Ricky Rubio Signs With Timberwolves, Heading to NBA Next Season

League sources are reporting that Spanish point guard Ricky Rubio, the 5th pick in the 2009 NBA Draft, has agreed to a contract with the Minnesota Timberwolves. Rubio agreed to the deal just before the league's deadline to sign a rookie scale contract.

The Breakdown
Keeper leagues will want to consider pulling Rubio from the free agent pool depending on how many players you're allowed to keep. It's anyone's guess whether he can be an impact player in the NBA next season, but he's certainly worth a flyer. It's not often you get to pick up a quality rookie via free agency.

Few Impact Players Expected From Weak 2011 Draft Class

While the Cavaliers celebrate winning the 2011 NBA Draft Lottery tonight, fantasy basketball fans see little to get excited about in this year's draft class. This group is considered the weakest since the 2000 draft which featured Kenyon Martin and Michael Redd.

What does this mean for fantasy owners? You won't want to overreach for any rookies this year! Without a surefire superstar in this draft, most of a player's fantasy potential will be determined by which uniform he ends up in. In standard leagues, only a handful of rookies may even be worth a draft pick. We'll be targeting players who land with the Cavaliers, Raptors, Wizards, and Bobcats since they're more likely to find themselves playing meaningful minutes from the get-go. Those teams are young and have holes at a number of positions. On the other hand, a talented player will land with the Utah Jazz at the third pick but could be buried on the bench because the team has talent at every position. With the talent level dropping significantly after Duke point guard Kyrie Irving, whoever Utah picks may not be worth a look in standard fantasy drafts.

We'll be keeping an eye on the Draft Combine laster this month and we'll release our list of the top 5 impact rookies following the draft in June.

Jeff Teague Displaying Ability, Potential in 2nd Round Series Against Bulls

With Kirk Hinrich out with a hamstring injury, Atlanta Hawks point guard Jeff Teague has been forced into the starting line up in the team's second round series against the Chicago Bulls. Teague is playing heavy minutes in the biggest games of his career while facing off against league MVP Derrick Rose. Although he struggled to play consistently during the regular season, Teague has been unfazed and he's playing some of the best basketball we've seen out of the Wake Forest product. Through five games, the second year guard is averaging 17 points, 4.4 assists, 3 rebounds, and 1.2 steals with a 55.7% FG% and a 84.2% FT%.

The Breakdown
Where was this Jeff Teague during the regular season? Teague is making a strong case for a selection in the later rounds of fantasy drafts next season as a sleeper pick. He'll have to battle Hinrich for minutes and Teague will also need to improve his work ethic, the one thing that has been holding him back in his young career. Still, he's showcasing what he can do when given ample playing time. Teague is a player that should be on your fantasy radar when training camp opens up for the 2011-12 season.

Kevin Durant Finishes Season Atop Player Ratings

Oklahoma City Thunder superstar Kevin Durant easily finished the 2010-11 season as the top fantasy player in our player ratings. Durant averaged 27.7 points, 1.9 three-pointers, 6.8 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.1 steals, 1 block, 46.2% FG%, and 88% FT%. Durant had a tremendous season and was by far fantasy's most valuable player. He'll be the consensus number one player entering the 2011-12 season.

Keeper Leagues: Don't Forget to Stash Ricky Rubio

With the 2010-11 season coming to a close, it's time to starting thinking about next season for those in keeper leagues. One player you'll want to grab in free agency is Minnesota Timberwolves point guard Ricky Rubio.

Although it's no guarantee he plays in the NBA next season, he's no longer under contract to FC Barcelona which would allow him to sign with Minnesota. Since he's available in the free agent pool of most fantasy leagues, savvy team managers would be wise to keep him stashed on the bench and use him as a keeper or trade bait if he does indeed make his way to the NBA.

Deron Williams to Undergo Wrist Surgery

New Jersey Nets All-Star point guard Deron Williams' season will officially end Friday as he's set to undergo surgery to repair the right wrist that has given him problems late in the season.

The Breakdown
Anyone still holding out hope that he'd play in the last few games should go ahead and drop him. Only fantasy owners in keeper leagues should keep him on the roster. This isn't a major surgery as their just going to remove bone fragments and scar tissue, so Williams should be 100% heading into next season.

Deron Williams Back on the Court

Although New Jersey Nets point guard Deron Williams was expected to be shut down due to a wrist injury, he was back on the court Wednesday night. He played 37 minutes and flirted with a triple-double. Deron tallied 22 points, 8 rebounds, and 8 assists.

The Breakdown
We're surprised that Williams has returned because doctor's had told him to rest his injured wrist for at least a month. Since Williams was dropped in a few leagues, we recommend scooping him up if he's a free agent. Just be aware that he could still be shut down at any time. You'll have to keep an eye on him on a game-by-game basis.

Jordan Crawford Erupts for Career-High 39 Points

Washington Wizards rookie guard Jordan Crawford has been one of the biggest surprises as the season draws to a close. Crawford has scored in double figures in 12 straight games, capped off by a career-high 39 points against the Heat.

The Breakdown
Crawford is on a tear and he figures to log heavy minutes for the rest of the year. Not only is he scoring, but he's also contributing three-pointers, assists, and steals. He's a must own in all formats. Fantasy teams looking for a player to push them over the top in their pursuit of a championship should not hesitate to pick him up.

Most Dropped: March 30

These are the five most dropped players over the last week. Stats listed below are from the last 7 days.

1. David West (29 points, 1 steal, 1 block): It's no surprise West is being dropped since he'll be out of action for the next six months. Only team managers in keeper leagues should bother having him on the roster.
2. Tyler Hansbrough (13.3 points, 6.3 rebounds): Psycho-T has cooled off of late, but he continues to start. His production may be sporadic, but he's still doing just enough to be worth consideration in standard leagues. Those in need of help in points and rebounds should pick him up.

Most Added: March 28

These are the five most added players over the last week. Stats listed below are from the last 7 days.

1. Carlos Delfino (20.3 points, 4 three-pointers, 2 steals, 55% FG%, 83.3% FT%): Delfino is one of the hottest players in the NBA right now. He's playing very heavy minutes, including a 43-minute night in Milwaukee's last game. Delfino should be owned in all formats.
2. Anthony Randolph (19.3 points, 10 rebounds, 56.1% FG%, 80% FT%): Randolph has had a couple of big games since replacing the injured Kevin Love in the starting line up. Randolph is a versatile big man who can help fantasy squads in nearly every category. He appears to be a strong play in all formats for as long as Love is out of the line up.

Hot Streaks: March 26

Five players that have been playing well over the last couple of weeks. Stats listed below are from the last 15 days.

1. Carlos Delfino (15.5 points, 3.1 three-pointers, 4.1 rebounds, 2.1 steals, 50.6% FG%): Delfino had a great three-game stretch this past week where he averaged 28.7 points. In addition to his scoring ability, Carlos can contribute three-pointers, rebounds, and steals. Delfino is starting and playing heavy minutes, making him someone who should be on all fantasy rosters down the stretch.
2. Jodie Meeks (14.6 points, 3.3 three-pointers, 1.3 steals, 51.9% FG%, 91.7% FT%): Meeks' hot shooting has continued for another week as he keeps draining the long ball. Teams in need of a boost in scoring, three-pointers, and steals should give Meeks a strong look. Meeks is playing over 35 minutes a night as Evan Turner has become a non-factor in Philadelphia's rotation.

Tyreke Evans Returns to Action

After missing 19 games to deal with plantar fasciitis, Sacramento Kings guard Tyreke Evans was back on the court Friday night. Evans came off the bench to play 17 minutes, finishing with 6 points and 8 assists.

The Breakdown
Evans has been dropped in many leagues, but he could become a valuable asset once he's healthy and getting his regular dose of minutes. We recommend picking him up if he's in your free agent pool as he can contribute regularly in nearly every category.

David West Out Up to Six Months After ACL Tear

New Orleans Hornets power forward David West suffered a torn ACL in Thursday's game against the Utah Jazz. West will miss the rest of this season and may miss part of training camp for the 2011-12 season.

The Breakdown
The injury makes Carl Landry a must own in standard leagues. He'll give teams a boost in points and field goal percentage while chipping in a few rebounds. Those in deeper leagues may want to give Jason Smith a look.

Rudy Gay Requires Shoulder Surgery, Officially Done for the Rest of the Season

Memphis Grizzlies small forward Rudy Gay, who's been out since the All-Star break, will require surgery on his separated shoulder. He'll require 4-6 months to recover, meaning he won't return until training camp for the 2011-12 season.

The Breakdown
Any fantasy owners holding out hope that Rudy would return this season should cut him loose. Only Gay owners in keeper leagues should hang onto him. If you have Tony Allen, Sam Young, or Shane Battier on your roster, you should feel safe employing them for the rest of the year.

Most Dropped: March 23

These are the five most dropped players over the last week. Stats listed below are from the last 7 days.

1. Nick Young (Has not played due to injury): Young has been out about a week due to a knee injury, though he could return as early as tonight against the Clippers. Teams in need of another scorer and three-point shooter should consider Young, though you'll have to absorb a hit to your field goal percentage.
2. Andray Blatche (Has not played due to injury): Blatche is another in a long list of injured Wizards players. He's missed the last six games and it's unclear when he'll be back on the court. With no specific timetable for his return, he's not worth holding onto at this late point in the season. If there's a decent option available in your free agent pool, we'd suggest you go with him and send Blatche to the waiver wire.
   

Tim Duncan Sprains Ankle, Expected to Miss at Least Two Weeks

San Antonio Spurs big man Tim Duncan suffered an ankle sprain in tonight's game. The injury is expected to sideline him for at least two weeks, though there's a possibility Duncan misses the rest of the regular season.

The Breakdown
Duncan owners should look for a replacement as the Spurs won't be in a rush to bring him back. Some combination of Antonio McDyess, DeJuan Blair, and Tiago Splitter will take over Duncan's minutes. Blair looks like the most likely to see an increase in fantasy value, but team managers will have to keep an eye on the next few games to see how the playing time is divided.

Most Added: March 21

These are the five most added players over the last week. Stats listed below are from the last 7 days.

1. Tyler Hansbrough (20.8 points, 7.8 rebounds, 1.3 steals, 54% FG%): Psycho-T is the most added player in fantasy basketball for the second consecutive week as he continues putting up big numbers in points and rebounds. He has emerged as must own in all formats as he's taken his game to another level in recent weeks.
2. C.J. Miles (26 points, 3 three-pointers, 4.7 rebounds, 56.4% FG%): Miles has become a hot add since dropping a career-high 40 points this past week as well as moving into the starting line up. Like Hansbrough, Miles is looking like a strong player to add for the stretch run as he's playing heavy minutes and contributing across a few categories.

Jordan Crawford, Trevor Booker Gaining Value Amid Injuries

With many key rotation players dealing with injuries, the Washington Wizards have turned to rookies Jordan Crawford and Trevor Booker for heavy minutes. As a result, each has gained considerable fantasy value as they play 35-40 minutes a night.

The Breakdown
Both players make for great pick ups in the short term. Booker is a good source of scoring and rebounds while Crawford is a big time scorer who can also contribute assists and steals. They should be owned in deep formats and may have some value in standard leagues depending on how long players like Andray Blatche, Josh Howard, and Nick Young are out.

Hot Streaks: March 19

Five players that have been playing well over the last couple of weeks. Stats listed below are from the last 15 days.

1. Toney Douglas (16.2 points, 3.4 three-pointers, 6.3 assists, 50% FG%, 84.6% FT%): Douglas emerged as a great fantasy option while Chauncey Billups was sidelined recently, but he's continued to play well and see heavy minutes even as he's been moved back to a reserve role. Toney is a great scorer, but he's also helping fantasy owners in every category besides blocks. Don't let him go unowned in your league as he looks to be a great pick up as the season winds down.
2. C.J. Miles (19.1 points, 2.1 three-pointers, 4.4 rebounds, 1 steal, 91.3% FT%): C.J. is presently on an eight-game double-digit scoring streak that was capped off by Wednesday's 40-point outburst. Miles was recently moved into the starting line up as his overall production has improved. Miles is looking like a solid pick up as the Jazz battle it out for a playoff spot.

Deron Williams Reinjures Wrist, May be Shut Down

New Jersey Nets point guard Deron Williams aggravated a wrist injury Friday night. Doctors are telling Williams he'll need at the very least least three weeks of rest to let the wrist heal. With the Nets out of playoff contention, they don't want to risk further injury to their All-Star and will likely decide to shut him down for the rest of the season.

The Breakdown
The loss of Williams would make Jordan Farmar a must own. He's played very well at various points in the season when he's had an opportunity to start. While he obviously won't put up the numbers of a Deron Williams, Farmar can be a solid source of points, three-pointers, and assists. Get him on your roster if he's available.