The NBA offseason was crammed with storylines. There was the NBA Draft, coaching changes, free agent movement, trades and even the Olympics this summer. Now, with the fall upon us, it's back to business for NBA teams, and that means it's time to start taking a hard look at the 2008-09 Fantasy hoops season.
We ran our first of several mock drafts, featuring 10 of CBSSports.com's finest to give Fantasy owners their first look at where players will be going in Fantasy drafts this October. Give it a look to see the players whose stock has risen or fallen as well as get an idea about some sleepers to go after and some potential busts to avoid. Below the draft results, find some commentary from the participants of this draft on some key points that figure to be hot-button topics in your draft.
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The reason we do these drafts is to help you, the Fantasy owner, so shoot us an e-mail at dmfantasybasketball@cbs.com and put "Mock Draft" in the subject line. Tell us what you thought about the picks and things you may want to see in future mock drafts.
The participants:
Jamey Eisenberg, Senior Fantasy Writer
Scott White, Fantasy Writer
Sergio Gonzalez, Fantasy Writer
Michael Hurcomb, Fantasy Writer
Jeff Lippman, Fantasy Writer
Corey Guerrera, Fantasy Product Manager
Peter Madden, Managing Editor, Fantasy Sports
Eric Mack, Senior Fantasy Writer
Ross Devonport, Senior Fantasy Writer
Fazal Imam, Product Coordinator
The roster requirements:
4 guards, 4 forwards, 2 centers, 4 reserves
The scoring system:
Assists: 2 pts.
Blocks: 1 pt.
Points: 1 pt.
Steals: 1 pt.
Turnovers: -1 pt.
Total Rebounds: 1
| Draft Results | |||
| Round 1 | |||
| 1 | Jamey Eisenberg | LeBron James (F CLE) | |
| 2 | Scott White | Chris Paul (G NO) | |
| 3 | Sergio Gonzalez | Kobe Bryant (G LAL) | |
| 4 | Michael Hurcomb | Deron Williams (G UTA) | |
| 5 | Jeff Lippman | Dwight Howard (C ORL) | |
| 6 | Corey Guerrera | Dwyane Wade (G MIA) | |
| 7 | Peter Madden | Amare Stoudemire (C PHO) | |
| 8 | Eric Mack | Dirk Nowitzki (F DAL) | |
| 9 | Ross Devonport | Steve Nash (G PHO) | |
| 10 | Fazal Imam | Baron Davis (G LAC) | |
| Round 2 | |||
| 11 | Fazal Imam | Joe Johnson (G ATL) | |
| 12 | Ross Devonport | Yao Ming (C HOU) | |
| 13 | Eric Mack | Carmelo Anthony (F DEN) | |
| 14 | Peter Madden | Brandon Roy (G POR) | |
| 15 | Corey Guerrera | Kevin Garnett (F BOS) | |
| 16 | Jeff Lippman | Allen Iverson (G DEN) | |
| 17 | Michael Hurcomb | Al Jefferson (C MIN) | |
| 18 | Sergio Gonzalez | Carlos Boozer (F UTA) | |
| 19 | Scott White | Andre Iguodala (F PHI) | |
| 20 | Jamey Eisenberg | Kevin Durant (G OKC) | |
| Round 3 | |||
| 21 | Jamey Eisenberg | Greg Oden (C POR) | |
| 22 | Scott White | Antawn Jamison (F WAS) | |
| 23 | Sergio Gonzalez | Elton Brand (F PHI) | |
| 24 | Michael Hurcomb | Jason Richardson (G CHA) | |
| 25 | Jeff Lippman | Tim Duncan (F SA) | |
| 26 | Corey Guerrera | Chris Bosh (F TOR) | |
| 27 | Peter Madden | Josh Smith (F ATL) | |
| 28 | Eric Mack | Paul Pierce (F BOS) | |
| 29 | Ross Devonport | Caron Butler (F WAS) | |
| 30 | Fazal Imam | David West (F NO) | |
| Round 4 | |||
| 31 | Fazal Imam | Pau Gasol (C LAL) | |
| 32 | Ross Devonport | Michael Redd (G MIL) | |
| 33 | Eric Mack | Andre Miller (G PHI) | |
| 34 | Peter Madden | Josh Howard (F DAL) | |
| 35 | Corey Guerrera | Rudy Gay (F MEM) | |
| 36 | Jeff Lippman | Shawn Marion (F MIA) | |
| 37 | Michael Hurcomb | Andrew Bogut (C MIL) | |
| 38 | Sergio Gonzalez | Danny Granger (F IND) | |
| 39 | Scott White | Vince Carter (G NJ) | |
| 40 | Jamey Eisenberg | Mehmet Okur (C UTA) | |
| Round 5 | |||
| 41 | Jamey Eisenberg | Kevin Martin (G SAC) | |
| 42 | Scott White | Tony Parker (G SA) | |
| 43 | Sergio Gonzalez | Jason Kidd (G DAL) | |
| 44 | Michael Hurcomb | Emeka Okafor (F CHA) | |
| 45 | Jeff Lippman | Tracy McGrady (G HOU) | |
| 46 | Corey Guerrera | Jose Calderon (G TOR) | |
| 47 | Peter Madden | Stephen Jackson (F GS) | |
| 48 | Eric Mack | Marcus Camby (C LAC) | |
| 49 | Ross Devonport | Hedo Turkoglu (F ORL) | |
| 50 | Fazal Imam | Chauncey Billups (G DET) | |
| Round 6 | |||
| 51 | Fazal Imam | Al Horford (C ATL) | |
| 52 | Ross Devonport | Jamal Crawford (G NY) | |
| 53 | Eric Mack | LaMarcus Aldridge (F POR) | |
| 54 | Peter Madden | Rajon Rondo (G BOS) | |
| 55 | Corey Guerrera | Andrew Bynum (C LAL) | |
| 56 | Jeff Lippman | Jermaine O'Neal (F TOR) | |
| 57 | Michael Hurcomb | Zach Randolph (F NY) | |
| 58 | Sergio Gonzalez | Tyson Chandler (C NO) | |
| 59 | Scott White | Chris Kaman (C LAC) | |
| 60 | Jamey Eisenberg | Monta Ellis (G GS) | |
| Round 7 | |||
| 61 | Jamey Eisenberg | Corey Maggette (F GS) | |
| 62 | Scott White | Brad Miller (C SAC) | |
| 63 | Sergio Gonzalez | Richard Jefferson (F MIL) | |
| 64 | Michael Hurcomb | Michael Beasley (F MIA) | |
| 65 | Jeff Lippman | Randy Foye (G MIN) | |
| 66 | Corey Guerrera | Raymond Felton (G CHA) | |
| 67 | Peter Madden | Luol Deng (F CHI) | |
| 68 | Eric Mack | Mike Dunleavy (F IND) | |
| 69 | Ross Devonport | Mike Bibby (G ATL) | |
| 70 | Fazal Imam | Rashard Lewis (F ORL) | |
| Round 8 | |||
| 71 | Fazal Imam | Gerald Wallace (F CHA) | |
| 72 | Ross Devonport | Ron Artest (F HOU) | |
| 73 | Eric Mack | Gilbert Arenas (G WAS) | |
| 74 | Peter Madden | Derrick Rose (G CHI) | |
| 75 | Corey Guerrera | Manu Ginobili (G SA) | |
| 76 | Jeff Lippman | Samuel Dalembert (C PHI) | |
| 77 | Michael Hurcomb | Mo Williams (G CLE) | |
| 78 | Sergio Gonzalez | Zydrunas Ilgauskas (C CLE) | |
| 79 | Scott White | Andris Biedrins (C GS) | |
| 80 | Jamey Eisenberg | Al Thornton (F LAC) | |
| Round 9 | |||
| 81 | Jamey Eisenberg | Mike Miller (G MIN) | |
| 82 | Scott White | Devin Harris (G NJ) | |
| 83 | Sergio Gonzalez | Ray Allen (G BOS) | |
| 84 | Michael Hurcomb | T.J. Ford (G IND) | |
| 85 | Jeff Lippman | Kirk Hinrich (G CHI) | |
| 86 | Corey Guerrera | Lamar Odom (F LAL) | |
| 87 | Peter Madden | Ben Gordon (G CHI) | |
| 88 | Eric Mack | Richard Hamilton (G DET) | |
| 89 | Ross Devonport | Rasheed Wallace (C DET) | |
| 90 | Fazal Imam | Leandro Barbosa (G PHO) | |
| Round 10 | |||
| 91 | Fazal Imam | Jeff Green (F OKC) | |
| 92 | Ross Devonport | Peja Stojakovic (F NO) | |
| 93 | Eric Mack | Shaquille O'Neal (C PHO) | |
| 94 | Peter Madden | O.J. Mayo (G MEM) | |
| 95 | Corey Guerrera | Troy Murphy (F IND) | |
| 96 | Jeff Lippman | Tayshaun Prince (F DET) | |
| 97 | Michael Hurcomb | Andrei Kirilenko (F UTA) | |
| 98 | Sergio Gonzalez | Mike Conley (G MEM) | |
| 99 | Scott White | John Salmons (G SAC) | |
| 100 | Jamey Eisenberg | Rafer Alston (G HOU) | |
| Round 11 | |||
| 101 | Jamey Eisenberg | Kenyon Martin (F DEN) | |
| 102 | Scott White | Beno Udrih (G SAC) | |
| 103 | Sergio Gonzalez | Marvin Williams (F ATL) | |
| 104 | Michael Hurcomb | Jamaal Tinsley (G IND) | |
| 105 | Jeff Lippman | Hakim Warrick (F MEM) | |
| 106 | Corey Guerrera | Ricky Davis (F LAC) | |
| 107 | Peter Madden | Andrea Bargnani (C TOR) | |
| 108 | Eric Mack | Jason Terry (G DAL) | |
| 109 | Ross Devonport | Danilo Gallinari (F NY) | |
| 110 | Fazal Imam | Yi Jianlian (F NJ) | |
| Round 12 | |||
| 111 | Fazal Imam | Rashad McCants (G MIN) | |
| 112 | Ross Devonport | Earl Watson (G OKC) | |
| 113 | Eric Mack | Eddy Curry (C NY) | |
| 114 | Peter Madden | Thaddeus Young (F PHI) | |
| 115 | Corey Guerrera | Nick Collison (F OKC) | |
| 116 | Jeff Lippman | Rudy Fernandez (G POR) | |
| 117 | Michael Hurcomb | Luis Scola (F HOU) | |
| 118 | Sergio Gonzalez | Francisco Garcia (F SAC) | |
| 119 | Scott White | Al Harrington (F GS) | |
| 120 | Jamey Eisenberg | David Lee (F NY) | |
| Round 13 | |||
| 121 | Jamey Eisenberg | Jameer Nelson (G ORL) | |
| 122 | Scott White | Joakim Noah (C CHI) | |
| 123 | Sergio Gonzalez | Lou Williams (G PHI) | |
| 124 | Michael Hurcomb | Chris Wilcox (F OKC) | |
| 125 | Jeff Lippman | Brendan Haywood (C WAS) | |
| 126 | Corey Guerrera | Kendrick Perkins (C BOS) | |
| 127 | Peter Madden | Delonte West (G CLE) | |
| 128 | Eric Mack | Kyle Lowry (G MEM) | |
| 129 | Ross Devonport | Marc Gasol (C MEM) | |
| 130 | Fazal Imam | Jason Maxiell (F DET) | |
| Round 14 | |||
| 131 | Fazal Imam | Udonis Haslem (F MIA) | |
| 132 | Ross Devonport | Paul Millsap (F UTA) | |
| 133 | Eric Mack | Drew Gooden (F CHI) | |
| 134 | Peter Madden | Charlie Villanueva (F MIL) | |
| 135 | Corey Guerrera | Stephon Marbury (G NY) | |
| 136 | Jeff Lippman | Sun Yue (G LAL) | |
| 137 | Michael Hurcomb | DeShawn Stevenson (G WAS) | |
| 138 | Sergio Gonzalez | Travis Outlaw (F POR) | |
| 139 | Scott White | Jamario Moon (F TOR) | |
| 140 | Jamey Eisenberg | Antonio Daniels (G WAS) | |
| Draft Results | ||
| Jamey Eisenberg | ||
| 20 | G | Kevin Durant (OKC) |
| 41 | G | Kevin Martin (SAC) |
| 60 | G | Monta Ellis (GS) |
| 81 | G | Mike Miller (MIN) |
| 100 | G | Rafer Alston (HOU) |
| 121 | G | Jameer Nelson (ORL) |
| 140 | G | Antonio Daniels (WAS) |
| 1 | F | LeBron James (CLE) |
| 61 | F | Corey Maggette (GS) |
| 80 | F | Al Thornton (LAC) |
| 101 | F | Kenyon Martin (DEN) |
| 120 | F | David Lee (NY) |
| 21 | C | Greg Oden (POR) |
| 40 | C | Mehmet Okur (UTA) |
| Scott White | ||
| 2 | G | Chris Paul (NO) |
| 39 | G | Vince Carter (NJ) |
| 42 | G | Tony Parker (SA) |
| 82 | G | Devin Harris (NJ) |
| 99 | G | John Salmons (SAC) |
| 102 | G | Beno Udrih (SAC) |
| 19 | F | Andre Iguodala (PHI) |
| 22 | F | Antawn Jamison (WAS) |
| 119 | F | Al Harrington (GS) |
| 139 | F | Jamario Moon (TOR) |
| 59 | C | Chris Kaman (LAC) |
| 62 | C | Brad Miller (SAC) |
| 79 | C | Andris Biedrins (GS) |
| 122 | C | Joakim Noah (CHI) |
| Sergio Gonzalez | ||
| 3 | G | Kobe Bryant (LAL) |
| 43 | G | Jason Kidd (DAL) |
| 83 | G | Ray Allen (BOS) |
| 98 | G | Mike Conley (MEM) |
| 123 | G | Lou Williams (PHI) |
| 18 | F | Carlos Boozer (UTA) |
| 23 | F | Elton Brand (PHI) |
| 38 | F | Danny Granger (IND) |
| 63 | F | Richard Jefferson (MIL) |
| 103 | F | Marvin Williams (ATL) |
| 118 | F | Francisco Garcia (SAC) |
| 138 | F | Travis Outlaw (POR) |
| 58 | C | Tyson Chandler (NO) |
| 78 | C | Zydrunas Ilgauskas (CLE) |
| Michael Hurcomb | ||
| 4 | G | Deron Williams (UTA) |
| 24 | G | Jason Richardson (CHA) |
| 77 | G | Mo Williams (CLE) |
| 84 | G | T.J. Ford (IND) |
| 104 | G | Jamaal Tinsley (IND) |
| 137 | G | DeShawn Stevenson (WAS) |
| 44 | F | Emeka Okafor (CHA) |
| 57 | F | Zach Randolph (NY) |
| 64 | F | Michael Beasley (MIA) |
| 97 | F | Andrei Kirilenko (UTA) |
| 117 | F | Luis Scola (HOU) |
| 124 | F | Chris Wilcox (OKC) |
| 17 | C | Al Jefferson (MIN) |
| 37 | C | Andrew Bogut (MIL) |
| Jeff Lippman | ||
| 16 | G | Allen Iverson (DEN) |
| 45 | G | Tracy McGrady (HOU) |
| 65 | G | Randy Foye (MIN) |
| 85 | G | Kirk Hinrich (CHI) |
| 116 | G | Rudy Fernandez (POR) |
| 136 | G | Sun Yue (LAL) |
| 25 | F | Tim Duncan (SA) |
| 36 | F | Shawn Marion (MIA) |
| 56 | F | Jermaine O'Neal (TOR) |
| 96 | F | Tayshaun Prince (DET) |
| 105 | F | Hakim Warrick (MEM) |
| 5 | C | Dwight Howard (ORL) |
| 76 | C | Samuel Dalembert (PHI) |
| 125 | C | Brendan Haywood (WAS) |
| Corey Guerrera | ||
| 6 | G | Dwyane Wade (MIA) |
| 46 | G | Jose Calderon (TOR) |
| 66 | G | Raymond Felton (CHA) |
| 75 | G | Manu Ginobili (SA) |
| 135 | G | Stephon Marbury (NY) |
| 15 | F | Kevin Garnett (BOS) |
| 26 | F | Chris Bosh (TOR) |
| 35 | F | Rudy Gay (MEM) |
| 86 | F | Lamar Odom (LAL) |
| 95 | F | Troy Murphy (IND) |
| 106 | F | Ricky Davis (LAC) |
| 115 | F | Nick Collison (OKC) |
| 55 | C | Andrew Bynum (LAL) |
| 126 | C | Kendrick Perkins (BOS) |
| Peter Madden | ||
| 14 | G | Brandon Roy (POR) |
| 54 | G | Rajon Rondo (BOS) |
| 74 | G | Derrick Rose (CHI) |
| 87 | G | Ben Gordon (CHI) |
| 94 | G | O.J. Mayo (MEM) |
| 127 | G | Delonte West (CLE) |
| 27 | F | Josh Smith (ATL) |
| 34 | F | Josh Howard (DAL) |
| 47 | F | Stephen Jackson (GS) |
| 67 | F | Luol Deng (CHI) |
| 114 | F | Thaddeus Young (PHI) |
| 134 | F | Charlie Villanueva (MIL) |
| 7 | C | Amare Stoudemire (PHO) |
| 107 | C | Andrea Bargnani (TOR) |
| Eric Mack | ||
| 33 | G | Andre Miller (PHI) |
| 73 | G | Gilbert Arenas (WAS) |
| 88 | G | Richard Hamilton (DET) |
| 108 | G | Jason Terry (DAL) |
| 128 | G | Kyle Lowry (MEM) |
| 8 | F | Dirk Nowitzki (DAL) |
| 13 | F | Carmelo Anthony (DEN) |
| 28 | F | Paul Pierce (BOS) |
| 53 | F | LaMarcus Aldridge (POR) |
| 68 | F | Mike Dunleavy (IND) |
| 133 | F | Drew Gooden (CHI) |
| 48 | C | Marcus Camby (LAC) |
| 93 | C | Shaquille O'Neal (PHO) |
| 113 | C | Eddy Curry (NY) |
| Ross Devonport | ||
| 9 | G | Steve Nash (PHO) |
| 32 | G | Michael Redd (MIL) |
| 52 | G | Jamal Crawford (NY) |
| 69 | G | Mike Bibby (ATL) |
| 112 | G | Earl Watson (OKC) |
| 29 | F | Caron Butler (WAS) |
| 49 | F | Hedo Turkoglu (ORL) |
| 72 | F | Ron Artest (HOU) |
| 92 | F | Peja Stojakovic (NO) |
| 109 | F | Danilo Gallinari (NY) |
| 132 | F | Paul Millsap (UTA) |
| 12 | C | Yao Ming (HOU) |
| 89 | C | Rasheed Wallace (DET) |
| 129 | C | Marc Gasol (MEM) |
| Fazal Imam | ||
| 10 | G | Baron Davis (LAC) |
| 11 | G | Joe Johnson (ATL) |
| 50 | G | Chauncey Billups (DET) |
| 90 | G | Leandro Barbosa (PHO) |
| 111 | G | Rashad McCants (MIN) |
| 30 | F | David West (NO) |
| 70 | F | Rashard Lewis (ORL) |
| 71 | F | Gerald Wallace (CHA) |
| 91 | F | Jeff Green (OKC) |
| 110 | F | Yi Jianlian (NJ) |
| 130 | F | Jason Maxiell (DET) |
| 131 | F | Udonis Haslem (MIA) |
| 31 | C | Pau Gasol (LAL) |
| 51 | C | Al Horford (ATL) |
Commentary
Eisenberg on selecting Kevin Durant/Greg Oden back-to-back in Rounds 2 and 3:
I wanted the two best players on the board with my picks in the second and third round, so I took the two best players from last year's draft. Kevin Durant is a dominant scorer and should be taken in the second round of all Fantasy leagues. And Greg Oden would have been a Top 5 Fantasy center last year, so this year he'll get that status. You want scorers on bad teams, which Durant is, and you want big men with talent around them, which Oden has. They are only scratching the surface of their immense talent, so expect both to have huge years this season.
Guerrera on selecting Rudy Gay over Shawn Marion in Round 4:
In the fourth round, I had to make a tough decision. I chose Rudy Gay over Shawn Marion for a few reasons. Gay is Memphis' unquestioned leader and go-to guy. He led the team last year in scoring, and I see no reason to think that won't continue. Marion will now be competing with a healthy Dwyane Wade and Michael Beasley, in whom the Heat invested the No. 2 overall pick. When it comes to Fantasy Basketball, I would much rather have a guy that is the focal point of his offense than a guy who makes his living off garbage buckets and fast break points. I expect Rudy Gay to make an even bigger leap into NBA stardom this year and won't regret passing on Marion.
White on his Tony Parker selection in Round 5:
You know when you draft and you make one of those picks that immediately makes your heart sink? For me, that was Tony Parker in the fifth round. It's not that he doesn't deserve to go then; he'll get his 18 points and five assists as usual. I just think comparable guards are common enough that I could've waited two or three rounds to grab one. Good grief, Parker's teammate, Manu Ginobili, didn't go until Round 8. I would have benefited more from taking a center, considering I watched Marcus Camby, Andrew Bynum and Tyson Chandler go off the board between Parker and my next pick, Chris Kaman.
Devonport on his Hedo Turkoglu selection in Round 5:
While Turkoglu might not average over 19 points like he did last season, I think he'll have a point to prove and I felt like he was decent value in the fifth round. Some people are worried Mickael Pietrus will steal some minutes from Turkoglu, but I think the wily Stan Van Gundy will find a way to get both of them on the court at the same time for the majority of games. Plus, Dwight Howard will only continue to develop, and that should mean even more open looks for all Magic contributors.
Mack on selecting Gilbert Arenas in Round 8 considering his knee surgery:
Gilbert Arenas was going to be a guy yours truly was going to avoid, but that became a little impossible in the eighth round -- especially after the forward spots were filled and the guard spot was left thin. You have to hate knee injuries in this game, but if he can prove healthy come 2009, he can be a catalyst for the Fantasy postseason. After making this pick, it is on me to finding some fast starters to keep the squad afloat for a month or two.
Hurcomb on his strategy concerning the center position:
There was a time in my life where I drafted Troy Murphy as my No. 1 Fantasy center in a two-center league and suffered throughout the season. I have vowed to never make that mistake again and make sure I get a legit No. 1 center early in drafts. It just happened to be in our latest mock draft that I stocked up on centers.
After nabbing Deron Williams in the first round, four of my next five picks were center-eligible players – Al Jefferson (second round), Andrew Bogut (four), Emeka Okafor (five) and Zach Randolph (six). The beauty of this strategy is that Jefferson, Okafor and Randolph also have forward eligibility. Therefore, if one of my centers goes down with an injury, I can always rotate another player into that position. It’s much easier to nab a forward off waivers than a center.
To top it all off, if I ever need to deal a center for guard help, I have plenty of other quality options to fill the void. It just goes to show how valuable Fantasy centers truly are.
Notable Undrafted Players:
Antonio McDyess, F, Pistons
Derek Fisher, G, Lakers
Ramon Sessions, G, Bucks
Andres Nocioni, F, Bulls
Larry Hughes, G, Bulls
Kevin Love, F/C, Timberwolves
Ben Wallace, C/F, Cavaliers
Do you have a draft prep question for our staff? You can e-mail us at DMFantasyBasketball@cbs.com. Be sure to put Attn: Draft Prep in the subject field. Please include your full name, hometown and state.
