2009 NBA Fantasy Sleepers

By Bob Radl, Staff Writer

October 14, 2009

NBA training camps opened recently. The league is now playing some of its pre-season games in Europe and China this year, a sign of how international professional basketball has become. Even a casual observer of the NBA is aware of the top names in the sport such as Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Dwight Howard, Dwayne Wade and Chris Paul. These early round selections are expected to perform like stars on a nightly basis.

I would like to offer our reader some players that might be available in the middle and even late rounds of your drafts. These are players that you should target for that segment of your draft. These players should have more value than the average fan would expect.  Here are a few names to consider. The players are listed in alphabetical order at each position. Many of the players may also qualify at more than one position.

CENTERS

Channing Frye, Phoenix, Frye is the favorite to start at center for the Suns this season under coach Alvin Gentry. He recently hit 7 of 13 shots and two treys while scoring 19 points, grabbing 8 rebounds and a block in a pre-season game last week. He should come cheap in your draft this year. You may be able to get him as late as the 10^th to 12^th round. Frye may also qualify at forward in many leagues.

Drew Gooden, Dallas, Gooden is slated to start at center for the Mavs this season. He may also qualify as a forward in some leagues. He could be an afterthought in many drafts but could easily come close a double-double average for the high-powered offense in Dallas. Gooden will also benefit from having a veteran point guard like Jason Kidd delivering him the rock.

Spencer Hawes, Sacramento, Hawes made some big strides in his game last season in almost all of the offensive departments. Hawes, the 10^th overall pick in the 2007 draft, should be the starter in Sacramento this season after the Kings traded Brad Miller to the Bulls. He could average 13 to 15 points, close to double digits in boards, and over one block a game.

Roy Hibbert, Indiana, Hibbert improved his production every month of the year as a rookie in the 2008-09 season. He was able to average 11.9 points and 6.1 rebounds in April. He has worked on his conditioning and agility during the off-season. He has had an impressive pre-season to date to include a near triple double with a 20-point, 11-rebound and 8-block game versus the Nuggets. He then followed this up with a 21-point, 4-rebound and 4-block game.

Others to consider: David Anderson, Houston; Andre Blatche Washington; Marcin Gortat, Orlando; Nenad Kristic; Oklahoma City; Washington; Javale McGee, Washington; Greg Oden, Portland

FORWARDS

Trevor Ariza, Houston, Ariza should see a nice spike in his numbers this season in Houston. He was number six in the NBA in steals last season at 1.6 steals per game while only playing 24 minutes per game for the Lakers. He could also come close to doubling his scoring average of 8.9 points per game (ppg) from last season.

Boris Diaw, Charlotte, Diaw’s game really blossomed after he was traded to Charlotte last season. He averaged 15.9 points, 5.9 rebounds, 4.9 assists and almost one steal and one block per game while also knocking down over one trey per game for the Bobcats. It is hard to find many players who can give an owner those types of numbers across all of the stat categories.

Carl Landry, Houston, Landry could see a huge increase in playing time this season with the injury to Yao Ming and the departure of Ron Artest to the Lakers. Landry has the potential to be a cheap source of boards and decent points this year. He should be around late in most drafts. Look for 10-12 points and 6-8 boards per night plus a few assists and an occasional steal or block from him.

Anthony Randolph, Golden State, Randolph began to flash his talent at the end of last season when he averaged 15.1 points, 10.6 rebounds and 1.2 blocks in the last eight games. This included a 24-point, 16-rebound, 4-assist and 4-steal game in his second to last game of the year. Randolph was dominant in the Las Vegas Summer League where he averaged a league-record 26.8 points, 8.5 boards, three blocks and two steals. His sterling play has continued in the early pre-season.

John Salmons, Chicago, Salmons had his most productive season last year after coming over to the Bulls. He averaged 18.3 points, 4.2 rebounds and 3.2 assists with the Bulls. He could see a small decline in his value with the return of Luol Deng but the departure of Ben Gordon should ensure that he gets his minutes this season. Salmons may also qualify at guard in most leagues.

Jason Thompson, Sacramento, Thompson was a very pleasant surprise for the Kings last season as a rookie where he averaged 11.1 points and 7.4 rebounds. He could easily average close to 13 to 15 points per game with about 8 or 9 rebounds. If Thompson is able to block more shots, he will shot up the ranks of the PF in the NBA. Draft him in the middle rounds with room for upside.

Others to consider: Brandon Bass, Orlando; Matt Barnes, Orlando, Danillo Gallinari, New York; Yi Jianlian, Milwaukee; Hakim Warrick, New Jersey

GUARDS

Aaron Brooks, Houston, Brooks took over the point duties in Houston last year after the Rockets traded Rafer Alston to Orlando. He averaged 12.9 points in 28 starts after replacing Alston and 16.8 points in 13 playoff games. Brooks could provide a cheap source of trey and assists to your squad this season.

Courtney Lee, New Jersey, Lee has a good chance to play major minutes for the Nets who are lacking scoring punch. He should easily increase last year’s averages of 8.4 points, 2.3 rebounds and 1.2 assists. Lee is slotted to replace Vince Carter who went to Orlando.

Brandon Rush, Indiana, Rush should garner major minutes with Mike Dunleavy still sidelined from surgery. In his April games, Rush averaged 16.3 points, 4.6 rebounds and 2.1 treys per game. He could post some nice numbers in the Pacers fast-paced offense under head coach Jim O’Brien, especially in the trey category. He already sank six treys in one pre-season game.

Ramon Sessions, Minnesota, Sessions signed a four-year deal with the T-Wolves in the off-season. He is pass first point guard who put averaged 15.1 points, 7.6 assists, 4.2 boards and over a steal per game as a starter last season with the Bucks. Session also had one triple double and eight double-doubles last season.

Louis Williams, Philadelphia, Williams, who was the sixth man last year for the Sixers, will inherit the point guard slot this season as Andre Miller signed with Portland. He was able to average 12.8 points, 3.0 assists and 2.o rebounds last year while only playing 27 minutes per game. Williams was able to score more then 20 points ten times last season while coming off of the bench. A slight bump in his playing time will do wonders for his numbers.

Others to consider:  Marco Bellini, Toronto; Will Bynum, Detroit; Maurice Evans, Atlanta; Anthony Morrow, Golden State; Julian Wright, New Orleans