We’re back with more of our look at the 2009 San Francisco Giants. You find our previous segments here: Part I and Part II.

In our previous parts, we focused on the pathetic nature of the Giants’ offense, and yet another reason for the weak attack was outfielder Fred Lewis, who all played his way out of being an everyday player. Lewis enjoyed a fine 2008 campaign – his first as a full-time big leaguer. But after a strong April, things went downhill quickly for Lewis, and by July, Nate Schierholtz more or less took his PT away.

Overall, Lewis was incredibly unproductive this season, and what modest pop he flashed last year disappeared. The big problem was he simply couldn’t hit lefties (.164 BA), so he was better down the stretch (786 OPS after the break) as a part-time player when he was not exposed to southpaws. And he put up that decent second half despite an absolutely crap September. The Giants are expected to try to lure a free agent outfielder this winter, and that could leave Lewis out in the cold. He may still bounce back, but so far, he’s been a big disappointment.

Speaking of disappointments, if you’re a Giants’ fan, it’s hard not to be upset at the relative lack of return the team has received from the ridiculously ill-conceived seven-year, $126-million contract that they gave Barry Zito in December 2006 – at the time, the largest deal ever doled out to a pitcher. Obviously, given that he’s the team’s highest paid player on a mid-market team, it’s reasonable to expect some pretty amazing results, the type of which have yet to transpire. However, let’s be fair here: after bottoming out in 2008, Zito actually did make a lot of progress this season.

On July 12, he suffered his worst bitchslapping of the season, and in fact, the worst since he’s arrived in San Francisco – eliciting plenty of well-deserved boos as he departed after surrendering 10 hits and nine earned runs in just 4 1/3 IP. It was just the third time in Zito’s career he had given up nine runs or more in a game.

The thing is, from that moment on, Zito was a different pitcher. Check out his game log for the final 15 starts of the season to see what I mean. He managed to trim his ERA by almost a full run over this stretch – the most consistent run he’s had as a Giant yet. Could he be ready to return to ace status, or at least be a top-of-the-rotation type in 2010? A revitalized Zito would give the already busting-at-the-seams-with-talent Giant rotation yet another weapon.

If this team’s hitting improves by even 20 or 30 points of OPS – look out. They’ll be almost assured of reaching the postseason for the first time since 2003.

In previous parts, we’ve already mentioned how this team’s offense would have been completely lost without Pablo Sandoval, but it’s worth discussing his 2009 a bit more, especially considering he was pretty much the only must-own hitter on the team, from a Fantasy perspective. The 25 dingers were impressive, but when you combine that with the NL’s second-highest batting average, sixth-best slugging percentage and seventh-highest OPS, you’ve got yourself a monster. Just 23, Sandoval has plenty of upside – which is a scary thought for opposing NL pitchers.

On the flipside, the progress that Kevin Frandsen showed back in 2007 has completely gone by the wayside. Sure, he lost virtually the entire 2008 season to injury, but it’s hard to believe that as recently as Spring Training 2009, he was still very much in competition for a starting job. Not only did Frandsen not win the job, but he didn’t even make the team out of Spring Training. Well, at least he stayed healthy, because there’s not much else you can say about his 2009.

In multiple stints with the Giants, Frandsen couldn’t hit his way out of a paper bag, batting .140 with a 384 OPS for 50 at bats. And down at Triple-A, it wasn’t as if he was crushing the ball. He was somewhat productive in the minors, but he only hit .295 – not bad by any means, but the first time he’s been under .307 in any Triple-A stint (keep in mind that we’re talking about a player who has a career BA in the minors of almost .320). Again, the 790 OPS was decent, but didn’t exactly scream “bring me up, I’m ready to bitch slap major league pitchers.” Frandsen is still just 27 and he’s headed to Puerto Rico this winter to improve his game, so he still may settle in as a utility infield type, but I suspect his days of being an intriguing Fantasy option have disappeared ever since his injury.

Clearly, the offense needs addressing this offseason. But with that overabundance of pitching, there are plenty of trade chips here for the team to lure a big stick from someone. Jonathan Sanchez, for instance, with three more years to go before he can become a free agent, would be an ideal part of a package to help land a masher. Currently penciled in as the No. 4 starter in the rotation, Sanchez could be a lot more valuable to a pitching-weak club. How about trying to pry Shin-Soo Choo away from the Indians using Sanchez as the bait? What about Josh Willingham from Washington? He’s a player rumoured to be on the market. Surely, Sanchez could bring in a hitter who can make a difference in this lineup, either in a one-for-one deal, of if San Francisco is feeling very ambitious, as part of a package for a really big fish.

But it’s probably going to take more than adding a big hitter to turn the Giants into an offensive force, or even a middling attack – which would be a massive improvement. This team needs to count on some organic growth from some of their young hitters, a few of which are on the cusp this season as far as finding out if they’re legitimate major leaguers or Quad-A types.

One of those is first baseman Travis Ishikawa. He’s 26 and coming off his first full-time season in the bigs, but we’re not seeing the offensive development we had hoped for. He got hot in mid-summer, earning a Wire Troll recommendation in early July, and that proved to be a good call as Ishikawa continued to hit well in July, batting .300. Unfortunately, he slumped in August before bouncing back somewhat in September. Still, it was a disappointing year for this defensively lauded fielder, as his extra-base pop was unacceptable for a corner infielder. Ishikawa’s walk rate dipped as well, but while his lefty-righty platoon splits weren’t bad, perhaps the Giants should have been employing a home-road platoon on this dude. He hit .349 with a 935 OPS at AT&T Park, but the Mr. Hyde act on the road was shocking as he managed just a .162 BA and 471 OPS away from home.

More telling, Ishikawa’s 659 OPS after the break suggests to me that his job shouldn’t be guaranteed in 2010 by any stretch of the imagination. New hitting coach Hensley Meulens has already started working with Ishikawa, among others, as he looks to help some of these bubble big leaguers achieve their potential. A big step forward from Ishikawa in 2010 would be a huge bonus for the Giants.

Since we published Part I of our San Francisco Giants season review, a couple of their players have been in the headlines for the wrong reasons.

Angel Villalona, considered one of the team’s top prospects and the first baseman of the future, is the prime suspect in a shooting death in the Dominican Republic, but earlier this week the victim’s family – who received a cash settlement from Villalona – has asked the a judge to drop the case. Amazing what a throwing few dollars around will do to a murder charge. However, the prosecutor still plans to pursue the charges against Villanlona, so he hasn’t exactly bought himself a free pass quite yet.

Giant ace Tim Lincecum, meanwhile, was nabbed while speeding and carrying 3.3 grams of pot. He’s going to get off with a slap on the wrist, and it’s not as if this is some kind of performance-enhancing drug that would improve his play on the field. Sure, Doritos and Twinkies sales are up all around San Francisco, but this is hardly something that will require an asterisk beside his Cy Young award.

Speaking of Giant hurlers, we need to talk about Randy Johnson’s 2009 campaign, which very well could be the final season of his tremendous career. He became the 24th pitcher to reach 300 wins, but then wound up missing over two months with a shoulder injury. When the Big Unit returned, he pitched out of the bullpen and wasn’t very effective. You know he’s going to want to start again should he decide to return for another season, and it’s hard to imagine the Giants having room for him.

Johnson will take some time over the winter to mull his options, but after compiling a 303-166 record for six teams and racking up a ridiculous 4,875 strikeouts – second only to the great Nolan Ryan and the most ever by a lefty – it’s probably time for him to call it a day. After five Cy Young awards, you’ve got to figure Johnson is a slam dunk first ballot Hall of Famer. So go home, Randy and sit by the phone until Cooperstown comes calling.

While the Unit’s 300th win was a definite highlight in San Francisco, how about the no-hitter Jonathan Sanchez tossed on July 10? Better yet, how about the progress the young lefty made in his second full season as part of the Giant rotation? His K/9 bounced back, he was much harder to hit and Sanchez became a different pitcher after the no-no, making huge strides in the second half. If there were any questions whether he’s a fixture in the rotation, they have been answered by Sanchez’s post-break performance.

In the bullpen, Brian Wilson solidified his role as closer, nailing down 38-of-45 chances and doing so in much less shaky fashion than he did in his first season as the closer. He’s quickly morphing into one of the more dominant firemen in the game, so feel free to draft him with great confidence next spring.

Now, as we discussed in Part I, the Giant offense was quite pathetic, but imagine how bad it would have been without Pablo Sandoval, the team’s hefty third baseman. In his first full season, this switch hitter hit .330, smacked a crapload of tape-measure home runs and drove in 90 runs.

In the outfield, Nate Schierholtz got super hot in June and early July, prompting a Wire Troll recommendation, but we missed the boat on this one as he struggled down the stretch, hitting a mere .240 after the break. This 25-year-old finally stuck as a big leaguer this season, but given his struggles against righties, all he managed to prove was that he could be a decent power bat off the bench against lefties. The fact is that this kid has serious power potential, but you wouldn’t have known it this year as he managed a mere five dingers.

The weak side of a RF platoon? That doesn’t sound very Fantasy-worthy to me, but with Randy Winn on his way out of town, Schierholtz will be given a chance to win more PT in right, but he’ll need to fend off Andres Torres, Fred Lewis, John Bowker and perhaps even Eugenio Velez. He has upside potential, but I don’t like Schierholtz’s chances of holding Fantasy value in any standard sized leagues, even NL-only ones, unless he starts hitting righties better.

Speaking of Velez, perhaps he and Schierholtz make perfect platoon partners as Velez struggles against lefties. He has tremendous potential as a top-of-the-order hitter, but he’ll need to work on his patience and his baserunning. New hitting coach Hensley Meulens should make this a priority – turning Velez into a Major League quality hitter.

Catcher Bengie Molina – in his walk year just in time for the arrival of Buster Posey — slipped a bit after an excellent 2008, and he’s almost assuredly gone as the Giants aren’t expected to try to re-sign him. And why would they? Block the best catching prospect in the game? Uh, maybe not. Molina flashed more power last year, smacking 25 doubles, a triple (how the hell did that happen?) and a career-best 20 homers, but he wasn’t as productive as he was the season before. The fact that he had his worst OBP since 2002 didn’t help matters. The Mets may make a play for Molina, but it’s worth noting that the sluggish catcher hit much better at home (.309 BA, 856 OPS) than he did on the road (.225 BA, 610 OPS). This is definitely some food for thought for those of you in keeper leagues or for Fantasy owners trying to get an early fix on what Molina might be worth in 2010.

This was definitely a season of progress for the Giants, one that earned manager Bruce Bochy and general manager Brian Sabean well deserved contract extensions. Bochy’s fate might be tied to how well Meulens does as far as developing a more patient approach for the Giant hitters; as for Sabean, he’ll be judged by his ability to land an impact bat either through free agency or trade this winter.

We’ll take a look at a few more of the Giant hitters and discuss early hot stove activity in Part III, coming soon.

Despite again being saddled with one of the worst offenses in the majors, the San Francisco Giants were able to make great progress in 2009, improving their record by 16 wins and remaining in the playoff hunt until the season’s final week.

For the Giants, it was all about pitching, as a staff led by Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain ranked second in the National League in ERA, BAA, OPS against and WHIP. Hell, even Brad Penny, cut from the Red Sox and signed to a minor league deal by the Giants at the end of August, was brilliant down the stretch – going 4-1, 2.59 in six starts with San Francisco.

That the staff was as good as it was without any contributions from Noah Lowry, a 14-game winner in 2007, but out the past two seasons with injuries, speaks volumes about how good a job they’ve done scouting and drafting pitchers. Lowry is probably done as a Giant, as he’s been removed from the roster and will become a free agent as he tries to revitalize his career elsewhere. Frankly, with all the great young arms already there and the others on the way, they don’t need him.

The offense, on the other hand, was again rather wet noodle-esque, ranking dead last in the NL in OBP and OPS and hitting the second-fewest home runs in the majors. It cost hitting coach Carney Lansford his job and now the task falls to Hensley Meulens, promoted from being the hitting coach at Triple-A, to teach the Giants to take a more patient approach at the plate.

Let’s harp on the poor offense first. Perhaps the easiest to single out as underperforming based on his salary is centrefielder Aaron Rowand, who has regressed each season since he arrived in San Francisco after being signed to what now looks like a disastrous contract. Rowand’s power actually bounced back a tad this year, but come on – it’s pathetic.

His walk rate was down and his strikeout rate was up, and that’s a deadly combo. This right-handed stick had an OPS of just 636 against lefties! WTF? While Rowand looked like a solid waiver wire pickup in late-May — and Tim, as usual, was bang on with that one as Rowand hit .320 and had his best month of the season in June – he really faltered down the stretch with an OPS of 629 in the second half. As the season progressed, his power really waned and by season’s end Rowand wasn’t even a must-own player in NL-only leagues.

There’s talk that he may be headed to the Cubs in exchange for Milton Bradley – who would bring with him to San Francisco a whole different kind of headache, so we’ll see how that plays out. I’m sure the Giants would love to rid themselves of the albatross of a contract that they unwisely gave to Rowand.

Utility infielder Juan Uribe enjoyed a fine bounceback campaign, and was quite productive for the Giants, but he’s a free agent and wants a multi-year deal, so San Francisco would be wise to let him walk. The last thing the Giants can afford to do would be to make another mistake in free agency a la Rowand in 2008 and Edgar Renteria in 2009.

Last year, the Giants threw around a lot of money early in the free agency game, and not all of it was spent wisely. The Renteria signing, in particular, has been a major bust so far. For starters, he’s had a tough time staying healthy in recent seasons, and this year his elbow was a problem for a good chunk of the season, finally necessitating season-ending surgery in September. But this was the worst season of Renteria’s career anyway you look at it. He scored less runs and had less hits than ever before; his power is completely gone; he hit a career worst .250 and struggled through a 635 OPS. Renteria is another right-handed bat that was vulnerable against lefties (629 OPS), and he was brutal after the break (621 OPS), especially in September, when he hit just .116 and had an OPS of 365. Obviously the elbow was a factor, but this dude was signed to help beef up the San Francisco offense – not bring it down. We weren’t overly bullish on Renteria’s prospects for 2009, listing him No. 16 among shortstops in our pre-season rankings, but by season’s end, Renteria wasn’t even a top 30 shortstop, which means that he was only worth owning in deep NL-only leagues. Yikes.

The Giants also tried to beef up the offense at the deadline, acquiring Freddy Sanchez, who was having a fine year for the Pirates. Unfortunately, Sanchez struggled with health issues, and was only able to play 25 games for the Giants over the final two months and change. Regardless, the team recently gave him a two-year extension, so he will get another chance to show what he can do at the keystone corner next season.

Another culprit was Randy Winn, long a dependable hitter, but one who definitely started showing his age in 2009. He had his lowest run total since 2001 and had 10 less extra-base hits than he did in 2008. Overall, this was Winn’s worst season since 2000. The reason? The veteran switch-hitter clearly can no longer hit lefties anymore – his OPS as a right-handed hitter was 384. Uh, ya. Can you say platoon player, please? Anyways, Winn’s a free agent, so it might not be the Giants’ problem anymore. But Winn is yet another Giant who slumped in the second half, with his OPS dropping 100 points after the break. Heading into the season, we had him pegged as a top 70 outfielder, but he was barely a top 90 flyhawk in 2009, which meant that Winn was only useful in NL-only leagues, and even then, probably as a bench player.

I can see it’s going to take more than one part to dissect this team, so we’ll continue this later in the week.

Has it only been two years since the Diamondbacks last tasted the postseason? Last year, they slipped to 82-80, but were still in the mix for a playoff spot, falling just short of another division title in a weak NL West. This season, however, Arizona plummeted to the division basement, finishing 70-92 – the third-worst record in franchise history.

What went wrong?

Personally, I think it was a combination of things: the bullpen lacked a solid bridge from the starters to the closer, especially after some mid-season deals; as strong as the rotation was, the back end was brutal; and the attack was somewhat one dimensional, and didn’t feature enough consistent threats in the lineup.

Obviously the fact that ace Brandon Webb was only able to make one start because of shoulder issues was a deathblow. He’s been an absolute stud in recent years, and removing him from the rotation watered down the back end. The good news is that the team is expected to pick up his 2010 option, and he’ll be healthy and ready to go next year. The return of Webb in and of itself should help get this team back to .500.

Of course, while Zona may get Webb back, it may lose No. 2 starter Doug Davis, a free agent this winter. Davis may re-sign to stay in the desert, but it’s unclear for now. He had a strong first half, but got cuffed around after the break. Davis struggled with home run problems all season long, something that might be helped somewhat with a move away from Arizona (even though 60 per cent of the long balls he allowed this year came on the road).

Worse yet, the club’s top pitching prospect, Jarrod Parker, will miss all of 2010 after Tommy John surgery, taking him out of the mix for the rotation. Parker likely needed another full season in the minors, but he might have been knocking on the door by late 2010. Now, we’ll have to wait at least another year before he’s anywhere near ready to help.

Even without Webb, the front end of the rotation was a strength. Dan Haren hurled 24 quality starts in 33 tries, enjoying yet another superb season and setting a career high in strikeouts along the way.

Davis wasn’t always sharp, but always gave the team a chance to win. And Jon Garland was a workhorse before being dispatched to the Dodgers for infielder Tony Abreu, who will be in the mix for the starting second base job next Spring.

In the bullpen, Chad Qualls was more or less a success in his first full season as a closer, although it was not without its drama as he was quite inconsistent at times. Still, the fact that he only blew five of his 29 save chances (after blowing eight of 17 last year) has to qualify as an improvement. However, Qualls was more susceptible to the long ball and his K/9 slipped – not the kind of thing you want to see from your closer. He did a great job vs. righties (.214 BAA), but lefties hit almost .300 against the righty.

Qualls went down at the end of August with a busted kneecap, prompting the Snakes to turn to untested Juan Gutierrez to close. Gutierrez was a perfect 8-for-8 after Qualls went down, and that may prompt the somewhat budget-conscious D-Backs to deal Qualls this winter. If Qualls is traded, by the way, Fantasy owners need to note that his ERA away from Chase Field was 4.74 this year. Just some food for thought there.

Clay Zavada was a revelation, but after his ridiculously good start, he was vulnerable to the long ball, hurting his second-half results. Still, he showed enough to suggest that he can handle a late-inning role in 2010.

On offense, first baseman Brandon Allen took a big step forward as a prospect this season, showing tremendous power and a great batting eye upon arriving at Triple-A Reno after being acquired from the White Sox in the Tony Pena deal. Unfortunately, that advanced batting eye was a rarity, considering his professional experience so far. Allen is currently in the AFL, trying to work out the kinks as he eyes a potential starting job at first base next season for Arizona.

Over at the hot corner, Mark Reynolds was a monster, enjoying a career year with the dingers and steals, and if you played in some kind of surreal Fantasy league in which strikeouts were a good thing, he was clearly the MVP. Reynolds already held the major league mark for strikeouts in a season (204 in 2008), but he shattered that mark by 19 whiffs this season. How he maintained a BA even as high as .260 is a mystery. That BABIP correction is going to hurt, big guy. Still, he was only big leaguer this season to top 40 homers, 100 RBI and 20 thefts. Sweet.

Outfielder Chris Young had a very forgettable season, and even needed to be farmed out for a while. But he came back at the end of August with a vengeance, smacking over half of his 15 homers in the season’s final four weeks. Let’s hope this bodes well for a recovery in 2010, because let’s not forget this dude was a near 30-30 guy just two years ago.

Another lost year for a D-Back outfielder was had by Conor Jackson, as he contracted Valley Fever virus and played just 30 games. The team is going to see if he can stay healthy in Winter Ball before committing to him for 2010.

Still in the outfield, Eric Byrnes is the highest paid player on the team after signing that ill-fated three-year, $30-million deal in 2007, but he hasn’t been able to stay healthy, and has severely underperformed when active. His future in Arizona is also very much in doubt. The Snakes may try to deal him or buy him out, but will need to eat some coin whatever they decide.

With the World Series well underway, I’m going to start taking a look at how teams did in 2009 as we ramp up for the 2010 RotoRob MLB Draft Kit.

The Atlanta Braves had a lot of things go right in 2009. Paced by Jair Jurrjens and Javier Vasquez, the rotation was back to being a major strength, leading the National League with 99 quality starts. In mid-September, the Braves went on a major run, winning 15 of 17 to pull within two games of the Wild Card lead.

Unfortunately, the prevailing memory of 2009 will be a final week collapse in which the team lost a season-worst six games, including getting swept by the woeful Nats, eliminating any hopes of getting back to the playoffs for the first time since 2005.

The Braves did enjoy a 14-game improvement to finish 86-76, good for third place in the NL East after a fourth-place showing in 2008, but there are plenty of concerns heading into 2010.

Team speed needs to be addressed; when Matt Diaz – yes, Matt Diaz, who had never stolen more than five bases in a season prior to 2009 — is your leading basestealer, you know that’s not a team strength.

How much does Chipper Jones have left in the tank is another worry. Jones endured an 0-for-19 slump in the final week to finish at a career-worst .264 (exactly 100 points below his 2008 average, which won him a batting title). But he’s still a dangerous power hitter, right? Uh, maybe not. Jones’ streak of 14 straight seasons of 20 homers or more to begin his career – a record he shares with another great third baseman, Eddie Mathews – was snapped.

Another concern the team faces is lagging attendance. Yes, the economy could very well be responsible, but it’s surprising that such an improved team would suffer a 12 per cent decline in attendance, drawing their lowest numbers of fans since 2003.

And 2010, regardless of the outcome, will truly be the end of an era as Bobby Cox has declared that he will retire at the end of next season. Wouldn’t it be perfect if he could go out a winner?

The Braves are no longer one of the biggest spenders in the game, but they aren’t the Florida Marlins, either. Atlanta is about to sign Tim Hudson – who made a very successful return in September from Tommy John surgery – to a three-year extension, a move that will help solidify the rotation for the next few seasons. Hudson is 34, but his impressive work down the stretch proved he still has plenty left to offer.

Before Hudson’s return, one of the key members of the rotation in the first half was Derek Lowe, but we started warning you to sell high fairly early in the season. He still looked like a top 25 starter when we did our SP rankings in late June, but Lowe was simply ugly down the stretch, recording a 5.05 ERA with a .335 BAA after the break. Owners will look at that nice 15-10 record – the fourth time Lowe has earned 15 or more wins – and think that they’re getting a quality starter, but don’t be fooled.

The Braves already have five starters under contract for 2010, so Vazquez could be dealt this offseason as the team looks to beef up the attack. That would still leave Lowe as the No. 4 starter for 2010, but I’d be very wary of drafting him too early next Spring.

Speaking of beefing up the attack, while Diaz’s dozen steals were a nice bonus for owners, it was his hitting prowess that was most impressive. In fact, no NL right fielder who had at least 100 plate appearances put up a higher BA or on-base percentage than Diaz. His massively improved ability to draw a walk made him a legitimate fantasy option, especially in leagues where OBP counts. Diaz has always hit lefties well, but this season’s .412 BA/1104 OPS against them was just sick. And after struggling severely vs. righties last year (.159 BA), Diaz was more than passable (.255) against them in 2009.

Of course, the Braves have more outfield help on the way in the form of Jason Heyward, considered the best prospect in the game. However, a leg injury has forced him out of the AFL, which is unfortunate, because the Braves hoped to find out if he was ready for a job in the big leagues. Even so, this kid could very well be starting for Atlanta at some point next season. Expect him to provide some much-needed power for the Braves; his upside is off the charts.

In the infield, Martin Prado is a good sleeper candidate. He took over the keystone corner from the struggling Kelly Johnson, and will be the everyday second baseman for Atlanta in 2010. He’s a proven .300 hitter, and could approach 20 homers as he enters his prime power years.

The bullpen wasn’t as good as the rotation, but it wasn’t chopped liver, either, ranking fifth in the NL in ERA. That’s even more impressive when you consider that Jorge Campillo – who made 25 starts for the Braves in 2008 and was pretty darned good at times — missed most of the season with rotator cuff problems. He was a candidate for the fifth starter job this Spring, but wound up pitching only out of the bullpen for the brief time he was healthy. Campillo has since been removed from the 40-man roster, so it’s doubtful he’s in the team’s plans for 2010.

One of the nicest surprises out of the bullpen was the performance of workhorse Peter Moylan. Not only did the Aussie break the team record for appearances in a season with 87, but the groundball specialist was extremely effective, inducing a dozen double plays and going the entire season without yielding a single long ball.

Overall for the Braves, this was a fine rebound season that was somewhat tainted by a very crappy final week.

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.

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.

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.

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?

And the 2009-10 NBA Draft Kit keeps on trucking, with yet another team preview. And while the Grizzlies are still waiting to get their first look at Allen Iverson and his wonky hammy, let’s take a look at the defending NBA Champion Los Angeles Lakers.

It all came together for the Lakers in 2008-09, building off a tough NBA Finals loss to the Boston Celtics the year before. They had some hiccups during their playoff run, most notably an uninspired seven-game series with Houston, but it never really felt like they were in any serious trouble en route to the NBA championship. Yes, the Lake Show got some breaks as injuries derailed two chief rivals (San Antonio minus Manu Ginobili and Boston without Kevin Garnett) and Orlando did its part by upending LeBron James and the Cavs, but even the most ardent Laker detractors have to admit they were clearly the best team in the NBA last year.

Winning that ring had to be particularly satisfying for Kobe Bryant, who was finally able to win one without the Diesel around. Some fans may consider it validation for Bryant (as if he needed it), though such a view diminishes just how outstanding of a player Pau Gasol has become. No, he’s not the equal of Shaquille O’Neal in his prime, but he’s one of the best big men in the game and was the single biggest difference between the Bryant-led teams that couldn’t get out of Round One post-Shaq and the ones that reached consecutive NBA Finals and won a championship.

Coming off their title, the Lakers made only one significant move this offseason, replacing breakout playoff performer Trevor Ariza with the mercurial Ron Artest. On paper this looks like an upgrade, though there will always be questions surrounding Artest both on and off the court. Optimists will point to his proven scoring ability and reputation as a lockdown defender, while a more pessimistic view will focus on his questionable durability (both physically and mentally) and declining skills on the defensive end. The belief is that Bryant, Lamar Odom and Phil Jackson can keep Artest on the straight and narrow — similar to what Michael Jordan and Jackson did with Dennis Rodman — but Artest is a different kind of crazy than Rodman, which makes this a calculated gamble for the Lakers.

Beyond the Artest addition, the Lakers return the core of their championship team. Bryant is a year older and doesn’t drive to the hoop the way he once did (his free throw attempts dipped from 742 to 546 last season despite an increase in yelling “hey!”), but his mid-range game is deadly, he’s an excellent finisher and his competitiveness is second to none. The other primary cog is Gasol, who was born to play in the Triangle Offense. He’s shot over 57 per cent in 108 regular season games with the Lakers and is a nightmare for other teams to defend because he and Bryant operate so fluidly on the court together.

The Lakers also have a good group of role players led by Odom and Derek Fisher. Apart from Artest, the play of Odom may be the biggest key to LA’s ability to repeat. The walking mismatch was a beast in the postseason, but since that time he went through a bit of an ugly contract dispute with the team before re-signing and then he got married. It’ll be interesting to see if he can maintain that intensity given the events of the past few months.

With so much high-level talent on the roster, the Lakers are a lock to be in the mix for another NBA Finals appearance this season, and if the perennially overhyped and injury-prone Andrew Bynum actually elevates his game the Lakers should once again be considered the favourites.

Projected Starting Lineup

PG: Derek Fisher
SG: Kobe Bryant
SF: Ron Artest
PF: Pau Gasol
C: Andrew Bynum

Key Bench Players

Odom, Luke Walton, Jordan Farmar

Position Battles

The Lakers have no shortage of options at four of the five positions, though point guard figures to be a weakness once again. Fisher is a reliable veteran, but he looks like a turnstile against the game’s quicker point guards. Still, he can knock down open shots and won’t fold under pressure, something you can’t say about backups Farmar and Shannon Brown. I’m sure the Lakers would like to see someone step up and supplant Fisher in crunch time. However, neither of his potential backups has shown any inclination that they’re ready to do that.

Stud

Here’s a hint, he wears No. 24. Even with his production dipping across the board, Bryant still averaged 26.8 points, 5.2 rebounds and 4.9 assists per game last season. Of some concern, his three-point attempts were at their lowest level in five years, and his free-throw attempts were the lowest this decade. That tells you he’s altering his game and becoming more of a mid-range scorer, which is good for career longevity but bad for Fantasy owners as Bryant is now contributing in fewer categories. I expect another dip in minutes and production in 2009-10, though he remains an elite Fantasy shooting guard.

Dud

The easy target here would be Bynum, who has played only 85 games in the last two seasons and could be bumped down the offensive pecking order with Artest in town. However, I’ll tab Odom as my dud. His stock will almost certainly be inflated after his 12.3 points and 9.1 boards per game in the postseason, but it’s important to remember that when everyone was healthy last season, Odom was hovering around nine points and six rebounds a night. Nice production for an NBA reserve, not so good for Fantasy owners. Add to that the security of a new contract and the always excellent decision to marry a reality TV star you just met and this could be a down year for Odom.

Sleeper

It’s hard to classify anyone in LA as a sleeper considering how overexposed the team is. In fact, only Bryant and Gasol are true Fantasy studs, but someone will undoubtedly talk themselves into the supporting cast (Artest, Odom, Bynum) several rounds too soon. Like last year, I’m inclined to go with Farmar by default, though I wouldn’t use a draft pick on him outside of very deep leagues.

Rookies to Watch

The Lakers went the Robert Sarver route and dumped their draft picks for cash. The only rookie on the roster is Chinemelu Elonu, who is a long shot to make the team in any capacity. Nothing to see here.

Fantasy Stories to Watch

The ripple effect of signing Artest is the thing to watch. Does he alter his game in LA? Does he become a knockdown three-point shooter? Can he stay healthy? Will he release an R&B album? Is there a Kardashian for him? His impact on the team could affect the value of everyone on the roster with the possible exception of Gasol (and Sasha Vujacic, who has negative value no matter what Artest does). If he keeps gunning, there are fewer shots for everyone else. If he misses 20-plus games again, Odom and Walton benefit. Just one more reason for Artest’s debut season in LA to be must see TV.

The 2009-10 RotoRob NBA Draft Kit is back with yet another team preview. While Cleveland’s sports heroes slug it out amongst themselves, let’s take a look at the Boston Celtics, who will look to bounce back and return to the NBA Finals for the second time in three seasons.

Most of the team is back, with the exception of Leon Powe, Mikki Moore and Stephon Marbury (plus a couple of bit players). Marquis Daniels has joined the team and should provide a breather for Ray Allen and Paul Pierce when needed. Kevin Garnett is another year older and coming off another injury, but I am not one of the haters.

Kendrick Perkins will have to share minutes with newcomer Rasheed Wallace, but that just means there is more depth in a title run. Tony Allen will do the same job as Daniels, and Eddie House treats every game like a 3-point contest. Glen Davis can score some points, but he needs to work on his inside game this season. Doc Rivers has the team that could win it all this year if they don’t get bitten by the injury bug.

Projected Starting Lineup

PG: Rajon Rondo
SG: Ray Allen
SF: Paul Pierce
PF: Kevin Garnett
C: Kendrick Perkins

Key Bench Players

Wallace, Daniels, Tony Allen, Davis, House

Position Battles

Perkins is going to have to muster all his skills to hold off Wallace from starting at centre. Sheed isn’t what he once was and he can’t better Perkins at rebounding or shot blocking, but he brings toughness and a sweet shot to the table. In the end I think Perkins will start and Wallace will play a big role off the bench, so draft accordingly.

Stud

Uh, the Boston Celtics! The team is filled with them, so picking just one is next to impossible. Many are predicting a decline from Garnett and Allen this year, but I think that is not the case. Allen will put up plenty of threes as he always does and Garnett is hungry to win another title. I think Garnett is a comeback stud that many people will let slip further than he should.

Dud

I think the addition of Wallace cancels out any value Davis could have had this season. Remember, NBA value isn’t the same thing as Fantasy value and many owners are going to remember Big Baby from last season when KG was out and Davis was looking solid. Garnett is back and the Celtics have added Wallace to the frontcourt.

Sleeper

Daniels did well in Indianapolis when given the chance. He will be the primary guy off the bench when Allen and Pierce need a breather, so he could pad his stats late in the game for Fantasy owners willing to draft him. Don’t expect him to put up starter numbers for your team, but as a utility guy, he could do solid for 14-team leagues.

Rookies to Watch

Lester Hudson is the only rookie, but a reserve role is in store for him. He has a good basketball IQ and a solid shot, but Rondo and House are in front of him on the depth chart.

Fantasy Stories to Watch

The biggest question for me is will The Big Ticket be the same? Is Garnett on the decline or does he have some gas left in the tank? Can Wallace be a force off the bench or will hitting 35 be the end of his Fantasy use? Does this team have enough left to beat out younger teams like Cleveland and Orlando?

Fantasy Value

Rojan Rondo: Rondo showed last season that he can be the captain of the Celtic ship as he averaged 11.9 points, 8.2 assists, 5.2 rebounds and 1.9 steals per game. Word is the team is working on a contract extension with him, so perhaps when the deal is done his attention can be all on the game. I could see taking Rondo in the fourth or fifth round, right after Derrick Rose and Monta Ellis.

Ray Allen: Allen is entering the final year of his contract, so there is added incentive for him to continue with his 18 points a night and 200 3-pointers per season. He turned 34 this summer, but I don’t see any reason to think he can’t put up 17 points, 3 rebounds and 3 assists per game, while nailing around 200 3-pointers this year.

Paul Pierce: Pierce has been a staple in Boston his whole career, but this season he will get some help from veteran Daniels. What that means for The Truth is some much needed rest from time to time, allowing him to hit the fourth quarter with energy left instead of feeling tired and struggling down the stretch. Pierce could easily match his 20 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists and 1.5 3s per-game from last season and would be worth taking at the end of the third round.

Kevin Garnett: Garnett is still a monster on the court and even though he was hurt last season, he heads into this season looking to win a second title in Boston. He has a lifetime average of 20.2 points, 11.1 rebounds, 1.4 steals and 1.6 blocks a night, but recent injuries and age could mean he finally falls out of the top three to five PFs drafted if owners get too nervous. I see a lot of sites telling people to take him in the second or even third round, but I would have to put him in the mid to high second round category myself.

Kendrick Perkins: Perkins will split minutes with Wallace at centre. What that means for Perkins is a dip in stats, thus a lower ADP (average draft position). As a centre, what we want to see most of all is rebounds, blocks, and as many points as they can score…and Perkins does that better than people think. Last season he finished the regular season with 8.1 rebounds, 2.0 blocks and 8.5 points per game, but he punched that up in the playoffs and ended that run with an average of 11.6 rebounds, 11.9 points and 2.6 blocks. I wouldn’t be mad if I had him as my back-up Fantasy centre.

Rasheed Wallace: Wallace isn’t the best rebounder or shot blocker on the floor, but he brings a toughness that is hard to match and depth at centre. Sheed is 35 now and his numbers are on the decline, but he can be a valuable asset to Fantasy owners since quality centres are hard to come by. I would expect to see his minutes go down in Boston, but he is a very good guy to have on your bench. Garnett owners will want to try to also own Wallace if at all possible. Don’t jump too high to take him, but the latter end of the middle rounds sound about right.

Marquis Daniels: Daniels was brought in to fill the defensive stopper role that the team has been missing since losing James Posey. While I envision solid minutes off the bench for him, I don’t see him finding enough shots to make him someone worth targeting on draft day. Remember, Fantasy basketball is all about stats, and defensive players only get you steals and blocks, so their value is somewhat limited. Should an injury occur to Ray Allen or Pierce, Daniels is most likely the fill-in starter, but don’t get him until something happens. Tony Allen and Daniels will more than likely cancel each other out more than they will stand out.

Tony Allen: Tony Allen provides depth off the bench to Ray Allen, but his minutes are limited and his role is uncertain with Daniels in town now. Stay tuned during the preseason to see how Coach Rivers views Tony Allen’s role in relation to Daniels’ role. Tony Allen’s value will be similar to that of Daniels.

Glen Davis: The major concern with him has been his weight, but the Celtics put an incentive in his new contract to keep that under control. Davis has a below-the-rim style of play and the addition of Wallace means his minutes are going to be limited unless someone gets injured. He doesn’t block shots or grab a lot of rebounds, but he can offer points to those in deeper leagues.

Eddie House: Those owners that play in leagues where 3-pointers are counted know who House is. Last season he found the bottom of the net 44 per cent of the time from beyond the arc and I would expect more of the same this season. House is basically a 3-point specialist, but one of the best in the NBA if you need to bulk up on them. If you are looking for a waiver wire 3-point guy, House is your man.

After House, you get into guys that provide solid depth in the NBA, but shouldn’t be counted on for Fantasy production. One of the phrases I preach to people all the time is “NBA value doesn’t equal Fantasy value.” I watched J.R. Giddens play at UNM, but both Bill Walker and Giddens seem to be destined for a bench role or the NBDL. Brian Scalabrine and Shelden Williams are stuck behind Wallace and Davis in the frontcourt.

The Celtics are a team that could very well compete for another league title this season, meaning that any of their top six to seven players are worth playing. Heck, even House is worth playing at the flex spot should your league count threes. The centre situation is one to keep an eye on during training camp, but I expect to see Wallace come off the bench as of right now. Daniels will steal some minutes from Ray Allen and Pierce, but I believe it will help keep them fresh as opposed to cutting into their stats. And remember, if you draft Garnett, handcuff him with Wallace.

We’re back with another team preview as part of the 2009-10 RotoRob NBA Draft Kit. While Warrior fans bemoan Brandan Wright’s latest shoulder injury, let’s check in on the Indiana Pacers, who need to tighten up their D if they hope to make progress this season.

The Pacers failed to make the playoffs last season and Mike Dunleavy went down with a serious knee injury that threatened his career. The team was able to add Tyler Hansbrough and A.J. Price via the draft, along with Dahntay Jones, Solomon Jones and Earl Watson through free agency. The addition is not without subtraction as Marquis Daniels and Jarrett Jack decided to play elsewhere.

Playing in a conference that features Boston, Cleveland, Orlando, Atlanta, and Miami will test this young team and perhaps push them to grow faster than people think.

There were a few key changes in Indiana this summer, and some will have some interesting Fantasy implications this season. Danny Granger, of course, is becoming a household name for Fantasy owners. If you’re a Fantasy owner who is also a Pacer fan, it is time to love Granger with all your heart. Jack left the Pacers and headed north to Toronto, which means veteran PG Watson should see some solid minutes backing up T.J. Ford, and with the team adding Price to the mix, that means Travis Diener could be looking for minutes near the end of games.

Dahntay Jones will shore up the defense at SG, but Fantasy owners have to be rooting for the club to play Brandon Rush and rotate Jones in the game. Hansbrough will have to battle for minutes, meaning he won’t have any real value unless Troy Murphy gets injured. Solomon Jones is going to battle Roy Hibbert and Jeff Foster for the starting job in the preseason, but I fully expect Hibbert to head into the season as the starter.

Projected Starting Lineup

PG: T.J. Ford
SG: Brandon Rush
SF: Danny Granger
PF: Troy Murphy
C: Roy Hibbert

Key Bench Players

Dunleavy, Hansbrough, D. Jones, S. Jones, Watson, Foster

Position Battles

Hibbert, Foster and to a lesser extent, Solomon Jones, are going to battle it out to see who starts at centre this season. Hibbert clearly has youth and skills on his side, but foul trouble will keep Foster in the minutes even if Hibbert does win the job. Another battle is at SG where Rush and Dahntay Jones will share minutes. From a Fantasy standpoint, Rush is the man you want because Jones is more akin to Bruce Bowen, and defensive stoppers don’t get Fantasy points.

Stud

Granger is the easy call here. I have Granger ranked as the No. 2 overall Fantasy SF right behind LeBron James. Granger does everything from scoring to steals to 3-pointers. I would have no problems whatsoever drafting Granger in the middle or bottom end of the first round. He could even go as high as fourth overall depending on your format.

Dud

I think Murphy is going to disappoint a lot of people because of the season he had last year. I don’t honestly think he can match those numbers again and I would look for something more in the range of 13 points, 10 rebounds, and around 130 3-pointers this season. Still, these are not bad stats at all, but nobody is sleeping on him anymore and that means people will grab him a little earlier than they should.

Sleeper

If Rush can hold off Dahntay Jones and get the minutes at SG, he will be a big time sleeper in Indiana this year. With Dunleavy out for who knows how long, Rush could easily take over his role and score upwards of 12-13 points a night and grab 4-5 rebounds to go with a steal and a block here and there.

Rookies to Watch

Hansbrough could become a sixth man for the Pacers with his scoring and rebounding ability off the bench. I think double-double is too lofty, but I wouldn’t be shocked to see 8 points and 6 rebounds a night from him.

Fantasy Stories to Watch

The story in Indiana is how Dunleavy’s knee will hold up after surgery. He has proven he can be a viable starting player for almost any Fantasy team, but will he ever be the same after this last injury? When he does return, what will that mean to guys like Rush and Dahntay Jones? Will the Pacers slide Granger over to PF and let Dunleavy play SF for some small ball? Will the Pacers let Hibbert hold down the middle and figure his foul troubles out or will Foster continue to keep him on the bench?

Draft Value

T.J. Ford: Ford has always had the skills to be a starting Fantasy PG, but injuries have plagued him his whole career and jaded many Fantasy owners in the process. With the departure of Jack comes an increase in value for Ford and I would have no problems taking him as my starting PG; just make sure you handcuff him with a good second PG.

Brandon Rush: In 19 starts last season, Rush averaged 15.9 points on 47 per cent shooting, including 41 per cent from beyond the arc. That kind of production would be nice if the Pacers didn’t also have Dunleavy coming back from injury and Dahntay Jones playing the defensive specialist role at SG. Rush’s value is closely tied into Dunleavy’s knee problems, but I think he will start over Dahntay Jones as the season kicks off. Because of their depth at SG, Rush should be looked at as a flex option that can score and hit the three-pointer.

Danny Granger: Here is the crown jewel of the organization, Mr. Handyman. Granger is a legitimate All-Star small forward that should be in the top three when looking at SF Fantasy rankings. With Dunleavy being out, Granger will continue to be a Fantasy beast and I don’t mind taking him right around No. 5 overall. That’s right, I said No. 5 overall.

Troy Murphy: Murphy is a double-double machine, last season averaging 14 points and 11 rebounds, while shooting 45 per cent from 3-point land and 82 per cent from the free-throw line. There are questions about him possibly peaking last season, but since he will qualify at both PF and C, I like him as a starter.

Roy Hibbert: The problem with Hibbert has always been foul trouble, but the kid has a ton of upside. If he can keep his name out of referees’ mouths, I think he can put up double-double stats with multiple blocks per game. I don’t think he is a starting Fantasy centre yet, but if you miss out on the bigger names, Hibbert is a real option. Look at taking him after you see Tyson Chandler or Marc Gasol go.

Tyler Hansbrough: The big kid from the University of North Carolina looked better than expected in the Summer League and it appears as if the Pacers will give him a solid 20-25 minutes a night. Minutes translate into value, so as long as he plays he is worth looking at. Give Hansbrough a peek near the end of the draft.

Dahntay Jones: Jones is an example of NBA value not translating into Fantasy value. He should be all defense when he is in the game, so those comparisons to Bowen might be right on track. Look elsewhere for SG depth in your draft.

Earl Watson: Watson will only have real value if Ford goes down, so he’s a handcuff at best. However, given Ford’s injury history, his owners would be wise to draft Watson just in case.

A. J. Price: Price should not be owned unless Ford goes down and he is to split minutes with Watson.

Mike Dunleavy: With the uncertainty of his knee and how it will hold up under game pressure, Dunleavy should be avoided on draft day. Even when he does return, he will have to battle Rush and Dahntay Jones for minutes.

Solomon Jones: There is talk about him battling Hibbert and Foster for the starting centre job, but that is more likely just a case of competition breeds stronger play. Jones simply doesn’t block enough shots to be considered as a viable starting centre. Pass on him on draft day.

Jeff Foster: The big man that just never seems to go away is back yet again. I will give him praise because he could always snatch 20 rebounds on any given night, but he had 15 or more just twice last season and injuries are wearing him down. Only take Foster if you are looking to shore up rebounds in the final rounds.

In the end, Granger, Ford, Murphy, and possibly Rush are the guys to watch out for in Indiana. Rush could be in a committee role with Dahntay Jones. Feel free to email me with any questions about your Fantasy basketball drafts.

The 2009-10 RotoRob NBA Draft Kit rolls on as we churn out yet another team preview. While we wait for the troubled Delonte West to join his teammates, let’s check in on the Atlanta Hawks, who will look to take another leap forward this season.

Once upon a time, the Atlanta Hawks were one of the NBA’s biggest doormats. The sad-sack 2004-05 version won just 13 games, then managed just 56 total victories over the next two campaigns. However, the team’s fortunes turned in the 2007-08 season, as the Hawks earned a playoff berth despite finishing below .500. No such luck was necessary last year, though, as Atlanta powered to 47 wins and a second-place finish in the NBA Southeast Division.

The run continued through the first round of the playoffs, but the clock struck midnight when the powerful Cleveland Cavaliers conquered the Hawks in four straight games. All things considered, though, the ‘08-09 season was a wildly successful venture for the once-laughable franchise.

Atlanta addressed a few needs in the offseason, signing sharpshooter guard Jamal Crawford to provide offensive spark off the bench, then inking veteran forward Joe Smith to add depth to its thin (and undersized) frontcourt. This pair’s veteran presence should help to stabilize and augment the Hawks’ core of young talent, and make this an even more dangerous club in 2009-10.

Hawk coach Mike Woodson is optimistic about his team’s chances to not only match last year’s performance, but to make a deeper run come playoff time. Whether that happens remains to be seen, but what is certain is that — for the first time in many years — Hawk fans are actually looking forward to the start of the season.

Projected Starting Lineup

PG: Mike Bibby
SG: Joe Johnson
SF:  Josh Smith
PF:  Marvin Williams
C:   Al Horford

Key Bench Players

Crawford, Zaza Pachulia, Maurice Evans, Smith, Jeff Teague

Position Battles

The team’s starting five is pretty well set, with Crawford and Smith likely to be the first small and big off the bench, respectively. Keep an eye on point guard Mike Bibby’s minutes, though, as Crawford’s arrival will almost certainly affect Bibby in a negative manner.

Stud

Johnson flies beneath a lot of Fantasy radars, but Atlanta’s shooting guard logged his fourth consecutive outstanding season in ‘08-09. He not only averaged 21.4 PPG last season, he also tossed in 149 treys, grabbed 4.4 boards per game and – here’s the big news – handed out a hefty 5.8 assists per game for the second straight season. That number bested many of the league’s point guards (including teammate Bibby), giving Johnson that extra “something” that lands him in the second tier of Fantasy two-guards.

There is some concern that new acquisition Crawford may erode some of his numbers this season, but Johnson is talented enough to rack up the stats even if he loses a few minutes here and there. He’ll also be an unrestricted free agent after the ‘09-10 season, giving him extra motivation to light it up this year.

Dud

The aforementioned Bibby is still a starting NBA point guard – with a fresh three-year contract, to boot – but his rather pedestrian total of 5.0 assists per game last season should tell you all you need to know about his minimal Fantasy value.

In fact, the 31-year-old Bibby has eclipsed six dimes per game in only two of his last eight full seasons, and didn’t even lead his own team in assists last year. He’s not much of a scoring threat anymore, and may lose minutes this year to Crawford, Johnson and first-round draft pick Teague.

You might be tempted to pull the trigger on Bibby late in your draft, but be aware that his production figures to be mediocre at best, and his upside is just about nil. Still want to bite that apple, Dearie?

Sleeper

Marvin Williams has never lived up to the massive expectations heaped upon him when he was the No. 2 overall pick back in 2005, but the 23-year-old former North Carolina Tarheel had a very nice run in February and mid-March of last season. A back injury all but ended his season at that point, but the 15.2 PPG and 6.6 boards he averaged in March has renewed many Fantasy owners’ interest.

Williams’ upside is limited, but if he can hold his scoring average above 15 PPG he will pay solid dividends on what is likely to be a late-round draft pick or bargain-basement auction bid.

Rookies to Watch

The Hawks grabbed Wake Forest point guard Jeff Teague with the 19th overall pick in this year’s draft, and some Atlanta fans immediately anointed him as the heir apparent to Bibby. While Teague may indeed one day run the point, remember that the Hawks re-signed Bibby to a three-year contract during the offseason, affirming that the job will stay with the veteran for the time being.

Teague is an excellent shooter, but his rather pedestrian 3.5 assists per game his final year at Wake does not inspire confidence. Two things that are impressive are Teague’s 18.8 points per game and 44.1 per cent shooting touch from beyond the arc. He needs to round out his game, but Teague could be a factor in the Hawk rotation as early as later this season.

Fantasy Stories to Watch

Keep an eye on how the backcourt situation shakes out. Neither Crawford nor Johnson is a true point guard, but both have the offensive skills to erode Bibby’s minutes – especially if the veteran gets off to a slow start. Crawford has spent more time at the point than Johnson, so he figures to be the prime pilferer of any run Bibby stands to lose. It would be surprising to see Teague getting a lot of PT this season, but the rookie could be a factor next year – especially if the Hawks lose Johnson to free agency.

Centre Al Horford took a nice step forward in his second season, solidly boosting his blocks, assists and points-per-game averages. The block total is most intriguing, as Horford jumped from 0.9 blocks in his rookie year to 1.4 swats per game last season. One gets the feeling that he has not yet reached his ceiling, so astute Fantasy observers will keep close tabs on the 23-year-old big man’s progress this season.

Forward Josh Smith has been one of the NBA’s best shot blockers since he entered the league in 2004, but the 23-year-old missed a dozen games last year due to a sprained ankle he suffered just four games (and 10 blocks) into the season. J-Smoove just wasn’t the same after he returned, and his per-game average of 1.2 blocks last season was well below both his ‘07-08 average of 2.8, and his career standard of 2.4 BPG. Smith’s Fantasy value has taken a significant hit this season, but he appears to be fully healthy and there’s reason to believe that he’ll once again be the Swat Monster that so enthralled Fantasy owners during his first four seasons. If he can move back into the 2-plus territory in blocks, while logging his customary eight boards, 16 points and 1.5 steals per game, he could be a Fantasy steal at his current draft ranking.

We’ve got more of the 2009-10 RotoRob NBA Draft Kit for your reading pleasure today. While you wonder just what Delonte West was up to during his absence, let’s take a look at the team that upset West’s Cavs in last season’s Conference Semifinals, the defending Eastern Conference Champion Orlando Magic.

For a team that made the NBA Finals last season, the Orlando Magic sure are not satisfied. A successful 2009-2009 campaign saw the Magic be the surprise of the league, defeating not only the defending champion Boston Celtics in the playoffs, but the number one seed Cleveland Cavaliers, led by LeBron James. But its 4-1 drubbing by the Lakers in the Finals prompted Otis Smith and the rest of the Magic front office to say “Change. Yes We Can!” And as a result, a big offseason took place in the Magic Kingdom.

It seems Fantasy owners either love or hate Vince Carter. If you’re a Fantasy owner who is also a Magic fan, it is time to love Carter. This offseason saw the Magic trade away rookie sensation Courtney Lee, Rafer Alston and Tony Battie to acquire Carter and second-year forward Ryan Anderson. This was quite a surprising move considering how high some people believe the Fantasy ceiling is for the impressive Lee. The Magic also lost one of the best defensive players from last year’s Finals team in Hedo Turkoglu when he signed with the Toronto Raptors as part of a sign-and-trade deal. Finally, the Magic was able to sign free agent forward Brandon Bass, known for his defense, as well as retaining promising centre Marcin Gortat despite the fact that the Mavericks signed him to a large offer sheet.

That is a fairly busy offseason for a club with a bright future. The Magic expect Jameer Nelson to be healthy for the entire upcoming season and that Dwight Howard will only continue to improve his offensive game.

Projected Starting Lineup

PG: Jameer Nelson
SG: Vince Carter
SF: Mickael Pietrus
PF: Rashard Lewis
C: Dwight Howard

Key Bench Players

Bass, Gortat, Jason Williams, J.J. Redick, Matt Barnes, Anderson

Position Battles

If Pietrus isn’t up to the task as the starting SF, Carter could take that job, leaving Pietrus and Redick to slug it out for time at the two-guard spot. Pietrus is very injury prone, so the still-intriguing pure shooter Redick has a chance to emerge as a real sleeper.

Stud

Sure, he can’t shoot free throws and might kill your Fantasy team in one category, but you still have to love Howard. He did progressively get better towards the end of the season at the line (until a bit of a swoon in April), and even had a few solid games in the playoffs. Plus the guy gives you a double-double night in and night out, meaning it doesn’t matter how ridiculous head coach Super Mario jerks around his front line. Howard will be in there every night averaging a double-double just like last season’s 20.6 PPG and 13.8 RPG. Whether you like Superman or not, you have to know he’s a great Fantasy player.

Dud

This is too easy. Carter will play hard for a month or two and will eventually start not giving a damn when he realizes Howard and Nelson are the stars of the team. He can be a great scorer, albeit a ball hog, when he feels like playing hard. But that’s always been Carter’s problem wherever he has played throughout his career. He only plays when he feels like it! Expect a rollercoaster of stats from Carter this season. Ride him while he’s hot, and bench him as soon as he starts to look too stoned to care during the games.

Sleeper

Free agent pick up Bass should be a great man off the bench for this year and could potentially be a viable sleeper option. He averaged 8.5 points per contest as well as grabbing 4.5 boards per game last season. Bass is also almost an 87 per cent free throw shooter, which should help owners out right there if he can slash to the hole and receive the freebie opportunities.

Rookies to Watch

Orlando has no rookies on this year’s team, having dealt away its first round pick in a three-team deal last season that netted it Rafer Alston. The Magic traded its 2009 second round pick back in 2007 as part of the Rashard Lewis deal.

Fantasy Stories to Watch

Make sure you keep a close eye on how Nelson is recovering from his various injuries last season. When healthy, he is one of the best point guards in the league and a fantastic Fantasy component, averaging 16.7 points per contest and 5.4 assists. With another year under his belt, he should only improve on those numbers if healthy. Also make sure to keep watch Carter. If he looks like he will play hard all season he should be a 25 point a night guy who could help your Fantasy team as long as his field goal percentage from jacking up 40-foot 3s doesn’t hurt you.

The 2009-10 RotoRob NBA Draft Kit continues today with yet another team preview — we’re now halfway through these puppies! And while you’re wondering just where the hell Delonte West is, let’s take a closer look at the New Jersey Nets, a team that could very well hit rock bottom this season.

The 2008-09 New Jersey Nets finished with the exact same amount of wins as they did the previous season, despite an improved offense and slightly better defense. This year, however, having traded their only remaining bona fide star – Vince Carter – to clear cap space for next summer’s free agent bonanza, the Nets may be in for a very long season, unless several young players take monumental leaps forward.

The Carter trade, which also saw promising young power forward Ryan Anderson sent packing to Orlando, netted Jersey veteran PG Rafer Alston, young two-guard Courtney Lee and aging big man Tony Battie. The team certainly has plenty of backcourt depth now, with Alston and Lee joining emerging star Devin Harris, Keyon Dooling, Chris Douglas-Roberts (CDR) and intriguing rookie Terrence Williams.

Something needs to give there, because as things stand, long-time starter Skip to my Lou Alston will be coming off the bench, and his summer-long attitude of “I’m just glad to help a young team rebound,” has suddenly morphed into “trade me the fuck out of this swamp now.” Dealing Alston will break up what could have been one of the league’s best PG combos as, playing behind Harris, Alston would have given the team its first true back-up PG in quite some time. But if the Nets can find a taker for Alston and his expiring contact (he wants to go to Miami or New York, both of which could use backcourt help), perhaps they can address their biggest weakness: frontcourt depth.

Starting centre Brook Lopez is coming off a superb rookie season and figures to get even better this year as the team employs him as more of a post player, but at the three and four, the Nets have nothing but question marks. Bobby Simmons is currently slated to start at SF, and he’s never been the same since a serious ankle injury cost him the entire 2006-07 season. He’s a solid perimeter player, but is he capable of handling starter minutes? Jarvis Hayes could factor in here more than you’d like, but neither of these players is what anyone would call an ideal solution.

At the four, Yi Jianlian is still waiting to deliver on his promise, but most reports from this summer are quite favourable. And bear in mind that he won’t turn 22 until next month, so he may still be a serious force. But if he can’t take a big step forward, the Nets don’t have many palatable options behind him, although we can’t completely overlook what a healthy Josh Boone could be capable of.

The trading of VC also signals a new era in Jersey – the time of Devin Harris. This is undeniably his team now, and how capable he is of becoming a true leader is a question that needs answering. That, and the ability of young players like CDR, Yi, T-Will, Lee and Lopez to make major strides this year will go a long way towards determining if this team has any chance whatsoever of approaching last year’s modest win total (34).

The fact that coach Lawrence Frank was retained after two straight poor seasons surprised many. You better believe he’ll be on a short leash this year, and for those of you who like to bet on such things, he’s a great candidate to have the dubious honour of being the first coach fired this season.

Unfortunately, swampland people, all signs point to this being a “take one for the future kind of season.” The good news is that the team has plenty of expiring contracts that will provide it with a ton of cap space heading into the highly-anticipated 2010 free agent period. Expect the Nets to be players in the LeBron James sweepstakes, although the likelihood of them actually luring the King to Jersey is about as great as the team’s chances this year to avoid a third straight season of missing the postseason. This is going to be one of the worst teams in the NBA this season, but on the plus side, that will increase their chances of landing a top young forward like UNC’s Ed Davis or Lithuanian Donatas Motiejunas in next summer’s draft.

And despite the endless questions facing the Nets’ on-court product this season, there still remains the outstanding off-court issues to iron out, namely the ownership bid made by Russian billionaire (those are two words you’ve probably never seen combined before) Mikhael Prokhorov. This is far from a done deal at this point, and the future of a franchise that has reportedly lost US$136.6 million over the past two years hinges on this decision.

Projected Starting Lineup

PG: Devin Harris
SG: Courtney Lee
SF: Bobby Simmons
PF: Yi Jianlian
C: Brook Lopez

Key Bench Players

Dooling, Hayes, Boone, Alston, Douglas-Roberts, Williams

Position Battles

Hayes could easily wind up as the starting SF over Simmons, but neither of them should be on your draft list. Whoever winds up gaining the advantage here might emerge as a decent waiver wire pick, but Simmons’ days as a useful Fantasy option are in the past, while Hayes has never really been of much use. I’m also curious to see how much PT Williams can steal from Lee at the two. Each of these players is a potential impact guard – Lee as a big-time scorer, and Williams as an across-the-board contributor (although his FT shooting needs improvement).

Stud

Harris immediately became a major part of the Jersey offense since arriving in the Swamp, and now that VC is gone, he’ll be asked to do even more. It wouldn’t shock me if he again struggles with his FG percentage and has plenty of “volume scoring” nights, but the points and dimes will definitely be there. And if he can ever develop a more potent perimeter game, look out. Harris has reportedly put on weight this offseason, and hopefully that will help him stay healthy given the amount of minutes he’s going to be asked to log.

Dud

Alston is currently third on the Net depth chart at PG, so if you thought he saw less PT down the stretch in Orlando than he did in Houston, you ain’t seen nothing yet. Until he gets moved somewhere where he’ll see at least 25 MPG, Alston is going to have a real tough time being Fantasy-relevant.

Sleeper

Jianlian is going to be given every opportunity – mostly for lack of better options – to prove he deserved to go sixth overall in the 2007 draft. He’s definitely shown plenty of flashes of stardom, but he’s struggled badly with inconsistency, and that’s been really hard to swallow for Fantasy owners. The team plans to increase his involvement in the offense this year, deploying him as a post presence – something that should see his FG percentage, scoring and rebounding all head north.

I’m also expecting a massive leap forward from Lee this season. He could be the second or third scoring option, so look for 15 PPG, a couple of treys per game and some nice steal totals.

Rookies to Watch

All eyes will be on T-Will, who wowed so many people with his summer exploits. He certainly doesn’t lack confidence, recently posting an image on Twitter showing him as Rookie of the Year. An extraordinarily athletic two-guard, Williams has an excellent understanding of the game, so don’t count him out as a legitimate Fantasy option this season – especially if the Nets are successful in sending Alston elsewhere.

Fantasy Stories to Watch

When or if Alston gets dealt, how do the rest of the backcourt minutes in Jersey get dispersed? Is Yi ready to be a legitimate NBA force on a consistent basis? Can Harris handle being The Man? Given a larger role, will Lee step forward offensively and take pressure of his backcourt mate?

By ANDY HOLLOWAY

Like a Tsunami, the 2009-10 RotoRob NBA Draft Kit rolls on with another team preview. While Chris Bosh owners cringe at the prospect of him already hurting and possibly missing some of training camp, let’s turn our attention to the Chicago Bulls, who will try to build on a near upset of the Boston Celtics in a classic first round battle in last season’s playoffs.

Da Bulls took a step forward last year in their attempt to return to the glory years by finishing .500 after collapsing the previous year to just 33 wins. Since then, leading scorer Ben Gordon signed with the Devil, i.e., the Detroit Pistons, as a free agent. Losing your top point-getter is usually not a good thing, but the Bulls might be better off. For one thing, Gordon is an undersized shooting guard whose defensive abilities are highly suspect. For another, last year’s rookie of the year, Derrick Rose, is on the verge of superstardom, and his teammates are vastly different than the ones who came out of the gate last season with a thud.

Aside from Gordon, the Bulls dispatched Andres Nocioni, Drew Gooden, Cedric Simmons, Michael Ruffin, Larry Hughes and Thabo Sefolosha mid-season and brought in Brad Miller and John Salmons (as well as a lot of salary cap ballast), both of whom are expected to start in their respective positions. The newly configured team put on a push into the playoffs where they almost upset the Boston Celtics in the first round. The series went seven games with four of them going into overtime (including a double OT game and a triple OT contest). In the first game, Rose potted 36 points (plus 11 assists) to tie the great Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s record for most points in a playoff debut by a rookie.

If Rose and the Bulls can continue that kind of play they should be a lock to make the playoffs, although they will not challenge the Cleveland Cavaliers for the division. One potential pitfall is the health of forward Luol Deng, whose season ended in February with a serious stress fracture in his right shin that has taken longer to heal than expected. Deng says he will be ready for the October 6 pre-season opener, but the Bulls need him to return to his 2006 form if they’re going to be anything more than a middling team.

Projected Starting Lineup

PG: Derrick Rose
SG: John Salmons
SF: Luol Deng
PF: Tyrus Thomas
C: Brad Miller

Key Bench Players

Kirk Hinrich, Jannero Pargo, Joakim Noah

Position Battles

The starting five lineup is mostly set with Hinrich as the all-important sixth man, although there are some whispers that Noah could unseat Miller as the starting centre. Two rookies, forward James Johnson (Wake Forest) and power forward Taj Gibson (USC), will battle for minutes since the Bulls aren’t very deep. Indeed, the team will probably keep just 13 players and that’s including centre Jerome James, who is currently hurt (what a shock), and guard Lindsey Hunter, who is expected to be more of a coach than a player.

Stud

The Bulls have pegged their fortunes on Rose, the hometown phenom who led all rookies with 6.3 assists per game and was second in scoring with 16.8 points. He also chipped in 3.9 rebounds a game. Rose may not be the first point guard you’d pick, but he should be good for 20 points and a couple more assists per game as the Bulls’ first true cornerstone since Michael Jordan.

Dud

With a retooled lineup it may be tempting to bank on Deng returning to the numbers he put up in 2006-07 (18.8 points and 7.1 rebounds), but he’s recovering from a serious leg injury and will get some competition for scoring opportunities from Salmons, who last year put up career numbers (18.3 points, 4.2 rebounds and 3.2 assists) as his playing time increased. Deng is only 24 so he should be resilient enough to bounce back, but his numbers declined in both 2007-08 and 2008-09, when he posted just 14.1 points and 6 rebounds a game. Since Gordon is gone, both Deng and Salmons are expected to start.

Sleeper

Thomas showed signs of life last year (10.9 points, 6.4 rebounds) and is entering a contract year, but sixth man Hinrich, finally healthy, might be the better bet. With Gordon out of the picture, Hinrich will get more time at shooting guard, which should improve the career-low totals (9.9 points, 3.9 assists and 2.4 rebounds) he achieved last year when his production was limited by a hurt thumb.

Rookies to Watch

Both Johnson and Gibson should make the team, but likely won’t get a lot of minutes unless there are injures. Gibson is a defensive specialist while Johnson showed some offensive flair at Wake.

Fantasy Stories to Watch

Pargo is no replacement for Gordon, but he doesn’t have to be since the keys to the offence have been given to Rose, who must avoid a sophomore slump if the Bulls are going anywhere. Deng has to return to good health and put up numbers similar to that which he posted in 2006, unless Salmons can pick up the slack. Coach Vinny Del Negro is now in his second year on the job and has nearly a completely different team than he had to start last year. How he handles the budding Rose will be a key to his continued employment.

Andy Holloway is a Toronto-based writer.