ProFantasySports.com recently conducted an expert mock draft with various experts from fantasyland’s basketball division. The mock draft features 14 teams (we go deep for you) and is based on a head-to-head style format using Yahoo as the league host. The starting lineup is PG, SG, G, SF, PF, F, C, C with four bench spots. Everyone’s commentary on their picks is provided below, except for Chris Mannix who chose to shroud his thinking in secrecy. It will forever remain a mystery why he chose to make LeBron James the first overall selection …
------------------------------------------------------------------
Chris Cates – 2nd pick
TalentedMrRoto.com
SF/PF Kevin Garnett – No explanation needed here. With the second pick I was just taking who wasn’t taken first between LeBron and KG.
PG Mike Bibby – A point guard who gets tons of assists, hits threes and gets steals –imagine that. Best PG available and I wasn’t waiting until my next back-to-back.
PG/SG Kirk Hinrich – Another point guard who fits the above mold, but this one is also SG-eligible, meaning I don’t have to draft a starter at shooting guard. Sign me up.
PG Rafer Alston – Notice a trend? I’m a big Alston fan, and he gives great production in the three categories I’ve been talking about: assists, threes, steals.
G/F Eddie Jones – The only pick I regret making. There was superior talent on the board but I drafted Jones (I like him, just not this early) to build on my threes and steals. I only planned on taking one SG/SF as a starter, and this was it.
PF Drew Gooden – Great shooting percentage, good boards and decent points. I think he’s more consistent this year and improves on last year’s numbers.
C Nazr Mohammed – I really expect Nazr to flourish in Detroit this season. He’s starting, he’ll get good minutes, and well, I needed a center.
F/C Kwame Brown – I like the upside and you guessed it, I needed another center.
SF/PF Danny Granger – Upside, thy name is Danny Granger. I think Granger is great value in the ninth round of a 14-team league. He showed flashes of brilliance last year and he contributes across the board. If he gets the 30 minutes a game he deserves, this pick is gold.
PG Smush Parker – Best PG available and I wanted one on the bench. He’ll help a lot in steals and threes when he’s in my lineup.
SG J.R. Smith – Very underrated going in to this year. He’s got the talent, all he needs is the minutes – and he’ll get them this year. Very high ceiling.
SF/PF Hakim Warrick – No Pau Gasol means much more Hakim Warrick, and that alone warrants this pick.
Best pick – Granger. I love Danny Granger. He’ll get his minutes and he’ll be starting before too long. He will contribute across the board and if he gets the minutes, this becomes an absolute steal.
Worst pick – Jones. There were better options and Jones shouldn’t have been taken this early. Yeah he helps me in threes and steals, but I probably could have gotten him a lot later.
------------------------------------------------------------------
Matt Satten – 3rd pick
Senior Basketball Editor, ProFantasySports.com
SF/PF Shawn Marion – With LeBron and KG off the board, this was a no-brainer. Marion always gets his without plays being called for him, has position versatility and has no injury history. It doesn’t get any better than the Suns’ offense either.
SF/PF Lamar Odom – I wanted another all-around big man with positional versatility and Odom easily fits that bill. Every year he plays in the triangle, the better he’s going to become. 20, 10, 5, 1 and 1 are a distinct possibility from the point forward.
PG/SG Joe Johnson – With head to head leagues, versatility is a key trait in order to match up with your opponents. JJ is still improving, is never injured, and looks good as a PG or SG who shoots threes.
C Shaquille O'Neal – This was the defining pick in my draft. In a 14-team league, the ranks thin pretty quickly and I was looking for an impact player, preferably a top center. Since I want to build on strengths to dominate categories – with an eye to landing Sammy D on the short swing back – I made the bold move to lock up Shaq and FG%, blocks and rebounds (in the weeks he plays), and will select some PGs in my next set of picks.
C Samuel Dalembert – Combined with my top four, I should own blocks, rebounds, FG%, putting me in the enviable position to make deals with my strengths. I pray this is the year the Haitian Sensation leads the L in boards and blocks.
PG Deron Williams – He finished the season on a strong note after a rough beginning. Taken ahead of Paul, Williams has something to prove and has a surprisingly strong offense around him to load up on assists and shoot wide-open threes.
SG Manu Ginobili – I’d be reaching for a PG here, so I fill a starting slot with a guy capable of winning the Finals MVP award. The Spurs offense should be a bit more up-tempo this year and Manu will thrive. Again, health is a concern.
PG Speedy Claxton – He’ll be back for the start of the year and is a great value pick this late. Now that he has his first starting gig all to himself and plenty of athletes to feed on the break, Speedy should finally have his breakout season.
PG Damon Stoudamire – Let me make this clear: Memphis is going to be absolutely terrible until Gasol returns. Mighty Mouse is about the only sure thing and will be relied on heavily to create offense.
PF Stromile Swift – I notice I’m short on PFs and there’s a good chance Swift could qualify at center soon too. With Gasol gone, he has no choice but to produce, right? Right??? Dear God, what have I done?
SG Kevin Martin – It’s time for some sleepers and I’ve been pressing my luck by sitting on Martin for three rounds now. When he starts, and he will start, he’s very effective and efficient in his shooting. Bench players that earn starting roles the following year make for excellent sleeper picks.
C Brendan Haywood – With only two Cs on my roster, I went for the best shot-blocking, starting center. In retrospect, I should have taken an F/C who blocks shots.
Best pick – I’m tempted to say Shaq at 54 overall, because when he plays, it’s like having a top 20 player, but the real answer is Deron Williams. He’s going to make major strides this season as the unquestioned starter from the opening tip, especially with the weapons he has surrounding him.
Worst pick – While I like Speedy, I could have nabbed his teammate SF/PF Marvin Williams and gotten Claxton on the way back five picks later instead of Stoudamire if I wanted. Given that Speedy is already injured, it doesn’t bode well that he’ll make it through the season in one piece.
------------------------------------------------------------------
James Quintong – 4th pick
Senior Producer, SI.com
SG Kobe Bryant: A slam-dunk pick here with the league’s top scorer who can also provide decent stats in the other categories as well. A safe selection and an easy one at this point.
PG Chauncey Billups – I’m continuing to pile up the points here, but also getting a huge boost in assists from Billups, who seems to be getting better every year.
PF Dwight Howard – With the backcourt pretty much shored up, I was happy to see the ever-improving Howard help anchor the power forward position, although he’ll be even more valuable if he plays some center.
SF Richard Jefferson – He’s not necessarily dominant in any offensive category, and probably won’t with Vince Carter around, but he puts up enough big stats to complement the rest of my team.
G/F Andre Iguodala – I’ve got plenty of scorers already, but could use someone who can help with rebounds and steals, and that’s where Iguodala comes in. Plus, he’s very flexible for my lineup since he’s eligible at a handful of positions.
F/C Darko Milicic – He’s probably a major reach in the sixth round, although with 14 teams, the talent pool can thin out quickly, especially at center. Lots of big men were taken between my picks, leaving me with Darko. With that said, his performance after joining Orlando bodes well for this season. And it’s possible, I can flip him and Howard in and out of the power forward/center positions.
PG/SG Ben Gordon – I guess I’m continuing to pile up big-time scorers, which is what Gordon does, even in limited minutes.
C Jamaal Magloire – Filling out the frontcourt with two centers forces me to reach for players like Magloire, the former All-Star who will be fighting for playing time with Joel Przybilla. When he’s on his game, he can be a solid scorer and rebounder, but the lack of guaranteed playing time makes him a risk.
SF/PF Shareef Abdur-Rahim – Remember when he was a fantasy stud for bad teams? Now he’s on a pretty good Sacramento team and now his numbers have fallen off. He’s battling Kenny Thomas for the starting job, and if he gets it, he’ll be a great late-round pick.
C Primoz Brezec – Again, trying to fill out the two center spots and get a little depth, which is why Brezec has value here. He can be a decent scorer, although I’ll have to rely on Howard and maybe Milicic to beef up the rebounds and blocks. He’s useful enough, though, to be a second center.
G/F Stephen Jackson – The return of Al Harrington limits his numbers, although I was surprised to see him last this long – his recent run-in notwithstanding. I’ll be fine stashing him away on the bench for now.
PG/SG J.J. Redick – All of a sudden, I’m going to have to turn into an Orlando fan with three Magic players on the team. We all know what Redick can do as a scorer from his days at Duke, and he’ll be useful in that role in the pros.
------------------------------------------------------------------
Dennis Velasco – 5th pick
DroppingDimes.comPF Dirk Nowitzki – How do you go wrong with picking Nowitzki? He gets a lot of points, boards, triples, and excellent percentages. The only drawback is knowing that he’s a fan of The Hoff, but I can get over that as long as he stays healthy and produces.
SF Rashard Lewis – While Ray Allen is like a heavy downpour raining jumpers and treys from all over the court, Lewis is like a steady rainfall. Another 20-point season isn’t out of the question, so bring the galoshes.
G/F Gerald Wallace – This is my Scarlett Johansson pick – still growing in their respective game, gets props for their performance, and you know that they’re just going to get better. Plus, in fantasy hoops circles, Wallace is a sexy pick… any chance I can draft Johansson? No? Guess that’s the wrong type of fantasy.
PG Raymond Felton – Felton came on strong at the end of the season and should get enough burn even with Brevin Knight still on the roster. The potential for something like 18/8 each night could not be passed over! This is probably my best pick in the whole draft.
G/F Morris Peterson – Laugh all you want, Satten, but you know what they say down in Tennessee and Texas – “He who laughs last… shame on you… if fooled, you can’t get fooled again.” Umm, yeah.
F/C Pau Gasol – This is my cavalry pick. Hopefully, by the time he gets back my team’s scalp isn’t chopped off. This is my worst pick because I will get absolutely nothing for about two or three months.
F/C Channing Frye – Frye is a great talent and has a lot of potential, which should be tapped a little more now that he should be getting more consistent minutes on the floor under Isiah Thomas. Of course, this is assuming Renaldo Balkman doesn’t take away Frye’s job… okay, YES, Frye has nothing to worry about. So, I had to give Balkman some love and put his pic up above because it’ll never happen with the Knicks.
G/F Wally Szczerbiak – Ohmigod!!! Where’s my kewpie doll?!?!?! I just spelled Szczerbiak’s name without looking it up… ohmigod, I just did it again!!! WOO HOO!!! Dang, I’m good! And so is Wally. No, seriously.
C Alonzo Mourning – All the centers I thought would fall into my lap didn’t. So, since I wanted to get a center that would produce at least in the blocks category, I had to go with Zo here. Full disclosure: At this point, I had to leave to do another draft (FIGHT CLUB!!!), but felt fairly strong in my queued up picks.
PG Antonio Daniels – I would much rather have Daniels’ BFF, Tim Duncan, but obviously he went rounds and rounds ago. But, since I needed a backup point guard, I had to go with Daniels and hope with a season under his belt, he’s feeling comfortable with the offense and can drop some dimes to Gilbert Arenas, Antawn Jamison, and Caron Butler.
G/F Marquis Daniels – There are no morals or ethics in fantasy sports, just results. This pick and the pick before me, Stephen Jackson, is proof of that. Daniels may get a chance to play a little more with charges filed against Jackson, who could miss an indefinite amount of games… oh wait, there are no morals or ethics in real sports either!
PG/SG Charlie Bell – This pick was made because I think he has a chance to rush for over 1,000 yards. Especially with that offensive line. However, I don’t like the fact that he fumbles at least nine times a game. What, wrong Bell? Oops, sorry. How about double-digit scoring the last two months of the season? That’s enticing for a bench guy, right? He’s the Midwestern version of Leandro Barbosa.
There you have it, the boys I’ll be going to war with. I’m not totally happy about it, but at least I didn’t pull a Zeke and did something like draft Chris Taft with my fifth overall pick. I’ll keep you all updated on how the thrashing is going in this league as the season goes along.
------------------------------------------------------------------
Paul Forrester – 6th pick
SI.com Editor
PG Gilbert Arenas – Just about the right spot for one of thge elite multi-categoryproducers in the league. His self-made Olympics snub should make for amonster season.
PG Jason Kidd – Was tempted to go big, but the temptation to pair Kidd's assists,threes and steal with Arenas was too strong to deny.
G/F Josh Smith – Upside, upside, upside. Really counting on those blocks, too,with big men becoming scarcer by the pick at this point.
PF David West – Quietly solid power forward who will rebound and shoot better than 50 percent, which should help offset the misses from Arenas and Kidd.
G/F Josh Howard – Read something that he was going to be a point forward thisseason, which should make the multi-category helper even more valuable. A glue guy.
C Joel Przybilla – Needed someone who might block a few shots. Here's to hopinghe finds the touch that made him a rich man a year ago.
F/C Chris Wilcox – Best guy left on the board -- in my opinion. A beats on theboards and a solid shooter.
SG Raja Bell – Centers are a crapshoot at this point, so why not go with a guywho will help score, hit three and get some steals? And if he wants to takeout Kobe Bryant again, who am i to complain?
C Rasho Nesterovic – Had to fill the last center spot with someone; why notroll the dice on the Raptors' new starter?
PF Kenyon Martin – A risk physically and mentally, but if he's motivated, youhave to like his work in the paint.
C Robert Swift – A prospecting pick, Swift has the goods to be a shot-blockingspecialist and he should get plenty of time in Seattle.
PG Jose Calderon – Hear that, T.J. Ford? That's the sound of vultures circlingover your every step.
------------------------------------------------------------------
Jed Berger – 7th pick
Dime Magazine
First off, my draft strategy. I want solid players who won't kill me in anycategory. I don't care if I like the player or enjoy watching him play, Ijust care that he puts up the stat categories for which I draft him. I alsolike players who I know what I'm going to get. Of course I like projectingstats and picking sleepers as much as anyone, but there is a time and placefor that and it isn't with my first group of picks.
F/C Tim Duncan – With the 7th pick in the draft, I went with Duncan. And I actually took some heat for it. My decision came down to Wade, Brand, and Duncan. This isn't a keeper league and Duncan qualifies at center. As much as I love Wade, hedoesn't hit threes, and as I mentioned, this isn't a keeper league. If Brand qualified at center I probably would have drafted him, but he was only a PF. I know Duncan's stats have pretty consistently declined, but he's well rested, feels healthy, and is far and away the most balanced center in this game.
G/F Vince Carter – Honestly, he was the best player available. As long as he stays healthy, I get threes, major points, and some boards from the guard position. Vincealso averages over a steal a game. As I said before, I like knowing what I'm going to get and with Vince, as long as he's healthy (and he's been relatively healthy three straight seasons), you're getting great production.
SF Ron Artest – I'm a category guy and we know for a fact that Artest helps at a tough category – steals. Best case, the pre-suspension Ron shows up. That Ron was on his way to the best fantasy year of his life, even shooting it well from the charity stripe. Granted that was only about 7 games, but we all know Artest has that ability. Worst case? Artest gets me 2 steals a game, 18 points, over a three a game, almost a block a game, and the only place where he doesn't help me at all is percentages, where he doesn't shoot poorly enough to hurt me.
PG Jason Terry – If you have the right expectations for J.T., they Terry is a phenomenal fantasy player. He gives you good numbers at a ton of categories. Points, threes, steals, assists, FG%, and FT%. If you're drafting him as your point guard and relying on him for assists, you're screwed. He is part of the solution but he isn't the solution and I'm psyched to get him in the 4th round.
PG Tony Parker – I need assists in a bad way with most of the big assist guys gone. I also need a second center. I'm deciding between Tony Parker and Tyson Chandler. It's a tough call, and I'm not sure I made the right choice. Time will tell. I just don't 100 percent trust Chandler yet. I go with Parker who helps at the assists category, but isn't the final answer. I'm hoping he ups his assist numbers a little bit to 7, gets back to hitting a little more threes (he's dropped from 82 threes, to 62, to 43, to only 11 last year), and he continues scoring at an absurdly high FG%. Last year, Parker averaged an absurd 55% from the field.
F/C Nenad Krstic – This wasn't my strongest pick. Yes, Krstic is on the way up, yes he qualifies at forward and center, and yes he puts some points on the board. My squad is full of scorers though and what I needed was a shot blocker or rebounder at the five spot. Still, Krstic is a quality player and has legit value.
C Eddy Curry – Possibly a make-up pick for my last round pick. With Curry, Duncan, and Krstic I have legit flexibility at the power forward and center positions depending on my needs throughout the season. I still believe in Curry's abilities and think he'll become a better shot blocker and rebounder over time.
G/F Ricky Davis – I was fired up to get Ricky Buckets here. Ricky not only doesn't hurt you anywhere, but he's a huge plus in field goal percentage. I think I have enough to win field goal percentage and points, and give a run in steals and threes. Now I just can't lose any other categories.
PF Antonio McDyess – My steal pick of the draft. Nope, not kidding. Did you watch McDyess towards the end of last season? He was catching oops, blocking shots, and doing most of the things he was doing pre-knee injury but now with a face up jump shot. I know he doesn't have the explosiveness he used to have, but with Wallaceout of town, McDyess will play 25+ minutes a night and I'm expecting big block and board numbers.
PG/SG Delonte West – I'm a Celtics fan, so I figured why not. Delonte had significant value for a lot of last year and I still think he's the point guard on that team. I need a place to find some cheap numbers and West gives me that with threes, assists, and percentages.
PF Kenny Thomas – For a few weeks last season, Kenny Thomas was a guaranteed double-double. The problem is those were the same week that Shareef was sipping through a straw. If Thomas gets burn, he puts up great fantasy numbers for a powerforward.
SF/PF Tim Thomas – Threes at the forward spot are hard to come by, so Tim Thomas does have some value if he's dropping two to three triples a game. The Clippers are crowded though so we'll have to see.
------------------------------------------------------------------
Steve “Dr. A” Alexander – 8th pick
Rotoworld.com
PG/SG Dwyane Wade – I was very happy to see Wade sitting there at No. 8. The hand injury concerns me slightly, but he usually plays through nagging injuries and even hit a trey in the preseason game I was watching while drafting.
F/C Mehmet Okur – I've been hyping Okur for awhile now so I put my money where my mouth was. I wish he blocked more shots, but with a 14-team league, I thought he would be gone when it was my turn in Round 3.
SF Carmelo Anthony – Anthony was great last year and I watched him in every FIBA WC game this summer. His confidence level is at an all-time high and I am looking for him to have a huge year.
SF/PF Antawn Jamison – I was surprised to see Jamison sitting there this late and for some reason, he's fallen in both industry drafts I've participated in thus far. I don't know why he's slipping, but I feel like with Wade, Okur, Melo and Jamison I've got a solid foundation. And Wade qualifies at PG in this league.
C Tyson Chandler – I kinda panicked and felt like I needed blocks, and I did. Chandler should be good for 10 pts, 10 boards and 2 blocks this year and was the best shot-blocking center left on the board in my opinion.
PG Andre Miller – I felt like I needed a point guard and he was the best available. His lack of threes always has him available late in drafts, but he's a solid fantasy point guard overall.
SF/PF Al Harrington – This was a computer auto-pick after I dumped a coke on my keyboard and missed three picks. Not sure how I did that, but I had Harrington in my queue with a few other players and that's who I got. I could have used another center or PG here, but I'm OK with Baby Al.
PG Brevin Knight – Another auto-pick, but I couldn't be happier with it. He's too good not to play and I needed assists. And yes, I know Raymond Felton is there, but Knight almost has to see 28 mpg.
PG Derek Fisher – Point guard problems solved. Fisher is a great sleeper pick this season and could even start at either guard spot in his new home in Utah.
F/C Theo Ratliff – I needed another center who could block shots. That is the definition of Theo and he appears to be healthy this year. If he starts over Kendrick Perkins in Boston, it's a bonus.
PG Earl Watson – I made it back to the draft for this one. I think he might start at point guard and I really feel like I got some nice PGs and Cs late in this draft. We'll see.
SF/PF Donyell Marshall – He's in fantastic shape and says he'll play more of an inside-outside game this year instead of just lingering around the 3-point line. In my opinion, was easily the best player available at this point and could be the steal of the draft.
------------------------------------------------------------------
Rodd Polsky – 9th pick
PFS Writer
Pre-Draft Strategy: Heading into a 14-team Expert draft, my biggest concern was my position in the draft. I was much relieved to be drafting later in the first round, primarily due to position scarcity, namely the Center position. After all, with two Center slots, that means 28 total Centers will be chosen, at a minimum. And, because there are no utility positions, I knew there would be other positions available throughout the draft, but big men would dry up rather quickly.
F/C Chris Bosh – With the 9th pick, I quickly feel the pressure to take stat monster Andrei Kirilenko, but I stick to my strategy and take Bosh. I consider Yao Ming, but I’m hoping he somehow slips to 20.
F/C Jermaine O’Neal – Well, Yao goes 4 picks before mine, and Amare Stoudemire gets selected at 19. I felt the best center available was Jermaine O’Neal, and interestingly enough, my pick is followed up immediately by Mehmet Okur! Let the panic begin.
G/F Michael Redd – With a couple of big men locked up, I decided to go for some shooting with my next two picks. Michael Redd is the cornerstone of the Milwaukee offense and offers points, 3PM, and excellent percentages.
SF Peja Stojakovic – I was more than happy to select Peja here – more scoring, good percentages, 3PM, and a handful of rebounds. A nice complement to my big lineup.
G/F Corey Maggette – Ugh. I pulled the trigger too soon on a fringe player like Maggette. I have to hope that he gets 30+ minutes a night.
PG Sam Cassell – I needed a PG, and Cassell represented one of the better ones available. If I’m punting assists, I might as well get a PG that can score and make 3PM.
SF/PF Adam Morrison – I needed a PF, and rather than take a chance on a Marvin Williams or Kwame Brown, I decided to go with Morrison. The ‘stache is just too intriguing to pass up.
SG Larry Hughes – I can certainly understand Hughes dropping this far, but somebody on the Cavs roster has to step up. This is a speculative value pick, and a steal if he plays 70+ games.
G/F Hedo Turkoglu – Turkoglu offers enough potential that I would not mind putting him into the lineup in hopes of getting some points, rebounds, and 3PM. Good value for such a low pick.
SF Grant Hill – Another speculative value pick, and if Grant Hill lasts 60+ games, another steal.
G/F Josh Childress – Josh Childress showed a deft scoring touch last year, and if he can earn his 30 minutes a night, he will turn from fantasy mold into fantasy gold.
SF Jarvis Hayes – Jarvis Hayes has a chance to play 30 minutes a night in an offensive-oriented Washington lineup. With the big three getting most of the defensive attention, the 6-8 swingman has the potential for some nice fantasy numbers.
Best Picks – Bosh and Jermaine O’Neal with my first two picks helped cement my strategy. I wavered on selecting Yao Ming with my first pick, but felt that Bosh simply gets more playing time, allowing for more stats. I do not have to worry about filling my Center slots, and can now focus on guards and forwards.
Worst Pick – Corey Maggette in the fifth round. He is slated as a middle round pick, but I probably could have picked him two rounds later. His potential is very nice, but the Clippers signed Tim Thomas to a nice contract, so the minutes might not be there.
Sleeper Pick – Morrison, Hughes, Hill, and even Jarvis Hayes are all unknown elements. Hayes has the least expectations, so he would be my true sleeper, but I would not be surprised if one of the other three players has an impact fantasy season.
Overall – I’m happy with they way my draft went. In a Head to Head league, punting a category is not as catastrophic when compared to a rotisserie league. Remember, the goal here is to win 5 of 9 categories. I am not even going to bother competing in assists, but I have the versatility and depth to secure at least five categories in any given week.
------------------------------------------------------------------
Dave Gawron – 10th pick
RotoCommando.com
PF Elton Brand – Got to the draft late, Yahoo picked this one. I was happy with it, though. It's nice getting 2.5 blocks per game in your pocket right off the bat.
F/C Amare Stoudemire – Yahoo picked this one, too. Not happy about it. I don't trust his injury recovery, plus I would have rather taken a top point guard like Kidd here to balance out brand.
PG Jameer Nelson – Stoudemire made me "reach" in the third round for the top remaining point guard for my purposes, providing some steals and threes.
C Chris Kaman – Here's another solid shot blocker that should improve upon his breakout ‘05-‘06 season.
SF Andres Nocioni – Yahoo requires one SF and one SG to be drafted, though I normally don't bother with the positions. Nocioni is the type of player that helps across the board – just the type I want when forced to draft a SF.
PG/SG B. Roy – Roy was the top SG-eligible in my opinion. I generally shy away from rooks, but I think Roy can do something special this year, and he'll give me some point guard type stats from the SG position.
PG Mo Williams – Can't have too many point guards, and Mo is another that provides steals and threes. I don't care if he splits time, I just need those stats, and he'll provide.
PG Jason Williams – Here's another steals and threes point guard that I can stash on my bench until he's healthy.
F/C Nene Hilario – Nene will serve as my third forward. He'll get 30 minutes per game with Camby and Martin around and more when they get hurt.
F/C Kendrick Perkins – Perkins can rotate in when he has four-game weeks, providing good blocks.
G/F Martell Webster – Martell is upside bench fodder. Who knows, maybe Roy will need time to get accustomed to the NBA, and Webster will start out strong.
SG Jamal Crawford – Shooting guard is the one position where I felt I should take a chance on a player that could really nail threes for me. Crawford could do just that.
Best Pick – Maurice and Jason Williams in Rounds 7 and 8 are two solid point guards who should certainly provide a good return on investment with picks No. 103 and 122.
Worst Pick – Well, I wasn't fond of Yahoo giving me Stoudemire in the second. I would have rather come away with Kidd and Villanueva than Amare and Jameer Nelson. Otherwise, I was happy with my picks.
------------------------------------------------------------------
Mike Lynch – 11th pick
PFS Writer
SF/PF Andrei Kirilenko – Thought about a player like Paul Pierce here, but why grab an inferior LeBron when you can draft Inspector Gadget? AK-47 is a true freak and I'm more than willing to assume the injury risks for a guy who will definitely be a top 4 player if healthy.
G/F Tracy McGrady – The 18th overall pick doesn't seem like a bad place to grab the most talented player in the league. A guy who can shut down Dirk and Kobe and score, dish, and swish effortlessly. With Yao hurting again, T-Mac could explode this season. Last year was an aberration where everything went wrong for him personally and professionally. I better hope he can come back strong. If he does the dividends are obviously enormous.
PG Baron Davis – Wow. I'm developing a pattern – another extreme risk! In a league with 14 teams, I found it necessary to take some gambles. If he lasts through the year, he'll put up first round numbers in Nellie's system. However, that ‘if’ looms larger than Adonal Foyle's contract.
PG Stephon Marbury – I figured that this pick ought to lock up assists. I love Jameer, but I can't believe he goes before Baron and Steph here. Marbury clashed with Larry Brown, but Brown acted like an ass last year. Marbury is the only player in NBA history with career averages of 20 ppg and 8 apg. And Isiah loves him just the way he is. Less of a risk than Baron, but less upside as well since Baron could potentially lead the league in steals and threes.
PF Troy Murphy – I'm banking on him gaining center eligibility, which should happen since Nellie plans on starting Dunleavy at the 4 and Murph at the five. Murphy is a guaranteed 10 rebounds and will hit some threes – a poor man's Dirk in some ways. Except Murph will be the one eligible at the 5 this year. Plus, he's a lefty.
PF Zach Randolph – This pick made me want to violently heave. I’m a sucker for upside and a sucker for lefties, though. A lefty with Zach's upside? Forget about it. Essentially, I couldn’t pass up a guy that gets 20 and 10 in his sleep who also plays on a talentless team. Z-Bo is a huge risk and doesn't get blocks or steals, but I needed more size here and wasn't ready to gamble on a middling center.
G/F Mike Miller – I like this pick a lot more than my previous couple. Somebody is going to have to step up in Memphis and Miller is the best candidate. Eddie Jones is essentially finished as a day-in and day-out offensive threat. I look for Miller, Stoudamire, and Gay to lead the Grizz in scoring early.
PG Shammond Williams – OK, so here is the point in the draft where I got kicked out of the Yahoo Java Applet. Consequently, the remainder of my picks are guys I had placed in my queue as potential 12th round picks. Williams might hit a lot of threes if given playing time. But obviously should probably not be picked in any drafts whatsoever.
PG/SG Ronnie Brewer – Brewer is a very talented player, whose shot is iffy, but plays exceptional D. He's good enough to be an immediate factor in Utah, but Sloan prefers to bring rookies along slowly.
SF/PF Rudy Gay – This could actually be a nice pick. Memphis needs players to step up in Gasol's absence. Gay can do it all. He is not an exceptional passer, but he can block shots and score from anywhere on the floor.
PG/SG Dajuan Wagner – Shouldn't be drafted until he asserts a role on this team, but he has been impressive in camp. This guy is unstoppable if he's given permission to have no conscience on the floor.
SF/PF Gerald Green – Arguably the most talented player on the Celtics. Yes, that includes Paul Pierce. Unfortunately, minutes are far from guaranteed for him. Fortunately, he's most likely one Wally Szczerbiak injury away from a larger role.
------------------------------------------------------------------
Tom Kessenich – 12th pick
Fantasy Sports Magazine
G/F Paul Pierce – Pierce is rock solid, has no durability issues and contributes across the board. He’s an underrated fantasy star who is a good anchor for my team.
PG Allen Iverson – I was hoping to get Yao or Paul here but I have no problems with AI. The FG% is a killer but Iverson can score in bunches and he should be a reliable option for assists and steals as well.
C Marcus Camby – He is a major durability risk but he was playing at an All-Star level when healthy last season. He’s a strong source for defensive production.
F/C Carlos Boozer – Another injury risk but worth the gamble in the fourth round. This is a guy who can put up 15-20 points per game and 10 rebounds a night. If he manages to stay healthy he’ll be a steal.
PF Chris Webber – His game is on the decline but it’s difficult to argue with his fantasy production. He averages 20 and 10 and a handful of assists per game. That’s pretty sweet for a PF.
PG T.J. Ford – A tremendous young talent whose game is on the rise. Away from the inept coaching of Terry Stotts and teamed with Chris Bosh, Ford is going to have a breakout season.
G/F Bobby Simmons – Quietly has become one of the best 3-point shooters in the league. Consistency is an issue but he’ll score around 15 points per game and I expect his rebounds to improve this season.
F/C Zaza Pachulia – Nothing flashy about this guy but he was the best No. 2 center on the board so I’ll take him. The lack of blocks is a concern but he was a decent source for steals last season.
PF Vladimir Radmanovic – A one-trick pony but in fantasy that one trick (3-point shooting) is a source of value. He should see plenty of open jumpers this season while on the court with Kobe.
SG Cuttino Mobley – Solid scorer who can be used during the season in case injury strikes. This isn’t a bad spot for him in an Experts draft.
F/C Dan Gadzuric – I don’t really like this guy as a player because he’s so horrible offensively and not a physical defender. But he’ll start at center for the Bucks while Bogut is out which gives him some value here.
PG Devin Harris – A big-time talent who may be a year or two away from being a major fantasy contributor. But the last pick in the draft is all about upside and Harris has plenty of that.
Best Pick – Webber in the fifth. He’s not a superstar by any means but getting 20-10-4 in the fifth round is outstanding value.
Worst Pick – Gadzuric was the best center on the board in the 11th round but he’s easily the worst player on my team. He simply isn’t very good but it was hard to pass on an early season starter at that spot in the draft.
------------------------------------------------------------------
John Baker – 13th pick
PFS Writer
C Yao Ming – He scores, he boards, and he blocks shots. It’s nice to get one of the NBA's top two centers down the board at 13. I love his potential if new Reebok fixes his toe problem.
PG Steve Nash – Nash annually averages 10 assists and shoots for a high percentage. He scores when he wants to. Some say Arenas has passed him by – I don't buy it for a minute. Nash is the standard by which they are all measured.
F/C Ben Wallace – I add the league's best rebounder to help Yao in the middle. Though offensively a non-factor, he will continue to be the chairman of the boards in Chicago. I couldn't pass him up as inside guys were my priority.
SF/PF Charlie Villanueva – Perhaps a bit of a reach here, but I fully believe Charlie V. will flourish next to C Andrew Bogut. Versatility at both forward spots was also attractive here. Kid can board and score inside and out.
SG Richard Hamilton – I loved snagging Rip near the 70th spot. Still a very good player, Hamilton has worked hard on his lower body this offseason to keep his jump shot humming. He has a game that's hard to appreciate sometimes.
F/C Andrew Bogut – I love the versatility of the young Australian. The news that the Bucks will use him as a point-center just adds to that excitement. He will fill the points, rebounds and assist columns.
SG Bonzi Wells – A risk-reward pick here. Wells could start or be Houston's sixth man, but when given major minutes, he produces Barkley-type performances, racking up points and boards by the bushel.
SG Freddie Jones – Jones is a physical dynamo who was miscast in a tepid Indiana offense. The Raptors are gearing up to run which fits Jones' MO perfectly. Whether starting or coming off the bench, he'll produce Bonzi-like numbers.
PF Udonis Haslem – The ultimate garbage player, I was thrilled to get this rebounding machine so late. Again, he'll help with rebounds and steals, which is just fine.
PG Sebastian Telfair – A superior talent who is still young, Boston acquired him for a reason. He may not start early on, but he'll get long minutes to help his growth. Telfair is a quality depth pickup this late.
PG Shaun Livingston – Last time I looked, he was a pretty productive player for a playoff-caliber team. I couldn't resist nabbing this young talent, even with two other PGs on the team. He's got too much game to be drafted this late.
SF Darius Miles – One of the Blazers problem children, Miles offers statistical versatility. When he's right, he can put up points, rebounds, steals and assists in a hurry. If he's happy and dialed in, this is a steal in the 12th round.
Analysis: I was trying hard to go for versatility – guys who would probably get two position designations. I really like my three point guards and getting Nash and Yao, arguably the two best players at their positions, in the first two rounds. I think this team, though perhaps lacking some star power, has a nice blend of overall talent and statistic-specific guys. I really got excited to snag Bonzi and Jones back-to-back.
The Reach: Taking Charlie Villanueva two rounds before Andrew Bogut doesn't make a lot of sense to me now. At the time I was thinking "forward" at all costs, but probably could have made a better pick at that spot. I think Villanueva will have a very good year, but choosing him ahead of Bogut, I’m not sure that was prudent.
------------------------------------------------------------------
Jordan Brenner – 14th pick
ESPN the Magazine
SG Ray Allen – I’m not really down with head-to-head formats, but no matter the style of league, Ray was clearly the best player on the board at this point. He owns all the scoring categories and holds his own elsewhere. No-brainer.
PG Chris Paul – Would’ve been another no-brainer, except for some reason, we can only start three guards, yet we’ve got to play two centers. Figure that one out. So I considered Yao Ming. But then I figured that would have been giving into The Man, whoever The Man may be in this case. So, I took the best PG left. Take that, Man.
C Brad Miller – OK, so The Man wins after all. Or does he? Yeah, I took a center, but look where I got him – 21 picks after Mehmet Okur and somehow later than the esteemed Jameer Nelson. I prefer shot-blockers at center, but Miller’s an all-around fantasy stud, and at a dwindling position that requires two guys, he’s got great value at this point.
PF Rasheed Wallace – The debate got pretty nasty inside my head. Ray Felton? Peja? Richard Jefferson? Then I realized I had two guards, so Felton went bye-bye. I don’t trust Peja’s health, and I’ve got Ray Allen, so I ditched him too. So, needing a forward anyway, it came down to Rasheed vs. Richard Jefferson, with Rasheed winning based on his shot-blocking and increased board potential with Big Ben gone.
F/C Emeka Okafor – Please fall, I kept saying. Please fall. And lo and behold, he did. Keep in mind, we draft two centers in this league. Keep in mind, the likes of Samuel Dalembert and Tyson Chandler have already been taken. Keep in mind, someone even drafted Eddie Jones. And here’s Okafor, averaging a double-double with 1.8 bpg over his two-year career, just sitting there. Yeah, works for me.
SF Caron Butler – I’d spent so much time worrying about Okafor that I wasn’t really prepared for this pick. Not that it mattered. Butler, Andre Miller, Steve Francis and Manu Ginobili were probably the best players on the board at this point. But a ton of guards were left, and I knew I could get a good one later in the draft. Meanwhile, I needed a forward, and Butler is solid in a variety of categories. So, welcome aboard.
PG Steve Francis – Now come on. I know Stevie looked lost in NYC last year, but so did everyone. That doesn’t mean he should be going 98th in anyone’s draft, especially after the likes of Nazr Mohammed. The Knicks might not win with a Francis/Marbury backcourt, but Isiah won’t slow them down like LB did, meaning they’ll both get their numbers. And if Francis, a perennial fantasy stud, even approaches 75 percent of his career numbers, he’s a steal here.
G/F Luol Deng – After drafting based on the past, I looked to the future. And I love what I see out of Luol Deng. He’s only scratched the surface of his talent, and he averaged 16.3 ppg and 8.1 rpg in the second half last year. He’ll average at least a block and a steal per game this year, with solid percentages to boot. He’s either my third starting forward or great trade bait.
PG Jamal Tinsley – This is called hedging. If Francis doesn’t work out, Tinsley’s a cheap source for steals and assists, especially of the Pacers really do run more. If he’s hurt again, who cares? It’s the 125th pick!
SF Mike Dunleavy (127) – If anyone’s going to unlock Dunleavy’s potential, it’s Don Nelson. The guy invented the “point-forward” position, and that role suits Dunleavy’s skills perfectly. In theory, he could be a major source of points, threes and assists. Or, he could be Mike Dunleavy. Considering there’s no risk here, I’m willing to bet on the former.
F/C Ike Diogu – I needed a backup center, and Ike is eligible there. Plus, he’s another guy who potentially could thrive in Nellie’s small-ball system. From a risk-reward perspective, I’m thrilled.
PG Jarrett Jack – Starting point guards always have value, since assists can be so hard to find. Jack’s got plenty of talent, and now he’s got the ball in Portland. If he gives me decent PG numbers, I can package him for an upgrade up front.
