Nerfgundeathsquad (SpursX3)I'm just glad he didn't get stuck with another 2-guard. Kobe was there and we were all thinking, "uh-oh, it might happen again to poor Jerry" Luckily, he got Shawn Marion, a very underrated fantasy player and the top fantasy performer for 2 out of the last 3 years. He did still end up with a very guard-heavy team which I think is a good thing, but I'm just not sure on some of the early selections made in Alston and Brewer. He got Shaq late but reached for Jackie Butler who if he wins the job over Elson might be worth it; still, those two as the only C-eligible is pretty thin.
Great Steal: Luke Ridnour (11th)
I was tempted to go with Shaq in the 5th but Ridnour this late is amazing. Yeah Watson will be nipping at his heels and taking time away but Ridnour contributes in ALL guard categories and does so very well. I also think the competition with Watson will make him better.
Worst Reach: Vladimir Radmanovic (6th)
I like the categories Radman gets you at the PF spot but his rebounding has gone from adequate to bad the last couple years and the one thing he does truly well (shoot from range) he hasn't thus far in the pre-season. I think this hand-injury thing is bothering him and how he does in the triangle is very important (is he Kukoc or is he Longley with range).
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LurkerWhile Lurker has a very well-balanced team, it is a very risky team. Okafor, Boozer, Stoudemire, Hughes, Simmons, J. Williams--not exactly the picture of health. While Artest and S. Jackson (The Brawling Twins) aren't exactly the picture of sanity. If this team remains healthy and sane. Watch Out!! Otherwise it might be another long season for our resident Lurker.
Great Steal: Larry Hughes (9th)
If Larry gives you 70 games, his contribution across the board is incredible value in the 9th round. Now thats a big if but I think Hughes is really due for a healthy year and getting him in the 9th reduces the risk factor considerably.
Worst Reach: Keeping Okafor or Amare Stoudemire (3rd)
With players like Tim Duncan, Elton Brand, Kobe Bryant, heck even Yao Ming still on the board why do you go for Amare this early (especially when you've already kept 2 bigs). There was a good chance he could've made it back to him in the 4th and if not--Trade for him and get something out of it. I have to see Amare sustain great play for the duration before I'll believe he's all the way back and the news out of Phoenix hasn't been exactly cheery. The Amare pick would also have made more sense had he kept Vince Carter instead of Okafor.
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Randy (The Loosiers)Iverson, Parker, Kobe, and J. Childress. I have just named all the guard-eligible players that Randy has on the roster. I like ALL of them but there is just 4 of them. Much like LTTK, great roster but a little imbalanced. His frontline is devastating with the likes of Anthony, Harrington, Odom, Gooden, Ilgauskas, and I think Mohammad will pay off huge dividends.
Great Steal: Lamar Odom (4th)
Odom is just a fantasy beast, an absolute monster. Percentages, threes, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks, he does it all and does it better than you think. If his FT% climbed in the high 70s, he is keeper material every year!
Worst Reach: Tyson Chandler (7th)
Much like Stromile Swift, Eddy Curry, and Samuel Dalembert we've been waiting for Chandler to explode it seems like for the last decade. With the likes of Randolph, Frye, Krstic, etc. still out there this reach didn't need to be made. But hey, this could be the year......again.
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Bods BallersWith Bods, you always expect savvy drafting, calculated risks (especially w/ rookies), sly maneuvering, and the end product is always a well-rounded roster that can compete against anyone in any category. Now until this year he managed to do all this while largely staying away from my players. NOT SO this draft. He took Yao and I screamed YOooOOoow!! Up and down this roster, their are no glaring weaknesses at any position and tremendous upside on the bench.
Great Steal: Andre Iguodala (6th)
Across the board producer with very low risk and extremely huge upside. Also helps that this is Bods type of player and on his favorite team. I don't think Iverson duplicates his numbers and I don't think Webber stays healthy again which all adds up to Iggy Hop taking off.
Worst Reach: Stromile Swift (10th)
I have my questions whether Charlie V is 5th round calibre but Stromile takes it because he's Stromile: unmotivated, unintelligent, and unworthy. This is a guy I don't want on my roster. Gooden, Haslem, and Marshall - all PFs taken later in round 10 will prove better value than Swift.
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Ted Bops Usually I'm lukewarm about Ted's drafts and I was dead on the first year, pretty close the next, and completely wrong last year. Well I wasn't lukewarm this year, I was screamin' HOT!! AK-47, the bedrock foundation of my team for as long as I've known fantasy basketball, brutally and savagely ripped from me as I helplessly watched the horror. Ted than proceeded to have an outstanding draft. A strong team that perhaps might be a bit skimpy at the 2-guard position. Ted built on strength and has another championship contendor on his hands.
Great Steal: Stephon Marbury (5th)
Here is a guy I knew would fall in the draft and end up being a great steal. Isiah is going to play his golden child 40 minutes and let his golden child do whatever his golden child wants to do. This equals humongous fantasy numbers from the self-proclaimed "Starbury".
Worst Reach: J.R. Smith (7th)
With the chance to do something special on a Denver BADLY in need of a 2-guard, he's done nothing but try to lose what Denver is trying to throw him during the course of pre-season, the starting job.
Sidenote: Ted, you have unnatural man-love for Nene Hilario!!
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The Wankstas The rookie managed to have himself a pretty good draft all things considered. Brad Miller and Chris Paul are great starting spots and he paired them nicely with Jermaine O'Neal and Tracy McGrady. He has a well-balanced team with strong starters but depth remains a question as he reached for quite a few of his guards.
Great Steal: Marvin Williams (11th)
An absolutely awesome pickup. I had Marvin queued up and ready to go with my pick as Westkoast reached in and swooped him off. Marvin destroyed people in summer leagues, continued strong performances in pre-season and has risen above Atlanta's un-ending staple of Forwards all while holding Shelden Williams back. This year he'll prove why he was chosen 2nd overall last year in the real Draft.
Worst Reach: Shareef Abdur-Rahim (6th)
I LIKE Shareef Abdur-Rahim but the reality is he is in a timeshare with Kenny Thomas (selected in the 13th round) and with chuckers like Artest and Bibby with Brad Miller sure to get his, the shots are spread thin as it is. This is a guy you want on your roster, you just don't want spend this much for him.
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The (venerable) Polar Bears Well, Joe, I'd love to say I left the best for last but I think we all know I'd be lying.
In the first year I was underwhelmed by Joe's Draft, he won the championship. In the second year I was a bit underwhelmed by Joe's Draft, he dominated the regular season. In the third year, I dubbed his draft the strongest one in the league, he had his worst year (a 1st round ouster after barely sneaking into the playoffs). That being said....I'm a bit underwhelmed by Joe's Draft. So he should absolutely dominate! He's well-rounded and strong at every position but depth remains a question especially with Gasol out until January and the uneasiness of the Toronto lineup. The roster is full of jacks of all trades.
Also in perfect Joe Vancil fashion: I'm waiting for that time in the season when someone will offer him Lamar Odom or Mehmet Okur for Randy Foye, and Joe won't be able to hit the "accept" button fast enough.
Great Steal: Tayshaun Prince (9th)
Joe had an unusually strong late draft and got premium value at low prices but I think Tayshaun will be his biggest steal. A player in the mold of Battier who fits hand in glove with the Detroit system, a well rounded player, and most importantly Joe's type of guy who he'll know how to use.
Worst Reach: Andrea Bargnani (8th)
Foye in the 6th may prove to be a bigger reach but I'm high on the opportunity he has their. Convention says Toronto will give time to their #1 pick and appease Colangelo by catering to his golden boy but Sam Mitchell has never been one for convention. Bargnani is in roster nightmare and he'll need to develop quickly to earn the time he's going to need to produce for Joe at an 8th round level. At Best: Your looking at a poor man's Mehmet Okur. At Worst: Your looking at a poor man's Vladimir Radmanovic. Joe hopes its the former.
