Big Board 50: Basketball
Rank Player Stock Pvs.
1 LeBron James, Cle, SF Not yet 22, hard to fathom that he'll actually get better 1
2 Kevin Garnett, Min, F Better talent around him will help improve '05-'06 #'s 2
3 Shawn Marion, Pho, SF Suns system so very nice for Matrix's skills 3
4 Kobe Bryant, LAL, SG Should be back to full practices soon (knee) 4
5 Dirk Nowitzki, Dal, PF 76+ (highly productive) games for 7 straight seasons 5
6 Gilbert Arenas, Was, PG Game back in fine form after summer groin issue 7
7 Elton Brand, LAC, PF Coming off a career year in 5 of 8 categories 8
8 Dwyane Wade, Mia, G Hand-swelling issue won't help 3-pt and TO deficiences 6
9 Chris Paul, NOK, PG Love his game; Peja should be an assist haven 9
10 Allen Iverson, Phi, PG Aging like fine wine -- last season one of his best 10
11 Chris Bosh, Tor, PF,C Love the C-eligibility and new Suns-style offense 11
12 Steve Nash, Pho, PG W/ Amare looking good, has all his assist outlets back 12
13 Ray Allen, Sea, SG Take Ray-Ray and put your 3-point concerns to bed 14
14 Paul Pierce, Bos, SG,SF FG% issues of a couple years ago look well behind him 15
15 Yao Ming, Hou, C Broke out last year, but now dealing with bum toe nail 13
16 Tracy McGrady, Hou, SG,SF The ultimate risk/reward pick (can back hold up?) 22
17 Tim Duncan, SA, PF,C Many are writing him off too soon 17
18 Amare Stoudemire, Pho, FC Showing familiar bounce in preseason (knee) 16
19 Jermaine O'Neal, Ind, PF,C Hopes hard offseason work will keep his health 19
20 Vince Carter, NJ, SG,SF Vin-sanity needs a healthy Kidd to stay top 20 18
21 Andrei Kirilenko, Utah, F Defensive #'s dynamo when his health allows 20
22 Chauncey Billups, Det, PG 8.6 assists last year nearly 3 more than previous best 21
23 Dwight Howard, Orl, PF FT% a big drain, but C-eligibility could be coming 31
24 Jason Kidd, NJ, PG Court sense makes up for a decline in athleticism 23
25 Lamar Odom, LAL, F One of NBA's top triple-double threats 24
26 Boris Diaw, Pho, PF,C Love getting 6 apg (plus other solid #'s) from a Center 25
27 Rashard Lewis, Sea, SF In contract year, has worked hard on his handle 29
28 Josh Smith, Atl, SG,SF Post break: 15 ppg, 8 rpg, 4 apg, 3 bpg, 1 3pg; Just 20 28
29 Ron Artest, Sac, SF Premier pick-pocket, but FG% issues 32
30 Michael Redd, Mil, SG,SF Would Love to see this scorer net 5 reb, 3 ast, 1 stl 30
31 Brad Miller, Sac, C New coach pushing him to shoot more Treys 35
32 Mike Bibby, Sac, PG Sometimes a rollercoaster ride, but #'s always there 33
33 Joe Johnson, Atl, G Assists will dip @ SG, but he'll love fastbreak offense 27
34 Jason Richardson, GS, SG Knee (arthro. surgery) should be ready for opener 26
35 Gerald Wallace, Cha, SG,SF Swingman version of Kirilenko, health-wise too 34
36 Marcus Camby, Den, C Swat monster's health is not question of 'if' but 'when' 36
37 Andre Miller, Den, PG New up-tempo offense has Miller eyeing 10 apg 50
38 Carlos Boozer, Utah, PF,C Double-double machine w/ strong %'s 38
39 Rasheed Wallace, Det, PF Lost C-eligibility in Y! game, but still elite among PFs 39
40 Peja Stojakovic, NOK, SF Pairing w/ Paul should rejuvenate his career 37
41 Kirk Hinrich, Chi, G He's money when his FG% isn't tanking 40
42 Ben Wallace, Chi, C Taking his steals, blocks, rebounds act to Windy City 41
43 Mehmet Okur, Utah, C Another center with rare three-point skills 42
44 Richard Jefferson, NJ, SF Mostly solid but none of his stats make major impact 44
45 Antawn Jamison, Was, F Could be higher if he was more steady w/ defensive #'s 43
46 Carmelo Anthony, Den, SF Impacts in fantasy as a scorer only 45
47 Raymond Felton, Cha, PG #'s were dynamic after the break last season 46
48 Jason Terry, Dal, PG He puts up sneaky-good numbers 47
49 Jameer Nelson, Orl, PG Dealing w/ concussion, but he's set for a big year 48
50 Brandon Roy, Por, G Has game made for fantasy, and PT opps in Portland 49
51 Stephon Marbury, NY, PG Must rise above team/media distractions –
52 Baron Davis, GS, PG Bad %'s or not, healthy Baron is better than #52 –
53 Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Cle, C Nice %'s and blocks in LBJ's shadow –
54 Andre Iguodala, Phi, SG, SF Can do it all - now needs to do more of it –
55 Mike James, Min, PG He can fill it up, but not the centerpiece anymore –
56 Caron Butler, Was, SF Post break: 19 ppg, 7 rpg, 2 spg, 1 3pg, nice %'s –
57 Chris Kaman, LAC, C Capable of more O to add to solid boards, blocks –
58 Chris Webber, Phi, PF Just hard to imagine he can match 75 games again –
59 David West, NOK, PF Outstanding chemistry w/ Paul –
60 Shane Battier, Hou, SF Glue guy gets you a steal, block, trey per game –
61 Morris Peterson, Tor, SG,SF If he maintains post-break #'s, he'll be draft steal –
62 Shaquille O'Neal, Mia, C Won't find his FT%, DNPs on my squads –
63 Andres Nocioni, Chi, F Closed out '05-'06 on fire (17 pts, 11 reb in April) –
64 Manu Ginobili, SA, SG Reckless style takes its toll during season –
65 Josh Howard, Dal, SG,SF Polished; Poised to take another big step forward –
66 Charlie Villanueva, Mil, F Other than pass, he's capable of doing it all –
67 Tony Parker, SA, PG FG% bonus from PG, but other #'s lack wow factor –
68 Larry Hughes, Cle, SG Impact fantasy skills, but they are muted in LBJ's world –
69 Raja Bell, Pho, SG Most of his fantasy value comes from beyond the arc –
70 Richard Hamilton, Det, SG Skilled scorer, but not much help beyond the arc –
71 Troy Murphy, GS, PF Double-double machine candidate could get C-eligibility –
72 Zach Randolph, Por, PF Attitude gets in the way of his 20/10 talent –
73 Pau Gasol, Mem, PF, C Out until at least January with broken foot –
74 Mike Miller, Mem, SF Like Raja, another premier 3-point marksman –
75 Corey Maggette, LAC, SG,SF Has missed 13+ games in 5 of past 6 seasons –
76 Luke Ridnour, Sea, PG Earl Watson going to cut into Luke's playing time –
77 Danny Granger, Ind, F If he gets 30+ minutes a night, he'll make good –
78 Tyson Chandler, NOK, C Offense needs much work, but nice boards, blocks, FG% –
79 Speedy Claxton, Atl, PG Fractured finger delays the start of his ATL tenure –
80 Samuel Dalembert, Phi, C Like Chandler, no O, but boards, blocks, FG% all good –
81 Ricky Davis, Min, SG,SF Solid all-around game, but playing time will dip this year –
82 Sam Cassell, LAC, PG He's old (36), but he can still light it up –
83 Marvin Williams, Atl, F Sky's the limit, and he's set to see 30+ minutes –
84 Emeka Okafor, Cha, PF, C Injuries and FG% taint solid boards, blocks –
85 Chris Wilcox, Sea, PF, C A bit of a letdown worry now that he got his $ –
86 T.J. Ford, Tor, PG Could make big assist impact in TOR up-tempo offense –
87 Brevin Knight, Cha, PG Steals, assists impact huge if he can find PT w/ Felton –
88 Randy Foye, Min, G Explosive game, w/ maturity to make immediate impact –
89 Ben Gordon, Chi, SG Spent offseason working on rounding out his game –
90 Bobby Simmons, Mil, SG,SF Efficient shooter improved treys markedly last season –
91 Al Harrington, Ind, F He and Granger could play a lot in tandem –
92 Channing Frye, NY, PF, C Added muscle and he can run floor w/ NYK guards –
93 Drew Gooden, Cle, PF Rebound capable, w/ offensive skills and block potential –
94 Darko Milicic, Orl, PF,C Orlando plans to finally give Darko a real shot –
95 Deron Williams, Utah, PG Potential is there if he can avoid Sloan's wrath –
96 Damon Stoudamire, Mem,PG Back from knee surgery; Can light it up from 3 –
97 Nenad Krstic, NJ, C 15 ppg, 8 rpg, 1 bpg in final 2 months last year –
98 Kevin Martin, Sac, SG Strong %'s and 3 ball to get boost w/ starting gig –
99 Adam Morrison, Cha, SF No doubt he can score, but the rest is suspect –
100 Wally Szczerbiak, Bos, SF Knee not all the way back yet from April surgery –
