EARLY RISER: If there’s a player who is mired on your waiver wire, but must be added to your roster immediately is none other than the Hornets forward, Carl Landry. Landry in 2-games has averaged 17-points and 9-rebounds while also mixing in block shots and steals to his arsenal. Landry has shown some signs in the past, but injuries and also playing on rather deep rosters has limited his production in the past. However, he’s now a guaranteed starter in the Big Easy and should remain that way. Landry is currently available in 52% of the leagues and is a must add because I don’t personally envision him slowing down any time soon.

MUST-ADD: Ryan Anderson had a monster outing on Christmas day, scoring 25 points, grabbing nine rebounds and two steals. Is he the real deal? Well, while that's tough to say, this isn't the first time Anderson has shined, so grab him no matter what if he is available on waivers. It's tough to expect something even close to that line on a nightly basis, but we honestly wouldn't rule it out -- He has upside and is worth watching and even starting heading into Week 2.

SLEEPER: Seldom does a player who has averaged in his first 3-years in the NBA merely 5.6 points/5 .7 rebounds would be considered a bonafide top-5 sleeper pick. However, DeAndre Jordan has suddenly catapulted himself to that level despite those relatively low career stats. How? By the Clippers dealing for PG extraordinaire, Chris Paul. Several experts are projecting Jordan not to become a huge offensive force, but I beg to differ. Expect him to excel (especially by crashing the rim on offensive rebounds) and he will also be left wide open during instances in which Blake Griffin will command being double and or even triple guarded. Jordan’s minutes and numbers were restricted since he was splitting time with Chris Kaman, but Jordan should average 10-15 PPG, 10+ RB, and 1.3 BPG with Kaman no longer in the picture. Jordan would be a steal in the 6th round since he has a solid all around game. His offensive upside is contingent if he can hit more midway jumpers and improve his FT efficiency. Jordan is available in 17% of leagues at this time, so he is definitely someone you must either add now or continue to monitor his progress because I foresee a player at 23 whose ceiling is unlimited and play immediate to long-term dividends.

BREAKOUT: Kevin Love posted 21 points and 15 rebounds in just 27 minutes of action on Saturday. Love was one of our monster breakout predictions last season. This season is no different, in fact, we have him ranked higher than most fantasy sites out there. Our top five forwards heading into 2011 are: 1) LeBron James, 2) Kevin Durant, 3) Blake Griffin, 4) Carmelo Anthony, 5) Kevin Love. With only Derrick Rose, Dwight Howard and Chris Paul ranked ahead of Love at the guard and center positions, the Timberwolves' forward is top 8 overall material heading into the 2011-2012 fantasy basketball season.

SLEEPER: Paul George is a big deep sleeper of ours. In his 2011 preseason debut on Friday, George scored 17 points, while Tyler Hansbrough scored 19 points. One of these two forwards should have a very underrated fantasy season. My guess is that George will be the player that shines. Grab George in deeper redraft leagues. Definitely grab him in dynasty formats, as he could be something special in 1-2 years.

SLEEPER: Kyrie Irving scored 21 points during his rookie debut as a Cavalier. Don't be surprised if Irving is a bit inconsistent this year, but he really could mature fast and be starter material in even medium size leagues. This kid looks solid already!

BREAKOUT: It's no secret that Greg Monroe is one of our biggest breakout candidates at the forward position heading into the 2011-2012 fantasy basketball season. During his first preseason outing on Friday night, Monroe had 12 points, 13 boards, two steals and two blocks. This guy is a low-end No. 1 center - Don't sleep on him this year!

SLEEPER: Jarrett Jack is the new point guard in New Orleans, and did he ever make a statement tonight in his first preseason game as the team's starter. Jack scored 24 points on 8-of-14 shooting, with six rebounds, six assists, two threes, three steals, and a block. Jack looks smooth when given the keys to an offense, and he looked solid on several occasions last year. Don't make him your No. 1 point guard heading into the 2011-2012 fantasy season, but don't be shocked if he turns heads when all is said and done in 2011-2012. Draft him late during your upcoming fantasy draft, as you don't have to reach for him... that's what makes him a "sleeper" candidate.

SLEEPER: Looking for a deep sleeper at the shooting guard position? Well, Jordan Crawford might just be your guy! Word is that Crawford is the Wizards' new starting SG, and he could keep the gig all year long. Nick Young could still sign with the team, but Crawford is explosive and has dropped some serious numbers in the past, even if in short bursts. He had a triple-double back in April of last year, and had 39 scoring points that very night before. He also scored 19 scoring points or more in six out of his last 10 games last season. He just screams sleeper, but like any up-and-coming player, it all boils down to opportunity. Hopefully talent wins out in this one!

NEWS: According to numerous reports, the Clippers and the Hornets have agreed in principle on a deal that sends Chris Paul and two future second-round picks to the Clippers in exchange for Eric Gordon, Chris Kaman, Al-Farouq Aminu and a first-round draft selection. Paul has opted in for next season, which means that he will be playing with Blake Griffin for at least the next two seasons. What does this move do for both Paul and Griffin? Well, I think it helps both players. I think Paul leads the league in assists, no question, and I think Griffin only gets better. First off, Griffin was going to take that next step this year regardless, but having Paul dishing him the rock only gets Griff to "elite" even faster. When you mention the best 2-3 players in the league come season's end, Griffin will be mentioned every time. He is going to absolutely breakout this season! If Paul can stay healthy, I honesty believe that the Clippers will be playing in this season's NBA Finals.

NEWS: The Chris Paul trade is off, but could a deal still get done? All three teams involved in vetoed trade that was pegged to send Chris Paul to the Lakers are still "engaged" in trying to restructure the deal. We are not so sure anything can be resolved, and the league hasn't been crystal clear as to why the original deal was vetoed. The league having ownership control over the Hornets is clearly one of the main reasons the deal was stopped, but David Stern released a statement about the vetoed trade on Friday, which read: "the Commissioner’s Office ... decided, free from the influence of other NBA owners, that the team was better served with Chris in a Hornets uniform... All decisions are made on the basis of what is in the best interests of the Hornets," Stern wrote. Stay tuned.

NEWS: Multiple sources are suggesting that the Nets are in the lead to obtain the services of Dwight Howard. Howard is soon expected to ask for a trade to the Nets - Word is that the Nets are offering Brook Lopez and two first round selections for Howard. Howard is our No. 1 ranked center heading into the 2011-2012 fantasy basketball season - That wouldn't change if Howard landed with the Nets.

BREAKING NEWS; Chris Paul has been traded to the Lakers... or has he? The Lakers were set to acquire Chris Paul in exchange for Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom. The Rockets were slotted to end up with Gasol, and the Hornets were pegged to receive Odom, Luis Scola, Kevin Martin, and Goran Dragic. So what happened to the blockbuster deal? Well, given that the league has ownership control of the Hornets, rumor has it that tremendous pressure has been applied to the league and its commissioner (by other NBA owners) to squash the deal. It sounds like applying pressure worked, as sources suggest that the deal has in fact been stopped due to the probable PR nightmare that was ready to unfold. The other owners were not about to let a league-controlled team send the NBA's top point guard to L.A., which is conveniently the nation’s second largest television market. As much as I'd love to see Chris Paul in a Lakers' uniform, convenient is the right word if we're being honest... the kicker is that this deal was essentially setting up another transaction that had Dwight Howard also heading to the Lakers (possibly a Bynum for Howard trade). Kobe Bryant, Chris Paul and Dwight Howard... that would be near impossible to stop. I should also mention that Chris Paul is reportedly exploring legal options and a few reports suggest that Paul will be a no-show for Hornets camp. We will keep you posted as the info rolls in!

Blake Griffin is one of our biggest breakout candidates heading into the 2011-2012 fantasy basketball season. Griffin is going to be sought after in a major way entering the 2011-2012 fantasy season, no question, but we think he can be a top 2-3 overall player when all is said and done... so he still has sleeper potential! He could arguably finish as the No. 1 fantasy basketball scorer come season's end in 2011-2012... Crazy? Well, that's what people said about our Derrick Rose predictions last off-season.. and how did that work out? During his second season, which was really his first campaign, Griffin averaged 22.5 points, 12.1 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per game. That's an insane first run in the NBA... Griffin should up those numbers in every category by a decent amount this upcoming season... don't hesitate to go bold and draft this kid as a top four fantasy forward next season! Again, he is capable of way more than even that, which means that he still has "sleeper" written all over him entering the 2011-2012 fantasy basketball season.

Now that we officially have an NBA season to watch, it is sleeper time! Greg Monroe exploded last season during his rookie campaign. Most entering this fantasy season will look at his overall numbers of 9.4 points and 7.5 rebounds per game, which won't standout as incredible, but Monroe really wasn't unleashed until midway through last season. During the last three months of last season, Monroe averaged a double-double almost half of the time. He also frequently had a cup of coffee with 20 and 10. Monroe should turn heads during his second NBA season, and he should average a double-double if he can stay clear form injury. Trust in this kid in 2011-2012, he is a monster sleeper of ours!

Stephen Curry is one of our favorite breakouts heading into 2011-2012. It's October, and it's sleeper time. Last year, the rising star averaged 18.6 points, 3.9 rebounds and 5.8 assists per game. He should have no trouble kicking those points well into the 20s, and he should average 1-2 more rebounds and 2-3 more assists per game this upcoming NBA season. Curry could arguably finish inside the top 2-4 for fantasy guards in 2011-2012... too bold? Again, how did our "crazy" Derrick Rose predictions workout last year? John Wall and Stephen Curry are this year's closest versions of last year's Derrick Rose! Mark it down!

Ok, so we brought you Derrick Rose last year, and we screamed that one from the rooftops. Well, here comes one of my top 2011-2012 breakout candidates! John Wall is going to explode during his second NBA season... Last year, Wall averaged 16.4 points, 4.6 rebounds and 8.3 assists per game. What kind of stats can Wall produce in the 2011-2012 NBA season, assuming we have one? How about 20-24 points, 5-6 rebounds and 10+ assists per game. Yep, that's right... those stats are very close to Derrick Rose's during his breakout performance, which again we predicted. In fact, Wall will likely average 3 more assists than Rose next season, and 2-3 more rebounds per game. Rose should have him by 2-4 more scoring points per game, but this means Wall is the next Derrick Rose... who do you like them apples?

I'll admit, I wasn't pleased to see J.J. Hickson land in Sacramento, but I still think Cousins could easily average a double-double in 2011-2012. Last year, Cousins had a strong rookie outing, posting 14.1 points and 8.6 assists per game. I can easily see him score 15-17 points and 10+ rebounds per game next season. Cousins can be had as a back-up forward/center entering early 2011 fantasy basketball drafts. Take full advantage of this and get ready for starter-type numbers. Cousins should be traded for in all dynasty formats before it's too late - He truly has "elite" written all over him!

After months of trade drama, Carmelo Anthony has officially been traded to the New York Knicks. The Denver Post is reporting that the Nuggets will receive Wilson Chandler, Raymond Felton, Danilo Gallinari, Timofey Mozgov, the Knicks' 2014 first-round draft pick, the Warriors' 2012 second-round pick, the Warriors' 2013 second-round pick and $3 million in cash. New York will get Carmelo Anthony, Chauncey Billups, Shelden Williams, Anthony Carter, and Renaldo Balkman. The deal has been confirmed, but nothing can get approved until later today. Melo's value should go up a touch in New York, as that fast moving offense will provide him more shots than he can handle. More than anything, this move will motivate Melo to prove he is a difference maker. Watch out, LeBron! New York is going to be an exciting team to watch!

If you want to go value shopping right now in your dynasty league, go after Chris Paul. Paul is very undervalued right now, but for good reason. Paul is unhappy and playing sporadic basketball. If you own Paul in a dynasty league, hang tight, unless of course the price is right. If you do not own Paul, try to take advantage of his disappointing play as of late. Paul's situation may not change any time soon, but eventually he will be elsewhere, or the team will make a ton of changes that will help Paul thrive back into his top 3 overall fantasy mold. Paul is the best guard in the NBA - He will rebound, so take advantage if you're interested in bargain shopping at this point in the 2011 fantasy season.

Stephen Curry scored 23 points, had four rebounds, four assists and a steal in just 27 minutes on Friday. Nice line given the minutes! Monta Ellis had 30 points, six dimes and two threes against the Clippers. Will Curry live up to expectations? Well, that's tough to say, but Curry is certainly a strong buy-low candidate given his future upside. In just 1-2 years, Curry could be a top 5-10 overall fantasy talent. Buy-low in dynasty leagues for sure... at least start testing the trade waters in those dynasty leagues!

Matthews (ankle) played 40 minutes on Friday against the Suns. He finished with 26 points, two assists and a steal. While he struggled the next outing, scoring just 10 points, it's safe to say his ankle probably isn't an issue moving forward. Matthews should be started in all leagues and dynasty owners better start trying to acquire this kid before next season. If you own him in your dynasty league, hold onto him! Matthews looks like the real deal - He is playing exceptional basketball in just his second NBA season.

Grant Hill for over the past three seasons in Phoenix has discovered the Fountain of Youth. It's if as though he's replenished himself with Sprite left over from '94 and has reverted back to his vintage self. Hill of course started his career in a flurry and then we all know that upon his arrival in Orlando that he sustained a myriad of injuries that no medical magic was able to remedy. However, since coming to Phoenix, Hill has only missed 13 games (most due to an emergency appendectomy which sidelined him nearly 2-wks during the his first season with the Suns). Since, he's started in all but 1-game and this year he's off to a tremendous start averaging 13.9 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 2.5 APG, and what's even more impressive is that he's converted 53.2% from the field, which overwhelmingly is the best clip of his storied 16-yr NBA career. This at 38 y/o and of course more remarkable that several thought he would have retired several years back, but this is what you deserve from having immense perseverance. The question is.... will he sustain this long-term? I believe he can play for another 2-3 years at this level since he's kept himself in excellent shape (in fact he's been on a nutrition and exercise regimen that in fact has enabled to regain back the prowess he possessed coming out of Duke) and the Suns medical staff is 2nd to none. Hill is available in 40% of leagues and should immediately be added because he's still an above average well-rounded player who has caught lightning in the bottle and will continue to build upon that...He's the ageless wonder and can even still make a long-term impact as well.

For the past six-years in the City of Brotherly Love, Louis Williams has been floating under the NBA radar. All he has done is increase his PPG and APG while improving his FT and overall Shooting% throughout that span. In fact, Williams has started the '10-'11 campaign with 16.3 PPG and 4.7 APG in his first three games and easily added on while he lit up the Wizards with 30-pts in just under 32-miins on 11/2/10. What is incredible is he he was 15-17 from the line and still excels behind the arc. True, he is 2nd on the depth chart to both Holiday and Turner, but Williams should receive an ample amount of time to spell for both those youngsters (especially to prevent Turner from hitting that proverbial rookie wall too prematurely). It's definitely promising that Williams would maintain those stellar stats proven in his career 38-starts he's averaged 15.7 PPG, 4.3 APG, 47.5 shooting%, and dominant from the 3-pt line. Williams recently turned 24 and everyone shouldn't overlook how he bypassed at chance to play at University of Georgia in favor of being selected 45th overall in the '05 draft. Williams was so raw and didn't have the benefit of playing FT at the NCAA level, but has been extremely successful while honing his skills at the professional level. Williams is available in nearly 40% of the leagues at this time and should eventually see his name in the spotlight more so than being underneath the sea.

No one can possibly dispute the fact that there's no NBA player to get off to such a scintillating start than the Thunders third year PG, Russell Westbrook. In 3-games, he's averaged 22.3 PPG, 7.3 APG and a decent amount of SPG. One crucial stat that stands out is that he's currently averaging 6.7 RPG, which for a 6'3 PG is extremely remarkable. The obvious question is will he be able to maintain such an incredible clip? His over-all stats have shown gradual progression which legitimatizes why Westbrook potentially can be anointed as a top-20 player which is what the Thunder envisioned when making him the 4th overall pick out of UCLA during the '08 draft. Also, the fact that he's established this solid all-around game at merely 21 (will be 22 on 11/12) is beyond amazing and he still (which is incomprehensible) has plenty of upside. Plus, what Westrbook has in his favor is the elite developing talent he has surrounding him (IE Durant and Ibaka). Expect Westbrook to average 23.6 PPG, 9.3 APG, and 6.2 RPG while excelling in his FG% and FT%. He's elevating himself to be w/in the top-five PGs in the NBA and still has full ceiling.

True, one shouldn't get overly excited based on a small-sample size, however, it is very difficult not to resist that temptation in the case of Wilson Chandler. True, it's been merely three-games, but Chandler is averaging 21 PPG, 10 RPG, 3 BPG, and 1.3 SPG in 33.23 MPG. To reiterate, it's been only three-games, however, Chandler has proven himself since being the 23rd over-all pick in the '07 NBA Draft as being a fully capable scorer and rebounder, but the issue has been will he receive consistent playing time? Under Coach D'Antoni, Chandler's minutes have increased dramatically and that has reaped high rewards. The main issue though is that Chandler's contract is set to expire after this season which actually might elevate his long-term value up. He would command a very lofty contract, but only a team which intentions of making Chandler either their starting SF/PF will target him. Therefore, that situation will bode better for him than being sandwiched behind both Amar'e and Gallinari on the Knicks depth-chart. True, he is averaging a decent amount of minutes now, but just imagine if he was guaranteed 5-6 more MPGs...His scoring and rebounding totals will soar to new levels. Chandler is currently available in 20% of your leagues and that should change if the word gets out on him...He's an ideal complementary PF/SF to add to your roster now, but at 23 years-old he still has the potential to develop into a 'legit star.......

Goran Dragic should have by now proven all his "nay-sayers"/detractors otherwise by now due to his "gutsy" style of play. He has definitely come a long way since his rookie season when then Suns coach Terry Porter exiled him to bench which effectively destroyed all of Dragic's confidence. Dragic immediately started overcoming his tentative style of play once Alvin Gentry took over for the ousted Porter and there has absolutely no turning back. Of course, it cannot be overlooked that Steve Nash has taken Dragic under his tutelage and that has been paying off. In fact, Dragic is the heir-apparent to Nash and essentially he should be starting some time by next year. Dragic especially prove his worth during Game 3 of last year's Western Conference Semi Finals when he went off and scored 26-pts (5/5 from behind the arc 10/13 over-all) in merely 17:57 minutes. This year he's only averaging 15:24 MPG, but is making the most of it with 10.7 PPG and converting 50% of his 3PTFGs. Dragic essentially comes in during the final 6-7 minutes in each half of the game to spell Nash, but his minutes should vastly increase throughout the season. If so, expect Dragic to average 12.7 PPG, 5 APG, and will also impact in steals, FT and 3-pt %s respectively. He more than likely is available in 90% of the leagues, however, that should without a doubt change when everyone begins to notice his solid overall game and that the sky's the limit on his long-term value as well.

Arron Afflalo is starting to gain our confidence. Sure, he could fade into the fantasy night, but he looked great during the preseason and he scored 22 points on 8-of-11 shooting on Wednesday night. Not only did he score 22 points in last night's contest, he hit three 3-pointers, had two rebounds, dished out three assists and snagged two steals, all in 35 minutes of play. Again, he is no lock to continue this stellar play, but he is worth rostering immediately... retain his services and then make a decision. Don't let someone else scoop him up while we evaluate his next few performances. You can always drop him if he doesn't work out. Also, keep in mind that Afflalo's value will likely increase if Melo gets traded out of Denver during the season.

If you had any doubts about Chris Paul starting out the season as the league's top point guard, you probably can put your concerns to bed. Paul had 17 points, 16 assists, four rebounds and a 3-pointer during Wednesday's win over the Bucks. Probably the most important number of the night was his 37 minutes. He is clearly fully healthy and he is arguably a top 2-3 overall player moving forward in all leagues and formats.

Blake Griffin exploded during his pro debut on Wednesday, scoring 20 points on 8-of-14 shooting with 14 rebounds and four assists. We have been warning all of you all preseason long that this kid is going to be elite right out of the gate. He is arguably a top 10 overall player moving forward in dynasty formats.

Luis Scola hit 14-of-24 shots for 36 points and 16 rebounds on Wednesday night against the Warriors. Scola will get the minutes this year with Yao Ming limited to roughly 20-25 mins per contest (and sitting out a grip of games). Scola is set to have a HUGE fantasy season this year. Don't sell-high unless you get someone to overpay... Scola should continue his impressive play all season long.

It's about time to believe in J.J. Hickson. He has officially been given the starting power forward gig in Cleveland. He will start over Antawn Jamison in the team's season opener on Wednesday night. Jamison will obviously come off the bench right away. Hickson has breakout written all over him this year, as he averaged 14.3 points, 8.1 rebounds and 1.0 blocks in the preseason, and that's on just 24.5 minutes per contest. Getting 30+ minutes per night could have Hickson dropping 18 and 10 on a nightly basis. That's right, he could quite possibly average a double-double this year, or at least 17 and 9. Get ready for a monster 2010-2011 season out of Hickson, and don't hesitate to start him right out of the gate in Week 1.

Jeff Green is a solid mid-round selection this year, as he continues to grow and be the 3rd cog in a young athletic Oklahoma City team. Currently he has an ADP of 66, even though he finished the ’09-’10 season as the 47th ranked player. The big attraction with Green is in category leagues, where he has a good chance with his growth projection to average a 3, a steal, and a block per game. It is rare to find players with that pedigree. And with 3 years experience under his belt, only 24 years of age, and being on the Thunder, there is a lot of upside here. I’ll gladly allow other owners to draft Raymond Felton, Jason Terry, and Jamal Crawford ahead of this potential multi-category stud.

Yes, you read that right, I am advocating a draft pick for Beno. If you are looking for a 3rd or 4th guard in the later rounds, he could give you some good run. Most are probably not aware, but during the last month of the ’09-’10 campaign, Beno was the 13th ranked player in fantasy! He averaged 15.8 PPG, 4.2 rebounds, a whopping 8.4 assists, and 2.1 steals. All of this with rookie phenom Tyreke Evans on the court at the same time! He did average over 39 minutes a game during this stretch, but fear not, because the current season projects to be the same way. There is absolutely no depth behind Beno at the point in Sacramento, so he should be on the court a lot. And if he comes close to the numbers he earned at the end of last season, he will be well worth a 10th round pick!

If you are a fantasy basketball enthusiast, you are well aware that John Wall will be the number one rookie off your draft board. The question is how high a pick is he worth? After seeing a quote from his coach a few nights ago, I am bumping him up at least one, and maybe two rounds in my personal rankings. The coach said, “John has a chance to lead the Wizards in blocks.” And that is quite a statement when you have Andray Blatche and JaVale McGee on your team. His game on October 7 showed this to be true, as Wall had 2 blocks. In addition to his two blocks, he added 3 steals. That’s absolutely Fantalicious! I draft Josh Smith in the 2nd or 3rd round because of those kind of numbers. And of course, Wall will get his shots and plenty of assists to boot. Some have a hard time drafting rookies high in their drafts, but after the seasons Stephen Curry, Tyreke Evans, and Brandon Jennings put in last year, I am all in on this kid. If you look for multi-cat guys, this can be a real nice steal as he is going at pick #55 in drafts today…but he is on the rise!

My particular draft strategy is to go for multi-cat guys early (D-Wade, Josh Smith, Andre Iguodala, Stephen Jackson, etc.) and fill in the Center positions with high upside guys (or adds off the waiver wire when people make mistakes, hehe). Hibbert is on my target list this year. Currently about the 20th ranked Center in fantasy and going at pick #93 in drafts, he is a steal about to happen. In a recent pre-season game he put up numbers that may be more common than most think, with a line of 18 points, 10 rebounds, and 2 blocks. The kid is young at age 23, but has 2 years of experience, has lost 20 pounds, has added muscle, received treatment for an asthma condition, and has a breakout point guard joining the team in Darren Collison. With the Pacers losing Troy Murphy in the off-season, the only real offensive threats are Danny Granger and Collison. Hibbert could slide in as the #3 option on this team, and give you the boards and blocks to boot. He’s worth keeping an eye on, and nabbing in the middle rounds of your draft.

As a father, you have dreams for your kids. As a coach, you have dreams for your players. As a fantasy player, I have dreams for Paul Millsap. My dream is that he gets a starting gig. Because when he does, watch out. He is a double-double machine with a block or two and high percentages. But will this be the year? It could be. Carlos Boozer, and all the touches he commanded, is gone. Yes, Al Jefferson takes his place. But Al has about 20 extra pounds on him and has to learn a new system. And he never quite looked right last year coming back from his knee injury. Also, Mehmet Okur starts the year injured and won’t be back for a while. And finally, Millsap has that chemistry with Deron Williams to produce big numbers. This is a huge Risk/Reward option in your draft. The reward is stud center numbers if Millsap starts. The risk is Jerry Sloan! Let’s hope this is the year Sloan helps my dream come true, instead of the off the bench nightmare that has occurred the past two years!

To borrow one of my favorite catch phrases "BOOM GOES THE DYNAMITE" aptly applies to Aaron Brooks who lead the NBA during the '09-'10 season with an astonishing 525 3-pt FG Attempts while converting 209 for a 39.9 3-pt FG%. While some might consider Brooks a one-trick pony, several can beg to differ since his APG totals have nearly doubled during his first 3-seasons (1.7, 3.0, 5.3) and should continue to improve with a fully healthy Yao Ming back at his disposal along w/newly acquired Brad Miller and Courtney Lee. So, expect Brooks to increase his totals to between roughly 8-9 APG while having better spots on the floor to convert a higher percentage of 3-pt attempts compared to last season. Currently, Brooks should be projected as the 10th best PG in the game and be a steal in the 3rd round. Brooks has plenty of upside and should finally be able to shed his label of being a one-dimensional player.

J.J. Hickson as a starter during his rookie season proved to be extremely dependable when he averaged 9.2 PPG, 5.3 RPG, and 56 FGP, however that was only in 22 MPG. Just imagine prorating those stats for 35+ MPG and how scintillating they will be! Will that transpire that season? More than likely not since he's entrenched behind Antawn Jamison on the Cavs depth-charts, however, that doesn't necessarily mean Hickson still won't be an immense impact during the '10-'11 season. He is definitely a sleep whose minutes should increase by at least 2-4 MPG and could instantly become a double/double machine and still maintaining a high shooting percentage. It would be ideal to take a flier on Hickson around the 6th-8th round, but watch his heights soar. He is still relatively raw, but what was quite remarkable is how seldom Hickson committed personal fouls last season. That proves he's very disciplined and extremely astute....Expect him to average 13 PPG, 8.2 RPG, and his minutes and output to continue to increase as the season progresses. Hickson will soon become a sure-fire keeper, definitely very worth tracking his development.

Derrick Rose is my biggest breakout candidate heading into 2010. In fact, I am going on record here in October.... Derrick Rose is the next Chris Paul and he will finish as the second best fantasy PG when all is said and done in 2010. He will also finish as a top 2-5 overall fantasy basketball scorer. All you dynasty league owners out there better get busy and go acquire this kid before his rise to the elite takes place. Rose is certainly on everyone's radar, but most consider him a borderline top 12-14 overall pick in 2010... That means that all of you redraft league owners out there should grab Rose in the top 5-10 without hesitation. I say top 5-10 and not top 2-5 because he should fall past five in almost any upcoming fantasy draft. If you get stuck with with a top 2-5 pick and can't trade down, by all means, reach for Rose, but just know that if you can make trades and move down in your upcoming draft, you can land Rose in that 5-10 range. It's just smarter drafting and knowing average draft positions (ADPs) is key when entering a fantasy basketball draft. As I wrote in Rose's September Player Spotlight, there are a handful of rising stars this season at the guard position: Tyreke Evans, Stephen Curry and Derrick Rose. All three of these young future studs will turn into top 10 overall fantasy talents, but Rose is the most overlooked of the three (given his top 5 overall upside). Oh, and it's no secret that Carlos Boozer is out for at least the first month of the 2010 NBA season, but don't let this steer you away form investing in Rose this year... While Boozer is out, Rose will just score more. And once Boozer returns to action, Rose's scoring might go back down, but his assist totals will increase. Rose will crank out stud-like numbers no matter what this year. He is ready to lead the Bulls and the Bulls will turn heads in 2010! The future top five overall fantasy player could very well average 20+ PPG and 10 APG in 2010.

I am about to make you hate me. I am (one of the few I know) having a hard time jumping on the Curry bandwagon. I think a life experiencing “red flags” is to blame. And I see them. Allow me to count the ways. One, he’s only a 2nd year player, and we all know about sophomore slumps. Two, there is an ownership change. Three, and more importantly, there is a coaching change. Nellie ball is no more. Four, the new coaching staff has already voiced the dreaded words: “There will be a renewed focus on defense in Golden State.” Five, Monte Ellis and David Lee are both going to want the ball and to get their 20 points per game. Six, for crying out loud, it’s Golden State, a train wreck of a franchise for all but one year in the past 20. Call me crazy, but I’d rather spend my first round pick on a sure thing like Deron Williams, D-Wade, or Kobe Bryant (who are all going after Curry in numerous publications). On the other hand, I won’t begrudge anyone for going early with Curry…you are making a gutsy call.

Darren Collison is certainly on everyone’s fantasy radar, but that doesn’t mean that fantasy worlds aren’t sleeping on him. Collison’s early average draft position (ADP) is around the 5th- to 6th-round range. That is ridiculously low, as he proved to be an elite talent in 37 starts last season. In 37 starts last season, he averaged 18.8 points, 1.0 three (43% from downtown), 3.5 rebounds, 9.1 assists and 1.4 steals. How is he getting overlooked as a top 25 overall talent heading into 2010-2011? Collison is recovering from a broken finger, but the guard is expected to be fully healthy for the start of the 2010-2011 NBA season. Let others doubt him and don’t be afraid to reach for the rising start in your upcoming fantasy basketball drafts. Reaching is not a bad thing when that player can still tremendously outshine the draft slot that you are selecting them at. Meaning, even though his ADP is around the 5th-round, don’t hesitate to draft Collison in the 3rd-round. Draft him that high and don’t look back.

On my first auto draft team (I always get one as soon as they are available to see the rankings) I found Johnson at the end of my bench. My knee jerk reaction was to drop him and find someone else on the waiver wire. But what stopped me was Chris Bosh, he of the 24 points, 10.8 rebounds, and a blocked shot per game. And the question came to mind: “Who in Toronto is going to replace those numbers?" Surely it won’t be Calderon, who has fallen apart the past 2 years. Turkoglu is gone to Phoenix. His replacement, Kleiza, was considerably inconsistent in his time with the Nuggets. The natural assumption is Bargnani, but his inclination towards 3's will keep him away from offensive boards. So I’m thinking the potential is there for 15 ppg and 8 rebounds with a block. And for my last pick of the draft, I’ll take that. Maybe you should consider that too in the late rounds.

Heaven forbid that I look to the Clippers for fantasy goodness, but there may be a hidden gem there this year. While most will focus on Blake Griffin finally getting on the court, Gordon will be an afterthought to most owners. Granted, he had the dreaded sophomore slump last year. But he also had an incredible off-season that saw him play for the U.S.A. in the worlds. Something tells me that if Coach K (who had a lot to prove at worlds) can trust this kid with his 3 point prowness on the international stage, so should the Clippers. Me thinks he is worth a later round grab for those owners wishing to shore up their 3 point category.

Kevin Love jettisoned himself into the NBA as a double/double machine since being selected the 5th over-all in the ’08 draft out of UCLA. Love during his two-year career has averaged 12.4 PPG, 9.9 RBs, and has a 80.1 FT% which is solid for a 6’10 PF/C. Love throughout the ‘09/’10 season began to add another dimension to his arsenal by attempting 106 3-pointers, which was a dramatic increase from his rookie total of 19 attempts. He in fact had a 33 3PTFG% which sets him ahead from most of his counterparts. Unfortunately, Love broke the fourth metacarpal of his left hand which caused him to miss the first 18-games of last season, but he quickly recovered and made a major impact. Love should be the Timberwolves starting PF and will see a significant boost in minutes compared to his 28:36 MPG the previous season. Taking that into account, Love’s over-all production should increase all across the board. Expect him to average 18 PPG, 12.2 RPG, 3 APG, 1.1 BPG, with a 48.4 FG% while attempting and converting more 3PTFG. Love deserves more unconditional love and should be targeted between the 4th-5th round and eventually become a keeper. He just must remain healthy and continue to improve his all around game. The only area of concern has been lack of block shots, but that should come in due time.

Andrea Bargnani during his four yea r NBA career has not completely lived up to the billing as a 1st overall pick typically, however, now at 24 he should finally be on the verge of the greatness which skyrocketed him onto the scene. True, he has averaged in his career 13. 7 PPG, 4.8 RPG, and 1.0 BPG, however, he was playing in the shadows of Chris Bosh who along w/LeBron took his talents to South Beach. Now, Bargnani will be entrusted as the main Raptors offensive force and should also see an increase in his rebounding stats. Bargnani has a .376 3 point FG% which is quite solid for a big man, but expect him to emphasize more of an inside game than previous years. During his ’09-’10 season, Bargnani achieved career highs with 17.2 PPG and 6.1 RPG and that was even with the since departed Hedo Turkgolu taking more control of the team. Now, with Bosh and Turkgolu gone, expect Bargnani to average 22 PPG, 9.2 RPG (with several double/doubles) and an even higher overall shooting percentage since he will get more higher percentage shots. It depends on what scoring format that your leagues employ, but in a category league, Bargnani is projected between 2nd-4th round, however, he might go lower in other scoring type leagues. Although, he can make a more surprise impact in those leagues since he will reach more double/doubles than he has in prior years. Bargnani still has plenty of upside and would be ideal in redraft or dynasty leagues. He was a 1st overall pick for a reason and will live-up to that distinction before it is over, said, and done with.

Jrue Holiday showed some major inconsistency during his ’09-’10 rookie season, however, there is one fact that should not be taken for granted whatsoever. Holiday just turned 20 on 6/12 and is currently the youngest player in the NBA. He showed some flashes in spurts last season as to why the 76’ers spent their 1st round (17th overall) selection on him during the ’09 NBA draft. During his high school career at Campbell High School (in North Hollywood, CA), Holiday honed his natural PG skills and during his Senior year he averaged 25.9 ppg, 11.2 rpg, 6.9 apg and 4.8 spg and was ranked #2 in the nation by Rivals and #4 by Scouts respectively. Holiday during his rookie campaign averaged 8 PPG, 2.6 RPG, and 3.8 APG, and a 44.2 shooting percentage. He managed though to show flashes of brilliance, especially from March 1st-April 14th when he scored 15+ PPG 8xs (20+ points 4xs) and increased his APGs tremendously. Holiday is still very raw and has plenty of upside and is currently within the top-20 guards in Dynasty League drafts. Do not be shocked if he becomes extremely polished as the ’10-’11 season and will gradually surpass those ahead of him to be within the top-10 of Gs. Expect Holiday to average 17.3 PPG, 7.8 APG, and be more deadly from behind the 3-point line. Holiday would be a steal in the 6th-8th round.

Kevin Martin last season got a reprise of his career when cellar-dwellers, Sacramento Kings, dealt him to the Houston Rockets. Mired in Sacramento, Martin did demonstrate why he’s a consummate shooting guard through his prolific 3-point scoring which has translated into 17.4 PPG career average. However, Martin in his 24-games with the Rockets to end the ’09-’10 season averaged 21.3 PPG, a 43.5 shooting percentage while attempting lesser amount of shots per game than in his year’s past. Martin should be able to average 24.3 PPG next season simply by the return of Yao Ming since Yao will attract more double teams which should leave Martin open on the outside perimeter. Martin however necessarily won’t impact in other major fantasy categories, he is however an ideal 2nd or 3rd source of offense for your roster. Martin is projected around the 26th best guard in a Dynasty format since he can be very erratic at times, but with a contender and Yao back in the picture his stock should rise some. He will go around the 6th round in most drafts and definitely would be a steal beyond that.

Aldridge was the 2nd overall pick (just behind Andrea Bargnani) in the ’06 NBA draft and his stats have been nothing short of spectacular. Aldridge during his ’07-’08 rookie season was inserted into the starting line-up after C Joel Pryzbilla sustained a season ending knee injury and he promptly responded by averaging 14.7 PPG and 8 RPG during the month of March of that season. Aldridge since has proven that wasn’t a mirage by averaging between 17.8-18.2 PPG, 7.5-8 RPG over the last three seasons. In fact, Aldridge had around 24 double/doubles last season with several games in which he reached 8-9 RBs and 15+ PPG. That total should climb to higher heights this season by him averaging 20.2 PPG, 9.8 RPG (with plenty more double/doubles) and see him have more BPG and SPG. He more than likely is projected around the 8th-9th round and his stock should continue to soar as his this season and his career progresses.

Derrick Rose is my biggest breakout candidate heading into 2010. Not only is he my biggest breakout candidate, I think Rose is going to be the next Chris Paul. Yes, you read that right… Rose is the next Chris Paul… and the transformation is going to happen quickly. All you dynasty league owners out there better go get him now before you miss his fast rise to the elite! If you want Rose this year in your upcoming yearly league drafts, you’re going to be able to grab him at a reasonable price for sure… but “reach” a little bit, as you don’t want to miss out on this kid’s MONSTER season. You will not be able to draft, or trade for, this soon-to-be stud at bargain value next season… you won’t even be able to trade for him at decent value come mid-season. As of right now, a lot of fantasy owners have Rose ranked under players like Brandon Roy, Russell Westbrook and Rajon Rondo. This is going to look almost silly come this time next year. There are a couple rising stars this year at the guard position: Tyreke Evans, Stephen Curry and Derrick Rose. All three of these young future studs will turn into top 10 overall fantasy talents, but only Rose is getting overlooked. I say overlooked because people are already paying top 10-12 type value for both Evans and Curry, but Rose is falling well past that top 12-15 overall in fresh drafts (even some dynasty). In some early yearly league drafts, I’ve seen Rose go in 4th- and 5th-round near players like Monta Ellis. Derrick Rose is the next elite stud guard. Sleep on him and you will be sorry you did. The future stud could very well average 19.0 PPG and 10 APG in 2010. That’s a top 5-7 overall fantasy talent as early as this season. Chew on that!

Hakim Warrick busted onto the NBA scene from Syracuse projected as a Lottery Pick in the ’05 draft, however, ended-up being selected 19th overall by the Memphis Grizzlies. Known all throughout his collegiate career as an Orangeman for being a well-rounded player, Warrick possesses a wide array of low-post moves, a 38-inch vertical jump and a 7–2 wingspan. Unfortunately, the All-American heights he achieved at the NCAA level hasn’t completely translated into the plateaus that many had expected to attain in the NBA, but it is mainly because he has only averaged 21.5 MPG in his 6-year career. In that time, he has averaged 10.1 PPG, 4.3 RPG, and a respectable .496 FG%. Now though, his stock might be on the rise since the Phoenix Suns signed Warrick this past July to a four-year contract. True, this will be already his 4th team; he will have future Hall of Fame PG, Steve Nash distributing him the ball at a very prolific rate. Warrick (with the departure of Amar’e) instantly becomes the Suns sole inside post player and should see his minutes increase to around 28-30 MPG. If all of that adds up, Warrick (similar to several other players who have been beneficiaries of Nash) should watch his point totals soar to 15-18 PPG, 7-8 RPG, a higher shooting percentage. Also, in the process he could impact leagues that include blocks as a category since has exhibited some promise in that area. Warrick could be a solid dark horse to select within the 13th-15th round in the draft. He is a low-risk, high-reward type player who with the Suns should flourish more than ever and rival the level he exhibited back in the ‘Cuse.

Last season, Brandon Jennings bursted onto the scene. From his early beginnings from Oak Hill Academy, to his brief career with Lottomatica Roma of the Italian league, Jennings worked his way into 3rd place honors as the 2010 NBA Rookie of Year. He exhibited an uncanny knack of prolific scoring. He especially reached significant heights on 11/14/09 vs the Warriors, when he became the youngest NBA player to tally 55-points. At merely 20 years-old, Jennings still has major room for improvement and his ceiling is extremely high. He should be on target to average 22 PPG, 8.5 APG, and shoot 39% from the 3-pt line. Jennings currently is w/in the top-10 NBA PGs and can very well elevate himself in the top-5.

The Utah faithful should be “Jazzed” that they have Paul Millsap filling the void left by Carlos Boozer (as Boozer since departed to Chicago). Millsap, entering his 5th season out of Lousiana Tech, has exhibited being an effective 2-way player averaging 9.7 PPG and 6.4 RPG in only 23.5 minutes. Now with Boozer completely out of the picture, expect Millsap to average 18 PPG, 11 RPG, and nearly 1.5 BPG. Millsap would be a steal in around the 6th- or the 7th- round, and at 26, he still has plenty of upside to be a major keeper player for years to come.