I thought I’d approach this article a little differently this year and pick the twenty best and five worst players to have on your Fantasy Basketball Team in a Rotisserie League if you hope to compete for Field Goal Percentage.

With Field Goal Percentage, it isn’t solely based on Field Goal Percentage but on how many field goals the player actually misses.

1. Dwight Howard - 59.9% - Be careful with this pick because you’ll see in free throw percentage, he is the worst pick.
2. Amare Stoudemire - 59% - He also makes 80% of his free throws, so Amare is definitely a keeper.
3. Carlos Boozer - 54.7% - And since he is likely to opt-out after this year, you should consider this a contract year for Boozer.
4. Kevin Garnett - 53.9% - He doesn’t score nearly as many points as he did at Minnesota, but he still scores quite a few.
5. Pau Gasol - 53.4% - Gets the nod over Okafor because he scores more points.
6. Emeka Okafor - 53.5%
7. Deron Williams - 50.7% - Incredible for a point guard.
8. Al Jefferson - 50.0%
9. Yao Ming - 50.7% - Hopefully he can stay healthy.
10. Steve Nash - 50.1%
11. Carmelo Anthony - 49.2%
12. Andrew Bogut - 51.1%
13. Andrew Bynum - 63.3% - Totally a pick on potential.
14. Tim Duncan - 49.7%
15. Chris Bosh - 49.4%
16. Tyson Chandler - 62.3%
17. Tony Parker - 49.4%
18. Ronnie Brewer- 58.8%
19. Andre Miller - 49.2%
20. Chris Paul - 48.8%

The Worst

1. Stephen Jackson - 40.5%
2. Jamal Crawford - 41%
3. Tracy McGrady - 41.9%
4. Raymond Felton - 41.3%
5. Rafer Alston - 39.4%

Almost every fan in the NBA knows who the best scorers are. They are the ones who get all the publicity. If they score more than 20 points per game, they are normally all gone by the beginning of the fourth round.

Let’s take a look at the top players in the NBA, which ones you might be able to get at a bargain, and which ones might step up to the next level for their respective teams:

1. Kobe Bryant - 2323 - There is no reason to think that Kobe won’t be one of the top three scorers in the NBA again this year, even with Pau Gasol in the fold for an entire year. His 46% field goal percentage, 84% free throw percentage, high three pointers, good rebounds, good asssists, and good steals make him one of the most coveted players every year. Will the Olympics affect him at all? How about his injured hand?
2. LeBron James - 2250 - And he is still getting better. Can Mo Williams get him the ball better and save him from so much work bringing the ball of the court? Probably. Will this help him to score even more points? Probably.
3. Allen Iverson - 2164 - He is on his way down…supposedly. He still keeps scoring and scoring and scoring. Will he be moved during the season? Maybe. Will this affect his scoring? Not a chance!
4. Carmelo Anthony - 1978 - This is the only top tier player likely available in the third round. If you opted to nab a couple of less than stellar scorers in the first two rounds, you really need to grab Carmelo here. (If Carmelo goes a bit early, Jason Richardson is another option.)

Tier 2

1. Richard Jefferson - 1857 - The only reason I didn’t stick Jefferson into the first tier is because I’m not really sure how his move to Milwaukee will affect his numbers. Milwaukee doesn’t really have many other options for scoring besides Michael Redd, though, so I can’t see how they will go down. Considering the fact that he will very likely be available in the seventh round, you probably can’t go wrong with picking him up and rolling the dice that he will stay healthy and be able to fit in.
2. Dirk Nowitzki - 1817 - Everybody knows what Nowitzki brings.
3. Jason Richardson - 1788 - He’s the best in three pointers. One of the best in points scored. How is it that he is available in the third round of most leagues!?!
4. Joe Johnson - 1779 - I can’t see how any of the young up-and-coming teammates are going to keep Johnson from scoring and scoring big.
5. Al Jefferson - 1726 - Will the newly acquired Mike Miller cut into his scoring, or just give him more put backs? I can’t see how Jefferson doesn’t get even more points than he did last year. He’s still getting better and better.
6. Carlos Boozer - 1708 - Contract year, anybody? You can guarantee that Boozer will get his.
7. Dwight Howard - 1695 - Howard keeps getting better and better. His rebounds are insane! Don’t pick him up, though, unless your league doesn’t count free throw percentage and turnovers.
8. Antawn Jamison - 1689 - This number largely depends on how long Arenas is injured, but since Agent Zero seems to be perennially injured, I don’t think there are any doubts that Jamison will be a scoring machine again this year.
9. Chris Paul - 1684 - One of the top players in the league, stats-wise and otherwise. You’re probably not picking him up for his points, but you certainly won’t be disappointed with what he gets you.
10. Jamal Crawford - 1645 - Don’t be fooled if you don’t know Crawford very well compared to the other guys in this list. D’Antoni instituting his offense in New York should only enhance Crawford’s numbers.
11. Rudy Gay - 1632 - I look at that roster and wonder how Rudy doesn’t score 30 per game. There is nobody there, especially with Pau and Mike Miller gone.
12. Kevin Durant - 1624 - And that was in his rookie year!!! What is he going to do in year 2?

1. Baron Davis - 1791 - I knocked him down to Tier 3 because I don’t think he’ll score anywhere near 1800 points again this year with a fat contract and a nice gig in Hollywood. I think we’ve probably seen the best of Baron.
2. Michael Redd - 1632 - How will Richard Jefferson affect his scoring?
3. Andre Iguodala - 1630 - I don’t see him scoring much more than he did last year, honestly. He’s just not a scorer, though he manages to get the ball in the bucket often enough.
4. Vince Carter - 1622 - No Jason Kidd. No Richard Jefferson. This seems like it’d be a dream come true for Carter’s points column, but Carter didn’t do very well in Toronto when he wasn’t winning. I don’t think that it’ll be much different in Jersey this year.
5. Hedo Turkoglu - 1602 - He’ll probably be near his last year’s totals.
6. Danny Granger - 1567 - No Jermaine O’Neal. T.J. Ford getting him the ball. I think he’ll improve by 100 to 200 points this year.
7. Mike Dunleavy - 1565 - Ditto of Danny Granger.
8. David West - 1564 - Nothing much has changed in New Orleans accept for the addition of James Posey. Look for more of the same from West.
9. Corey Maggette - 1547 - In Golden State’s run-and-gun offense, Maggette’s numbers should improve if his body can take it.
10. Deron Williams - 1545 - He keeps shooting more and more often and his shot continues to get more and more accurate. Look for more improvements from Utah’s best player.
11. Chris Bosh - 1496 - A great Olympic showing. If Bosh’s body isn’t worn down from the Olympics he should improve over last year’s numbers, especially with O’Neal drawing double-teams as well.
12. Kevin Martin - 1443 - Martin was injured last year. If he is healthy, he’ll have at least 200 more points over the course of the year.

Tier 4

1. Monta Ellis - 1636 - Ellis gets dropped a tier because of his injury.
2. Paul Pierce - 1570 - Pierce is getting older as are teammates Allen and Garnett. I don’t expect Peirce to reach 1500 this year.
3. Josh Howard - 1513
4. Tim Duncan - 1508
5. Rashard Lewis - 1476
6. Stephen Jackson - 1466
7. Brandon Roy - 1416
8. Ben Gordon - 1336 - Contract year

Every year we have a bunch of players who are considered top prospects who really should not be.

In my opinion, it should always be based on previous statistics and previous health rather than future potential. Every once in a while, a player lives up to expectations, but more often than not, the players that make it for the first time to the upper echelon have been moving that general direction for years or they surprise everyone.

Let’s take a look at Five Players who are likely to be taken in the top 3 rounds who you should avoid:

1. Elton Brand - He has been a fantastic player in the past, but his move to a new team AND his return from a serious injury has to stir up some concerns among Fantasy Owners. You really can’t take a chance that your first round pick won’t be fully recovered or won’t mesh well with the players on his new team. Better to nab Amare Stoudemire in the first round, or go for Bosh or Camby in the second round if you want a top center.
2. Dwyane Wade - Wade seems to make my list every year. People keep telling me that I’m wrong to avoid him. I’ve been right every year so far. He played fantastically for the Olympics, but the fact that he played significant minutes in the Olympics worries me. That and the fact that he played only 51 games last season should tell Fantasy Owners to consider another guard. Iverson and Billups are almost always fairly healthy, and they should be available somewhere in this range.
3. Baron Davis - He was healthy all last year (amazingly enough) and just in time to earn himself a large contract. (Coincidence?) Look for Baron to return to his injured ways as he joins the Hollywood entertainment scene. All things being equal, I’d rather go for Billups, Deron Williams, or Steve Nash if I wanted a point guard here. (Although Deron Williams extensive Olympic time might worry me a bit.)
4. Yao Ming - Another return to my list for a third year in a row, Yao Ming is again on this list. He is likely to sit out some more due to injury. I know what he brings, but since he’ll only bring it for 50-60 games, you’ll have to pass on him. I know! I know! An 82 game Yao Ming would be fantastic! He’s just not worth the risk in the second round when you have steadier big men like Carlos Boozer and Al Jefferson in the same range.
5. Andrew Bynum - He’s pegged as a late third round in many drafts, but don’t you dare consider drafting him there. His previous stats don’t come anywhere close to him being worth a third round pick (or even a fourth rounder). In addition, you should find his previous injuries troubling enough that you avoid picking him. Rasheed Wallace, Chris Kaman, or Mehmet Okur should be much better choices for fourth round big men (and one of those might even fall to you in the fifth round, if you’re lucky).

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Looking over the field, all I can say is get your assists early or pay the price.

The top players have really separated themselves in this category, and if you don’t get one of them you’ll have to really pay particular attention to nabbing second tier players that also get you a lot of statistics in other categories.

I don’t think I’d risk it, though. You have to go for one of the top 5 players if you hope to have a chance in assists.

1. Chris Paul - 925 - The only way Paul is not worth the #1 pick in the draft is if the Olympics take their toll and he can’t play at least 75 games. He is also among the league leaders in steals and points, so Paul will get his. Add to that some decent three point shooting, field goal percentage (for a point guard), and free throw percentage and you’ve got one heck of a pick. If you have the first pick in the draft, you have to pick Paul.
2. Deron Williams - 862 - Chris Paul and Deron Williams are 1 and 2 in the league at the point guard position, but Williams can be had in the second round, whereas Paul shouldn’t even fall to the second pick. I’ve pushed Williams above Steve Nash because Williams is on his way up and Nash is on his way down and has a new coach dictating the offense. Compared to Paul, Williams makes more field goals (50.7% vs 48.8%) and less free throws (80.3% vs 85.1%) and a much fewer amount of steals. The rebounds are about equal, but Williams also gets nearly 80 more turnovers per season.
3. Steve Nash - 898 - I’m not sure what this drops to this year, but he’s still one of the best point guards in the league, especially in the assist department. He’ll probably be available in the second round of your league.
4. Jason Kidd - 806 - Kidd’s field goal percentage is attrocious, but luckily it shouldn’t hurt you too much because he doesn’t take that many shots. His free throw percentage, three pointers, rebounds, and steals are all good (and the rebounds are especially good for a point guard). He’ll probably go in the third round, but probably won’t fall much lower than the early fourth round.
5. Jose Calderon - 678 - Calderon is no longer competing for time with T.J. Ford, so expect him to be in the 800s this year. He’s a third round pick in most leagues, but you wouldn’t be reaching too much to take him in the second round. His field goal percentage is stellar (51.9%) as is his free throw percentage (90.8%). Best of all his turnovers are very low (126) for this caliber of point guard, although more playing time will more likely mean a few more turnovers.

If you didn’t get one of the guys above, you will have to go for at least two of these in the second tier if you hope to compete in assists at all. Especially look for guys that will help you in other statistical categories or can be had in late rounds.

Tier 2

1. Baron Davis - 623 - It’s probably a safe bet that Davis won’t be getting 600 assists playing for the Clippers, even if he manages to stay healthy, which I doubt. Somewhere closer to 500 might be a better bet for him.
2. Allen Iverson - 586 - There is some doubt on whether he will play the full season for the Nuggets, so it’s hard to judge where Iverson might be in the assists category. He normally gets quite a few, though, and his points and steals are guaranteed to be high no matter where he goes.
3. Raymond Felton - 583 - There is some doubt on whether Felton will even start the whole year with a young rookie point guard breathing down his neck. If you are really struggling in assists you could take him with a ninth or tenth round pick, but hopefully you’ve already shored up your assists long before this point.
4. Andre Miller - 565 - A solid fifth or sixth rounder if you’re hurting for assists. The problem with Miller is that he doesn’t get you much else besides a fairly good amount of steals. Hopefully you aren’t still looking for assists in the fifth round.
5. LeBron James - 539 - You aren’t picking this guy up for his assists so much as for his all around game and, especially, his points. But his assists definitely put him up to the top of the second tier. Of course, you aren’t going to get him any lower than half way through the first round.
6. Chauncey Billups - 529 - Billups is always a solid second rounder, especially for his free throw percentage. I have won many a league with Chauncey on my team. He has a lower than normal amount of turnovers, too, so he doesn’t hurt you where other point guards often do.

If you haven’t gotten enough assists at this point, you are definitely in trouble. But for moving you up to the top in assists and getting you well positioned in other categories, here are a few more players whose assists should encourage you to consider them.

1. Joe Johnson - 474 A solid late third rounder, who is especially worth of consideration if he drops to the fourth round.
2. Kirk Hinrich - 452 - It’s hard to say how much playing time he will get in Chicago. Still, he might be a good player to pick for your bench on the off chance that he gets traded this season (as is rumored), or somebody ahead of him gets injured.
3. Kobe Bryant - 441 - Won’t last beyond pick 3. You’re picking him because he scored 2323 points last year.
4. Brandon Roy - 430 - He has a lot of young teammates to pass to in Portland these days. He’ll probably go in the fourth round, but that might be a little high to take him unless his stats improve a lot this year, which they very well might.
5. Mo Williams - 419 - He’ll be bringing the ball up and passing it to LBJ this year. Not sure how this affects his assists, but I’d count on them staying steady and not really improving drastically.

Like I do every year, I break down the best 3 point shooters from last year and decide whether they are likely to accomplish the same, better, or worse than what they accomplished last year. After all, players normally don’t change much in stats from year to year unless 1) they get moved to or from a starting lineup, or 2) personnel changes make it better or worse for them (including them moving to a different team).

Grouping the players into tiers, here is what I came up with on three point shooting:

1. Jason Richardson - 243 - Though the Bobcats didn’t accomplish much as far as wins go, that didn’t stop Jason Richardson, the recently traded Golden State Warrior from getting his. Nothing is going to change this year, so expect Richardson to again be at the top of the league in three point shooting. He also got 1788 points. A great third pickup in the third round, especially seeing at how hist stats probably should have earned him a late first round pickup.
2. Peja Stojakovic - 231 - Whether or not Peja can stay healthy, you have to consider him if he lasts until the seventh round. You don’t want to pick up an injury-prone player in your first five rounds, but sometimes you can take a chance in the later rounds. CP3 is likely to keep getting Peja the ball. Stojakovic is probably still good for 200, even at his age, if he can get in another 80 games. The biggest question here is if James Posey cuts enough into Peja’s playing time that he can’t launch 7 threes per game and make 2 or 3 of them.
3. Rashard Lewis - 226 - Lewis is still in his prime. His numbers should remain way up here. He’ll likely go in the second round, which is probably about where he is worth. His field goal percentage and free throw percentage are stellar, so you may want to seriously consider him here. Of course, you also might want to consider making sure you get some good assists or rebounds here, and waiting for a later round for one of the other tier one three point shooters.
4. Stephen Jackson - 182 - Jackson might be a knucklehead, but with Baron Davis gone Jackson is only likely to get more shots than last year. Jackson won’t be shy launching them up, and Nellie isn’t likely to hinder him in anyway. Expect something around 200 or higher for Stephen Jackson this year. A good sixth round pick.
5. Jamal Crawford - 176 - If Crawford gets a starting nod by new Knicks coach D’Antoni, expect Crawford to get over 200 three pointers this year, especially in a run-and-gun offense like D’Antoni is likely to institute. Also a very good sixth round pick, probably with even more upside than Jackson if D’Antoni plays him a lot.
6. Danny Granger - 171 - Not sure what Granger will do now the O’Neal is gone, and it is pretty much his team. He’s got a host of good role players around him, and now he has a really good point guard to get him the ball where he wants it. Not that he needs much help getting himself a good shot. This is probably the riskiest of the first tier picks, especially considering he is likely going to be a late first rounder. I’d much rather risk a shot on him than other late first rounders Dwyane Wade or Caron Butler, since Granger is more likely than not to play almost every game this year.

Tier 2 (2.0 - 2.5 per game)

1. Ray Allen - 180 - He would be a tier 1 choice if his body weren’t on its way down. He is still likely to get a lot of three pointers, but I’m dropping to tier 2 because he’ll likely get somewhere between 160 and 170 this year, if his body holds up. Still worth a look in the fifth round, though, where he is likely to go, especially considering that his free throw percentage is so high.
2. Steve Nash - 179 - Another good three-point shooter moving past his prime. Nash is likely a second round pick again this year, but it’s hard to say how many three pointers he will be launching this year under a new head coach. Don’t look for him to hit 179 again this year. Of course, his field goal percentage, free throw percentage, and assists will always make him a good second round pickup.
3. Raja Bell - 176 - Another player who is likely to have his three point shooting drop because of age and the lack of D’Antoni offense. Still, if he really goes somewhere near the tenth round, he’d certainly be worth a look if you know you are lacking on three pointers towards the end of your draft. It isn’t likely that he’ll get another 176 three pointers, but he’ll probably be good for 140. After all, a couple of years agon he was going for over 200 and you don’t suddenly become a poor three point shooter.
4. Baron Davis - 173 - He was healthy enough last year, but don’t count on him having another year of good health. He’ll go to some poor sap in the first round, so you won’t likely even have a chance at him, especially since you now know that you would be a sap to pick him so high. His 173 points was from being a product of Nellie’s system, so since he isn’t playing for Nellie or D’Antoni, don’t look for him to get nearly so many three pointers.
5. Joe Johnson - 169 - It’s hard to know where the Hawks are going. They lost some good players over the offseason, but the still have a host of good young talent. I don’t think Joe Johnson is going to do any better than 169 especially if some of his teammates start stepping up. If he is available in the fourth round and you don’t have any other three pointers yet, snap him up.
6. Hedo Turkoglu - 166 - Turkoglu is finally getting the minutes. Even when he wasn’t getting the minutes, he was still making Fantasy teams. I expect his numbers to remain at or slightly above where they were last season. Which means he might be knocking on the door of the first tier players this year. He’s being drafted somewhere in the fourth round, which might be a slight deal, but not too much.
7. Mike Dunleavy - 165 - Another player who might benefit from O’Neal leaving the team and from getting a lightning fast point guard passing him the ball, or he might not. He’s likely to be available in the fourth round, but his stats last year were similar to those of second rounders. He might be a deal. But then again, with the team changing so much, it’s really hard to say. I’d probably take the risk though.
8. Leandro Barbosa - 164 - Can he get another 164 without the D’Antoni offense. He’s been getting better and better and fellow teammates and three pointer shooters Steve Nash and Raja Bell are getting older and older and playing fewer and fewer minutes. Will Barbosa do the same as has been? My bet is that he won’t. Still, if he is available in the eighth round, he might be worth the gamble.

Shorter descriptions from now on.

1. Deshawn Stevenson - 158
2. J.R. Smith - 157
3. Manu Ginobili - 156 - but remember that he injured himself in the Olympics and isn’t likely to play for at least a month.
4. Mike Miller - 155 - Traded to Minnesota. Will he thrive there or not?
5. Al Harrington - 153 - Without Baron Davis getting him the ball, how good will he be?
6. Kobe Bryant - 150 - If you pick up Bryant, three pointers are an added bonus. You’re probably really picking him up for his points.
7. Keith Bogans - 148 - Will he be the starter or not?
8. Paul Pierce - 143
9. Ben Gordon - 142 - He’s playing for a contract. Who knows what he can do, if the Bulls let him.

Tier 4 (2.0 per game possible)

1. Rafer Alston - 143 - How much playing time is he really going to get? Nobody ever thinks he has a chance of getting good playing time, but every year he manages to get good playing time.
2. Rashad McCants - 142 - Can he stay healthy?
3. Shane Battier - 139
4. Chauncey Billups - 137 - Getting older
5. Jason Terry - 136
6. Ricky Davis - 135
7. Michael Redd - 130