Jawai has the potential to be a lottery pick in the 2008 NBA Draft if he works out well for teams prior to the draft. At 6-foot-10 and 280 pounds, scouts love his size and his nimbleness on the court. He’s still raw but the natural ability is apparent.

Check out this video of Jawai playing in the Australian All-Star game. He was named the game’s MVP after scoring 24 points and pulling down 12 rebounds.

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1) LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers
Even though he doesn’t have a game perfectly built for fantasy, he’ll be impossible to pass on.

2) Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers
With the Lakers a much better team, Bryant has suddenly become a much more consistent player.

3) Chris Paul, New Orleans Hornets
Paul actually has a chance to move up to number one on this list if he keeps dominating.

4) Kevin Garnett, Boston Celtics
Garnett still has a couple of years left in him.

5) Shawn Marion, Phoenix Suns
Marion is once again an underrated fantasy superstar this season.

6) Marcus Camby, Denver Nuggets
If Camby remains healthy all season, he will make a believer out of a lot of fantasy owners.

7) Amare Stoudemire, Phoenix Suns
Stoudemire is still relatively young and his numbers are once again very good.

8) Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas Mavericks
Nowitzki has had a bit of an off year but he’ll still remain a valued fantasy player going forward.

9) Yao Ming, Houston Rockets
Fantasy owners always love centers. Yao has a ceiling as high or higher than any center.

10) Allen Iverson, Denver Nuggets
Iverson has been great this year and should be a force against next year.

11) Josh Smith, Atlanta Hawks
Smith is an all-around fantasy force who will just get better with age.

12) Caron Butler, Washington Wizards
Butler has been a fantasy superstar this season. If Gilbert Arenas moves to a new team next year, Butler could be a top five pick.

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1. Kevin Garnett
2. Kobe Bryant
3. LeBron James
4. Dirk Nowitzki
5. Shawn Marion
6. Steve Nash
7. Amare Stoudemire
8. Gilbert Arenas
9. Pau Gasol
10. Dwyane Wade
11. Jason Kidd
12. Josh Smith
13. Chris Paul
14. Tim Duncan
15. Yao Ming
16. Rashard Lewis
17. Chris Bosh
18. Andre Iguodala
19. Paul Pierce
20. Marcus Camby
21. Gerald Wallace
22. Caron Butler
23. Ray Allen
24. Al Jefferson
25. Josh Howard
26. Joe Johnson
27. Chauncey Billups
28. Michael Redd
29. Carlos Boozer
30. Deron Williams

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With the exhibition season over and the regular season right around the corner, this is the time of year we start hearing about which players each team are going to start. Here are some starters who have been named recently:

C Theo Ratliff, Minnesota Timberwolves
Ratliff has apparently won the starting center job for the Timberwolves. He has been ravaged by injuries in the last half decade but when healthy, Ratliff is always been one of the league’s best shotblockers. Keep an eye on him to see if he can remain healthy and to evaluate how many minutes he is getting. His contract is coming to an end, so he has extra motivation to play well this season.

PF Yi Jianlian, Milwuakee Bucks
Yi, a rookie from China, is the new starting power forward for the Bucks. Yi played well in the preseason and has to be looked at as fantasy prospect. While his long-term outlook is positive, he’s most likely going to have a rocky road this season. It’ll be interesting to see if he’ll be able to hold onto the job the entire year.

Bucks Season Preview Mix …

SF Bobby Simmons, Milwaukee Bucks
Welcome back to fantasy relevancy, Bobby. Simmons has been injured more often than not over the last couple years. However, it now appears that he’s won the starting small forward job for the Bucks and could be a major part of their offense this season. Keep tabs on him because once upon a time, Simmons was a very good fantasy player.

SG Ronnie Brewer, Utah Jazz
In the worst kept secret of the preseason, Brewer was named the starting shooting guard for the Jazz. Brewer was a beast in preseason and it was obvious early on that he’d win the job. It’s going to be very interesting to see if Brewer can continue his success into the regular season to the point that he’s a sought after fantasy player.

PG Rafer Alston, Houston Rockets
Alston had a tumultuous summer. He got into a couple scrapes with the law and publicly wondered about his role with the Rockets. There was some talk of the Rockets trading or even waiving Alston. All that seems to be in the past now that Alston impressed new coach Rick Adelman enough that he’s expected to start the season as the point guard for Houston. If Alston plays enough minutes, he’ll be a fine fantasy option this season.

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Points Per Game
1. Gerald Wallace CHA – 21.0
2. Allen Iverson DEN – 21.0
3. Kevin Martin SAC – 20.3
4. Bostjan Nachbar NJ – 19.8
5. LaMarcus Aldridge POR – 19.5

Gerald Wallace Mix …

Rebounds Per Game
1. Marcus Camby DEN – 15.0
2. Al Jefferson MIN - 13.4
3. Kevin Garnett BOS – 10.6
4. Shawn Marion PHO – 9.6
5. Jeff Foster IND – 9.2

Assists Per Game
1. Steve Nash PHO – 9.5
2. TJ Ford TOR – 7.6
3. Chris Paul NO – 7.0
4. Earl Watson SEA – 6.3
5. Delonte West SEA – 6.2

Blocks Per Game
1. Dwight Howard ORL – 3.0
2. Pau Gasol MEM – 2.8
3. Theo Ratliff MIN – 2.8
4. Alonzo Mourning MIA – 2.5
5. Josh Smith ATL – 2.4

Steals Per Game
1. Monta Ellis GS – 3.0
2. Andre Iguodala PHI – 2.6
3. Rajon Rondo BOS – 2.4
4. Ronnie Brewer UTA – 2.4
5. Esteban Batista BOS – 2.0

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PG Baron Davis, Golden State Warriors
Davis was the playoff hero for the Warriors last season. He was amazing during the postseason, playing at a level we hadn’t seen from the point guard out of UCLA. That said, he’s being drafted too high in fantasy drafts. First of all, Davis is a huge injury risk. Davis misses games in bunches and playing in Don Nelson’s fast paced offense won’t help keep him healthy. On top of that, Davis isn’t an overly consistent player. Players such as Deron Williams and Mo Williams produce at a similar level and are each much safer picks.

SG Allen Iverson, Denver Nuggets
Iverson is still a very good player but fantasy owners have been slow to react to the fact that Iverson is no longer the number one option on his team. Playing next to Carmelo Anthony, Iverson is going to be the second option on most nights for the Nuggets. Since Iverson’s value mostly comes from his scoring, the fact that he’s second on the totem pole hurts. He’s still a good player to have but not as high as he’s being drafted.

SF Tayshaun Prince, Detroit Pistons
Prince is an example of a good NBA player doesn’t always make a good fantasy player. Prince is a fine player in real life but his contributions simply don’t translate very well to fantasy basketball. He doesn’t do anything that great and he’s prone to disappearing for games at a time. Name recognition, rather than fantasy potential, is the reason he’s drafted as high as he’s drafted.

PF Al Harrington, Golden State Warriors
Harrington is being picked relatively high in fantasy drafts. And honestly, I’m not exactly sure why. Harrington is a solid player but he’s not a great fit for Don Nelson’s system. He struggled mightily at times in the playoffs last year when seemingly everyone else on the Warriors was playing well. Nelson has already sent Harrington to the bench, which is even further proof that should lead you away from drafting him this year.

C Ben Wallace, Chicago Bulls
Undersized centers don’t have a long shelf life in the NBA. Wallace is getting up there in age and could start to see his game fall off. He’s already not as good as he was on the Pistons and there’s no reason to believe he’s going to be able to find the fountain of youth and bounce back this season. With all the other center options out there, Wallace is a player you should just allow another owner to draft.

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C Andris Biedrins, Golden State Warriors
People don’t realize how much of a stud this guy is and how good he can become. He’s only 21 years old and last year he averaged over nine points, nine rebounds and nearly two blocks. The most exciting part is he did all that in under 30 minutes per game. Biedrins is still a baby as far as his NBA development and he has the potential to take his game up a few notches. If he does and gets added minutes, he’s a player you want on your side this season.

PF LaMarcus Aldridge, Portland Trail Blazers
Although he didn’t get much love last year when it came time to talk about the best rookies in his class, there’s a good chance Aldridge will become the best player of the 2006 draft. His potential should start to be realized this year as the Blazers’ offense should go through him. He’s a guy who could easily average 18 points, 8 rebounds and over a block a game. Don’t sleep on him.

SF Marvin Williams, Atlanta Hawks
Williams has been great in preseason for the Hawks and is on schedule for a breakout year this season. Through eight exhibition games, he’s averaging 17.1 points and over five boards. His numbers are going to take a jump in each area this season and he’s a lock to be a starter all season. For being such a young player, Williams is actually a very solid pick in a fantasy draft. He’s going to produce for you night in and night out.

SG Corey Maggette, Los Angeles Clippers
This is a contract year for Maggette, meaning there’s a good chance you’ll get his best effort. He has always been a mega talent but hasn’t always played with fire. With his contract expiring, you shouldn’t have to worry about that this year. Plus, with Elton Brand sidelined, Maggette suddenly becomes the team’s go-to scorer in some situations. The good thing about Maggette is not only does he score but he also rebounds and gets to the free throw line.

PG Deron Williams, Utah Jazz
I wrote about Williams a while ago but he’s worth writing about again. Williams is going to have a monster season. He took a giant step from his rookie year to his sophomore year and I expect another big step this year. He has few weaknesses in his game and he’s quickly becoming Utah’s best player. He should be one of the first point guards off a draft board but for some reason he’s not. If you can get Williams around his average draft position, he’s a fantastic pick.

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Elton Brand, Los Angeles Clippers
Brand was recently allowed to shed his walking boot and start more rigorous cardiovascular exercises. The Clippers’ power forward is attempting to come back from a torn Achilles tendon. While Brand seems to be recovery pretty swiftly, drafting him in a fantasy basketball league is risky. There’s a chance he’s out for the season and even if he does return, there’s no guarantee he’ll immediately return to his prior form.

Chris Bosh, Toronto Raptors
Bosh has been out of action since Oct. 7 when he started to experience knee pain. While the injury wasn’t believed to be serious, it’s good to report that Bosh is back at practice and is aiming toward playing in Thursday’s preseason game. If Bosh plays on Thursday, you can erase any worries you had about him and his knee heading into the NBA season.

Lamar Odom, Los Angeles Lakers
Reports out of Los Angeles indicate that Odom could be sidelined from anywhere from two to five regular season games as he recovers from offseason shoulder surgery. Even with this injury news, Odom should still be a valuable fantasy player this season. If he starts to slip in your fantasy draft, don’t be afraid to pick him.

Marcus Camby, Denver Nuggets
Camby had back spasms prior to Tuesday’s preseason games that kept him out of the contest. Injuries are nothing new to Camby. In fact, history tells us this will be the first of many injuries Camby suffers this year. When selecting Camby, you have to know that he’ll miss some time due to injury. When he’s healthy, he’s one of the best centers in fantasy basketball.

Josh Howard, Dallas Mavericks
Howard hurt his wrist on the defensive end of the court against the Bulls on Tuesday night. He’s scheduled for an MRI to judge the severity of the injury. Until the results of that MRI are known, you should probably shy away from Howard a bit in fantasy drafts. After the game he was seen with his wrist in a splint, which isn’t a great sign.

Kevin Durant, Seattle Supersonics
Durant injured his ankle in the fourth quarter of the preseason game on Tuesday. The Sonics are listed him as day-to-day. Since this injury doesn’t appear to be serious, go ahead and keep Durant’s stock the same. However, when you draft Durant, you have to know that he’ll have his rough spots just like any other rookie.

Photo credit: USA Today

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1) Kevin Garnett, Minnesota Timberwolves
Garnett is putting up monster numbers in preseason and there’s no reason to believe that he’s not going to be a beast this season. I wouldn’t be shocked at all to see him up his rebounds, blocked shots and steals just because he’s going to be on a team that has a chance to win night in and night out. A motivated Garnett who doesn’t have to shoulder the entire scoring burden should be fantasy gold.

2) LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers
Even though James put up huge numbers last season, the numbers were actually a dip from the previous year. He’s young enough that he could still improve – which is a scary thought for the rest of the civilized world. As long as he can improve his free-throw percentage, he should be a really nice piece this year.

3) Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers
Bryant is going to have to carry the Lakers again this season. Expect him to average over 30 points once again. As he matures as a player, you could also see his assists start to rise as well. Bryant is a great talent and can help virtually any fantasy team.

4) Steve Nash, Phoenix Suns
As long as he doesn’t get injured, Nash will have a great fantasy season. He looks spry in the preseason and can still do anything he wants on the court. He’s due to start slowing down soon but so far, so good for Nash and the Suns.

5) Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas Mavericks
After a tainted MVP season last year, Nowtizki could be out to prove that he’s a great player. His play in the preseason has been very good and he seems like he’s put last year’s meltdown behind him.

6) Shawn Marion, Phoenix Suns
Marion usually doesn’t get picked this low but this season he still has some risk factors. First of all, he isn’t entirely happy with the Suns and could be traded at any time. Secondly, with the addition of Hill, someone has to take less shots for Phoenix.

7) Dwyane Wade, Miami Heat
Wade is a bit of a difficult pick this season. He’s currently injured and the Heat don’t look that great. That said, Wade has proven to be a fantasy stud whenever he’s healthy. Down the stretch of the season, as long as he’s healthy, he’s really going to show his value.

8) Gilbert Arenas, Washington Wizards
Arenas hasn’t had any huge preseason games so far and that’s a tad been worrisome considering he’s coming off of a knee injury. That said, he should be fine and ready to roll come the regular season.

9) Amare Stoudemire, Phoenix Suns
The only reason he’s this low is because of his knee surgery. If he comes back 100%, he’s going to be a fantasy stud. Stoudemire is still relatively young and being two years removed from microfracture surgery should do nothing but help him.

10) Dwight Howard, Orlando Magic
Howard this high is a bit surprising but he’s looked fantastic in the preseason. His scoring is much better and it appears like he’ll block a lot more shots this year. If he can cut down his turnovers and increase his free throw percentage, Howard will turn into a top ten player this season.

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Kevin Martin, Sacramento Kings
Martin was inconsistent last season, leading some fantasy players to wonder how he’d perform this year. So far in preseason, Martin has looked better than ever. On Thursday, Martin had 25 points in 24 minutes of action. While he doesn’t do much in the rebounding or assist department, Martin is a great scorer who should be able to build upon what he did last year.

Al Horford, Atlanta Hawks
Horford had an outstanding game against the Bobcats. In 34 minutes of action, the rookie had 22 points, 12 rebounds and four blocks. Those are superstar numbers. That said, Horford is a bit of a fantasy enigma. He has great potential, however he’s likely going to be coming off the bench. The bench isn’t a place you want your fantasy player living. However, if Horford starts, as he will eventually, he’s definitely a very nice fantasy prospect.

Gerald Wallace, Charlotte Bobcats
Wallace showed fantasy owners a bit of a reminder of what he’s capable of on Thursday. He scored 34 points, grabbed ten rebounds, got two steals and blocked two shots. That type of production makes Wallace a very good fantasy player who could end up being one of the best fantasy players in the NBA.

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