Category: Fantasy Basketball (Page 267 of 274)

Below are the tiers for the shooting guard position. When determining statistical outlooks, I used the (twelve team) nine-category rotisserie system that Yahoo uses, which includes both field goal and free throw percentage, three-point shots made, total points, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks and turnovers. Turnovers didn’t play a big role in my calculations because well-managed teams usually lose this category every week just because their total number of games played is greater than their opponent’s. Besides, if turnovers were of equal weight, they wouldn’t impact the rankings very much.

Players are listed in order within the tier, but there isn’t a whole lot of difference between the players within each tier. Players listed in parenthesis have dual position eligibility in the Yahoo game. For instance, Dwyane Wade is considered a shooting guard in many fantasy games, but in the Yahoo game (and many others), he’s also eligible to play point guard. Look for the SF, PF and C tiers as the week goes on. You can find the PG tiers here.

TIER ONE: Kobe Bryant, (Dwyane Wade)
Kobe Bryant edges out Dwyane Wade due to his play down the stretch last season and the fact that he didn’t spend the summer playing for Team USA. Wade has to be a little worn down coming into the season and he has an injured shooting hand that is giving him problems. Of course, Bryant had knee surgery this offseason, so watch that situation closely in the preseason. If both guys look shaky, it might be a good year to spend your first-round pick on a position other than SG.

TIER TWO: (Paul Pierce), Ray Allen, (Joe Johnson), (Vince Carter)
Paul Pierce should benefit from an improved supporting cast. Delonte West and Wally Szczerbiak will keep defenses honest and a leaner Al Jefferson should provide some support in the post. He may be asked to score a bit less, but he should be more efficient as a result. He’s already solid in every category and his dual eligibility gives him the edge over the next guy on the list…Ray Allen provides terrific FT%, threes and scoring, but the rest of his numbers are pretty average, which means he doesn’t hurt you in those categories, but he doesn’t help either…Joe Johnson offers solid to strong numbers in every category and his dual eligibility makes him a valuable asset in the Yahoo game. Since he’ll be playing more off guard with the arrival of Speedy Claxton, expect his assists to tick down a bit and his scoring and threes to tick up…Vince Carter only has one weakness in his fantasy game – his FG%. Everything else is solid. Unfortunately for savvy fantasy owners, his ADP has caught up to his ability, but he’s a solid, versatile pick in the third.

TIER THREE: (Michael Redd), Manu Ginobili, (Andre Iguodala), (Tracy McGrady), Jason Richardson, (Josh Smith), (Kirk Hinrich), (Gerald Wallace)
The Bucks’ supporting cast is improving with the arrivals of Bobby Simmons, Andrew Bogut and Charlie Villanueva, so Michael Redd won’t have to deal with as many double teams as the last few years. Redd has steadily improved every year of his career, so expect nothing less this summer…Manu Ginobili was hampered much of last season with injuries, but he appeared to be healthy during the Spurs’ playoff run and the World Championships, so expect him to return to 2004-05 numbers, making him a solid 5th round pick…Andre Iguodala isn’t very good in assists or threes, but his FG%, steals and rebounds are amongst the best at his position. He offers very nice value in the late 4th or early 5th…Tracy McGrady is a Tier Two guy when healthy. Hell, he might even be a Tier One guy if he were 100%, which he says he is. But do you trust his bad back to hold up to the rigors of an entire NBA season? I certainly don’t, not at the cost of a second round pick. However, if he looks good in the preseason, I might bite on him in the third…Jason Richardson has increased his scoring every year of his career, and has only two weaknesses in his game – FT% and assists. Don Nelson’s arrival will probably generate more offense, so J-Rich should get his, even if Baron Davis is healthy. He’s going to miss all or most of the preseason rehabbing his knee, so keep an eye on his recovery…Josh Smith went on a tear after the All-Star break, averaging 15.0 points, 7.8 rebounds and 3.1 blocks over the last 32 games. During that span, only his FG% (42.6%) was a glaring weakness. He’s poised for great things…Kirk Hinrich is coming off a great stint for Team USA in the World Championships. He provides good 3PT and assist numbers, but his career FG% (40.2%) needs to improve. I expect that his solid rebounding numbers from last season (3.6) could drop under 3.0 with the arrival of Ben Wallace… Gerald Wallace is a consistently underrated fantasy player. His FT% and his threes leave something to be desired, but the rest of his stats are quite strong and he’s amongst the leaders at his position in steals, blocks and FG%. The arrival of Adam Morrison is a bit worrisome, however. Preseason should be a good indicator of how the team wants to use the two players.

TIER FOUR: (Morris Peterson), (Bobby Simmons), Bonzi Wells, (Hedo Turkoglu), (Delonte West), (Wally Szczerbiak)
Mo Peterson finished last season on a tear, and with the loss of Mike James, the team will need his scoring to compliment Chris Bosh. Also, Toronto’s new up-tempo system should make Peterson’s numbers last year a worst-case scenario…Bobby Simmons played great for the Bucks over the last half of the season. If he rebounded a little better and blocked a few more shots, his numbers would be very solid. As is, his threes and FT% are outstanding and he doesn’t hurt you in any other categories…It’s not entirely clear how Bonzi Wells is going to fit in with Tracy McGrady and Shane Battier on the perimeter, but one thing’s for sure – a motivated Bonzi is a productive Bonzi. His threes are poor, but he brings great rebounding and steals stats, and the Rockets didn’t sign him to ride the pine…Hedo Turkoglu played great down the stretch for the Magic, and unless Grant Hill can come back healthy, there is no one on the roster that will cut into his time. His numbers are pretty good all-around, though his assists and steals are lacking…At press time, Delonte West is going in the 10th round, which is grand larceny, assuming his back is okay to start the season. All of his numbers are at or above the averages for his position (so he doesn’t hurt you in any category) and he’s a great source of blocks, rebounds, FG% and FT%. He has to fend off Sebastian Telfair and that sore back to start at PG, but he could also see some time at SG alongside Telfair…Wally Szczerbiak brings terrific FG%, FT% and threes to the table, but has yet to confirm that his knee is 100%.

TIER FIVE: (Mike Miller), Rip Hamilton, Larry Hughes, (Ricky Davis), (Josh Childress), (Corey Maggette)
Mike Miller will be asked to do a lot this season, especially with Pau Gasol being out for the first half of the year. He’s one of the league’s best all-around shooters, but his assist and steal numbers drag his value down…Rip Hamilton provides good shooting accuracy and points, but his lack of steals and threes are worrisome. He should see an uptick in his rebounds with Ben Wallace’s departure…Larry Hughes would be a very solid shooting guard if he could stay healthy. He’s only played an average of 56 games the last four seasons. Expect his numbers to be slightly better than last year to increased comfort in Cleveland, but he’s a serious injury risk…It might be surprising to see Ricky Davis up here in Tier Four, but his stats are pretty solid all-around. The arrivals of Mike James and Randy Foye could cut into his scoring opportunities, but the team will still need the rest of his game. Kevin McHale doesn’t like his defense, so keep an eye on this situation during preseason…Josh Childress offers terrific FG% and good steals, but his numbers are lacking in other areas. He’s got to find time behind Josh Smith and Joe Johnson, but given his production, I think the Hawks will find a way to give him 28+ minutes…Corey Maggette came off the bench much of last season after returning from an injury. He offers great FT% and rebounding, but his assists, steals and threes are a bit lacking. For some reason, there were trade rumors swirling around him, but the Clippers would be wise to hold onto him.

TIER SIX: (Stephen Jackson), Cuttino Mobley, (Josh Howard), (Eddie Jones), (Brandon Roy), Raja Bell, (Ben Gordon), (Luol Deng), Jamal Crawford
When Stephen Jackson isn’t getting punched in the mouth or firing shots in a parking lot of a nightclub, he’s a pretty good all-around fantasy player. Sure, his FG% and assists are lacking, but everything else is solid. He might see a downtick in points with the addition of Al Harrington, but something tells me that Jackson will still get his shots…Cuttino Mobley has no glaring weaknesses in his game, but assuming Corey Maggette returns to the starting lineup, he’ll probably be the fourth option on offense…Josh Howard is a fine player, but he’s not a particularly good fantasy player. Most of his stats are pretty average for his position, but his threes, blocks and assists are below average…Counting on 34 year-old Eddie Jones to increase his scoring after four consecutive years of diminishing returns is a dicey proposition. But Pau Gasol is out for the first half of the season so Jones should see a few more shots. His steals and threes are still great…Brandon Roy will be penciled in as the starter at shooting guard for the Blazers, and his dual eligibility makes him an option at point guard as well. During the pre-draft process, he was labeled as one of the guys that was NBA-ready, so expect him to start quickly out of the gate. His preseason performance should give a good indication on whether or not he belongs here or in a higher tier…What Raja Bell lacks in rebounds and assists, he makes up for in threes. Bell benefited from playing in the freewheeling Suns system, which will inflate anyone stats. But he’s a good player, so expect more of the same…Ben Gordon isn’t a true point guard – his assist numbers are poor – but he’s great from behind the arc and he’s a decent scorer. He’s sort of a specialist, so grab him if you need three-point or scoring help. His dual eligibility adds a bit more value…The Bulls have had a crowded backcourt in recent years, and now they’ve got a crowded frontcourt as well. It’s not clear how many minutes Luol Deng will get, but the kid’s got great upside so he should get 28-35 minutes somewhere. His threes are awful, but he’s pretty solid everywhere else…Jamal Crawford is currently listed as the backup to Steve Francis, but he should play in a three-guard rotation with Francis and Stephon Marbury. If he gets 30+ minutes, he should provide good FT% and threes, and is pretty solid elsewhere, except for rebounds and FG%. Keep an eye on his minutes in the preseason.

TIER SEVEN: Kevin Martin, J.R. Smith, (Martell Webster), Grant Hill, DeShawn Stevenson, (Desmond Mason), (John Salmons), (Jerry Stackhouse), Anthony Parker
Kevin Martin played pretty well down the stretch for the Kings, providing solid numbers across the board, save for assists and steals. Free agent acquisition John Salmons could cut into his time, but the departure of Bonzi Wells will free up some minutes…J.R. Smith is drawing raves for his shooting in Nuggets camp, and is a sleeper at SG if he can get his act together on defense…Martell Webster played solid ball over the last two months of the season, but Darius Miles is still penciled in at SF. But don’t be surprised if Miles isn’t on the team after the trade deadline…At press time, Grant Hill is the starting shooting guard for the Orlando Magic. If he can play, he’s worth a late-round flyer, but don’t expect him to make it through the season…DeShawn Stevenson made two three-pointers last season. Two. His FG% is great, but the rest of his numbers are pretty lacking…Desmond Mason is coming off his most miserable season as a pro. Statistically, he’s a better player than he showed last year and supposedly he’s been working on that jumpshot…John Salmons was productive in games that Allen Iverson missed and now has the opportunity to fight for the starting shooting guard slot in Sacramento, making him a deep sleeper…Jerry Stackhouse can score and shoot free throws well, but that’s about it…Anthony Parker is back in the league after a successful stint in the Euroleague, and is slated to start at shooting guard for Raptors. If Toronto is able to successfully install the Suns’ wide-open offense, Parker will have some value.

TIER EIGHT: (Marquis Daniels), (Quentin Richardson), (James Posey), Greg Buckner, Keyon Dooling, (Michael Finley), Gordon Giricek, Ronnie Brewer, J.J. Redick
Marquis Daniels was stuck behind all the guards in Dallas and was never really able to get out of Avery Johnson’s doghouse. He will have more opportunity in Indiana backing up Stephen Jackson at off guard…James Posey will continue to find minutes backing up Antoine Walker and Dwyane Wade in Miami…Keyon Dooling would fight for Orlando’s starting shooting guard spot if something happens to Grant Hill…Michael Finley will continue to come off the bench for the Spurs and offer good threes and FT%, but little else…Gordon Giricek is an okay scorer, but that’s about all he does. The team signed Derek Fisher and drafted Ronnie Brewer for a reason…We all know that J.J. Redick can shoot, so he should be a good source of FG%, FT%, threes and points, but he isn’t going to make a positive impact in any of the other categories. He’s over his bad back, but has a foot injury that is limiting his ability to practice.

Putting fantasy players into tiers is not a new concept. It makes perfect sense to group players with similar statistical outlooks in order to maximize value on draft day. If you’re deciding between drafting a point guard or a power forward, and you’ve only got one guard left in a tier compared to four or five centers, go ahead and select the guard and hope that one of the centers is there for your next pick.

Compared to fantasy football, Average Draft Position (ADP) is not as good of a guide in fantasy hoops. If you search hard enough, you can find ADP data at the ESPN or Yahoo fantasy sites, but it doesn’t seem to be updated regularly. Generally, if you want a particular player and his ADP is getting close, go ahead and take him. The most important thing is that you have a team you like at the end of the draft.

Below are the tiers for the point guard position. When determining statistical outlooks, I used the (twelve team) nine-category rotisserie system that Yahoo uses, which includes both field goal and free throw percentage, three-point shots made, total points, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks and turnovers. Turnovers didn’t play a big role in my calculations because well-managed teams usually lose this category every week just because their total number of games played is greater than their opponent’s. Besides, if turnovers were of equal weight, they wouldn’t impact the rankings very much.

Players are listed in order within the tier, but there isn’t a whole lot of difference between the players within each tier. Players listed in parenthesis have dual position eligibility in the Yahoo game. For instance, Dwyane Wade is considered a shooting guard in many fantasy games, but in the Yahoo game (and many others), he’s also eligible to play point guard. Look for the SG, SF, PF and C tiers as the week goes on.

TIER ONE: (Dwyane Wade), Gilbert Arenas, Steve Nash
Dwyane Wade is a statistical monster, leading his natural position (SG) in assists, steals and blocks, while boasting a very good FG%. His only weakness is his three-point shot…It’s easier to find points later in the draft than assists, but Gilbert Arenas brings a lot to the table statistically, especially three-pointers, points and steals. The rest of his numbers are quite solid, so he doesn’t really hurt you elsewhere…If you need assists, FG% or FT%, Steve Nash is your man. He’s also quite good from three-point range, but his steals numbers aren’t impressive. His scoring will probably dip a bit with the return of a healthy Amare Stoudemire (more on that later this week), but the rest of his numbers should hold steady.

TIER TWO: Chris Paul, Jason Kidd, Allen Iverson, Chauncey Billups, (Joe Johnson)
Many pundits will have Chris Paul in the first tier, and while I think his assists will improve from last year (7.8) with the addition of Peja Stojakovic, Paul’s three-point numbers (0.6 per game) hold him back. He’ll give you a ton of assists, steals and rebounds, and is without a doubt the league’s best young point guard…Jason Kidd just keeps on trucking. He’s a bit of an injury risk, having missed an average of 11 games in the last three years, but leads his position in rebounds and puts up outstanding assist and steal numbers…Allen Iverson had arguably his best statistical season last year, but I have to wonder about his head after all the trade rumors this summer. Is he going to play with that same passion that we’ve come to expect from him? I think he’s still a gamer, but he’ll be hard-pressed to put up 33.0 points and 7.4 assists per game again this season, especially considering the 44.7% he shot from the field, his highest FG% in the last 8 years…Chauncey Billups puts up great FT%, 3PT and assist numbers. The rest of his numbers are decent, though he could work on his FG% and steals. I expect his rebounds to jump at least one board per game with the departure of Ben Wallace…Joe Johnson offers solid to strong numbers in every category and his dual eligibility makes him a valuable asset in the Yahoo game. Since he’ll be playing more off guard with the arrival of Speedy Claxton, expect his assists to tick down a bit and his scoring and threes to tick up.

TIER THREE: Mike Bibby, (Kirk Hinrich), Mike James, Jason Terry
With the departure of Peja Stojakovic, Mike Bibby had to score more , and responded with a career-high 21.1 points per game last season. He’s quite strong in three-pointers, points and FT%, and doesn’t really have any glaring weaknesses. He’s an all around solid point guard…Kirk Hinrich is coming off a great stint for Team USA in the World Championships. He provides good 3PT and assist numbers, but his career FG% (40.2%) needs to improve. I expect that his solid rebounding numbers from last season (3.6) could drop under 3.0 with the arrival of Ben Wallace…Mike James is one of the tougher players to rank this preseason. After a modest career, he broke out in a big way last season, averaging 20.3 points and 5.8 assists with the Raptors. Now he’s with the Timberwolves, and I’m not sure he can match those numbers this season. He’ll still put up solid stats, but he’s the riskiest pick in this tier…Jason Terry will probably play more shooting guard this season than point, so don’t expect his assist numbers to improve much. He provides great three-point shooting and FG%, while the rest of his numbers (except rebounds) are pretty solid.

TIER FOUR: Raymond Felton, (Delonte West), Stephon Marbury, Jameer Nelson, Baron Davis, Steve Francis
Raymond Felton finished the season strong, averaging 16.7 points and 7.6 assists per game after the All-Star break. His big weakness is his FG% (39.1%), but he makes up for it with strong numbers in threes, steals and assists. Brevin Knight still factors into the Charlotte PG situation, but word is that Michael Jordan really likes Felton and wants to build the team around him…According to his ADP, Delonte West is going in the 10th round, which is grand larceny, assuming his back is okay to start the season. All of his numbers are at or above the averages for his position (so he doesn’t hurt you in any category) and he’s a great source of blocks, rebounds, FG% and FT%. He has to fend off Sebastian Telfair and that sore back to start at PG, but he could also see some time at SG alongside Telfair…Stephon Marbury should benefit from having Isiah Thomas at coach, not because Thomas is any good, but because Starbury should have free reign. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him average close to 20 points and 8 assists per game, but his FG% (career: 43.6%) and rebounding averages aren’t very good…Jameer Nelson finished strong last season, averaging 15.8 points and 5.6 assists per game after the All-Star break. His numbers are all pretty solid, but he boasts an awesome FG% (48.3%) for a guard. Carlos Arroyo backs him up, but Nelson proved last season that he’s the best point guard on the roster…Baron Davis’ career FG% (40.7%) and FT% (66.8%) are pretty bad, but he’s a stud in three-pointers, points, assists and steals. He’s a huge injury risk, as he’s only played an average of 54 games in the last four seasons, but he might respond well to Don Nelson’s loosey-goosey approach as coach of the Warriors..It looks like Isiah Thomas is committed to playing Steve Francis and Marbury together. Francis’ career numbers are too strong to ignore, but there’s a chance that this situation could implode at any point during the season.

TIER FIVE: Andre Miller, Tony Parker, Mo Williams, T.J. Ford, Rafer Alston, Luke Ridnour
Andre Miller is solid in every category, except in 3PT, so if you decide to draft him, be sure to focus on that category later on. He’ll give you great assist numbers and his FG% is quite strong… It’s strange to see Tony Parker down here in Tier Five, as he’s widely recognized as one of the top point guards in the league. It’s true that he’s good – quite good in fact – but he’s not an especially good fantasy point guard. If you need help in FG% or points in the middle rounds of your draft, by all means take him, but he’ll hurt you in threes, free throw shooting and steals…One position battle to keep an eye on during the preseason is the starting point guard for the Bucks. Some think that Steve Blake will make a push for the job, but Mo Williams should be the starter. If he gets 30+ minutes, he should be quite productive, and would be a big time sleeper considering his ADP (in the 12th round). He brings excellent three-point and FT%, and other than less than stellar rebounding, the rest of his numbers are very solid…The Raptors traded away Charlie Villanueva for T.J. Ford, who was brought in to play the same role that Steve Nash plays in Phoenix. He could average eight assists per game and rebounds well for a guard, but he’s not particularly good from the field, and he’s even worse from the three-point line…Rafer Alston has bounced around throughout his career, but he seemed to find a home in Houston last season, averaging 12.8 points and 7.1 assists after the All-Star break. His shooting accuracy from both the field (37.9%) and from the line (69.2%) is atrocious, but he puts up good rebound and steal numbers…Luke Ridnour offers tremendous FT% and assist numbers, but his 3PT, points and rebounds aren’t very strong. He needs to fend off Earl Watson, but should see 30+ minutes at point guard if he wins the job.

TIER SIX: Sam Cassell, Smush Parker, (Brandon Roy), (Ben Gordon), Speedy Claxton, Deron Williams, Devin Harris, Jason Williams, Earl Watson, (Randy Foye)
Expect the production of Sam Cassell to decline a bit this season as his age and the emergence of Shaun Livingston cut into his numbers. Other than three-pointers made and steals, he’s pretty solid across the board…It remains to be seen whether or not Smush Parker can repeat his surprise 2005-06 season, but the Lakers didn’t acquire a better point guard, so expect him to play big minutes again this season. He’s a great source of steals and threes, which helps to offset his poor free throw shooting and his limited points and assists… Brandon Roy will be penciled in as the starter at shooting guard for the Blazers, and his dual eligibility makes him an option at point guard as well. During the pre-draft process, he was labeled as one of the guys that was NBA-ready, so expect him to start quickly out of the gate. His preseason performance should give a good indication on whether or not he belongs here or in another tier…Ben Gordon isn’t a true point guard – his assist numbers are poor – but he’s great from behind the arc and he’s a decent scorer. He’s sort of a specialist, so grab him if you need three-point or scoring help. His dual eligibility adds a bit more value…The Hawks signed Speedy Claxton to be their starting point guard, so expect him to put up better numbers than last season. His three-point shooting is abysmal, but the rest of his numbers are pretty solid. He’s especially good in the assist and steal categories…After a slow start, which surely gave the Jazz second thoughts about drafting Deron Williams over Chris Paul, Williams played pretty well after the All-Star break, averaging 13.2 points and 5.5 assists per game. His rebounds and steals are weak, but he brings good assist numbers to the table, while the rest of his stats are pretty solid…Devin Harris is super-quick, but his problem is lack of playing time. There are rumblings that he’s going to start for the Mavs if he can beat out Anthony Johnson, and if he gets 30 minutes a game he’ll have a very good year. Watch this situation in the preseason and move him up a tier if he wins the starting job. He’s been horrible thus far in his career from long range, which is strange because he was a very capable three-point shooter in college. The rest of his numbers are very solid…Jason Williams is recovering from arthroscopic knee surgery and isn’t going to be ready for the start of the season. Expect him to miss the first two weeks to a month and be a solid point guard option after that…Earl Watson played well for the Sonics once he came over from Seattle, and will fight for the starting PG spot this preseason. If he wins it, bump him up a tier. He brings excellent three-point shooting and good assist numbers, and doesn’t have any big holes in his game, save for his 67% career FT shooting…Keep an eye on how the Wolves use Randy Foye in the preseason. Right now, he’s listed as the backup shooting guard to Ricky Davis, but they could run Davis at the three and Foye at the two. Either way, Foye should see some time at point guard as well as shooting guard.

TIER SEVEN: Jamaal Tinsley, Jarrett Jack, Sebastian Telfair, Brevin Knight, Derek Fisher, Leandro Barbosa, Marcus Banks, Shaun Livingston, Damon Stoudamire
After being outplayed by Anthony Johnson (who signed with Dallas), Jamaal Tinsley is back in charge of the Pacers, but this time he has Marquis Daniels nipping at his heels. Daniels isn’t really a true point guard, so expect Tinsley to get every opportunity to run the team…Jarrett Jack has been handed the keys to the Portland offense and should benefit from the extra minutes. He’s known more for being a defender than a playmaker, which doesn’t translate well to fantasy hoops, but 12 points and six assists is not out of reach…The Celtics costly acquisition of Sebastian Telfair leads me to believe that Danny Ainge is a big fan. Statistically, Delonte West is the superior guard, but it looks like Telfair will have an opportunity to win the job. If he does, bump him up a tier…Brevin Knight will start the season backing up Raymond Felton, but he should get some minutes alongside Felton in the backcourt. He’s a valuable trade asset, so don’t be surprised if he’s starting somewhere else by the end of the season…Derek Fisher joins Deron Wiliams in Utah, and with Gordon Giricek starting at off guard, Fisher should see some minutes at shooting guard alongside Williams, unless Ronnie Brewer has a big preseason…Leandro Barbosa and Marcus Banks are both coming off the bench in Phoenix, but each will probably play some off guard to give Raja Bell a rest. Barbosa had decent value last season, but until it becomes clear how many minutes he and Banks are going to get, I wouldn’t use a mid round pick on either guy…Shaun Livingston has a lot of talent, but he’s still splitting time with Sam Cassell. If it looks like he’s going to get 30+ minutes as the preseason progresses, you can move him up a tier…Damon Stoudamire is coming off a knee injury. If he’s healthy enough to start the season, he’s probably a Tier Six guy.

TIER EIGHT: Chucky Atkins, Steve Blake, Chris Duhon, Sarunas Jasikevicius, Jordan Farmar, Gary Payton, Marcus Williams
Chucky Atkins would be a nice sleeper if Stoudamire can’t go…Steve Blake was pretty much all the Bucks got for Jamaal Magloire, but should be a good backup for Mo Williams…Chris Duhon played 29 minutes a game last season, but the Bulls have a crowded roster and I’m not sure he’s going to get that much playing time this season. His value jumps if Kirk Hinrich or Ben Gordon get injured…Sarunas Jasikevicius is the dark horse in the Pacers’ point guard battle. Tinsley isn’t all that good, but Jasikevicius hasn’t impressed thus far either…Jordan Farmar is a rookie, and Phil Jackson doesn’t like rookies. Farmar is going to have to have a great preseason to have a chance at playing a lot for the Lakers when the games start to count…Gary Payton will start for the Heat until Jason Williams gets back. After that, he doesn’t have much fantasy value…Marcus Williams is the heir apparent to Jason Kidd, but won’t see much time as long as Kidd is healthy.

The results of an MRI on Dwyane Wade’s sore right hand came back negative, which means there is nothing structurally wrong with it. But there’s no clear course of action other to rehab and hope that the pain goes away. If it were his off hand, it’s probably an injury he’d be able to deal with during the season, but it’s his shooting hand, and this soreness could really affect his game.

Wade said he would consider taking time away from the team, a prospect that could prove daunting, with starting point guard Jason Williams already set to miss the start of the season following offseason knee surgery.

“Right now we’re going to do the therapy and give it enough time,” he said, “and if it doesn’t calm down in enough time, then shut it down for a little while.”

Fantasy impact: This news makes it tough to take Wade over Kobe Bryant, and if the injury lingers, Gilbert Arenas and Steve Nash start to creep into the conversation. Let’s hope the hand reacts well to rehab and he’s able to start the season normally. It would be a shame if the league was without one of its brightest young stars for the start of the season.

In a somewhat bizarre finish to his tumultuous offseason, Bonzi Wells has agreed to a two-year/$5 M contract with the Houston Rockets. Wells holds a player option for the second year of the contract and fully intends to enter free agency next summer, according to his agent, Merle Scott.

Wells was looking to cash in this summer after a glorious playoff run against the Spurs, where he averaged 23 points and 12 rebounds in the series. He turned down a five-year/$36 M offer from the Kings, which turned out to be a huge financial blunder. He fired his agent at the time – William Phillips – once the free agent market dried up (and the Kings signed John Salmons), so presumably Phillips gave him some bad advice on the Kings’ original offer.

Nevertheless, the Rockets were in the right place at the right time. Landing Wells – even for one year – at $2.5 M is a coup, assuming you’re not worried about his reputation for being a malcontent. He is a very talented player and he will be motivated to produce, as he’s made it clear that he intends to test free agency again next summer.

From the Rockets’ perspective, it’s not clear how Wells will fit into the lineup alongside Tracy McGrady and the newly-acquired Shane Battier. Wells and McGrady both play shooting guard, while McGrady is more than capable of swinging over to small forward, Battier’s natural position. Unless they plan to run Battier at power forward, one of these guys is going to have to come off the bench, and it won’t be McGrady.

Two weeks ago, I discussed Bonzi Wells’ current situation in “Where’s Bonzi?” Well, he’s still a man without a team and he’s since fired his agent (William Phillips) and signed with Merle Scott, an indication that he’s not too happy with the way the summer has gone. There is still interest from several teams, and most recently he met with the Houston Rockets.

After earning $8 million last season, he turned down a five-year, $36 million offer from the Kings, a strong indication that an offer of a mid-level exception would not work. The Kings instead signed John Salmons, and the majority of teams over the cap spent their mid-level exceptions.

The Rockets have just $2.1 million of their mid-level exception remaining to offer unless they can work out a sign-and-trade deal with the Kings. The Rockets have a $4.2 million trade exception in which they could sign a free agent for as much as $4.2 million and send only a draft choice, but as with any sign-and-trade arrangement, that would require an agreement with the Kings.

It looks like Wells may have shot himself in the foot when he turned down the five-year/$36 M offer from the Kings. With so few teams under the salary cap, it’s unlikely that anyone is going to want to invest $8+ M a year for five years in a 30 year-old player with a history of being a malcontent. If he is able to get a contract greater than the mid-level exception (~$6M), some team is going to have to put a package together that the Kings will accept. Teams over the cap have to execute a sign-and-trade with Wells’ old team to get around the salary cap rules.

The Rockets seem like a strange fit. They’ve already got Tracy McGrady and Shane Battier on the perimeter, so Wells (or Battier) would have to come off the bench. That assumes that McGrady’s back is good to go, which is a big assumption.