Michael Beasley, Miami Heat
Most league pundits expect Michael Beasley to put up decent stats. But don’t forget that this sleeper was just a certified beast as a freshman in college. If he can adapt quickly to the NBA, he could end up the year as a top eight power forward in fantasy basketball.

Emeka Okafor, Charlotte Bobcats
Emeka Okafor is coming off of a season to forget. His progress seemed to stall and he just wasn’t as good as he was in previous years. With Larry Brown now in the fold to push him on a consistent basis, look for Okafor’s production to rise across the board.

Jermaine O’Neal, Toronto Raptors
Over the last few years, Jermaine O’Neal has been been slowed significantly by injuries and a bad environment. Now that he’s in a new situation, there’s a chance that he could return to his former self and be a fantasy basketball game changer.

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However, Roy is out a minimum of one week and it may actually be closer to two weeks – if he comes back at all. One would think that the Blazers wouldn’t want to risk Roy re-injuring himself. For Roy to come back, he’ll have to be 100%.

If Roy is on your fantasy team, plan to make due without him. While he may return, plan as if he’s out for the season.

With Roy out, that changes a lot for the Blazers. The player who is should get the biggest boost from this news is Jarrett Jack. Jack has fallen out of favor recently after beginning the season as the starting point guard. Although now with Roy out, expect Jack and Steve Blake to play a lot together in the backcourt.

Other players on the Blazers such as LaMarcus Aldridge, Martell Webster and Travis Outlaw to also help in picking up the scoring slack.

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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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Aldridge in summer league play …

Marvin Williams, Atlanta Hawks
Much like Aldridge, Williams has had a solid career to date. And like Aldridge, expect Williams to really blossom this year. He seems to have a starting spot locked down and should be able to put up nice all-around numbers. Against Portland, Williams had a team leading 18 points and seven rebounds. With Williams and Josh Smith manning the forward position for Atlanta, expect Williams to get a lot of rebounds due to the lack of a true power forward.

Andray Blatche, Washington Wizards
Blatche had an active summer in which he got arrested and followed that up by signing a new contract. If Blatche can keep his mind on improving his basketball game, this guy has tons of natural ability. He’s big enough to play power forward and quick enough to play small forward. If he gets consistent minutes this year, he’s a guy who could put up numbers across the board. For example, in Sunday’s preseason action, Blatche finished with ten points, five rebounds, four assists and two blocked shots.

Al Thornton, Los Angeles Clippers
Thornton is a rookie who is looking good in summer league. Against the Warriors, Thornton had a team-high 24 points in 27 minutes of action. He shot 11-for-15 from the field and also pulled down five rebounds. It’s unlikely that Thornton starts this season but he could carve out a role as a scorer off the bench for the Clippers.

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