2) Dirk Nowitzki- He does a lot of things on the court. He can shoot from anywhere, get to the free throw line, rebound, block shots, pass and he logs a lot of minutes. He has always been a great fantasy performer and nothing about that should change much. Marion will compliment his game more so than take away from Dirk's looks. Look for Dirk to be in the top-ten in fantasy rankings again at the end of this season.
3) Tim Duncan- The "Big Fundamental" is also Mr. Consistent. He will be a 20/10 guy for as long as he decides to stay in the league. The only issue with Duncan is he doesn't do much else. He can score, rebound and block shots but doesn't do much in regards to assists, steals or free-throw percentage. You know what you're getting with Duncan and he is always a solid fantasy pick. Don't expect much to change with regards to his numbers.
4) Antwan Jamison- Jamison is a career double-double guy. One of a handful of players. He is the definition of consistency. You know what you are getting with this guy. There is really no downfall in his game. If he can be healthy and demand minutes, he will produce. He is always a great pick-up in fantasy leagues.
5) Zach Randolph- Even though he isn't a good team player, that means nothing in regards to fantasy. He puts up big numbers, plays on mediocre teams and that's all that really matters. He is another one of the career 20/10 guys and will continue to put those numbers up in Memphis. He isn't my favourite player but I can tell you he's been on my fantasy team a couple times in the last few years. He's a true sleeper.
6) Kevin Garnett- Surprisingly, KG could be the big sleeper this year. Fantasy owners will be weary to take him because of the injury issues. I think KG can get through it. He's looked good in the pre-season and is one of the toughest players out there. Two years ago, his numbers were on the decline because of the supporting cast in Boston, but he is an all-around guy and fills up the stat sheet. I truly believe he belongs higher than this but it was too risky to gamble.
7) Pau Gasol- He proved last year that he can keep his numbers up, while playing alongside Kobe, Lamar and Ariza. There's no reason he can't average the same kind of numbers this year. He has chemistry with teammates and that will only grow over time. A 7-footer who can pass and rebound always bodes well in fantasy land. Another good option at the 4.
8) LaMarcus Aldridge- Big men take longer to develop and I predict that Aldridge has a break-out year. He showed signs last year of becoming on of the elite big-men in the league. If Portland can sign him to extension before the season starts, it will only benefit the player. His numbers are destined to improve this year and he could be one of the bigger fantasy surprises this year. Don't hesitate to take him if he's available.
9) Carlos Boozer- I wish I could have Boozer higher on the list but there are too many question marks. He will share minutes with Paul Millsap, who some believe has more potential than Boozer. A lot of trade rumours surrounded Boozer in the off-season because of Utah's depth at PF. If he gets traded, he will be one of the top 5 at his position by the end of the year.
10) Blake Griffin- I expect Griffin to make an immediate impact in his first season in the NBA. The Clippers did a good job of moving Zach Randolph to give Griffin the space he needs to grow. His size and athleticism should make for an exciting rookie campaign. He should average close to 20/10. He is no slouch on defense and takes the ball to the basket whenever he gets the chance (free throws). This may be a risky pick but I think Griffin will be just fine.
Honourable Mentions: David Lee, Troy Murphy, Charlie Villaneuva, Paul Millsap, Al Harrington, Elton Brand, Lamar Odom
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