Listen, I know a lot of drafts have gone down, but I think we’re still right in the sweet spot of the drafting season. And while we’re in that sweet spot, why not start up an RCL Hoops league where we need more commishes! I am putting an embargo on comments unless you start up a league! Haha – kidding. But what’s less funny is the curse of my love for Trey Burke, as he’s going to have surgery on his index finger. “Don’t you point at me!” “I can’t help it, it’s the cast!” The original report of him missing 8-12 weeks had him a 100% no bueno in my book, but then he tweeted out (I guess using other fingers) that it should only be 4-6 weeks. Apparently he’ll be in a splint three weeks and will be reevaluated. As in – “my fingy still hurty!” I’m moving Burke way down and taking it as a sign to completely cool off my love for him. As in Arnold in the last bad Batman movie cool. “Tonight’s forecast – a freeze is coming in!” John Lucas III becomes the starting PG it appears in most games and probably needs to be owned in deeper leagues, but I wouldn’t drop someone that good for him. Lucas III didn’t crack the updated rankings because I don’t see season-long impact from him. Alec Burks could start some games at the point as well, and remains ranked as I think he plays both guard positions and minutes all year. That is despite a horrible 1-13 shooting performance last night… The Jazz are also re-evaluating trading for the Bulls’ Marquis Teague in a possible trade. Then there’s a rumor that free agent Jamaal Tinsley might also get signed. Sounding more and more like the Jazz PG is going to be a black hole this season. So I’m avoiding them all, but still holding Burke in 12+ team leagues (like my 1st RCL League) and hoping. Here’s what else has been going down through the preseason, and a final rankings update:
Jonas Valanciunas – Finally starting to watch some preseason games and break down some video and caught Boston at Toronto last night. My boyfriend the Luminescent Lithuanian looked amazingly solid and efficient. In 27 minutes shot 2-2 from the field, 6-6 from the stripe for a 10/4/1 2 Blk line. Was also a +18 on the floor to D.J. Augustin‘s -16. Hilarious. Can’t wait to draft LL tonight in my 2nd RCL league.
Kyle Lowry – Played almost all his 12 minutes in the first quarter and looked really good. You’re playing with fire with his health, but if he can avoid the injury bug, might be a steal after the first 6 or 7 rounds.
Kelly Olynyk – I’ve actually watched both Celtics preseason games the past two nights, and he looked better than I expected after a slow preseason start. Went 6-7 for a 13/9 game last night, but then again didn’t start and virtually all of those points came without Luminescent Lithuanian on him. New Olynyk nickname – 7-foot Jesus? Thoughts? He does have 11 fouls in these past two games, which doesn’t fit the Golden Rule – pass on him in a fouls league! Haha.
Jeff Green – Didn’t have an eruption of awesome in the 30 minutes he played last night, but looked really good at the eye level. Kinda like a really glossy Sci-Fi movie. Babylon A.D. is a good example.
Enes Kanter – The other game I watched last night, Kanter looked confident and refined hitting his first 8 shots and putting up 16 in the first quarter. Ended up with 23. Very encouraging to see, especially for a guy about to have his first starting season. The Jazz as a whole on the other hand… looked a little sloppy. Still think Kanter will be a solid find towards the later rounds.
Derrick Favors – 10/17/0/1/2 in a dynamic line for a big. Still think he’s going to be a great Boards-n-Blocker.
Jimmy Butler – Avoided a long-term injury by only suffering a bruised knee after it looked worse. Whew! Power of JB! Still like my rank of him higher than most.
Omri Casspi – Has had a really hot preseason despite only shooting 2-10 last night. Still had a 6/6/5/1 with two threes line in nearly 30 minutes. Enters my top 200 and have moved him fairly high. With Dwight Howard banging down low, the Rockets will use a lot of Casspi to stretch out the opposing interior D.
Derrick Rose – Continues to play and be healthy. As long as he eats, his memoir will be titled Eat, Play, Healthy – that is as long as he knee holds up. Shot 6-9 from the field and 9-10 from the stripe for 22 points but only had two dimes on last night. Twenty cents from a 2nd-round PG ain’t gonna cut it; let’s hope he visits the piggy bank more often.
Brandon Jennings – Apparently his dentist is from whichever Saw movie had to do with horrible teeth pulling or crazed dentists or something (yeah, I passed on that one). Will miss at least three weeks with a jacked up tooth and fractured jaw. Yikes. More time for KCP!
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope – Played a whopping 40 minutes last night against the Bulls and went 6-17 (3-4 from deep and 3-3 from the line) for an 18/7/1 and 1 Stl line. The FG% will have some growing pains, but I moved him way up after the Stuckey injury and how much they like him/will run him there in Motown. The BJ jaw vaults him even higher.
Iman Shumpert – Being reported he’ll start ahead of J.R. Smith even when Smith is back from suspension. Smith will still get boatloads of minutes, but shows that Shumpert could be in line for a nice sleeper season after coming into last year hurt.
Goran Dragic – Has played fantastic the last few Suns preseason games, and seems to be really benefiting by having Eric Bledsoe as a running mate in that backcourt. I’m stoked to see those two in regular season action.
Bradley Beal – Erupted for 29 points on 10-15 shooting (4-8 3PTM 5-5 FT) on Tuesday night against the reigning NBA champs. John Wall also was effective scoring 13 with 8 assists and 5 steals and a block. Along with the Suns backcourt, the Wiz guards are going to be tantalizing as well. I need to use the word tantalizing more.
DeAndre Jordan – As much as I didn’t want to, I have to move DJ up above the Full House of scrubs in the later rounds. Went 5-7 with 11 Pts and 11 Rebs to go along with his 5 Blks on Tuesday night. But the FT fairy still had plastic wrap over the hoop for him, as he went 1-5 from the stripe in this game. If you can build around the bad FT shooting or feel good enough to punt it, don’t hesitate on him.
Kevin Durant – Had a video game night, playing only 23 minutes on Tuesday and went 13-20 for a slash of 36/6/4/1/1. In twenty-three mother-f minutes! My auction ranks might have him a $100 player…
Brook Lopez – I thought he looked good and healthy, putting up a 20/4/1/2/3 near rainbow line Tuesday. But you can’t discount there was no Kevin Garnett or Deron Williams. Poster child for better real-life NBA player than fantasy player for this season.
Chris Kaman – Everyone is looking past the ugliest center in the league (well, maybe Greg Stiemsma, but whatever) and he went 7-7 for a 14/10/3 line with a block. He and Pau Gasol have some nice 7-foot white guy chemistry going.
David Lee – Went 12-16 (7-10 FT) in 38 minutes in China against the Lakers for a 31/6/4 line and a steal. Another “boring” player I think is somewhat overlooked in fantasy drafts thus far.
Apologies for being behind, but Auction rankings will be out when the weekend hits, along with a huge announcement of a Razzball Elite dynasty league I’m stating up for a few experts and rounding out with you loyal readers. If you made it this far in the article and want to be early to the party, shoot me an e-mail address in the comments for me to send ya the link to the league. It’ll be deeper than a Tarkovsky movie deep. Will be a lot of fun, so stay posted and hopefully you’ll be able to hop in the league!
UPDATED TOP 200
| RANK | PLAYER, POS, TEAM | NOTE |
| 1 | Kevin Durant, SF, OKC | Westbrook injury has me caving to conventional wisdom, no way you can’t go KD 1 |
| 2 | LeBron James, SF/PF, MIA | Still think an elite season coming, but can’t question KD at 1 anymore. |
| 3 | James Harden, SG/SF, HOU | Easy to forget he was traded less than a week before 12-13 season. |
| 4 | Chris Paul, PG, LAC | Game’s best PG, will be leaned on to do everything for Doc. |
| 5 | Stephen Curry, PG/SG, GS | A little worried about career ankle issues, no Jarrett Jack. |
| 6 | Serge Ibaka, PF/C, OKC | I’ll reach, scored 4 more a game, developing deep shot, 57.3 FG% 12-13. Westbrook injury now has him a key scorer as well, but obviously doesn’t move above the big 5. |
| 7 | Kyrie Irving, PG, CLE | The additional bigs should give Kyrie all sorts of room to drive and dish. |
| 8 | John Wall, PG, WAS | Love Wall, was a first-round talent in last two months of 12-13, healthy offseason. |
| 9 | Marc Gasol, C, MEM | Does everything, increased scoring with Gay gone in 2nd half 12-13. |
| 10 | Kevin Love, PF/C, MEM | First-round talent, injury downside. Slides into top-ten with Westbrook injury. |
| 11 | Derrick Rose, PG, CHI | I buy the perimeter game offseason work, excited for a really big season/big Asts. Looked good back on the court. |
| 12 | Paul George, SG/SF, IND | Love George as a player, think he’s getting overhyped in fantasy. |
| 13 | Deron Williams, PG, BKN | A bit worried about recent ankle injury, will sink if lingers into preseason. |
| 14 | Ricky Rubio, PG, MIN | Another point I buy the improved perimeter game, fully recovered from ACL. |
| 15 | Al Horford, PF/C, ATL | Millsap is more efficient than Josh Smith, love Teague, big year for big Al. |
| 16 | Dwayne Wade, PG/SG, MIA | Career-high FG% in 12-13, another solid year ahead. |
| 17 | ↑ Anthony Davis, PF/C, NO | Playing at an absolute elite level right now in the preseason. Yeah I know it’s just preseason, but ready to grab him in mid-2nd round now. |
| 18 | Al Jefferson, PF/C, CHA | Charlotte finally has a big, offense will run through him. |
| 19 | Damian Lillard, PG, POR | Buying offseason improvements, FG% to go up, big season. |
| 20 | Carmelo Anthony, SF/PF, NY | Elite scoring, sure, think boards go down and a little injury prone. |
| 21 | Nicolas Batum, SG/SF, POR | Wrist injury a concern (no surgery), falling numbers and %s in second half scary. Played a lot of minutes in EuroBasket, has a bad back now. |
| 22 | LaMarcus Aldridge, PF/C, POR | Would move 5-6 spots up if guaranteed with POR all year – trade concerns. A tad gimpy right now. |
| 23 | Dirk Nowitzki, PF, DAL | After working his way back, elite Hall-of-Famer we’re used to in 2nd half. |
| 24 | Ty Lawson, PG, DEN | No Gallinari, no Iguodala, will have to do it all. |
| 25 | Josh Smith, SF/PF, DET | Has opportunity, very volatile in his value. |
| 26 | Joakim Noah, PF/C, CHI | Injuries will be concerning, but very big year from Noah in 12-13, Rose = FG% up. |
| 27 | Larry Sanders, PF/C, MIL | GM calls him key to the team, contract extension in works, big year ahead. |
| 28 | Tony Parker, PG, SA | Fire to win the title, elite when healthy. |
| 29 | Jeff Teague, PG, ATL | Will be on all my teams, Millsap will help efficiency, one of my big breakouts. |
| 30 | David Lee, PF/C, GS | Often underrated, not worried about the hip injury that’s healed up. |
| 31 | Mike Conley, PG, MEM | Boosted scoring, assists, fewer TOs when Gay left. |
| 32 | Russell Westbrook, PG, OKC | Injury changes everything, don’t like knee injury for guy that relies on explosiveness. |
| 33 | Pau Gasol, PF/C, LAL | Bye-bye Dwight, hello to old ways. Or would it be hola? |
| 34 | Nikola Vucevic, PF/C, ORL | Not only a double-double guy, 2 ast 1 stl 1 blk a game as well. |
| 35 | Dwight Howard, C, HOU | Probably won’t end up on many of my teams, but upside is obviously still there. |
| 36 | Tim Duncan, PF/C, SA | Dream season last year, think he’ll come close to duplicating going for title. |
| 37 | Paul Millsap, PF, ATL | Only 27, played only 30:26 a night last year, will flourish in ATL. |
| 38 | Rudy Gay, SF/PF, TOR | Buying all things Raptors, solid multi-cat contributor. |
| 39 | Kawhi Leonard, SG/SF, SA | Love him, love the multi-cat game, Yahoo at 24 seems extraordinarily high though. |
| 40 | Roy Hibbert, C, IND | Flashed elite big man potential in playoffs, extremely durable. |
| 41 | DeMarcus Cousins, PF/C, SAC | Still risky, one of fantasy’s biggest high risk/reward picks yet again. |
| 42 | Blake Griffin, PF, LAC | Despite hardcore fantasy player’s hate, there’s still upside – but I won’t reach. |
| 43 | Jeff Green, SF/PF, BOS | Huge, huge upside with extraordinary breakout potential. |
| 44 | Nikola Pekovic, C, MIN | Already great FG% that will go up with Love, dub-dub with stl/blk a night. |
| 45 | Kobe Bryant, SG, LAL | Could obviously move up with incoming optimistic news, rehab doing too well to be lower. Looking like he’ll miss opening night, but not too much more action. |
| 46 | Jonas Valanciunas, C, TOR | If you’ve read me since last year, he’s my #1 sleeper. Offense to run through him. |
| 47 | Chris Bosh, PF/C, MIA | Under-the-radar (at least to me) very productive 12-13 despite dwindling skill set/rebounding. Some further regression. |
| 48 | Derrick Favors, PF/C, UTA | The Jazz have a ton of faith in him, oozes potential/high block total. |
| 49 | Kemba Walker, PG, CHA | Lower than almost anywhere else, don’t think Jefferson fixes bad FG%, low Asts. |
| 50 | Brook Lopez, C, BKN | Love his game, had him top-20 in May. Foot injury and big trade limits #s. |
| 51 | Monta Ellis, PG/SG, DAL | Excited to see him play with Dirk, should have a solid season, slight scoring dip. |
| 52 | Jrue Holiday, PG, NO | While #1 NO scorer/disher, I find myself never coming close to Jrue at original #42 rank in drafts thus far. |
| 53 | Greg Monroe, C, DET | Think Josh Smith/Jennings actually will help his fantasy value. |
| 54 | Tobias Harris, SF/PF, ORL | My boyfriend from last year, flashed fantastic goodness in 2nd half. Will start. |
| 55 | Chandler Parsons, SF/PF, HOU | Fantastic 12-13, think he has another great, efficient season. |
| 56 | ↓ Brandon Jennings, PG, DET | Messed up tooth and jaw will linger into regular season, not willing to go for him until end of the 6th round in 10-teamers. |
| 57 | Paul Pierce, SF, BKN | Name value and new locale may have someone reach, Yahoo at 87 too low. |
| 58 | George Hill, PG/SG, IND | Quiet, unassuming, steady production. |
| 59 | Eric Bledsoe, PG/SG, PHX | Flashed brilliance when starting, polarizing fantasy ranks, big upside. |
| 60 | Jose Calderon, PG, DAL | I said in the original full rankings I needed to move him up, so I did. |
| 61 | Ryan Anderson, PF/C, NO | Despite new faces, don’t think his role/numbers change much. |
| 62 | Klay Thompson, SG/SF, GS | I’ve seen him very overranked, ThrAGNOF! |
| 63 | Goran Dragic, PG, PHX | Still upside there, and despite a “bust” last year, still produced at this rank’s level. |
| 64 | David West, PF, IND | Solid 12-13, another solid 13-14. |
| 65 | Zach Randolph, PF/C, MEM | Read West, David. |
| 66 | DeMar DeRozan, SG/SF, TOR | A big sleeper of mine, TOR a great line-up now, buying the offseason work on 3s. |
| 67 | Gerald Henderson, SG/SF, CHA | Back-to-back sleepers, Henderson showed elite production in 2nd half. |
| 68 | Thaddues Young, SF/PF, PHI | Someone has to score in Philly, right? Solid 12-13 as well, but not in love. |
| 69 | Rajon Rondo, PG, BOS | No need to rush him back in a big rebuilding year – despite him saying he’s already mentally ready. |
| 70 | O.J. Mayo, SG, MIL | Will lead offensive attack for the Bucks, solid talent around him. |
| 71 | Bradley Beal, SG, WAS | Showed talent at times in rookie season, big injury concern, despite great upside including the big preseason game on 10-15. |
| 72 | Luol Deng, SF, CHI | Trade/contract issues persist, but solid player and should be with Bulls all year. |
| 73 | Greivis Vasquez, PG/SG, SAC | Think there’s multi-cat upside, but ankle injury and IT2 issues remain. |
| 74 | Andre Iguodala, SG/SF, GS | Low floor/low ceiling, moves to another fast-paced team to duplicate 12-13 #s. |
| 75 | Jimmy Butler, SG/SF, CHI | A little surprised I’m higher on him than most, will start, multi-cat goodness. |
| 76 | J.R. Smith, SG/SF, NYK | Knee injury, suspension for smoking, but past those I’m fine with him here. |
| 77 | Kyle Lowry, PG, TOR | You know you’re getting good production, but only when he’s on the floor. |
| 78 | Gordon Hayward, SG/SF, UTA | Minutes, steals, assists up as 12-13 went on, TOs down, Jazz need consistency. |
| 79 | ↓ Ersan Ilyasova, SF/PF, MIL | Don’t want anything to do with a big on a very bum ankle. Avoiding as best I can. |
| 80 | Marcin Gortat, C, PHX | Another guy from the Suns that was a semi-bust but still put up #s. |
| 81 | Danny Green, SG/SF, SA | Really underrated multi-cat season: 1.2 stl 0.7 blk 12-13 a little shocking. |
| 82 | Enes Kanter, C, UTA | Big upside in starting role.Saw him play on 10-16 and looked great. |
| 83 | Wilson Chandler, SG/SF, DEN | Without Gallinari until probably February, Chandler a huge breakout candidate. |
| 84 | Brandon Knight, PG/SG, MIL | Still very young, think with actual talent around him could emerge. |
| 85 | Kenneth Faried, PF, DEN | Love the Manimal in real life, think his fantasy value can be a little overrated. |
| 86 | Jeremy Lin, PG, HOU | Some upside with reports he and Dwight looking good from the Dream, great Stls. |
| 87 | Wesley Matthews, SG/SF, POR | Don’t see him playing 35 mins a night, even with rook McCollum to miss prolonged time. |
| 88 | JaVale McGee, C, DEN | Obvious upside with more minutes due to Karl firing, Shaqtin a Fool downside too. |
| 89 | Victor Oladipo, SG, ORL | Only other rookie in top 100, may start slow but I see bigger role in 2nd half. |
| 90 | Carlos Boozer, PF/C, CHI | One of my least favorite players, is actually going a bit underrated in 13-14. |
| 91 | Andre Drummond, PF/C, DET | Sure some upside, but 37.1 FT%? Really? |
| 92 | Raymond Felton, PG/SG, NY | Still driving a high-powered offense, think Beno Udrih eats into a few minutes. |
| 93 | Andrew Bogut, C, GS | Says he’s healthy and expects big minutes, multi-cat performer, always injured… |
| 94 | Steve Nash, PG, LAL | 39, numerous injuries last year, but still top 100 value. |
| 95 | Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, SF, CHA | People overrate a 19-yr old rookie season and write him off, multi-cat breakout. |
| 96 | ↑ Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, SG, DET | First Stuckey now Jennings, injuries are ravaging the Pistons backcourt and KCP was looking at a surprise starting gig beforehand. Willing to go for him very high. |
| 97 | Jamal Crawford, PG/SG, LAC | Will duplicate what we saw last year, which was top 100 worthy. |
| 98 | Spencer Hawes, C, PHI | Has the 1st half to prove worth until Noel gets minutes, out of position 3s nice. |
| 99 | Tyson Chandler, C, NY | Not a huge fan, injury prone and a wild card, but value has him crack 100. |
| 100 | ↑ John Henson, PF/C, MIL | Injuries to both Ilyasova and Ekpe Udoh will have Henson seeing tons of minutes, and I see him banking on the production with his solid per/48 numbers last year. Must own in all leagues. |
| 101 | Amir Johnson, PF/C, TOR | Despite probably a sub-10 PPG scorer, gave you 1 stl 1.4 blks last year. |
| 102 | Cody Zeller, PF/C, CHA | A surprise from Summer ball, there’s upside playing next to Jefferson. |
| 103 | Isaiah Thomas, PG, SAC | An unreal second half, potential is there but stifled by new regime/Vasquez. |
| 104 | Chris Kaman, PF/C, LAL | Thrived when he’s gotten starting minutes, will be vastly undervalued. |
| 105 | Kevin Garnett, PF/C, BKN | Kidd says he’ll bench KG on back-to-backs, #s still there last year, down a bit this year. |
| 106 | Tyreke Evans, SG/SF, NO | Ankle dinged up after preseason injury, hate to draft him injured even with report he should make opening night. |
| 107 | Anderson Varejao, PF/C, CLE | The unreal rebounds are tough to ignore, but less minutes, Bynum = less value. |
| 108 | Kelly Olynyk, C, BOS | Minutes and opportunity are there, worth a slight bit of a reach to me. Looked good in both preseason games I’ve seen him in. |
| 109 | Joe Johnson, SG/SF, BKN | Someone will reach for name value, scoring/3s down with all the options. |
| 110 | Jameer Nelson, PG, ORL | Oladipo to play some at point, everyone healthy right now, avoiding. |
| 111 | Andrew Bynum, C, CLE | Don’t want him, knees hurt again, but still some upside. Yahoo @ 53 = nuts. |
| 112 | Danny Granger, SF, IND | Like Bynum, tough to rank and I won’t be reaching for him – 2-10 in preseason opener. |
| 113 | Maurice Harkless, SF, ORL | Flashed multi-cat goodness with 1.2 stl/0.8 blk in only 25 minutes per game. |
| 114 | Andrei Kirilenko, SF/PF, BKN | Never been a huge fan, but will still get minutes behind elderly former Celtics. |
| 115 | Harrison Barnes, SF, GS | Potential has always been there, but becomes a 6th man with Iggy. |
| 116 | Arron Afflalo, SG/SF, ORL | Empty scoring, but still produces despite status with Magic in turmoil. |
| 117 | Shawn Marion, SF/PF, DAL | I don’t buy a repeat, but Marion was huge last year under-the-radar. |
| 118 | Jarrett Jack, PG/SG, CLE | Wahhhhhh, I’m Jarrett Jack! Will find time at the 2 late in games. |
| 119 | Michael Carter-Williams, PG, PHI | The FG% will be terrible, but minutes and opportunity are there for the gamble. |
| 120 | J.J. Redick, SG, LAC | Limited upside, but should be able to replicate what he did with the Magic in 12-13. |
| 121 | Tristan Thompson, PF/C, CLE | Loved him before Bynum/Bennett/Clark brought in, Bynum hurt, TT could start. |
| 122 | Reggie Jackson, PG, OKC | Sure he’s only got the starting gig until Westbrook is back, but Jackson will still get minutes as Russell is eased back in and tremendous upside to start the year. |
| 123 | Kevin Martin, SG, MIN | Will score, but doesn’t get to the line anymore, still doesn’t do anything else. Sore Achilles to start the year as well. |
| 124 | Randy Foye, PG/SG, DEN | Gallinari hurt, no Brewer, no Iggy, no Koufos, Denver will need scoring. |
| 125 | Ben McLemore, SG, SAC | Crowded backcourt, but they seem determined to play him, some upside. |
| 126 | ↑ DeAndre Jordan, C, LAC | Having a great preseason and flashing great Board-n-Blocks upside, FT% still a work around though. |
| 127 | Kyle Korver, SG/SF, ATL | Despite my reluctance to draft 3-point specialists, was solid in 12-13. |
| 128 | Dion Waiters, SG, CLE | Jack will take some minutes, a lot of new options on the Cavs. |
| 129 | Corey Brewer, SG/SF, MIN | (three weeks ago)I just think he’s better than Budinger or Shabazz, more multi-cat value than expected. (now) Budinger hurt, Brewer to start. Me likey. |
| 130 | Manu Ginobili, SG/SF, SA | Injuries and lower minutes of course lower value, but can still produce. |
| 131 | ↓ Eric Gordon, SG, NO | Bad knees, ankle still coming along, not touching him before here. |
| 132 | Evan Turner, SG/SF, PHI | I just thought he’d be a better NBA player and he’s not, not buying new opportunity. |
| 133 | Tiago, Splitter, C, SA | Underrated multi-cat year, played 81 games, nice late stat booster. |
| 134 | Martell Webster, SG/SF, WAS | Porter’s hip injury lagging deeper than thought, Webster in line to get minutes in his stead. Wiz to ease Porter in when ready. |
| 135 | Anthony Bennett, SF/PF, CLE | Frontcourt is loaded, but loaded with injury-prone guys. Still won’t reach for #1 pick. Showing conditioning problems recovering from off-season shoulder surgery. |
| 136 | Gerald Wallce, SF/PF, BOS | Will get minutes early, he’s getting shopped, probably loses value on deadline deal as I doubt he gets traded into a big role. |
| 137 | Greg Stiemsma, C, NO | Going to start and get the Robin Lopez role, will block and can board better. |
| 138 | Andrea Bargnani, PF/C, NYK | Apparently gelling well with Melo and Amar’e is still hurt. Not going to go nuts for him, but upside warrants the slight boost. |
| 139 | Nene Hilario, PF/C, WAS | Adds 3 dimes a game, but up there in age and not a guy I’m drafting earlier. |
| 140 | Metta World Peace, SF/PF, NY | Should play despite not playing under this name. Probably avoiding. |
| 141 | Archie Goodwin, SG, PHX | The more I’m looking at guys below him, the more I have the rookie nookie urge to take Goodwin. 6th man role in team that will play him. |
| 142 | Ramon Sessions, PG/SG, CHA | Was on his way to a great 12-13 before a knee injury, should still see good mins. |
| 143 | Nick Young, SG/SF, LAL | Might be droppable after Kobe is back, but could have a strong start. |
| 144 | Alec Burks, SG, UTA | Could play some point while Burke is out, not ready to move him up much though. |
| 145 | Iman Shumpert, SG/SF, NY | Returned from ACL surgery last year, could be solid after healthy offseason. |
| 146 | ↑ Omri Casspi | Very hot preseason and could start at the 4 on a very fast-paced Rockets team. |
| 147 | Nate Robinson, PG/SG, DEN | Not a fan, but will get some run as the 1/2 off the bench and is being reported he could play some with Lawson in shortest backcourt ever. Next they’ll bring in Spud Webb. |
| 148 | Andre Miller, PG, DEN | Played in every game past 2 years, Nate Robinson steals the possible min. uptick. |
| 149 | Omer Asik, C, HOU | Huge loss of minutes, Dwight/Asik frontcourt would be worst FT% ever. |
| 150 | J.J. Hickson, PF/C, DEN | Behind Faried and McGee, will still get pretty solid minutes. |
| 151 | Lou Williams, PG/SG, ATL | Still recovering from the ACL, will be eased in, but still 2nd half upside. |
| 152 | ↓ Trey Burke, PG, UTA | Avoiding at all costs now; he needed every minute of preseason experience and now will be eased in a month or so into the season. |
| 153 | Avery Bradley, PG/SG, BOS | You don’t really want any of the Celtics guards, but they’ll play. |
| 154 | Robin Lopez, C, POR | Looking like he’ll start & could repeat 12-13 which has value even though he blows. |
| 155 | Marcus Thornton, SG, SAC | McLemore takes some of his value, a streamer ThrAGNOF when hot. |
| 156 | Trevor Ariza, SG/SF, WAS | Even with Porter lingering injury, don’t think it changes Ariza’s value all that much – boost went to Webster for me. |
| 157 | Amar’e Stoudemire, PF/C, NY | Name value probably has him going earlier, not touching him. |
| 158 | Ray Allen, SG, MIA | ThrAGNOF! |
| 159 | Mario Chalmers, PG, MIA | He plays… |
| 160 | Matt Barnes, SF, LAC | Really solid multi-cat 12-13, should be used similarly. |
| 161 | Tony Allen, SG/SF, MEM | Gives you the minutes, not any upside. |
| 162 | Lance Stephenson, SG, IND | Same as above. |
| 163 | Samuel Dalembert, C, DAL | Set to start, won’t play huge minutes but will boost blocks. |
| 164 | Jared Dudley, SG/SF, LAC | Still see Barnes playing more minutes, but a chance to start on a good team. |
| 165 | Luis Scola, PF/C, IND | Relegated to the bench, still has efficient scoring upside. |
| 166 | Vince Carter, SG/SF, DAL | Unreal he’s still playing, unreal the scoring/3s last year, still some value. |
| 167 | Tayshaun Prince, SF/PF, MEM | Starts, gets minutes, will give you a tiny bit of scoring. |
| 168 | Thabo Sefolosha, SG/SF, DET | Steals specialist, not much else. Could boost a tad of scoring with no Westbrook for a while |
| 169 | Otto Porter, Jr., SF, WAS | Might take a while until we see consistent PT, hip injury recovery and will get eased in when ready, but upside in 2nd half. |
| 170 | Mo Williams, PG/SG, POR | Probably seeing the fewest minutes since a rook, still will find time late in games. |
| 171 | Darren Collison, PG, LAC | Think he could see a tad of time at the 2, Bledsoe had value behind Paul too. |
| INJ | ↓ Carl Landry, SF/PF, SAC | BADLY injured. Will be moving way out. |
| 173 | Nerlens Noel, PF/C, PHI | Will get eased in, always a chance he has big last couple of months. |
| 174 | ↓ Brandan Wright, PF/C, DAL | Despite it being a different injury, has had shoulder issues before and will miss a little time. |
| 175 | Mike Dunleavy, SG/SF, CHI | Minutes will come as the backup to Deng and Butler. |
| 176 | Kosta Koufos, PF/C, MEM | Was productive in only 22 minutes/per last year, will get 18-20 and a few boards. |
| 177 | Brandon Bass, PF/C, BOS | Unclear role with Humphries/Wallace stealing some minutes. |
| 178 | Courtney Lee, SG/SF, BOS | The steal a game gives him a little value in hodgepodge backcourt. |
| 179 | Markieff Morris, PF, PHX | Hey, he’s starting. Deep leagues could do worse this late. |
| 180 | Glen Davis, PF/C, ORL | Hurt, probably misses opener, they’re trying to dump him – 180 from my thoughts in May. |
| 181 | Brandon Rush, SG, UTA | Burks is by no means a sure thing, could be a deep contributor. |
| 182 | Thomas Robinson, PF, POR | This deep, there’s late-season upside if LA gets moved/hurt. |
| 183 | Patrick Patterson, PF/C, SAC | P Pat is stuck in that 3-man PF rotation with Landry/Jason Thompson. |
| 184 | Antawn Jamison, PF, LAC | He’s old but can still score off the bench as a mid-week streamer. |
| 185 | Ed Davis, PF/C, MEM | Randolph is reliable but old, Davis showed potential with TOR in 1st half of 12-13. |
| 186 | Caron Butler, SF, MIL | Delfino injury opens the door for some spot scoring, but his lack of other stats keeps him low for me. |
| 187 | James Anderson, SG/SF, PHI | Interesting that he might start, and that’s about it. Sixers look awful. |
| 188 | Alex Len, C, PHO | Coming off surgery on both ankles I don’t think he’s good even if Gortat is moved. |
| 189 | Shane Battier, SG/SF, MIA | When you’re going this deep, it’s gonna start getting ugly. |
| 190 | Jason Terry, PG/SG, BKN | Won’t have much value unless Deron gets hurt, but very possible given history. |
| 191 | D.J. Augustin, PG, TOR | Not as good in fantasy as Terry, more likely Lowry gets hurt and D.J. gets mins. |
| 192 | Toney Douglas, PG/SG, GS | Can score off the bench in a fast-paced offense, Curry’s ankles iffy. |
| 193 | DeMarre Carroll, SF/PF, ATL | I always thought he was underrated, will see decent minutes as reserve 2/3. |
| 194 | ↑ Giannis Antetokounmpo, SG/SF, MIL | Just have a feeling with all the Bucks frontline injuries, the very raw rookie will have a little value playing more of a 3/4 than the Yahoo position listing. |
| 195 | Marco Belinelli, SG, SA | On the right team to throw up some ThrAGNOF streaming! |
| 196 | Carlos Delfino, SG/SF, MIL | Probably missing the opener, doesn’t need his foot too healthy to camp behind the three point line. |
| 197 | Wayne Ellington, SG, DAL | Another ThrAGNOF streamer, should get decent minutes for shots. |
| 198 | Marressee Speights, PF/C, GS | Think he’s a better player than opportunities he’s been given, works into mins. |
| 199 | Jermaine O’Neal, C, GS | Somehow managed 1.4 blks a game in 12-13 in 18 minutes per. Reported he might play some with Bogut. |
| 200 | Boris Diaw, PF/C, SA | Just so fun to say his name like Rick Flair, he had to be my Mr. Irrelevant! |
