You know that feeling you get when something of yours is not where you last left it? Fantasy owners may experience something similar after each offseason with players changing position eligibility from year to year.
Well, we are here to help.
Each year, based upon the positions that players played in the previous season, we determine the positions they will be eligible at going into the current season. In other words, there is a method to this madness. We aren't just making players centers because they are really tall or letting players be eligible everywhere just because we can't peg them down.
Just like everything else in life, they have to earn their position.
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Without center eligibility, Amare Stoudemire definitely slips a little in Fantasy.
(Getty Images)
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Here is an example. This year, Suns big man
Amar'e Stoudemire will head into the season eligible only at forward in standard leagues that use centers, forwards and guards or power forward in leagues that use all five individual positions. Stoudemire has been center eligible in the past, but the presence of
Shaquille O'Neal in Phoenix for the last season and a half meant that Amar'e was moved back to his natural power forward role. He started at forward, according to the official numbers provided by the Elias Sports Bureau, in each of his 53 appearances last season. Zero games at center means that he gets zero eligibility at center heading into the season.
Makes sense, right?
Now, that is not to say that Amar'e will not be center eligible in CBSSports.com leagues this fall. In fact, Shaq's departure to Cleveland in the offseason makes it highly possible that the Suns will have to move Amar'e back to the five spot, and if he gets five starts at the position at any point during the season, he'll get the position back. Why? Because he earned it.
The criteria used to determine a player's eligibility is simple. Starters need to have played 10 games at a given position in the previous season to gain or keep a position. We use our own editorial analysis to determine positions for reserves based upon the positions they are used for by their given teams. While Elias does provide a number for the amount of games a player starts at either guard, forward or center, there is no official stat provided by the NBA for starts at individual positions. That means we also have to fill in the blanks for the individual positions and use our own judgment to determine positions when it comes to point or shooting guard, small or power forward.
During the season, it takes five games started at a given position for a player to gain eligibility in leagues that allow for multiple positions. Once again, we use our own editorial judgment to determine when to add eligibility for reserves.
You can track a player's starts at guard, forward or center at any point by checking out his situational stats on his player page. During the season, we also provide an eligibility tracker that helps you count down the game until your player is eligible at any position.
Here is a look at key players who had their position eligibility changed in the offseason:
Key Losses
Amar'e Stoudemire, Suns
Lost Position: Center
Analysis: As mentioned above, Stoudemire played all of his games last season at power forward, causing him to lose his very valuable center eligibility. He still enters the season as a No. 1 caliber forward, worthy of a pick late in Round 1 or early in Round 2 in any format, but his value would be much higher at center due to the scarcity of depth at the position. The possibility of regaining the position this year with Shaq gone, however, adds to his appeal. He could easily regain center (in leagues that allow multiple eligibility) two weeks into the season.
Troy Murphy, Pacers
Lost Position: Center
Analysis: Murphy finished among the top 20 forwards in terms of Fantasy points last season in standard leagues. But his eligibility at center made him a top-five center. However, he made just three starts at center out of 72 and that means he will enter the season eligible only at forward. He is not as likely to regain center eligibility as Stoudemire, but it's certainly a possibility he could get five starts over the course of the year. He will still be worthy of an early-round pick as a No. 1 forward in any format.
Paul Millsap, Jazz
Lost Position: Center
Analysis: Millsap is dealing with other issues this offseason that could have a big impact on his Fantasy value, like the situation with Carlos Boozer. However, losing center eligibility will put a big damper on what could be a huge year from him. He played almost exclusively at the four last season while replacing an injured Boozer for much of the year and if Boozer leaves this year, he'd be the team's starting power forward. If Boozer stays, however, Millsap could return to playing a reserve role off the bench behind both Boozer and Mehmet Okur, making it possible he could regain center eligibility. It is a Catch-22. If he starts, his numbers would be in line for a huge boost and his chances of gaining center eligibility are slim to none. If he is a reserve, he gets a better chance of regaining center but his chances of a huge breakout season would be capped.
Emeka Okafor, Hornets
Lost Position: Forward
Analysis: Losing forward eligibility is not quite as painful as losing center eligibility in Fantasy hoops, but it certainly can take away from Okafor's overall appeal. In New Orleans, he will be replacing Tyson Chandler at the five and is unlikely to become a dual-eligible big man, but his numbers should translate into being a low-end No. 1 center in any league -- especially playing alongside Chris Paul.
Danny Granger, Pacers
Lost Position: Guard
Analysis: Granger moved into a full-time forward role last season, abandoning his part-time duties at shooting guard. Considering Granger has moved into elite first-round status in Fantasy hoops leagues, the added flexibility would have made him that much better. We don't see his lack of guard eligibility hurting his Fantasy stock much, though.
Ronnie Brewer, Jazz
Lost Position: Forward
Analysis: Brewer just missed the cut at forward last season, making just seven of his 79 starts at forward. His dual-eligibility in leagues that allowed for multiple positions made him a very useful wild card in Fantasy leagues last season, during which he averaged a 13-3-2 line with nearly two steals per game. He will still be a very worthy reserve in Fantasy leagues -- to be used based upon matchups -- but he is not going to have the added flexibility unless he makes five starts at forward at some point during the season if something were to happen to Andrei Kirilenko or C.J. Miles.
Key Additions
David Lee, Knicks
Gained Position: Center
Analysis: Part of Lee's huge appeal last season came as a result of his gaining center eligibility midway into the season. But the biggest factor in his breakout Fantasy year was that he was playing in Mike D'Antoni's offensive system, so Fantasy owners should be much more concerned with him possibly leaving the Knicks than the fact he'll enter the season with center eligibility (in leagues that allow for multiple eligibility). It won't be quite as useful if he's eligible at center and returns to his pre-D'Antoni numbers. That is not to say those numbers (around 10 points and 10 rebounds with just over an assist per game) were bad, but they wouldn't be nearly as dominant as the numbers he put up last year (16 points and just under 12 boards with two assists).
Kevin Durant, Thunder
Gained Position: Forward
Analysis: Durant started 59 of 74 games at forward last season after making most of his starts at guard as a rookie. The important thing here was that Durant still made 14 starts at guard and while his primary position changed, he will be keeping his dual eligibility in leagues that allow for multiple positions. Durant and Granger, mentioned above, are in the same ballpark in drafts this season and this little tidbit could be the difference in who should be selected first.
Ron Artest, Rockets
Gained Position: Guard
Analysis: The one good thing about Tracy McGrady's injury last season was that it forced the Rockets to use Artest at guard for 34 games. He likely will not be playing any guard for the Lakers this season and his primary eligibility will still be at forward, but he will bring along his eligibility there for a season. That adds to his overall appeal in leagues that allow for multiple positions.
Richard Hamilton, Pistons
Gained Position: Forward
Analysis: Sure, Rip Hamilton may be dealing with the presence of Ben Gordon this season and that could wind up cutting into his overall touches, but the 13 games he started at small forward last season will add to his roster flexibility this season in multiple-eligibility leagues.
Caron Butler, Wizards
Gained Position: Guard
Analysis: Butler started exactly as many games at forward, 33, as he did at guard last season with the Wizards due to the team's struggles to make up for the loss of Gilbert Arenas. The team will now have Arenas and Mike Miller in the back court and while Butler will go back to his familiar forward role, he will carry with him some added eligibility to help add to his already excellent Fantasy value.
Stephen Jackson, Warriors
Gained Position: Guard
Analysis: Talk about flexibility, Jackson will enter the season as a triple-eligible player in leagues that use individual positions and allow for multiple eligibility. Don Nelson used him all over the place last season and he will enter the year eligible at both forward positions and shooting guard. He had made all 73 of his starts in 2007-08 at forward. He too is dealing with some uncertainty this offseason as reports have surfaced that he would like out of Golden State, but his ability to contribute well-rounded Rotisserie stat lines on top of his roster flexibility will make him a great target in the early rounds in just about any format.
Wilson Chandler, Knicks
Gained Position: Guard
Analysis: Above, we mentioned that Ronnie Brewer lost his forward eligibility going into the season, cutting into his appeal as a reserve option in Fantasy leagues. Well, enter Wilson Chandler, who had a semi-breakout year in New York under Mike D'Antoni last season, averaging 14.4 points, 5.4 rebounds and 2.1 assists with over a three per game and just under a block per contest. By starting 15 games at guard last season, he will enter the year carrying around extra flexibility and will be a very wise target in the middle rounds to add depth at either forward or guard in multiple-eligibility leagues.
Kevin Love, Timberwolves
Gained Position: Center
Analysis: Love seemed destined to be a career power forward in Fantasy when he was drafted by the Timberwolves, who boast one of the best centers in the NBA in Al Jefferson. But Jefferson's knee injury last season forced the T'Wolves to move the rookie over to center for 19 games last year. Keeper league owners should realize that the return of Jefferson this season likely means he will lose his center eligibility moving forward, but at least one year of eligibility at the position should make him all the more appealing. His numbers (11.1 points and 9.1 rebounds) from a year ago were worthy of use at either forward or center, but his appeal is much higher at the weaker position.
Jermaine O'Neal, Heat
Gained Position: Center
Analysis: Adding center eligibility by becoming Miami's starting center may have been the only thing that could save O'Neal's dwindling Fantasy appeal at this stage in his career. He is no longer the star, go-to option he was in Indiana and his numbers have tailed off over the last two seasons, but they translate well to center where he can be thought of as a decent No. 2 option.
