Kravitz: Fantasy Pickups after Week 1

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(A note to readers: SheridanHoops is expanding into fantasy basketball coverage, because so many of our readers are hard-core fans of the game, and because so many hard-core fans play fantasy hoops. It’s a natural fit. Several readers applied to fill the role, and I have selected Marc Kravitz of Philadelphia because of his writing talents and his track record in cashing. This season, he was smart enough to select Brandon Jennings. I am struggling in my league, in part because I could have had Jennings at the same price I paid for Darren Collison :(  – CS)

You had your draft, and now the first week of NBA games has passed. Though the guys on your squad have played but a handful of games, you no doubt have formed opinions of your quality picks and hideous reaches—and of course your chances of finishing “in the money.”

If you’re ready to ditch a late-round flyer or two, there are useful undrafted free agents available on your waiver wire, some of whom to immediately plug in and others to stash on your bench in hopes of fulfilling their upside potential.

Here are 10 Players owned in less than 33% of CBSSports.com and Yahoo! Fantasy Leagues. If they are available in your league, pick one or two of them up for  Week 2:

Ryan Anderson, Orlando Magic

Analysis: The Magic’s big men include Dwight Howard and … and… well, not much else. Stan Van Gundy starts Anderson beside D12 with Glen Davis backing up both spots. With Howard clogging the middle, Anderson is the stretch-four with a green light to bomb threes. In 13 games last season as a starter, in just 22.7 MPG, Anderson averaged 2.2 3s per game. In the first three games this season Anderson is averaging 18.3 ppg, 6.0 reb, 3.7 3s and shooting 47.5 percent. At a minimum, Anderson gives your squad a boatload of 3s. Perhaps he proves more diverse and proves to be a four category asset.

Projected Stats: 15 PPG, 2.5 3s, 7.0 reb,  45.5 FG percent.

Zagoria: Top 10 American Draft Prospects

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The 2012 NBA Draft has the potential to be both very strong at the top and deep because several elite players chose to remain in college this season because of the NBA lockout, and were joined by a number of  impact freshmen.

The lottery figures to be rich with bigs – scorers, shot-blockers and rebounders.

Here is a look at the Top 10 Americans who could be available, including seven power forwards or centers:

1. Anthony Davis, PF, 6-10, 220, Kentucky

The consensus No. 1 pick is averaging 11.6 points and 10.2 rebounds and leads the nation with 4.5 blocks. A guard until he grew eight inches a couple of years ago, Davis possesses strong ball-handling skills and has a knack for making steals and deflections on the perimeter. Yet it is in the paint where he does most of his damage, blocking shots in Russell-esque style and then grabbing the rebound to keep the play alive.

2. Andre Drummond, C, 6-11, 275, UConn

Drummond has hinted that he may return to campus for another season, but it’s hard to imagine he will ignore the chance to be a lottery pick after one year. Averaging 9.5 points, 6.5 rebounds and 2.8 blocks, Drummond is a remarkable athlete who recently made SportsCenter by making a steal in the midcourt and then taking several smooth dribbles before slamming home a dunk. Yet he is a poor free throw shooter who also must develop his face-up game.

Mitnick: Top 10 International Draft Prospects

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Evan Fournier, France

The 2012 NBA Draft has the potential to be one of the strongest drafts of the last few years, mostly due to the number of talented American college players.

Not so much with the internationals.

While the 2011 draft had several top-level European players including Jonas Valanciunas, Nikola Mirotec and Jan Vesley, this year’s crop is significantly weaker.

While there may be several NBA caliber players coming out this year, it is looking very likely that there will be no European players in this year’s lottery. Obviously, things can change drastically between now and June, but it would be hard to confidently say that any European prospect truly is a surefire first-round pick in the new ye,,ar. It is very likely that we will see several prospects break out in the second half of the season, but this year’s international crop has been a bit of a letdown so far this season.

It may be a less overwhelming international class than in years past, but there are still a few players who can be contributors down the road. Here is a look at 10 of the best international prospects who are likely to enter the 2012 draft.

1. Furkan Aldemir, PF, 6-10, 220, 1991, Team: Galatasaray (Turkey), Nationality: Turkey

Euroleague -G-12, MPG-14.8, PPG-6.8, 2PT%-53.8%, FT%-78.8%, RPG-4.9

Turkish League- G-10 MPG-17.1, PPG-8.0, 2PT%-59.6%, FT%-51.4%, RPG-4.9

During his time with Galatasaray, Aldemir has shown an ability to hold his own in the paint against top-level competition. While most European fours are very similar to NBA threes, Aldemir is a true power forward who finishes around the rim and crashes the boards. Aldemir may not be a surefire prospect like Valanciunas or other top Euro big men of years past, but after proving himself as a solid Euroleague player at 20 years old, he likely will get a long look as a first-rounder.

Celtics and Mavericks finally win their first

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Three thoughts after a Friday night of watching NBA basketball:

_ I am going to spend more time watching the Minnesota Timberwolves this winter, since I know who I’ll be watching in late May and most of June (not them). Ricky Rubio is the reason why, even if his 12 assists in his coming-of-age game had to come on the same night LeBron James celebrated his 27th birthday with his 38th career 30-point, 10-assist performance. (The most among active players, one ahead of teammate Dwyane Wade).

_ I am going to Vegas. My dad let me make the pick in our nightly $1 wagering challenge, I saw the Bulls were a 1 1/2 point favorites against the Clippers, and I cashed for the third straight night as Chicago rolled to a 114-101 victory over the team I do not believe in.

_ The Indiana Pacers are the worst undefeated team in the history of professional sports. OK, maybe that’s a little harsh. So I’ll give props to coach Frank Vogel, whose team has yet to shoot above 40 percent in its 3-0 start, and to whoever it was at the arena formerly known as Conseco Fieldhouse who put a lid on the rim to keep Kyrie Irving’s layup from falling at the end of regulation, costing the Cleveland Cavaliers what would have been their second victory of the season.

We are now six games into this lockout-shortened season, and I’m starting to think Michael Wilbon underestimated the Miami Heat when he predicted 58 wins for them when the season opened on Christmas Day. Three of their next four games are against teams that are currently undefeated (Indiana and Atlanta, twice), but after watching two Hawks games and two Pacers games, I see no reason why those games should be competitive. Nor do I see anyone on the Heat’s schedule who looks capable of beating them until the San Antonio Spurs travel to Miami on Jan. 17, at which time Miami could very well be 12-0. (For those wondering, the first Miami-Chicago game isn’t until Jan. 29).

Tonight’s best game: Chicago at LA Clippers

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bulls small logoWith ESPN’s prime-time air time locked into bowl season and TNT having already aired a pair of doubleheaders this week, Friday belongs to NBA TV.

Despite an 11-game slate, there are not many intriguing matchups. But if you can fight your eyelids at the end of a work week, the Chicago Bulls visit the Los Angeles Clippers at 10:30 p.m. ET.

This is a getaway game for the Bulls, who started the season with a four-game trek through California. They stole a win from the Lakers on Christmas but were beaten by Golden State the following night.

After two days off, the Bulls bounced back with Thursday’s 108-98 win at Sacramento as C.J. Watson picked up the slack for a foul-plagued Derrick Rose. Chicago is a deep team but did not play well in its