As we head off into the warm days of July, we can look back at last week's NBA Draft and take it all in.  Over the past week, Tom Lorenzo and I have reviewed all the first round players, the situations they are entering, and possible scenarios for the upcoming season, and we've evaluated whether each player will be worth your attention in Fantasy NBA this coming year. 

The criteria we considered were Opportunity, Raw Skills, Fit for Team Philosophy, and Intangibles.  We used a five-point scale, with five being the top score possible and one being the worst possible. Then we compared our scores and averaged them to get to an index that suggests their upcoming worth, resulting in OVERALL AVERAGE numbers that are our collective prediction of how likely they are each to contribute in the 2008-09 NBA fantasy season.

Sound confusing to you?  Don't worry readers, a quick glance below will clear up any questions you may have.

Landry:  D-Rose is a great talent and the Bulls will find him minutes immediately.  They were frustrated with Kirk Hinrich last season, even going so far as to bench him on multiple occasions.  You can't readily move Cap'n Kirk to a bench role, so look for a trade to open the spot for Rose.
Lorenzo:  Yeah, Rose should get an opportunity to play early on, once the Bulls figure out what to do with Hinrich.  Del Negro’s system, once defined, should fit nicely with Rose’s game, since he’s been around D’Antoni for a few years now.  It should come as no surprise that Rose will be one of the more productive rookies this year. 

Lorenzo: He should have the most impact of any rookie.  I suspect he’ll average a double-double in his first year.  "Be-Easley" is most likely going to have the biggest impact and fantasy value amongst rookies.
Landry:  If the Heat decide to re-sign Ricky Davis, they have a ton of options at G and F.  Dwyane Wade, Shawn Marion, and Beasley are likely starters.  Even if "Beast-ly" were to start out off the bench (unlikely), he'll be too dominant when he does play to hold down.

Landry:  I like the raw skills he brings and his fit on the offensive scheme, but Memphis has too many hybrid guards (Conley, Lowry, Crittendon) and too many swing men (Gay, Jaric, Buckner) all fighting for minutes.  Will Mayo start immediately?  Who knows. He also needs some seasoning to become a true leader.
Lorenzo:  He got moved to a young, quick, run and gun team.  He should fit in nicely.  15 PPG, 5 assists, and 5 rebounds are not out of the question in his first year.  I have been pushing for Mayo since day one, so this shouldn't surprise you, Landry.

Lorenzo:  He’ll probably get some early opportunities, since he is already the best PG on the Sonics roster.  He might not have much of an impact fantasy wise, aside from steals. 
Landry:  With Earl Watson out for at least three months (broken thumb), the starting gig comes down to Westbrook and Luke Ridnour.  Ridnour is popping up in trade rumors. I see a Devin Harris clone who will get a shot to start before the holidays arrive.

Landry:  Plain and simple...he'll be in ROY discussions all season. Love has Brad Miller upside, and he could perform this year like Sean May did in his eight starts during 2006 (13 points, 7-8 boards, 2+ assists, an occasional trey, and great percentages).
Lorenzo:  Another guy who should put up good rookie numbers.  He should benefit nicely from playing alongside Al Jefferson.   I think comparing him to the small sample size of Sean May might be lowballing him a bit.  The opportunities will be there and he could put up Al Horford numbers in his first year.

Lorenzo:  Gallinari is a D’Antoni guy, in terms of the system he runs.  The one problem is that so are Quentin Richardson and, so it seems, Wilson Chandler.  He’ll get some run this year, but probably not enough to make a fantasy impact right away. 
Landry:  I agree with Tom on how well Danilo fits the system. And under D'Antoni, unexpected things do happen. Still, they're stacked at SF, and we're looking at a 19-year-old with a long way to go defensively. Worth watching, but that's all for this year.

Lorenzo:  He is often compared to Ben Gordon.  Nice comparison if you are looking for a scorer and not much else on the stat sheets.  He could make an impact in year one, but we’ll really have to see how the Brand and Maggette situations pan out first.    
Landry:  I agree with Tom on the comparison to Ben Gordon, although Eric is bigger.  When Baron Davis signs and Elton Brand returns (which he will), this team looks good with or without Corey Maggette.  But he'll sign too, and the Clips will become an immediate Playoff Contender.

Landry:  I think Alexander will be a slow developer in the NBA, a'la Mike Dunleavy. He also sits behind Richard Jefferson and has to battle guys like Desmond Mason, Charlie Bell, and Charlie Villanueva (and maybe Ersan Ilyasova) for minutes. Barring a shakeup, he's at least a year away.
Lorenzo:  Here’s a guy who, like Landry said, will most likely be stuck on the bench in year one.  After the Jefferson trade, I was shocked they drafted Alexander.  He has a ton of raw skills, but it seems that the Bucks are not in need of those skills in this upcoming season.

Landry:  This selection says the Bobcats see D.J. as a sixth man...or that they're not liking what they see from Ray Felton. I actually like him a lot in a Leandro Barbosa role, as a sparkplug off the bench.  Even better if they rid themselves of Felton and hand him the gig, because he can ball.
Lorenzo:  Here is another guy who is blocked on the bench – Raymond Felton.  At least for now.  If Felton is dealt (and I could definitely see a Felton-David Lee swap), he can have an impact as a true point guard with decent scoring ability for his size. 

Lorenzo:  He fits this system -- play the young guys until LeBron James is available.  I think Lopez is another double-double candidate.  For a center he might have some good fantasy value. 
Landry:  How in the world did Lopez sit there until the 10th pick?  I've heard comparisons to Brad Daugherty, so he'll immediately log minutes for this rebuilding franchise.  I see upside of maybe 15 points, seven boards, and over a block per game once he gets the feel for the NBA game.

Landry:  The Blazers see Deron Williams in Bayless, and they intend to convert the combo guard into a true PG.  I hope they are right, because the last thing this team needs is a situation like the Warriors had with Larry Hughes several years ago.  At a minimum, he'll likely work his way into a Jarrett Jack role this year, which has some value.
Lorenzo:  Bayless got dealt to a young up-and-coming team on draft day.  With Rudy Fernandez, Steve Blake, Sergio Rodriguez, and Brandon Roy also in the fold, he might not get much run in his first year.  With a few roster moves, he could move up the depth chart, but for now he might not get enough playing time to make a fantasy impact.

Lorenzo:  Widely considered a “reach,” Thompson will probably not make a fantasy impact this year. The presence of Brad Miller, Mikki Moore, Spencer Hawes, and Sheldon Williams will make it hard for Thompson to earn much playing time. 
Landry:  I agree with Tom that this pick came earlier than I expected, but I see opportunity here. Miller is an injury risk, Moore is...Mikki Moore, and Sheldon Williams couldn't break the rotation on a Hawks squad devoid of talented bigs. Don't expect big numbers early, but with Center-eligible players always in demand, he needs to be on your watch list.

Landry:  I love Rush's potential in Indy's offense as a scorer off the bench. But he won't start without Mike Dunleavy or Danny Granger going down, so super sixth man is the best we can expect this year. He has been compared to Caron Butler during his workout tour--yeah, that Caron...one of last year's most improved players.
Lorenzo:  The Pacers had a big shake-up this offseason.  T.J. Ford and Mike Dunleavy are slotted to start in the back court, but look for Rush to be the impact guy off the bench.  He is NBA ready, and I see him becoming a waiver option during the season. 

Lorenzo:  Plain and simple -- he’s just not ready.  He is also blocked by Brandan Wright.  He may not see enough time to even get a mention in fantasy basketball. 
Landry:  I'm with Tom on this one.  Don't be surprised to see Randolph spend at least part of this season in the D-League. They want to develop him as a starter heading into 2009-10, because he offers better size and strength at SF than Wright, on whom Nellie still isn't sold. Best case: late season pickup.

Landry:  I like Lopez a lot, just not necessarily in Phoenix. This year, I'm expecting about what Kurt Thomas delivered in the few games he actually played while on this roster two years ago.  In other words, move along; nothing to see here...not yet anyway.
Lorenzo:  It’s tough to put a value on intangible and energy guys.  Lopez could be a good rebounding, blocks, and steals option this year.  As usual (the hair!), he gets compared to Anderson Varejao.  Fair comparison, but you be the judge -- is that a good enough comparison for you?  Count me out.   

Lorenzo:  We still need to see how the 76ers offseason plays out, but it looks like Speights might get a look early on.  The 76ers have some young bigs in Thaddeus Young and Jason Smith, but Speights is a low post, half-court set scorer which Philly lacks. 
Landry:  I'm a big fan of this kid, but I don't see him being featured right out of the gate (the team wants him to work on conditioning and strength improvements).  He could do well next to Samuel Dalembert, but my money is on Thaddeus Young to get the first crack at the starting gig.

Landry:  I like this situation for Hibbert.  The team rid itself Jermaine O'Neal, who is always hurt and a shadow of his former self, and Ike Diogu, who will finally get some overdue burn with the Blazers.  Look for Hibbert to compete with new acquisition Rasho Nesterovic for the starting C job, and Hibbert's youth will eventually win the battle for minutes in an up-tempo attack like Indiana's.
Lorenzo:  Exactly, Landry.  I don’t see why he wouldn’t get playing time early on.  He’s an “older” rookie who is playing on a team with very little low post presence.  A double-double may be a bit of a reach, but it certainly is possible.   

Lorenzo:  He's very long and athletic, but I don’t see him have much, if any, of an impact this season.  He is probably years away from contributing.  Andray Blatche is probably the guy to keep an eye on in Washington. 
Landry:  Washington tried to trade this pick and got stuck with it, so they bought insurance in case Etan Thomas isn't fully healed and Andray Blatche's legal troubles (drinking-related) become a distraction this season (Eddie Griffin syndrome?).  McGee could be the No. 2 center, or he could be a D-league regular.  Not the best place to troll for fantasy value.

Landry:  Cavaliers GM Danny Ferry called Hickson a "work in progress" after the draft.  Basically, they're already covered on the front line and planning for the future.  In other words, look elsewhere for help this year.
Lorenzo:  He should provide some help off the bench.  The problem is that I can’t see him playing a big part in convincing LeBron to stay in Cleveland, and that seems to be the main focus for the Cavs this season.  Hickson may not factor into the current philosophy. 

Lorenzo:  It’s hard to see him having much of an immediate impact.  I wouldn’t really take a look at him while drafting.  He’s more of a “wait and see” kind of prospect. 
Landry:  Same opinion here.  Head coach Larry Brown said that Ajinca would be worth a top five pick in 2009, so they think they got him at a discount.  Either way, he's not ready for the NBA game (very raw) and will only see limited minutes, if he even manages to nudge his way onto the active list on gamedays.

Landry:  Anderson describes himself as a "shooting big man," and I concur. Bostjan Nachbar is an unrestricted free agent who they'd like to sign, but he will garner a lot of interest elsewhere.  If Nachbar darts, Anderson will play a key role outside the arc, waiting for kickouts from Devin Harris when he drives the lane.  With playing time this year, he could put up numbers similar to what Pat Garrity did for Orlando back in 2002 (10 points, 4 boards, 2 treys/game).
Lorenzo:  Great comparison, Landry.  With Richard Jefferson gone and Bostjan Nachbar likely to sign elsewhere, I think Ryan Anderson is going to get some playing time.  The Nets, again, are playing for 2010.  So, they will be more than happy to develop their young players now.  Anderson may put up similar type of numbers to what Nachbar did last season. 

Lorenzo:  He comes in as one of the more seasoned players in the Draft.  Lee fits a perfect need for the Magic, though my one concern would be whether or not the shots are going to be there for him.  The Magic have turned into a three headed offensive monster, and the shots may be limited for Lee. 
Landry:  I'm not worried about Lee one bit. Assuming he starts, he'll be that athletic swing man they coveted all through the 2007-08 season. He's one of my absolute favorites from this draft for fantasy value from Day One. Very experienced and well-rounded player who is ready for the big show.

Lorenzo:  Koufos should fit nicely in Utah’s system.  He is a step out big man with a smooth inside game.  He could get some time spelling Okur and might be a player to keep an eye on.  Again, the depth at their center position is weak, so he might be worth a look.  Especially if an injury to Okur were to arise. 
Landry:  As much as I want to believe he will contribute, this is still Jerry Sloan's team.  It is not a rumor that he refuses to play rookies in key roles. Koufos plays a heck of a lot like Mehmet Okur, and he also has to battle the under-rated Paul Millsap, big man project Kyrylo Fesenko, and veteran minute-muncher Jarron Collins for floor time. I'm just not feeling it.

Landry:  Here's one kid who is nowhere near NBA-ready.  This was a pick for upside in the future. Ignore for fantasy purposes for now.
Lorenzo:  Looks like he may stay overseas for two more years to play, so we probably aren’t going to see him this year anyways.  The development may help his NBA future. 

Landry:  Batum wants to play one more year in Europe before joining the Trailblazers.  He needs the work, because it could help him make the leap from Boris Diaw territory up to the Lamar Odom range.
Lorenzo:  Again, not much room for him on the Blazers this year.  If he plays in the NBA this season he is going to be playing behind Roy, Webster, and Outlaw.  I think he can develop into a fine fantasy player, but this year will most likely be a learning experience for him.

Lorenzo:  He is a back-up PG for Tony Parker.  I see him as more of a piece to the Spurs run at the Championship and not much of a fantasy player.  I would be surprised if he gave you anything in fantasy this year. 
Landry:  Hill had a great pre-draft camp, and that helped him leap into the first round.  Jacque Vaughn and Damon Stoudemire just got demoted to third/fourth string PGs. Say hello to the new Beno Udrih, the San Antonio version, not the Sacramento one. That's what to expect.

Landry:  Memphis was torn between taking Kevin Love and Darrell Arthur with the fifth pick. They took Love, and then traded him to Minnesota when Houston offered Arthur for Donte Greene (see below) later in the draft.  I envision a starting front line of Rudy Gay, Arthur, and 7'1" Marc Gasol (Pau's brother), which is a huge step up from what they threw out on the court late last year. He'll be starting this year, maybe immediately.
Lorenzo:  I love his abilities.  He might excel in this system which is devoid of big men.  If he gets into the rotation early, I think he can be one of the top five fantasy players in this Draft. 

Lorenzo:  He’s a spot shooter who failed to develop more in his one and only year at Syracuse.  He may be able to get time on the court due to his shooting ability, but since he did leave college a year or two earlier than he should have, I suspect that he needs at least another year to develop into the lottery talent that he can be. 
Landry:  Tom is correct about playing time, as the team thinks he has a super-high ceiling, but they don't see him getting much burn early.  If he can turn into what they think he can, he'll be a deadly shooter at 6'11" (WOW!) who doesn't mind going inside and scrapping for the ball. Long-term prognostication aside, I'm not counting on him for fantasy value in 2008-09.

Landry:  I like White in this lineup, because the Sonics look mediocre at best on the front line.  They also need a bruiser to defend the lane and snag boards when Kevin Durant fires up all those shots. If he wins a starting job, he could deliver 13 and 7 with close to a block-per-game. Long-term this kid will really turn some heads.
Lorenzo:  Here is an interesting guy because his value lies strictly in rebounding.  That being said, with a few putbacks and easy buckets, he could put up some nice numbers.  Playing time is up for grabs in Seattle/Oklahoma City, so he should get an opportunity to make some impact.  I may not be as high on him as Landry, but I still think he has some value this year.   

Lorenzo:  I don’t see much room on the floor for this energy guy.  I think he’s some time away from having any sort of fantasy value.  The Celtics can use him to spell an aging Ray Allen, though I think Eddie House may have something to say about that.
Landry:  Best case for Giddens is if Tony Allen darts in free agency.  Either way, he won't get a ton of burn and doesn't have that much upside. I wouldn't bother with him for fantasy purposes.

SECOND ROUND FANTASY IMPACT
But wait, the first round isn't enough, as we've seen many a solid player spring onto the scene after being dismissed as "merely a second round pick."  Each of us has selected one guy who was taken in the second round, the guy who we each think has the best potential to provide fantasy value during the 2008-09 NBA Fantasy Season.

LORENZO'S PICK
Mario Chalmers, PG, Miami Heat:  Chalmers may have as big of an impact as any point guard in the Draft.  He is ready to step in and play right away for a team looking to move on and plug a young point guard into the starting role.  Many experts projected Chalmers as a first rounder, so I suppose it isn’t much of a surprise to pick him as an impact player.  He is a very good shooter, and I think he’ll fit into the rotation right away and make an impact.  With Wade and Beasley running the court alongside Chalmers, I think he’ll benefit most in the assist department.  Keep your eye on Chalmers, because I think he’s going to have first round impact this year and put up solid fantasy numbers.

LANDRY'S PICK
I, too, thought about covering Chalmers, as I had him tabbed to go in the first round.  But Tom has you covered there, so I'll touch on another guy, one who is hopefully still under the radar for all your league-mates.

Chris Douglas-Roberts, SG/SF, New Jersey Nets:  Here is another guy who shouldn't have lasted past the 30th pick.  He is a natural scorer, albeit not a great spot up shooter, but he possesses instincts and athleticism that GM Kiki Vandeweghe recently called "deceptive" (according to the Nets Team Report on Yahoo.com).  The team proceeded to stack talent at PF and C with Brook Lopez, Ryan Anderson, and ex-Buck Yi Jianlian.  At the same time, they took a definite step down at SF by trading Richard Jefferson to Milwaukee for Bobby Simmons in the deal where they landed Yi.  We already know that Vince Carter spends time out of the lineup on an annual basis.  There will be minutes for the taking at the swing positions, and I think CDR gobbles up his fair share on a rebuilding franchise.  And he stacks up nicely against Jefferson, as CDR posted comparable or superior NCAA stats across the board. Simmons hasn't shown an ability to stay healthy either, so I'm betting the "come" for CDR.

Tommy Landry and Tom Lorenzo were once called the "Two Toms," after being observed playing a calypso beat on the wall with their heads.  Ah, the frustration of trying to figure out the NBA Draft.  Got rhythm?  Drop us a line to help ease our pain at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

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