Who to draft first Kobe Bryant or Deron Williams?
Kobe is the safer and more well rounded fantasy player but choosing Deron is also a solid way to go. There fantasy ADP (average draft position) are both around picks 5-8.
Case for Kobe: Kobe played in all 82 regular season games averaging 26.8 points, 5.2 rebounds, 4.9 rebounds, 1.5 steals and 1.4 threes per game. However, he elevated his game in the playoffs averaging 34 points in the conference finals and 32.4 points with 7.4 assists in the NBA Finals. Kobe contributes in almost every category and is a safe top 5 pick. Even though he is getting older his skills are not diminishing and his fantasy numbers remain great as he is evolving into better teammate.
Case for Deron: Williams is the second point guard taken after Chris Paul. Williams played in 68 games last season due to a sprained ankle he suffered early in the year. He averaged 19.4 points, 10.7 assists (second in the NBA), 1.3 steals and 1 three per game. In his last eight games …
The San Antonio Spurs released former University standout Jack McClinton on the eve of training camp. McClinton is the all time 3-point percentage leader in ACC history and was selected by the Spurs in the second round of the 2009 NBA Draft (51st overall). He struggled in the Vegas Summer League but has the potential to light it up as he had consecutive 30-point games against Wake Forest, Duke and North Carolina. He averaged 19.3 points during his junior year while shooting 45% from downtown. The Spurs added NBA veterans Keith Bogans and Dwayne Jones which was a reason he asked for his release.
Before the NBA Draft, there were rumors that Knicks Head Coach Mike D’Antoni praised the 24-year old shooting ability. Donnie Walsh should bring in him in and compete for a spot as the Knicks released sharp shooter Morris Almond.
Kevin Love will be this year’s version of David Lee: Love almost averaged a double-double in his rookie season (11 points and 9 rebounds). In the last 15 games of the season he averaged 14.4 points, 10 rebounds and shot 80% from the foul line. For the second year player to get on Lee’s level he needs to record more steals and shoot a higher field goal percentage. The injury to Al Jefferson allowed Love to pick up center eligibility for this upcoming season. A healthy The ex -Bruin averaged 9.5 boards in December andJanuary before Jefferson’s injury. Love also led the league in offensive rebound rate and finished second only to C Dwight Howard in total rebound rate.
Carmelo Anthony will be a top 5 scorer: This is not a bold statement but he should be back on track this season. Danny Granger finished 5th in scorting at 25.8 but that could come down with Mike Dunleavy coming back. Melo elevated his game in the playoffs averaging 30 points in the semis and 27.5 in the …
Andris Biedrins (Warriors)- Among centers last season Biedrins finished second in rebounding (11.2). He also blocked 1.5 shots a game, recorded one steal and shot 57% from the field. The Latvian big missed 20 games last season but did not a miss game in 06-07 and missed six in 07-08. Despite being injured last year he set career highs in points (11.9), assists (2.0) and minutes per game (30). The 23-year old does not have much competition at the center position with Mikki Moore and Ronnie Turiaf on the roster.
Andre Miller (Blazers)- Miller is a steady point guard that seems to put up solid numbers every year. He has not missed a regular season game for the 76ers the past two seasons and averaged 16.7 points, 6.7 assists, 1.3 steals. Even though he does not shoot that many threes he posts solid percentages. Miller is good for at least 35 minutes per game and should be motivated to keep PG Steve Blake on the bench.
John Salmons (Bulls)- Salmons had a breakout season last year averaging 18.3 points in 56 …
Derrick Rose (Bulls)- Rose elevated his game in the playoffs averaging 19.7 points, 6.4 assists, 6.3 assists and shot 49% from the field. During the regular season he finished 17thin assists (6.3) along with .2 threes per game and .8 steals per game. He is a dynamicpoint guard withgreat speed and strength but did not have a great fantasy season. For him to jump into the elite PG tier he needs to increase his threes, steals and free throw %. Owners may by into his hype and draft him in rounds 3-4. Remember while he should improve this year he ranked 91st on the ESPN fantasy player rater.
David Lee (Knicks)- Lee set career highs in points (16.0), rebounds (11.7), steals (1.0), minutes (34.9) last season. The restricted free agent is expected to sign a one year with the Knickssoon. While he led the NBA with 65 double-doubles he finished third in rebounding. Troy Murphy finished ahead of Lee in bounds and is the better fantasy option. Even though he averaged less points and shot worse from …
RB Mike Bell (Saints)- RB Pierre Thomas is expected to sit this week against the Lions. Thomas is suffering from a MCL sprain and a minor laceration on the same knee. He did not practice yesterday and the Saints should not play him to risk further injury. Last season Bell scored his lone TD vs. the Lions. He rushed for 115 yards on 15 carries during the preseason and makes a strong flex play this week.
RB James Davis- Jamal Lewis barely broke 1,000 yards last season and averaged 3.6 yards per carry. He is now 30 years old and his load could be decreased. Davis, was selected in the sixth round (same round as RB Terrell Davis) out of Clemson. He has has good size 5′11″ 218 pounds and could eventually take over the starting job. The rookie ran for 186 yards on 24 carries, averaging to 7.8 yards per carry.
Honorable mention: Glenn Coffee (49ers)
Terrell Owens (Bills)- Owens missed three weeks of practice time with a sprained toe. TO is coming off one of his least productive seasons of his career catching 69 balls for 1,052 yards and 10 scores. His numbers suffered with team injuries including one to QB Tony Romo. With Brad Johnson throwing to him in weeks 7-9, Owens averaged just four catches for 33 yards. To go along with Owens history of drops , an unproven QB (Trent Edwards) and incliment weather games he is a risky pick in the third round.
Clinton Portis (Redskins)- Last season Portis had a case to be named the first half fantasy MVP. However from Weeks 10-17 he only had one rushing TD and one 100 yard ground game. Compared to seven TDs and five 100 yard ground games in the first half. Even though he is entering his prime (28 years old) he is fifth among active RB’s in carries. Ladell Betts will be used more on third down and Marcus Masoncould steal some goal line carries. He has not missed …
Willie Parker (Steelers)- Accoring to Parker’s average draft position (ADP) he is the 29th running back being selected. From 05-07 he missed two regular season games and averaged 1337 rushing yards and six TDs on the ground. Last year he missed five games and averaged a career low 3.8 yards per carry. However, he was healthy for the playoffs as he received 70 carries in three games and gained 146 yards vs. the Chargers in the Divisional round. The Steelers plan on using Parker at the goal-line and would make a formiadble RB3 in the sixth round.
Eddie Royal (Broncos)- Royal has been creeping up the draft boards with the absence of WR Brandon Marshall. As a rookie last season he caught 91 passes for 980 yards and five scores. Even though he has a new coach (Josh McDaniels-OC with the Pats) and QB (Kyle Orton), the system fits him perfectly. The Broncos plan to run a lot of short timing routes which the role West Welker has with the Patriots. In points per reception (PPR) leagues Welker is going in the third-fourth …
The Knicks are working out 11-year veteran PG Troy Hudson tomorrow at their Westchester practice facility. Hudson retired to pursue a rap career which led him to sell 78 copies of his album in the first week. He last appeared in the league during the 07-08 campaign playing nine games for the Warriors.
New York was pursuing PG Ramon Sessions but talks have broken down due to the Knicks hesitance of adding an additional long-term salary. Sessions is a restricted free agent, which means the Knicks have to offer him a contract of at least two years which would add payroll in 2010.
In 517 career games Hudson has averaged 9 points and 3.4 assists for the Jazz, Clippers, Magic, Timberwolves and Warriors. He averaged a career best 14.2 points, 5.7 assists, 1.2 threes and 0.8 steals per game in 2002-2003. He has been injured quite often playing in 75 or more games four times in his 11 seasons. How much more does the 34 year-old have left in …
http://www.nba.com/schedules/index.html?team=knicks
Highlights
-Season opener vs. Miami on October 28th
-Home opener vs. Charlotte on October 30th
-Five Games on ESPN all at home(November 6th vs. Cavs, December 18th vs. Clippers, December 25th vs. Heat, January 15th vs. Raptors, January 22nd vs. Lakers)
Jason Williams is scheduled to work out for the Knicks today at the Westchester practice facility. The 33 year-old retired last August citing personal reasons with his wife’s pregnancy. Flirting with Williams could be be a negotiating tool in signing G Nate Robinson for a year. The Knicks also plan to sign 23 year-old Ramon Sessions to an offer sheet.
The Knicks could offer Williams the veteran’s minimum ($1.9 million) or biannual exception ($2.9 million). “JWill” has had a productive 10-year NBA career in which he has averaged 11.7 points, 6.3 assists and 1.7 three pointer’s per game. New York has until Thursday to negotiate a deal with him since they claimed him off waivers from the Clippers. A rumor has been swirling that if Donnie Walsh comes to an agreement with “White Chocolate” they would deal his rights to another team.
There has been speculation that the Chicago Bulls are interested in acquiring David Lee. Lee is coming off a career season where he led the NBA with 65 double-doubles. If he does not sign a one year deal with the Knicks will try and work out a sign-and-trade. Lee is looking for $7-$10 million for multiple years while the Knicks want something shorter and cheaper.
The Bulls would look to trade PG Kirk Hinrich who is owed $27 million the next three seasons. With the emergence of Derrick Rose and the signing of Jannero Pargo it makes Hinrich an overpaid backup. Instead, New York should look into acquiring F Tyrus Thomas because of his versatility and contract. He is in the last year of his rookie contract which pays him $4.7 million next season. The Knicks should also push the Bulls to take Jared Jeffries in return. He is under contract for the next two seasons and will free up more cap space for next season.
Thomas was selected fourth overall in the …
