50 Best Fantasy Basketball Players on the Big Board for the 2011-12 Season

The top 50 fantasy basketball players for the 2011-12 season is a group of stars that pack dynamic talent.

With a lot of intriguing options readily available to be plucked in the first few rounds of drafts, it's going to be interesting to see how owners evaluate talent coming off of a season where we saw several unexpected contributions from surprising sources.

While the structure of most teams will be highly dependent on who is tabbed as the first pick, there are a lot of players that should offer greater value than they did in the previous season.

There are some positions more loaded than others, and for that reason, and no owner should be too quick to brush off positional depth when making selections in the draft.

50. Joakim Noah, C Chicago Bulls

Noah saw injuries limit his 2010-11 campaign to just 48 games, but he made an impact with every minute that he stood on the court for Chicago.

Although he's certainly not an offensive-minded player by any stretch, his double-double average of 11.7 points and 10.4 rebounds per game to pair along with his 1.5 blocks and 52.5 percent clip from the floor make him extremely attractive as a rock-solid No. 2 center on any fantasy squad.

Additionally, the big man showed off his passing prowess by kicking in a couple of assists per contest and even managed to double his steal output from the previous campaign and finished the season with a solid steal per game.

49. Gerald Wallace, SF/PF Portland Trail Blazers

After Wallace was undoubtedly drafted all too high in a majority of leagues last season, I have a sneaking suspicion that he'll go largely under drafted this year.

Although his role with the Blazers was somewhat unclear upon his acquisition, Wallace poured in a really nice versatile line during his 23 games in Portland and still looked like a very adequate contributor to both the his basketball team and fantasy squads alike.

He's probably not going to post the numbers that he did during an incredible season with the Bobcats in 2009-10, but if he mirrors and or improves upon his averages of 15.8 ppg, 7.6 rpg, 2.5 assists and two steals with a three-pointer as the cherry on top, I'm certainly not going to be complaining about rolling the dice on him.

48. James Harden, SG Oklahoma City Thunder

After Harden really broke out in a big way for the Thunder in the second half of the year and the postseason, a starting spot seems his for the losing heading into the 2011-12 season.

Post All-Star break, Harden soared into relevance with a sky-high free throw percentage of 86.5, averaged 15.8 points per game and even kicked in 1.7 three-pointers on a nightly basis.

When you add that all up and pair it with his ability to pick his opponent's pocket (1.2 steals per game post-ASB), Harden looks like a very nice breakout candidate entering his age 22 season.

47. Stephen Jackson, SG/SF Milwaukee Bucks

Jackson is frequently bypassed in the draft because most owners are rather weary about his poor field-goal percentage and volatile health, but his versatility is rare to come by in fantasy circles.

Now in a new home with the Bucks alongside Brandon Jennings, Jackson appears headed toward a rejuvenation if he can prevent injury. And as long as you pair him with the right players on your roster to combat his habit of being a volume shooter, he is undoubtedly a major asset.

S-Jax averaged 18.5 points last season, and there's no reason to think that he can't approach that figure once again. However, what makes him really valuable to his owners is his ability to contribute across the board in every single category outside of blocked shots.

46. Luis Scola, PF/C Houston Rockets

Despite being hampered by some knee woes last season, Scola still managed to play in 74 contests at a very high level.

Although he doesn't provide the same type of versatility as some other picks that could potentially have higher upside, Scola does what he does very well and has been remarkably consistent in his production since coming into the league with the Rockets.

He's not going to rack up a ton of steals or blocks from the forward spot, but he will score between 15 and 20 points per game regularly and is a good bet pull down between eight to 10 rebounds while shooting better than 50 percent from the field.

45. Jrue Holiday, PG Philadelphia 76ers

I was going all in last season calling for a breakout campaign from Holiday, but it looked as if I had arrived to the party just about a year too early.

Now heading into his third season, Holiday is coming off a 2010-11 season where he started all 82 games and improved in every category besides three-point percentage from the previous year.

After averaging 14.0 ppg, 6.5 assists and 1.5 steals in his sophomore season, it would not surprise me to see Holiday angle for an increase in scoring and a serious upgrade in his assist totals as the Sixers continue to improve.

It's worth noting that Holiday averaged 8.3 assists per game over the final seven games of the regular season after failing to achieve that mark in any other previous month.

44. Chris Bosh, PF/C Miami Heat

Any owner that drafted Bosh last season under the premise that his numbers would translate from Toronto to Miami was setting their team up for a disaster.

Not only did Bosh's numbers experience a sharp decline from where they had been previously, but his season averages of 18.7 points and 8.3 rebounds were just a hair better than Luis Scola, who likely got selected far behind Bosh in most drafts.

He'll still provide a solid enough field goal percentage and shoots it well from the foul line for a man of his size, but his lack of peripheral statistics coupled with his role as the third offensive option on the floor with Miami has me likely steering clear of him on draft day unless he falls to bargain bin value.

43. Nene Hilario, PF/C Free Agent

Nene is often under appreciated both in real life and fantasy circles because he struggled with injury issues early in his career, but the stigma surrounding the Brazilian big man needs to be removed.

While there's no doubt that his fantasy value will loom largely on where he ultimately lands, Nene should be able to post solid numbers no matter what team he joins up with next.

Most of his value is based in his sky-high field goal percentage which rocked the basketball universe at a 61.5 percent clip last year, but his ability to score, rebound and provide defensive contributions shouldn't be overlooked whatsoever.

In an era where skilled big men are often rather brittle, Nene has missed just 12 games over the last three regular seasons.

42. Dorell Wright, SF Golden State Warriors

After toiling in obscurity at the end of the Miami Heat bench for the beginning of his career, Wright really took off and surprised a large majority of fantasy owners with his breakout campaign for the Warriors.

Wright absolutely shattered his previous career-highs in points (16.4), steals (1.5), assists (3.0) and rebounds (5.3). Although he took a step back from the foul line and the floor, that is a direct result of his increased role as a starter on a Warriors team that is extremely fun to watch.

While the breakout fantasy stud definitely tailed off in the second half of the season in terms of his scoring output, he actually improved defensively throughout the campaign and should improve upon his already solid numbers moving forward.

41. Manu Ginobili, SG/SF San Antonio Spurs

Ginobili may have dominated the headlines recently because of his statement that he had plans to retire in a few seasons, but most fantasy owners are in "win-now" mode and the veteran wing player can certainly help teams do exactly that.

Always in the middle of the action regardless of his role, Ginobili experienced a dip in field goal percentage (43.3) and three-point percentage (34.9) last season, but improved on his immaculate free throw percentage (87.1), steals (1.5) and scoring (17.4 points).

His skills certainly haven't suddenly evaporated, and while there's nothing "sexy" about picking someone as consistent as Ginobili, owners will be hard-pressed to register complaints when he chalks up the production on a nightly basis for those that were smart enough to bring him aboard.

40. David Lee, PF/C Golden State Warriors

When Lee signed his behemoth contract with the Warriors, there was a mountain of expectations placed upon his shoulders that inevitably led to disappointment from some.

Most owners shouldn't be surprised that Lee's numbers experienced a slight decline after exiting the Knicks up-tempo system, but his first year averages with Golden State were certainly nothing to sneeze at.

Shooting better than 50 percent from the floor, Lee shot a stellar 78.7 percent from the charity stripe, scored 16.5 points per game and pulled down 9.8 rebounds. Although he doesn't do a lot in the block department, he did manage to make his presence felt on defense by averaging a steal per game as well.

Most importantly, Lee seemed to become more comfortable as the season wore on and finished the season by posting April averages of 19.0 ppg, 11.7 rebounds, 1.7 steals and a whopping 56.2 percent clip from the floor.

39. Serge Ibaka, PF/C Oklahoma City Thunder

Serge Ibaka's season averages certainly won't jump off the page at the average owner, but it takes more than just an ordinary player to recognize fantasy potential and trends throughout the season.

Ibaka thrived in 44 games as a starter despite averaging less than 30 minutes per contest, posting 10.4 ppg, 7.8 rebounds and 2.8 blocks, but it gets even more impressive than that. Over the last two months of the regular season, Ibaka averaged better than three blocks per game while maintaining a double-digit scoring average and shooting it better than 50 percent from the floor.

Now that he's destined for increased playing time and faces no battle for the starting power forward spot, Ibaka should continue to dominate the lane with his shot-swatting abilities and has the ability to challenge for the top spot for average blocks per game.

That's the type of player I want on my fantasy team.

38. Marcin Gortat, C Phoenix Suns

Clearly, all Gortat really needed to explode out of the gates was a change of scenery and an increased opportunity for playing time.

Taking to his new surroundings immediately and flourishing in the pick n' roll game alongside point guard Steve Nash, Gortat posted borderline No. 1 center numbers with averages of 13.0 ppg, 9.3 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game.

But let's take it one step further. After the All-Star break, Gortat really went on a tear and put up 15.3 ppg, 10.6 boards and 1.5 blocks.

With just Robin Lopez and Garret Siler currently challenging him for playing time, I'm signing up for a big dose of Gortat in 2011-12.

37. Kyle Lowry, PG Houston Rockets

Kyle Lowry took the cake over Kris Humphries for my waiver wire gem of the year last season, but he's certainly not getting overlooked by anybody this year.

Lowry enjoyed a full-fledged breakout season after Aaron Brooks struggled with injury and was ultimately shipped to the Suns, posting career-highs in average points per game (13.5), assists (6.7), steals (1.4), rebounds (4.1) and three-point field goal percentage (37.6).

His numbers were even more impressive after the All-Star Break averaging 16.8 ppg and 7.3 assists and 2.5 three-pointers made per game. If he can continue to build off of a very impressive campaign, Lowry could be a bona fide fantasy monster.

36. Joe Johnson, SG/SF Atlanta Hawks

Johnson gets a lot of flack for receiving a max contract from the Hawks, but fortunately that doesn't play a factor when deciding where to draft him.

Although he had a down season across the board, many were quick to brush aside an injury to his thumb that really hampered him throughout the season. We have seen how troublesome digit issues can be (see Kobe's finger), and Johnson was clearly bothered by it.

He still managed to post his usually versatile line despite the slight dip in production, but his 29.7 percent clip from downtown is not something I want to see from one of my three-point shooters on the roster.

Combined with a decrease in his defensive peripherals and his predictably low field goal percentage, Johnson is another guy that I'm steering away from unless he falls significantly.

35. DeMarcus Cousins, PF/C Sacramento Kings

Cousins might be a giant headache due to his perceived issues of immaturity and other off-court issues, but this level of talent doesn't come around very often in real life or in fantasy circles.

An asset from the onset of the season, Cousins showed off dynamic skills in 62 games as a starter, logging 15.1 ppg, 8.8 rebounds, 1.1 steals and 0.9 blocks. His field goal percentage is on the low side at just 43.8 in those contests, but that number should improve as he continues to work on his shot selection after an overall solid inaugural season.

Underrated as a passer and already an extremely physical player down low, Cousins really has the potential to take off in a big way for the Kings now that the middle will be all his with Samuel Dalembert a near certainty to move on.

I'm drinking the Cousins Kool-Aid.

34. Andrew Bogut, C Milwaukee Bucks

Bogut would be a lot higher on this list if he could manage to stay on the court for an entire season, but he hasn't played a full complement of games since his rookie season and hasn't cracked 70 since the 2007-08 campaign.

His arm and elbow issues really had an adverse impact on his ability to shoot, but even in a down year, Bogut managed a respectable 49.4 percent from the field while posting 12.8 ppg, 11.1 rebounds and 2.6 blocks per contest.

Drafting Bogut obviously comes with extreme risk and a heeded warning, but if you're looking to gamble on a high-upside center that can make or break the success of your squad, Bogut is the candidate that owners are in search of.

Just make sure you have an insurance plan in mind for the later rounds of the selection process.

33. Andrew Bynum, C Los Angeles Lakers

Back-to-back big men named Andrew with injury problems in the top 50 highlights how few quality big men that owners can bank on in drafts.

Over the last three seasons, Bynum has missed a whopping 77 regular season contests, so drafting the Lakers starting center certainly does not ensure that your center issues are solved.

Although the risks are rather obvious with Bynum and his balky knees, he is still packed with massive potential at just 23 years old (24 when the season starts) and averaged a ridiculous 60.4 percent from the floor, 11.2 points, 12.3 rebounds and 2.4 blocks per contest after the All-Star break while maintaining an average court time of 31 minutes per game.

32. Andre Iguodala, SF Philadelphia 76ers

Iguodala is another player that gets a bum rap because of a burdensome contract, but his ability to contribute across the board for owners is not something that should be readily undervalued as it often is.

One of the best point forwards in all of basketball, Iguodala's numbers really fell off toward season's end, but assuming that he's back to full health prior to the season beginning, there's no reason to believe that he can't contribute in his typical manner.

Despite taking an obvious step back in 2010-11, Iguodala undoubtedly has bounce back potential and can be relied upon to contribute in every category outside of the percentages, making him one of the more intriguing selections in upcoming drafts as he'll likely come at a lesser price than his true worth.

31. Paul Pierce, SF Boston Celtics

Pierce was overlooked in a lot of drafts that I was a part of last season because he was entering an age where a lot of players typically decline, but Pierce defied the odds and improved in a plethora of categories for his owners.

Upping his averages in scoring, rebounding, assists, blocks and both percentages from where they sat in 2009-10, Pierce showed up last season slimmed down and anxious to prove that he had plenty left to offer.

Unlike some of his veteran peers, Pierce actually got stronger as the regular season waned down, and while his numbers certainly won't jump out at owners in any category, he brings production in all of them on such a consistent basis that owners can pretty much take his contributions to the bank while targeting some other riskier players in other areas of the roster.

30. Kevin Martin, SG Houston Rockets

There might not be a more under appreciated player in real life or fantasy basketball than Kevin Martin.

In his first full season with the Rockets, Martin took to a No. 1 offensive role in the offense and responded favorably with 23.5 ppg, 2.2 three-pointers per game and a sky-high 88.8 percent clip from the line.

While Martin doesn't contribute much in other areas of the stat sheet, he does provide owners a nice boost in categories that are often difficult to achieve high marks in, and as long as owners can offset some of his shortcomings with players that balance out the production of the team, he can be a serious asset on the roster.

Despite the appeal of Martin, owners should also be weary that he is a definite injury risk as last year was the first that he played 80 games in since the 2006-07 season.

29. Danny Granger, SF Indiana Pacers

After Granger enjoyed a monstrous breakout campaign during the 2008-09 season, he's been a popular first-round pick because of his versatility in a multitude of categories. However, Granger has statistically regressed ever since he broke out a couple of seasons ago.

Despite the noted regression, he still proved to be a valuable commodity last season averaging 20.5 ppg, 5.4 rebounds and 2.0 three-pointers per game. Additionally, he also proved to hold value from the foul line and even contributed just over one steal per game to boot.

He is a volume shooter and really needs to improve his shot selection if he's ever going to improve his measly field goal percentage (just 42.5 last season), but the Pacers roster stands to be improved next season and Granger should be a direct beneficiary as a result.

28. Zach Randolph, PF Memphis Grizzlies

For a forward that is often written off as undersized and overweight, and was once even traded for Quentin Richardson in a straight up deal, Z-Bo has really lived up to his potential.

Randolph was a beast for both the Grizzlies and fantasy teams last season, posting 20.1 ppg, 12.2 rebounds and shooting 50.3 percent from the floor. He also kicked in a solid 75.8 percent clip from the charity stripe.

Despite the success he enjoyed, Randolph offers fairly little at the defensive end for owners and his prominence in the offense tailed off as the season wore on.

With a healthy Rudy Gay returning to the fold and less offensive touches to go around, Randolph could be a slight disappointment for owners who invest in him.

27. Rudy Gay, SF Memphis Grizzlies

It's really a shame that Gay's season ended pre-maturely thanks to a shoulder injury that sent him to the sidelines, because the small forward was on pace for one of his most promising seasons to date.

A rare member of the one steal (1.7), one block (1.1) and one three (1.1) club, Gay was averaging 19.8 ppg and shooting an effective 47.1 percent from the floor at the time of his injury. Also contributing in other areas with a solid clip from the line (80.5), tying his career-high in rebounds (6.2) and setting a new personal best for assists (2.8), Gay really appeared as if he was set to blossom in his fifth full season.

Despite overcoming the injury, Gay remains an injury-risk in a season where he's coming off of a shoulder problem that could almost certainly hamper his approach to the game.

26. Al Jefferson, PF/C Utah Jazz

It's amazing how fast most owners are quick to brush aside Jefferson as an oft-injured center despite the Utah big man playing in a full complement of games last season.

In his first season with the Jazz, big Al made some sweet music for his owners with 18.6 ppg, 9.7 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game while shooting a solid 49.6 percent from the floor.

After breakout seasons in Minnesota from 2007-09, Jefferson hasn't quite reached his fullest potential and still has the ability to blossom into something special at just 26 years of age.

While he does have to contend for playing time in a suddenly very crowded front court, if Jefferson can re-gain his prior form and return to being the double-double machine that he once showed, there's no doubting that he'll be the steal of the draft for owners willing to roll the dice.

25. Tyreke Evans, PG/SG Sacramento Kings

Evans' season-long struggle with plantar fasciitis was very well-documented and really came back to burn owners who gambled on him with an early round selection.

Now that he's fully healed and possessing a renewed effort to keep himself on the court, Evans could be the steal of the draft in multiple fantasy leagues because most owners will express a hesitance to believe in him after a disappointing campaign.

It's not as if Evans' numbers (17.8 ppg, 4.8 rebounds, 5.6 assists, 1.5 steals) were bad by any stretch of the imagination, but it's a step back from his extraordinary rookie season when most had him pegged for a breakout campaign in 2010-11.

Owners may have had to wait a year, but those that are patient should pull the trigger on Evans without looking back and enjoy the ride.

24. Rajon Rondo, PG Boston Celtics

The curious case of Rajon Rondo continues to both frustrate and astound fantasy owners around the world.

Despite averaging a career-high 11.2 assists per game and an impressive 2.3 steals, Rondo's horrific shooting woes from the free throw line (56.8 percent) along with his inability to contribute from beyond the arc whatsoever staggers his fantasy value quite a bit.

While Rondo's 47.5 mark from the floor is solid, it's really not enough to offset his shortcomings in two key areas typically associated with standout fantasy guards.

Pair that with the fact that Rondo's play really tailed off in a big way after the All-Star break and his devastating elbow injury in the postseason, and it's possible that another point guard option may suddenly be looking a lot more attractive on draft day.

23. Eric Gordon, SG Los Angeles Clippers

It's about time that Gordon stopped getting overlooked in fantasy circles because he's primed to deliver a monster campaign for owners.

Despite injury limiting the talented shooting guard to just 56 games last season, Gordon's numbers were absolutely absurd before he went down: 22.3 ppg, 4.4 assists, 1.9 3-pointers and 1.3 steals.

The talent has never been an issue with Gordon, so if he can remain healthy (he's yet to play in a full slate of regular season games) and continue to improve like he has in his first three seasons, Gordon could be this season's breakout player of the year and could even flirt with top 15 value.

22. Steve Nash, PG Phoenix Suns

Nash has been a prolific point guard for the majority of his esteemed career, but owners drafting him in search of his statistics from his back-to-back MVP campaigns should think twice before nabbing him off the board.

While his season statistics were impressive with 14.7 points, 11.4 assists, 1.1 steals and a 91.2 percent mark from the foul line, Nash's scoring dip was extremely noticeable after the All-Star break when he averaged just 10 points per game and shot a meager 40.6 percent from the floor.

With the re-building effort currently going on with the Suns, it's possible that Nash's most productive fantasy days are behind him.

Fortunately for both he and his owners, a slight decrease in production from his usual marks still makes him extraordinarily attractive for fantasy teams.

21. Blake Griffin, PF Los Angeles Clippers

Griffin really took the NBA by storm after delivering an incredible rookie season that left YouTube overloaded because of fans searching for his highlights.

Despite his extremely impressive season, Griffin was far more valuable in real basketball than he was in fantasy-land because of his shortcomings from the big man position. While his 22.5 ppg are nice and his 12.1 rebounds are dominant, the reigning Rookie of the Year managed less than one steal and block per game while shooting a woeful 64.2 percent from the foul line.

The good news is that Griffin has the potential to strongly improve upon his weaker areas, and he's likely to take the next step forward as a player and fantasy contributor in his second full season.

But with all of the mania surrounding the Clippers franchise face after last season, he'll likely be over drafted by owners who want to make sure he's on their team.

20. Al Horford, PF/C Atlanta Hawks

The best thing that could happen for Horford's already stellar fantasy value is if Josh Smith was traded and the Hawks signed a true center allowing No. 15 to play his natural power forward spot.

However, even if Horford remains out of position in the middle, he has shown that he belongs in a big way.

Horford took another step forward in his development as a player in 2010-11, showing off impressive versatility for someone of his size, averaging 15.3 ppg, 9.3 rebounds, 3.5 assists and a block per game to pair along with a 55.7 shooting percentage and a 79.8 mark from the line.

Despite being undersized, Horford provides intriguing value entering his fifth season in the league at just 25 years old, but owners thinking of cashing in an early pick on him should be aware that they'll have to find most of their defensive contributions elsewhere.

19. LaMarcus Aldridge, PF/C Portland Trail Blazers

Aldridge really took to the role of being the primary offensive option on his team last season and responded with his most impressive season to date.

Rewarding owners that were willing to gamble on his upside, Aldridge posted 21.8 ppg, 8.8 rebounds, 1.2 blocks, 1.0 steals with an impressive 50 percent mark from the floor and 79.1 percent clip from the line.

If Greg Oden can ever get healthy enough to play extended minutes for the Blazers, it would be interesting to see how he and Aldridge would co-exist down low.

But with Oden's recovery unlikely to be full-circle until at least January and the furthest thing from a slam dunk, Aldridge is once again looking primed for a monstrous campaign that will come without surprise.

18. Carmelo Anthony, SF New York Knicks

Anthony is going to get all of the offensive touches that he can handle with the Knicks despite having to share the rock with Amare Stoudemire, and that bodes well for his fantasy outlook.

After being dealt to New York, Melo averaged a cool 26.3 ppg, 6.7 boards and 2.0 3-pointers made while shooting a very respectable 46.1 percent considering he averaged just about 20 shots per game in his first 27 games with the team.

The All-Star forward looked like he got fairly acclimated to his new surroundings toward the conclusion of the season when he posted 26.5 points, 8.0 rebounds, 1.2 steals, 1.5 blocks and 3.2 three-pointers per game.

Hopefully now that Anthony is fully satisfied and playing where he wants to be, he'll continue to deliver for his owners with extraordinary contributions.

17. Josh Smith, SF/PF Atlanta Hawks

J-Smoove remains one of the most well-rounded players within fantasy circles to date, and his ability to do a multitude of things well for his owners catapults his stock fairly high.

Despite his mediocre free throw shooting (72.5 percent) and an inclination toward taking way too many jump shots, Smith still poured in averages of 16.6 ppg, 8.5 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.6 blocks while shooting a very sound 47.7 percent from the floor.

He needs to revert back to his 2009-10 form when he abandoned the three-point shot and saw his field goal percentage rise above 50 for the only time in his career, but it's hard to complain about a player who gives the impressive production that Smith provides.

16. John Wall, PG Washington Wizards

Wall's rookie season was extremely impressive, but because the hysteria surrounding Blake Griffin dominated the NBA, it was largely overshadowed when it should have been readily lauded.

While he certainly needs to improve on his 41 percent clip from the field and a meager 0.5 three-pointers per game, his jump shot is something that he's working on this offseason.

With averages of 16.4 ppg, 8.3 assists, 4.6 rebounds and 1.8 steals, Wall already offers plenty of upside even if he doesn't see a rise in his statistical outputs from the two aforementioned areas.

But if he does improve in those fields and maintains his development in the ones that he's already strong in, Wall will flirt with elite point guard value and will undoubtedly be drafted much lower than he deserves.

15. Stephen Curry, PG/SG Golden State Warriors

Curry is an exciting young talent who seems poised to lead the Warriors into the future, and while there's no doubting his massive talent and potential, owners should be prepared to ride it out with him if investing an extremely high-end pick.

His fantasy appeal is rather obvious: 18.6 ppg, 3.9 rebounds, 5.6 assists, 1.5 steals and 2.0 three-pointers made per contest is not a line that many guards are going to be able to provide.

Although he had an elite free-throw percentage (93.4) to pair with a spectacular 48 percent mark from the floor, Curry managed just about three foul shots per game and that's hardly enough to make an impact worth measuring on most fantasy squads.

He's also coming off of an ankle injury that really nagged him for a while, so that's a situation to monitor closely as we progress into the future.

14. Pau Gasol, PF/C Los Angeles Lakers

Gasol has been remarkably consistent since joining the Lakers back in the 2007-08 season, and he remains one of the best big men for fantasy players to build around.

The owner of supreme fantasy numbers last season, Gasol rewarded owners that gambled on him by playing in all 82 games, averaging 18.8 ppg, 10.2 rebounds, 1.6 blocks while shooting 82.3 percent from the line and 53 percent from the field.

New Lakers coach Mike Brown has already indicated that his offense will run through the big men, and that is a good indication that Gasol will get plenty of offensive touches.

And after another offseason where he saw increased criticisms for once again being "soft", there's no doubt that he's going to come back with a raging vengeance with something major to prove.

13. Monta Ellis, PG/SG Golden State Warriors

I still cannot fathom how most owners continue to overlook Ellis as one of the most dynamic options at the guard position available.

Eligible in both guard spots in the majority of leagues, Ellis brought the house down last season when he averaged 24.1 ppg, 5.6 assists, 2.1 steals and 1.7 three-pointers in 80 games for the Warriors last season.

Ellis' impressive defensive effort is something that's far too easily overlooked, as he ranked behind only Chris Paul and Rajon Rondo in the category for 2010-11.

He's another player that comes with some risk attached as he's a candidate to sustain injury (he's never played in all 82 games), but with magnificent upside surrounding him, owners would be hard-pressed to pass him up for an inferior talent.

12. Amare Stoudemire, PF/C New York Knicks

Amare looked like the steal of the draft in fantasy basketball leagues with his efforts in the early part of the season, but as the campaign moved forward, his numbers began to even out.

Despite the drop-off from his MVP-caliber start, Stoudemire still poured it in for his owners with season averages of 25.3 ppg, 8.2 rebounds, 1.9 blocks and a sound 50.2 shooting percentage from the floor.

However, sometimes numbers can be a little deceiving, and Stoudemire really tailed off in the second half of the season after the All-Star break.

After dealing with a cumbersome back problem that had been nagging him for a while, Stoudemire appears to be back to 100 percent and should be focused on sustaining his production throughout the season.

His defensive contributions are very real, and as long as the Knicks continue to play without a talented center, Stoudemire's value is going to continue to be very near its peak.

11. Dirk Nowitzki, PF Dallas Mavericks

Nowitzki has been the solid, albeit unpopular, first-round pick for several seasons running, but now that he's coming off a title run, most owners are going to bite a few picks earlier than they should.

Don't make that mistake. While Nowitzki's remarkable consistency is something that most can only marvel at, his 23.0 ppg was the lowest mark of his career since 2000-01 and his 7.0 rebounds was the smallest output on the glass from the big man since his rookie season.

He hasn't averaged 1.0 three-pointers made since 2007-08, and although his 51.7 field goal percentage last season was certainly sweet, it's likely not the reason that most drafted him.

Nowitzki simply does nothing in terms of defensive contributions, and there are better options to build your team around than pegging the first-time champion as the linchpin of your squad.

10. Kobe Bryant, SG Los Angeles Lakers

At this point in his career, Bryant is far more valuable to the Lakers than he is to fantasy owners, but this season could serve as a reminder that he's not quite done yet.

After undergoing a PRP-like surgery in Germany on his knee to extend his playing career, Bryant is reportedly feeling great and ready to get back to work after a disappointing end to the Lakers season.

However, he does come with some red flags. Bryant averaged 25.3 ppg last season, his lowest scoring output since the 2003-04 campaign. Additionally, Bryant's rebounding output (5.1 per game) was his lowest since his second season in the NBA, and his 4.7 assists per game were his fewest since 2005-06.

Despite the decline, Bryant's statistics remain very serviceable to fantasy owners and impressively played in all 82 games last season despite dealing with nagging injuries.

He's undoubtedly going to produce in a big way for your squad, but don't over-invest in Bryant when he simply isn't the top-tier option that he was earlier in his career at this point when shooting guard comes with a plethora of attractive options later in the draft.

9. Kevin Love, PF Minnesota Timberwolves

Most owners are well aware of what Love can bring to the table in terms of points and rebounds, but he remains undervalued because he contributes in more areas than just those two.

In addition to averages of 20.2 ppg and 15.2 rpg last season, the big man kicked in 1.2 three-pointers per game and shot an extraordinary 85 percent from the free throw line. He may not offer much in the way of steals and blocks, but his domination in the other categories makes that an afterthought for most of his owners.

Those that draft Love know that the defensive peripherals likely won't be there, but if he can continue to improve his long-range jumper and take his 47 percent from the field last season and improve upon it slightly, Love is going to be a very unique and special player for any owner willing to invest.

He did show an improvement in defensive tendencies as the season progressed, so it's possible that he could prove to contribute marginally in those areas as well.

8. Russell Westbrook, PG Oklahoma City Thunder

Any way owners look to slice it, Westbrook simply turns the ball over way too much.

Despite his impressive statistics from last season, the point guard averaged 3.9 turnovers per contest as compared to 8.2 assists. With almost a 2:1 assist:turnover ratio, Westbrook is going to have to improve in that area if he's ever going to be considered in the upper echelon of point guards.

The UCLA product is clearly still learning the position, but he hasn't blossomed until his full potential quite yet. Going off for owners to the tune of 21.9 ppg, 4.6 rebounds, 8.2 assists and 1.9 steals last season, Westbrook is certainly an asset on the right roster, but the turnover issue noted above and the incredibly low 44.2 percentage from the field are two major problems for most owners.

Despite the shortcomings in a couple of areas, Westbrook's defensive potential in terms of steals is sky-high and his scoring output from the point guard position doesn't come around very often.

7. Deron Williams, PG New Jersey Nets

Williams was really hampered by a wrist injury last season that greatly limited his ability to contribute in his typical top-flight fashion.

While some are hesitant to make D-Will the center of the squad, owners should have no fear in tabbing Williams as top dog. His statistical drop-off in field goal percentage (34.9) and free throw percentage (79.3) in his 12 games for the Nets last season were a direct result of the injury.

However, he did average 12.8 assists per contest, the highest mark of his career by more than two full assists. Now that the injury is behind him, Williams should return to his usual marks of near 20 points to go along with double-digit assists to pair with more than a steal and three-pointer per affair.

If he gets an influx of talent to play with on the Nets, his numbers could grow to unforeseen heights, and with free agency hanging over his head in 2012, he'll be extremely motivated to have one of his best seasons to date.

6. Dwight Howard, C Orlando Magic

The horrific free throw percentage is expected with Howard, but there's really not much to complain about outside of that single category.

While he does turn the ball over a fair amount (3.6 per game last season), that comes with the territory of being the primary offensive option in the Orlando offense.

Howard absolutely dominates multiple categories as evidenced by his statistics from last season. Superman contributed 22.9 ppg, 14.1 rebounds, 2.4 blocks, 1.4 steals and even shot an insane 59.3 percent from the field last season.

Amazingly, Howard's performance actually improved across the board after the All-Star break, so durability isn't an issue that any owner should have to worry about with the best option in the middle available in the draft.

5. Dwyane Wade, SG Miami Heat

Although Wade actually saw a slight dip in some of his numbers in the first season of the super team in Miami, the ability to contribute in a variety of spots is what makes him a top five fantasy player.

Flash brought it last season with 25.5 ppg, 6.4 rebounds, 4.6 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.1 blocks per game while shooting a cool 50 percent from the floor. Additionally, he averaged just shy of one three-pointer per contest and showed impressive improvement in his balance and jump shooting abilities as the season went on.

Despite a mediocre mark from the foul line for the season (75.8), Wade really showed improvement during the season's final two months, shooting 81.9 percent in March and registering a 91.2 percent mark in April.

He asserted himself as the unquestioned leader on the floor, and his statistical output on a nightly basis is the most versatile that owners are going to find from a shooting guard in the draft.

While health is always a concern, Wade has shown that he's not as injury-prone as some have made him out to be by playing in 75-plus games over the last three seasons.

4. Derrick Rose, PG Chicago Bulls

Rose is coming off an MVP campaign and embodied the very definition of a breakout season for his owners in 2010-11.

The 22-year-old point guard went absolutely berserk, registering career-highs in three-pointers per game (1.6), free throw percentage (85.8), rebounds (4.1), assists (7.7), steals (1.1), blocks (0.6) and points (25.0). In fact, the only category where Rose didn't improve from the previous season was his field goal percentage, as he went down to 44.5 percent.

The perimeter aspect of Rose's game is something that he was sorely missing in his first two seasons, and now that he's added it, he's inordinately more valuable than ever before, but he has to be careful not to fall in love with the outside shot as he's shown a tendency to do.

His assist numbers noticeably declined in the second half of the season, but Rose was carrying his team offensively down the stretch.

After another offseason where Rose has worked on the shortcomings in his game, it's scary to think about the potential improvements across the board.

3. Chris Paul, PG New Orleans Hornets

It astounds me as to how many owners are far too quick to shy away from Paul because of a knee injury that he sustained in the 2009-10 season.

Last season, Paul played on a Hornets team that's mostly devoid of talent and still managed to put up an impressive 15.9 ppg, 4.1 rebounds, 9.8 assists and 2.4 steals. Additionally, CP3 kicked in about one three-pointer per game and shot an elite 87.8 percent from the line.

As a pass-first point guard, Paul's not someone who looks for his shot too often unless he absolutely has to, and it's likely he's going to do exactly that because next season's projected roster in New Orleans isn't exactly loaded with scorers.

Like Deron Williams, Paul is going to be motivated to play at his highest level with free agency around the corner in 2012, and he will continue to be a consensus top pick in every and any fantasy draft.

2. LeBron James, SF Miami Heat

I'm not sure how some owners have made the argument that James' campaign was disappointing considering that he put up 26.7 ppg, 7.5 rebounds and 7.0 assists, but that speaks to the expectations that surround LBJ.

In addition to his amazing offensive stats referenced above, James also shot 51 percent from the floor, the best mark of his career, while also contributing 1.2 three-pointers per game and 1.6 steals as well.

While LeBron does need to improve on his free throw efficiency (just 75.9 percent last season), he does enough in other categories that one minor flaw in a single scoring category can be overlooked and should never be over scrutinized.

He'll be back with a chip on his shoulder after all of the criticism that he endured during his first season with Miami, and I expect James to deliver in a huge way for his owners.

1. Kevin Durant, SF Oklahoma City Thunder

While there is usually some debate for the top pick in your fantasy league’s draft, Durant should be the consensus No. 1 option heading into the 2011-12 season.

Although LeBron’s versatility makes him awfully attractive, Durant has led the league in scoring for consecutive seasons and contributes in every category across the board.

Durant needs to work on sustaining his production throughout a full season without breaking down as his numbers took a slight dip post All-Star break last season, but that shouldn't be a problem for the insanely talented Durantula.

Averaging nearly 28 points, two three-pointers, a steal, a block and shooting 88 percent from the foul line last season should ensure that Durant is the popular pick in the first spot for most drafts.