Well the 2007/ 08 preseason is already greater than one week old.   While the old vets are hardly seen, the rookies and guys we know will never make the team are being showcased for final roster spots.  Rookies have had the summer league and now a few NBA showings to help us decide if they can make any impact at all on a fantasy roster this season, and from what I have seen, this is how I feel about some of our 2007 rookie class:

Kevin Durant, Supersonics- Obvious choice but I actually don’t like Durant as much as you would expect.  He should easily put up the most stats of the rookies, but all indications are that he will struggle with his shot early and his FG% on such a young Sonics team will plummet.  It will actually be very good for Durant, if Wally and Ridnour (or Watson) step up and take some of the offensive burden off, so Durant can let the game come to him and not always force.  That all being said, this kid is going to get major minutes, has range out past the arc, and once he hits his groove can shoot with anyone.  He is going to get his stats and help any fantasy roster and be a gold mine in keeper leagues.

Al Thornton, Clippers- Thornton was stated to be one of the more “NBA ready” rookies coming out of college.  He is older at age 24 and appears more physically prepared for an 82 game season.  That didn’t mean a whole lot until Elton Brand went down to a major achilles injury.  Suddenly the door was wide open for Thorton, and while the Clips take another blow to the chin, us non-Brand fantasy owners got a little excited.  Everything in summer league and preseason says that Thornton is ready to earn the minutes so expect him to put up top 3 rookie stats. 

Al Horford, Hawks- While the Hawks have been stockpiling lottery talent they haven’t focused on team needs which has really hurt their progress the last couple seasons.  In the 2007 draft, with Conley Jr. staring them in the face they again had to go to the best big man on the board and that was Florida’s Al Horford.  Well this choice was most likely a solid selection.  The jury is out on whether the gamble to take a PG with their next pick in Acie Law will work, but Horford appears ready for the NBA.  He is not outstanding, but just has a solid overall game and does the intangible which win games.  Expect 12-8 and a block out of Horford as he continues to earn more minutes as the season wears on.

Jeff Green, Sonics- Many people are calling Green the Pippen and Durant the Jordan, but in fantasy basketball world, we all may have picked Pippen and his all around game ahead of Jordan and his scoring ability, and when we look back, that may be the way this draft should have gone.  This young Seattle roster will result in lots of minutes for the rookies Green and Durant.  That along is enough to validate him one of the top five rooks, but his play this preseason has backed it up.  Expect Green to score more than expected, without sacrificing the all around game everyone is expecting.   He is not ahead of the highly touted Durant, but his all around game makes him very valuable as a rookie. 

Mike Conley Jr., Grizz- I expect Conley to come along a little slower than those who felt the second his name was announced at the draft, that the PG reigns in Memphis were his.  I think he was a great fit for this team, and will become the starter later in the year, but few point guards come in and dominate immediately.  Remember, before the NCAA March Madness run, Conley’s name was hardly mentioned, nor was he coming out of school.  He has been getting very limited minutes in preseason which is not a great sign, but follow the last week of preseason closely to see if that shifts.  He is a great playmaker, and loves the up tempo game, but if you draft Conley do so for the stats later in the season, not on opening night. 

Marco Belinelli, Warriors - How can coach Nelli, not give minutes to a dude with “Nelli” in his name?? It is automatic…. Well, even if Marco doesn’t sit back and assume his minutes are coming from his catchy name, he appears ready to earn significant playing time from his shooting and up tempo game - both of which couldn’t fit better in Golden State.  Marco torched the summer league defenders with his jumper and has shown he can do it an an NBA level in preseason.  Expect some night where he provided little to nothing when Nelli is going with another hot hand, but overall for the season Belinelli will put up very good stats with some huge nights.

Von Wafer, Nuggets- Where did this kid come from?  He has had an excellent summer and preseason, and done everything to earn minutes so far, maybe pushing past JR Smith in the rotation as first guard off the bench.   The one downside in Denver is that backcourt is already crowded with Iverson, Atkins, JR Smith, and more.  The upside is all of those players tend to miss games which could open the door for Wafer at any time. 

Corey Brewer, Timberwolves- Like Wafer, Brewer is stuck in a crowded backcourt at the moment.  Foye is manning the point, with Telfair trying to earn the backup minutes.  Then there is a number of SG/ SF combo players lead by Ricky Davis and McCants (who is playing very well himself).  We do not yet know where the talented Brewer fits in.  Everyone expects Davis to be traded, which makes sense for the team and Davis, but until he is it will be tough for Brewer to provide any significant fantasy impact on a consistent basis.

Yi Jianlian-  Yi is going to get minutes, regardless of how well he plays, for what he brings to the stadium each night for those in attendance.  He is a graceful 7 footer who can take it to the rim, or shoot the outside jumper, and NBA fans love storylines like his.  The issue is Yi does not appear to be NBA ready yet, with his physical size or ability to stay out of foul trouble. His time on the court will be in short bursts only at first.  There is talent ahead of him in the front court, with Charlie V, Bogut and others, so Yi is certainly not a walk on.  Ming surprised everyone with how quickly he adapted his game, so I expect Yi to be much better later in the season, but very slow the first couple months.

Acie Law, Hawks - Will not get starter minutes for some time. Hawks want to win, and too many guards in Atlanta to share time. 

Brandon Wright, Warriors - Hasn’t played any significant minutes yet to lead us one way or the other.  The minutes he is getting in preseason may carry over to the same rotation in the regular season which will limit any fantasy contributions.

Jason Smith, 76′ers- Could get a boost in minutes early with Dalembert still hurting, but hasn’t shown he can do much in preseason, let alone the real show.

Nick Young, Wizards - I think he will be the scorer off the bench the Wizards need.  Can score in many ways on the floor and doesn’t need anyone else to create his shot for him.    But with limited minutes many nights, and his main fantasy contribution points only, he will provide little impact early in the season.