Fantasy Basketball News 2013/14

Fantasy Basketball Top 200 Rankings

2013-14 Fantasy Basketball Top 200 <!-- begin inline 1 --> ESPN Rankings: Top 200
<!-- end inline 1 -->Rankings and dollar values are based on ESPN standard league settings using eight scoring categories (points, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks, 3-pointers, free throw percentage and field goal percentage), consisting of 10 teams with 13-man rosters.

2013-14 Love/Hate list

By Brian McKitish | Special to ESPN.com

With the NBA season just a week away and fantasy drafts in full swing, it's time for another edition of Love/Hate, fantasy-hoops style.
For the uninitiated, here's how the whole Love/Hate thing works: It's all about perceptions, expectations and reputation. Those players who I think will outperform our expectations end up on my "Love" list, while those who I think will fail to live up to their billing end up on the "Hate" side. I also consider this my personal list of targets and do-not-draft players. It's a simple premise, but don't confuse these lists for something they aren't.


You'll find Dwight Howard on my "Hate" list below, but that doesn't mean I wouldn't welcome him on my squad with open arms if the price was right. The problem is, based on his going rate in fantasy drafts, for me the price almost certainly will not be right.
Similarly, you'll find Pau Gasol on my "Love" list below. Does that mean I'm taking him over someone such as LaMarcus Aldridge, who is not on the list? Of course not. I love Gasol for a variety of reasons, but I love him mostly because he's a potential third-round value who can be found in the fifth round. I consider Aldridge to be fairly valued, and therefore, you won't find him on either list.
This premise also works for those so-called sleepers, or breakout players who aren't exactly sleepers anymore. You'll likely find Jonas Valanciunas on every sleeper list available on the Internet, and more than a few people are calling Derrick Favors and Bradley Beal breakout candidates. Problem is, everyone is talking about them, and absolutely no one is sleeping on them. Still, you'll see that they are guys I love. Why? Well, I think they'll live up to the hype, despite the lofty expectations that have been placed upon them this season.
[h=3]The Top 130[/h]Note: Brian McKitish's Top 130 players are ranked for their fantasy value for the 2013-14 NBA season.
1. Kevin Durant, OKC
2. LeBron James, MIA
3. James Harden, HOU
4. Chris Paul, LAC
5. Stephen Curry, GS
6. Kyrie Irving, CLE
7. Kevin Love, MIN
8. Marc Gasol, MEM
9. Paul George, IND
10. Derrick Rose, CHI
11. Serge Ibaka, OKC
12. Carmelo Anthony, NY
13. Deron Williams, BKN
14. Anthony Davis, NO
15. Al Jefferson, CHA
16. Nicolas Batum, POR
17. John Wall, WSH
18. Ricky Rubio, MIN
19. LaMarcus Aldridge, POR
20. Dwyane Wade, MIA
21. Dirk Nowitzki, DAL
22. Damian Lillard, POR
23. Al Horford, ATL
24. Tony Parker, SA
25. Ty Lawson, DEN
26. Joakim Noah, CHI
27. Josh Smith, DET
28. Jrue Holiday, NO
29. Larry Sanders, MIL
30. Mike Conley, MEM
31. David Lee, GS
32. Blake Griffin, LAC
33. Brandon Jennings, DET
34. Paul Millsap, ATL
35. Dwight Howard, HOU
36. DeMarcus Cousins, SAC
37. Kemba Walker, CHA
38. Klay Thompson, GS
39. Chris Bosh, MIA
40. Brook Lopez, BKN
41. Pau Gasol, LAL
42. Rudy Gay, TOR
43. Derrick Favors, UTAH
44. Ersan Ilyasova, MIL
45. Roy Hibbert, IND
46. Jeff Teague, ATL
47. Nikola Vucevic, ORL
48. Kawhi Leonard, SA
49. Jeff Green, BOS
50. Kobe Bryant, LAL
51. Thaddeus Young, PHI
52. Monta Ellis, DAL
53. Bradley Beal, WSH
54. Tim Duncan, SA
55. J.R. Smith, NY
56. Paul Pierce, BKN
57. Tyreke Evans, NO
58. JaVale McGee, DEN
59. Greg Monroe, DET
60. Ryan Anderson, NO
61. Russell Westbrook, OKC
62. Tobias Harris, ORL
63. Kyle Lowry, TOR
64. David West, IND
65. Kenneth Faried, DEN
66. Andre Drummond, DET
67. Jose Calderon, DAL
68. Goran Dragic, PHO
69. George Hill, IND
70. Victor Oladipo, ORL
71. Andre Iguodala, GS
72. Zach Randolph, MEM
73. Steve Nash, LAL (73)
74. Nikola Pekovic, MIN (74)
75. Jonas Valanciunas, TOR (75)
76. Gordon Hayward, UTAH (76)
77. Eric Bledsoe, PHO (77)
78. Wesley Matthews, POR (78)
79. Daniel Green, SA (79)
80. Luol Deng, CHI (80)
81. Chandler Parsons, HOU (81)
82. Enes Kanter, UTAH (82)
83. O.J. Mayo, MIL (83)
84. Danny Granger, IND (84)
85. Andrew Bogut, GS (85)
86. Rajon Rondo, BOS (86)
87. Jimmy Butler, CHI (88)
88. Greivis Vasquez, SAC (89)
89. Brandon Knight, MIL (90)
90. Gerald Wallace, BOS (91)
91. Jameer Nelson, ORL (92)
92. Kevin Martin, MIN (93)
93. Jeremy Lin, HOU (87)
94. J.J. Hickson, DEN (94)
95. Evan Turner, PHI (104)
96. Moe Harkless, ORL (95)
97. Wilson Chandler, DEN (108)
98. Isaiah Thomas, SAC (96)
99. Joe Johnson, BKN (97)
100. Raymond Felton, NY (98)
101. Tyson Chandler, NY (99)
102. Anderson Varejao, CLE (100)
103. Amir Johnson, TOR (101)
104. Kevin Garnett, BKN (102)
105. Eric Gordon, NO (103)
106. DeMar DeRozan, TOR (105)
107. Ben McLemore, SAC (106)
108. Marcin Gortat, PHO (107)
109. Jamal Crawford, LAC (109)
110. Cody Zeller, CHA (110)
111. Carlos Boozer, CHI (111)
112. Gerald Henderson, CHA (112)
113. Anthony Bennett, CLE (113)
114. Trey Burke, UTAH (114)
115. Harrison Barnes, GS (115)
116. Andrei Kirilenko, BKN (116)
117. Nene Hilario, WSH (117)
118. Jarrett Jack, CLE (118)
119. Tristan Thompson, CLE (119)
120. Michael Carter-Williams, PHI (129)
121. Omer Asik, HOU (120)
122. Shawn Marion, DAL (121)
123. Amare Stoudemire, NY (122)
124. Andrew Bynum, CLE (123)
125. Markieff Morris, PHO (125)
126. J.J. Redick, LAC (124)
127. Spencer Hawes, PHI (126)
128. Reggie Jackson, OKC (126)
129. Iman Shumpert, NY (127)
130. Chris Kaman, LAL (NR)


Players I Love

Al Jefferson, C, Charlotte Bobcats (ADP results, as of Oct. 22: 22.7, My Rank: 15): Can Big Al return to his 20-point/10-rebound/1.5-block ways in Charlotte? I certainly think so. A preseason ankle injury will keep his ADP fairly low, making him a terrific value if he can return for the season opener.

Anthony Davis, C/PF, New Orleans Pelicans (ADP: 25.3, My Rank: 14): This just might be the last season you'll be able to get Davis outside of the first round in fantasy leagues. Davis, who is dominating preseason action after averaging 15.3 points, 9.3 rebounds, 1.2 steals and 1.5 blocks with terrific percentages in the second half last year, is primed to make "the leap" into the fantasy elite this season.

Mike Conley, PG, Memphis Grizzlies (ADP 39.7, My Rank 30): Massively underrated in fantasy leagues, Conley finished 13th on our Player Rater in 2012-13, but is being drafted in the late third/early fourth round this season. Not only is he as well-rounded as they come, he's also finished in the top-5 in steals in each of the past three seasons.

Larry Sanders, C/PF, Milwaukee Bucks (ADP 41.7: My Rank: 29): Boards and blocks, boards and blocks. Sanders was a revelation last season with 9.5 rebounds and 2.8 blocks in just 27.3 minutes per game. With more minutes likely on the way in 2013-14, he should be able to duplicate, or improve, on those numbers.

Pau Gasol, PF/C, Los Angeles Lakers (ADP 54.4: My Rank: 41) Sure, Gasol was a major disappointment last season, but he is just one year removed from posting 17.4 points, 10.4 rebounds and 1.4 blocks in 2011-12. With Dwight Howard in Houston and Kobe Bryant questionable to start the season, Gasol should bounce back in a big way in 2013-14.

Jeff Green, SF, Boston Celtics (ADP: 57.5, My Rank: 49): Good players on bad teams typically result in fantasy gold, and Green should reap the benefits of being the No. 1 offensive option on a team with limited talent on the offensive end.

Thaddeus Young, SF, Philadelphia 76ers (ADP: 58.1, My Rank: 51): See: Green, Jeff. Thaddeus should put up big numbers for the offensively-challenged Sixers in 2013-14.

Bradley Beal, SG, Washington Wizards (ADP: 57.4, My Rank: 53): Man crush alert. Beal is actually being drafted appropriately at the moment, but his upside is absolutely off the charts. For a guy who could average 20 points and 2 3-pointers with a steal per game as a sophomore, I'd gladly take a shot at him in the 50-60 range in fantasy drafts.

Derrick Favors, PF/C, Utah Jazz (ADP: 61.5, My Rank: 43): I'd be absolutely shocked if Favors didn't come out and post 13-14 points, 10 rebounds and two blocks in his first season as a full-time starter. Anyone who has seen this kid play can tell he's a superstar in the making. Of all the potential breakout players on this list, I'm most confident about Favors taking the next step.

Victor Oladipo, SG/PG, Orlando Magic (ADP: 75.4, My Rank 70): Talented rookies have offered some serious value in fantasy leagues over the past few years, and Oladipo is looking more and more like a player who can do some major damage (particularly as a steal artist) in his first season.

JaVale McGee, C, Denver Nuggets (ADP: 78.4, My Rank: 58): If McGee can average 9.1 points, 4.8 rebounds and 2.0 blocks in just 18.1 minutes, what can he do in 28-30 minutes per game? I know we've heard this story before, but the Nuggets actually seem serious about getting McGee his minutes this year. And for all of McGee's faults on the court, he's actually pretty darn productive in fantasy leagues when he gets enough playing time.

Jose Calderon, PG, Dallas Mavericks (ADP 78.7, My Rank: 67): An ADP around 80 seems to be a little low for a guy who could average 9-10 assists and 1.5 3-pointers per game, doesn't it? With scorers such as Dirk Nowitzki and Monta Ellis at his disposal, Calderon should quietly be a top-5 assist man in 2013-14.

Jonas Valanciunas, C, Toronto Raptors (ADP 80.1, My Rank: 75): One of my favorite targets in rounds 7-8. Jonas is for real.

Gordon Hayward, SG/SF, Jazz (ADP: 87.5, My Rank 76): See: Green, Jeff and Young, Thaddeus.

Jimmy Butler, SG, Chicago Bulls (ADP: 102.9, My Rank: 87): I mean, did you see this kid in the second half last season? Granted, Derrick Rose and Luol Deng are back and healthy, but Butler has proven he has a bright future ahead of him. Expect the 24-year-old to see 30-plus minutes per game where he'll provide plenty of steals and 3-pointers.

Wilson Chandler, SF/SG, Denver Nuggets (ADP: 106.9, My Rank: 97): Chandler is only two years removed from averaging 16.4 points, 5.9 rebounds, 0.8 steals, 1.4 blocks and 1.7 3-pointers with the New York Knicks, and he'll have plenty of opportunities to put up big numbers for the Nuggets with Danilo Gallinari expected to be out for much of the season.

Gerald Wallace, SF, Boston Celtics (ADP: 107.4, My Rank: 90): See: Green, Jeff.

Enes Kanter, C, Utah Jazz (ADP 108.9, My Rank: 82): Did I mention that both Al Jefferson and Paul Millsap are no longer in the Jazz frontcourt? Kanter was extremely productive on a per-minute basis last year and could average a double-double with a block per game in his second season.

Brandon Knight, PG, Milwaukee Bucks (ADP: 109.7, My Rank: 89): I don't know if Knight is the answer at point guard, but I do know that the Bucks will give him every opportunity to prove himself this season. Knight has shown flashes of brilliance in his two-year career, and while I have some questions as to whether he'll take the next step this season, I still think he's a steal where he's currently being drafted.

Amir Johnson, PF, Toronto Raptors (ADP 112.5, My Rank 103): Perhaps overshadowed by Valanciunas, Johnson shouldn't be overlooked in fantasy leagues. After averaging 10.6 points, 8.3 rebounds and 1.7 blocks in the second half last season, Johnson makes for a quality late-round selection in standard fantasy leagues this season.

Patrick Beverley, PG, Rockets (ADP: 140, My Rank 131): It might not happen right away, but Beverley has the talent and defensive energy to make a serious run at taking the starting point guard job from Jeremy Lin in Houston. More of a deep sleeper to stash, Beverley would have some nice value for steals and 3-point shooting if he can cut into Lin's playing time as the season progresses.

Others I like (but don't love): Chris Kaman, Michael Carter-Williams, Alec Burks, Nick Young, Kelly Olynyk

Players I Hate

Any power forward or center who does not block shots (excluding Kevin Love, of course): I'll just go ahead and throw this out there as a blanket statement: Blocks are still the rarest fantasy category and owners put themselves in a big hole when they take a power forward or center who doesn't block shots. When I'm looking for big men in the middle of the draft, I'm almost always going to go with guys who can block shots, such as Favors, Valanciunas or McGee, over players who can't, such as Greg Monroe or David West.


Dwyane Wade, SG, Miami Heat (ADP: 15.5, My Rank: 20): Wade's stats haven't shown any signs of decline (yet), but he sure looked like a guy who was showing signs of the wear and tear associated with 10 years in the league during last season's playoffs. Given his balky knees, he's a high-risk/high-reward selection in the second round, so make sure you back him up with some safer investments in your drafts.

Dwight Howard, C, Houston Rockets (ADP: 18.7, My Rank: 35): Fantasy owners used to tolerate Howard's poor free-throw shooting in the past because of his dominance in scoring, rebounding and field goal percentage, but is it still worth punting the free throw category now that we have more quality big men in the league? Howard simply doesn't dominate boards and blocks enough to take the hit in free throw percentage anymore.

Tim Duncan, PF/C, San Antonio Spurs (ADP: 43.7, My Rank: 54): While it is clear that Duncan still has a lot left in the tank, fantasy owners should still have some concerns about his lack of playing time in regular-season action. Duncan isn't getting any younger, so be aware that Gregg Popovich will continue to limit his minutes throughout the regular season in an effort to keep him fresh for the playoffs.

Greg Monroe, PF/C, Detroit Pistons (ADP: 46.6, My Rank: 59): For many reasons, but most notably the presence of Josh Smith and emergence of Andre Drummond in the Pistons frontcourt. Monroe is no longer the best player on a bad team, so his minutes and production will suffer as a result.

Paul Pierce, SF, Brooklyn Nets (ADP: 49.7, My Rank: 56): I'm not exactly going out on a limb here to suggest that Pierce may see a decline in minutes (and thus production) in Brooklyn this season. The Nets are absolutely loaded, and it wouldn't be surprising to see Jason Kidd employing the Gregg Popovich strategy of resting his aging stars to keep them fresh for the playoffs. Pierce will still be a nice fantasy investment, but be prepared for a decline in production across the board in his 16th professional season.

Zach Randolph, PF, Memphis Grizzlies (ADP: 55.7, My Rank: 72): Since Z-Bo doesn't block shots, and is only mediocre from an efficiency perspective, he really needs to score and rebound in bunches to be considered a top fantasy player. That said, his 15.4 points per game last season simply weren't enough, given his deficiencies elsewhere.

Andre Iguodala, SF/SG, Golden State Warriors (ADP: 55.9, My Rank: 71): I loved this addition for the Warriors, but I hated it for Iggy's fantasy prospects. Sure, Jarrett Jack was able to produce solid numbers in a similar role last year, but is there enough ball to go around now that Harrison Barnes has emerged? Look for Iguodala to provide solid numbers in boards, assists and steals, while leaving a lot to be desired everywhere else.

Jeremy Lin, PG, Rockets (ADP:84.2, My Rank: 93): See: Beverley, Patrick. I must admit, however, that you can't really consider anyone a "bust" when you get this deep into your drafts.

[h=1]Offseason movement impact[/h][h=3]Which players gained, lost the most fantasy value by changing teams?[/h]By Neil Tardy | Special to ESPN.com

A trade can radically change a player's fantasy value. For instance, going into last season, James Harden was the reigning NBA Sixth Man of the Year and a top-30 fantasy talent. One shocking trade later, the man and his man-beard land in Houston, and Harden transforms from fantasy star to fantasy stud. This season, he's a consensus top-five draft pick.

On the flip side, during the lockout-marred season of 2011-12, Ryan Anderson averaged 2.7 3-pointers a game alongside Dwight Howard with the Orlando Magic. That led all regulars by a solid margin. Second-best was Ray Allen, who put up 2.3 treys a game two years ago in what would be his final season with the Boston Celtics.

Looking at the raw numbers, you can't say that Anderson floundered after being dealt to the then-New Orleans Hornets. He still put up 2.6 3s a game last season. However, Anderson went from a starting role to coming off the bench, and when Anthony Davis was healthy, Anderson owners paid for those triples. As a reserve, he averaged a pedestrian 15.4 points while shooting just 41.5 percent. Had Davis not missed so much time in 2012-13, Anderson's production likely would have slipped further. In any event, owners are taking a more realistic view of him this season. After going as high as the late fourth round last season, Anderson will likely be available 10-15 picks later this year.

This article considers some players whose fantasy value could change, positively or negatively, as a result of offseason deals. It's not a complete list, nor is it meant to be. For further analysis and perspective, check out what was said at the time of the Howard signing and the Pierce-Garnett acquisition. A more general look at offseason moves is available here.


Rising Value


Paul Millsap, PF, Atlanta Hawks (No. 43 on the Player Rater for 2012-13): I said it here, and I'll expound upon it: Millsap is only two seasons removed from being a top-20 player in fantasy. Last season, while dealing with questions about his contract status and making room for Derrick Favors, Millsap played just 30 minutes a night. Figure on him seeing at least 33 minutes this season -- a 10 percent bump -- and apply that to his other numbers. That puts Millsap in the range of 16.0 points, 8.0 rebounds and 1.4 steals a game. Millsap is a tremendous value in the middle rounds.

Jose Calderon, PG, Dallas Mavericks (No. 48 on the Player Rater for 2012-13): Injuries are always a concern with the veteran, but the Mavs insist that Calderon's recent left hamstring problem -- even though it kept him sidelined for two weeks of the preseason -- is a minor issue. As critical as point guard production is in fantasy, I think there's more value in later rounds than there has been in recent years, and Calderon, as someone you might land around pick 80, stands out in this regard. Throughout his career, Calderon has shown that, as a starter, he can deliver assists and 3s while making only a miniscule number of turnovers. Playing alongside Dirk Nowitzki and Monta Ellis, he should -- if healthy -- thrive in Big D.

Eric Bledsoe, PG/SG, Phoenix Suns (No. 110 on the Player Rater for 2012-13): While you don't need me to tell you that Bledsoe becoming a starter will do wonders for his fantasy value, I'm going to tell you anyway. I'm just that excited about it. Actually, I'll limit myself to this point: For the steals potential alone, Bledsoe should be going much higher in drafts. Think about the steals leaders in the NBA last season -- Chris Paul, Mike Conley, Ellis, Kemba Walker, Harden and Paul George -- and then think about where they're getting drafted. I'm not trying to tell you that Bledsoe will be anywhere near as valuable as Paul or George. I'm just saying that players who are capable of 2.0 steals a game have unique fantasy value, and they don't generally fall too far on draft boards.

Falling Value


Josh Smith, SF/PF, Detroit Pistons (No. 55 on the Player Rater for 2012-13): In an interesting post, Dan Feldman of the PistonPowered blog argues that Smith taking more 3-pointers is a good thing for the Pistons. Of course, what may be good for the Pistons isn't necessarily good for fantasy owners. Against NBA competition, Smith has held his own from downtown thus far (5-for-14), but overall he's shooting just 42.9 percent this preseason (15-for-35). Shooting from the floor isn't the only issue with Smith. He was a gruesome 51.7 percent from the line in 2012-13 and has topped 63.0 percent just once in the past five seasons. What Smoove gives you in hustle categories he will surely take away in percentages.

O.J. Mayo, SG, Milwaukee Bucks (No. 33 on the Player Rater for 2012-13): I feel bad for Mayo. Prior to the break last season, he averaged 17.9 points, 4.3 assists, 2.0 3s and 1.3 steals a game. But he tanked over the final 30 games, averaging 10.9 points while shooting just 41.7 percent. It seems like Mayo wasn't really suited for the distributor role that was thrust upon him early on in Dallas. In that sense, maybe he benefits from his move to the Bucks. Looking at the roster, though, there doesn't seem to be a ton of scoring in Milwaukee. Mayo should get his points and 3s, but I'll expect he'll be closer to his 43.6 percent career shooting mark. From a fantasy standpoint, there's just nothing really special here.

Other Players of Intrigue


Monta Ellis, PG/SG, Dallas Mavericks (No. 21 on the Player Rater for 2012-13): I find it interesting that Rick Carlisle has gone to the lengths he has to make Ellis comfortable with the Mavs. But will anything really change for us? Ellis is a good player with a well-deserved rep for taking bad shots. Awesome as it would be for Ellis to shoot in the high 40s again, he's about to turn 28. As a player, he is what he is, and me thinking that Ellis could top his career 45.6 shooting percentage this season -- something he hasn't done since 2007-08 -- is likely a pipe dream.

Brandon Jennings, PG, Detroit Pistons (No. 25 on the Player Rater for 2012-13): As someone who once took an errant Novocaine needle to the tongue, I can commiserate with Jennings over his bad times in the dentist's chair. This is another player I want to buy, but even though he's four years younger than Ellis, it's probably too much to expect Jennings -- even with some intriguing talent around him -- to pass up a few jumpers. As much as I would love to see him hike that career 39.4 percent shooting even 3-4 percentage points, this seems like another well-established trend.

Andre Iguodala, SG/SF, Golden State Warriors (No. 63 on the Player Rater for 2012-13): I'm fascinated by this move, but I really don't see Iggy's value changing much. What I wonder is how his addition affects his teammates. Does Harrison Barnes, who's been injured this preseason, come off the bench? Do the Warriors play small lineups a significant amount of time? As a fan, I'm curious to see what happens in Oakland.

[h=1]Early waiver-wire pickups[/h][h=3]Keep eye on players such as Reggie Jackson, Spencer Hawes, Andrea Bargnani[/h]By Tom Carpenter | ESPN.com

Jeremy Lin. Boris Diaw. Antawn Jamison.
These are three of my all-time favorite free-agent pickups. I hit the jackpot with Lin in 2011-12, Diaw in 2005-06, and Jamison in 1999-2000. I won multiple leagues with these ballers simply because I put in a waiver request or pulled them off the free-agent market.
You can't always score that big, but the odds of landing a game-changer are better early in the season when there are so many unknowns and team roles still are being developed. Even if you don't catch lightning in a bottle, culling the hottest players off the waiver wire each week will make your team more competitive and give you the best chance of winning in any format.
Since the season is just getting underway, many players are free agents in some leagues but not others. With that in mind, I'm going to go with a bulk approach this week and focus on three different types of free agents: hot adds (players who are being added quickly in most leagues), speculative adds (players who could get going in the near future and are worth a roll of the dice) and deep league adds (for those of you scraping the waiver-wire barrel in leagues with at least a dozen owners).
Hot adds


Spencer Hawes, Philadelphia 76ers (58.6 percent ownership in ESPN leagues): He's given us ample reasons to be skeptical about a genuine extended statistical explosion. On the other hand, the Sixers are so bereft of talent that Hawes has a wide-open window to make a mark. He's also playing for his next contract, so he should be motivated.
Reggie Jackson, Oklahoma City Thunder (55.6 percent): No one knows when Russell Westbrook will show, so the starting point guard job is Jackson's. He's a former first-round pick and is running the court with Kevin Durant. In other words, he's all upside. In fact, in our season-opening episode of the Fantasy Focus podcast, Doug Kezirian boldly predicted that Jackson will remain in the starting lineup all season. There is plenty of long-term value here.
Iman Shumpert, New York Knicks (51.8 percent): He may not crack the teens in scoring, but if things click for Shumpert, he could be a threat for two 3s and two steals per game. He's the only guy on the Knicks besides Metta World Peace who actually plays defense, so he should see a lot of minutes every game.
Nick Young, Los Angeles Lakers (34.5 percent): Young is going to sport a bad FG%, but he loves to chuck 3s and is now in Mike D'Antoni's 3-chucking offense. If he gets in an early rhythm, Young could score 16-17 PPG and top 2.0 3-PPG. He's worth a look.
Speculative adds


Andrea Bargnani, New York Knicks (29.9 percent): As I told someone recently, "Even though I didn't draft Bargs until the very last round, my self-loathing began immediately thereafter." You, too, may experience self-loathing by adding him off the wire. Nonetheless, despite his propensity for injury, his often poor shooting and his inability to rebound (despite being 7 feet tall), he is a center who shoots 3s and can score in the upper teens. That's a unique value.
Dion Waiters, Cleveland Cavaliers (25.6 percent): The addition of Jarrett Jack during the offseason should put a cap on Waiters' statistical upside. That doesn't mean he doesn't have value, though. He was the No. 4 overall pick last season and, despite struggling for stretches, still averaged 14.7 PPG as a rookie. There is potential here.
Patrick Beverley, Houston Rockets (12.3 percent): People better get hip to Beverley now before he wrestles the starting point guard job away from Lin. It's worth adding him now and being patient. I fully expect his role to grow as the season progresses. Even as a reserve, he will offer scoring, dimes, 3s and steals.
Taj Gibson, Chicago Bulls (5.6 percent): Joakim Noah has shown in the past that he can't stay healthy for the long stretch, and now he's already injured. Noah owners will want to have Gibson rostered as a handcuff. He's a double-double waiting to happen.
Metta World Peace, New York Knicks (4.9 percent): No one knows what to expect from MWP from minute to minute, much less what to expect from him statistically on a new team with his role yet to be determined. It wouldn't surprise me if balling in the Big Apple brings a renaissance campaign out of him. He could be a sneaky source of hustle stats this season.
Deep Leaguers


Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Detroit Pistons (2.9 percent): He's my dark horse for Rookie of the Year. KCP may not get enough shots off on the suddenly talented Pistons to win the award, but I think he's going to surprise a lot of people. We know he is going to be a 3-point threat and can be a scorer, but he will also swipe a lot of balls and rack up a lot of rebounds for a 2-guard. In fact, he pulled down pulled down six to seven rebounds five times in eight preseason games.
Boston Celtics frontcourt -- Jared Sullinger (4.8 percent), Brandon Bass (2.9 percent), Kris Humphries (2.2 percent), Vitor Faverani (0.5 percent), Kelly Olynyk (4.1 percent): I'm guessing that we will be discussing the C's frontcourt a lot, as these guys probably will be on and off the waiver wire all season. On the other hand, any one of them could step up and be a factor. I currently rank them in the above order. Somebody has to score and rebound on the Celtics, right?
Bismack Biyombo, Charlotte Bobcats (1.9 percent): He's done so little since being taken seventh overall in 2011 that people forget how raw he was then and that he is barely 21 years old now. There remains a ton of rebounding and blocking upside here, even though he is (ironically enough) blocked by Al Jefferson on the depth chart. With Big Al sidelined in the preseason, Biyombo blocked 2.0 shots per game and had rebounding efforts of 20, 13, 11 and 21. Even in a reduced role, he can help deep leaguers.
Miles Plumlee, Phoenix Suns (0.4 percent): It's debatable how much upside he offers, but Plumlee has the most important element in fantasy: opportunity. With Marcin Gortat out of the picture, he will get all of the minutes he can handle. He could well push up on a double-double and a block or more per game.
Marcus Thornton, Sacramento Kings (0.8 percent): He may have rookie Ben McLemore nipping at his heels sooner rather than later, but he's in position to start when the season gets underway. We all know he can score, bang down 3s and swipe balls. Fantasy owners in all formats should at least keep a close eye on him.
Thomas Robinson, Portland Trail Blazers (0.7 percent): He's destined for a reserve role with his newest team, but Robinson could be a solid rebounding threat if injuries in the frontcourt open up a bigger role.

Finding help in blocks, steals, 3s

By Tom Carpenter | ESPN.com

DO NOT PANIC!
That is my annual mantra to fantasy owners during the first few weeks every season. One week does not make a season, so be sure to give each fantasy player you expected to perform well enough time to find his role, rhythm and stroke before cutting him. Guys such as Danny Green, Kenneth Faried and Larry Sanders have struggled thus far; give them time. Others such as Tobias Harris and Harrison Barnes have been out with injuries, but should return soon; give them time.


That having been said, if you think you simply missed the mark when assessing a player and believe he isn't going to make the impact you had hoped, then you shouldn't hesitate to cut him for a better free-agent option. The same goes if there is a player on the waiver wire you suspect will be better than a player currently on your team. Cut bait and move on.
This week, I am going to take a look at free agents who contribute peripheral stats: blocks, steals and 3-pointers. Some of these players will offer short-term value, while others could be long-term contributors. Just make sure you think twice before dumping one of your current players for one of those listed below.
Blocks
DeAndre Jordan, Los Angeles Clippers (65.4 percent ownership in ESPN leagues): It's a tad surprising that Jordan was owned in less than 40 percent of ESPN leagues, but that has increased to the mid-60s after he pulled down 28 boards in his first two games. He settled down a bit in Game 3 on Friday with eight rebounds, but he has averaged a solid 2.0 BPG thus far. He averaged 2.0 BPG two seasons ago, so he has the ability to maintain this pace and is always a double-double threat. I expect new coach Doc Rivers to draw the most out of him this season. He should be owned in all leagues right now.
Miles Plumlee, Phoenix Suns (61.6 percent): As I mentioned in Monday's Fantasy Focus podcast, opportunity is more important than talent, which is why after Marcin Gortat was traded to Washington, Plumlee's ownership skyrocketed from 0.4 percent to 61.6 percent. While I remain skeptical about his talent, he's locked into a starting role now and that means he could average close to a double-double with 1-2 blocks per game.


Vitor Faverani, Boston Celtics (18.9 percent): The Brazilian is a rookie by NBA standards, but he is a veteran of international play, so he's further along than many might expect. In other words, on this young and under-talented Celtics squad, Faverani has as good a chance as anyone to make an impact this season. He's had ups and downs early on, while coach Brad Stevens figures out his rotation, but odds are good that he'll be their long-term answer at center. He is averaging 3.3 BPG thus far, including a six-rejection performance versus the Bucks on Friday.
John Henson, Milwaukee Bucks (2.7 percent): When the Bucks increased Henson's role late last season, he averaged 1.8 blocks in just 21.1 minutes over his final eight games. It seems that he is destined for a role off the bench this season, but he is averaging 1.3 BPG and 1.3 SPG in just 22.3 MPG thus far. He's an intriguing flier in deeper leagues.
Robin Lopez, Portland Trail Blazers (1.6 percent): It's ironic that even when you pair the Lopez twins together, they barely average a double-double between them. Nonetheless, Robin has a starting job with the Blazers, and thus, the opportunity to play significant minutes. If you are in a deep league and need some help in blocks, Lopez could at least fill in a gap for the short term.
Steals
Iman Shumpert, New York Knicks (62.8 percent): He only has three swipes in three games, which puts him right at the 1.0 SPG pace he carried in 45 games last season. Going back to his rookie campaign, before his knee injury, though, he averaged 1.7 SPG. Prior to the All-Star break that season, he averaged 2.0 SPG. Time will tell whether he lives up to that potential this season, but that sort of upside is worthy of a speculative add.


Trevor Ariza, Washington Wizards (53.2 percent): Forget the 15 field goal attempts he is averaging. Forget the 17.7 PPG he is averaging. While you're at it, forget the 10.3 RPG he is averaging. He will not maintain those numbers. However, he is fully capable of maintaining the 1.7 SPG we've seen from him thus far. Ride him while he's hot overall. Once he inevitably cools off, hang onto him if you need some extra swipes.
Mario Chalmers, Miami Heat (46.4 percent): Obviously, Chalmers isn't going to steal 3.3 balls per game this season, but he has been steady at 1.5 SPG the past two seasons. If things click, he could even push up on 2.0 per game for the long haul.
Reggie Jackson, Oklahoma City Thunder (26.2 percent): There was only one negative to Russell Westbrook's quicker-than-expected return to action this past weekend, and that is that Jackson is no longer an early-season breakout candidate. Nonetheless, he still has plenty of value as a sixth man for the Thunder (just ask former Thunder sixth-men Kevin Martin and James Harden). That includes racking up 3s and steals. Jackson should still be a solid roster-filler in most leagues.
Tony Allen, Memphis Grizzlies (4.0 percent): He may be pushing 32, but Allen can still pile up swipes with the best of them. He snagged five Friday and at least one in each of his other two games. Granted, he does nothing else of interest, so his fantasy value is restricted to deep-leaguers, but he's a shoo-in for at least 1.5 SPG.
Metta World Peace, New York Knicks (3.6 percent): His value is entirely dependent upon how big of a role he carves out in the Knicks rotation. He averaged 1.6 SPG last season with the Lakers, but will have to get more than 30 MPG (20.3 MPG thus far with the Knicks) to match that. Keep an eye on him, because his role may well increase sooner than later.
3-Pointers
Arron Afflalo, Orlando Magic (73.2 percent): When he has the opportunity and is on, Afflalo can churn out terrific all-around fantasy stats. That alone is worth adding him to all rosters right now, considering his red-hot start this season. If you need 3s, though, he's been a beast, knocking down at least three 3s in each of his past three games.


Lance Stephenson, Indiana Pacers (45.7 percent): With Danny Granger sidelined (again), Stephenson has gotten off to a hot start, banging down 3.0 3-pointers over his first three contests. Obviously, he won't shoot 64.3 percent from beyond the arc for long, but we can ride him while his stroke is hot.
Kyle Korver, Atlanta Hawks (20.3 percent): We can't expect Korver to average anywhere near the 15.7 PPG he's posted early on this season, and obviously he won't be knocking down 4.0 3-PPG. On the other hand, he has knocked down 42.0 percent of his 3s during his career and should have no trouble matching last season's 2.6 3-PPG. That makes him a solid option to round out starting lineups if you need 3-point production.
Jason Terry, Brooklyn Nets (4.8 percent): It doesn't matter which team Terry is on or how many minutes he plays, the guy is going to chuck up four or five 3s each game and knock down a good chunk of them. He doesn't have much potential beyond 3-point production with the Nets, though, so his value is limited to teams in deep leagues.
Francisco Garcia, Houston Rockets (1.5 percent): Don't look for Garcia to continue jacking up 6.7 3s per game, but if you are in a deep league and desperate for 3s, snag him off of the waiver wire and take his production until it tails off.

Fantasy rumors: Stephenson rising

By Joe Kaiser | ESPN.com

Will Stephenson remain a starter when Granger returns?

As soon as it was announced that Danny Granger would miss the first three weeks of the season with a strained calf, we speculated about the type of impact it’d have on Indiana’s rotation. Like most, we saw potential value in guys like Lance Stephenson or newcomer Chris Copeland stepping up, but who could have seen this?

While Copeland has logged a total of four minutes in the Pacers’ first three games, Stephenson has taken complete advantage of a return to the starting lineup and been an absolute dream for fantasy owners, averaging 19.0 points, 6.7 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 3.0 3PG.

“He's for real,” ESPN’s Chad Ford said on Monday, answering a question about Stephenson in a SportsNation chat. “Has always been one of the most talented players in his age group. Maturity was the issue and the Pacers have done a great job of bringing him along. He's going to make a lot of money next summer -- and yes, I think the combo of him, Paul George, Roy Hibbert, David West and George Hill are good enough to win it all this year. Wish I would have gone with my gut and put them as the favorites in the pre-season poll.”

Once Granger returns, and that could happen at any point in the next few weeks, it’s doubtful that Stephenson will continue to play over 36 minutes a game, but based on what he’s shown over the course of the playoffs and early this season, we have to believe that he could remain in the starting lineup.

“That’s definitely a possibility,” said ESPN Insider Amin Elhassan. “This lineup has a lot of chemistry now over last year-plus, and bringing Granger off bench would allow him more offensive freedom since the Pacers’ offense now centers around George and the post players.”

Here is some of the other chatter swirling around the NBA rumor mill that’s worth paying close attention to ...

<OFFER>What is Reggie Jackson’s value with Russell Westbrook in the lineup?

So you drafted Jackson late with the hopes that he could provide a boost as Oklahoma City’s starting point guard for the first month of the season. As you know by now, that plan is already ripped to shreds, as Westbrook made an early return to the court in Sunday’s win over Phoenix. What you may not know, though, is Jackson may still be worthy of a roster spot even with Westbrook in the lineup.

In the weeks ahead, we’ll be able to get a much clearer understanding of how much Jackson’s production will be impacted by Westbrook’s presence, but if Sunday’s game with the Suns is any indication the answer could simply be this – not every much at all.

"With Scott Brooks still reluctant to trust Jeremy Lamb in a major role off the bench, I'd expect Reggie Jackson to continue to play a major role even after Russell Westbrook returned to the lineup ahead of schedule," said ESPN Insider Kevin Pelton. "He won't play as many minutes as he did as a starter, since it appears Westbrook will quickly ramp up to his regular load, but I would expect at least 20 minutes a night and maybe closer to 25 because the Thunder needs Jackson's ability to create alongside Westbrook, especially down the stretch."

Jackson averaged 28 minutes in the team’s first two games without Westbrook, and played 28 minutes in game three, even while Westbrook started and logged 33 minutes. At one point in the game, OKC even used them together with a three-guard lineup that also included Derek Fisher.

As a third-year pro, Jackson’s season could resemble the type Eric Bledsoe had last year – his third season in the league – while playing behind Chris Paul in Los Angeles: 20.4 MPG, 8.5 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 3.1 APG, 1.4 SPG and 1.3 3PG.

Who will take Dragic’s numbers while he’s out?

Paul Coro of The Arizona Republic reported on Monday that Goran Dragic’s sprained ankle is expected to force the Phoenix point guard to sit out the next two games. Without Dragic, the team’s second-leading scorer (13.7 PPG) and assist man (5.3 APG), look for Bledsoe’s minutes to rise as third-string point guard Ish Smith serves as the only backup option.

The player who could be affected most in Dragic’s absence, though, is veteran shooting guard Gerald Green. Green may not be the defensive-stopper Suns coach Jeff Hornacek covets, but his up-tempo style fits well on the type of athletic roster GM Ryan McDonough has compiled, and he’ll move into the starting lineup and likely get the majority of the minutes at the two.

"The Suns haven't quite settled on a rotation yet past the starters, but Green has played well in the minutes he has received," Elhassan said. "With Dragic out, it's reasonable to expect Green to get more minutes, especially since he's the most offensively gifted wing on the roster."

Green is coming off his best game as a Sun – a dazzling 21-point, 8-rebound performance against the Thunder where he connected on 5 3-pointers. If he managed that against a couple of long defenders in Thabo Sefolosha and Jeremy Lamb, he’s a player owned in only 0.6 percent of ESPN leagues that has a chance to put up a couple big games this week (in terms of points, rebounds and 3-pointers) against New Orleans and San Antonio.

Bumps and bruises

1. Deron Williams is shooting 36 percent from the field, has yet to score in double-digits in any of the Nets’ three games and is clearly not 100 percent.
2. Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer reports that Al Jefferson (ankle) has already been ruled out for Tuesday’s game against New York.
3. Orlando PF Tobias Harris is still weeks away from returning and has yet to practice because of the severe ankle sprain he sustained two weeks ago, the Magic's official site reports.
4. George Hill (hip) was limited in Monday's practice and will be a game-time decision for Tuesday's game against Detroit.
5. Harrison Barnes (foot/toe) has been upgraded from “out” to “day-to-day,” according to Comcast SportsNet Bay Area, but didn’t play in Monday’s blowout win over Philadelphia.
6. Utah’s backup center Andris Biedrins (ankle) will not travel with the team this week on its four-game roadtrip, meaning the earliest he can return would be Nov. 11.
7. The NBA debut of Dallas rookie PG Shane Larkin (ankle) may only be a few weeks away, reports Earl K. Sneed.

Lineup matters

1. Denver coach Brian Shaw is shuffling two spots in the Nuggets starting five, replacing J.J. Hickson for Kenneth Faried and Anthony Randolph for Jordan Hamilton.
2. Antawn Jamison has yet to play and Los Angeles Clippers coach Doc Rivers hints that he may be saving the 37-year-old veteran for later in the season, writes Broderick Turner of the Los Angeles Times.
3. For the third-consecutive game, Boston coach Brad Stevens started Vitor Faverani at center on Monday and opted for youngsters Kelly Olynyk and Jared Sullinger ahead of veteran Kris Humphries as the only big men off the bench. Humphries, in the final year of a contract that will pay him $12 million this season, didn’t play a minute in any of the games and looks as though he’ll be on the trading block as long as he’s in Boston.

[h=1]Early-season risers, fallers[/h][h=3]Greg Monroe's fast start, Larry Sanders' struggles among trends following Week 2[/h]By Brian McKitish | Special to ESPN.com

Things can change quickly in the fantasy world, and even just a couple of weeks' worth of action can force quite a bit of reshuffling in the Top 130 rankings.
This is particularly true when we get down to some of the players ranked after the Top 100. Players ranked that low are typically inconsistent, streaky or unproven. That is why you'll see a lot of fluctuation from week to week near the bottom of the rankings.
With that in mind, let's take a look at some of the big movers in this week's update.

[h=3]Moving Up[/h]
[h=3]The Top 130[/h]
Note: Brian McKitish's top 100 players are ranked for their fantasy value for the 2013-14 NBA season. Previous rank is indicated in parentheses. 1. Kevin Durant, OKC (1)
2. LeBron James, MIA (2)
3. Chris Paul, LAC (4)
4. Anthony Davis, NO (7)
5. James Harden, HOU (3)
6. Stephen Curry, GS (5)
7. Kevin Love, MIN (6)
8. Paul George, IND (8)
9. Russell Westbrook, OKC (9)
10. Kyrie Irving, CLE (10)
11. John Wall, WSH (14)
12. Carmelo Anthony, NY (13)
13. Marc Gasol, MEM (11)
14. Derrick Rose, CHI (12)
15. Dwyane Wade, MIA (21)
16. Damian Lillard, POR (19)
17. Nicolas Batum, POR (17)
18. Ty Lawson, DEN (26)
19. Mike Conley, MEM (23)
20. Al Horford, ATL (25)
21. Serge Ibaka, OKC (16)
22. Ricky Rubio, MIN (15)
23. DeMarcus Cousins, SAC (28)
24. LaMarcus Aldridge, POR (20)
25. Josh Smith, DET (27)
26. Al Jefferson, CHA (22)
27. Deron Williams, BKN (18)
28. Dirk Nowitzki, DAL (24)
29. Tony Parker, SA (29)
30. Jeff Teague, ATL (35)
31. Brandon Jennings, DET (36)
32. Klay Thompson, GS (37)
33. Blake Griffin, LAC (34)
34. David Lee, GS (32)
35. Brook Lopez, BKN (40)
36. Jrue Holiday, NO (30)
37. Paul Millsap, ATL (43)
38. Dwight Howard, HOU (38)
39. Rudy Gay, TOR (39)
40. Kemba Walker, CHA (41)
41. Nikola Vucevic, ORL (46)
42. Eric Bledsoe, PHO (59)
43. Greg Monroe, DET (56)
44. Monta Ellis, DAL (49)
45. Roy Hibbert, IND (47)
46. Joakim Noah, CHI (33)
47. Chris Bosh, MIA (45)
48. Derrick Favors, UTAH (44)
49. Pau Gasol, LAL (31)
50. Bradley Beal, WSH (52)
51. Jeff Green, BOS (50)
52. Michael Carter-Williams, PHI (55)
53. Kobe Bryant, LAL (53)
54. Evan Turner, PHI (76)
55. Tim Duncan, SA (57)
56. Thaddeus Young, PHI (51)
57. Kawhi Leonard, SA (48)
58. Spencer Hawes, PHI (64)
59. Wesley Matthews, POR (65)
60. Gordon Hayward, UTAH (62)
61. Paul Pierce, BKN (54)
62. Kevin Martin, MIN (90)
63. Larry Sanders, MIL (42)
64. Andre Drummond, DET (58)
65. Kyle Lowry, TOR (61)
66. Goran Dragic, PHO (66)
67. Jose Calderon, DAL (67)
68. J.R. Smith, NY (60)
69. Zach Randolph, MEM (70)
70. George Hill, IND (71)
71. Enes Kanter, UTAH (72)
72. Nikola Pekovic, MIN (73)
73. Victor Oladipo, ORL (69)
74. David West, IND (74)
75. O.J. Mayo, MIL (87)
76. Jonas Valanciunas, TOR (75)
77. Carlos Boozer, CHI (85)
78. Kenneth Faried, DEN (68)
79. Ryan Anderson, NO (77)
80. Ersan Ilyasova, MIL (63)
81. Chandler Parsons, HOU (78)
82. Jimmy Butler, CHI (79)
83. Eric Gordon, NO (95)
84. Jameer Nelson, ORL (81)
85. Isaiah Thomas, SAC (82)
86. Luol Deng, CHI (83)
87. Andre Iguodala, GS (97)
88. J.J. Redick, LAC (104)
89. Marcin Gortat, WSH (92)
90. Daniel Green, SA (98)
91. Tobias Harris, ORL (84)
92. Rajon Rondo, BOS (91)
93. DeMar DeRozan, TOR (93)
94. Raymond Felton, NY (94)
95. Nene Hilario, WSH (118)
96. Kyle Korver, ATL (128)
97. DeAndre Jordan, LAC (108)
98. Andrew Bogut, GS (89)
99. Wilson Chandler, DEN (101)
100. Arron Afflalo, ORL (109)
101. Jamal Crawford, LAC (107)
102. Tristan Thompson, CLE (105)
103. Anderson Varejao, CLE (106)
104. Mario Chalmers, MIA (116)
105. Markieff Morris, PHO (125)
106. Amir Johnson, TOR (102)
107. Patrick Beverley, HOU (NR)
108. Shawn Marion, DAL (114)
109. Trevor Ariza, WSH (123)
110. J.J. Hickson, DEN (111)
111. Dion Waiters, CLE (NR)
112. Miles Plumlee, PHX (124)
113. Joe Johnson, BKN (103)
114. Brandon Knight, MIL (110)
115. Lance Stephenson, IND (122)
116. Trey Burke, UTAH (117)
117. Jeremy Lin, HOU (80)
118. Alec Burks, UTAH (120)
119. Harrison Barnes, GS (113)
120. Tyreke Evans, NO (99)
121. Jarrett Jack, CLE (121)
122. Manu Ginobili, SA (129)
123. Tyson Chandler, NY (86)
124. JaVale McGee, DEN (88)
125. Greivis Vasquez, SAC (119)
126. Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, CHA (NR)
127. Iman Shumpert, NY (126)
128. Corey Brewer, MIN (NR)
129. Brandon Bass, BOS (NR)
130. Andrea Bargnani, NY (NR)


It is quickly becoming clear that the rumors of Greg Monroe's demise were greatly exaggerated. Expected to see a drop in production across the board with Andre Drummond emerging and newcomers Josh Smith and Brandon Jennings in town, Monroe has actually played better with the added firepower in the lineup. No longer the primary focus of opposing defenses, Monroe has been able to roam free with 17.8 points, 11.8 rebounds (including 5.4 offensive rebounds!), 1.6 steals and 1.4 blocks in 38.6 minutes per game. I know it's a small sample size, but it looks like Monroe may actually end up benefiting from the Pistons' offseason moves.
You guys think Kevin Martin likes playing with Ricky Rubio and Kevin Love? With Love and Rubio creating open spaces, Martin has come out of the gates on fire, posting 23.3 points, 2.8 3-pointers and 1.3 steals per game after seven contests. More important, he's getting 15.3 shot attempts, including 5.0 3-point attempts per game. And if that isn't enough, he's getting to the line 6.8 times per game, where he's a career 86.7 percent shooter. Already firmly entrenched as the Wolves' No. 2 scoring option, Martin just needs to stay healthy to have a big-time comeback season. If there's still room on the bandwagon, I'll gladly jump on.
Much like Martin with Love and Rubio, J.J. Redick has to be happy in his role playing alongside Chris Paul and Blake Griffin in Los Angeles. (I know his fantasy owners sure are.) Averaging 17.6 points, 1.0 steals and 2.1 3-pointers in 30.1 minutes per game, Redick is lighting it up in early action, and there's no reason to think he won't keep this up. His 12.4 shots and 5.9 3-point attempts per game should give you an indication of how involved he's going to continue to be in this offense.
I really want to move Eric Gordon up higher than 83rd in my Top 130 rankings given his terrific play to date, but I remain cautiously optimistic given his lengthy injury history and the impending return of Ryan Anderson. A high-risk, high-reward selection on draft day, Gordon has been mostly reward this season with averages of 16.5 points, 1.7 3-pointers and 1.8 steals in 30.3 minutes per game. This may be a prime opportunity to sell high, but remember that Gordon has been incredibly productive when healthy in his five-year career.
After starting off slow, Markieff Morris has busted loose with three consecutive 20-plus-point efforts and is now averaging 19.4 points, 7.0 rebounds, 1.6 steals and 0.6 3-pointers over his past five games. Morris offers a nice blend of talents for fantasy owners and should be immediately added if he's available in your league.
[h=3]Moving Down (or out)[/h]
Last week, we discussed remaining patient with players like Derrick Rose and Bradley Beal at the start of the season. I'm going to go ahead and add Serge Ibaka, Ricky Rubio, Kyrie Irving, Al Jefferson and Danny Green to the "remain calm" list. Do not sell any of these guys without getting their pre-draft value in return.
With just one player (Brook Lopez) averaging more than 30 minutes per game, the Brooklyn Nets haven't been very kind to fantasy owners in the early going. Deron Williams has been slowly working his way back from an ankle injury, and although he should improve as his minutes increase, he's still moving down in the overall rankings nonetheless. Deron should be able to remain a top-30 or top-40 player thanks to his high assist totals, but the potential for fewer shot attempts (particularly from downtown) may keep him from being the top-20 player many thought he would be coming into this season. Kevin Garnett, meanwhile, dropped out of the rankings this week after averaging just 23.2 minutes in the Nets' first six games.
I'm not quite hitting the panic button on Larry Sanders yet, but there seems to be a little "what can go wrong will go wrong" going on at the start of the season. Not only is he averaging just 2.7 points, 3.7 rebounds and 2.0 blocks in 17.3 minutes, but he's also sat out the past two games with a sore thumb and was involved in an off-court fight at a nightclub on Sunday night. Fantasy owners are stuck in a bad spot with Sanders at the moment; you can't drop him, and you certainly shouldn't sell him with his value currently in the tank. My advice? Ride out the storm. He should be back in the lineup soon, and I think he'll start to get back on track over the next few weeks.
Jeremy Lin may be averaging 14.0 points, 4.0 assists, 1.6 steals and 1.0 3-pointers in 30.6 minutes after seven games, but he's already lost his starting job to Patrick Beverley, and may see a slightly reduced role going forward. Lin should still have some value even in standard 10-team leagues, but beware of his declining role, especially if Beverley continues to play at a high level.
It's usually pretty easy to find valuable fantasy players on bad NBA teams, but the Boston Celtics have been a fantasy wasteland thus far with the lone exception of Jeff Green. Brandon Bass has been mostly solid and can be considered a borderline waiver-wire addition, but Gerald Wallace, Avery Bradley, Kelly Olynyk and Vitor Faverani have all disappointed to start the season. All four can safely be dropped in standard fantasy leagues at the moment, although we should continue to keep a close eye on Olynyk's playing time as we get deeper into the season.
We talked briefly about JaVale McGee's struggles last week, but a stress fracture in his left tibia has complicated matters even further for his fantasy owners. McGee was off to an extremely slow start, averaging just 7.0 points, 3.4 rebounds and 1.4 blocks in just 16.0 minutes per game prior to the injury. That's not a lot of minutes for a guy whom the Nuggets were supposedly committed to prior to the season. There is no timetable on McGee's return, and his owners should probably wait a few days before deciding whether to drop the talented but inconsistent big man.
It's pretty strange not seeing Steve Nash make the cut for the Top 130 this week, but the 39-year-old has been woefully ineffective and is clearly struggling to stay healthy. Nash is averaging just 6.7 points, 4.8 assists and 0.8 3-pointers in 22.5 minutes per game to start the season, and his back injury on Sunday night against the Timberwolves is more than just a little concerning. It's probably smarter to give it a day or two to hear the prognosis on his back before cutting ties, but Nash appears to be waiver-wire material in standard 10-team formats.

Fantasy Rumors: What to make of Henson

By Joe Kaiser | ESPN.com

Can John Henson take advantage of increased minutes?

While Henson started the season as a backup, anyone who drafted him knew that the promising second-year forward was only an injury away from cracking the starting lineup. Fast-forward to today, and the Bucks are the most injured team in the NBA, with news coming out Monday that starting center Larry Sanders (thumb) will miss the next six weeks and starting power forward Ersan Ilyasova (ankle) is likely out for the Bucks' upcoming three-game road trip. And we didn't even mention Carlos Delfino (foot), who will miss the rest of the season.

That means big minutes for Henson this week, and possibly in the weeks to follow -- that part will depend on how coach Larry Drew adjusts his frontcourt rotation once Ilyasova returns.

So what can you expect out of Henson? Remember, this is the same guy who put up a 17-point, 25-rebound, 7-block performance late last season against Orlando as a rookie. Or is it? Henson's minutes have doubled to just over 26 MPG in his second season, and while his block and assist rates have kept pace, his rebounding and scoring haven't. The lanky 6-foot-11 forward is pulling down only 8.1 rebounds per 40 minutes this season after posting a 14.4 per 40 mark as a rook, and his scoring is down from 18.4 to 16.2 per 40. One of the reasons for that could be the that the Bucks have slowed down considerably from last season, going from the third-highest pace in the league in 2012-13 (97.3 possessions per game) to the third-lowest this year (94.2).

Five games is a small sample size, and Henson could very well return to his old ways. But if these trends continue this week, it might indicate that while Henson's starting role makes him a nice option in the short term (he's averaged 11 PPG, 7 RPG, 1.5 BPG in the last two games with Ilyasova out), he may not quite be ready to be the fantasy force some (pointing at myself) projected him to be in 2013-14, even with a bigger role.

Who benefits statistically in Steve Nash's absence?

The injury bug won’t go away for the 40-year-old Nash, which isn’t all that surprising given that he’s the oldest point guard in the NBA; his latest back woes will keep him out of the lineup for at least two weeks.

That’s sure to alter the fantasy value of several players in the Lakers' rotation, most notably Steve Blake and Jodie Meeks. The Lakers will slide Blake from the 2 to the 1 and insert Meeks into the starting lineup for Tuesday night’s tilt with New Orleans, coach Mike D'Antoni told the Los Angeles Times.

He also indicated that he doesn’t want to determine his starters on a night-to-night basis, per Dave McMenamin of ESPNLosAngeles.com.

"I don't want to do that," D'Antoni said. "I want to get set starters and set rotation and everybody feel comfortable with their roles."

For Blake, who has shot poorly so far in the young season but still has managed to sink 2.6 3-pointers a game while playing alongside Nash, you can expect his assist numbers to rise and his 3-point attempts to decline in the weeks ahead. Even if his minutes (he's averaging 31.3 so far in 2013-14) stay about the same, he’ll have to play more of the role of facilitator while running the point.

Meeks, who enters Tuesday averaging 26.4 MPG, could see a good bump in his minutes, depending on how D’Antoni uses him and Wesley Johnson in the rotation. So far this season, Meeks (66.3 true shooting percentage) has been a much more efficient shooter than Johnson (41.7). In fact, Meeks’ true shooting percentage ranks No. 19 in all the NBA while Johnson is all the way down at No. 268. Meeks is historically not much of a factor in terms of assists or steals, but he can be counted on for about 15 points and 2 3-pointers a game until Nash (or Kobe Bryant) returns.

Look for the production of Johnson and backup point guard Jordan Farmar to remain unchanged in the weeks ahead.

Is Timofey Mozgov worth your attention?

What is it with Denver’s backup centers? In deeper fantasy leagues, they seem to always keep your attention. The last few seasons, that honor went to Kosta Koufos, and this year the torch has been passed to Mozgov, who was earning more playing time than JaVale McGee even before it was discovered that McGee had a stress fracture in his left tibia.

“…McGee was off to an extremely slow start, averaging just 7.0 points, 3.4 rebounds and 1.4 blocks in just 16.0 minutes per game prior to the injury,” ESPN contributor Brian McKitish wrote on Monday, listing McGee as one of the players whose stock has fallen most in the opening weeks of the season. “That's not a lot of minutes for a guy whom the Nuggets were supposedly committed to prior to the season. There is no timetable on McGee's return, and his owners should probably wait a few days before deciding whether to drop the talented but inconsistent big man.”

As it turns out, waiting hasn’t been the preferred choice for most fantasy owners. In fact McGee, who is out indefinitely, was the most dropped player of the last seven days in ESPN leagues.

The race to acquire Mozgov hasn’t been quite as fast and furious, however. He’s still owned in less than 1 percent of ESPN leagues. The best thing to do here could be to wait and see how things play out for a couple games. For as big and mobile as Mozgov is, he’s never been quite the scorer or rebounder that Koufos was in his days with the Nuggets. Over the past three seasons, Koufos averaged about 12-14 points and 12-13 rebounds per 40 minutes, while Mozgov was slightly lower with points and in the 9-12 range with rebounds.

Mozgov didn’t even start Monday in Denver’s first game without McGee in the lineup, playing only 19 minutes, as coach Brian Shaw elected to go with J.J. Hickson as the starting center. If that continues, Mozgov isn't worthy of a pickup.

Bumps and bruises

• Denver SF Wilson Chandler (hamstring) was a late scratch from Monday’s game, but The Denver Post reports that he’s closer to making his season debut.
• Utah rookie PG Trey Burkehas been cleared to ramp up his workouts but isn’t quite ready to begin practicing, reports Jody Genessy of the Deseret News.
• Orlando coach Jacque Vaughn indicated in the middle of last week that SF/PF Tobias Harris (ankle) remains out indefinitely.
• The hamstring injury sustained by Chicago PG Derrick Rose on Monday is considered minor, according to Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau.
• Danny Granger (calf) will return to practice sometime this week but there’s no timeline for when he’ll make his season debut, Conrad Brunner of 1070TheFan.com reports.

Lineup matters

• Rookie Boston big man Kelly Olynyk moved into the starting lineup over the weekend, and his production immediately picked up. In the past two games, he’s averaging 11.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 1 block and 1.5 3-pointers.
• Cleveland center Andrew Bynumearned his first start of the season on Monday against Chicago, getting the nod over Anderson Varejao, and finished with season highs in minutes (21), points (11) and rebounds (6). Varejao’s 29 minutes off the bench tied a season low.
• With Sacramento off to a poor start, coach Mike Malone is promising lineup changes, and Jason Jones of the Sacramento Bee reported Monday that third-year guard Jimmer Fredettecould get more playing time despite his defensive struggles.
• Jordan Crawford is stabilizing what has been a shaky point guard position in Boston this season, writes Baxter Holmes of The Boston Globe.
• Cleveland finished Saturday’s game against Philadelphia with a three-guard lineup that included Kyrie Irving, Dion Waiters and Jarrett Jack, and it may become a staple, according to Mary Schmitt Boyer of The Plain Dealer.
• Utah SG/SF Brandon Rush made his season debut last week after missing a year to an ACL injury, but his comeback has been put on hold for the time being.

[h=1]Fast-rising players to pick up[/h][h=3]Markieff Morris, Kidd-Gilchrist, Bargnani worth getting sooner than later[/h]By Tom Carpenter | ESPN.com

The most important time to be working the waiver wire is during the first few weeks of the season. That's because there are always players out there who can make an impact for your team for the long haul. Sometimes it's a guy who was cut by an impatient owner following a slow start. Sometimes it's a player whose fantasy potential is just coming to fruition. Other times, injuries open up a bigger role.
With that in mind, let's take a look at some of the fast-rising players on the waiver wire and other players whose fantasy value is affected by injuries, either to themselves or teammates.

Fast risers


Markieff Morris, Phoenix Suns (88.6 percent ownership in ESPN leagues): Normal NBA fans don't waste their time watching awful teams, especially in the waning weeks of the season. Fantasy owners, on the other hand, have a special kind of depravity that makes us do the exact opposite. We didn't need to watch a team like the Miami Heat closely late last season, because there was little to glean from a fantasy perspective.
The Suns, on the other hand, offered us a glimpse at young players like Morris, who was granted extended minutes as their season came to a merciful end. We found out then that he was capable of scoring, knocking down 3s, hitting the glass and racking up hustle stats. That was a small sample size, but it was clear that on the talent-thin Suns roster this season, he would have the chance to establish himself as a statistical threat, even as a reserve.
Sure enough, Morris has scored at least 23 points in each of his past three games, which included a pair of double-doubles. He has chipped in some 3s and a lot of steals, too. Morris also has the ability to block shots (he rejected six in one of those games late last season). If he keeps it up, we may even see him move into a starting role.
Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Charlotte Bobcats (59.3 percent): The long-term expectation for MKG is that he is the next Gerald Wallace, a small forward capable of racking up boards and hustle stats. Ideally, he will be even better, but that will depend a lot on how well he progresses as a scorer. After six games this season, he has knocked down 56.3 percent of his shots from the field and is averaging 11.5 PPG. Consistency will be the key for MKG, but considering his upside, you shouldn't hesitate to grab him now in case he is in the early stages of arriving as an NBA force.
Andrea Bargnani, New York Knicks (47.7 percent): Let's face it: Bargs is going to be a regular in this column, because he is the type of player who has no consistency other than being inconsistent. And that means that he will be on and off the waiver wire all season long as his production ebbs and flows. With Tyson Chandler out for a month, Bargnani should see enough minutes and shots to chip in points and 3s. Just remember that he won't do anything else to help your team.
Patrick Beverley, Houston Rockets (31.1 percent): Beverley made a quick return from his rib injury, then laid a 1-for-10 egg in his first start of the year Thursday. However, he showed up Saturday evening against the Los Angeles Clippers with 19 points (6-for-13 FG), 3 3s, 5 boards, 3 dimes, 2 blocks and 4 steals. In other words, the cat is out of the bag and you better go get him before he's owned in 100 percent of leagues. There is tremendous fantasy upside in his game this season.
Gerald Green, Phoenix Suns (21.1 percent): There is a reason why Green is on his seventh team in seven NBA seasons: He's not really that good. He's hit just 35.6 percent of his 3-point attempts as a pro, which is nothing to write home about, unless you're on a team that's so bad that you can get off 5.6 3-point attempts per game. So long as he has the *ahem* green light to chuck it, Green can be a cheap source of 3s for teams in deeper leagues.
Injury-related adds


Tobias Harris, Orlando Magic (53.0 percent): I don't care if he is nursing a serious ankle injury, there is no reason why Harris should be on waivers in all but the smallest of leagues. The Magic have been tight-lipped regarding details about the injury and his return. However, if it's a high-ankle sprain, those typically take four to six weeks to heal. He sustained the injury on Oct. 20, so even in a worst-case scenario, he should return to the hardwood in the next two or three weeks. Even if you have to hold onto him for another few weeks, the payoff will be worth it. Don't forget that he averaged 17.3 PPG, 8.5 RPG, 2.1 APG, 1.0 3-PPG and 1.4 BPG after the Magic acquired him last season. Let another owner in your league nab him and you'll be beating yourself up about it the rest of the season.
Wilson Chandler, Denver Nuggets (54.4 percent): Chandler doesn't have the same upside as Harris, but it's not that far off. He's proved in the past that he can score in the mid-teens with quality percentages and decent production in 3s, blocks, and boards. Chandler will come off the bench initially, but he'll be in the starting lineup sooner than later on a team that ranks 17th in scoring and needs his help putting the rock through the hoop. In other words, he won't be on waivers for long.
J.J. Hickson (47.8 percent), JaVale McGee (42.2 percent), Denver Nuggets: Anyone out there remember Tyrone Hill? The guy basically couldn't help but get a double-double every time he set foot on the hardwood for the majority of his 14-year NBA career, yet he never added any other stats of note. Hickson reminds me of Hill; we won't see him pile up blocks, steals, 3s or assists, but he will be a double-double threat every game he starts a game. With McGee sidelined, Hickson should be a solid add for any team in need of boards or double-dubs.
I understand why people are dropping McGee, since he's out indefinitely with a stress fracture in his leg. However, the injury helps explain his slow start. He had 17 boards in his first five games this season, a number he matched in his second-to-last regular season game last season. However, the fact that he could pull down 17 boards in a game and average at least 2.5 BPG in two different seasons is exactly why I mention him here as a candidate to add to your roster. If you have the space on your bench, McGee makes for a terrific big-man stash until he returns to form.
Steve Blake (20.8 percent), Jordan Farmar (4.8 percent), Los Angeles Lakers: Blake has averaged more than 6.0 APG during partial seasons with a team twice during his lengthy NBA career. So the fact that he has posted dime totals of 9, 7, 8 and 8 early on this season isn't a fluke. And with Steve Nash's long-term situation in doubt, Blake is in position to be a reliable source of assists for the long haul. He can also chip in a fair amount of 3s. Farmar should be in the mix as a source of assists for deep-league teams, too, so long as Nash is sidelined.

[h=1]Playing the percentages[/h][h=3]Avery Bradley, Corey Brewer, Ramon Sessions can help in tricky fantasy categories[/h]By Tom Carpenter | ESPN.com

Field goal and free throw percentages are unique statistics in fantasy hoops, because volume matters. All blocks are worth the same amount. All assists are worth the same amount. All steals are worth the same amount. That's simply not the case when it comes to percentages. Not all 50 percent field goal shooters are created equal.

Field goal and free throw attempts are the hidden stats behind the percentages. The impact -- good or bad -- that a player has on your team in percentages is weighted by how many shots he takes. My longtime readers know that I think Steve Nash (even when he was playing well) is one of the great examples of how some players are overrated in their percentages. It's great that two seasons ago, Nash averaged 53.2 FG% and 89.4 FT%, but those numbers carried little impact at 9.0 field goal attempts and 2.3 free throw attempts per game.
Helpful? Yes. Impactful? No.
Not surprisingly, you aren't going to find any players on waivers who will make a big impact for you in FG% or FT%. However, there are a handful of free-agent ballers available in most leagues who can at least be helpful in those categories. Granted, we need to take percentages with a grain of salt this early in the season, because one game can make a significant swing, but we have enough info to make some loose conclusions, especially when factoring in the history of a player as a shooter.
Here are some of those players who are taking enough shots to help you out in FG% or FT%.
Field goal percentage


Avery Bradley, Boston Celtics (12.6 FGA, 45.3 FG%): He hasn't shown the least bit of consistency as a scorer this season, but he will have every opportunity to find his stroke by taking a lot of shots. Bradley ripped off 23 field goal attempts Saturday and hit a dozen of them on his way to 27 points. I think he probably will settle in around 45 percent from the field for the long haul, which isn't great, but it's strong enough to not bring your team down. Sometimes average is a good thing.
Corey Brewer, Minnesota Timberwolves (10.8 FGA, 47.9 FG%): Let's be realistic here: Brewer is a career 41.8 percent shooter from the field, so we shouldn't expect his FG% to remain this high. That having been said, he has a great rhythm right now in this Wolves offense. He has taken at least eight shots in every game and in the three contests during which he took at least 14 shots, he has banged down at least half of them. Ride him while he is hot.
Gerald Green, Phoenix Suns (10.0 FGA, 48.9 FG%): Like Brewer, Green has been a pretty shoddy shooter over the long haul of his career, but he has had stretches of success where he has shot in the upper 40s. Furthermore, only three times in nine games this season has he shot under 50 percent from the field. Plus, he has taken double-digit shots in six of his past seven games.
Mo Williams, Portland Trail Blazers (9.3 FGA, 47.3 FG%): When Williams has been in the right place and used in the right role during his lengthy journeyman career, he has sported a quality field goal percentage for a point guard. Right now, in a reserve role with the Blazers, he is taking quality shots, which has helped lead to his current 47.3 FG%. It's a nice pairing for a point to dish out five dimes and help you out in percentages, and it's a pace that Williams is capable of maintaining.
Jared Sullinger, Boston Celtics (9.3 FGA, 50.0 FG%): Even if you have low expectations for what Sullinger can do as a pro, it's clear that he has enough going for him to maintain a quality field goal percentage. If he can get comfortable in the coming weeks, he could get off double-digit shots each game and have a respectable impact for your team. Obviously, the rest of his stats are lacking, but if you are struggling in FG%, he could help you out on the cheap.
Jason Smith, New Orleans Pelicans (9.1 FGA, 52.7 FG%): Unlike some of the other offerings above, Smith has proved to be a quality shooter as a pro, averaging 47.6 FG% over six seasons. He shot 49.0 percent from the field last season and 52.0 percent the previous campaign. So far this season, Smith is taking a career-high 9.1 shots per game. He has also chipped in 1.3 blocks per game, which is enough to help those teams in deep leagues.
Free throw percentage


Ramon Sessions, Charlotte Bobcats (6.2 FTA, 80.6 FT%): Sessions really flies under the radar, even in deep leagues, because he's a point guard who doesn't dish out assists, drop 3s or steal many balls. However, dating back to last season, he has been one of the more underrated free throw shooters in deep fantasy leagues. He averaged 5.7 free throw attempts per game and 83.9 percent from the line in his first season with the Bobcats last year, so his current marks are right on pace. If you are struggling to get over the hump in free throws, Sessions could be the guy to push you over.
Nene Hilario, Washington Wizards (7.0 FTA, 57.1 FT%): The big fella is a bit of a conundrum at the charity stripe right now. He normally doesn't take this many free throws per game (typically in the 4-5 range), but he also normally shoots better (more like 70 percent). If he continues to get to the stripe as often as he has thus far and gets back up toward his normal rate, he could make a decent impact for teams that are trying to counter a really bad free throw shooter on their roster.
Gerald Henderson, Charlotte Bobcats (4.4 FTA, 77.3 FT%): While Henderson's numbers hardly jump out at you when it comes to his work as a free throw shooter this season, he probably will improve on these numbers in the coming weeks. Last season, Henderson took 4.6 free-throw attempts per game and knocked down 82.4 percent of them. It's a little difficult to get past the ugly 36.6 FG% he carries at the moment, but that should rise, too. Keep in mind that he has averaged at least 44.7 FG% each of the past three seasons. We know he doesn't offer much else, but you could do worse than add Henderson to pump up your team's FT%.
Jimmy Butler, Chicago Bulls (3.9 FTA, 87.1 FT%): Unfortunately, we haven't exactly seen a breakout performance from Butler early on this season. I still think it will come, so fantasy owners should just wait it out. In the meantime, if you have to use him while waiting for the rest of his stats to come along, you can savor his success at the charity stripe. In September, I noted that free throws would be the key to Butler scoring in the teens. It wouldn't surprise me if he ends up taking more than five per game eventually. In fact, he attempted six in each of his past two games. Now, if we could just get his field goal percentage up to a respectable level.

[h=1]Power forward scarcity[/h][h=3]Love, Anthony Davis among best options at seemingly top-heavy position[/h]By John Cregan | Special to ESPN.com

I get excited when a new trend begins to develop in the fantasy basketball statistical market. I get excited at the mysteries of a spreadsheet, especially when the results buck a previously assembled version of my own assembled conventional wisdom.

This new trend has to do with positional scarcity, a topic we grazed in last week's column on categorical scarcity.


Positional scarcity simply asks us to pay attention to the positions on the floor where there is more and less available value.

But it also asks us to consider how that value is distributed across the position. Is it a top-heavy position, where only five or six top producers generate a disproportionate amount of value? Or is it flatter, where the production follows a nice, gradual downward slope?

"Nice" is probably the wrong word to use. Because we don't want a nice, downward slope.

We want clearly defined tiers of value, areas where there's a noticeable drop-off in value from one player to the next. We want cliffs, because cliffs show clusters of consolidated, top-heavy value in that position.

We want that because that means it's a position where, by grabbing one of a few elites, you've cornered a large part of the market in terms of available value.

When I first began my fantasy basketball career 12 or so years ago, the conventional wisdom was to go big. Center was the scarcest position in fantasy. For years, targeting centers and point guards was a winning strategy.

Then the market changed. It changed because of two reasons: 1) the liberalization of center eligibility (look at all the PF/Cs out there), and 2) the onslaught of our current golden age of the point guard.

The trend swung to emphasize all backcourt players. Shooting guard, for all its sociopathic statistical tendencies, has become a scarce position over recent seasons. Why? Because of the drop-off from James Harden/Stephen Curry/Kobe Bryant/Paul George to everybody else.

This season, fantasy basketball production as a whole is down across the board. In 2012-13, Kevin Durant posted a league-high Player Rater score of 22.11. Right now, Anthony Davis leads the league with a comparatively paltry 15.22.

For instance, take a look at the contrast in available value measured across point guards last season and so far in 2013-14. We do this by graphing Player Rater values across the top 40 players at the position.

The distribution of value is similar (look at the shape of the lines), but the amount of total production has dropped by over 25 percent. You'll also see how there's a steep drop that creates a definitive top tier (thanks to Chris Paul and Curry).


Now, it's still early. There will be a bounce back. But even within these depressed surroundings, there is one small group of players at a certain position who are outperforming last season's averages.

In past seasons, the most pedestrian position in fantasy basketball has been power forward.

Power forward historically offers the flattest distribution of production. Not a lot of wild variations from your top 4s on down, from Kevin Love to DeJuan Blair. The drop-off from your elites to waiver-wire flotsam is a bunny slope.

Traditionally, you don't bend yourself out of shape consolidating value at power forward. But this is 2013, and things are changing.

This season, power forward has 1) the highest amount of available production across the five positions, and 2) the most top-heavy, most-consolidated distribution of value. When contrasted versus past seasons, it's pretty dramatic.

The next graph looks at power forward production, using the same coordinates as the above point guard graph: Player Rater value across the top 40 players at the position.


Take a look at the difference in the shape of the lines. Across the top five players, the value for 2014 is demonstrably higher. Then after Ryan Anderson or so, production dips beneath 2013 levels. But you can clearly see that there is a new, uberproductive ruling class at the 4. After that top tier, there's a sharply defined second tier that is still steeper than anything in the 2013 graph.

A Chad Ford-style tier system at power forward would break down like this:

Tier 1
Anthony Davis
Kevin Love
LeBron James
Ryan Anderson

Tier 2
Al Horford
Carmelo Anthony
Dirk Nowitzki
Nikola Vucevic
Blake Griffin

Tier 3
DeMarcus Cousins
Josh Smith
Serge Ibaka
Andre Drummond

Tier 4
LaMarcus Aldridge
Chris Bosh
Markieff Morris
Shawn Marion
Paul Millsap
Carlos Boozer
David Lee
Derrick Favors
David West

Tier 5
Zach Randolph
Greg Monroe
Andrea Bargnani
Dwight Howard

Tier 6
Everyone else

Now remember, it's early. Some of these players logging early disappointments in their box scores will rise to previous production. Others will fall off.

But there's an emerging elite group at power forward that's forcing us to reconsider traditional positional scarcity. A top-10 or, even better, top-four power forward is becoming a prized commodity. The number of PF/Cs has diluted scarcity at C, but not at PF.

Overall, it looks like the market could swivel back to where it was five years ago, where it made sense to build around power forwards and centers. There are so many very good to great players at point guard that it's watered down the market after Paul and Curry (and probably Russell Westbrook).

This is why I preached about not reaching for a point guard in this year's drafts. If you could get Paul or Curry (and probably Westbrook)? Great. Build around that.

But if you don't get one of those superelites, the trend is swinging back toward big men. There's just too much value across the board at point guard, from Eric Bledsoe to Brandon Jennings.

Next season, it might make more sense to go for volume at point guard in the middle rounds and stock up on other positions early.

I'll be tracking this trend throughout the season with bated breath. That last sentence was written without a hint of irony. This is my kind of excitement.

[h=1]Paul could be even more valuable[/h][h=3]Plus: Sneaky sources of stats, injury updates, start/sit options[/h]By Joe Kaiser | ESPN.com

Insider's team of experts, including Kevin Pelton, Bradford Doolittle, Amin Elhassan, Chad Ford, Tom Haberstroh and David Thorpe. Also included is Joe's injury update chart.<CENTER>[h=3]Joe's Rumors[/h]</CENTER>
How will Chris Paul play under Doc Rivers? Nearly three weeks and 15 percent of the way though the NBA's regular-season schedule, that question is getting easier to answer.

• The Los Angeles Clippers are playing faster than they did under Vinny Del Negro, up from 93.6 possessions per game last season (19th in the league) to 100.3 (7th) in 2013-14.

• They are one of the league's most efficient offenses, averaging 108.3 points per 100 possessions, which ranks second only to Miami (111.3).

• They've also been surprisingly terrible on the defensive end, surrendering 104.9 points per 100 possessions (No. 28 in the league).

For Paul, this has meant playing more minutes in closely contested track meet-style games.

For Paul's fantasy owners, this is what dreams are made of.

Even if you factor in Paul's poor shooting start -- his 43.1 field goal percentage is nearly 4 percent below his 47.2 career average and his 25.6 3-point percentage is nearly 10 percent under his 35.3 percent career average -- he still ranks No. 1 on ESPN's Player Rater. Ahead of Anthony Davis. Ahead of Kevin Love. Ahead of LeBron James and Kevin Durant.

How is that possible? He's getting more opportunities and taking advantage by dominating in other areas. For one, with the help of a new supporting cast that includes J.J. Redick, he's assisting like never before, dishing nearly three more dimes (12.5 APG) than anyone else in the game. On top of that, he is second only to Ricky Rubio in steals (2.75 per game) and is pulling down 5.8 rebounds per 40 minutes, an increase of 1.3 from last season.

"Even accounting for playing time and pace, Paul's assist rate is up from 13.4 per 100 team plays to 15.0," ESPN Insider Kevin Pelton notes. "I wouldn't be surprised to see that continue. His assist rate was as high as 14.4 in New Orleans, and the Clippers' newfound perimeter weapons have given him more options than ever before.

"I wouldn't say I'm too worried about his shooting, since those percentages tend to stabilize much more slowly than other numbers."

Shooting numbers aside, if Paul continues to dish out more than 12 assists per game, it affords his fantasy owners considerably more flexibility with their other roster spots in the backcourt. Since Paul's production can single-handedly win the assists category in many weeks, it makes it easier to pair him with shoot-first guys like Klay Thompson, Kevin Martin, Arron Afflalo and DeMar DeRozan, who specialize in scoring and shooting the 3.

[h=3]Keep an eye on

Extended minutes for Shaun Livingston: Deron Williams returned to the lineup on Wednesday against Charlotte, but his left ankle forced him out of the lineup again, and there's a decent chance he could be out for a while. Livingston has proved to be a capable replacement; he averaged 14 points, 4.3 assists, 3.3 rebounds and 1.7 steals in the three games he filled in for Williams over the past week.

Jimmy Butler's replacement: Either Mike Dunleavy Jr. or Kirk Hinrich are expected to move into Chicago's starting lineup while Butler (turf toe) misses the Bulls' six-game road trip. If it's Dunleavy, the potential is there for some big games from the veteran swingman over the next two weeks. Dunleavy is off to a blistering start from 3-point land (shooting 54.5 percent) and it's reasonable to think he could average about 10 points, four rebounds and a couple 3s a game while Butler is out.

<H3>Sneaky sources</H3>Eric Gordon, SG, New Orleans Pelicans (steals): Gordon is regarded much more highly for his scoring and 3-point shooting than his defense, but this season he's among the very best in the game when it comes to steals. His 2.09 SPG ranks seventh in the NBA.

Josh McRoberts, PF, Charlotte Bobcats (assists, 3-pointers): McRoberts never averaged more than 2.7 assists or 1.3 3-point attempts per game in any of his first six seasons in the NBA. This season, he's a new man. The 26-year-old's assists (4.6 per game) and 3-point attempts (4.2 per game) are both up dramatically. As long as he continues to start ahead of Cody Zeller and play close to 30 minutes a game, he's an overlooked big man who can help out in categories typically reserved for guards.

<H3>Start advice</H3>J.J. Hickson, C, Denver Nuggets: In the five games the Nuggets have played since JaVale McGee went down with a stress fracture in his left leg, Hickson is averaging 12.8 points, 11 rebounds, 1.2 blocks and 1.0 steals per game. Expect more of the same from Hickson as Denver plays six games in an 11-day span starting Thursday against Chicago.

Terrence Jones, PF, Houston Rockets: Jones moved into the rotation five games ago, and since then the second-year forward is putting up big numbers in a number of categories (13.2 points, 8.7 rebounds, 2 blocks) and also making nearly one 3-pointer a game. With Omer Asik now apparently resigned to a bench role (he played a total of 17 minutes the last two games), make sure Jones is in your lineup for each of Houston's four games next week.

<H3>Sit advice</H3>Isaiah Thomas, PG, Sacramento Kings: Nothing against the Thomas, who is having a fine season (18.4 points, 4.6 assists, 1.5 made 3-pointers per game), but there are better options over the next week-and-a-half if your league allows only weekly roster changes. The Kings play only four games between today and next Sunday, with one coming against a top-five defense in Golden State and two coming against the Los Angeles Clippers and Chris Paul.

Dion Waiters, SG, Cleveland Cavaliers: Waiters was moved to the bench on Wednesday against Washington, and three of the Cavs' next five games come against some of the best defensive teams in the league: San Antonio, Miami and Chicago.

[h=4]Latest Injury Updates[/h]


[/h]

[h=1]Is Chris Paul the best PG ever?[/h][h=3]Clippers' star eclipsing Magic Johnson in stats; now he needs the hardware[/h]By Tom Haberstroh | ESPN Insider

After converting an "and one" late in the fourth quarter against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday night, Chris Paul surpassed Magic Johnson on a dusty page in the record books. With 20 points and 11 assists, Paul registered a double-double for the 12th straight game to start the season, breaking Johnson's record, set in 1990-91.
Get used to hearing Paul displacing Johnson's standing in history, because Paul already is on pace to be the best point guard to ever step foot in the league. At least he is statistically. The sad thing is that almost no one even realizes this is happening.
I know what you're thinking: "Better than Magic? Paul has never even been to the NBA Finals. He's never even won an MVP. How dare you stomp on Magic's legacy!"
Stomp on this: Paul has the highest player efficiency rating of any point guard in history (25.6) and considerably higher than Johnson (23.5). And if you look at win shares, which estimates the number of wins a player contributes to the bottom line, it tells the same story. Just 12 games into his ninth season, Paul already has more career win shares than Johnson had through nine seasons.
<OFFER>Here are Paul's per-game and advanced metrics next to Johnson's so far:
<!-- begin inline 1 -->[h=4]CP3 vs Magic: Through nine seasons[/h]

<!-- end inline 1 -->So why don't people think of Paul in this light?
Behold, the power of Hall of Fame supporting casts.
As far as NBA teammates go, Johnson came into the league with a basketball in one hand and a silver spoon in the other. As luck would have it, the Lakers drafted Johnson No. 1 overall, and immediately he joined a star-studded Lakers team that featured two future Hall of Famers in their prime -- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Jamaal Wilkes. At 32, Abdul-Jabbar still was dominating the league and won the MVP award in Johnson's rookie season by averaging 24.8 points, 10.8 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 3.4 blocks per game on 60.4 percent shooting. Sure enough, with Abdul-Jabbar, Wilkes, future two-time All-Star Norm Nixon and defensive stud Michael Cooper in tow, Johnson won a championship in his very first season in the league, due in no small part to his own heroics in the clinching Game 6.
You know who Paul had on his team his rookie season? David West and Speedy Claxton. That's not a knock on West or Claxton, but Claxton isn't a future Hall of Famer and West isn't one of the top handful of players to ever pick up a basketball. But these were the cards that Paul was dealt. Unlike Johnson (and Tim Duncan more recently), Paul wasn't fortunate enough to land on a team with a Hall of Famer in his prime.
This is a trend that holds throughout Paul's career. The guy has had pretty crummy teammates by any reasonable standard. Paul's lack of support cuts two ways in the legacy-building department. Not only did his teams rarely contend for a title, but the weak rosters hurt his MVP credentials, because voters tend to fixate over team win totals.
No doubt Johnson was elite and deserves the "greatest point guard ever" moniker, but let's not overlook that he was also gifted with great teammates. To illustrate this phenomenon, I compared the 50 best teammates of Johnson's first eight seasons next to Paul's in his first eight seasons, using win shares, which can be found on Basketball-Reference.com.
The results might shock some, but it shouldn't if we consider the enormous talent gap on the Lakers against the Hornets/Clippers. To wit, Johnson enjoyed six seasons of Abdul-Jabbar that were better than anything Paul has been gifted in the NBA. Furthermore, 31 of Johnson's teammates put up at least a five-win season on their own merits; just about half as many for Paul, with 17.
You can see the jarring difference in the chart below. Johnson played with Hall of Famers like Abdul-Jabbar, Wilkes and James Worthy. Paul has played with West, Blake Griffin and Tyson Chandler. In all, Johnson's 50 best teammates contributed 314.3 wins in eight seasons. Paul's best slapped together nearly 100 fewer, just 219.8 wins.
<!-- photo wide photo -->
<!-- end wide photo -->If you prefer more traditional standards, Johnson shared the court with an All-Star 13 times in the first eight seasons of his career. Paul? Try four. That means once every couple of seasons on average, Paul would get lucky enough to play with an All-Star. Johnson enjoyed at least one All-Star on his team every season he played in the league until he left the game in 1991. And often times, he had two of them.
To be clear, this study is not meant to diminish Johnson's career, but rather to provide some important context to Paul's. As irrational as it is, it has become standard practice these days to reduce a player's résumé into a count of championship rings and MVP awards, which are heavily influenced by teammate quality over player quality. It remains a mystery how Kobe Bryant won the 2007-08 MVP over Paul, who bested Bryant in just about every meaningful category except for points per game.
So what else does Paul need to do to top Johnson? For one, he needs to keep up this level of play for a few more seasons. He currently ranks in the top five in PER this season, and ranks second in his career among active players behind LeBron James.
But the truth is that no matter how unfair it might seem, the court of public opinion will ultimately judge Paul by titles and MVP awards. And in that department, Johnson owns three MVPs and five rings, so Paul has some work to do there. With J.J. Redick and Jared Dudley added to the fold, this Clippers roster probably contains the most talent he's ever played with (though the bench goes maybe three players deep). If the Clippers put together a 60-win season, Paul might indeed win his first MVP award, which will help boost his all-time standing.
But statistically, he's closed the gap on Johnson, regardless of the record Paul broke Wednesday. Now Paul just needs the hardware. The question is whether his roster is finally good enough to get it.

[h=1]Barnes' present, future value[/h][h=3]Plus: Sneaky sources of stats, injury updates, start/sit options[/h]By Joe Kaiser | ESPN Insider

Joe Kaiser scours the league and offers his fantasy insight with the help of Insider's team of experts, including Kevin Pelton, Bradford Doolittle, Amin Elhassan, Chad Ford, Tom Haberstroh and David Thorpe. Also included is Joe's injury update chart.
<CENTER>[h=3]Joe's Rumors[/h]</CENTER>
Harrison Barnes was summoned to the Golden State Warriors' starting lineup three times last week; the first two coming when Stephen Curry sat out with concussion-like symptoms, and the last one after Andre Iguodala's hamstring injury.
With Iguodala out indefinitely and expected to miss a minimum of several weeks, Barnes is a player who should be owned in every fantasy league, for one primary reason -- he's going to play a ton of minutes. In fact, the 21-year-old forward averaged 46 MPG over his last three contests.
While he might never be a huge factor in terms of steals and blocks -- he's at 0.6 SPG and 0.2 BPG for his career -- his scoring and passing numbers are both up from his rookie year, and he's also scorching the nets from behind the 3-point arc (57.9 percent on the season).
Check out these numbers from Barnes' past three games:


One area where Barnes' production has slid a bit is on the boards, where he's pulling down only 4.8 rebounds per 40 minutes after grabbing 6.5 per 40 minutes as a rookie. That being said, if he's playing right around 40 minutes a night over the next few weeks, 5 rebounds a night doesn't sound that bad when combined with the other production mentioned above.
In the short term, anyone with Barnes on their roster should be excited. He's going to play, and he's going to produce. The bigger question is the long term.
Once Iguodala returns and Barnes' minutes go back to about 30 per game, is he anything more than a fringe fantasy option?
And is the No. 7 overall pick in 2012 still a player, like Paul George last year and again in 2013-14, who has the potential to blossom into a legitimate MVP candidate in the years ahead?
That likely will come down to whether he can tighten his handle and become confident enough to make the dribble-drive a strength of his game. If that happens, there could be no stopping him. But that's a big "if" that everyone has been waiting for since his first game at North Carolina.
"He has this tendency to not know when his man is beat off the dribble," said ESPN.com's Ethan Sherwood Strauss. "There are all these instances where he could get a layup and he pulls up short. He's not a bad midrange shooter, but he's not good enough to justify all the midrange shots."
Barnes went to the line just 2.3 times a game as a rookie, and despite more playing time this season that number is down to 1.7 in year two. If this trend continues and Barnes also is less of a factor on the glass, his career arc could mirror that of another UNC product, Marvin Williams, whose second-year numbers are quite similar to Barnes in many ways.
Keep an eye on:
Dunleavy's production: Already without Jimmy Butler (toe), the Bulls face a virtually impossible task of replacing Derrick Rose for the remainder of the season. Kirk Hinrich takes over as the starting point guard, but that could easily be short-lived; the 32-year-old veteran has been plagued by injuries over the past several seasons and he remains a huge health risk. The two point guards behind him, Marquis Teague and Mike James, are non-factors as far as fantasy value is concerned. If there is a player whose production could soar, it's Mike Dunleavy Jr. In the first three games after replacing Butler in the starting lineup, Dunleavy averaged 13.3 points, 3.3 rebounds, two assists and two 3-pointers a game. On Monday, he moved to the bench as Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau tried rookie Tony Snell in the starting lineup, but after a dreadful performance against a Utah team that came in 1-14, that experiment could be short-lived. "Dunleavy may be asked to create a little more than he would have otherwise, much as Marco Belinelli was asked to do in 2012-13," ESPN Insider Bradford Doolittle noted on Monday.
Derrick Williams as a King: We could know shortly whether a change of scenery is all the former No. 2 overall pick needed to break out after two-plus underachieving years in Minnesota. With Williams on the verge of heading to Sacramento in a deal for Luc Mbah a Moute, expect the Kings to insert him in the starting lineup and get a good look at whether he can be the team's long-term answer at small forward. Like Barnes, Williams becomes a much more relevant fantasy option when he's playing 30 to 40 minutes a night, despite being mostly just a scorer and, potentially, a rebounder and 3-point shooter.
Sneaky sources:
P.J. Tucker, SF, Phoenix Suns (3-pointers, Steals): Tucker isn't a big name and is pretty easy to overlook, being on a young Suns roster with plenty of other good stories this season. But the 28-year-old has settled in nicely as the team's starting small forward, playing just under 31 minutes and averaging 1.5 3-points and 1.2 steals a game thus far. He's connected on three 3-pointers in three of Phoenix's past five games.
Start Advice:
Jeremy Lin, PG, Houston Rockets: Lin moved into the starting lineup when James Harden (foot) missed Saturday's game against Minnesota, scoring 19 points in 34 minutes, and remained Monday against Memphis. With Harden out at least one more game and possibly longer, look for Lin to take on more of the scoring load for the undermanned Rockets.
Sit Advice:
Tobias Harris, PF, Orlando Magic: The Magic play only three games this week, and two of them (Atlanta and San Antonio) come against teams with defenses that rank in the top 10 in terms of efficiency. On top of that, Harris is still knocking off the rust from his month-long layoff due to the severe ankle sprain, and has to battle Glen Davis and Maurice Harkless for minutes at both forward spots. Resist the temptation of plugging him into your lineup simply due to his name, at least during his first full week back.

<!-- begin inline 1 -->[h=4]Latest Injury News[/h]

[h=1]Replacing injured stars[/h][h=3]Jimmy Butler, Kirk Hinrich, Kousta Koufos, Harrison Barnes among top pickups[/h]By Tom Carpenter | ESPN.com

Every so often in life you have to do something you know you aren't supposed to do in order to remind yourself to not do it again -- at least until the next time you forget and do it once again. This can be something as simple as accidentally burning yourself on your oven as a painful reminder that you might want to be a little more careful around your 450-degree appliance. Yes, this happened to me a couple of months ago and the scar on my thumb remains an excellent reminder.
Another painful reminder that has left me burned right now is from Derrick Rose. I have a great aversion to players with any history of injury and I do everything possible to keep them off of my fantasy teams. If I draft one because he is an unavoidable value, I aim to trade him as quickly as possible. The same goes for players who come up with even a hint of a nagging or worsening injury during the season; I deal them away.
And yet, I went all in on Rose and believed that he would immediately ascend back to his rightful spot near the top of the fantasy hoops world, despite the fact that he had missed an entire season with a torn ACL and a large chunk of the season prior with toe, back, groin and ankle injuries.
I had pretty good reasoning behind my opinion: it had been a year and half since his ACL injury, he is young, he looked great in the preseason, etc. In the end, though, it's November, and Rose's season is over, which only reaffirms my skepticism of players who have sustained significant injuries or who are prone to being sidelined for long stretches. Rose will serve as a painful reminder to me for years to come that I need to avoid injury-risk players at all costs.
Lesson learned. I'm sure I'll never do it again -- at least until the next time.
Of course, Rose isn't the only big-time player who is going to be out for an extended stretch. Marc Gasol, Andre Iguodala, Deron Williams and Brook Lopez are on the shelf, which means that there are players on their respective teams who will benefit statistically from their absences. A number of them currently are available on your league's waiver wire.
[h=3]Derrick Rose, Chicago Bulls

Jimmy Butler (49.8 percent ownership in ESPN leagues): It may be another two or three weeks before Butler returns from his toe injury and rewards you with stats, but he is in position to truly bust loose with Rose out for the season. I pushed him during the preseason as a breakout candidate, even with Rose in the mix. Keep in mind that in 20 starts last season, Butler averaged 14.5 points, 1.1 3s, 7.1 boards, 2.7 assists and 1.8 steals, while shooting 45.7 percent from the field and 77.6 percent from the stripe. He did all that on just 10.5 FGA and 4.9 FTA per game. If coach Tom Thibodeau gives Butler enough shots and Butler boosts his free throw attempts, he could easily score in the upper teens. Sometimes it is tough to wait for a player to show up, but it's worth carving out a spot on your bench for Butler to pay off later.
Kirk Hinrich (24.1 percent): After a decade in the league, we know what Hinrich can and cannot do. He can score a bit and dish out a max of 5-6 assists per game and chip in the occasional 3-pointer and steal. He cannot maintain a reliable FG% or do anything else all that well. Still, he should be locked in as the starting point for the Bulls, so he will do what he does (and doesn't do) for the foreseeable future.
Mike Dunleavy (6.1 percent): Just like Hinrich, we know all about the 33-year-old Dunleavy at this stage of his career. If you need a little scoring and some 3s with a decent FG%, Dunleavy can help you in a pinch. He certainly should see a larger role on offense with Rose out of the mix.
Marquis Teague (0.2 percent), Tony Snell (0.0 percent): I don't really expect Teague or Snell to make any noise, but the opportunity to step up is there for the taking. Snell got a start on Monday and mustered nine points. At this point, just keep an eye on this pair to see if either of them can find a groove.
<H3>Marc Gasol, Memphis Grizzlies

Kosta Koufos (2.2 percent): Koufos will replace Gasol as the Grizzlies' starting center. Hypothetically, he has the potential to average a double-double and maybe 1.5 blocks per game and shoot about 50 percent from the field. We don't know for sure, because he hasn't had the opportunity to average 30-plus minutes per game as a pro before now. Even as a starter with the Denver Nuggets last season, he averaged only 22.4 MPG. Now he should have the chance to prove he can do it, which makes him worth adding in most leagues.
Ed Davis (0.1 percent): Davis has more potential than Koufos, but he is really a power forward, so starting Koufos next to Zach Randolph makes more sense. However, if Davis gets a significant bump in minutes as a reserve, he could make an impact for deep-leaguers. Keep an eye on Davis to see if he can get upward of 30 minutes per game.
Tayshaun Prince (0.6 percent): Yes, Prince is one of those classic guys who is a better player for NBA teams than he is for fantasy teams. On the other hand, he should see more shots with Gasol sidelined, so if you need a wee bit of scoring and basically nothing else, Prince could lend a hand.
<H3>Andre Iguodala, Golden State Warriors</H3>Harrison Barnes (81.3 percent): I honestly believed that an injury to a Warrior would open up a starting role for Barnes sooner than later, but I thought it would be Andrew Bogut, not Iguodala, who would end up being sidelined. Regardless of the cause, Barnes is locked in as a starter and may not give that role up. In the fast-paced Warriors offense, there is plenty of opportunity for Barnes to pick up where he left off in the playoffs. He should be owned in all leagues.
Unfortunately, Barnes probably is the only waiver-wire option who will benefit significantly from Iguodala's extended absence. Teams in deep leagues can keep an eye on Draymond Green and Kent Bazemore to see if they get enough of a bump in minutes to help, but there isn't much upside there.
<H3>Deron Williams, Brook Lopez, Brooklyn Nets</H3>Shaun Livingston (2.2 percent): He looks spry for the first time since his knee gave out years ago, but he continues to struggle with consistency. Just look at his last handful of games. Assists: 7, 0, 5, 2, 5. FGA-FGM: 2-6, 0-7, 1-5, 8-14, 4-14, 7-12. That makes Livingston a tough sell in standard leagues, but he offers some quality overall numbers for deep-leaguers. Plus, it seems that D-Will's ankle issues are a long-term issue, so Livingston should maintain a significant role in the Nets offense all season long.
Andray Blatche (9.3 percent): Lopez can't stay healthy and Kevin Garnett flat out looks old. That means that Blatche, like Livingston, should maintain relevant minutes for the long haul, which makes him an excellent addition in most leagues. In his short-term starting role, Blatche is capable of scoring in the mid-to-upper teens while shooting 50 percent from the field and chipping in quality rebounds and steals.
Alan Anderson (0.1 percent): If you can slog your way through his awful FG%, Anderson can contribute scoring and 3s for teams in deep leagues. His role as a reserve limits his consistency, but if the Nets' season goes off the proverbial rails entirely, his role could increase to the point where he could be helpful in all leagues.

</H3>[/h]

[h=1]Fun with numbers: November trends[/h][h=3]Notable early-season stats and splits, including John Wall's improved 3-point shot[/h]By Brian McKitish | Special to ESPN.com

With the first month of the season in the books, it's time for another game of fun with numbers, this time focusing on recent trends and splits for the month of November.
[h=3]The Top 130[/h]
Note: Brian McKitish's top 100 players are ranked for their fantasy value for the 2013-14 NBA season. Previous rank is indicated in parentheses. 1. Kevin Durant, OKC (1)
2. LeBron James, MIA (2)
3. Anthony Davis, NO (4)
4. Chris Paul, LAC (3)
5. James Harden, HOU (5)
6. Stephen Curry, GS (6)
7. Kevin Love, MIN (7)
8. Paul George, IND (8)
9. Russell Westbrook, OKC (9)
10. John Wall, WSH (12)
11. Carmelo Anthony, NY (11)
12. Ty Lawson, DEN (13)
13. Kyrie Irving, CLE (10)
14. Serge Ibaka, OKC (15)
15. Mike Conley, MEM (14)
16. Nicolas Batum, POR (16)
17. DeMarcus Cousins, SAC (17)
18. Al Jefferson, CHA (18)
19. LaMarcus Aldridge, POR (21)
20. Al Horford, ATL (19)
21. Damian Lillard, POR (20)
22. Dwyane Wade, MIA (22)
23. Ricky Rubio, MIN (23)
24. Dirk Nowitzki, DAL (24)
25. Jeff Teague, ATL (30)
26. Monta Ellis, DAL (26)
27. Blake Griffin, LAC (27)
28. Brook Lopez, BKN (25)
29. Eric Bledsoe, PHO (35)
30. Roy Hibbert, IND (29)
31. Klay Thompson, GS (31)
32. Brandon Jennings, DET (32)
33. Tony Parker, SA (34)
34. Rudy Gay, TOR (36)
35. Josh Smith, DET (28)
36. Spencer Hawes, PHI (39)
37. Michael Carter-Williams, PHI (41)
38. David Lee, GS (37)
39. Nikola Vucevic, ORL (42)
40. Jrue Holiday, NO (43)
41. Deron Williams, BKN (33)
42. Luol Deng, CHI (54)
43. Kevin Martin, MIN (45)
44. Pau Gasol, LAL (50)
45. Dwight Howard, HOU (40)
46. Evan Turner, PHI (51)
47. Wesley Matthews, POR (49)
48. Kemba Walker, CHA (44)
49. Paul Millsap, ATL (47)
50. Goran Dragic, PHO (57)
51. Greg Monroe, DET (46)
52. Derrick Favors, UTAH (48)
53. Ryan Anderson, NO (52)
54. Kobe Bryant, LAL (53)
55. Chandler Parsons, HOU (58)
56. Thaddeus Young, PHI (65)
57. Jeff Green, BOS (61)
58. Bradley Beal, WSH (38)
59. J.R. Smith, NY (59)
60. Andre Drummond, DET (62)
61. Kyle Lowry, TOR (68)
62. Marcin Gortat, WSH (72)
63. Gordon Hayward, UTAH (55)
64. Zach Randolph, MEM (60)
65. Chris Bosh, MIA (56)
66. Kawhi Leonard, SA (64)
67. Victor Oladipo, ORL (75)
68. Kenneth Faried, DEN (66)
69. Isaiah Thomas, SAC (67)
70. Tim Duncan, SA (69)
71. DeMar DeRozan, TOR (77)
72. Nikola Pekovic, MIN (71)
73. George Hill, IND (81)
74. Jonas Valanciunas, TOR (76)
75. Jose Calderon, DAL (79)
76. Eric Gordon, NO (78)
77. DeAndre Jordan, LAC (83)
78. Carlos Boozer, CHI (84)
79. Joakim Noah, CHI (63)
80. Arron Afflalo, ORL (97)
81. David West, IND (92)
82. Nene Hilario, WSH (90)
83. Corey Brewer, MIN (104)
84. Terrence Jones, HOU (108)
85. Steve Blake, LAL (98)
86. Lance Stephenson, IND (85)
87. Trey Burke, UTAH (86)
88. Jimmy Butler, CHI (89)
89. Paul Pierce, BKN (74)
90. Daniel Green, SA (88)
91. Andrew Bogut, GS (101)
92. O.J. Mayo, MIL (82)
93. Dion Waiters, CLE (110)
94. Ersan Ilyasova, MIL (70)
95. Tyreke Evans, NO (111)
96. Jameer Nelson, ORL (93)
97. Rajon Rondo, BOS (94)
98. Andre Iguodala, GS (112)
99. Raymond Felton, NY (114)
100. Rodney Stuckey, DET (118)
101. Jamal Crawford, LAC (105)
102. Tobias Harris, ORL (80)
103. J.J. Hickson, DEN (100)
104. Mario Chalmers, MIA (99)
105. Jordan Hill, LAL (95)
106. Tristan Thompson, CLE (96)
107. Shawn Marion, DAL (107)
108. Jared Sullinger, BOS (127)
109. Joe Johnson, BKN (117)
110. Marc Gasol, MEM (116)
111. Patrick Beverley, HOU (106)
112. Trevor Ariza, WSH (121)
113. Harrison Barnes, GS (109)
114. Enes Kanter, UTAH (91)
115. Miles Plumlee, PHO (113)
116. Wilson Chandler, DEN (87)
117. Brandon Knight, MIL (NR)
118. Gerald Henderson, CHA (129)
119. Markieff Morris, PHO (122)
120. Kirk Hinrich, CHI (115)
121. Channing Frye, PHO (NR)
122. John Henson, MIL (NR)
123. Martell Webster, WSH (NR)
124. Kyle Korver, ATL (102)
125. Jeremy Lin, HOU (103)
126. Tyson Chandler, NY (125)
127. Jordan Crawford, BOS (124)
128. Derrick Williams, SAC (NR)
129. Larry Sanders, MIL (126)
130. Kosta Koufos, MEM (NR)


3.5 -- 3-point field goal attempts per game for John Wall on the season, up from just 0.9 per game last season. Not only is Wall taking more 3-point shots, but he's also hitting them at a much better clip (33.3 percent after 17 contests). Already a borderline elite fantasy player, adding 1.2 3-pointers to his 19.2 points, 4.5 rebounds, 9.0 assists and 2.4 steals per game makes Wall a top-10 fantasy player.
5.5 -- Shot attempts per game for Eric Bledsoe within five feet of the basket. Not only is Bledsoe getting to the rim whenever he wants, but he's also finishing at an incredibly high rate (65 percent on such attempts). Bledsoe ranks 12th on our Player Rater when sorted by averages after the first month thanks to averaging 19.6 points, 4.5 rebounds, 5.9 assists, 1.7 steals and 1.1 3-pointers while shooting 50.7 percent from the floor and 80.6 percent from the line. There may still be a buy-low opportunity if his current owner soured on him after a shin injury forced him to miss six games late in the month.
7.3 -- Shot attempts per game for LaMarcus Aldridge from 15-19 feet away from the basket. He is shooting just 42.7 percent from that distance on the season. Aldridge is having a fantastic season, averaging 22.1 points, 9.6 rebounds, 1.3 steals and 1.0 blocks, but is shooting an uncharacteristic 45.2 percent from the floor -- which is well below his career average of 49.1 percent. Aldridge has slowly but surely taken his offensive game farther away from the basket in recent seasons, and while he will continue to be a great fantasy player, he may not be as efficient as he's been in previous seasons.
No. 1 -- Anthony Davis' Player Rater rank when sorted by averages after the first month of the season. Unfortunately, Davis suffered a non-displaced fracture in his left hand during Sunday's game against the Knicks and will be out indefinitely. Ryan Anderson will likely step into his starting role.
27.6 -- Minutes per game for both Miami's Chris Bosh and San Antonio's Kawhi Leonard after the first month of action. Bosh is still fairly productive with 14.1 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.3 blocks while shooting 52.1 percent from the floor and 80.6 percent from the line, but the lack of minutes are really killing his upside in Miami. Leonard, meanwhile, has averaged 11.6 points, 6.4 rebounds, 2.1 steals and 0.6 3-pointers per game thus far. The steals are nice, but his numbers are a far cry from what many were expecting this season. Both Bosh and Leonard will remain quality fantasy players, but will have a hard time meeting expectations unless their minutes increase.
35.8 -- Ricky Rubio's field goal percentage after 18 contests. Rubio has basically turned into a reverse Rajon Rondo-type of fantasy player (flip their field goal and free throw percentages), one who is dominant in assists (8.6) and steals (3.0) but leaves a lot to be desired in terms of efficiency and scoring. Rubio is still an extremely valuable fantasy player, but the lack of scoring has become frustrating at times. Rondo, meanwhile, is close to returning from knee surgery and should be added in all leagues if he's still available.
6.3 -- Free throw attempts per game for Timberwolves shooting guard Kevin Martin. He is connecting on 93.5 percent of his free throw attempts, and is averaging a cool 23.1 points, 1.1 steals and 2.4 3-pointers per game in Minnesota. Despite his lack of rebounds (3.8) and assists (2.3), Martin ranks 21st on our Player Rater thanks to his 3-point shooting and free throw percentage.
2.2 -- Free throw attempts per game for Pistons center Andre Drummond, who shoots a dismal 28.6 percent from the line. Perhaps Drummond should follow Tristan Thompson's lead and start shooting with his off hand? Despite Drummond's struggles from the line, he ranks 56th on our Player Rater simply because he doesn't get to the line enough for the poor percentage to hurt us that much. The rest of his numbers -- 12.0 points, 11.8 rebounds, 1.8 steals and 1.2 blocks per game -- are simply fantastic.
3.2 -- Steals plus 3-pointers per game for Wolves small forward Corey Brewer. Averaging 14.3 points, 1.9 steals and 1.3 3-pointers while shooting 47.3 percent from the floor, Brewer has been incredibly undervalued in fantasy leagues to date. Get him now if he's still available in your league.
49.5 -- Field goal percentage for Detroit shooting guard Rodney Stuckey, who looks great as a sixth man in the Pistons' backcourt. Stuckey has always had talent but previously struggled to find his niche as he switched between point guard and shooting guard over his first six seasons. It is clear that Stuckey fits much better alongside a true point guard like Brandon Jennings as a sixth man off the bench.
2.92 -- Steals per 48 minutes for Orlando rookie Victor Oladipo. With averages of 14.8 points, 4.4 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.6 steals, 1.2 blocks and 0.8 3-pointers over his past five games, Oladipo is well on his way to breaking out. It's only a matter of time before he's earning 30-35 minutes per game on a regular basis for the Magic, and it wouldn't be surprising to see him finishing in the top 50 on the Player Rater when all is said and done.
18.6 -- Rebounds per 48 minutes for Jordan Hill, which is the best in the league (yes, even better than Kevin Love's 18.3 rebounds per 48 minutes). Hill recently has struggled with an ankle injury, but has still averaged 11.6 points, 10.3 rebounds and 1.2 blocks over his past 10 contests. With his energy and ability to bring down tough rebounds in traffic, Hill should remain a big part of the Lakers' plans going forward.

[h=1]Handling injured superstars[/h][h=3]What to do with Anthony Davis, Kobe Bryant, Deron Williams, Paul Pierce, others[/h]By Tom Carpenter | ESPN.com

Considering how many important players have been injured lately, it's no surprise that I have received myriad questions about how fantasy owners should handle them. I like to categorize injured players in three ways:
1. Players I want to keep or add if at all possible, because their potential is worth the wait.
2. Players I will drop to waivers but will watch closely and add when it seems a return is nearing.
3. Players I need to let go, because they simply aren't worth the wait.
With that in mind, I have categorized most of the players who are dealing with some form of multiweek recovery from an injury.
[h=3]Players to keep or add

Anthony Davis, New Orleans Pelicans: Don't even think about dropping the one-brow bandit, even if he ends up sidelined for a couple of months. We may not know his timetable yet, but we do know he was the best big man in Fantasyland by a country mile. Once he does return, you will have to make a decision regarding whether you believe his prolific upside is worth the obvious health risks with which he comes. If your answer is "no," then you should trade him as soon as he has some big games. In the meantime, suck it up and keep him on your bench or IR spot.
Larry Sanders, Milwaukee Bucks: Sanders is an epic shot-blocker and a double-double machine, and he should return from his thumb surgery right around Christmas. Any team that needs blocks should not hesitate to get him rostered up now before the rush to add him comes in another 10-14 days.
Marc Gasol, Memphis Grizzlies: Reports on Gasol's timeline for a return have run the gamut from three to 10 weeks. It's a safe bet to assume he won't return until at least the new year, but he proved last season that he could beat a timeline when he missed just a handful of games with an abdominal tear, so he could be back sooner. I'm not as high on Gasol as a lot of people when it comes to his fantasy value, but even in my view, he has too much upside to be sitting on waiver wires.
Bradley Beal, Washington Wizards: The concerns going forward with Beal are serious. The stress injury that likely will sideline him at least a couple of more weeks is the same injury to the same bone (though in a different spot) that ended his rookie season early. Plus, considering the nature of the injury, it's safe to assume that he won't continue playing 40-plus minutes per game when he returns. Nonetheless, he has such a huge amount of upside as a scoring and 3-point threat that it is worth carving out a spot for him on your bench. If he can get healthy, Beal will have a major fantasy impact in the second half of the season.
Deron Williams, Brookyln Nets: Considering the hideous stats D-Will was producing before he took a seat in the infirmary, his owners may actually be happy that he isn't trying to tough it out on the hardwood. Surely that's little solace for owners who dropped what likely was a first-round pick on him, but we all knew the risks involved with his ankle problems. I'm skeptical about D-Will returning to full form anytime soon, but like Gasol, there simply is too much upside to not wait it out.


Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers: I may have the lowest expectations for Kobe this season. I think he is weeks -- not days -- away from playing, and months -- not weeks -- away from looking like the stat machine we have known for so long. That doesn't mean that I wouldn't add him in a heartbeat if some owner dared to drop him. If anyone is going to prove me wrong, it's the Black Mamba. If you drafted him, you need to wait it out.
Ersan Ilyasova, Milwaukee Bucks: He has so many nagging little injuries that they are hard to track at this point. He's also off to a horrible start just like last season, but don't forget that he proved to be worth the wait with a big second half of the 2012-13 campaign. Once he gets right physically, he should prove worth the wait this time, too.
Tobias Harris, Orlando Magic: I know he can't seem to get healthy and the Magic's roster looks different this season; I don't really care. I will roll under the assumption that he will get his body right and eventually pick up where he left off last season as a statistical beast. I want him on all of my rosters for the second half of the season.
Jeremy Lin, Houston Rockets: I nearly put Lin on the next list of players, because I'm not really a believer in his long-term production. Still, he should only miss a couple of weeks and he was posting some great stats before going down, so that makes him worth a short-term roster investment.
<H3>Players to keep an eye on</H3>J.J. Redick, Los Angeles Clippers: Because Redick suffered a serious injury to the elbow of his shooting arm, I don't expect to see him back for a couple of months. Pounce on him for his 3s when it sounds like he's a couple of weeks away.
JaVale McGee, Denver Nuggets: The Nugs have yet to announce any sort of timetable for his return from a stress fracture in his leg that limited his production early on this season. I actually have hung onto McGee in one league because I have the space and he has such upside as a double-double and blocking threat. He's a great stash if you can wait it out; otherwise keep an eye on his recovery.


Paul Pierce, Brooklyn Nets: He is expected to miss two to four weeks with a fractured bone in his right hand and was playing horribly before that. I do expect him to find some sort of rhythm eventually this season, but there is very little upside at his age on this team.
Kyle Korver, Atlanta Hawks: If you need 3s, I recommend holding on to or adding Korver. It doesn't sound like his rib injury is too serious, so he should be back in the relatively near future. Because he offers little else statistically, there is no need to wait it out if you don't specifically have a problem with 3-point production.
Andrei Kirilenko, Brooklyn Nets: Still dealing with a back malady, AK47 is at least another week away from playing. He's worth keeping an eye on because the Nets are so banged up that Kirilenko could actually see enough court time to make a statistical impact upon his return.
Rajon Rondo, Boston Celtics: I remain very skeptical about Rondo this season. Even if he manages to return from his torn ACL in the next month, what can we expect from a guard who already had trouble scoring and now has no one to finish his passes? Furthermore, will he rack up huge steals on that surgically repaired joint? I'd rather let someone else have the headache.
Otto Porter Jr., Washington Wizards: The rookie carries a lot of potential and finally tested his hip in practice during the past week. Add him when he is nearing his debut and see if the third overall pick can hit the ground running.
<H3>Players you need to let go</H3>
Tyson Chandler, New York Knicks: Yes, he can rack up double-dubs, but he doesn't block enough shots to warrant a lengthy wait. He's still out at least another couple of weeks.
Danilo Gallinari, Denver Nuggets: There is no need to wait around for a shoddy shooter with a bum knee and no timetable to ball.
Steve Nash, Los Angeles Lakers: If his horrible stats and medical report were attached to a different name, he would be owned in zero percent of fantasy leagues. Move on already.
Danny Granger, Indiana Pacers: Can someone explain to me why he is owned in more than half of all ESPN leagues? He is 30, out indefinitely and has played 74 minutes of basketball since May 24, 2012.
Derrick Rose, Chicago Bulls: Obviously, you should have kicked him to the curb -- and maybe even poured a 40 on it -- by now in redraft leagues. You should probably do the same in keeper leagues, so long as you have any other high-upside options. We may never see him at full tilt again.
[/h]

[h=1]Is Howard past his fantasy prime?[/h][h=3]Plus: Sneaky stat sources, injury updates and start/sit options[/h]By Joe Kaiser | ESPN Insider

In his weekly "Crossover" column, Joe Kaiser scours the league and offers his fantasy insight with the help of Insider's team of experts, including Kevin Pelton, Bradford Doolittle, Amin Elhassan, Chad Ford, Tom Haberstroh and David Thorpe. Also included is Joe's injury update chart.

<CENTER>[h=3]Joe's Rumors[/h]</CENTER>
As we pass through the first quarter of the NBA's regular season, it's safe to say that fantasy owners of Dwight Howard have to feel mildly disappointed by the way things have gone over his first 22 games as a member of the Houston Rockets.

That may sound strange coming right after Howard's dominant 20-point, 22-rebound, 3-block, 2-steal performance against Orlando on Sunday. In fact, it might sound really strange, as he's put together three straight games with at least 15 points and 15 rebounds.

The problem is -- and anyone with Howard on his or her roster knows this all too well -- there's more to Howard than points and rebounds.

There's also free throws.

To have Howard essentially means punting the free throw percentage category each week, which admittedly isn't exactly breaking news. That's been the case ever since he entered the league, and it's no different this season; not only is he shooting 55.4 percent from the line, his 10.1 free throw attempts per game ranks second to only Kevin Durant (10.8). As far as this category is concerned, he's an absolute anchor.

Still, Howard is a player always drafted highly because of his ability to not only score and rebound, but also block, steal and shoot a high percentage from the field. To illustrate that point, his average draft position in ESPN leagues this season was 18.2.

Early this season, though, Howard's averages are down pretty much across the board. His points (17.0), blocks (1.8) and steals (0.8) are each the lowest they've been since his second season in the league (2005-06). And entering Thursday, he's all the way down at No. 56 on ESPN's Player Rater (and No. 15 among center-eligible players).

Could the recently-turned 28-year-old be past his fantasy prime, or is there more going on here? I posed that question to ESPN Insiders Amin Elhassan and Kevin Pelton to get some further insight.

"I think when you talk about Howard's back injury, he's definitely a better version of himself than last year," Elhassan said. "But I don't know that he'll ever return to the preinjury form.

"Since blocks and steals are kind of a 'young man's stats,' it wouldn't surprise me if he continues to stay below his career averages in those areas."

Pelton is quick to point out that a primary reason for Howard's declining numbers is his reduced minutes (33.4 per game), which are 2.4 below what he averaged last season with the Los Angeles Lakers and the lowest he's logged since his rookie season in 2004-05.

"If I knew he'd play 33.4 minutes per game, I would have projected him at 18.0 PPG, 11.0 RPG, 2 BPG, 1.4 SPG and 1.6 APG," Pelton explained. "Considering where he's actually at, 17.0 PPG, 13.2 RPG, 1.8 BPG, 0.8 SPG and 1.8 APG, steals are the only one that's noticeably down on a per-minute basis."

The best question, then, at least for the rest of this season, is whether Howard's minutes will increase if and when Omer Asik is dealt. That'll be something to monitor closely in the months ahead.

Keep an eye on:

Who does Houston acquire for Asik?: As my esteemed colleague Tom Carpenter noted earlier this week, Asik likely will become much more fantasy-relevant once the Rockets trade him. What shouldn't be overlooked, though, is which players the Rockets get in return. If Houston acquires someone such as the Philadelphia 76ers' Thaddeus Young, for example, which is a popular trade rumor at the moment, it'll be bad news for the fantasy value of Young (taking him out of Philly's paper-thin rotation) and also serve as a significant hit to the value of the Rockets' current starter, Terrence Jones.

Sneaky sources:

Jrue Holiday, PG, New Orleans Pelicans (rebounds): Holiday isn't known for his ability to clean the glass, and as a point guard, why should he be? But at 6-foot-4, he has the size to make an impact on the boards, which he's done since Anthony Davis went down. Holiday is playing great as of late, averaging 18.4 points, 9.8 assists and 2.2 3-pointers over his last five games, but his 6.4 rebounds per game over that stretch has a tendency to get overlooked.

Al-Farouq Aminu, SF, New Orleans Pelicans (rebounds, steals): Another player whose stats are benefiting from Davis' absence, Aminu has been a rebounding machine of late, averaging 15 boards over the past three games.

Start advice:
Taj Gibson, PF, Chicago Bulls: Not only has Gibson been playing fantastic ball for the Bulls in their short-handed rotation, averaging 17.6 PPG, 9.2 RPG and 2.2 BPG over the past five games, he figures to have plenty of more opportunities to keep it going over the next week-and-a-half. With Luol Deng and Jimmy Butler still working their way back, Chicago plays six games between today and next Sunday.

Sit advice:
Mario Chalmers, PG, Miami Heat: There are several reasons why Chalmers isn't a good play in the near future. For one, he's mired in a slump (averaging 7.0 PPG, 4.0 APG and 1.5 SPG over the past two weeks). Secondly, the Heat have made no secret that they're checking the trade market for point guard help, so there's a chance that Chalmers could soon be splitting time at some point. On top of that, the Heat play just one more game this week (Saturday versus Cleveland) and three next week.

[h=1]Top storylines, biggest movers[/h][h=3]A look at notable trends, buy-low candidates, sell-high options and sneaky pickups[/h]By Brian McKitish | Special to ESPN.com

After another week of action, we're a little bit more than a quarter of the way through the 2013-14 NBA season. At this point in the season, fantasy owners should be starting to get a good feel for their categorical strengths and weaknesses, which typically results in an active trading period.
[h=3]The Top 130[/h]Note: Brian McKitish's top 100 players are ranked for their fantasy value for the 2013-14 NBA season. Previous rank is indicated in parentheses.
1. Kevin Durant, OKC (1)
2. LeBron James, MIA (2)
3. Chris Paul, LAC (3)
4. Stephen Curry, GS (5)
5. James Harden, HOU (4)
6. Paul George, IND (6)
7. Kevin Love, MIN (7)
8. Russell Westbrook, OKC (8)
9. John Wall, WSH (9)
10. Carmelo Anthony, NY (10)
11. Serge Ibaka, OKC (11)
12. DeMarcus Cousins, SAC (12)
13. LaMarcus Aldridge, POR (13)
14. Kyrie Irving, CLE (14)
15. Ty Lawson, DEN (15)
16. Al Horford, ATL (17)
17. Eric Bledsoe, PHO (26)
18. Nicolas Batum, POR (18)
19. Dirk Nowitzki, DAL (23)
20. Kobe Bryant, LAL (43)
21. Damian Lillard, POR (19)
22. Ricky Rubio, MIN (22)
23. Mike Conley, MEM (16)
24. Al Jefferson, CHA (20)
25. Monta Ellis, DAL (24)
26. Dwyane Wade, MIA (21)
27. Deron Williams, BKN (38)
28. Brook Lopez, BKN (25)
29. Roy Hibbert, IND (29)
30. Brandon Jennings, DET (28)
31. Blake Griffin, LAC (27)
32. Luol Deng, CHI (35)
33. Jrue Holiday, NO (37)
34. Michael Carter-Williams, PHI (34)
35. Klay Thompson, GS (31)
36. Tony Parker, SA (33)
37. Spencer Hawes, PHI (36)
38. David Lee, GS (40)
39. Goran Dragic, PHO (42)
40. Josh Smith, DET (32)
41. Nikola Vucevic, ORL (39)
42. Rudy Gay, SAC (41)
43. Isaiah Thomas, SAC (53)
44. Kemba Walker, CHA (47)
45. Dwight Howard, HOU (45)
46. Jeff Teague, ATL (30)
47. Paul Millsap, ATL (48)
48. Kevin Martin, MIN (44)
49. Victor Oladipo, ORL (55)
50. Andre Drummond, DET (51)
51. Ryan Anderson, NO (50)
52. Evan Turner, PHI (46)
53. Kyle Lowry, TOR (59)
54. Chandler Parsons, HOU (57)
55. Wesley Matthews, POR (52)
56. Tim Duncan, SA (65)
57. Pau Gasol, LAL (49)
58. Thaddeus Young, PHI (54)
59. Greg Monroe, DET (56)
60. Derrick Favors, UTAH (58)
61. Marcin Gortat, WSH (60)
62. Gordon Hayward, UTAH (63)
63. DeMar DeRozan, TOR (64)
64. Trey Burke, UTAH (69)
65. Bradley Beal, WSH (62)
66. Jeff Green, BOS (61)
67. Nikola Pekovic, MIN (67)
68. Arron Afflalo, ORL (66)
69. Joakim Noah, CHI (74)
70. Jonas Valanciunas, TOR (68)
71. Eric Gordon, NO (70)
72. DeAndre Jordan, LAC (71)
73. Anthony Davis, NO (72)
74. Zach Randolph, MEM (73)
75. Chris Bosh, MIA (75)
76. Jose Calderon, DAL (78)
77. Kawhi Leonard, SA (77)
78. Jimmy Butler, CHI (83)
79. Carlos Boozer, CHI (79)
80. David West, IND (80)
81. Rajon Rondo, BOS (94)
82. Marc Gasol, MEM (89)
83. Jameer Nelson, ORL (92)
84. Tobias Harris, ORL (105)
85. Lance Stephenson, IND (87)
86. Trevor Ariza, WSH (97)
87. Jordan Crawford, BOS (84)
88. George Hill, IND (76)
89. Corey Brewer, MIN (81)
90. Andrew Bogut, GS (93)
91. Andre Iguodala, GS (96)
92. Dion Waiters, CLE (91)
93. Jamal Crawford, LAC (98)
94. Brandon Knight, MIL (99)
95. Kenneth Faried, DEN (82)
96. O.J. Mayo, MIL (86)
97. Nene Hilario, WSH (88)
98. J.R. Smith, NY (85)
99. Jared Sullinger, BOS (106)
100. Robin Lopez, POR (121)
101. Tristan Thompson, CLE (104)
102. Tyreke Evans, NO (100)
103. Terrence Jones, HOU (109)
104. Gerald Henderson, CHA (102)
105. Amir Johnson, TOR (125)
106. Joe Johnson, BKN (107)
107. John Henson, MIL (119)
108. Paul Pierce, BKN (123)
109. J.J. Hickson, DEN (108)
110. Rodney Stuckey, DET (110)
111. Shawn Marion, DAL (111)
112. Patrick Beverley, HOU (112)
113. Jeremy Lin, HOU (113)
114. Reggie Jackson, OKC (NR)
115. Miles Plumlee, PHO (116)
116. Harrison Barnes, GS (115)
117. Markieff Morris, PHO (117)
118. Kyle Korver, ATL (118)
119. Tyson Chandler, NY (128)
120. Nick Young, LAL (NR)
121. Kirk Hinrich, CHI (120)
122. Mario Chalmers, MIA (122)
123. Taj Gibson, CHI (101)
124. Brandon Bass, BOS (124)
125. Andrew Bynum, CLE (114)
126. Larry Sanders, MIL (129)
127. Wilson Chandler, DEN (NR)
128. Brandan Wright, DAL (NR)
129. Kosta Koufos, MEM (130)
130. Manu Ginobili, SA (NR)


The top-130 rankings can help identify trade targets, but keep in mind that these rankings are based on overall value, and owners should always consider their own categorical needs when engaging in trade discussions.
Let's take a look at some of the top storylines and the biggest movers in the ranks over the past week:

Kobe Bryant has been less rusty than one might expect after returning from last season's Achilles injury, averaging 13.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, 7.0 assists, 1.0 steals and 0.5 3-pointers in his first four contests. More importantly, he's been healthy enough to log minutes in the high 20s, including 32 minutes in his most recent game. Kobe should continue to improve as he shakes off the rust, and should be a top-20 fantasy player the rest of the way as long as he doesn't have any setbacks in his recovery.
Jrue Holiday has been fantastic since Anthony Davis went down with a hand injury, averaging 18.5 points, 5.2 rebounds, 9.3 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.5 3-pointers in six games this month. He's moving up in the rankings, but remains outside the top 30 until he proves that he can be this productive once Davis returns.
I absolutely love the Suns' backcourt duo of Eric Bledsoe and Goran Dragic this season. Bledsoe has gone off for an average of 18.2 points, 7.2 assists, 1.6 steals, 0.8 blocks and 1.6 3-pointers with terrific percentages over his past five games while Dragic has averaged 21.8 points, 3.2 assists, 1.6 steals and 2.0 3-pointers over the same span. Both continue to climb in the ranks, with Bledsoe making his first appearance in the top 20.
Victor Oladipo continues to impress with increased minutes, and you can tell from his ranking that I think he's going to be a top-50 player the rest of the way thanks to his ability to contribute in nearly every fantasy category. Averaging 14.2 points, 5.4 rebounds, 2.2 steals, 1.2 blocks and 1.2 3-pointers over his past five games, Oladipo is one of the most dynamic young fantasy players in the game.
Speaking of the Magic, I've maintained all year that Arron Afflalo would come back down to earth once Oladipo started playing more minutes and Tobias Harris returned to the lineup. With Harris re-joining the team late this week, Afflalo owners may want to seek out a sell-high deal before it's too late. Harris, by the way, should be picked up in all formats. He was owned in just 56.8 percent of ESPN.com leagues as of Monday morning.
Amir Johnson has averaged 20.8 points, 8.8 rebounds and 2.0 blocks over his past five games and has looked great since the Rudy Gay trade. He was a great pickup if you were able to get him shortly after the trade, but remember that he is notoriously streaky and is a great sell-high candidate if you can convince another owner that he's going to finally figure out his inconsistency problem with Gay out of town.
J.R. Smith is getting closer and closer to the chopping block in fantasy leagues, but he's such a streaky player that it's difficult to advocate an outright drop despite the fact he's averaging just 5.6 points and 1.0 3-pointers while shooting 25.0 percent from the floor over his past five games. Keep him on your bench for now, and keep your fingers crossed that he gets hot sooner rather than later.
Andrew Bynum had a few big 20-point games last week, but has struggled over his past three contests, posting a total of just nine points, 14 rebounds and one block. Obviously he's a high-risk, high-reward type of player, but with all of his injury concerns, he's probably going to be more risk than reward at this point in his career.
Kenneth Faried has always been able to produce in limited minutes, but that was when he was playing 25 to 30 minutes per game rather than the 19.8 he's played over his past five contests. Nuggets head coach Brian Shaw has really been tinkering with his lineups early in this season, and one has to believe that Faried will eventually work his way into more minutes as the season progresses. With his owners extremely frustrated with his play to date, Faried is a solid buy-low candidate.
Reggie Jackson has been able to secure consistent playing time and fantasy value off the bench in Oklahoma City. Averaging 15.3 points, 3.9 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 1.3 3-pointers in eight games this month, Jackson has earned himself the Thunder's coveted sixth-man role. This is the same role that gave us a lot of value in James Harden and Kevin Martin in past seasons. Jackson doesn't have the talent of Harden (or even Martin), but he's definitely worth owning in most fantasy leagues given his recent play.
Sneaky pickups of the week include Brandan Wright, Lou Williams, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jordan Hill.
Wright returned from a shoulder injury to post 19 points and six rebounds in 19 minutes in his first game of the season, and has plenty of upside if he can carve out consistent minutes in the Dallas frontcourt. Williams has always been a favorite of mine and is finally starting to turn things around, averaging 11.2 points, 1.2 steals and 2.4 3-pointers over his past five games as he continues to get back into game shape after ACL surgery.
Antetokounmpo is all upside and could pay major dividends if he can figure out a way to earn more minutes for the Bucks. Lastly, Hill has had an up-and-down season but is putting up huge rebounding numbers when he's been on the court.

[h=1]Which rookies could rise in 2014?[/h][h=3]The development of these promising rooks bears watching in the new year[/h]By David Thorpe | ESPN Insider

The start of a new year has no significant place in the NBA season. Teams focus on the All-Star break and the trade deadline as dates that matter. However, with two months now melted away, the onset of 2014 can begin to look different for rookies as their teams change their rotations. Especially those teams now competing for more lottery balls. It's not tanking to their eyes, but rather allowing young players more chances to develop while also giving management more opportunities to evaluate their young talent.

This class has been called weak all season, but as in most classes, there should still be 12 to 15 guys who ultimately end up as solid players in this league. Which rookies are primed to show they belong in 2014 despite what we saw in 2013? And which rooks can more closely resemble a long-term starter or perhaps even a star in this new year after performing far below that level to this point? Let's explore.
<CENTER>

---

</CENTER>[h=3]Rookies with the potential to be future starters or stars[/h]
<!--INLINE MUG-->


<!--END INLINE MUG-->Victor Oladipo, Magic
There's little doubt that in the NBA, the more athletic a player is, the better chance he has to be elite. Oladipo, who is already doing some amazingly athletic things nightly, is absolutely in line to be a top athlete in this league. But this game is also about skill and craft -- two areas in which he's not yet consistent. And that's the key for Oladipo.
He's still struggling to finish in transition, which is a bit surprising considering he's so athletic. He also doesn't yet have the technique, footwork and timing to be difficult to guard in isolation. Thus, mixed in with his six great games and a number of average ones in December, he had another four games in which he scored just 22 points on 39 shots combined. It's not about Oladipo playing great consistently right now, but about him not having an awful game every week or so.
Going forward, as he learns to limit bad shots -- something he will likely figure out thanks to his great attitude and high intelligence -- we should see more of the good (and great) and less of the bad.
<!--INLINE MUG-->


<!--END INLINE MUG-->Ben McLemore, Kings
McLemore struggled in December, and it's hard to envision how things will get better for him in Sacramento without some roster changes. Isaiah Thomas (a terrific player), Rudy Gay (a volume shooter) and DeMarcus Cousins (the focal point of the offense) command a huge percentage of the team's shots and actions. Thus, McLemore, who has been starting for the Kings, has taken 10 or more shots in only two games since the first week of December (he scored 27 points on 23 shots in those games).
At some point, though, it's fair to expect the Kings to take a closer look at what they have in McLemore. It appears he'll be an excellent deep shooter in time, but can he be more of a dynamic wing scorer, drawing fouls and earning tough slashing buckets? Not likely with his current teammates. But as the season unfolds and the Kings fall out of the playoff race, things could change.
McLemore likes to come off screens as a shooter, and though he's not very good at that now, could end up being very good at that part of the game. Seeing him featured in staggers and pin-downs makes sense, as does getting him more side ball screens. His playing time should increase from the 28 minutes per game he played in December.
<!--INLINE MUG-->


<!--END INLINE MUG-->Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bucks
Think about this: What if Giannis had played his last year of high school at one of the great prep programs in the U.S. that so many other top players attend? Is there any chance he doesn't get recruited by almost every major college? No, there's not. And what if he had that type of exposure and experience against top competition? It's hard to imagine him falling below the top two picks of the 2013 draft.
Antetokounmpo, who just turned 19, hasn't faced anything close to the kind of competition he's facing now and yet has a PER just south of 15 (the league average). In fact, few drafted players have had as little previous high-level experience as Giannis has.
His learning curve should be enormous and, as the Bucks begin to target a top-three pick in this year's draft, we should see his minutes grow to 35-plus per game. Ironically, though, his talent level is so high that, while the increased playing time will help him develop, it might also help his team win more often and thus lose pingpong balls.


<CENTER>

---

</CENTER>
[h=3]Top picks who need to show they belong[/h]
<!--INLINE MUG-->


<!--END INLINE MUG-->Anthony Bennett, Cavaliers
It can't get worse, right? Bennett appears to be in better shape, which is the biggest step in the right direction he could make. He's also finding better shots, though he's just not making enough of them.
But it is very evident he is playing as if he is still as heavy as he was, a common problem for guys who lose weight or are recovering from an injury. Learning to play explosively and athletically is challenging for players who are unaccustomed to or out of the habit of doing so. There have been numerous chances for Bennett to dunk the ball when he chose to shoot the quick layup instead, only to miss it.
In time, perhaps after he can clear his head at the All-Star break, he'll realize that he's capable of doing so much more as an athlete. When that happens, the game will get easier for him. Even if he does not find his skill game this season, building a foundation based on athleticism is a great start for Bennett, one that would suggest he has a bright future.
<!--INLINE MUG-->


<!--END INLINE MUG-->Otto Porter Jr., Wizards
Porter is playing behind two solid veterans (Martell Webster and Trevor Ariza), and the Wizards are hunting a playoff spot. So we can't expect a lot of minutes for Porter due to the team tanking.
But Washington can move one of its wings to create room for Porter, while possibly getting help at point guard or another spot in the second unit. If it does, Porter will get far more chances to grow his game. He has done so little to this point, in very few chances, that the Wizards really can't know what they have in him yet.


<CENTER>

---

</CENTER>
[h=3]ROY Watch[/h]


<!-- begin inline 1 --><STYLE type=text/css>.mod-inline td img ** margin: 0px !important; }</STYLE>[h=4]ROOKIE 50 RANKINGS[/h] We're keeping track of every NBA rook. Here are the latest Top 50 rankings.
[h=2][/h]• Click here for the complete rankings »


<!-- end inline 1 -->
Trey Burke, Jazz
Burke had the ultimate nightmare for an NBA point guard against the Clippers, hurting his team with three turnovers in the last three minutes of a tight game (two of the turnovers came with the Jazz down by only two points). Missing shots is one thing, but not getting one off at all is a far worse transgression. They were mistakes made out of aggressiveness more than carelessness, but he had six turnovers total in the game, which came on the heels of a seven-turnover game in a win over the Lakers.
But Burke showed what he's made of in his next game, committing only one turnover in Utah's win against Charlotte. He finished December with a better than 3-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio, while making 36.8 percent of his 3s. For a point guard who just turned 21 and missed a lot of prep time in the preseason due to injury, those are eye-popping results. Utah is 10-8 in games in which Burke has played more than 20 minutes, 1-16 when he hasn't.

Michael Carter-Williams, 76ers
This 76ers squad is a good example of how a coach can help his players. First-year coach Brett Brown has a system in place that is simple, and it works perfectly in helping MCW run his team with confidence as he learns the NBA game.
When a team works patiently for the best shot possible, it invariably puts extra pressure on the point guard, who has to probe, prod, drive, reset and organize -- all in the hunt for that shot. It takes years of experience, plus loads of talent, to play that way effectively. If Philly were to run this system, it would be far worse.
Instead, Philly leads the league in pace, not only because it races up and down the floor but because it looks for the first open shot. Often, it is just a simple MCW penetrate and kick. A more talented team would score more efficiently, but scoring efficiently is not actually the ultimate goal for this team. The Sixers are allowing their prized rookie to work his way into a very complex game one step at a time.
As they add talent, they will add wrinkles to the game plan and eventually run a more layered offensive attack. By that time, Carter-Williams will be well on his way to being an All-Star. If Philly employed a more comprehensive attack now, it is doubtful we would project that of him.