Heading into the start of the NBA preseason, we offer a team-by-team look, including projected starting lineups and what to watch for in October as each team sets their rotations for the start of the regular season on Oct. 27.
Boston Celtics
Possible Starters: PG Rajon Rondo, SG Ray Allen, SF Paul Pierce, PF Kevin Garnett, C Kendrick Perkins
Preseason storylines: Is Kevin Garnett healthy? How will Rasheed Wallace fit in?
Fantasy Analysis: The Celtics return the same lineup from the previous two seasons and Fantasy owners know what to expect -- provided that everyone stays healthy this season. Garnett is coming off a serious knee injury that forced him to miss the final 33 games of the regular season last year. He had a good offseason in regards to his rehabilitation and the Celtics intend on having him play in most preseason games, indicating that he should be back to full strength. He'll be worth keeping an eye on in the preseason to see if he looks tentative or favors his knee at all. If all signs are go, he'll be worth a pick in the second round in any league. The Celtics did add some KG insurance in the offseason by bringing in veteran big man Rasheed Wallace. It will be interesting to see how the Celtics work him into the rotation, but we expect him to play plenty behind Garnett and Perkins, with the possibility that he could play a lot with the first-team unit. That will cut into Perkins' already unstable Fantasy appeal as a No. 2 center and makes him merely a reserve target in drafts. As for Wallace, we view him as a low-end No. 2 center option that we recommend targeting as a reserve.
New Jersey Nets
Possible Starters: PG Devin Harris, SG Courtney Lee, SF Terrence Williams, PF Yi Jianlian, C Brook Lopez.
Preseason storylines: Who will step up as a scorer?
Fantasy Analysis: The Nets do not figure to be a strong NBA contender this season and are likely headed for a Lottery pick in next summer's draft, but that does not mean Fantasy owners should ignore them. In fact, we consider the Nets a prime candidate to produce some sleepers. By trading away Vince Carter in the offseason, the Nets created a big void in the scoring department. There are around 20 points per game that will be up for grabs. We expect Harris and Lopez to absorb much of that scoring load, but there is still room for players like Lee, Yi and Rafer Alston to step up their scoring production. Looking to take a chance on a player with some statistical upside late in your draft? Think about players like Terrence Williams, who has a chance to step up at small forward if he can outplay Bobby Simmons and Jarvis Hayes. Chris Douglas-Roberts is a second-year player worth keeping an eye on as well this preseason.
New York Knicks
Possible Starters: PG Chris Duhon, SG Larry Hughes, SF Wilson Chandler, PF Al Harrington, C David Lee.
Preseason storylines: Will Danilo Gallinari be a factor? Can Eddy Curry sneak back on to Fantasy rosters?
Fantasy Analysis: The biggest moves the Knicks made this offseason were to keep their two top free agents in David Lee and Nate Robinson, signing each to one-year deals. The roster looks almost exactly the same as it did at the end of the regular season last April with a few exceptions. Gallinari and Curry were both healthy at the start of training camp -- an improvement over last season when both players were injured heading into camp. Neither player was a factor last season, but there is room for both players to contribute in Mike D'Antoni's very fruitful scheme and they provide some real sleeper potential. D'Antoni has called Gallinari one of the best shooters he has ever seen and last year's first-round pick for the Knicks could find himself playing an integral role as a sharp shooter for one of the higher scoring offenses in the league. Look to see if he can stand out in the preseason as he could become a double-digit scorer and a great source for three-point shooting at a relatively cheap value in drafts. As for Curry, he's a player to monitor despite bcoming one of the most undesirable players in Fantasy the last couple of seasons. The Knicks have a ton of money invested in him and would love to get some value out of him if they can. They may also look to make him a desirable trade target in order to rid themselves of his contract. The prospects of him ever being a factor again in the NBA appeared slim last season as he dealt with poor conditioning and off-the-court problems, but he reported to camp in very good shape and seems determined to prove he can still play in the NBA. Prior to last year's disastrous campaign, he had averaged at least 13 points and four rebounds in six straight seasons and he is just 26 years old. Keep an eye on him this preseason.
Philadelphia 76ers
Possible Starters: PG Lou Williams SG Andre Iguodala, SF Thaddeus Young, PF Elton Brand, C Samuel Dalembert.
Preseason storylines: New coaching staff, new offense, new point guard.Can Elton Brand bounce back?
Fantasy Analysis: The Sixers hired ex-Wizards coach Eddie Jordan in the offseason and he'll be bringing with him the Princeton-style offense he used so prominently in Washington. Jordan thinks that this all-inclusive style of play will allow his best players (Iguodala, Young, Brand) to flourish. The Princeton offense requires a lot of constant motion with a lot of back-door passes and that will require Samuel Dalembert to step up his offensive game. He could see an increase in assists this season as a result and perhaps even a mild boost in scoring to go with the rebounds and blocks that have made him useful in category-based play throughout his career. He could become a more well-rounded Fantasy center this season, though his upside is still that of a No. 2 option. He'll be worth keeping an eye on in the preseason. So too will Brand, who is coming off a very disappointing first year in Philadelphia. His season was cut short due to injuries, but even while he was healthy he never really fit into the team's offensive scheme. It could take a while for Brand to get his game legs back after playing just 37 games the past two years and that is something to keep an eye on in the preseason. If he shows any flashes of having a bounce-back year, he could be a real steal in the middle rounds as a player who could be drafted as a third (or even fourth) round in some cases with the potential to be a No. 1 or No. 2 option.
Toronto Raptors
Possible Starters: PG Jose Calderon, SG DeMar DeRozan, SF Hedo Turkoglu, PF Chris Bosh, C Andrea Bargnani
Preseason storylines: Fitting new pieces together. Who will start at shooting guard?
Fantasy Analysis: The Raptors will have several new pieces in place this season, but the primary focus will be on Bosh, Calderon and new addition Turkoglu. Bosh is entering the most important contract year of his career and will certainly be trying to make himself as valuable as possible heading into the much-heralded free agent summer of 2010. Turkoglu got his big contract this summer and Fantasy owners should pay close attention to how he fits in with Toronto after two very fruitful seasons in Orlando landed him his big deal. There is always the potential for a shift in production when a player switches teams, but we do expect Turkoglu to remain a very well-rounded stat hound who can contribute heavily in all the significant categories. The biggest question mark with him is whether or not he can maintain the 15-plus points per game scoring average he has managed over the last two seasons while competing for offensive touches with Bosh, Andrea Bargnani and fellow free agent addition Jarrett Jack. Jack is likely headed to a sixth man role as a hybrid guard who can play both behind Calderon and alongside him. He is a player we expect to remain a viable No. 3 or 4 guard this season despite playing a back up role. The shooting guard job is up for grabs entering the season and it will come down to who is most ready to take the job going into the season out of rookie DeMar DeRozan of USC or fifth-year veteran Antoine Wright. We like DeRozan's upside and if he can get out of the preseason with a starting job or even a significant reserve role, he can be a strong sleeper pick in the late rounds. DeRozan looked strong in the summer league, averaging 17.0 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game.
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