About the Author

I am a former collegiate basketball player, avid basketball fan, and fierce Fantasy Basketball competitor. I will be writing fantasy advice throughout this season with the assistance of my brother, who has professional playing experience, and who has won most of the highly competitive leagues he’s entered throughout the years. We know what it takes to win in the best leagues. We’ll give tips to drafting a great team, evaluating your team’s statistical categories (Stat Cats) and other teams’ trade proposals, and most of all, we’ll tell you when and how to capitalize on opportunities that arise through real-life trades and injuries throughout the season. Our aim is to provide you with all the best Fantasy information that you’d expect from professional websites, only without the hefty Insider fees. I will also do my best to answer any questions you may have throughout the season.

October is here, which means the 2009-2010 NBA Season is near. That also means that the time to draft this year’s fantasy roster is rapidly approaching. The following are some keys to ensuring your team is at the top of your league come April.

Note: When reading this article, keep in mind that the size of your league will be a major factor in which round guys get selected. My estimates are based around a 14-team league with 12-player teams. Also please be aware that the 5 players listed are not necessarily a top 5 – just the 5 I decided to highlight. I made an honorable mention list to include the players I ommitted for the sake of brevity.

Pick at Your Own Risk: Most of the players on this list are moving to new teams. There is always a lot of uncertainty involved in how a player will coexist with new teammates and coaches, making him a higher risk. Here's the run-down on where you can draft some of this season's biggest new additions.

1. Ben Gordon – He’s moving to a Detroit team that already has very good, nicely paid wing players in Richard Hamilton and Tayshaun Prince, and a young effective point guard in Rodney Stuckey. Still, he’s one of the best shooters and most deceptive drivers in the game. He’ll hit threes and score, but expect a moderate dip in points and field goals. Considering the free reign he had in Chicago last year, it’s safe to say he’s had his best statistical season.

Verdict: He is a middle-round candidate if offense is your need.

2. Vince Carter – It’s hard to tell how Vince Carter will fit in with Dwight, Rashard, and the gang. He will have more talent around him than he is used to in Orlando. Will he come in motivated by being given his best shot to win an NBA Championship, or will he be content to fade into the background? That will determine whether his percentages and surprising assist totals benefit from the talent of the rest of his team.

Verdict: Decrease his value slightly from last year on your draft board. Upper-middle rounder.

3. Tyrus Thomas – Tyrus isn't on a new team but he is a risk as a pick because we're still not quite sure what to expect from him. That said, it's also risky to pass on him because, given ample playing time, he can be extremely valuable to your team, especially in the defensive categories. He is always showing flashes but never showing consistency. However, at the end of last season, those flashes became much more frequent, resembling something like the consistency that has eluded him thus far in his career. He even appeared to have improved his poor shooting and traditionally terrible decision making. This may be the year he is finally ready to bust out – or merely be deemed a bust.

Verdict: Look at him by rounds 6-8, especially if you want to shore up blocks and rebounds.

4. Shawn Marion – He went from stud to dud last year in Miami and Toronto. His point total has suffered the most since his decline started in ’05-’06, but last year his rebounds, blocks, steals, and efficiency from the arc took a hit as well, removing him from elite fantasy status. This year, running with Steve Nash’s mentor (Jason Kidd) in Dallas, Marion should be more comfortable playing a style that made him one of the best fantasy producers for years. But how far can the matrix bounce back and how many opportunities will he get playing alongside Dirk (Nowitzki), Josh (Howard), and Jason (Terry)?

Verdict: I expect him to play slightly better than the past two years, hitting averages around 15 points, 9 boards, and over 1 apiece in blocks and steals. Have him on your radar by the third round if he is available.

5. Tyson Chandler – Tyson had no offensive skills whatsoever when he played for Chicago, he had no offensive skills whatsoever when he played for New Orleans, and it’s safe to say he hasn’t developed any offensive skills this offseason in the midst of his trade to Charlotte. He only thrived in New Orleans because of Chris Paul’s incredible playmaking ability and unbelievable skill at throwing alleys. The only thing Tyson will do well is block and rebound the ball. Expect less of everything else he did in New Orleans.

Verdict: Backup Center option by rounds 8-9

6. San Antonio Spurs – I had to go 6 deep in this final category so I could give the Spurs their due. First of all, it’s amazing what they’ve done in the offseason to remain one of the league’s elite teams. They are the deepest team in the NBA with a combination of proven veterans and outstanding young players who, for the most part, won’t get to see the light of day unless there are several injuries. What does this all mean? In the real world it means great things for Spurs fans, but in fantasy terms, it means everyone’s value will drop. The only reliable options will be Parker and Duncan, although even Duncan is beginning to show his age and putting up more mundane numbers. Manu has had injury problems and already came off the bench. Now he will be competing with both Richard Jefferson and Michael Finley for playing time. Roger Mason Jr. will cede the major role he played last year. George Hill is a quality player whose growth might be stunted by lack of court time, and Matt Bonner did a nice job in spot duties last season. Now Keith Bogans joins their ranks. Add Antonio McDyess, Theo Ratliff and DeJuan Blair to the rotation…it’s a lot of wealth to spread in a 48 minute game.

Verdict: After Parker and Duncan, beware! Keep an eye on Jefferson, especially if Manu suffers through another injury-plagued season.

Honorable Mention (None)

This is page 5 of 5 of this article. Check out all the rest in the links below to ensure you are prepared for this year's fantasy draft. Then, be sure to come back before the start of the season for more keys to drafting a winning team, including how to form a draft strategy by understanding which popular players will single-handedly win or lose you a category. We’ll also highlight several overlooked and underrated fantasy players (commonly known as Sleepers), and unveil a top ten depth chart at each position.

Check out my article on the top 10 players in every category.  This is a must-read for everyone who has enrolled in a fantasy league but hasn't had time to do their research yet.  We've looked through all of the statistics and compiled a list of the best players in each category for you.  Enjoy.

Check out my final pre-draft article right here.  I highlight the top 6 players at every position and give you the list of the top 14 picks in this year's draft.

Here is one last article as a bonus. It includes a long list of sleepers, the results of my first fantasy basketball draft, and more news and advice. I strongly recommend taking a look if you are serious about doing well in your fantasy draft. For much more, you should also check out Rick Buser's columns.