[Hache Man]

No Magic for Darko?
The free agent season is upon us so I thought I'd take a look at the names floating around who could end up with new teams next season. Even though the free agency period started Sunday at midnight, a few players have already locked in verbal agreements that they'll make official on July 11. Vince Carter will return to the Nets, Jason Kapono will join the Raptors and Luke Walton will remain with the Lakers.

Free Agents

1. Rashard Lewis - Forward - Seattle

The Sonics will have first crack at re-signing him and are in the driver's seat because they can offer a six-year deal, while other teams can only offer five years. He's a candidate for a sign-and-trade so he can get the six-year deal and there's already speculation that something may be in the works with Orlando. The Magic haven't even contacted their own free agent, Darko Milicic, which is a surprise, and it's not likely that he'll return to the Magic at this point. And the fact the Magic are very interested in Lewis has led us to believe the two teams are having a discussion about Lewis joining the Magic and Darko going to the Sonics. Lewis is probably going to end up with one or the other, but the Rockets are going after him heavily as well. And the fact he's from Houston could play a major role in his signing. Also on Sunday, Ray Allen pointed out that now that he's no longer with the Sonics, Lewis may not want to return. The more I think about it, the more it looks like he is going to force the Sonics into a sign-and-trade and try to go to a contender. Hello, Houston?

2. Chauncey Billups - Point Guard - Detroit

All indications are that Billups will return to the Pistons, and the fact the Raptors came to an agreement with Kapono should mean Billups returns to Detroit. The Grizzlies answered their point guard issues when they drafted Mike Conley, and the Bucks, who are also thought to be highly interested in Billups, will probably try to re-sign Mo Williams instead. Especially given the fact they didn't contact Billups on Sunday. And the Raptors are probably out of the picture after coming to an agreement with Kapono.

3. Vince Carter - Shooting Guard – New Jersey

Carter and the Nets agreed to a four-year, $61.8 million contract with a club option for a fifth season on Sunday. Needless to say, he's staying in Jersey and it sounds like there's a decent chance that Richard Jefferson will be coming back too, keeping Jason Kidd and his two running mates together again next year. Then again, Jefferson could easily end up being traded and it's believed that the Pacers are discussing him as part of a Jermaine O'Neal-to-the-Nets deal.

4. Gerald Wallace Forward - Charlotte

Rumors are circulating that Wallace has put his home up for sale in Charlotte, driving speculation that he is leaving. Wallace averaged 21.6 points and had 14 double-doubles over his last 45 games, which also helped my team in League Freak make a late-season push for the championship. The fact the Cats traded for Jason Richardson and his big contract is not going to help them in their quest to keep Wallace, but they still have a shot. The Bobcats' playoff dreams would be a lot more realistic if they keep Wallace. In addition to the Bobcats, he's been contacted by Dallas, Orlando, Milwaukee, Detroit, Miami, Portland and Golden State. And the Bobcats hands are further tied by the fact they still need to extend Emeka Okafor's contract.

5. Mo Williams - Point Guard - Milwaukee

Everyone seems to believe the Bucks will re-sign Mo Williams and the fact that they didn't contact Billups on Sunday seems to support that. Williams could still get offers that could pull him out of Milwaukee, or he could be part of a sign-and-trade, being sent out of town with Yi Jianlian. The Bucks are likely going to have to try to trade Yi, and if they can get a point guard back, Williams could become expendable. The Hawks and Grizzlies were said to initially be interested in MoWill, but they each drafted a point guard, squashing that idea. It's believed the Bucks have offered Williams a five-year, $40 million deal, which might be enough to keep him Milwaukee.

6. Darko Milicic - Forward/Center - Orlando

In the biggest surprise of Day 1 of the free agency period, the Magic supposedly have not even contacted Darko. This is shocking, as they have said all along they were going to try to keep him. It's common courtesy to contact players you're interested in (especially your own) when the bargaining window opens, so the move comes as a slap in the face to Milicic. I think that makes him a long shot to return to the Magic, and as I mentioned above, there could be a sign-and-trade deal between the Sonics and Magic in the works. I was excited to see what Darko and Dwight Howard could do alongside each other, but that's not looking likely to happen now.

7. Grant Hill - Guard/Forward - Orlando

Hill has said he wants to stay in Orlando, but he's also said he would love to play for the Suns. I'm betting he's willing to take a pay cut to have a shot at a title and my money is on him going to Phoenix. There's also talk of him returning to the Pistons or going to San Antonio. But if I had to guess, I'd say Phoenix is his most likely destination.

8. Steve Blake - Point Guard - Denver

With many teams strengthening their position at point guard through the draft, Blake's value may not be as high as originally thought. However, teams like Memphis, Atlanta and the Clippers could use some veteran leadership at the position, and Blake has proven he's a competent NBA 1. Portland, where Blake owns a home, looks like a decent candidate for his services, as well as the Lakers. It doesn't look like there's much chance he will be back in Denver next season.

9. Anderson Varejao - Power Forward - Cleveland

The Grizzlies are said to be interested in Varejao, along with several other big men, but the fact the Cavs made a qualifying offer to him suggests they want to keep him around. However, they have some luxury tax issues looming, so they are going to have to pay more than most other teams would to keep Varejao and Sasha Pavlovic, who is also a restricted free agent.

10. Andres Nocioni - Forward - Chicago

The Bulls are likely to match any offer Nocioni gets and the fact he had that serious foot problem for most of last season isn't going to help him make any more money.

11. Andray Blatche - Forward - Washington

Blatche is all upside and will likely get a full midlevel offer sheet, but early indications are that the Wizards will match it. Then again, they just made a nice offer to DeShawn Stevenson, have to find a second center and still have to sign rookie Nick Young. Call him 50-50 to return to the Wiz.

12. Jason Kapono - Guard/Forward - Miami

Kapono agreed to a four-year, $24 million deal with Toronto on Sunday. He's off the market.

13. Mikki Moore - Forward/Center – New Jersey

Moore led the league in field goal percentage last season and will likely be going elsewhere for the cost of a two- or three-year deal from somebody's midlevel exception.

14. Jerry Stackhouse - Guard/Forward - Dallas

Speaking of old knees, Stack isn't getting any younger and will likely have to take a pay cut ($9.3 million last year) to stay in Dallas. But both the player and team want that to happen.

15. Chris Webber - Forward/Center - Detroit

Webber hasn't decided what he wants to do and there isn't likely to be a long line of suitors waiting for him. He has bad knees, is 34 years old and disappeared in the playoffs last month. I think he'll return to the Pistons.

Other free agents who may have some value on the fantasy landscape this season include Sasha Pavlovic (Cavs), Mickael Pietrus (Warriors), Matt Barnes (Warriors), Desmond Mason (Hornets), Earl Boykins (Bucks), DeShawn Stevenson (Wizards), Fabricio Oberto (Spurs) and Matt Carroll (Bobcats).

[Hache Man]

	Report: Blazers ink Oden to two-year deal
	Greg Oden - C - POR - Jul. 3 - 2:55 a.m. ET
	According to a report on KGW.com, the Trail Blazers signed Greg Oden, who was the No. 1 overall pick in Thursday's NBA draft, to a two-year deal on Monday. Oden's contract will be for two seasons, with a team option for the third and fourth year, according to the league's collective bargaining agreement. Oden will make $3.8 million during his rookie campaign and $4.1 in his second year with Portland, which also signed second-round picks forward Josh McRoberts and guard Taurean Green.

[Hache Man]

	Agent confirms Lewis' deal with Magic
	Rashard Lewis - F - SEA - Jul. 3 - 12:55 p.m. ET
	Tony Dutt, the agent of Rashard Lewis, has confirmed that the free agent small forward will sign a maximum deal with the Orlando Magic. "He had a comfort and a gut feeling and he feels they have a championship core, and that's what he wants to do is win a championship," Dutt said. If a championship was truly his motivation, we doubt he'd choose Orlando, but certainly the Magic is a lot closer to winning with him there. Of course, the addition of Lewis will likely mean the end of Darko Milicic in Orlando.

[Hache Man]

	Report: Billups to re-sign with Pistons
	Chauncey Billups - G - DET -
	ESPN is reporting that Chauncey Billups has agreed to a multi-year contract with the Pistons. Ric Bucher reports that Billups has now agreed to a contract with the Pistons, believed to be for five years and $60 million. This story first broke on Wednesday, but Billups' agent, Andy Miller, angrily called the report untrue. It sounds like Billups is officially ready to rejoin the Pistons, so fans can breathe a sigh of relief. Source: ESPN.com

[Hache Man]

Things looking up for Nelson
There's not much to be gained by studying summer league action in the fantasy arena, so I'll take a look at some guards who should qualify as sleepers heading into the new season. The big stories out of summer league are that Greg Oden is racking up fouls and missed free throws like nobody's business, while Marco Belinelli torched the Hornets for 37 points on 14-of-20 shooting on Saturday. More on him later.

Sleepers – The Guards

Jameer Nelson - Orlando Magic

Nelson was highly disappointing over the last couple years after showing so much promise, but it's possible that his less than stellar play was due to a strained relationship with coach Brian Hill. Now he'll get a fresh perspective on things from Stan Van Gundy, has one of the league's best offensive players to dish to in Rashard Lewis, and should target Dwight Howard, the best young big man in the game, with the rest of his passes. Things are really setting up well for Nelson to have a big year and I think he should be targeted somewhere in the fourth to sixth rounds this season. He could end up being a disappointment again, but the odds are clearly stacked in his favor with the new-look Magic.

Monta Ellis - Golden St. Warriors

I was all set to praise Ellis today, calling him the best sleeper candidate out of all the guards. I still think he's going to be very good and the secret is already out on him anyway, after last year's surprising performance. That said, there are whispers in Golden St. that rookie Marco Belinelli, who scored 37 points on Saturday, is going to challenge Ellis for the starting job. Add to that the rumored concerns about Ellis' choice of friends and their behavior at Warriors' games last year, and he looks like a little less than a sure thing.

We know Ellis can play and we know Don Nelson likes him. What we don't know is whether Nelson will return to coach the team this season (he wants more money, while the Warriors are still paying Mike Montgomery), or what his role will be if Belinelli is really as good as advertised.

But Jason Richardson is now out of the way, which should form a clear path for Ellis to start alongside Baron Davis all season. I'm going to forget about Belinelli for now, and say that Ellis should be at least as good as he was last season, when he averaged 16.5 points, 4.1 assists and 1.7 steals while shooting 47% from the floor. No one is going to sleep on Ellis this season, and how high you want to take him is a personal decision. He came in as the 58th ranked player (cumulatively) and I see no reason why he won't be worth a fourth-round pick this year with Richardson in Charlotte. Then again, there are still several things to be decided in Golden St. in the next few weeks.

Kareem Rush - Indiana Pacers

The Pacers quietly signed shooting guard Kareem Rush last week, and while he's not likely to be a savior for the Pacers, he could play a huge role for a team desperately seeking outside shooting since No. 31 called it a career a few years back. Rush has got an excellent chance to start alongside Jamaal Tinsley, as Mike Dunleavy looks more and more like a career bench player with every year that passes. If Rush has a good training camp, his value will continue to climb, but as of now, he should be a perfect sleeper candidate at the end of your draft. He can bury open threes and put the ball on the floor and drive, as well. He's never really lived up to the hype in his four-year career, but this could be the season he averages 16 points a game and feasts behind the arc.

Rajon Rondo - Boston Celtics

Rondo had several flashes of brilliance last season and now that Delonte West is out of town and Sebastian Telfair is doing everything he can just to stay in the league, the reins should be fully handed to Rondo this year. He led the team in steals and assists as a rookie, and he shouldn't have much problem improving on his 3.8 dimes per game.

He really came on over the team's final 10 games, scoring 11 or more points in eight of them and averaging 13 points, 5.5 assists and 2.5 steals. Of course, that's when the team was supposedly tanking and heading for the Oden-Durant sweepstakes, but those numbers are hard to argue with. He recorded four or more steals eight times last year and flirted with several triple-doubles. Expect him to get into the trip-dub category at least three times in the upcoming season, averaging around 10 points, six dimes and two steals per game. The downside of Rondo is the fact he hit just six 3-pointers last season and shot 41.8% from the floor. While he's never likely to become a 3-point specialist, the rest of his numbers, especially the steals, should give him solid fantasy value. Just don't over pay for him.

Randy Foye - Minnesota Timberwolves

With Mike James back home again in Houston, it appears that Kevin McHale and company are ready to hand the point guard reins to Foye in Minnesota. He showed some promise last year, but it's debatable whether or not he's really an NBA point guard. Foye averaged about 10 points and fewer than three assists and three rebounds last year as a rookie, but should make big strides this season. He also turned it on after the All-Star Break and finished on a high note, scoring a career-high 26 points in the Wolves' final game of the season. He averaged 15.4 points, 3.5 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 0.9 steals over the season's final 10 games and should be an excellent value pick once the top-tier point guards are gone.

Steve Blake - Free Agent

Blake is being pursued by every team in the league needing a point guard, but it sounds like the Lakers and Blazers don't want to give him the full midlevel exception. Blake has proven he can start at point guard in the NBA and be effective, and there's a decent chance he'll end up right back in Denver. Until we know where he's going, there's no way to effectively target his value. But wherever he lands, he'll see plenty of minutes at the one and should make a nice third or fourth fantasy point guard. And he could be a great value pick if he lands a starting job at some point next year.

Tyronn Lue and Speedy Claxton - Atlanta Hawks

The Hawks took point guard Acie Law with the 11th pick in the draft, but I doubt he's ready to run an NBA team at this point – Even one as bad as the Hawks. Speedy Claxton was brought in a year ago to run the offense, but chronic knee problems resulted in a disastrous season for Chris Paul's former backup. I am hearing that Speedy's knee problem has finally been properly diagnosed, and if he's healthy in November, you have to think he's the starter.

However, the most exciting guard possibility as far as a fantasy sleeper in Atlanta is Tyronn Lue. Lue was playing very well last season before suffering injury problems of his own. In 22 regular-season games in November (to start the year) and April (to end it), Lue hit double figures in scoring in all but two of them. His production over the rest of the season was average, at best, as he struggled with hamstring, knee and groin injuries throughout the year. But his stellar play early and late gives him some promise coming into the season if he can stay healthy. That's a big 'if' since he's averaged just 53 games played over the past two seasons. But he is a veteran leader on this Hawks team and Mike Woodson won't hesitate using Lue as his point guard if Speedy isn't up to, um, speed at the start of the season. Lue is the team's best free throw shooter, and while his field goal percentage is a little shaky, he shouldn't hurt your fantasy team anywhere, either.

While neither Hawks guard should be taken until the end of you draft, both players could end up being nice value picks late. Just don't expect any miracles.

Daniel Gibson - Cleveland Cavaliers

Gibson, affectionately known as "Boobie," broke out for the Cavaliers in the playoffs when he scored 31 points and hit 5-of-5 3-pointers to close out the Pistons and advance to the Finals. The bad news is that he only averaged four points per game against the Wizards and Nets in Rounds 1 and 2, but did bounce back to hit double figures in three of the four games the Cavs lost to the Spurs in the Finals.

Gibson showed flashes of his potential throughout the regular season, but never seemed to get comfortable or into a groove as a rookie. There's little doubt his playoff performance against the Pistons did wonders for his confidence, and it's no secret that the Cavs need help at both guard spots. Larry Hughes, Damon Jones and Eric Snow were simply ineffective last year, and Gibson looks like a decent bet to be a starter for this team. If he somehow comes off the bench, he should get at least 30 minutes per game, as he is clearly the team's best outside threat. Like the aforementioned players, don't over pay for Gibson. But give him a look after the middle rounds of your draft if you need a 3-point shooter.

Clippers point guard - Los Angeles Clippers

The Clippers have a big need for a point guard after Shaun Livingston's injury last season. Sam Cassell is still a valuable veteran for the team, but they need some youth to run the point. There's still a chance they'll bring back Jason Hart, who filled in admirably last season when Cassell and Livingston were both down, or they could bring in another free agent. Until we know who the Clippers' point guard is going to be, it's tough to say much else here. However, whoever lands the job will likely qualify as a sleeper.

Jordan Farmar - Los Angeles Lakers

Farmar should be locked into the starting role for the Lakers after Smush Parker was unceremoniously dumped at the end of last year. Parker's still technically with the team as of now, but not for much longer. The Lakers are still going to try to find a more seasoned point guard with some triangle experience, but there's a good chance the job will land squarely on Farmar's shoulders, simply because they don't have other options. Javaris Crittenton is now with the Lakers as well, and has been playing better than Farmar in the summer league. But a rookie point guard is the last thing Mitch Kupchak, Phil Jackson or Kobe Bryant wants to see in November. Farmar's summer league experience has not been good and he's really turning the ball over. Add to that his season averages of 4.4 points and 1.9 assists last year, and there's not much to get excited about. But he will probably have some fantasy value as long as he is the starting point guard for the Lakers.

[Hache Man]

Dwyane Wade - G - Heat

Dwyane Wade says he's on schedule from recovering from his shoulder and knee surgery, but may not be ready for training camp.
"I'm a fast healer, but my doctor really wants to make sure I'm well and I'm healthy and we don't have to go through this process again," Wade said. "He'd rather for me not to rush back to get in training camp and maybe aggravate something early in the season." We still don't think there's any guarantee that he'll be ready for opening night, but we'll have to see how things go in October. Jul. 16 - 4:00 p.m. ET

[Hache Man]

Team-by-Team Notes
My summer in Indy is going well, although it's not easy to get work done with six people staying in a small, one-bathroom house. But we're getting by, although I can't say the same about the Pacers. After watching the team go down the tubes over the last several years from afar, it's interesting to be back in Indianapolis and hear how angry, or disinterested, the average fan really is. The general consensus is that no reasonable person would spend a single dollar to go to a game right now. As my cousin Gary told me on Sunday, "I was the guest of a large corporation in a suite, free of charge, several times last year, and I still felt like it cost too much." That's quite a statement.

Basically, everything the Colts did right over the past year or so, the Pacers have gotten wrong. While Larry Bird is catching some flack in the national media about the horrible draft picks, trades and personnel decisions over the last three years, the heat from the spot light is much more intense in Indy. Everyone I've talked to has asked me why Larry hasn't been fired yet, which is pretty amazing to me. The guy is obviously a legend in this state, was highly popular as a coach when he took the Pacers on their only trip to the Finals and is one of the most loved Hoosiers of all time. And everyone thinks he is at the top of the list for screwing up the Pacers, and they're probably right.

Another interesting aspect of being back here (as opposed to Atlanta) is that people in Indiana actually care about the NBA. The Pacers have been a well respected and important staple of the community for years and for fans to see the team become a laughing stock (with a very bleak near future, I might add) has rocked them. Meanwhile, Atlanta's ownership group (more on them later) makes Bird, Donnie Walsh and the Pacer organization look like Mensa International. In North Georgia, I'm not even sure that people are aware that Atlanta has an NBA franchise. They all knew it at one time, but once Dominique left, it's like someone used that memory eraser from Men in Black to wipe the slates clean. And with Michael Vick's apparent love of watching dogs eat each other, the Falcons fan based isn't exactly feeling all that great right now either, especially after they traded away backup QB Matt Schaub. In short, there is one professional sports team left in Georgia, and they play football between the hedges in Athens. And as long as Peyton Manning and Tony Dungy are the good guys in Indy, basketball fans will turn their allegiance to the Colts and wait until Bird gets fired, Jermaine O'Neal and Jamaal Tinsley are sent packing, and Kevin Pritchard comes back home to run the organization. But unfortunately, it's hard to say if or when any of those things are going to happen.

As you may have figured out by now, this column is going to be random NBA notes, so let's get to it.

Atlanta Hawks

The ownership cluster continues to approach new heights of embarrassment. Now the agent for Josh Smith is upset because the team is making no effort to extend Smoov or Josh Childress as of yet, and it's probably because the group can't collectively come to a decision. And in case you missed it, even if the core group of owners agrees to do something (like trade for Amare Stoudemire or Monta Ellis), Steve Belkin, the "ousted owner," still has the power of veto in some cases. Add to it that the entire coaching staff is entering the final year of its contract and Billy Knight is not allowing anyone to leave (including assistant coaches), and you have to think the worst is yet to come in Atlanta. While I am all for less government, it is time for David Stern to step in and start using an iron fist in Atlanta. We all know that Atlanta has the hip-hop superstar crowd ready to fill the arena if the Hawks put the product on the floor. Not to mention Jeff Foxworthy and a slew of other "country stars" who would also join the fray. But until the ownership group gets it together, or is forced to sell the team to someone capable of running the show, Atlanta is going to continue to be a bottom feeder. You can probably expect to see an entirely new group of coaches after this season, at least.

It's a miracle that they were able to sign Joe Johnson a couple years ago, but until this ownership situation is worked out, I don't think they can sign another free agent, regardless of how big or small his name is. And while it's possible to build through the draft, it's not easy when you pass on guys like Chris Paul and Deron Williams, while stockpiling young wing players for five years. While guys like Mike Woodson and Knight take all the heat for the state of the Hawks, the finger should really be pointed directly at the entire ownership group. Mark Cuban runs a fantasy team in Dallas, which works because he has sole control and even has some basketball people on hand to help him. The Hawks ownership group also runs a fantasy team in the ATL, but there are too many cooks in the kitchen and too much dissension to get anything accomplished, other than continuing to put a product on the floor that very few people care about.

Boston Celtics

Gerald Green's name is being kicked around in trade rumors because no one can figure out how to get him minutes with Paul Pierce and Ray Allen around. Green had a horrible summer-league performance and is shaping up to be a fantasy bust if he doesn't make his way out of Boston. I love his game and would love to see him get moved.

Rajon Rondo should be ready to provide owners with great fantasy value, but it all depends on the Celtics' commitment to the run. If they find themselves in a half-court offense, I'm going to go out on a limb and say that Rondo is probably the last person you want running your team. Look for the Celtics to run, or it's going to be another long year in Boston.

Many people are wondering if Al Jefferson will get enough touches with Allen's arrival in Boston. I say Jefferson will be just fine, but Ryan Gomes should probably get used to being nothing more than a role player for the next two years.

Charlotte Bobcats

The Cats were able to pull off a minor miracle by re-signing Gerald Wallace, giving them a tangible force of Wallace, Jason Richardson, Emeka Okafor and Raymond Felton. Add in Matt Carroll, Walter Herrmann and Adam Morrison, and that looks like a playoff team, especially in the East. There's also a chance they could bring Brevin Knight back to help backup Felton, but there's talk that the Cats have had him and his less than positive locker room presence around for long enough. Don't draft Sean May for your fantasy team this year. His knees are still not right and may never be. And there are questions about his work habits, which makes me think his NBA career will be a short one. And for all we know, we may have already seen the best he has to offer.

Chicago Bulls

The Bulls got Andres Nocioni back and now just have to hope his foot problems are behind him. Tyrus Thomas is sitting out summer games with knee tendonitis, which has to also be a concern for the team going forward. They didn't do much in the offseason (at least thus far), but clearly have one of the best and deepest teams in the East. Ben Gordon should be an All-Star this year and if Nocioni's foot is healthy, they're going to be tough to beat. Joakim Noah was a nice pickup, but I don't see him having much of an impact this year.

Cleveland Cavaliers

It's looking likely that the Cavs are going to probably get Anderson Varejao and Sasha Pavlovic back, but they still have a huge question mark at point guard. I still get the sense that their trip to the Finals was a bit of a fluke last season and I don't see them getting there again with Larry Hughes or Eric Snow running the offense. And LeBron's good, but he's not an NBA point guard. Then again, the rumors of Mike Bibby heading to Cleveland are still highly popular on the internet, and I would not be surprised to see a deal worked out. If Drew Gooden goes to Sacramento, it clears the way for Varejao to start, and obviously Bibby would be a perfect point guard for the Cavs. But the last thing the Kings need is another power forward who doesn't block shots.

Dallas Mavericks

The Mavs re-signed Devean George and Jerry Stackhouse, but haven't done much else this summer. You have to wonder if Dirk Nowitzki is going to come back with a vengeance this season, or if his confidence was permanently damaged after last year's playoff flop. I'm going to put my vote on "vengeance."

Denver Nuggets

The Nuggets are going to hand the reins to Chucky Atkins to run the point in Denver. He's a big-time long-range threat, and could be a nice piece to the Nuggets' puzzle, although I'm not sure he'll be more effective than Steve Blake was. The hiring of Atkins should slide Allen Iverson to shooting guard for much of the season, and we'll have to wait and see how J.R. Smith bounces back after the accident that killed his best friend.

Detroit Pistons

The Pistons re-signed Chauncey Billups and Amir Johnson and are still waiting to see what Chris Webber will do. Either way, the Pistons will once again be one of the better teams in the East. And for the record, Rasheed Wallace says that he and Flip Saunders have no problem with one another.

Golden St. Warriors

The talk in Warrior-land right now is the stellar summer-league play of rookie Marco Belinelli. There are rumors of him actually starting in front of Monta Ellis, but I'm not buying it. There are also a lot of questions about whether Don Nelson is going to return this season. All indications are that he will, but he's asking for his salary to be nearly doubled. If negotiations turn south, Nellie's going to get a reputation of not being loyal after his falling out with Mark Cuban, but the Warriors' job is likely the last of his career anyway. Mickael Pietrus and Matt Barnes are still unsigned, while the Warriors are bringing back Kelenna Azubuike, and Stephen Jackson will be sitting out the first seven games of the season after getting a suspension for his off-court activities of the past year. Center Patrick O'Bryant isn't developing quickly enough for the Warriors, but all signs are still pointing to him backing up Andris Biedrins this year.

Houston Rockets

The Rockets have a glut at point guard and really have too many guards in general. They also only have one true power forward in Chuck Hayes, meaning Shane Battier could play out of position a lot this year. Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming are going to be fantasy stars, as usual, but I think you're rolling the dice on the rest of the Rockets. Bonzi Wells qualifies as a sleeper under Rick Adelman, although I still don't know how Mike James and Rafer Alston are going to co-exist.

Indiana Pacers

The Pacers have done almost nothing this offseason. They drafted a guy in the second round (whose name, ironically enough, is Stanko) who will likely never play in the U.S. and signed Kareem Rush. I think Rush could be a big player for the Pacers, but if he doesn't have enough talent surrounding him, he's going to have trouble finding open shots. Jermaine O'Neal and Jamaal Tinsley still need to go, and may not be Pacers once 2008 rolls around.

L.A. Clippers

Steve Francis could be the starting point guard for the Clippers this season and coach Mike Dunleavy says that Corey Maggette will start this year, giving him a big boost in fantasy value. Elton Brand's status for the FIBA tournament in Vegas is in doubt, but he's expected to be healthy in time for NBA training camp. And Brand should be treated as a bit of a sleeper this season. Despite still having a big season and posting nice numbers, he was not as dominant last season as he has been in the past. Taking him any time in the second round makes sense. And Francis could have some nice value if he signs with the Clips and is handed the starting point guard job.

L.A. Lakers

The Lakers signed Luke Walton to a six-year, $30 million deal this summer, and it should be interesting to see if he can play as well this year as he did last. Kobe Bryant apologized for his actions earlier in the summer, but the fact that the Walton signing is the big news coming out of L.A. is probably not making Bryant any happier. Then again, Derek Fisher is coming on board and should easily win the starting point guard job. He's going to have some fantasy value this season.

Memphis Grizzlies

The Grizzlies pulled of a big coup when they landed Darko Milicic after talks broke down with the Magic. Darko and Pau Gasol should be a force together down low, and the Grizz have one of the best young cores out there with Rudy Gay, Hakim Warrick, Kyle Lowry, Mike Conley and Tarence Kinsey. They surprisingly waived forward Alexander Johnson, but he should land with another NBA team this fall.

Miami Heat

Alonzo Mourning will return to the Heat, and while Pat Riley hasn't officially said he's back, all indications are that he will return. Gary Payton is going to retire and the team may lose James Posey to free agency. Dwyane Wade's return from knee and shoulder surgery is the biggest question mark surrounding the team, but all indications are that he's clearly on his way back to form. However, it could take him until after Christmas to get there. I raised some eyebrows when I didn't put Wade in the Top 24 in a recent column, but until I get assurances from him that he's not going to miss much time, he's still on the bubble.

Milwaukee Bucks

The Bucks are close to signing Desmond Mason and have already locked in with Mo Williams. Bobby Simmons should be close to a return to form this year if he is finally over his foot injury, while we are all still waiting to see if Yi Jianlian will ever play in a Bucks uniform. I'm guessing he fires his agent, gets a new one and is traded to the West. We'll see. Oh, and Ersan Ilyasova is going to play in Europe this season. Better find a new guy to target in the 17th round of your draft.

Minnesota Timberwolves

Randy Foye will be the starting point guard for the Wolves, giving him a huge bump in fantasy value, while Juwan Howard will help Kevin Garnett in the paint. I think the chances of the Wolves getting into the playoffs with a lackluster roster and a second-year point guard are not great, as the team continues to try to find a new home for Kevin Garnett.

New Orleans Hornets

The big news out of New Orleans is the signing of Morris Peterson. Now if they can just get Peja Stojakovic back on the floor, they should have a pretty good team this season. Tyson Chandler should have another good year, but don't expect him to play better than he did last year. That could end up being the greatest season of his life.

New Jersey Nets

The Nets waived Cliff Robinson and signed Jamaal Magloire after Mikki Moore bolted for Sacramento, which is apparently the NBA's most popular destination for overvalued power forwards. Nenad Krstic will recover slowly but surely from last year's knee surgery, but it appears the Nets are set to take their chances going to battle with Jason Kidd, Richard Jefferson and Vince Carter. There are still rumblings of a deal involving Jermaine O'Neal, but as of now, the Nets are sticking with what they've got.

New York Knicks

Nate Robinson won the summer league's MVP Award after putting up solid numbers and leading the Knicks to a 5-0 record. He is still considered iffy to make the team's final roster, but it will be hard for Isiah to justify waving the Vegas MVP. Quentin Richardson says his back is as healthy as it's been in years and he's ready to return to form for the Knicks. Of course, how he's going to get many shots with Stephon Marbury, Jamal Crawford, Eddy Curry, Zach Randolph and David Lee on board is anyone's guess. But it sounds like he should at least be one of the better 3-point specialists in the league this season.

Orlando Magic

The Magic lost Billy Donovan to kick things off this summer, then lost Darko Milicic when Otis Smith ignored him while trying to land Rashard Lewis. Smith did get Lewis, but the price tag was out of this world and the Magic just have to hope that it doesn't end up being one of those max contracts no one is happy about years later. J.J. Redick has been making summer-league noise and could actually have a little value this year. But I think that Jameer Nelson is likely to be the biggest sleeper in Orlando, now that Grant Hill and Darko are gone. And don't forget about Trevor Ariza, either.

Philadelphia 76ers

The Sixers have been quiet this offseason, but have four rookies coming in, all with some promise. Jason Smith, Thaddeus Young, Derrick Byars and Herbert Hill are all intriguing prospects, as the Sixers are now looking to lock Andre Iguodala in for the long haul.

Phoenix Suns

The Suns signed Grant Hill away from the Magic, hoping that he's the piece to the puzzle that's been missing for the Suns. He could be, and it's hard to argue that the Suns are not the perfect fit for Hill. Shawn Marion has some plantar fasciitis issues with his foot that will likely keep him from playing for Team USA this summer. Fantasy owners just have to hope the problem doesn't raise its head this year, as he will be a Top 5 pick in all formats. He generally plays through injuries, so I'm not too concerned about him just yet. Amare Stoudemire is another interesting fantasy prospect for this fall. He didn't miss a game last year, but that doesn't guarantee anything for this season. His knees could fall apart at any time and I still think fantasy teams and the Suns have to handle him with kid gloves. But he's worth a late first-round pick if you can handle the risk.

Portland Trailblazers

Things are going so well in Portland right now they can buy out Steve Francis for $30 million and send him packing without even thinking twice about it. Greg Oden's nagging injury list scares me, and I really hope he doesn't turn out to be one of those guys who misses two out of every 10 games, but he's off to a shaky start. Let's hope that getting the tonsils out will be the last procedure he needs for awhile. Stay away from the Blazers' point guard, whoever it turns out to be. With Steve Blake, Sergio Rodriguez and Jarrett Jack all around, not to mention Brandon Roy, there could be a brutal log jam at the position this season. LaMarcus Aldridge should be the big sleeper in Portland this year and I think he's going to have a huge year.

Sacramento Kings

The Kings continue to talk about dealing Ron Artest and Mike Bibby and now have enough power forwards to start five of them. You can add Mikki Moore to the list already including Kenny Thomas, Shareef Abdur-Rahim and Spencer Hawes, while Brad Miller also should qualify at the position. Stay away from all of them.

San Antonio Spurs

The Spurs have done what they can to keep last season's championship team intact and added Tiago Splitter and Marcus Williams in the draft. They also parted ways with big man Jackie Butler to bring in disgruntled guard Vassilis Spanoulis, who plans on playing in Greece this year.

Seattle Sonics

The Sonics are tough to recognize these days. No Ray Allen. No Rashard Lewis. Add in the fact that they now have Delonte West and their point guard position is as log jammed as ever with Earl Watson and Luke Ridnour still there. Kevin Durant and Jeff Green will obviously be thrown into the mix, and you have to think new coach P.J. Carlesimo will find minutes for Damien Wilkins, but it's hard to figure out who will emerge as Seattle's go-to guy at this point. Many people think it will be Durant, but veterans like Wilkins, Watson, West, Ridnour and Nick Collison are probably better bets.

Toronto Raptors

The Raptors will say goodbye to Morris Peterson this season, but they probably won't miss him now that they've wrestled Jason Kapono away from the Bobcats. Toronto is going to build on last year's success and should be one of the better teams in the East.

Utah Jazz

The Jazz lost out on Peterson, so maybe another Morris, as in Morris Almond, will emerge at shooting guard in Utah this season. Not much has changed in Utah this summer, except that Derek Fisher is headed back to the Lakers and the Jazz signed back up point guard Jason Hart, who will play behind Deron Williams. They may not be done yet, but it looks like they'll go to war with Andrei Kirilenko, Carlos Boozer, Mehmet Okur, Deron Williams and either Gordan Giricek, Matt Harpring or Almond this season.

Washington Wizards

The Wizards agreed to terms with DeShawn Stevenson and Juan Carlos Navarro is a hot topic, although it doesn't sound like he'll play in the NBA this year, or for the Wizards. Etan Thomas and Brendan Haywood are still on the block, but the Wizards haven't been able to figure out what they're going to do at center. They're likely to lose Andray Blatche to free agency (Mavs?) and I can't wait to see how they work rookie Nick Young into the mix this year. Consider him a sleeper for ROY. But until they solve their problems at center, it's unlikely that Gilbert Arenas and company can win the East.

[Hache Man]

More Fantasy Sleepers
By now everyone knows the name Tim Donaghy. Even non-fans, like my dad, know who Donaghy is. In case you've been living in a cave, he's the NBA referee accused of gambling on games he officiated and providing inside game information to mobsters. While I doubt he was betting on a specific team to win or lose, it's possible. What's more likely is that he was controlling whether or not a team would hit the "over/under." Referees can easily control how many total points teams combine to score in an NBA game by simply calling more fouls early and putting teams in the penalty, creating a free throw fest and lowering scoring. On the flip side, refs can call fewer fouls and let teams play, resulting in a high-scoring affair.

In any case, I would not be shocked if other refs were involved in the scandal. Looking at the now famous Game 3 in last year's playoffs when the Spurs beat the Suns, it's clear that Donaghy wasn't the only guy making questionable calls. You can make your own decision here.

I don't have the answers as to what will happen as a result of the allegations against Donaghy, but I find myself siding with Mavs' owner Mark Cuban, who said: "The NBA took a hit today. Behind that hit is a catalyst and opportunity for significant change that could make the NBA stronger than it ever has been. It's a chance to proactively put in place people, processes and transparency that will forever silence those who will question the NBA's integrity." While it's clear that changes are coming to the NBA, hopefully the league will be made better after learning from its mistakes. Some are predicting the league won't survive the scandal, but I'm guessing it will take more than a dirty ref or two to bring it down.

Last week's column was hard core, covering everything you need to know from every team in the league. This week I'm going to take a shorter approach and hit on some more sleepers you should be thinking about prior to your fantasy draft this fall. And it won't take your entire lunch hour to read.

But first, I have to comment on Andrew Bogut's new haircut. Check this out – Bogut's hair. If you can't link to the picture, he's shaven his head and left only a small, braided pony tail on the back. It not only makes you forget about the patch on the back of Drew Gooden's head, but sent me straight back into 1980 for the movie Airplane, when that Joe Izuzu guy was a Hare Krishna with a similar do. Even though Bogut and Gooden get credit for the league's worst hair, my vote would still probably go to the Cats' Walter Herrmann, who is a dead ringer for Fabio.

More Fantasy Sleepers

Chucky Atkins - Point Guard – Denver Nuggets

Atkins appeared to be on the downside of his career in Memphis last year despite averaging 13.2 points and 4.6 assists, but will now handle the starting point guard duties for the high-powered Nuggets. Anthony Carter is promising to give him a run for his money for the starting gig, but I think the job is Atkins' to lose. A probable starting lineup of Atkins and Allen Iverson in the backcourt, along with a front line of Carmelo Anthony, Nene and Marcus Camby (if he's not traded) should give Atkins plenty of chances to hand out assists and bury open threes. Add in the fact that J.R. Smith may not be mentally ready for the season after this summer's car accident that resulted in the death of his best friend, and Atkins should be in store for at least 35 minutes per game. But the important thing to remember here is that he's still Chucky Atkins and hasn't averaged more than 13.6 points and 5.3 assists in any season. However, he's a strong 3-point shooter and the potential of him being a fantasy steal in Denver is great. I am targeting him as a Top 10 point guard this season after he finished last year with ninth-round value in standard eight-cat leagues. We'll see.

Danny Granger - Guard/Forward – Indiana Pacers

The Pacers are struggling, to put it mildly, but the one ray of hope they do have is Granger. He improved dramatically in year two last season, averaging nearly 14 points per game and hitting a surprising 1.3 threes per night. He's missed just four games in two years and all signs are pointing to new Pacers' coach Jim O'Brien running the offense through Granger and Jermaine O'Neal. Given his solid shooting percentage and ability to hit threes, Granger could average 17 or more points this season. He should also grab more than five boards a night and can hit free throws, making him a guy who won't hurt you anywhere. I really think he's going to breakout in year three and he was worth the first pick of the sixth round in 12-team, eight-category leagues last year. Target him in Round 4 this year, which should be about right for the promising young star.

Corey Maggette - Guard/Forward – Los Angeles Clippers

News flash! Mike Dunleavy says he's going to start Corey Maggette this season. After battling with Dunleavy regarding his role with the team over the past two seasons, this is huge news for Maggette's fantasy prospects. "He will be a starter, for sure," Dunleavy said. "We're fine. Things ended up well for us." I don't wan to get carried away here, but Maggette should return to being a fantasy stud again this year. Maggette showed great improvement in his stats in each of his first six years in the league, peaking in the 2004-05 season when he averaged 22. 2 points, 6.0 boards, 3.4 assists, 1.1 steals and nearly a three per game. He also committed 3.0 turnovers that year, and they'll continue to be high again this season. He's always an injury risk, as he's managed to play more than 70 games in just three of his eight seasons, but he made it through 75 contests last year. While it may be tough for him to get his numbers to where they were in the 04-05 season, he should flirt with them, making him worth a fourth- or fifth-round pick. And that's quite a step up from the seventh-round value he offered last year. I think he's a solid pi