Fantasy Basketball: Top 10 Centers for the 2011-12 NBA Season

After a long, painful NBA lockout, the season is set to start in a few weeks. With free agency currently taking place, everything seems to be going as planned and is beginning to settle down.

With a new season about to be under way, that of course means it is the start of another fantasy season.

In fantasy basketball, the center position could end up being the most valuable because centers help your team in a lot of different categories. They can provide the points, blocks, rebounds and occasionally steals, if you're lucky.

As fantasy drafts are taking place right now and you're running around trying to rank your players, here are the top 10 centers you should have on your big board going into your draft.

10. David Lee

Career stats: 54 field goal percentage, 9.6 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 13.6 points

David Lee could have had a much better season in Golden State but was hampered by injuries all season long. That's the reason he has made the top 10: because of his potential.

He's only 28 years old and on a team that throws up a ton of shots, so he has an opportunity to grab a lot of rebounds.

Expect him to put up quite a few double-doubles this year and be a steal in the third or fourth round. He won't get a lot of blocks, but fantasy owners can't complain when he's putting up 20 points and 10 rebounds any given night.

9. Marcin Gortat

Career stats: 55 percent field goal percentage, 5.5 rebounds, and 5.9 points

Gortat's career stats may not be sexy to fantasy owners, but he has been the backup behind Dwight Howard for the majority of his career. Now that he is the starting center for Phoenix and getting more playing time, his numbers should rise.

In his final 11 games with the Suns, he averaged 15 points, 12 rebounds and over one block.

Gortat has always been a tough rebounder and has gotten the most out of his minutes. With more playing time in Phoenix, his numbers should increase and he could become a steal for some lucky fantasy owner.

8. Andrew Bynum

Career stats: 54 percent field goal percentage, 9.2 rebounds, one block and 14.2 points

With the talent that Bynum has and the talent around him on the Lakers, he has the ability to be the best center in the league. But with questions about where he may end up and his injury history, he is in this spot.

Bynum has solid career numbers and with the possibility of Gasol and Odom leaving, he could be the main big man in Los Angeles.

During his six-year career, he's only averaged 55 games a season, and that has to scare fantasy owners. If he can stay healthy for the entire year, he could become the best fantasy center this season. 

7. Roy Hibbert

Career stats: 47 percent field goal percentage, 5.7 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1.5 blocks and 10.6 points

Hibbert didn't exactly get the playing time he deserved with head coach Jim O'Brien, but that should change with the recent coaching change.

Regardless, the young Pacers center continues to get better as he averaged 12 points and seven rebounds last year, in just 27 minutes of playing time. He also nearly averaged two blocks a game as well.

Hibbert is a safe pick and with the lack of depth at the position, he should see a lot more playing time. Don't be afraid to take the emerging young player in Indiana.

6. Marc Gasol

Career stats: 54 percent field goal percentage, 7.8 rebounds, 1.4 blocks and 12.6 points

Gasol is often forgotten about because of his brother Pau and the team he plays for. But Gasol and the Grizzles took big steps last season, becoming a force in the playoffs. 

Gasol's rebounding could have been better last season, but a lot of that has to do with Zach Randolph and the monster season he had.

Gasol should average a double-double most nights, he stays healthy for the most part and gives you at least one block a game. The underrated center is worth a solid pick.

5. DeMarcus Cousins

Career stats: 43 percent field goal percentage, 8.7 rebounds, 2.5 assists, one steal and 14.1 points

Surprised a second-year player is so high on this list? Don't be.

Cousins put up solid numbers as a rookie last season and with Samuel Dalembert likely on his way out, he'll become the full-time starter for the Kings.

He proved last season that he will be a force in this league for a long time and the production he had in limited time last season will only get better. The poor field-goal percentage may hurt your team but he helps in so many other categories to make up for it.

Sure, he may be a headache for the real Kings team with his attitude problems. But you don't have to worry about that in the fantasy world.

4. Brook Lopez

Career stats: 50 percent field goal percentage, 7.6 rebounds, 1.7 blocks and 17.4 points

Lopez may end up on a different team by the time the season starts, but I still like him as one of the top centers this season.

It's embarrassing that a seven-footer averages less than 10 rebounds a game and everybody is hoping those numbers improve with his upside. Having Deron Williams now on his team should help increase his point totals as well.

If you're looking for rebounds, look elsewhere. But Lopez is a great all-around fantasy player who will help in other categories, including blocks, as he averaged 1.5 last year.

3. Al Horford

Career stats: 53 percent field goal percentage, 9.6 rebounds, 2.4 assists, one block and 12.8 points

Horford is one of the most reliable centers in the game, as he is almost guaranteed to give you a double-double every game.

He is also one of the few centers in the league who won't hurt your free-throw shooting as he shoots a very solid 76 percent from the line.

Horford may not help you in the blocks department, but he scores and rebounds with the best of them. He also gets a few assists a game and plays through injuries.

2. Al Jefferson

Career stats: 50 percent field goal percentage, 8.8 rebounds, 1.3 blocks and 15.9 points

Jefferson was on fire last season after the All-Star break, averaging 21 points, 11 rebounds and nearly two blocks a game.

You should expect similar numbers this season on a young Utah team that really lacks scoring threats. Jefferson will be looked to carry this team and he has all the talent to fulfill expectations.

In most leagues, you could get Jefferson in the third round or so, but with the numbers expected this season, the value will pay off.

1. Dwight Howard

Career stats: 57 percent field goal percentage, 12.8 rebounds, 2.2 blocks and 18.2 points

Was there any doubt who the No. 1 center in the NBA and fantasy is? With a position that is so watered-down, he is without a doubt the most dominant.

He arguably had his best season last year, averaging 22 points and 14 rebounds. He is also the safest pick as he's never had a history with injuries and is for the most part, the focal point of the Magic's offense.

Howard will hurt your turnovers category and won't help your free-throw percentage but the points, rebounds and blocks can't be ignored.

He shouldn't be the first overall pick but definitely the first center taken off the board and a first-round selection.

Randy Chambers is a B/R Featured Columnist that covers College Football and the NFL. You can contact him @Randy_Chambers or [e-mail]