The only things that are certain in life are death and taxes ... and that Kevin Durant is going to win the NBA Rookie of the Year this season.
As far as Fantasy owners are concerned, the first rookie off the board should be the lanky Seattle swingman. But you didn't really need us to tell you that, did you?
|
|
| Jeff Green could be a nice addition to your Fantasy squad. (Getty Images) |
In fact, the rookie will reportedly be asked to play the two this season, the position formerly held by Allen for the previous four seasons. He's a lengthy 6-9 and a small forward by nature, but is more than capable of handling the ball in the backcourt. He could have dual positional eligibility as soon as 10 games into the season.
His gangly physique and great wingspan will allow him to be one of the more aggressive two guards in the league and he should be able to mix it up with the shooting guards, small forwards and even power forwards of the league enough to put up decent rebounding numbers to go with his nice scoring totals. The fact that he'll spend time in the backcourt will also increase his potential for assists.
We have him projected to average just under 16 points, more than five boards, about three assists and a block per game -- and those are conservative estimates. How many guards, period, will be able to put up those kinds of numbers this season? Not many.
So Durant is a lock to be picked among the first 50 players selected in your Fantasy draft. Great. But what about the rest of the rookies in the 2007 class? Where will they go?
Here is how we rank the top-10 rookies coming into the season and where they should be going in Fantasy drafts:
 | 1. Kevin Durant, SF, Seattle SuperSonics No other rookie will be able to fill up the box score as consistently as Durant this season. In most Fantasy formats, he'll be worthy of using as a No. 2 or 3 forward all season, but his lofty expectations also make him hard to get at a reasonable price. |
| | 2. Jeff Green, SF, Seattle SuperSonics No, you aren't seeing double. The top two rookies in this year's draft class could be playing in the same starting five and are both used to playing at the three. But Green will fit well alongside Durant as an unselfish type who is just as likely to set up his teammates as he is to finish at the basket. He has an excellent outside shot for a big man and can score inside and out, giving the Sonics another option to move between the two and three spots. He's a rookie that could average double digits, something that's very hard to find. |
 | 3. Acie Law, PG, Atlanta Hawks He's a fundamentally sound floor general who knows the game inside and out. He can create his own shot, but will have to demonstrate that ability at the NBA level as a rookie. He'll have to become more of a passer as well. As a rookie, view him as a low-end Fantasy guard with some upside. Look to draft him in the later rounds after you've addressed your starting lineup. Law's upside could land him in your lineup very early in the season. He should have no problem earning the starting job. |
| | 4. Al Horford, PF/C, Atlanta Hawks The rookie from Florida is expected to compete for a starting job this season with Shelden Williams and center Zaza Pachulia. Expect Horford to start at some point because he has a solid overall game and can score, rebound and defend. He should be one of the better rookies this season. He's a great pick in keeper leagues and should be viewed as a good investment in larger seasonal formats. |
 | 5. Al Thornton, PF, Los Angeles Clippers Thornton was drafted out of Florida State this year and could be a decent sleeper. With the injury to Elton Brand (Achilles' tendon, expected to miss the majority of the season), Thornton could see time at power forward and has the chance to play well. He was a scorer in college and might be counted on to do the same with the Clippers. He can be had at a very reasonable price around pick 150 in any draft. |
 | 6. Brandan Wright, SF/PF, Golden State Warriors He has an excellent wingspan and is a pure athlete, making him tough around the rim. He's also a very good shooter from mid-range. He fits Don Nelson's style perfectly because he is very good at running the floor. He's worth a late-round flier in drafts and is a solid addition in keeper formats. Look to take him as your fifth forward. |
 | 7. Yi Jianlian, SF, Milwaukee Bucks Despite being seven-feet tall, the Chinese import is expected to play most of his minutes at small forward. That may be a bit of an oxymoron, but he runs the floor like a small forward and has the ability to take his man off the dribble. He's more comfortable facing the hoop than he is with his back to it. After all the drama he caused by not signing with the Bucks until late August, he'd better produce in his rookie season. He has a chance at cracking double digits at some point during his rookie season, but he'll need to adjust. He's having a tough go of it in the preseason and doesn't seem completely ready. |
 | 8. Mike Conley Jr., PG, Memphis Grizzlies He chose to leave Ohio State early because he believed he was ready for the NBA and the Grizzlies seem to agree. He'll get a chance for heavy minutes as a rookie and should crack the starting lineup right out of camp. He's quick with excellent penetrating ability and should fare well, getting better as the season goes along. Consider him a low-end Fantasy guard with some nice upside. He should go between picks 150-200. |
 | 9. Corey Brewer, SF, Minnesota Timberwolves Think Tayshaun Prince. He has excellent length and foot speed, making him a great defender, but he may be a better offensive player in the long run. For now, he'll have to find his niche at the NBA level as a defender. |
 | 10. Luis Scola, PF, Houston Rockets The Argentine power forward has flirted with the NBA in the past, but wisely chose to evolve as a player elsewhere before coming back when he felt he was ready. He averaged 14.7 points and 4.7 rebounds playing with Spanish team Tau Ceramica last season. With the Rockets, he'll battle Chuck Hayes for minutes and seems to be winning that battle in the preseason. There is real sleeper potential here. |
You can e-mail your Fantasy Basketball questions to us by clicking here . Please include your full name, hometown and state. Due to the large volume of submissions, we do not guarantee personal responses.
