C Andrea Bargnani, Toronto Raptors
Many supposed fantasy experts are touting Andrea Bargnani as a sleeper. I simply don’t agree. He’s a streaky player and with more offensive options in Toronto, I think his slice of the pie will shrink. Look at his stats last year as his ceiling for this season.

PF Kevin Garnett, Boston Celtics
Since joining the Celtics, Garnett’s stats have suffered while his winning has improved. This year, expect his stats to take another hit. Boston knows he has to be healthy in the playoffs for the team to have a shot, so that means a light regular season load for Garnett.

SF Ron Artest, Los Angeles Lakers
Ron Artest is one of the most talked about players in the NBA these days. But don’t let that fool you. He’s going to only be an average fantasy basketball player this season. His minutes will be lowered and the Lakers don’t need him to shoulder much of the burden on either end of the court.

SG Allen Iverson, Memphis Grizzlies
How many red flags do you need before you avoid Allen Iverson? He has a hamstring injury that could linger. He’s coming off of a bad year in Detroit. He’s on a young team with a lot of scorers. Let Iverson be someone else’s headache.

PG Andre Miller, Portland Trail Blazers
If you haven’t been paying attention, there’s a good chance that Andre Miller may come off the bench for the Blazers. His stats should still be good in that scenario but it definitely hurts his fantasy basketball potential in the 2009-10 NBA season.

Don't Draft Allen Iverson (Image: Zuma Press)

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Randy Foye, Minnesota Timberwolves
Now that the Timberwolves have given up on the hope of Randy Foye playing point guard, Foye has now started to live up to his potential as a shooting guard. Part of the reason why he has played so well as of late is his ability to hit from beyond the arc. In January, he’s averaging more than 20 points and shooting better than 50% on three-pointers.

Andre Iguodala, Philadelphia 76ers
With Elton Brand sidelined, Andre Iguodala has regained the reigns of the Sixers’ offense. Not only is his scoring and assists up but his three-point shooting has improved drastically. In December, he shot less than 18% on three-pointers. In January, his attempts are up from around three to around four and he’s shooting better than 50% from deep.

JJ Redick, Orlando Magic
The Magic have been on fire from three-point range lately and a large part of the reason is due to JJ Redick’s accuracy. The historically good three-point shooter in college has begun to figure out how to get his shot off in the NBA. Combine that with playing time and he’s shooting 62.1% on three-pointers for the month of January.

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Courtney Lee, Orlando Magic
With news that Mickael Pietrus broke his rest and is out for an indefinite amount of time, Courtney Lee should see an upshoot in playing time as a result. The rookie shooting guard can shoot, score and provide decent complementary stats. If he can move into the starting lineup, that’d be a big boost for his fantasy worth.

Amir Johnson, Detroit Pistons
Amir Johnson is back into the starting lineup. He began the year as a starter before falling out of favor and falling out of the rotation. However, it should be noted that he’s starting mostly due to an injury to Richard Hamilton. Only start Johnson as long as Hamilton is sidelined.

Andrea Bargnani, Toronto Raptors
The Great Tease is at it again. Filling in for an injured and sick Jermaine O’Neal, Andrea Bargnani had a big game. This followed a series of uninspired performances off the bench. When he’s going right, Bargnani is a center who can score, hit three pointers, block shots and chip in with a few rebounds.

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All that said, they have some interesting fantasy basketball options. First and foremost is Chris Bosh. At the beginning of the season, Bosh was one of the best fantasy bigmen in the NBA. But recently, he has been in a major slump. His shooting percentages have plummeted and he’s settling for too many jumpers. He’s also not rebounding or blocking shots as well as usual. The good news is that this is probably just a slump for Bosh and he should be able to return to his typical dominant self soon enough. One explanation for his recent poor play is fatigue due to his play in the Olympics. If that’s the case, he’ll come around once he catches his second wind.

Outside of Bosh, the best fantasy option on the team is Jose Calderon. He’s actually been shooting the ball very well as of late. On the season, he hasn’t missed a free throw yet — which always helps in the fantasy world. He’s also continuing his insanely high assist-to-turnover ratio from last season.

Outside of those two players, it’s difficult to find a very good fantasy option. Jermaine O’Neal is decent but he isn’t producing much. He’s somewhat valuable due to his blocks but he’s a far cry from his heyday. O’Neal has been struggling with a variety of injuries so there’s a chance that he could get healthy and become a better fantasy option down the line.

Andrea Bargnani is a player fantasy owners have been waiting on to erupt onto the scene but it simply doesn’t appear as if it’s going to happen. Bargnani is now coming off the bench and is struggling mightily. His shot is way off and he’s not helping in any other category. Avoid Bargnani until he shows some signs of life.

Last season Jamario Moon was a useful player but he’s not playing nearly as well this season. Anthony Parker has been struggling shooting the ball and Jason Kapono just isn’t much of an all-around option. Joey Graham has had some decent outings but he’s not good enough to be a fantasy option.

Photo credit: Newscom

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At 6-foot-9, Gallinari has varied skills that have scouts thinking he can play either shooting guard or point guard. There are even some scouts who think Gallinari has the ball handling ability and the passing ability to play a bit at point guard if needed.

When watching Gallinari, the thing that first becomes obvious is his ability to score the basketball. For a young player in Europe, he has posted very good scoring numbers and that should be his main strength in the NBA. He can score off the dribble and with range.

The biggest question marks surrounding Gallinari aren’t anything he has done – rather it is the history of recent overseas prospects. Andrea Bargnani was the first overall pick of the 2006 NBA Draft and he has been a bust so far for the Toronto Raptors. Last year, the Golden State Warriors picked Marco Belinelli in the first round and Belinelli was a disappointment in his rookie season. These two recent cases of Italian prospects underperforming in the NBA will have scouts questioning themselves up until Gallinari proves he’s a capable NBA player.

Check out this Danilo Gallinari video:

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Vince Carter, New Jersey Nets
After cashing in this past summer, Vince Carter has been a huge disappointment this season for the Nets. In 2008, he has been even more disappointing. His shooting percentages are down and he’s not playing with any type of fire.

Tracy McGrady, Houston Rockets
Although he has battled various injuries, Tracy McGrady just isn’t playing well enough when he does play. Fantasy owners who used a high draft pick on McGrady and really disappointed with what they’ve received this season.

Ricky Davis, Miami Heat
With all the struggling and injuries on the Heat, you’d think Ricky Davis would at least be putting up numbers. However, that hasn’t been the case at all and as of late, he’s been one of the worst players on the team.

Andrea Bargnani, Toronto Raptors
The 2007 NBA Draft’s number one overall pick, Andrea Bargnani is looking like a total bust. In 2008, despite starting, Bargnani has looked horrible for the Raptors. While he’s still young, Toronto would like to see some improvement out of their second year player.

Carlos Boozer, Utah Jazz
Although the Jazz have been winning at a healthy clip, Carlos Boozer’s numbers haven’t been too impressive in 2008. His numbers have fallen from where they were earlier in the season and the bad news for fantasy owners is there’s little sign that the numbers will go back up.

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Pau Gasol is now a Laker. Shaquille O’Neal is a Sun and Shawn Marion is a member of the Heat. This week’s transactions may have just shifted the powers in the Western Conference. One thing it definitely has done is give us plenty to talk about. But what affect do these deals have on the fantasy basketball landscape, if any? Let us look at the fall out of those deals and other goings on around the league that could help your team up to and beyond the All-Star break.

On the Rise

Andrea Bargnani – Power Forward/Center – Remember this guy? He was a big-time sleeper pick, if you can call a former number one overall draft pick a sleeper, going into this season. He rewarded those who drafted him with an awful December, averaging only 5.3 points and 2.1 rebounds on 30% shooting. However, he finished the month of January strong, posting averages of 13.8 points and 5.5 rebounds with 2 three pointers a game in his last four games last month. In his first two games in February, he has been outstanding, scoring 25 points a game on 56% from the field. It appears that he has finally shaken his first half shooting woes and is now worth a spot on your roster.

Josh Childress – Shooting Guard/Small Forward – In case you missed it, there is not a hotter player right now than Childress, at least when it comes to shooting percentage. He has hit 23 of his last 29 shoots from the field over his last three games – both Atlanta wins. No way is he going to keep up this pace, although his career field goal percentage is over 50%. However, it is a good indicator that he should be in line for solid minutes for the foreseeable future. He is a good rebounder and great free throw shooter as well.

Pau Gasol – Power Forward/Center – Lakers – The Lakers seem like the big winners in a trade in which they received Gasol from Memphis – at least in the short term. Gasol’s fantasy teams should also benefit from his move to Los Angeles. Despite having his friend Juan Carlos Navarro on board, Gasol was unhappy with the Grizzlies as the years of losing finally began to wear on him. The move to the contending Lakers should rejuvenate the talented Spaniard and his statistics. He should also benefit by playing next to a suddenly more team-oriented Kobe Bryant.

Troy Murphy – Power Forward/Center – Pacers – Similar to Andrea Bargnani, Murphy can be a great source of three pointers from a center eligible player. And similar to Bargnani, Murphy had his shooting troubles this season, posting a field goal percentage of under 40% in November and in January. He has started to get warm, shooting 48% in his last five games averaging 15.2 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 2 three pointers during that span. Murphy is a streaky player, but he is talented enough to maintain averages around 14 points, 7 boards, and 1.5 three pointers for the rest of the season.

Shaquille O’Neal – Center – Suns – A team in contention would not give up a talented all-around player like Shawn Marion unless they planned on using whatever they got back in return. O’Neal is clearly on the downside of his Hall-of-Fame career and has battled injuries all season. However, he still can be a force when healthy and properly motivated. He is not a top option at center due to his well documented trouble at the line, but he can still help with several categories including field goal percentage, points, rebounds, and blocked shots.

Josh Smith – Forward – Hawks – Smith has improved his scoring in every month so far this season. However, that does not begin to approach the sensational development of his game. He neared his second triple-double game twice this month with 19 points, 9 assists, and 9 blocks against the 76ers and 17 point, 9 rebounds, and 9 assists with 5 blocks against the Lakers. In other words, this guy is really good. It will probably require a first round pick to get him in next year’s fantasy draft if he stays healthy.

On the Way Down

LaMarcus Aldridge – Power Forward/Center – Blazers – Aldridge was a fantastic draft day find as he came out of the gate red-hot. However, we have seen his scoring average and shooting percentage decrease in each month this season. The last time that he scored more than 20 points in a game was the last day in December. His decent, but not great, rebounding has stayed fairly steady all season and he has actually gotten a little better at blocking shots lately, posting his only 4 block games this season in 2008. Aldridge is still putting up good enough numbers and is a talented enough player not to give up on. Nevertheless, he has not played lately like the superstar that he seemed on the path to be earlier this season.

Anthony Johnson – Point Guard – Hawks – Johnson was a popular free agent pick up in mid-December, especially for those teams that need some help in the assists category. He has lost time recently to the disappointing rookie Acie Law and the underrated veteran Tyronn Lue. Johnson’s decreased minutes have caused his statistics to be reduced to the point below fantasy consideration, including averaging only 4 assists over his past five games. The most frustrating part of this five game cold streak is that it came on the heels of a 12 point, 11 assist game against the Blazers.

Jason Maxiell – Power Forward/Center – This one breaks my heart a little. All indicators this pre-season pointed to a breakout season for Maxiell. However, someone forgot to tell Flip Saunders, as Maxiell has managed to play just over 22 minutes a game. It is not as though he has not produced when he is on the court, putting up 11.3 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks on 56.5% shooting in six games as a starter. The problem is that the Pistons play their starters a ton of minutes, leaving only scraps on many nights for bench players like Maxiell.

Jason Williams – Point Guard – Heat – Williams is a likely loser in Shaquille O’Neal/ Shawn Marion deal, because Miami also received Marcus Banks in the deal. Williams has been terribly inconsistent this season, playing a position that demands a steady hand. He was already having trouble beating out Chris Quinn for playing time, now you put the quick, defensive minded Banks in the mix. One thing that is in Williams’ favor is his ability to not turnover the ball a bunch.

Skimming the Free Agent Pool

Jarrett Jack – Guard – Blazers – Jack has been a disappointment this season. So much so, that his name has been mentioned in trade rumors, including a three team trade involving the Nets and Jason Kidd. The Blazers have been waiting for his adjustment to his role and inconsistent minutes coming off the bench. It appears that it is finally starting to happen. In his first two games in February, Jack has averages of 14.5 points, 7 rebounds, 5.5 assists, 1.5 steals, and 1.5 three pointers on 53% shooting. Granted, this is just two games, but they were two very, very good games. They definitely have my attention.

Kyle Korver – Small Forward – Jazz – When Korver has been worth having around, it has been for one reason – his three point shooting. He is not going to give you regular production in much of anything else. After shooting a un-Korver like three point percentage in the mid-thirties for most of the season, he is starting to get his three point stroke back. He has connected on two-thirds of his attempts in his first three February games.

Bostjan Nachbar – Small Forward – Nets – Following a nine game losing streak, the Nets turned to Nachbar for an offensive spark. He has played well enough to see his minutes increase in four of his last five games. That is the kind of positive trend that should have caught the attention of the fantasy basketball world. During those five games, he has put up 13.4 points, 5 rebounds, and 1.6 three pointers a game. The most impressive part of this run is the fact that he has done all of this with Vince Carter and Richard Jefferson still healthy and active.

Charlie Villanueva – Forward – Bucks – Villanueva has done this before, right? He has tempted and teased us with his immense basketball talent. And then, when you think that he has finally put it all together and is on the road to become a fantasy star, his statistics all but disappear from the box scores. So what is different now? Probably nothing. But Yi Jianlian has not put together a very good game since mid-January and is out for a few games with a bum shoulder. So perhaps he is worth a gamble if you happen to have a roster spot available.

The Deep End:

Marcus Banks – Guard – Heat – Call me an idealist or maybe just nostalgic. But I remember back a few years, when the Celtics had high hopes that Banks would run the point for them for the next decade. He struggled to get consistent minutes partly due to his shooting and turnover problems in his two plus years in Boston. He was finally given a longer leash after being traded to Minnesota during the 2005-06 season. In over 30 minutes a game, Banks posted averages of 12 points, 4.7 assists, and 1.2 steals for the Timberwolves. He was buried on the depth chart behind Steve Nash and Leandro Barbosa in Phoenix over the past year and a half. Banks could get another opportunity to be a starter in Miami. He is still only 26 years old, so there is plenty of upside to his game.

FantasyFanatics.com is a premier fantasy sports community. Need help deciding who to sit and who to start? What about help with a big trade? Chat with the fantasy basketball experts on FantasyFanatics.com.

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Nenad Krstic, New Jersey Nets
Krstic has been horrible this year for the Nets. He was so bad in fact that the Nets decided to make Krstic go back to rehabbing his knee that he hurt last year. However, Krstic is close to returning to the team. If he can regain the health of his knee, he could be a very nice center – just like he was before he got hurt.

Andrea Bargnani, Toronto Raptors
Bargnani is starting look like a bust. In his second season in the NBA, his numbers are actually worse than they were last year. That said, he’s still very young and you have to think that the Raptors will keep giving him chances. If he can earn playing time, he can score well enough to become a very nice fantasy player.

Erick Dampier, Dallas Mavericks
Dampier hasn’t lived up to his potential since he signed with the Mavericks after starting his career with the Golden State Warriors. But as of the last couple weeks, he’s actually playing rather well. Over his last three games, he’s averaging around 30 minutes and has played relatively well in each game. In fact, Dampier has connected on all of his last ten field goal attempts.

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Brandon Bass, Dallas Mavericks
Bass has had a couple big preseason games in his last two outings. The Mavericks were high enough in the summer to give him a guaranteed contract. That said, there chances aren’t great that he earns a spot in the Mavs’ rotation. However, keep an eye on him because he can rebound and score when given minutes.

Andrea Bargnani, Toronto Raptors
Bargnani is starting to really blossom north of the border. He led the Raptors in scoring in Toronto’s victory over the Bulls. He had 19 points in 25 minutes, making 7-of-12 shots from the field. He’s never going to be a big rebounder or shot blocker, but Bargnani is highly skilled and should eventually turn into a reliable starter.

Andray Blatche, Washington Wizards
Blatche is having a great preseason for the Wizards. In fact, he is leading the team in scoring in addition to his typical all around play. He led the Wizards in scoring again on Friday night with 20 points. Blatche also chipped in with eight boards, four assists and three steals in 24 minutes.

Wizards Training Camp vLog

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It’s not important that the Celtics won the game 89-85, afterall it’s just preseason. However, some interesting developments can already be seen taking shape.

Toronto started Andrea Bargnani in place of Rasho Nesterovic, and free agent acquisition Jason Kapono at small forward. While this rotation obviously isn’t set in stone, it should raise the draft stock of Bargnani and Kapono just a bit. If Bargnani starts and plays big minutes, he’s definitely a guy worth selecting in a fantasy draft. Kapono as a season long starter is also worth a fantasy spot, as he’s one of the best shooters in the league.

For Boston, there wasn’t a surprise in the starting lineup. Next to Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen were the expected duo of Rajon Rondo and Kendrick Perkins. Doc Rivers and the Celtics are apparently going to take preseason seriously as Garnett, Pierce and Allan all played over 30 minutes.

The most interesting aspect involving the Celtics is that Eddie House and James Posey seem to be the first two players off the bench. If House gets playing time, he’s a guy who can light up the scoreboard in a hurry. Posey is a good all-around player, however he needs about 25 minutes per game to warrant fantasy appeal.

With the NBA preseason underway, that means that the fantasy news will really start to pile up. Stay tuned to the latest fantasy basketball news here at HoopsFantasy.

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