Okay, so the season is over and you are stuck watching playoff basketball or you’ve moved on to fantasy baseball.  Hopefully your favorite team is in the playoffs to keep things interesting for you.  Well, if your team isn’t in the playoffs and you don’t play fantasy baseball, then I will do my best to give you a list of players to keep an eye on for next year.  Some are the guys that had solid yet underrated years and some are players that will be taking advantage of more playing time due to free agency or becoming a starter.

Andrea Bargnani- We’ve all traveled down this road before.  Some of got in for the great runs and others were a little too late to capitalize or were just too gun shy to pull the trigger on adding him.  Take a look at what he was able to do without Chris Bosh in the lineup for his final 5 games (21.4 ppg, 2.0 3s, 2.2 bpg).  This is the sign of a player that had been set free to do as he pleases.  I’m not saying he will average these numbers next year but he will be a fantasy stud.

Kevin Love- 14 ppg and 11rpg.  He can rebound with the best of them and has great vision for a big man.  If he is a full time starter next year and gets 30-35 minutes per game, he will be a very nice player to have on your roster.  Think, poor man’s David Lee.

Anthony Randolph- He should be able to return to stud in the making status next year.  He only played in 33 games due to injury but showed some serious potential for a breakout season if he could just get consistent minutes which is always a problem for young players in a Don Nelson run system.  If he gets regular PT, he will be a beast.

Andray Blatche- This guy was unbelievable at the end of the season once Antawn Jamison was traded.  Remember though that Gilbert As will be back next season (maybe) and that will take a chunk out of Blatche’s scoring.  He will still be a solid rebounder who will add assists and steals from a position not really known for those categories.

Stephen Jackson has made it clear that he wants out of Golden State and would prefer being traded to a perennial contender.  Who doesn’t want to play for a perennial contender.  I’ve always hated the term “If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em” and for good reason.  Gone are the days where athletes take pride in being part of a team that does it on their own.  There are no more Magic Johnsons or Larry Birds.  Nobody cares about integrity anymore.  It’s all about winning a championship no matter what it takes.


I know, Jackson didn’t start with the Warriors but he did help them make their first playoff run in 12 years. Now he wants to up and leave because he feels that “At this point, I’m 31 years old. I have four or five years left, I want to be in a situation where I can continually be in the playoffs and get another ring. So that’s where my mind is at now.” That is what he had to say to Dime Magazine.


So, in terms of fantasy relevance Jackson will most likely take a big hit in value unless he is traded to New York (which will not happen). Golden State is the perfect place for S-Jax and he knows it. I guess now all he wants is another ring and he is willing to abandon a franchise that took him in when he was considered a major risk and turned his career around. Good riddance Mr. Jackson, and don’t let the door hit you on the way out.


Meanwhile, scoring opportunities should skyrocket for Monta Ellis and Stephen Curry. Not to mention Anthony Randolph and Corey Maggette should see a bump in offensive production. The move could allow Randolph to move over to the SF position occasionally also. It will be interesting to see how the Warriors and their fans handle this situation.

Do you think that D-Wade will sign an extension with the Heat or will he test the free-agent market?

Darius- Pensacola, FL

If the money is a competitive offer then I think Dwayne Wade will resign with the Miami Heat. To be honest, I think most players will be forced to resign with their original teams due to salary cap restrictions in the immediate future. LeBron James might be the exception to this due to the fact that every team out there should be willing to pay the luxury tax that would come with signing him.

Did you see Anthony Randolph’s performance in the NBA summer League? Don’t you think he will be a stud this year?

Jerry- San Lorenzo, CA Read the rest of this entry »

The Golden State Warriors should seriously be looking into signing Jason Kidd this off-season. He would be the perfect fit for the Warriors. He could step right in and become the floor general that the Warriors have lacked since losing Baron Davis to free agency. Kidd grew up in Alameda which is a short drive from Oakland. He went o high school (St. Joe’s) and college (Cal Berkeley) in the Bay Area. He is exactly what the Warriors need.

I know that the West is ridiculously tough to make the playoffs but Kidd would instantly make them playoff contenders. If they could use the #7 pick in the draft this year on a PG of the future, the Warriors could groom him behind Kidd and not have to worry about putting any added pressure on him. Read the rest of this entry »

10.6 ppg, 8.5 rpg, 1.0 spg and 1.3 bpg might not seem like superstar stats but if I told you they came from a rookie while only playing 25:41 as a starter, would you think differently? What if this player were practically guaranteed a starting role next year and is considered to be the future of his franchise? Anthony Randolph has that potential. He has been compared to Lamar Odom numerous times for his ball handling skills, poise, defense, rebounding and scoring abilities.


Now Odom is a terrific player. Probably not a franchise type player. He might even be suited as a #2 or #3 option type of guy. But the only reason he isn’t a #1 option is that he chooses to lay back and let other people handle the pressure moments. When Odom chooses to play like a beast, he is practically unstoppable and that is the mentality that Randolph must obtain. He can’t be a timid player in the NBA or else he’ll end up being just a nice piece to the puzzle.


The Golden State Warriors need him to be a beast. He has shown that he can score, rebound and play defense. As well as distribute the ball well for a big man. With the Warriors current team the way it is, Randolph will have to prove that he is that big man that the Warriors thought he could be when they drafted him. It’ll be fun watching him play this coming season and seeing if he can improve on his performance last year.

Q: I know it is early seeing that the season just ended but who do you think has the most potential to have a breakout season next year?


David- Detroit, MI


A: Anthony Randolph and here is why. He ended the season as a starter and should begin next year as the starting PF. His potential is through the roof. He finished the final month of the season averaging 15.1 ppg, 10.6 rpg, 1.5 spg and 0.9 bpg. In 15 March games he averaged 2 bpg. He has a chance to showcase his Lamar Odom type skill set and there really isn’t anything stopping him.


Q: Do you think that Kevin Garnett will still be considered a first round fantasy player in next year’s draft?


Patrick- Boston, MA


A: No, 15.8 ppg, 8.5 rpg 1.1 spg and 1.1 bpg just isn’t what you are looking for in a first round player. Garnett is the perfect case of a player that has way more value as a real player as opposed to a fantasy player.


Q: Heard any rumors lately involving future free agents or trades?


Eddie- Denver, CO


A: There are always rumors flying around but here is an interesting one. Dwayne Wade has said that he may consider signing a contract extension with the Miami Heat before he can opt out of his contract and become an unrestricted free agent for the summer of 2010. He has until July 1 to decide.


Q: Can the Golden State Warriors make it back to the playoffs next year with their current roster completely healthy?


Ashley- Hayward, CA


A: No, I don’t think they can. They need a true PG to run the show so Monta Ellis can do his thing and create offense without having to initiate it. Hopefully they will be able to find a solid PG in the draft or via trade. They will need Ellis to be that consistent scorer that everyone watched him become last year with the impending loss of Jamal Crawford due to not picking up his option. Stephen Jackson should be able to fully return and Anthony Randolph proved late in the season that he belongs in the starting 5 no matter what.