It’s not always easy to keep perspective. Like when the 410 lb. orca whale purchasing $30-worth of Burger King for himself double-checks with the cashier that the soda he was served is Diet. But we here at Razzball know how difficult maintaining perspective can be, especially when you’re drunk and trying to sketch moving objects. So from now until the start of the season, we’re bringing you the 2010 Fantasy Team Previews, which will focus on each NBA team in hopes of painting a clearer fantasy picture. Who’s starting over whom? Who might surprise you and who might make you want to hurl yourself off a bridge in a few months. Enjoy! Next up – The New Jersey Nets.
Gained – Troy Murphy, Derrick Favors, Anthony Morrow, Travis Outlaw, Jordan Farmar, hope
Lost – Yi Jianlian, Chris Douglas-Roberts, Trenton Hassell, Josh Boone, Keyon Dooling, countless other scrubs
Probable position depth –
PG – Devin Harris, Jordan Farmar, Ben Uzoh
SG – Anthony Morrow, Terrence Williams, Quinton Ross
SF – Travis Outlaw, Stephen Graham, Damion Jones
PF – Troy Murphy, Derrick Favors, Joe Smith, Kris Humphries
C – Brook Lopez, Johan Petro
3 Concerns Heading Into the Season –
1. There are only four Nets in 2010 who were Nets in 2009. Are the old Nets going to tell all the new Nets how much it sucked being a Net last year?
Not if they’re smart. Besides, Troy Murphy was on the Pacers last year. He already knows. Although it’s no guarantee that this Jersey Nets is a playoff-bound Jersey Nets, it’ll be nearly impossible to continue being the scourge of the league Jersey Nets . Fantasy-wise this should have an uplifting effect on the entire team. Which is good. Because a bored February Derrick Favors is one who is not developing. A frustrated Troy Murphy is one who is not trying and and a hopeless Jordan Farmar is one who isn’t hungry to get playing time.
2. Will Devin Harris disappoint fantasy owners this season because of injuries or because of his attitude?
Oh, random concern generator, you slay me with your pessimism! No, but seriously – injuries.
3. If Anthony Morrow is one of the most natural shooters in the league, why did he shoot .400 in the preseason?
Rust. I don’t mean in his mechanics. I mean, Morrow went from San Francisco to New Jersey. He’s just not used to the stench of rust being on everything. It’s not easy transitioning from Bay breeze to, well … breeze from the Hudson Bay.
Fantasy Disappointment in ’10 – Anthony Morrow. This isn’t due only to his poor shooting, but to Terrence Williams’ promising performance near the end of last season and into the preseason. Morrow will start, but I imagine Williams – playing a little SF too – will average more mpgs. And this would be fine if Morrow were being drafted where Williams is being drafted, but he’s not. Morrow’s ADP is around 102, Williams is about 128. Should be the other way around.
Biggest Fantasy Contributor in ’10 – Brook Lopez. The only thing that could make BroPez more likable in this blogger’s eyes is if he insisted that Springsteen be played in the locker room before each game. Until I hear otherwise, I’m going to assume this is what goes down.
Deep Sleeper – Travis Outlaw. Between 2007 and 2008, Outlaw’s stock was on the rise. By the end of the 2008 season, he was averaging 13/4 in 28 minutes and looked as if he were only going to improve. Then he got hurt last season and Portland gave up on him (otherwise known as “traded to the Clippers”). The Clippers didn’t use him correctly and *POOF* it was as if Outlaw had never existed. Even here on the Nets, he’s among the least discussed prospects on the team despite earning a starting role. The first month of the season will be the most important in Outlaw’s career. If he performs well, we’ll hear his name as often as we did two seasons ago. If not, we’ll probably be hearing Terrence Williams’ name a lot more than we already are.
