The NBA referees seem to be on their way back to work, according to Howard Beck of The New York Times. What a perfect way to open up a post about those who are undervalued. This is not only good news for Dwight Howard and Mike Dunleavy, but it's also fantastic news for NBA fans in general. No disrespect to the replacement refs, but you don't want a pediatrician performing heart surgery. All order has been restored in the 2009-10 season, so it's time to put the referee situation behind us and talk about those fantasy players who are not getting the respect they deserve.
Using the data from the fine gents over at Mock Draft Central, I identified 10 players whose average draft position is well below their value.
Also See: Ten Overvalued Stars | Play Free Fantasy Basketball
10. David West (Average Draft Position: 41.9) -- He should be going late in the second round or early in the third. Imagine, a power forward who puts up 20 and 9 with one block, a field-goal percentage in the upper-40s and a free-throw percentage that could touch 88 percent again this season. If only there was a player with such abilities ... If you're getting David West in the fourth round consider that a steal.
9. Eric Gordon (ADP: 80.8) -- I know it's difficult to draft a Clipper, but Gordon to me seems like the safest bet. He's a natural scorer with efficient percentages who makes the 3-ball at a high rate. He also committed a steal per game and posted a relatively low turnover rate as a rookie. I might bump up Gordon a good 10-15 picks ahead of where he's coming off the board on MDC. Then again, playing for Mike Dunleavy might just drop him an extra 15 spots.
8. Wilson Chandler (ADP: 131.3) -- Would it surprise anyone if Wilson Chandler led the Knicks in scoring this season? OK, maybe Al Harrington would be surprised. Not only can Chandler score, but he was on the verge of joining the short list of players who posted at least one three-pointer, one steal and one block last season -- he finished with 1.3 threes, 0.9 blocks and 0.9 steals per game. Really, what more can you ask for? He played in all 82 games! Do I sound like I'm begging you guys to take him earlier than the 13th round? Because I am. 7. Anthony Morrow (ADP: 191.3) -- Let me put it this way: in your standard 12-team league, Anthony Morrow is better than at least one player on your roster. I can almost guarantee it. Morrow led the league in three-point shooting last season at 46.7 percent, making 1.3 per game. His percentages, in fact, were all above average -- .478/.467/.870. He's a freak with the ball in his hands. Once the smoke clears in Golden State, Morrow is going to get a chance to work his way into the Top 100.
6. Boris Diaw (ADP: 104.5) -- He hit his stride last season once he laced 'em up with the Bobcats. He's another guy who does a bit of everything. The key to his fantasy success is that he's a center-eligible big who can knock down the threes. Larry Brown said this past weekend that Diaw is "out of shape," but that shouldn't worry you none. If there was a category that counts the number of times a player was called "out of shape" or "lazy", he would move up a few more spots on this list. In the 10th round he's certainly a value pick. I would list him somewhere in the top 80-85 picks with the potential to work his way into the Top 60.
5. Carmelo Anthony (ADP: 39.0) -- Even after adding more range from beyond the arc, a higher defensive rebound rate and a LaLa last season, Anthony still slipped a little, putting up modest point totals and a fairly steep decline in his field-goal percentage. But that was last year and the good news is that now you can get Melo at a discount rate. He's not a late third-round selection. He's easily a second-round draft pick, as was evident when he exploded for 45 points in 24 minutes on 14-of-19 shooting from the floor last week against the Pacers. Melo has a Top-20 season in his back pocket and it looks like he could cash it in this season.
4. Channing Frye (ADP: 195.4) -- Frye has been stepping out and hitting threes with frequency throughout the preseason. He already has the starting center gig locked up for the up-tempo Phoenix Suns, thanks in part to Robin Lopez going down for 6-to-8 weeks after injuring his foot. If you look at Frye's preseason stat lines you'll notice they look quite similar to Mehmet Okur's. I'm not sure that Frye is going to have a better season than Okur, but at nearly 150 picks later in the draft he's actually better value. Another nice draft pick by Isiah Thomas!
3. John Salmons (ADP: 96.6) -- We're talking almost five rounds too late for John Salmons. With Ben Gordon in Detroit, it's Salmons' turn to lead the Bulls in scoring. He dropped nearly 19 points per game with 1.6 threes and 1.1 steals per game last season. I hate to say this, but he's a fifth-round talent. Maybe it's because he missed a preseason game early in October due to the birth of his child that dropped him down to the ninth round. I get it guys, I wouldn't want my dad on my fantasy team, but there's nothing wrong with drafting Josiah Salmons' father as early as the fifth round.2. Corey Brewer (ADP: 234.7) -- I should have just put up a big fat "UD" next to his ADP for undrafted. Brewer is going to get a lot of attention after his performance against the Nuggets on Tuesday night -- 23 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals, 1 block and 2 three-pointers. With the T-Wolves just looking for someone to step up and put the ball in the basket, it looks like it's time to get Brewer on your Top 140 list. In other words, move him up 100 spots.
1. Luis Scola (ADP: 112.0) -- He is the best player in Houston not named Yao Ming. It's very possible that he'll return David Lee value this season with a current ADP in the 11th round. He's a nightly double-double machine who shot 53.1 percent from the floor and 76 percent from the free-throw line last season. He's on the verge of averaging a steal per and has yet to miss a game in his two years in the league. He is the Cal Ripken of the NBA, if Ripken had played just two seasons. His scoring should increase this season since he'll be relied on to put up points in the paint. That may result in a decrease in field-goal percentage, but he likely won't dip below 50 percent. No way he should falling to the 11th round. Give me Scola in the sixth or seventh round and I'll have a smile on my face the size of Tracy McGrady's health chart.
