2012-13 Draft Prep: Positional tiers

by Adam Moore | Fantasy Writer

Oct. 19, 2012 11:31 AM ET

With Draft season here, most Fantasy owners are doing their last-second preparations to be as ready as possible when the big day rolls around. And in the spirit of assembling the most potent team in your league, we at CBSSports.com have once again put together our annual tiers -- designed to help owners make the best selections possible. In this piece we have broken down each position into different tiers owners can use as a reference to see who is still available and who will add the most value to their squad. You must do your homework, but breaking down players into tiers should give you a leg up on the competition when drafting.

Best of luck to all playing Fantasy hoops this season and we hope to see you in the playoffs.

Guards

Chris Paul, Deron Williams and Russell Westbrook look to be the best guards available on Draft Day in most formats, albeit Kobe Bryant, Kyrie Irving, Ty Lawson, Rajon Rondo and Monta Ellis are right on their heels. However, there are still around 20 guards capable of producing at an extremely high level, including Derrick Rose and Ricky Rubio, who are both recovering from knee injuries. There is also a ton of sleeper and breakout potential in the lower tiers of the position, so owners could catch lightning in a bottle in the later rounds. Still, we recommend trying to grab at least one of the elite to high-end options in the early part of your draft.

A category to themselves: Chris Paul, Deron Williams, Russell Westbrook

Elite: Kobe Bryant, Kyrie Irving

Next best thing: Ty Lawson, Rajon Rondo, Steve Nash, Monta Ellis

High-end starters: John Wall, Kemba Walker, Mike Conley, Dwyane Wade, James Harden, Goran Dragic, Jrue Holiday, Joe Johnson, Stephen Curry, Kyle Lowry, Jeremy Lin, Jeff Teague, Eric Gordon, Derrick Rose, Klay Thompson, Ricky Rubio, Brandon Jennings, Tony Parker

Reliable starters: Darren Collison, Lou Williams, Tyreke Evans, Raymond Felton, Brandon Knight, Damian Lillard, Evan Turner, Paul George, Marcus Thornton, Manu Ginobili, DeMar DeRozan, Mo Williams, O.J. Mayo, Kevin Martin, Isaiah Thomas

Low-end starters: Jameer Nelson, Arron Afflalo, Luke Ridnour, Andre Miller, Ramon Sessions, Kirk Hinrich, Bradley Beal, Gerald Henderson, Wesley Matthews, Jamal Crawford, Nick Young, Jerryd Bayless, Devin Harris, D.J. Augustin, Jose Calderon, George Hill, Jarrett Jack, Jason Terry, Rodney Stuckey

Quality Reserves: Jose Juan Barea, Jason Richardson, J.R. Smith, Alonzo Gee, MarShon Brooks, Jordan Crawford, Jared Dudley, Landry Fields, Jason Kidd, Gerald Green, Eric Bledsoe, Courtney Lee, Mike Dunleavy, Austin Rivers, Ray Allen, Ben Gordon, Stephen Jackson, Chauncey Billups, Aaron Brooks

Reserves: Mario Chalmers, Alexey Shved, Jodie Meeks, Tony Allen, Iman Shumpert, J.J. Redick, Dion Waiters, Randy Foye

Low-end reserves: Marquis Teague, Shannon Brown, Vince Carter, Ronnie Brewer, Jeremy Lamb, Steve Blake, Leandro Barbosa, Charles Jenkins, Jimmer Fredette, C.J. Watson, Delonte West, Terrence Williams, Will Barton, Shaun Livingston, Nate Robinson, Toney Douglas, Shelvin Mack, Willie Green

Forwards

LeBron James once again retained in crown as the top Fantasy producer last season but Kevin Durant and Kevin Love were right on his heels. However, Love's hand injury will force him to miss some time, which is the only reason why he is not grouped with James and Durant. Josh Smith, Carmelo Anthony and Blake Griffin appear to be closing the gap while LaMarcus Aldridge also took some major steps forward last season. Owners should plan on trying to snatch up a forward from the first three tiers of the position in the early going as there is a huge dropoff in production once you get past the reliable starters. Still, with plenty of sleepers and breakout options at the position it's still possible to scoop up some solid starting-level talent in the later rounds.

A category to themselves: LeBron James, Kevin Durant

Elite: Kevin Love, Josh Smith, LaMarcus Aldridge, Blake Griffin

Next best thing: Carmelo Anthony, Pau Gasol, Dirk Nowitzki, Greg Monroe, Andre Iguodala

High-end starters: Rudy Gay, David Lee, Paul Millsap, Paul Pierce, Chris Bosh, Carlos Boozer, Luol Deng, Amar'e Stoudemire, Tim Duncan

Reliable starters: Gerald Wallace, Kevin Garnett, Luis Scola, Danny Granger, Anthony Davis, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Michael Beasley, Kenneth Faried, Ryan Anderson, David West, Zach Randolph, Kris Humphries, Nicolas Batum, Ersan Ilyasova, Serge Ibaka, Danilo Gallinari, J.J. Hickson

Low-end starters: Glen Davis, Thaddeus Young, Gordon Hayward, Elton Brand, Trevor Ariza, Andrei Kirilenko, Brandon Bass, Kawhi Leonard, Drew Gooden, Shawn Marion, Carlos Delfino, Boris Diaw. Omer Asik, Caron Butler, Al Harrington, Antawn Jamison

Quality Reserves: Chandler Parsons, Derrick Favors, Dorell Wright, Lamar Odom, Derrick Williams, Taj Gibson, Tayshaun Prince, Tristan Thompson, Bismack Biyombo, Marvin Williams, Amir Johnson, Hedo Turkoglu, Harrison Barnes, Metta World Peace, Jason Thompson

Reserves: Shane Battier, Corey Brewer, Wesley Johnson, Royce White, Brandon Rush, Jonas Jerebko, Ed Davis, Markieff Morris, Chase Budinger, Carl Landry, Trevor Booker, Tyler Hansbrough, James Johnson, Omri Casspi, Ekpe Udoh, Corey Maggette, Jordan Hill

Low-end reserves: Grant Hill, Luc Richard Mbah a Moute, Andrew Nicholson, Jared Sullinger, Kevin Seraphin, Thomas Robinson, Chris Singleton, Marreese Speights, Al-Farouq Aminu, Donatas Motiejunas, Patrick Patterson, Jan Vesely, Jae Crowder, Tyrus Thomas, Andre Drummond

Centers

While Dwight Howard has stood alone as the top option in the middle over the last few years, his move to Los Angeles seems to have shifted the balance of power a bit. The fact that Love is eligible at center gives him a slight edge over Howard and fast-riser Andrew Bynum, who were the two top-scoring options at their position last year, in terms of Fantasy points. However, because Love is expected to miss 6-8 weeks with an injury, Howard and Bynum earned their own category. Despite his setback, Love should still be considered an elite option at center along with DeMarcus Cousins and Aldridge. While center is still by far the shallowest position in Fantasy -- in terms of depth -- the addition of a new wave of young promising players has added some girth to the position. Still, with only a handful of proven elite and high-end talent available, owners may want to put a big man on their radar in the early going or risk paying the price down the road.

A category to themselves: Dwight Howard, Andrew Bynum

Elite: DeMarcus Cousins, LaMarcus Aldridge, Kevin Love

Next best thing: Al Jefferson, Greg Monroe, Pau Gasol, Marc Gasol

High-end starters: David Lee, Al Horford, Roy Hibbert, Marcin Gortat, Kevin Garnett, Joakim Noah, Amar'e Stoudemire, Andrea Bargnani, Tyson Chandler, Andrew Bogut, Brook Lopez

Low-end starters: Anthony Davis, Nene, J.J. Hickson, Serge Ibaka, Nikola Pekovic, JaVale McGee, Chris Kaman, Emeka Okafor, DeAndre Jordan, Glen Davis, Samuel Dalembert, Anderson Varejao, Gustavo Ayon, Omer Asik

Reserves: Tristan Thompson, Bismack Biyombo, Byron Mullens, Derrick Favors, Nikola Vucevic, Jason Thompson, Tiago Splitter, Drew Gooden, Andre Drummond, Amir Johnson, Boris Diaw, Jonas Valanciunas, Spencer Hawes, DeJuan Blair, Ed Davis, Chuck Hayes, Marcus Camby, Tyler Zeller, Marcus Camby, Meyers Leonard

Low-end reserves: Donatas Motiejunas, Kevin Seraphin, Kendrick Perkins, Zaza Pachulia, Udonis Haslem, Enes Kanter, Matt Bonner, Ekpe Udoh, Timofey Mozgov, Greg Stiemsma, Jason Smith, Robin Lopez, Jordan Hill, Chris Wilcox, Dante Cunningham, Matt Bonner, Nick Collison, Ian Mahinmi

Leonard drops 18 in Game 1
Kawhi Leonard, SF, SA
6:01 PM

News: Spurs forward Kawhi Leonard (knee) returned to the starting lineup for Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals against the Grizzlies. Leonard logged 30 minutes as he scored 18 points on 7 of 10 shooting from the field, including 4 of 5 from beyond the arc. He also chipped in with two rebounds, two steals, one assist and a blocked shot in a 105-83 victory.

Analysis: Leonard's knee problems were a "mild cause of concern" for the Spurs heading into the conference finals. Leonard averaged 12.0 points, 6.0 rebounds and 1.7 steals per game on the season, while shooting 49.6 percent from the field. His role will only continue to grow, so Fantasy owners have to like Leonard's development patter. He will be a big-time breakout candidate heading into next season, worth a mid-round pick on Draft Day.

Chandler scores two in elimination game
Tyson Chandler, C, NY
5:23 PM

News: Knicks center Tyson Chandler worked his way around a back issue as he returned to action in Game 6 against the Pacers Saturday night. Chandler was held to just two points on 1 of 4 shooting. He also chipped in with six rebounds in a 106-99 defeat.

Analysis: Chandler will have the entire offseason to recover from his back issue. The 7-footer averaged 10.4 points and 10.7 rebounds over 66 games -- marking the second time he has averaged a double-double. He also shot 63.8 percent from the field, but only averaged 20.1 Fantasy points per week as injuries really hampered his production down the stretch. Fantasy owners should plan on scooping him up in the earlier rounds in draft formats next fall.

Hill returns to action
George Hill, PG, IND
5:18 PM

News: Pacers point guard George Hill, who missed Game 5 with a concussion, returned to the starting lineup Game 6 against the Knicks. Hill scored 12 points on 2 for 10 shooting. He grabbed five boards and dished out four assists in a 106-99 win.

Analysis: Hill seems to be healthy enough to play and will now earn a three days of rest before the Eastern Conference Finals. Hill posted career highs in points (14.2), assists (4.7), rebounds (3.7) and steals (1.1) during his first full year as a starter and finish as the 27th highest scoring guard, in terms of Fantasy points, in all standard formats. Fantasy owners should plan on targeting him in the middle rounds of most draft formats next fall.

Ainge has no answers for Garnett
Kevin Garnett, PF, BOS
5/17/2013

News: The Boston Globe reports that Celtics forward Kevin Garnett has two years left on his contract but is considering retirement. He turns 37 Sunday. “I don’t think I have the answers that Kevin will want,” Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge said. “So I’ve got to figure there’s a lot to do [before we talk], and I think there’s a lot of questions in Kevin’s mind, as there is every year, to determine whether he’s coming back.I’m not ready to answer everything that he will want to know.”

Analysis: Garnett had another productive year, averaging 14.8 points, 7.8 rebounds and 2.3 assists while shooting 49.6 percent from the field and 78.6 percent from the foul line. He will likely return if the Celtics keep Paul Pierce, but that's just speculation. Keep an eye on what happens with the Celtics, and if Garnett is back consider him a solid No. 2 Fantasy center worth a mid-round pick.

Pierce, Celtics could part ways
Paul Pierce, SF, BOS
5/17/2013

News: The Boston Globe reports the Celtics have to decide by June 30 whether to buy out Paul Pierce’s contract at $5 million. Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge said the sides have not had discussions, but an NBA source said Pierce’s family is already beginning to prepare for relocation from Boston, assuming the Celtics will execute the buyout or trade his expiring contract in the offseason.Pierce struggled mightily during the playoffs, and Ainge was asked whether the longtime Celtic was injured. “Paul’s always battling little things,” said Ainge. “I think Paul’s healthy, but he played so hard and carried such a heavy load. Paul had a terrific year this year, but in the playoffs, New York did a good job of taking away his strengths and taking advantage of some of our weaknesses. But I thought Paul had a terrific year.”

Analysis: This report makes it seems as though Pierce could be gone, but we'd be surprised if that happens. That said, the Celtics do need to start rebuilding at some point. Keep an eye on what happens with Pierce and where he ends up. He would remain a quality starting option in all leagues no matter where he plays, but we'd like him best if he returned to Boston.

Bulls hope Noah avoids surgery
Joakim Noah, C, CHI
5/17/2013

News: The Chicago Sun-Times reports that Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau said that the plantar fasciitis in center Joakim Noah’s right foot could require surgery, but that Noah would try rehabilitation first. “That hasn’t been determined,’’ Thibodeau said of Noah undergoing surgery. “Obviously, we’d like to avoid the surgery. He has responded a lot better. He has found something that has worked. "We want him to get completely healthy That will be the focus, getting him back to 100 percent. He needs some rest, as most of the guys do."

Analysis: We hope whatever Noah decides to do with his foot will get him back to being 100 percent for the start of next season. When healthy and active, Noah is an elite Fantasy center in the majority of leagues. He is worth drafting as early as Round 3 or 4 in most formats.

Redick likely leaving Bucks
J.J. Redick, SG, MIL
5/17/2013

News: The Racine Journal-Times reports that Bucks guard J.J. Redick could be departing this summer. Redick loved Orlando, and was very upset when he was traded. It's not likely that he would return to the Magic, considering their rebuilding condition, but he'll finally be in a position to make his own choices for his career. Redick could want to sign with a contender for less money, or an up-and-coming team for more. Redick averaged 12 points and three assists on just 40 percent shooting in Milwaukee after averaging 15 points and four assists per game with Orlando before the trade deadline.

Analysis: Keep an eye on where Redick ends up, and hopefully he lands with a team where he can get playing time and post quality stats. He is worth drafting with a late-round pick in the majority of leagues depending on where he signs.

Jack open to Warriors return
Jarrett Jack, PG, GS
5/17/2013

News: The Contra Costa Times reports that guard Jarrett Jack would like to return to the Warriors next season. Golden State was eliminated from the playoffs by San Antonio in the Western Conference semifinals. “Usually before I would do any media, I would make sure I was dressed a certain way," he said. "I brought one of my best suits. But looking down at this jersey, it’s just a sense of pride I don’t think I’ve ever felt as a professional. … Nothing in my closet is better than what I have on now.” His future with the Warriors is uncertain. Jack, who made $5 million this season, will become an unrestricted free agent on July 1. He played a pivotal role in the Warriors’ success as the backup point guard and the late-game ball-handler. So much so, Golden State reached out for extension talks back in January, but Jack declined before talks could get going so he could focus on the season.

Analysis: Based on his performance with the Warriors, Jack is expected to get several opportunities and lots of money on the free agent market. Whether he takes the more lucrative offer elsewhere, or whether the Warriors make a competitive offer to keep him, that will all be figured out this summer. But Jack was never more clear about for whom he wants to play: Golden State. Keep an eye on where he ends up next season. He should remain a late-round flier no matter where he signs.

Thomas open to keep playing
Kurt Thomas, C, NY
5/17/2013

News: The New York Daily News reports that Kurt Thomas is undecided about whether to regain his title as the NBA’s oldest player next season. “Honestly, I haven’t thought much about it,” the former Knick said. “I’m just concentrating on getting healthy.” Thomas is recovering from right foot surgery and is two weeks from being off crutches. The 40-year-old is a free agent after the Knicks released him last month in order to add a player to the postseason roster. “I definitely miss being around the guys,” Thomas said over the telephone from his home in Dallas. “I miss being a part of the playoffs. And I just miss being around basketball. I love the game.”

Analysis: Keep an eye on what happens with Thomas heading into next season, but even if he plays somewhere he would have minimal Fantasy value. Ignore him in all leagues on Draft Day.

Robinson closes postseason strong
Nate Robinson, PG, CHI
5/16/2013

News: After being held scoreless in Game 4, Bulls guard Nate Robinson bounced back in Wednesday's elimination game against the Heat. Unfortunately, despite scoring 21 points on 6 of 15 shooting, Robinson's season came to a close in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference semifinals. Robinson added six rebounds and five rebounds, while turning the ball over four times in 47 minutes, in a 94-91 loss. He finished the postseason averaging 16.3 points per game in 12 contests.

Analysis: Robinson had his finest regular season since 2008-09, averaging 13.1 points and 4.4 assists in just 25.4 minutes per game. Robinson has clearly grown as a player, and he enters free agency at a good time. Coming off a successful year in the Bulls' elite defense will help his value on the market as well. Robinson is unlikely to get a starting role, but an increase in minutes would not be terribly surprising coming off his postseason successes. Robinson should be worth targeting in the mid-to-late rounds on Draft Day in most Fantasy formats.

More Updates

1	LaMarcus Aldridge, POR, PF
2	David Lee, GS, C
3	Al Horford, ATL, C
4	Dwight Howard, LAL, C
5	Marc Gasol, MEM, C
6	Al Jefferson, UTA, C
7	Greg Monroe, DET, C
8	DeMarcus Cousins, SAC, C
9	Joakim Noah, CHI, C
10	Nikola Vucevic, ORL, C
All Rankings

1	LeBron James, MIA, SF
2	Kevin Durant, OKC, SF
3	Kobe Bryant, LAL, SG
4	David Lee, GS, C
5	Blake Griffin, LAC, PF
6	Carmelo Anthony, NY, SF
7	LaMarcus Aldridge, POR, PF
8	Josh Smith, ATL, SF
9	Paul George, IND, SF
10	Greg Monroe, DET, C
All Rankings

1	Russell Westbrook, OKC, PG
2	Kobe Bryant, LAL, SG
3	James Harden, HOU, SG
4	Stephen Curry, GS, PG
5	Monta Ellis, MIL, PG
6	Jrue Holiday, PHI, PG
7	Chris Paul, LAC, PG
8	Deron Williams, BKN, PG
9	Damian Lillard, POR, PG
10	Kemba Walker, CHA, PG
All Rankings