By Vidur Malik

notjustagame23@gmail.com

Caron Butler – The most talked-about free agent acquisition for the Clippers has been Chris Paul, but Butler has been a solid scorer for his new team. He’s averaging 16.1 points per game and has scored 20 points in his past three games. In addition to his scoring, Butler also adds a few rebounds a game and can contribute some steals, so pick him up if he’s available and you’re looking for a starter or key contributor.

Klay Thompson – The Warriors rookie is a great shooter who can get hot, as he did in Golden State’s loss to Orlando on Thursday. He scored 14 points and went 4-of-5 from behind the arc during that game. He’s scored in double digits a total of three times this season, so he’s been erratic, but he doesn’t need many shots or minutes to score points. He’s not a well-rounded player yet, but he can give you two to three rebounds and assists per game in addition to his shooting.

Steve Blake – Blake does have some ugly three-point shooting nights (0-5 against Denver on Dec. 31 and 0-5 against Portland on Jan. 5) but when he’s feeling it, he can drain several threes a game. If you need a shooter, consider him.

Nicolas Batum – His name is a familiar one around NBA circles, but from a fantasy perspective, Batum’s value might not be appreciated as much as it should. He’s a solid role player, averaging 10.6 points and 4.5 rebounds this season. He hasn’t exceeded 15 points in a game so far this season, but he can get you double-digit points a game and a good amount of rebounds, so if you’re looking for an all-around guy and better known players like Lamar Odom and Gerald Wallace are already on teams, pick up Batum.

Vince Carter – Gone are the days when Carter’s claim to fame were his gravity-defying dunks. He’s been criticized for a lack of production the past few seasons, but he’s been a good role player for the Mavericks so far this season. He’s averaging 8.6 points a game, but he has gotten into double-digits several times and can sprinkle in a few assists and rebounds.

By Zack Cimini

　notjustagame23@gmail.com

Teams that are transitioning are going to shuffle their lineups frequently. Toronto’s been in that scenario for many years. In the past though, they had the reliability of Chris Bosh. The over haul of the franchise features new guards in Jerryd Bayless, Leandro Barbosa, Sonny Weems, and DeMar Derozan. A backcourt nucleus they’re trying to figure out along with veteran Jose Calderon.

It’s definitely a team that is going to be in the cellar of the eastern conference and NBA for many years. Give credit to Raptors fans though. They show tremendous support unlike what they do for the Blue Jays. If this team is going to make any kind of shift it’ll start in the interior. We profiled Ed Davis a few weeks ago, but there are a couple of other guys to follow.

Amir Johnson, owned by just 57% of Yahoo fantasy rotisserie owners needs to be picked up immediately. Toronto seems to be leaning more in more in Johnson’s direction. He gives the team energy inside and brings it on both ends. Earlier on in the year he was foul prone, but lately he has been able to stay in games. In the month of January he is averaging near twelve points and eight rebounds a game. Remember, Johnson came straight out of high school in 2005 and went late in the second round. So he is starting to blossom just at the right point you see most young athletes do in the NBA.

If Johnson or Davis goes down, the Raptors have another big man that is still a project in Alexis Ajinca. A first round pick out of France a few years ago, he just hasn’t panned out to the NBA style. Against Milwaukee, January 28^th, he did give the Raptors a solid twelve minutes. He is used sparingly though as he is too much of a liability currently on the court. A development player that is probably a year or two away from getting regular bench minutes.

By Zack Cimini

notjustagame23@gmail.com

First year head coach, Avery Johnson stepped in knowing he has a young and talented team. With an early pick they went ahead and drafted Derrick Favors. Most picks drafted that high step in right away and garner bulk minutes. Johnson hasn’t granted Favors high minutes and has put who he feels is deserved on any given night. Particularly he has sent do it all shooting guard Terrence Williams to the developmental league, after repeated tardy violations.

Probably his strangest move though is the way he has handled Troy Murphy. Murphy has said to be healthy for quite a while after starting the year banged up. Johnson has felt that Murphy isn’t ready and hasn’t provided much of an explanation other than that. With minutes to be offered up, the Nets have received more than what they’ve bargained for with power forward Kris Humphries. Humphries has been a monster for production grabbing a heavy amount of rebounds in short stints on the floor.

Thus far this season he is averaging around eight points and eight boards a game. Lately his rebounds have been rising to the double digit mark. New Jersey really doesn’t have too many big men that like to rebound. Center, Brook Lopez is comparable to Amare Stoudemire in the fact that he doesn’t grab as many rebounds as you would like. Dirty work is not something they teach at Stanford.

Troy Murphy has been getting a few minutes here and there this past week. Murphy has been a David Lee sorts in years past. Able to get double doubles on any given night and mix in the three ball as well. Big men that stay around the basket figures to be limited for New Jersey.

Scoop up Humphries as he’ll figure to still get around twenty to twenty five minutes a game this year. His versatility for a team lacking depth is too much for him to get buried on the bench.

By Zack Cimini

notjustagame23@gmail.com

The one and done philosophy is frowned upon by college coaches and NBA scouts. There are only a handful of athletes in college that should be taken advantage of this leap. That never is the case, and when the majority of Kentucky’s team all left as freshman it made waves. One name that was included in the whispered chants of should of stayed was Eric Bledsoe.

Bledsoe fell a bit and landed with the Los Angeles Clippers. A role that looked perfect for Bledsoe to sit back and learn from NBA veteran, Baron Davis. How quick a tune can change from normal patterns. Baron Davis has been hobbled early on in the season and can’t seem to shake a bum knee. The lingering affects of multiple surgeries and age have doubts on whether Davis will see much action at all. So at 19 years old, Eric Bledsoe has stepped onto the court and done a fabulous job on leading the Clippers.

They’re young as a whole, but Bledsoe has shined with starter’s minutes. He is currently averaging 10 points, four rebounds, and five assists a game. With the Clippers playing late at night most aren’t seeing his action. It’s shocking that he is still available in over half of Yahoo Fantasy NBA leagues. Especially since he has had an array of stat filling games in the month of November. Like most rookies you have to take a hit in a few columns with Bledsoe. The only major rotisserie league stat that he will hurt you in is with turnovers, and off nights field goal percentage wise.

His all around game though is worth seeking on the waiver wire. Obviously the Clippers will reduce his minutes somewhat if Baron Davis can prove he can step onto the court. Maneuvering to Bledsoe after his early season showcase will likely be a move sooner than anticipated. He is definitely one of the better blossoming surprises early on in the 2010 NBA season.