Fantasy Basketball: How the First Round Would Look Now

The NBA season is almost at it’s half way point and here is how the draft would likely go now:

Of course, this order depends on the strategy of the owner.

LeBron James

James is averaging 28.6 points, 7.8 assists, 7.1 rebounds 1.6 threes, 1.5 steals, and 0.9 blocks. He is shooting 50 percent from the field and 78 percent from the foul line. He is setting career highs in assists, threes, and FG percentage this season.

Chris Paul

CP3 has missed eight games due to an ankle injury but started off the season red hot. He is averaging 19.8 points, 10.6 assists, 4.5 rebounds, 2.2 steals, and 1.1 threes. He is shooting 50 percent from the field and 86 percent from the foul line. His 41 percent from three, a career high.

Kevin Durant

Durant has lived up to the preseason hype and is only going to get better this season. He is averaging 28.4 points, 6.9 rebounds, 3 assists, 1.5 steals, 1.3 steals, and 0.9 blocks per game. He is fifth in the NBA in foul shots per game (nine) and shooting a solid 87 percent.

Kobe Bryant

Despite the finger injury Kobe is tied for the lead the NBA in scoring (30.0). He is also averaging 5.5 rebounds, 4.7 assists, 2 steals and 1.2 threes per game. He is shooting 47 percent from the field and 84 percent from the foul line.

Steve Nash

Nash has been a steal for any owner who took him in the second round. He leads the NBA with 11.3 assists per game. His 18.9 points is his highest since the '05-'06 season. Nash also is setting career highs is FG percentage (54) and FT percentage (94).

Dwayne Wade

Wade is averaging 26.9 points, 6.2 assists, 5 rebounds, 1.7 steals and 1.2 blocks. I rank him below Nash because he needs to increase his threes and percentages.

Dirk Nowitzki

Dirk has been a consistent first-rounder for years now. On the season, he is averaging 24.9 points, 8.1 rebounds, 1.3 blocks, 1.1 steals, and 0.7 threes per game. He is shooting 47 percent from the field and 88 percent from the foul line.

Carmelo Anthony

Anthony has missed three straight games but is having a career year. His 30 points per game and 86 percent from the foul line are career highs. He also is averaging 6.4 rebounds and 1.2 steals per game.

Monta Ellis

Ellis is averaging 25.2 points, 5.2 assists, 4.3 rebounds and 2.3 steals. He is second to Gerald Wallace to minutes played per game (41.5) and leads the league in steals per game. He is shooting 47 percent from the field and 77 percent from the foul line.

Deron Williams

Williams is averaging career highs in points (19.5) and rebounds (4). He also is posting 9.8 assists, 1.2 threes, one steal, and shooting 49 percent from the field.

Gerald Wallace

Wallace has been a underrated fantasy player for years now and is playing at an All-Star level this season. He is averaging 18.2 points, 11.8 rebounds (career high), 1.7 steals, and 0.9 blocks. He is shooting 47 percent from the field in 41 minutes per game.

David Lee

Lee is also another player who is worthy of All-Star consideration. Lee is averaging a career high 18.9 points per game along with 10.9 rebounds and 1.1 steals. He is shooting 57 percent (fifth in the NBA) from the field and 77 percent from the foul line.

Just missed the cut: Danny Granger (injury), Pau Gasol, Chris Bosh, Brandon Roy