Fantasy Basketball: Top 10 SGs

Author:
SI Staff
Publish date:
Oct 21, 2010

Fantasy Basketball: Top 10 SGs

Kobe Bryant

2009-10 Key Stats: 27 ppg | 5 apg | 5.4 rpg | 1.6 spg Though his knees are banged up, few question Kobe Bryant's durability. He's played in at least 65 games every season and hasn't missed more than nine games the last five years. Bryant does a little bit of everything (except block shots), making the Black Mamba the perfect building block for your fantasy team.

Dwyane Wade

2009-10 Key Stats: 26.6 ppg | 6.5 apg | 1.8 spg | 1.1 bpg Dwyane Wade's numbers are hard to forecast as he's joined by both Chris Bosh and LeBron James in South Beach. Both are former 20-plus scorers, and James is one of the best playmakers in the league. Wade might assume more of a gunner role in the Heat's offense, but it's unlikely that he'll approach the almost 20 shots a game he was getting beforehand. While Wade likely won't be a top-five fantasy player anymore, his contributions on defense (1.8 spg and 1.1 bpg) cement his status in the Top 10.

Brandon Roy

2009-10 Key Stats: 21.5 ppg | 4.7 apg | 4.4 rpg | 1.1 3PM Injuries derailed Roy's campaign last year for first-round status. Plagued by knee and hamstring injuries, the Trail Blazers shooting guard played only 65 games. The injuries also sapped some of Roy's effectiveness, deflating his points and steals per game. After rehabbing hard over the summer, Roy claims he's back to 100 percent. If so, Roy should be a lock to put up 22 ppg, 5 apg, 4.5 apg along with a minuscule 2 TOs.

Andre Iguodala

2009-10 Key Stats: 17.1 ppg | 6.5 rpg | 5.8 apg | 1.7 spg Iguodala is another model of consistency at the shooting guard position, having played 82 games in five out of six seasons. He's one of the best rebounders at the position, and last year took on a playmaking role, averaging a career-high 5.8 apg. His percentages leave something to be desired, though, and hopefully new coach Doug Collins will temper Iguodala's free-shooting ways.

Joe Johnson

2009-10 Key Stats: 21.3 ppg | 4.9 apg | 1.7 3PM | 1.1 spg The undisputed No. 1 scoring option in Atlanta, Joe Johnson provides everything you want from a shooting guard. He's a gunner from long range, he nets you at least a steal a game and he tallies around 5 rebounds and 5 assists a game. Though he won't put up the points that some of the top options might, Johnson can likely be nabbed 10 to 15 spots later.

Jason Richardson

2009-10 Key Stats: 15.7 ppg | 5.1 rpg | 2 3PM | 1.2 tpg What Jason Richardson lacks, he more than makes up for in other categories. Defined by his athletic dunks early in his career, Richardson has evolved into a gunner in Phoenix. In last season's the playoffs Richardson showed what he's capable of doing, averaging 19.8 ppg, 5.4 rpg and three 3-pointers a night in 16 playoff games. With Amar'e Stoudemire in New York, Richardson should be the primary beneficiary of Nash's assists. The downside? Richardson doesn't drop many dimes or make much of an impact on defense. But in the fifth or sixth round no one is going to be that well-rounded.

Stephen Jackson

2009-10 Key Stats: 21.1 ppg | 5.1 rpg | 3.6 apg | 1.6 spg Stephen Jackson's proclivity for shooting the three-pointer dampens his value. Across the board, Jackson is a dynamo, contributing in points, rebounds and steals. But the former Warrior jacks up almost 5 three-point attempts a game, hurting his field-goal percentage. It doesn't help that he also turns the ball over 3.2 times a game. If you add Jackson, you'll need to add some percentage help later.

Manu Ginobili

2009-10 Key Stats: 16.5 ppg | 4.8 apg | 1.8 3PM | 1.4 spg The Spurs' gain is unfortunately the fantasy owners' loss, as Greg Popvich plans to limit Manu Ginobili to around 27 minutes per game this season. Manu can still impact the game for both the Spurs and fantasy teams in his truncated playing time, but with fewer shot attempts and declining rebounding numbers, fantasy owners may want to look elsewhere in Round 4.

O.J. Mayo

2009-10 Key Stats: 17.5 ppg | 3.8 rpg | 1.7 3PM | 1.2 spg While O.J. Mayo may never live up to his high school hype, he's proven to be a capable scorer in the NBA. He can knock down a three-pointer or score inside the arc with surprising efficiency, which is helpful if you sacrificed percentages earlier in your draft. He may have reached his ceiling as far as rebounds and assists, but in the fifth or sixth round you're getting a poor man's Joe Johnson.

Kevin Martin

2009-10 Key Stats: 21.3 ppg | 2.9 rpg | 1.3 3PM | 1 spg The other member of the sharpshooting Houston Rockets backcourt, Kevin Martin has the skills to be a high draft pick. Unfortunately, his frail frame has limited the former Sacramento King to an average of 52 games over the last three seasons. His numbers, especially his stellar free-throw percentage, makes him a great addition to your squad, but the risk of injury makes him a questionable pick before the sixth round.

Best Of The Rest:

Beyond the top 10, as a fantasy owner you're looking for a shooting guard who can nail a three-pointer and get you a steal or two. After injuries marred what could have been a breakout season, Eric Gordon could be a great bounce-back pick in the seventh or eighth round. He's got great range and is a capable defender. Jamal Crawford barely plays defense, but in the Atlanta offense he's expected to score, which he does with aplomb. Ray Allen's pristine percentages are a must on any team that added Dwight Howard or Rajon Rondo in the early rounds. Jason Terry's offensive game is similar to Crawford's, but unlike Crawford, Terry will chip in a steal or so a game.