroke of 53.2 per cent. His drive-and-penetrate game should make him ideal to spell Billups for now and replace the 34-year-old veteran in a few years.

Fantasy Stories to Watch

Denver will likely take on Portland for the Northwest’s top spot, but still haven’t acquired anybody to take on the big men that the league’s other elite teams have. The Nuggets just didn’t have an answer for Pau Gasol in last year’s conference finals and still don’t. That task falls to injury-prone Nene and K-Mart again and neither better get hurt since Johan Petro and Allen don’t exactly instill fear.

The Nuggets also need to find an irritant, someone who gets under the skin of the opposing team—as opposed to the law, something a few of their players are good at. Last year that player was Jones and now that task falls to Afflalo.

Critics say coach George Karl caught lightning in a bottle last year, but the Nuggets do have some great talent and now they know they can win. The question is can they stay healthy and out of jail long enough to win it all?