Draft Strategy - Part I

With this edition of Fantasy Basketball help, we will be discussing the league's newcomers. Usually you want to stay further away from most rookies on draft day than Josh Howard does camera phones. However, if you can nit-pick through the busts and developers, you can pull some real sleepers out of there. If you are a regular with fantasy basketball, you know that sleepers can definitely win leagues for you. That's what I will help you do for this upcoming season of fantasy basketball. During summer league and preseason, almost all rookies are entitled to break-out games and hot streaks. However, not being fooled by those will help in your pursuit of fantasy dominance. So, I've put together a list of rookies you should consider drafting late in drafts, and some rookies that you you should probably stay away from. However, rookies are unproven and don't play much in the NBA, and you should in most cases not draft rookies in the first 3-4 rounds unless noted. #8: Joey Dorsey: Dorsey may be worth a chance in the last round of your draft. Among Ming, Scola, Landry, and Hayes he will have to battle for his playing time. However, his rebounding ability along with aggressiveness in the paint can get him some PT. If Dorsey does happen to see some consistent minutes in Houston, they will be focused on rebounding. Think of him as a Tyson Chandler mini-me. He can help you out with rebounding and can get you a couple assisted points here and there. For your last draft pick, you may want to assess the board and give Dorsey consideration. #7: Derrick Rose: You may be wondering why Derrick Rose isn't lower on this list. The reason can be found with his position. Point Guards generally take a while to learn their team and be effective with their teams. Rose is no exception. He is definitely worth looking at late in your draft though. Rose will not be the assist leader on your team but he can get you some utility points. The Bulls seem set to put Rose in a position where he will see consistent minutes and many chances to prove that he could compete with Hinrich for the starting position. Don't get your hopes up though. Be happy if rose gets you 6-8 points with 3 assists per game. No wait, very happy. #6: Robin Lopez: Lopez will be a utility player for the Suns. His minutes are very questionable as a rookie though. On one side, with Shaquille O'Neal not likely to play many minutes, he could see some PT at the PF and/C position. But on the other hand, there are many players that are likely ahead of Lopez. Robin Lopez is a risk due to playing time, he is worth watching in the free agency list, but probably not for draft purposes. #5: Rudy Fernandez: Rudy Fernandez has experience will pro basketball and it will show. Fernandez will not start, however he will see consistent minutes as a shooter. Fernandez, through preseason has also proved that he will rack up assist as well. #4: Joe Alexander: Joe Alexander has the potential of being a sleeper for a late pick. On a team that doesn't have great depth, Alexander will see minutes worth fantasy consideration. He looked pretty solid for a rookie in preseason action and could be put into a role in his rookie season with Milwaukee. Again, a last round chance of a pick.