For fantasy basketball purposes, Villanueva’s value goes up following this move. It appears as if he’s finally found a team willing to invest in him and give him the opportunity he needs to succeed. In a per-minute basis, Villanueva has always put good numbers on the board.

Last year, Villanueva averaged 16.2 points and 6.7 rebounds per game in only 26.9 minutes per game. Stretch that to 40 minutes and Villanueva would be putting up 24.1 points and 9.9 rebounds per game.

With the Pistons, expect Villanueva to play power forward. At 6-foot-11, he has the size to play the position. His all-around offensive game should allow him to flourish. Heading into the 2009-10 fantasy basketball season, he’s definitely a sleeper to explode onto the scene.

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While the 34-year-old center is no longer a great player, he should fit a role with the Pistons. Detroit has a very young bench and Ratliff should be able to add some veteran savvy to that group.

The problem with Ratliff in recent years has been his health. He has missed an ungodly amount of games as of late. In fact, he hasn’t played a complete season since the 2002-03 campaign. That said, Ratliff is one of the best shotblockers in NBA history.

In terms of fantasy basketball, there isn’t a huge amount of change this transaction will bring about. Ratliff could carve out a 10-to-15 minute niche off the bench. Jason Maxiell and Amir Johnson are the two players who likely will play less as a result.

Post from: Expert Fantasy