Just A Little Taste

Categorized as: Author: Erik, Fantasy Basketball, Fantasy Basketball Strategy, Fantasy Draft Guide 2009
Posted on: August 25th, 2009

I decided that it was time to whet your appetites for the 2009 Fantasy Draft Guide, with a little taste of the content. Just so you know that you will be getting your money’s worth for its low, low price of $7.99. Yes, it’s definitely worth dieting for one lousy snack and foregoing that Big Mac Meal and Sundae. The meal would probably fill you for half a day (or less), while the guide will most likely keep your fantasy-starved bellies sated for at least a few months. Yes, its that good.

The guide contains all the information and research you will need to be that “drafter who knows his sh*t” in your draft room on draft day. It’s also got loads of quality articles which the six collaborators worked our butts off to bring to you.

A big part of winning in fantasy basketball is drafting a good team. What makes a winning fantasy team? Well it ends up being composed of players who end up performing at levels at that are equal to or beyond their expected fantasy value. Some are “bluechip” picks, others are sleepers, while some are even gambles that end up paying off.

This section of the Draft Guide geared towards aiding fantasy managers and drafters place a proper valuation on certain players by balancing out the risks that are organic to particular players coming into this season with the rewards that can be received if these players do perform close  to the upper end of their upside or positive outlook.

That was the introduction for the Risk-Reward section. I compiled and consolidated some of our views and numerical ratings on players who are a bit tough to personally rank for this season’s draft.

We tossed 10-12 names into a hat and rated each player’s risk and reward. The ratings are the averages of each contributor’s assessment of the players.

Notable names on the said list include:

• Gilbert Arenas
• Elton Brand
• Gerald Wallace
• Andrew Bynum
• And of course, this dude…

Image c/o LA Times Sports Blog

Here are a couple of guys who aren’t in the guide, but deserve to have their risks and rewards assessed; just for you to appreciate the format.

Shawn Marion, F Dallas Mavericks

Risk: The risk involving the Matrix as far as fantasy is concerned is not about injury, re-injury, nor off-the-court problems. The risk now germane to this player is about the concern that his statistical downward spiral, since he left the Phoenix Suns, will continue to progress. The risk surrounding Marion is more about getting caught up in the fantasy brand name that still may be attached to this former top fantasy draft seed. He hasn’t been first round material in a while. Gambling that he may have a huge rebound year now that he’s with the Mavericks may result in drafting him way too early.

Risk Rating: 3.3

Reward: “Marion just needs to find a new place to fit in like he did in the Suns.” If you believe that statement, then you’re probably in the glass-half-full crowd. Kidd is not Nash, nor are the Mavs the once D’Antoni coached Suns; but possibly close enough for Shawn to once again be catapulted into Top 12 fantasy status. As long as you calibrate your expectations of the guy and not expect Suns-Marion numbers, you will most likely be quietly pleased with what he will be contributing to your fantasy team. Upside outlook for the guy is that he will return to the 1-steal/block/trey Club with low turnovers.

Reward Rating: 7.3

*In the Guide’s Mock Draft (yes, of course it has one), someone and I’m not at liberty to say who, drafted Marion in the second round!

Carlos Boozer, PF/C Utah Jazz (Future destination currently undetermined)

Risk: Boozer is expected to leave the Jazz. It’s just currently a matter of determining where to. The question you should be asking yourselves, metaphorically speaking, is “Would Malone have as good as he was without Stockton?”. Malone’s stint in L.A. and away from John was too short to really judge fairly, but in Boozer’s case we will be able to see how good he really is without his Deron Williams. Will his history of knee problems finally take their toll and kick him out of the esteemed 20-10 club? Are you willing to draft this non-blocking big man early in the draft and risk him fizzling out or slacking off once he signs with a new team?

Risk Rating: 5.4

Reward: Boozer will most likely be a dominant scoring low-post threat, regardless of what team he plays for. Sickly high FG% at a high scoring volume and solid rebounding will be what you should expect. In a season that finds drafters aching to find reliable and healthy big men, Boozer might just end up being workable for your draft plans and strategy. Somewhere between his Cavalier and peak Jazz numbers is most likely a reasonable zone of expectation.

The draft write-up of the genius who picked Booze at just the right round I wanted him was short and sweet: “He’s Carlos fu*king Boozer!” Sorry, you’ll have to buy the draft guide to see who did it, said it, and at what round.

Reward Rating: 7.8

If that’s not enough, then don’t forget that we have stat projections for our Top 250 players. Yes, each player gets a write-up as well.

I was planning to do a Head to Head Strategy Draft Guide for Points in the Paint, before the seed for the idea of this guide got planted. When the guide and its contents became clearer, I decided to contribute the bulk of my outlined content to our lovely little guide instead. There are five (5) strategies that have been laid out for you to study and choose from. It’s good stuff. After all, GMTR isn’t paying me millions of dollars just for my dashing good looks and the pleasure of my company. Oh yeah, don’t forget to stay tuned to PitP for more sneak previews that I’ll be rolling out soon.

Get an inside peak into my oft-mad strategic machinations and maybe, just maybe, you can give the defending Champion of the GMTR Reader’s League a run for his money.

There’s something in the guide for everyone. Whether you’re new to the game, a grizzled vet, or a hardcore fantasy addict (like the Guide’s writers); there are useful nuggets of info, wisdom, and entertainment you can use to help you win that coveted gold trophy in your fantasy league. The guide is expected to be out in early September. Yes, that soon! So break out your checkbooks (or PayPal accounts actually) and in those immortal words of those sneakers most of us wear… “Just Do It.”

Other Stuff Like This:

• Time to update your “Injury Prone” lists (9)
• Gilbert Arenas, traded for David Lee! (17)
• Biggest Fantasy Disappointments of the 08-09 Season (6)
• Day 97 of 124: Gerald Wallace Is Back! (27)
• Day 86 of 124: Who Needs Derrick Rose When You Have Carlos Boozer* (38)
• Day 82 of 124: Trade Deadline Edition (32)
• Day 51 of 124: Free Ayon! (37)

Tags: Carlos Boozer, Gilbert arenas, Marcus Camby, Shawn Marion