This is only a fantasy guide but it does say some interesting stuff about Franchise and KT http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/columns/20000707/nbafantasyreviewratingth.html NBA fantasy review: Rating the '99 rookies By Brian Doolittle - The Sporting News With the playoffs inching toward its theatrical pinnacle, we cannot resist the temptation to revisit this past season and the warm glow it provided us for -- thank goodness -- a full 82-game season. Plus, we want to prepare all NBA fantasy enthusiasts for the upcoming season. We're now under 125 days until tip-off 2000! It is rare to have more than a few rookies make a significant impact and this past NBA season was no different in that aspect. With this season's draft on the horizon, it is a good time to break down the '99 rookie class. For those of you in keeper leagues, this will serve as a guide to help you decide who to give upon and whom to keep. As always, we are eager for your feedback, so let us know what you would like to see in this area in the offseason and next season. Email us right here. Now, to the rookies analysis: (We included each first-round pick and other rookies who saw significant playing time. Each player is labeled with the team they are with -- not who drafted them.) THE ELITE ROOKIES Chicago, Elton Brand. Brand earned co-Rookie of the Year honors, averaging 20 points and 10 rebounds per game. He proved he is a formidable power forward at 6-8 and his work ethic earned him high respect. He is a relentless worker and missed just one game. He shot an impressive 48 percent from the field. Prognosis: Already a solid fantasy player who can be relied upon as an 82-game starter. Houston, Steve Francis. Francis kept his promise to not play for the Grizzlies, so they peddled him to Houston in a three-way trade in which Vancouver acquired Michael Dickerson and Othella Harrington. Francis was co-Rookie of the Year and became the center of Houston's offense, averaging 18 ppg and 6.6 apg. He is a legitimate elite guard who excels in all facets, though he needs a better jumper. Prognosis: He excels in multiple categories and will be highly sought in next season's drafts. A rising fantasy star. LA Clippers, Lamar Odom. His versatility and composure makes Odom a star-in-waiting. He averaged 16.6 ppg and 7.8 rpg and proved he is a great passer. Odom needs a more consistent jumper and must cut down his turnovers. Playing on a poor team severely lessens his fantasy worth. Prognosis: A great reserve for a fantasy team, but Odom is not in the NBA's elite yet. IMPACT ROOKIES Cleveland, Andre Miller. He has All-Star written all over him. Already a triple-double threat, Miller has made Brevin Knight expendable. He averaged 5.8 apg in just 25 minutes a game. Also scored 11 ppg and had 84 steals. Look for Miller to get plenty of attention next season. Prognosis: A rising commodity who will make a great starter next season. Chicago, Ron Artest. He showed high-caliber ability to play defense, handle the ball and attack the basket. He does not have a consistent deep outside shot and must improve his 41 percent shooting. Artest averaged 12 ppg and had 119 steals, ranking 13th with 1.7 spg. Prognosis: Decent role player whose numbers will improve. Minnesota, Wally Szczerbiak. He started 53 games and shot 51 percent, averaging 11.6 ppg. He started the season's final 32 games, when he averaged nearly 15 points, five rebounds and 36 minutes. A solid swingman who is a crafty passer. Prognosis: A safe, versatile player to have on your roster; he should produce more next season. Phoenix, Shawn Marion. A great selection by the Suns, he fits in very well into Phoenix's style. However, Marion played in just 51 games, averaging 10.2 ppg and 6.5 rpg. He is good on the break and on the offensive boards, but must improve his mid-range jumper. Prognosis: He should get more minutes next season, but he is not worthy of starter status, though he is a safe reserve. Washington, Richard Hamilton. He had some good stretches and averaged 9 ppg, but could have had more of an impact on a poor team. His mid-range jumper is his strength, but he needs to finish his drives to the basket. Hamilton has 3-point range, shooting 28-for-77. Prognosis: The Wizards are counting on Hamilton to score more next season, but he is yet to prove he can be a 15 ppg-type player. ON THE RISE Golden State, Vonteego Cummings. Cummings appears to have a decent NBA future ahead of him as he shined in the season's latter stages, getting big minutes with the Warriors besieged by injuries. He averaged 9.4 ppg, but shot under 41 percent. Prognosis: The Warriors will commit more minutes to Cummings, but he is a backup guard at best. Denver, James Posey. He is a 6-8 swingman who can rack up steals, drill the 3-pointer and handle some of the league's best scorers on defense. Posey made 82 3-pointers and is a solid offensive rebounder. He also is quick driving to the hoop and can finish with emphasis. Prognosis: He already is a valuable specialty player. Boston, Adrian Griffin. He had a great start, but his production tailed off as the season progressed. He finished No. 14 in steals at 1.6 per game, but scored just 6.7 ppg, though his 5.2 rpg was solid. Prognosis: A specialty player whose worth will increase if he can shoot better. Charlotte, Baron Davis. He failed to supplant David Wesley as the starting point guard, but Davis' athleticism and ability to ignite the fast break gave Charlotte a big spark off the bench. But at 19 minutes a game, his numbers were low. Prognosis: If Wesley remains the starter, Davis will lose his fantasy worth. Orlando, Corey Maggette. He averaged 8 ppg and 4 rpg in 18 minutes a game. He shot nearly 48 percent. If Maggette develops a jump shot, he will become a formidable, versatile offensive player. Prognosis: Like almost every player on the Magic roster, his value is diminished because of Orlando's deep rotation. Miami, Anthony Carter. He had some opportunities to play big minutes with Tim Hardaway out, but failed to establish consistency. He shot under 40 percent and scored 6.3 ppg. He averaged 4.8 apg. Prognosis: If Hardaway does not comeback as a starter, Carter might be good enough as a backup point guard. Houston, Kenny Thomas. He needs to reduce his perimeter shots (32-for-122 on 3-pointers) and must work on driving to the hoop more. In 79 games, he averaged 8.3 ppg and 6 rpg. Prognosis: He is naturally talented, but needs to refine his offensive game to have value. Worth keeping an eye on. Orlando, Chucky Atkins. Signed as a free agent by the Magic, Atkins provided a burst of bench scoring all season long. He averaged 9.5 ppg in 20 minutes a game. He is a good passer, but needs to improve his shooting (42 percent), though he was a respectable 57-for-162 from 3-point range. Prognosis: Orlando is a deep team, but offseason changes could give Atkins more time. MINIMAL IMPACT ROOKIES Atlanta, Jason Terry. He stayed injury-free and started 27 games. Still, there were expectations of him supplanting Bimbo Coles as the starting point guard. His outside shot was shaky and he shot just 41.5 percent (8 ppg). He did show he is a talented defender and passer. Utah, Quincy Lewis. He is a talented scorer who played 74 games for the Jazz. He scored under 4 ppg, but has the potential to become a solid role player who can provide quick offense. His development hinges on if he gets a chunk of just-retired Jeff Hornacek's minutes. Philadelphia, Todd MacCullough. He played in 56 games, averaging 3.7 ppg on 55 percent shooting. A major gamble for owners since he is only a role player for Philly. Charlotte, Eddie Robinson. Another unheard of player who had some flashes of impressive play. He shot 55 percent, averaging 7 ppg. A solid bench player who excels in the open floor. Utah, Scott Padgett. He uses his wisdom to become an effective player when called upon. However, he only played 47 games and was ineffective as a spot-up shooter -- his specialty. He is a dependable defensive player but must hit the open jumper to remain in the NBA. Minnesota, William Avery. He has a great mentor at point guard in the T-wolves' Terrell Brandon, but was on the court in only 59 games, averaging a mere eight minutes of time. He showed some flashes of brilliance late in the season when Brandon was out, but his offensive game is suspect. YET TO MAKE AN IMPACT Indiana Jonathan Bender. Bender did little in 24 games. But his untapped potential as a 6-11 swingman is exciting for the Pacers. He is likely at least one more season away from having any fantasy impact, but worth a glance from owners in keeper leagues. Cleveland, Trajan Langdon. Almost an absolute wash. He played 10 games, showing on occasion he can spot up and hit from outside. It is too early to curse him, but he is the type of player who often cannot use his college game in the NBA. Dallas, Greg Buckner. He had a good stretch late in the season, but is more of a defensive specialist and role player for the Mavericks. Toronto, Aleksandar Radojevic. He missed practically the entire season, playing a total of 24 minutes because of a bulging disc that required back surgery. At 7-3, he is a project player that has not yet proved anything. New York, Frederic Weis. Who the heck is this guy and where in the heck (France) was he all season? The Knicks could have gotten Ron Artest or James Posey. Atlanta, Cal Bowdler. He had no tangible impact in the 46 games he played in, but at 6-10, he is a project frontcourt player. He did score 13 points in one game. Atlanta, Dion Glover. Injuries kept him out most of the season. He had a couple of 18-point games. He must become a formidable scorer to have NBA credibility. Indiana, Jeff Foster. Foster, 6-11, did virtually nothing, but could become a role player if he develops some post moves. But avoid him for now. LA Lakers, Devean George. He was drafted out of complete obscurity, but has a reputation around the Lakers' team as a big guard that can score with explosive moves. Could turn out to be a wise gamble, though he played in just 49 games. Utah, Andrei Kirilenko. A 6-9 Russian star that has not showed up in Utah last time we checked. Miami, Tim James. He appeared in just four games. He is a talented 6-7 small forward who earned a reputation as an inside scorer and good rebounder at Miami. Atlanta, Jumaine Jones. He appeared in only 33 games, never scoring above six points. He was a proven threat in college (Georgia) but his lack of collegiate development will hinder his pro career and possibly render him CBA material. Dallas, Leon Smith. Smith was not prepared for life in the NBA and the Mavs can only hope he becomes a mature adult. His pro hoops career is not a consideration at this point. Brian Doolittle is an associate editor for The Sporting News. Email your NBA fantasy questions to him at bdoolitt@sportingnews.com ------------------ Will Work for Clutch 101 Book
