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Ten Overvalued Stars in Fantasy Hoops

Manu GinobiliValue is in the eye of the beholder. Memphis owner Michael Heisley saw value in signing Allen Iverson to a one-year, $3 million contract much like some people see a 99-cent hamburger as great value. "I remember having a good hamburger at one point; it cost me five dollars at the time. This one is only 99 cents -- value!"

It goes both ways, though. In one hand you have a fist full of diamonds. In the other, a hand full of mud.

Using the data collected by the hard-working guys over at Mock Draft Central, I'm going to identify 10 guys in the top 100 who are being overvalued in mock drafts. It's for your own good.


10. Mehmet Okur (Average Draft Position: 46.7) -- I don't have major beef with Okur going in the mid-fourth, but I still think he's a bit overvalued. Much of the talk in Utah has been about how the Jazz plan on fitting both Paul Millsap and Carlos Boozer into the equation. I'm not buying into Jerry Sloan's call to move Millsap over to the small forward position, giving Boozer the minutes at power forward. It's more likely he'll go small pushing Boozer over to center, thus sending Okur to the bench. He still has great value for his three-point shooting and efficient shooting percentages. It's just that he doesn't rebound enough or play much defense at all as a 6-11 center. I may be splitting hairs, but Okur waits another 10-12 picks on my board.

9. Baron Davis (ADP: 46.4) -- Think about it this way: only once since the 2001-02 season has Baron Davis played in more than 67 games in a season. His shooting deficiencies are also a burden on your team's percentage categories. He's a career 41-percent shooter from the floor and 69.7-percent shooter from the free-throw line. Sure, his free-throw shooting has improved over the years, but his field-goal percentage is still a drag -- 37 percent on 14.8 attempts per game last season. Unfortunately there's no fantasy basketball category for style. I don't trust Davis in the fourth round, even more so if it's a turnover league.

8. Josh Howard (ADP: 84.6) -- Howard would be worth an eighth-round selection if you could guarantee that he would start the season healthy and that he had at least 75 games in him this season. After having surgery on his ankle and wrist, it's only now that he's been able to scrimmage. Insert Shawn Marion into the equation, plus Jason Terry who is ready and willing to take Howard's minutes once he's set to return to the court, and you're looking at a so-so year from Howard. Even if he's healthy.

Jameer Nelson7. Jameer Nelson (ADP: 52.1) -- Really, Nelson is on this list not because his ADP is too high, but mainly because he is being selected ahead of Derrick Rose and Rajon Rondo in Mock Draft Central drafts. Nelson looks healthy, but I don't suspect that he'll shoot 50 percent from the field nor make 2.0 threes per game again this season. It's not in his DNA. Don't get me wrong, I like Nelson, just not as much as Rondo and Rose. Especially in an 8-category league.

6. Michael Redd (ADP: 54.1) -- Two rounds too soon. He's got the upside, but he also has a surgically repaired knee to deal with. All signs point toward Redd being close to 100 percent, but then again so is my 401(k) and we all know that can change overnight -- hit me up top! Redd played in just 33 games last season and only once in the past three has he played in more than 53 contests. In order for Redd to return value on your fifth-round investment he would have to play in 70 games this season. Care to wager?

5. Mike Bibby (ADP: 55.4) -- Oy vey! Jamal Crawford has joined the Atlanta Hawks and -- what's this? -- Jeff Teague is ahead of schedule, throwing his hands in the air and waving them around like he just don't care. Bibby was a viable option as a second point guard, but now it's looking like he won't top 30 minutes this season. Crawford and Teague will get some burn at the point, while you can almost guarantee that Joe Johnson will step in and play 40 minutes per game at the two-guard. Bibby is going to have to fight for minutes. I currently have him valued as an eighth-round talent, if that means anything to you.

4. Marcus Camby (ADP: 39.7) -- Another big man with a long history of missing games. Just three times in 13 seasons has Camby registered a 70-game season. He's hurt already and we're being told that he "should" be ready for the opening tip-off. And you want to spend a late-third on him? I've got an opening in one of my leagues, we'd love to have you join.

Play Fantasy Basketball3. Stephen Jackson (ADP: 57.5) -- Gone are the promises of yesterday. Jackson no longer has any interest in leading his team. Jackson's not only a burden in the locker room, but he can single-handily drag down your field-goal percentage and turnover-rate all by himself. I wrote earlier that Jackson is an ideal fantasy baller in 6-category leagues. Funny, right? It wouldn't surprise me to see him shoot below 40 percent from the floor this season. Given that his field-goal attempts will top 15 per game, I'm more than happy to let someone else deal with him.

2. Manu Ginobili (ADP: 36.6) -- Ginobili has officially reached his breaking point. He puts such a beating on his body, the NBA considered questioning Ike Turner -- unfortunately, he is no longer with us. Neither are the days where Manu Ginobili will go out and play 30-plus minutes of reckless ball. I envision Ginobili toning it down a little this season. He's not a mid-third round talent, any way you cut it. If Ginobili is going to remain on the court for 75-plus games his minutes are going to take a hit. Meaning, you guessed it, a decrease in stats.

1. Caron Butler (ADP: 11.7) -- No way am I taking him in the first round in a 12-team league or at the turn in the second round of a 10-team league. Butler hasn't hit the 70-game mark in any of the last three seasons. He's just far too prone to injury. He certainly has the skill set -- over a three per game, close to two steals, 20-plus points, near 90 percent from the line -- but I'd have to get two sure picks in the first two rounds before I use a draft pick on Butler.

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