BRANDAN WRIGHT one of the fastest rising stars in the basketball scene.
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Offseason Fantasy Fix: Charlotte Bobcats
Additions: • Draft: Jared Dudley (22nd overall); Jamereo Davidson (36th overall – via trade with Golden State) Subtractions: • Waived: Brevin Knight Offseason Dealings (and other thoughts): The Bobcats have one of the most compelling fantasy rosters in the league. Belying their 33-49 record of last season, they are a treasure chest of emerging and potential fantasy (and actual) talent. Their successful offseason started with the draft day trade of 8th pick Brandan Wright to Golden State for veteran guard Jason Richardson (who is only 26 years old!). That was followed by the re-signing of three of their own free agents – emerging star Gerald Wallace, valuable reserve Matt Carroll, and backup veteran PG Jeff McInnis. At the time, it was questionable that Brandan Wright, who could have been the fourth North Carolina Tar Heel on the Bobcat roster (along with Raymond Felton, Sean May, and Jeff McInnis) should be traded for Richardson. It was surely not obvious that Richardson would be a good fit if and when Wallace was re-signed, and at first seemed none too pleased to be a Bobcat. Now, however, it looks to be a smart move for him and the franchise. Richardson and Wallace can no doubt form a super-athletic dynamic duo on the perimeter. Along with rising stars Emeka Okafor, Raymond Felton, Adam Morrison, underrated Matt Carroll, and injury-prone but talented Sean May, the ‘Cats boast a rotation that should have their fans, as well as fantasy owners, drooling with excitement. The team could easily run 7-8-deep from a fantasy roster standpoint, and certainly 4-deep in solid fantasy stars – as follows: Gerald Wallace: How good can Gerald Wallace be? He is a stats machine, putting up huge numbers in any category on any given night. It is almost surprising that he averaged only 18 points and 7 rebounds per game last season (and don’t forget the 2 steals and 1 block). His remarkable achievement of 2.5 steals and 2.1 blocks per game two years ago probably cannot be matched again, and it is difficult to say whether he can improve across the board statistically, either. In any case, he will continue to bring the “what will he do tonight?” anticipation each game – making him the type of player that makes fantasy basketball ownership so enjoyable. Unfortunately, he brings “will he get hurt again?” anticipation every night too. He did manage to play in 72 games last year though, and for the joy he brings to fantasy ownership, he is well worth the risk. Jason Richardson: I have always liked Richardson for his 5-6 rebounds per game as a guard, and his abundant 3’s (2.4 and 2.2 per game the last two seasons). However, his consistently subpar shooting percentages (FG and FT) reduce his value to some extent. His FG% could improve in a more controlled game in Charlotte. He is a 3-3.5 assist per game man, and moderate in steals (1.2 per game for his career). With his numbers down last year as he progressed through injury recovery, and the multiple scoring options on the floor for the Bobcats, look for JR to sink a bit in drafts this year. However, he should be healthy from the outset and could be a draft day steal. Emeka Okafor: 14.4 points, 11.3 rebounds, 2.6 blocks and 0.9 steals per game in ’06-07. His FG% also vaulted from the low 40s in his first two years to over 53% last year. With the dearth of quality fantasy options at the center position, Okafor will be a hot commodity on draft day. He has been consistent during his first three years, and his improved shooting is an indication that he is perhaps on the verge of raising his offensive post game to the next level. His weakness is free throw shooting (59% last season); however he certainly can and should be at 65% or better (as he was two years ago). Okafor could be destined for great things, especially as he may be playing for an extension. Injury is a big concern with Okafor, playing 73, 26, and 67 games in his first 3 campaigns. However, I think the potential outweighs the risk. Raymond Felton: Felton entered the NBA alongside with heralded point guards Chris Paul and Deron Williams, both of whom have had greater success and received greater attention. Nevertheless, Felton has managed two promising seasons. Last year he was up to 14 points and 7 assists per game, along with 1.3 3’s – playing a solid 36 minutes per game. His biggest question mark is field goal percentage. He has been below 40% in both of his pro seasons. Still, I look for him to expand his game and numbers to 15+ points, as many as 8 assists, and 1.5 3’s and steals per game. Jeff McInnis provides veteran backup to Felton – capable of stepping in and putting up decent numbers on a temporary basis – as he has done before as a journeyman PG. Sean May: Sean’s second year improvement was substantial over his rookie season, averaging 11.6 points and 6.7 rebounds per game in only 23 minutes. He shot 50% from the floor and is a solid free throw shooter with a fair number of attempts (3 per game) in those limited minutes. However, the big red flag with May is his inability to stay healthy. He played in only 35 games last year, and 23 the year before! That will (and should) hurt his draft value, so if you are willing to gamble on his durability, he could be a difference maker as a later round pick. Adam Morrison: Morrison is still a wild card as he enters his sophomore season. He should be watched closely in the preseason to see how and where he fits in this deep lineup. He must show considerable improvement over his sometimes encouraging, but poor, shooting. His 11 points per game did not come easy – on 12.1 shots (making only 37%). He can make 3’s, though (1.1 per game in 29 minutes). He should be up at least in the low 40’s in FG% this year, and increase his 3-point output. I am not particularly excited about him yet, but with his history of overachievement and improvement over time, he is a low risk–high return pick if he lasts to late rounds. Matt Carroll: Matt Carroll had been invisible as an NBA bench warmer for a few years, so very few anticipated his 12.1 points and 1.5 3’s in 26 minutes per game last year. His shooting percentage was a mediocre 43%, but he is a 90% free thrower. I like Carroll very much as a valuable scoring and 3-point shooting specialist, who should be available in the later rounds. Walter Hermann: Even more unexpected were Argentine Hermann’s numbers last season. The reserve forward averaged 9.2 points and 1.1 3’s in about 19 minutes per game in his first NBA season. And late in the season, Herrmann was a beast. Over the Bobcats final nine games, Herrmann averaged 19.9 points (on 57.3% shooting from the floor and 85.7% from the stripe), 5.6 boards, and 2.8 three-pointers! While Herrmann has to prove he can perform on a consistent basis, that stretch of games was eye-opening to say the least. Primoz Brezec: Amazingly enough, this 7-1 Yugoslavian big man is entering his 7th NBA season (3 with Indiana; 3 with Charlotte). He has had only two solid years – qualifying as a fantasy center sleeper in ’04-05 and ’05-06. He dropped off substantially last year, with injury and limited playing time (58 games; 14 minutes per game). It seems a long shot that Brezec could return to his previous status on this deep roster, barring trade to a better situation and opportunity. Deeper reserve big men Othella Harrington and Ryan Hollins will not see the minutes necessary to contribute significantly to the stat sheet. Draft Picks: With the trade of 8th pick Brandan Wright, the Bobcats effectively “drafted” Jason Richardson. Their two other rookies obtained through the draft (Jared Dudley, 22nd pick and Jamereo Davidson, 36th pick of Golden State) cannot be expected to contribute from a fantasy standpoint. However, Dudley in particular may become valuable in-season if injuries again beset Wallace and Richardson. He would move up the depth chart at the 3-spot, as a result. Random Stat: 2006-07 season highs for Gerald Wallace in the following categories: He can do it all! Potential Sleeper: Amongst the multiple emerging fantasy players the Bobcats lineup, my sleeper is Matt Carroll. Carroll’s improvement may be more certain than Morrison’s, for example, and thus may result in consistent and greater minutes at the 2- and 3-spots for this fine player. His shooting should benefit from improved offensive post production from Okafor, and broader floor spacing that should be there with the presence of Jason Richardson. Read more at the www.hoopsworld.com |
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