We started off talking about some Point Guards we liked and disliked for the upcoming year. Next comes the Shooting Guards comparing my personal rankings to the rankings on espn.com. Let’s go!
Klay Thompson
- SG- Golden State Warriors- (Me 9th SG, ESPN 12th SG) – Klay Thompson really burst onto the scene once Monta Ellis got traded to the Milwaukee Bucks for Andrew Bogut. The dude is 6 ft. 7 in. with a stroke that has probably broke a few nets in his lifetime. Thompson is entering his second year in the league and averaged 18.5 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 3 apg, 1spg, and 2.5 3′s per game per 36 minutes last year as a rookie! I fully expect him to play around 36 minutes every night and his youth can afford that. Thompson did have 2.3 turnover per game, but I expect that number to drop with gained experience and Steph Curry handling the ball in most instances. Did I mention he is a 87% free throw shooter? Thompson contributes in many categories without really hurting your team in any specific category. Thompson could win you the 3 PT category by himself some weeks he is that good and I only expect him to improve on his 36 minute per game average with Steph Curry distributing the ball to him. It would not surprise me if Thompson drilled 3.0 3-pointers a game this year and that is why I am targeting him in round 4.
DeMar DeRozan- SG- Toronto Raptors- (Me 15th SG, ESPN 21st SG)- How can a guy who has scored 17.2 ppg and 16.7 ppg who is only 23 years old be underrated? Is it because he plays north of the border? The one thing you can count on with DeRozan is that he is going to see his minutes as he has averaged 34.5 and 35 minutes per game the last 2 seasons. He has great Point Guards delivering him the ball in Jose Calderon and Kyle Lowry. DeRozan does not really stand out in one category besides points, but he does not hurt you in any category either and only averaged 2 turnovers per game last year. I am not saying take him in the 3rd round, but if you can manage to grab him in rounds 9 or 10 then you have quite a value on your hands. DeRozan averaged 16.7 ppg and only shot 42% from the field last year. Look for his shooting percentage to jump back up to 46 – 48 % and watch the potential DeRozan shows scoring over 20 points most games.
Wesley Matthews- SG- Portland Trail Blazers- (Me 16th SG, ESPN 11th SG) – I have never understood why some people see Matthews as an up and coming young player because I see a decent young player who does not have a high ceiling. He only averaged 13.7 ppg over 33 minutes and has not shot over 45% from the field in his two seasons in Portland. He does make 2 3′s a game and has decent steal numbers, but in my opinion is being overdrafted. I think Damian Lillard will be a bigger part of the Portland offense than Felton was last year and Matthews will see less looks. He only averages 3 rpg and 2 spg so why is he the 11th rated SG? I expect a slight decline in his stats from the previous season and will probably be on none of my fantasy teams this year.
OJ Mayo- SG- Dallas Mavericks- (Me 24th SG, ESPN 19th SG) – Mayo has been overrated since high school. His name has always carried more pub than his actual game. The only time Mayo has been fantasy worthy in my opinion was in 2009-2010 when he averaged 38 minutes a game. Mayo will not get close to that run this year as Dallas has a deep backcourt with Beaubois, Carter, Collison, and Delonte West competing for minutes. Mayo needs volume to become fantasy worthy and with the offense clearly running through Dirk I do not see the volume being there. I would expect 28 minutes per game with an average of 13 ppg, 3 rpg, and 2 apg. Those aren’t high quality stat stuffing numbers right there. Not to mention he has shot 40% from the field the past 2 seasons and has nearly averaged as many turnovers as assists. I won’t be drafting him, but someone will reach for his potential based on his name. Maybe getting out of Memphis and playing for Mark Cuban will motivate him, but he was playing for a winner in Memphis and still not showing up on a consistent basis. Maybe this is the year he puts it all together, but I do not see it that way. Let him be someone else’s problem!
For individual questions please find me on Twitter at @acook313!
