2010 NBA Fantasy Basketball’s Top Ten Trios: The Miami Heat are No. 1, Duh…
We know who you are. You’re the same guy (or gal) that drafts for consolidation and of course, well, just plain convenience. You’ve drafted the entire Dallas Cowboys offense and the Yankees batting order so that you could watch your fantasy teams perform in one fell swoop. Here we’ve compiled the top ten NBA trios so if you’re hope is to not change the channel to keep up with your fantasy players, then this list is for you.
As we enter week two of the NBA season, most leagues have already drafted but look to land some of these marquee trios through early season trades making your team even stronger—and even easier to watch.
*(Average player draft position displayed in parenthesis)
As we enter week two of the NBA season, most leagues have already drafted but look to land some of these marquee trios through early season trades making your team even stronger—and even easier to watch.
*(Average player draft position displayed in parenthesis)
1. Miami Heat: LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh
Not much of a surprise here. Lebron James (3) may not be the first player off the board thanks to monster seasons from Kevin Durant and Chris Paul, but James will again provide owners with near triple-double production.
Trailing Lebron on draft boards is Dwyane Wade (5) who is expected to be the scoring leader for the Heat. Wade won’t have to worry about facing double-teams now that he’s playing alongside Bosh and James, which makes him a very attractive buy for owners looking for scoring production.
Chris Bosh (22) was a top ten fantasy player last year, but his stock takes a hit with Miami. Owners know that Bosh’s touches will decrease, but sit hopeful that his efficiency will increase. Bosh is certainly a premiere forward and his position versatility to play center makes him a viable candidate for a first round or early second round pick.
Not much of a surprise here. Lebron James (3) may not be the first player off the board thanks to monster seasons from Kevin Durant and Chris Paul, but James will again provide owners with near triple-double production.
Trailing Lebron on draft boards is Dwyane Wade (5) who is expected to be the scoring leader for the Heat. Wade won’t have to worry about facing double-teams now that he’s playing alongside Bosh and James, which makes him a very attractive buy for owners looking for scoring production.
Chris Bosh (22) was a top ten fantasy player last year, but his stock takes a hit with Miami. Owners know that Bosh’s touches will decrease, but sit hopeful that his efficiency will increase. Bosh is certainly a premiere forward and his position versatility to play center makes him a viable candidate for a first round or early second round pick.
2. Dallas Mavericks: Dirk Nowitzki, Caron Butler, Jason Kidd
The Maverick’s trio features three deadly shooters as well as players who can contribute in all facets of the game.
Nowtizki (4) will again be one of the league’s most productive shooters (25 PPG) and can be a reliable rebounder (8.5 RPG career) for owner’s looking for multi-category production.
Trailing Nowitzki is point guard Jason Kidd (17) who continues to hold strong as one of the league’s perimeter players. What Kidd has lost in speed and scoring he’s been able to compensate with lights-out shooting percentages (42.5% 3-PT) and as always Kidd will give you gaudy assist totals.
Caron Butler (74) is the perfect fit for the up-tempo Mavericks offense and will be the beneficiary of open looks created by Nowitzki, Jason Terry, and Jason Kidd. His statistics did take a dip after being traded to Dallas at mid-season, but Butler will find his shots regardless of this star-studded Dallas lineup.
The Maverick’s trio features three deadly shooters as well as players who can contribute in all facets of the game.
Nowtizki (4) will again be one of the league’s most productive shooters (25 PPG) and can be a reliable rebounder (8.5 RPG career) for owner’s looking for multi-category production.
Trailing Nowitzki is point guard Jason Kidd (17) who continues to hold strong as one of the league’s perimeter players. What Kidd has lost in speed and scoring he’s been able to compensate with lights-out shooting percentages (42.5% 3-PT) and as always Kidd will give you gaudy assist totals.
Caron Butler (74) is the perfect fit for the up-tempo Mavericks offense and will be the beneficiary of open looks created by Nowitzki, Jason Terry, and Jason Kidd. His statistics did take a dip after being traded to Dallas at mid-season, but Butler will find his shots regardless of this star-studded Dallas lineup.
3. Boston Celtics: Rajon Rondo, Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett/Ray Allen
The Boston Three Party is now four as Rajon Rondo (19) enters the season with an average draft position in the top 20. Rondo will again finish among the league leaders in assists (fourth last season with 9.8 APG) and steals (first with 2.3). Playing with a full (healthy) compliment of stars will only boost his stock.
Paul Pierce (35) will again be a top 50 pick with a steady scoring production and above average shooting percentages.
Both Garnett (53) and Allen (59) are a toss up for the third member of this trio since Garnett’s injury history drops his average draft position to the fourth and fifth rounds while Allen’s declining scoring rate has a similar affect on the veteran guard.
The addition of both O’Neal’s won’t figure to affect Garnett’s production much since the veteran forward saw over ten shot attempts per contest in ’09-’10 and has always found a way to get his points.
Conversely Ray Allen has seen his shot attempts decline the past three seasons although Allen will always be a buy for owners looking to boost their shooting percentages.
The Boston Three Party is now four as Rajon Rondo (19) enters the season with an average draft position in the top 20. Rondo will again finish among the league leaders in assists (fourth last season with 9.8 APG) and steals (first with 2.3). Playing with a full (healthy) compliment of stars will only boost his stock.
Paul Pierce (35) will again be a top 50 pick with a steady scoring production and above average shooting percentages.
Both Garnett (53) and Allen (59) are a toss up for the third member of this trio since Garnett’s injury history drops his average draft position to the fourth and fifth rounds while Allen’s declining scoring rate has a similar affect on the veteran guard.
The addition of both O’Neal’s won’t figure to affect Garnett’s production much since the veteran forward saw over ten shot attempts per contest in ’09-’10 and has always found a way to get his points.
Conversely Ray Allen has seen his shot attempts decline the past three seasons although Allen will always be a buy for owners looking to boost their shooting percentages.
4. Atlanta Hawks: Josh Smith, Al Horford, Joe Johnson
Josh Smith (14) does a bit of everything at both ends of the floor that justify a first round selection. Owners will again see Smith contribute impressive rebounding totals (8.7 RPG last season) and he will again provide enough blocked shots and steals to make up for his dismal 61% free throw rate.
Al Horford (24) will look to build off of his inaugural All-Star selection last season and provide a bountiful supply of rebounds (9.9 last season) and continue to chip in offensively (14.2 PPG).
Joe Johnson (27) will try to make good on high recently inked max contract this season while also improving on his well rounded ’09-’10 production (21.3 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 4.9 APG).
Josh Smith (14) does a bit of everything at both ends of the floor that justify a first round selection. Owners will again see Smith contribute impressive rebounding totals (8.7 RPG last season) and he will again provide enough blocked shots and steals to make up for his dismal 61% free throw rate.
Al Horford (24) will look to build off of his inaugural All-Star selection last season and provide a bountiful supply of rebounds (9.9 last season) and continue to chip in offensively (14.2 PPG).
Joe Johnson (27) will try to make good on high recently inked max contract this season while also improving on his well rounded ’09-’10 production (21.3 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 4.9 APG).
5. Oklahoma City Thunder: Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, Jeff Green
Kevin Durant (1) won’t disappoint as the first player drafted in your league. At only 22 years old, Durant has achieved at a level only known to a small strata of players.
Durant’s scoring averages are higher than both Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant at same age. Durant has also been able to stay healthy even after logging nearly 40 minutes per game last season.
Westbrook (40) has shown signs that he’s able to do it all. His averages of 16.1 PPG, 8 ASG, and 4.9 RBG puts him in an elite class of point guards known to only players like Jason Kidd and Magic Johnson. This high praise for the young Westbrook comes with the expectation that he’ll be able to build off his strong ’09-’10.
Jeff Green (61) has quietly asserted himself as one of the more dependable players in the league. Green scored double figures in 71 of 82 games for the Thunder while also proving himself as a dependable rebounder with just over six boards per contest.
Kevin Durant (1) won’t disappoint as the first player drafted in your league. At only 22 years old, Durant has achieved at a level only known to a small strata of players.
Durant’s scoring averages are higher than both Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant at same age. Durant has also been able to stay healthy even after logging nearly 40 minutes per game last season.
Westbrook (40) has shown signs that he’s able to do it all. His averages of 16.1 PPG, 8 ASG, and 4.9 RBG puts him in an elite class of point guards known to only players like Jason Kidd and Magic Johnson. This high praise for the young Westbrook comes with the expectation that he’ll be able to build off his strong ’09-’10.
Jeff Green (61) has quietly asserted himself as one of the more dependable players in the league. Green scored double figures in 71 of 82 games for the Thunder while also proving himself as a dependable rebounder with just over six boards per contest.
6. Utah Jazz: Deron Williams, Al Jefferson, Paul Millsap/Andrei Kirilenko
The Jazz won’t skip a beat this season after loosing leading scorer Carlos Boozer to the Chicago Bulls.
Point guard Deron Williams (9) may be expected to pick up a bit more scoring slack but newcomer Al Jefferson (25) will fit nicely into Boozer’s vacated position. Expect Jefferson to return to his ’08-’09 highs that saw the 25-year-old post an impressive 23.1 PPG and 11 rebounds per game.
Paul Millsap (64) continues to improve although his production did take a step back last season. Expect the young forward to take a leap forward and join Jefferson on the post as the two will create on the league’s best post tandems.
Additionally, Andrei Kirilenko (69) won’t blow away owners in any specific category although the veteran forward will do a little bit of everything. Expect “AK-47” to contribute in both blocks and steals while rarely turning the ball over in an effort to preserve your assist-to-turnover ratio.
The Jazz won’t skip a beat this season after loosing leading scorer Carlos Boozer to the Chicago Bulls.
Point guard Deron Williams (9) may be expected to pick up a bit more scoring slack but newcomer Al Jefferson (25) will fit nicely into Boozer’s vacated position. Expect Jefferson to return to his ’08-’09 highs that saw the 25-year-old post an impressive 23.1 PPG and 11 rebounds per game.
Paul Millsap (64) continues to improve although his production did take a step back last season. Expect the young forward to take a leap forward and join Jefferson on the post as the two will create on the league’s best post tandems.
Additionally, Andrei Kirilenko (69) won’t blow away owners in any specific category although the veteran forward will do a little bit of everything. Expect “AK-47” to contribute in both blocks and steals while rarely turning the ball over in an effort to preserve your assist-to-turnover ratio.
7. Memphis Grizzlies: Rudy Gay, Marc Gasol, Zack Randolph
Rudy Gay (39) hasn’t been the rebounding presence fans expected nor has he been able to shoot from the perimeter with much consistency. The Connecticut alum will enter the year only 24 and seems far from reaching his ceiling. Don’t be surprised to see Gay and the Grizzlies to take the next step.
Pau isn’t the only Gasol grabbing headlines in the nightly box score. Brother Marc Gasol (36) fell just short of averaging his first career double-double (14.6 PPG & 9.3 RPG) in ’09-’10 but the young center has plenty of growing left to do so it wouldn’t be a shocker to see Gasol mentioned with some of the better post players in the league.
Zach Randolph (37) seems to have found a home in Memphis where the veteran forward is expected to be dependable scorer (20.8 PPG) and one of the league’s top rebounders (11.7). The former Michigan State Spartan has long been one the league’s most underrated players so owners should look to steal Randolph and his valuable production.
Rudy Gay (39) hasn’t been the rebounding presence fans expected nor has he been able to shoot from the perimeter with much consistency. The Connecticut alum will enter the year only 24 and seems far from reaching his ceiling. Don’t be surprised to see Gay and the Grizzlies to take the next step.
Pau isn’t the only Gasol grabbing headlines in the nightly box score. Brother Marc Gasol (36) fell just short of averaging his first career double-double (14.6 PPG & 9.3 RPG) in ’09-’10 but the young center has plenty of growing left to do so it wouldn’t be a shocker to see Gasol mentioned with some of the better post players in the league.
Zach Randolph (37) seems to have found a home in Memphis where the veteran forward is expected to be dependable scorer (20.8 PPG) and one of the league’s top rebounders (11.7). The former Michigan State Spartan has long been one the league’s most underrated players so owners should look to steal Randolph and his valuable production.
8. Los Angeles Lakers: Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol, Lamar Odom/Andrew Bynum
Kobe Bryant (6) will again lead the pack for the Lakers and will again carry a similar load as last year where he saw nearly 22 shots per contest.
The Lakers movement to utilize Pau Gasol (10) has owners giddy to draft the big man in the first round of drafts on the basis of his career high 11.3 rebounds per game in ’09-’10.
A distant third behind Bryant and Gasol is Lamar Odom (89) who continues to be one of the games most efficient players off the bench. In just over 30 minutes per game Odom achieved a near double-double (10.8 PPG & 9.8 RPG) while also shooting a respectable 46% from the floor.
Lakers fans looking to draft on the basis of upside may look to Andrew Bynum (117) who has missed all the team’s preseason games but has seen incremental production increases each of his five years in the league.
Kobe Bryant (6) will again lead the pack for the Lakers and will again carry a similar load as last year where he saw nearly 22 shots per contest.
The Lakers movement to utilize Pau Gasol (10) has owners giddy to draft the big man in the first round of drafts on the basis of his career high 11.3 rebounds per game in ’09-’10.
A distant third behind Bryant and Gasol is Lamar Odom (89) who continues to be one of the games most efficient players off the bench. In just over 30 minutes per game Odom achieved a near double-double (10.8 PPG & 9.8 RPG) while also shooting a respectable 46% from the floor.
Lakers fans looking to draft on the basis of upside may look to Andrew Bynum (117) who has missed all the team’s preseason games but has seen incremental production increases each of his five years in the league.
9. Orlando Magic: Dwight Howard, Rashard Lewis, Vince Carter
Dwight Howard (16) has always fallen out of the top-10 of league drafts because of his poor free throw shooting and his inability to make the jump into the upper echelon of top scorers. Howard seems to have hit his plateau for scoring production topping off at about 20 points per game.
Rashard Lewis (71) is a viable wing option for owners looking to boost their shooting percentages since he is a near lock to shoot around 40% from three and well above 40% from the field.
Vince Carter’s (92) stock has plummeted faster than Cleveland Cavalier ticket sales but that doesn’t mean that the 14-year NBA veteran won’t bolster your shooting percentages while also chipping in a nightly handful of rebounds and assists.
Dwight Howard (16) has always fallen out of the top-10 of league drafts because of his poor free throw shooting and his inability to make the jump into the upper echelon of top scorers. Howard seems to have hit his plateau for scoring production topping off at about 20 points per game.
Rashard Lewis (71) is a viable wing option for owners looking to boost their shooting percentages since he is a near lock to shoot around 40% from three and well above 40% from the field.
Vince Carter’s (92) stock has plummeted faster than Cleveland Cavalier ticket sales but that doesn’t mean that the 14-year NBA veteran won’t bolster your shooting percentages while also chipping in a nightly handful of rebounds and assists.
10. San Antonio Spurs: Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili, Tony Parker
The Spurs rave about Tim Duncan’s (32) condition entering the season and carry the expectation that he has at least one more productive season left in his 34-year old legs.
Duncan’s numbers took a dip last season since head coach Gregg Popovich limited him to a career low 31 minutes per game. Still, Duncan’s production wasn’t far from Dwight Howard’s which shows his incredible efficiency. Look for the veteran big man to achieve yet another double-double season, the 14th straight of his career.
Manu Ginobili (34) needs to stay on the floor to justify a third round selection but when healthy he ranks among the premiere guards in all shooting categories. Owners hoping to acquire a skilled passer should look no further than the Argentinean native who logged nearly five assists per game in ’09-’10.
Tony Parker (96) may not be considered an elite level point guard but his production value still warrants a top 100 selection. Parker has never been an exceptional 3pt shooter (31.2 % career) and has never been more than an average free throw shooter (72.8%). However, a healthy Parker will crack the 20 ppg threshold and should again prove to be one of the better passers in the NBA logging over 6 assists nightly.
The Spurs rave about Tim Duncan’s (32) condition entering the season and carry the expectation that he has at least one more productive season left in his 34-year old legs.
Duncan’s numbers took a dip last season since head coach Gregg Popovich limited him to a career low 31 minutes per game. Still, Duncan’s production wasn’t far from Dwight Howard’s which shows his incredible efficiency. Look for the veteran big man to achieve yet another double-double season, the 14th straight of his career.
Manu Ginobili (34) needs to stay on the floor to justify a third round selection but when healthy he ranks among the premiere guards in all shooting categories. Owners hoping to acquire a skilled passer should look no further than the Argentinean native who logged nearly five assists per game in ’09-’10.
Tony Parker (96) may not be considered an elite level point guard but his production value still warrants a top 100 selection. Parker has never been an exceptional 3pt shooter (31.2 % career) and has never been more than an average free throw shooter (72.8%). However, a healthy Parker will crack the 20 ppg threshold and should again prove to be one of the better passers in the NBA logging over 6 assists nightly.
Honorable Mention:
Golden State Warriors: Stephen Curry (7), David Lee (11), Monta Ellis (28)
Denver Nuggets: Carmelo Anthony (18), Chauncey Billups (21), Nene Hilario (30)
New York Knicks: Amar’e Stoudemire (12), Danilo Gallinari (49), Raymond Felton (56)
Chicago Bulls: Derrick Rose (42), Joakim Noah (45), Carlos Boozer (58)
Portland Trail Blazers: Brandon Roy (26), LaMarcus Aldridge (51), Andre Miller (90)
Milwaukee Bucks: Brandon Jennings (67), Andrew Bogut (73), John Salmons (78)
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Golden State Warriors: Stephen Curry (7), David Lee (11), Monta Ellis (28)
Denver Nuggets: Carmelo Anthony (18), Chauncey Billups (21), Nene Hilario (30)
New York Knicks: Amar’e Stoudemire (12), Danilo Gallinari (49), Raymond Felton (56)
Chicago Bulls: Derrick Rose (42), Joakim Noah (45), Carlos Boozer (58)
Portland Trail Blazers: Brandon Roy (26), LaMarcus Aldridge (51), Andre Miller (90)
Milwaukee Bucks: Brandon Jennings (67), Andrew Bogut (73), John Salmons (78)
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Written by Conor Gereg exclusively for www.thefantasyfix.com.
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