NBA Fantasy Basketball: The Wright Move, Denver's Newest Star & Mike Conley's Arrival
Dorell Wright
The player movement this past offseason was an unprecedented testament to the NBA’s free market which included the changing of addresses for marquee names like LeBron James, Amar’e Stoudemire, Chris Bosh, David Lee, and of course: Dorell Wright. Really? Yes, really. Dorell Wright, the former Miami Heat shooting guard has found a home, and his shooting stroke as a Golden State Warrior lighting up opponents with a league leading 26 three pointers and a searing 52% from beyond the arc.
Wright’s departure from Miami came without much fanfare but the 24 year old has made a name for himself amidst a crowded Warrior backcourt. His 37:42 minutes per contest trail only Monta Ellis while also handicapping the team’s projected wingman Reggie Williams.
Collectively the Warriors are off to one of their best starts (6-2) in franchise history and it comes as a reflection of Wright’s 16.2 PPG and 5.0 RPG contribution. Wright (only 82% ownership) will continue to receive a plethora of open looks courteously of offensive threats like David Lee, Monta Ellis, and Stephan Curry making him a leading candidate from NBA’s most improved player.
Wright’s departure from Miami came without much fanfare but the 24 year old has made a name for himself amidst a crowded Warrior backcourt. His 37:42 minutes per contest trail only Monta Ellis while also handicapping the team’s projected wingman Reggie Williams.
Collectively the Warriors are off to one of their best starts (6-2) in franchise history and it comes as a reflection of Wright’s 16.2 PPG and 5.0 RPG contribution. Wright (only 82% ownership) will continue to receive a plethora of open looks courteously of offensive threats like David Lee, Monta Ellis, and Stephan Curry making him a leading candidate from NBA’s most improved player.
Aaron Afflalo
With the looming departure of Denver Nugget’s star Carmelo Anthony, the team has turned its hopes to four-year veteran Arron Afflalo. The former UCLA Bruin has started in all eight of Denver’s games and scored in double figures in all but one of those contests. Helping his cause has been a noble 57.4 FG% and a 91.3 FT%. Should the Nuggets pull the trigger on a Carmelo deal look for Afflalo to be the beneficiary of more of the scoring workload. There are however, reasons fantasy owners may be expecting a decline.
Afflalo’s peripheral stats look impressive but the 6’5’’ forward hasn’t shown a propensity for shooting the ball throughout both his professional and college career. While at UCLA he never shot above the 40% 3-point mark while also posting a pedestrian 77.7 FT%. Another caveat to his game has been the inability to rebound the ball coming in at just over three rebounds per contest. Afflalo’s 58% ownership comes as a surprise considering he’s been a workhorse in the Mile-High City but this may be a “sell high” opportunity for other owners looking to cash in on inflated stats and speculation of higher scoring outputs.
The learning curve for an NBA point guard has mystified general managers for years but those who have remained patient with their young floor leaders have reaped the benefits. Boston’s Rajon Rondo once considered the weakest link in the Celtic’s lineup, is now one the league’s elite (11.1 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 14.8 ASG.) As has point guards like Russell Westbrook (22.6 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 7.9 ASG) and Philadelphia’s Jrue Holiday (14.5 PPG, 3.1 RPG, 6.8 ASG).
Afflalo’s peripheral stats look impressive but the 6’5’’ forward hasn’t shown a propensity for shooting the ball throughout both his professional and college career. While at UCLA he never shot above the 40% 3-point mark while also posting a pedestrian 77.7 FT%. Another caveat to his game has been the inability to rebound the ball coming in at just over three rebounds per contest. Afflalo’s 58% ownership comes as a surprise considering he’s been a workhorse in the Mile-High City but this may be a “sell high” opportunity for other owners looking to cash in on inflated stats and speculation of higher scoring outputs.
The learning curve for an NBA point guard has mystified general managers for years but those who have remained patient with their young floor leaders have reaped the benefits. Boston’s Rajon Rondo once considered the weakest link in the Celtic’s lineup, is now one the league’s elite (11.1 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 14.8 ASG.) As has point guards like Russell Westbrook (22.6 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 7.9 ASG) and Philadelphia’s Jrue Holiday (14.5 PPG, 3.1 RPG, 6.8 ASG).
Additionally, Memphis Grizzlies guard Mike Conley seems to have finally made the ascension into the category of top level distributors. The former Ohio State Buckeye was handed the reins at the age of 19 and now, at 23, Conley has finally grown into his role as floor general leading the team with a career best 7.7 ASG and a respectable 15 PPG.
Entering the weekend Conley ranked among the top 25 in fantasy players in large part due to his 1.9 assist/turnover ratio and an impressive 4.7 RBG. He also has the benefit of playing alongside Rudy Gay who seems to have picked this season as his career year (25.2 PPG, 7.2 RPG and the #1 fantasy rating) as well as contributions from O.J. Mayo, Zach Randolph, and Marc Gasol.
Entering the weekend Conley ranked among the top 25 in fantasy players in large part due to his 1.9 assist/turnover ratio and an impressive 4.7 RBG. He also has the benefit of playing alongside Rudy Gay who seems to have picked this season as his career year (25.2 PPG, 7.2 RPG and the #1 fantasy rating) as well as contributions from O.J. Mayo, Zach Randolph, and Marc Gasol.
Conley seems to be getting more comfortable as the seasons wears on (fresh off a 5-year, $ 40MM extension) and his team seams to be have the talent and confidence to have sticking power in the star-studded western conference.
Written by Conor Gereg exclusively for www.thefantasyfix.com.
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Tags: The Fantasy Fix, Fantasy Sports Advice, Fantasy Basketball, NBA, Memphis Grizzlies, Denver Nuggets, Golden State Warriors, Dorell Wright, Mike Conley, Arron Afflalo, 2010, Conor Gereg
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