Every owner is looking for those hidden gems leading up to their drafts. We've scouted every team in the Eastern Conference for potential sleepers as well as busts to assist you in fielding the best Fantasy team.
Breakout Alert -- These are players that are in a situation to improve upon their numbers to the point where they'll greatly out-produce their draft value.
Buy Low -- In the sleeper mold, these are players who will be available in the middle-to-late rounds in Fantasy drafts, but could provide a nice value to Fantasy owners.
Buyer Beware -- These are players that we want to give you a heads up on. They aren't necessarily busts, but for varying reasons could be in for numbers that won't live up to common expectation.
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| | Breakout Alert: F Marvin Williams Sure, we know we promised he'd be a breakout last season, but this is how much we believe in his potential. A wrist injury in the preseason is what slowed him last season, so cross your fingers and hope that he makes it out of October unscathed. He averaged 13 ppg and 5 rpg last season, and that's just a jump-off point for him this season. Buy Low: G Acie Law, F Al Horford We usually aren't high on rookies because they are very hit-or-miss, but there is no harm in investing a late-round pick on either of these two. Law has a very good chance of stealing the starting job in camp from Speedy Claxton and could turn into a double-digit scorer as a rookie along with healthy assist totals. Horford could be in line for a starting job as well and he can score, rebound and defend. Buyer Beware: F Shelden Williams Horford's potential success could come at the expense of Williams, who was disappointing as a rookie last season. Williams will see time at power forward and center, siphoning minutes from Horford and Zaza Pachulia. We wouldn't count on him being a third-year breakout and don't recommend investing much in his services. |
| | Breakout Alert: G Rajon Rondo He heads into camp as the odds on starter at the point for a team that boasts three NBA superstars. He can spread the ball around to the most potent arsenal that any point guard in the league will be playing with and that alone should be a boon to his assist numbers. But he can also score and stands to develop into the fourth scoring option the way things are working out. Buy Low: C Kendrick Perkins The Celtics still aren't set at center going into the season, but there is a distinct possibility that the young Perkins could get a crack at the starting job under the new scheme in Boston. With the scarcity of centers around the league, Perkins could turn into a very solid No. 2 option. He's an able shot blocker and could become a steady source for cheap rebounds even with Kevin Garnett sucking up the majority of the boards. Buyer Beware: G Ray Allen It sounds odd, but the veteran sharp-shooter could be in for a letdown from a Fantasy standpoint. The move to Boston, where he'll be playing alongside two of the biggest stars in the NBA, will give him his best chance at an NBA title. The way the stars are aligning in Beantown, however, Allen will be going from Alpha Dog in Seattle to the third scoring option in Boston. Don't get me wrong, he'll be a steady Fantasy performer, but will find it hard to live up to the numbers he's accustomed us to in the Emerald City, thus he should no longer be considered a solid draft choice in the first few rounds. In our recent CBSSports.com analysts mock draft, he went in Round 6 -- a more reasonable price to pay. |
| | Breakout Alert: G Raymond Felton He'll be entering his third NBA season, typically a breakout year, and has been handed the keys to the Bobcats' offense after graduating from his apprenticeship under Brevin Knight (now with the Clippers). If he can improve upon his numbers from last season (14.0 ppg, 7.0 apg and 3.4 rpg), he'll be an early-round pick in 2008. Buy Low: F Walter Herrmann After not playing for most of the season as a rookie, the Argentine burst onto the scene toward the end of the season due to injuries and became one of the better Fantasy stories of the season. He averaged 19.9 ppg and 5.6 rpg over the final month of the regular season, but won't be in line for heavy minutes to start 2007-08. He has proven that he can produce, given the chance, and is worth stashing as a reserve. Buyer Beware: F Matt Carroll, F Adam Morrison Carroll, a graduate of the NBA's Developmental League, made an impact last season as a three-point specialist and earned himself a starting job in Charlotte. The arrival of Jason Richardson pushes him to a lesser role, however, and he won't be nearly as useful in Fantasy play this season. Morrison will be looking to bounce back in his second NBA season, but he may find himself reduced to a role as an outside shooter now due to the presence of Richardson and the return of Gerald Wallace. We wouldn't count on either player as a Fantasy starter entering the season. |
| | Breakout Alert: F Tyrus Thomas He showed flashes of brilliance as a rookie, but played sparingly and also proved that he needed to harness some of his athletic ability to become a force in this league. Now, he's expected to start and the Bulls will be looking to him to produce from the four spot. His true breakout year will likely be next season, but the growth will be evident in this one. Buy Low: F Andres Nocioni His stock is low after a bit of a letdown season, but that may end up playing to your advantage. He's been going around rounds 10-12 in Fantasy drafts so far, putting him on the fringe of low-end Fantasy starters and reserves. Acquiring him as a fourth forward option or as a reserve that you can play according to the matchups in-season could turn into a big bonus if he can stay healthy. A reserve who can score 14-plus points and pick up five or six rebounds a game can be considered a real steal. Buyer Beware: C Ben Wallace We had him pegged as a bust last season and he didn't disappoint -- us that is. He was drafted as a No. 1 center in most Fantasy leagues and his 6.4 ppg and 10.7 rpg averages weren't quite what his owners were looking for. His Fantasy appeal comes from his rebounding and shot-blocking ability and he isn't quite the lone wolf in the paint that he was in Detroit. He has some very young and athletic help around him in the form of Thomas and now rookie Joakim Noah and his numbers should stay about where they were last season with more of a chance for a dip than a rise. View him as a No. 2 center. |
| | Breakout Alert: G Daniel Gibson The Cavs don't have the potential breakouts that a Fantasy owner might be looking for, but second-year guard Daniel Gibson stands to improve his numbers the most. The lack of a true point guard in Cleveland and an injury to Eric Snow practically guarantees him the starting job heading into the season and he proved to be an adequate solution to the team's deficiencies at the position for a while last season. Buy Low: F Drew Gooden His numbers are steady, but now that it appears that Anderson Varejao could be taking his game overseas, Gooden could be in line for a slightly more active role. He can be had at a very reasonable price in the late rounds and should continue to churn out about nine boards per game with a chance to see a rise in his 11.1 ppg scoring average. Buyer Beware: G Larry Hughes He's a major injury concern, having failed to play a full healthy season since 1999 -- his sophomore NBA campaign. He averaged 22.1 ppg in his final season in Washington before coming over to Cleveland in 2005 and he hasn't lived up to his potential as a side-kick for LeBron James. He should no longer be drafted as a No. 2 Fantasy guard. |
| | Breakout Alert: F Jason Maxiell Maxiell is expected to play a big role with the Pistons this season with Chris Webber not expected to return to the team. He played a career-high 67 games a year ago, averaging five points, nearly three rebounds and almost a block in 14 minutes a game. In the eight games he started, he averaged 8.8 points, 5.6 rebounds and 2.3 blocks in 26-plus minutes. He has some very nice sleeper potential and is worth a pick in the later rounds. Buy Low: F/C Chris Webber He's a free-agent, so we'll just stick him with his last known club. The former NBA superstar is rumored to be considering a deal to play in Europe, but does anyone really believe that will happen? It is very likely just a ploy to boost his value on the NBA market at such a late stage in the game. He picked up center eligibility last season in Detroit and would be a very suitable No. 2 center with the chance to put up No. 1-type numbers depending on where he goes. After all, he did average 20 points and almost 10 rebounds just two seasons ago in Philadelphia. Buyer Beware: C Nazr Mohammed The Pistons may end up starting Mohammed again at center, at least to start the season, but that doesn't mean he should be starting for your Fantasy squad. Mohammed failed to fill the void left by Ben Wallace's departure to Chicago so much that the Pistons felt the need to acquire Chris Webber and play him out of position. He ended up starting just 33 games last season and averaged just 5.6 ppg and 4.5 rpg in just over 15 minutes per contest. The Pistons may end up moving Rasheed Wallace over to the five if Mohammed starts the season off as dead weight again. Even if Mohammed is a starter, he is not a recommended target in drafts. |
| | Breakout Potential: F Danny Granger He's one of our favorite breakout candidates heading into the season. He has all the right tools and now has the role to develop into one of the stars of the NBA. He can score in the low post and from the wing and his 15.0 points per game after the break last season seems to indicate a breakout year is on the horizon. Buy Low: F/C Troy Murphy He struggled adjusting to the trade from Golden State last year, but he eventually played well enough to see his scoring and rebounding increase with the Pacers. Murphy should start at center for the Pacers and is worth selecting as a No. 2 center in the late rounds. Buyer Beware: F Jermaine O'Neal If O'Neal can stay healthy, he would be one of the best Fantasy forwards in the league, but that remains a big if at this point. He only played in 69 games last year and hasn't played in 70 games for the past three seasons. He's also very unhappy with the way the Pacers are heading as an organization. All signs point to a frustrating season for this Fantasy stud. |
| | Breakout Alert: F Dorrell Wright The Heat have promised him more playing time because of the lack of depth they have at the three now with James Posey no longer around. He'll be competing with Antoine Walker for minutes, but his youth and athleticism should allow him to win out in the end. He has never averaged more than 6.0 ppg, but this could be the year he cracks double digits, given the opportunity. Buy Low: F Antoine Walker For the same reason that Wright could be in for his best season yet, Walker could be in for some major career rejuvenation. The Heat will look to his experience out of the gate and he'll likely be the team's starter entering the season. A boost in minutes and touches should allow him to out-produce his mediocre numbers from a season ago. Buyer Beware: G Dwyane Wade Wade will miss at least the first two weeks of the season as he deals with the shoulder injury that limited him to 51 games a year ago. He is also dealing with a balky knee and his aggressive, penetrating style of play doesn't bode well for an injury-free season once he is able to return. He seemingly hits the floor hard on a nightly basis. Sure, he's a Fantasy monster that can put up better overall numbers than 98 percent of the league when he's healthy, but you have to very wary of the fact that drafting him doesn't guarantee you a full, healthy season. |
| | Breakout Alert: C Andrew Bogut He's still too raw to consider a No. 1 Fantasy center, but the upside is there for him to grow into that type of player within the 2007-08 regular season. The No. 1 overall pick in 2005-06 has seen his scoring and rebounding improve each year. He averaged 12.3 points and 8.8 rebounds last year in 66 games before his season was cut short with a foot injury. Expect him to continue developing and look for him to have his best year yet. Buy Low: F Yi Jianlian All of the drama caused by his hesitation to report to the Bucks has left a sour impression on Fantasy owners, but the seven-footer can end up being a steal in the late rounds as a result. Despite being seven-feet tall, he is expected to play most of his minutes at small forward. That may be a bit of an oxymoron, but he runs the floor like a small forward and has the ability to take his man off the dribble. He can be a double-digit scorer as a rookie and should be useful as a No. 3 option who could turn into a No. 2 at some point. Buyer Beware: F Charlie Villanueva Villanueva's first season in Milwaukee was disappointing, as he was limited to 39 games because of a season-ending shoulder injury. He is expected to be ready for the start of the season, but will have to fight for minutes with the addition of Yi. He is a candidate to average a double-double if he can get his act together, but his once promising star is dimming. We wouldn't invest much more than a reserve pick in him. |
| | Breakout Alert: C Nenad Krstic Coming off a major knee injury, there are some concerns. Still, his injury could actually play into your favor if he falls to you as a No. 2 center. He averaged 16.4 points and 6.8 rebounds before getting hurt, and his play provides the Nets a much-needed inside presence. Playing alongside his first true offensive partner in the paint, Jamaal Magloire, should help to create more opportunities to score. Buy Low: F/C Jamaal Magloire The former All Star has slipped off the Fantasy radar over the last few seasons, but he should benefit from playing with Jason Kidd, Vince Carter and Richard Jefferson. He started 23 games last year for Portland and averaged 8.5 points and 8.2 rebounds compared to 5.8 points and 5.2 rebounds as a reserve. He's expected to start at power forward for the Nets this season if he can beat out Jason Collins. That shouldn't be difficult. Buyer Beware: G Vince Carter Motivation has always been a concern with Carter and the fact that he won't be playing for a contract this season after signing a long-term deal with the Nets could be a reason for a bit of a letdown. He's still a top-notch scorer, but would anyone be surprised to see him moping around by mid-season? |
| | Breakout Alert: ??? We don't see much of a chance for anyone to have a breakout season in New York. With Zach Randolph and Eddy Curry battling each other for touches in the paint, they should neutralize the possibility for a rise in their numbers. In the back court, Quentin Richardson and Jamal Crawford could be in for very solid seasons, but they have a big problem staying healthy. Buy Low: F David Lee The addition of Randolph has caused Lee's Fantasy stock to take a bit of a hit, but his numbers could be very similar to last year (10.7 ppg, 10.4 rpg, 60 percent from the field). He put those numbers up coming off the bench for the most part and now Channing Frye won't be around to take any of his minutes. Buyer Beware: C Eddy Curry Curry's breakout season in 2006-07 figures to be hard to repeat now with Randolph around. He's still worth selecting as a No. 1 center, but his stats will probably decrease at least a little. We certainly wouldn't anticipate a rise in production. |
| | Breakout Alert: C Dwight Howard Howard a breakout? No this isn't a preview of the 2005-06 season or even the 2006-07 season. Howard has already taken the next step in his development in his first full season as the No. 1 guy in Orlando last year. Now, in his second season, he should be in for even better numbers with a top scorer to play alongside him in Rashard Lewis. Buy Low: G J.J. Redick Remember him? He is just two years removed from being the collegiate player of the year and will be looking to put a bad year -- both on and off the court -- behind him. In his second NBA season, he'll be looked upon to stretch out opposing defenses with his outside touch. Consider him a No. 3 or 4 guard in Fantasy. His value in Rotisserie play could increase if he becomes the team's regular source for three-pointers as expected. Buyer Beware: F Rashard Lewis His 10th NBA season will be his first out of Seattle and he'll have to get used to a far less wide-open Eastern Conference game. We still think he'll be a very solid Fantasy forward, but we wouldn't be surprised if his numbers see a slight decline in his first season in Orlando. Try to avoid using him as a No. 1 forward and treat him as a luxurious No. 2. |
| | Breakout Alert: F/G Andre Iguodala The Sixers trading Allen Iverson was the best thing for Iguodala's Fantasy value, who showed last year he can score, rebound and dish it with the best in the NBA. He's arguably the most athletic swingman in the league and is eligible at both guard and forward in Fantasy play. His appeal in Rotisserie leagues is also amplified by his ability to fill up the stat sheet with healthy totals. He should be in for a career season. Buy Low: F Reggie Evans Evans averaged 5.0 points and 7.5 rebounds for the Nuggets after his acquisition from Seattle. He led the league in rebounds per 48 minutes last season at 19.7. Now with the Sixers, he should be in line for more playing time and that means more boards. Buyer Beware: C Samuel Dalembert The Sixers' big man is still recovering from a broken left foot suffered at the FIBA America's tournament. The boot is off and should be ready to go for the season, but we wouldn't be surprised to see him get off to a slow start. |
| | Breakout Alert: F Andrea Bargnani Last year's No. 1 overall selection in the NBA Draft can shoot from the outside, shooting 37 percent from three-point range, and averaged 11.6 points and 3.9 rebounds last season. He also plays well in tandem with Chris Bosh. As a rookie, he shed the Darko Milicic comparisons and proved he'll be a force in this league. He will increase his scoring numbers in his second NBA season and should be viewed as a No. 3 or 4 forward. Buy Low: F/C Jorge Garbajosa The Spanish import suffered an ugly leg injury that may linger into his second NBA season, but he has been able to play and practice with the team in training camp. He can play both forward spots and can even fill in at center with solid ability to score from the wing. He's worth taking a late-round flier on thanks to his dual eligibility. Buyer Beware: F Jason Kapono We've seen this before. A player flourishes in Miami from beyond the arc thanks to the talented duo of Shaquille O'Neal and Dwyane Wade and then goes to another team without being able to repeat that success. Damon Jones anyone? |
| | Breakout Alert: C Brendan Haywood With Etan Thomas feared to have a heart condition that could end his career, Haywood looks to have the starting spot secured this season. That means no more splitting time and more minutes overall. More minutes means more touches and you can expect Haywood to have perhaps a career season. Buy Low: G DeShawn Stevenson He's a durable young guard who usually scores in the low double digits. He was able to improve upon his perimeter game and is now an adequate outside threat. Off the bench, he provides energy and is still developing his potential. Consider him a No. 4 guard entering the season or as a solid reserve option. Buyer Beware: C Etan Thomas It is looking like Thomas could have a very unfortunate ending to his NBA career after tests revealed that he has a heart condition that would make it unsafe for him to continue playing. He was expected to battle Haywood for the starting job, but now should be considered very low-risk, low-reward option in Fantasy play. |
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