We round out our Eastern Conference analysis of non-playoff teams and what they can add to your fantasy roster by looking at the Southeast division. Earlier, when we analyzed the Atlantic Division, we decreed the Brooklyn Nets as being playoff bound. Since the Nets were not partaking in the post season last year, that means a team that was in the playoffs must give way this year. The team that slips out of the top eight and fails to make the playoffs is the Dwight Howard-less Orlando Magic.
Joining the Magic on the outside looking in come playoff time will be the Charlotte Bobcats and the Washington Wizards. Despite respectively having the second and third picks overall in the past NBA entry draft, neither the Bobcats nor the Wizards will realize their post-season dreams. The Wizards will fare better than last year, as they have added some new faces in Nene and Emeka Okafor; ultimately it won’t be enough to squeeze into that eighth spot.
So which players on these non-playoff teams are good enough for your fantasy roster? These three players might not be able to get their teams to the promise land, but they could take your fantasy team to the top.
Arron Afflalo - Orlando Magic
Afflalo came to the Magic in the Dwight Howard trade and figures to be the starting shooting guard. Afflalo had a productive season with the Denver Nuggets as he posted a 15.2 ppg average. He figures to get the green light to let them fly from the perimeter, in lieu of any other real scoring options. Afflalo should be called upon to shoot the ball game in and game out.
The Magic will be an awful team this season, and there are not any great fantasy options on the roster. I am not super keen on any player off this roster, but I do think that Afflalo is the best of the bunch.
John Wall - Washington Wizards
The former Kentucky Wildcat product is the catalyst of the Washington Wizards, as John Wall goes, so go the Wizards. When Wall is shooting well and dishing assists, his game is as good as any point guard in the league. Down side to Wall’s shooting is his inability to hit from long range, as his three-point shooting was a dismal 3 for 42 last season.
With new additions, Emeka Okafor and Nene in the middle forcing defenses to collapse; Wall must show he can stick the open jumpers. The assist numbers for Wall are solid, with 19 games registering in double digits. If your fantasy league values triple-doubles, then Wall could have real potential, as his rebounding from the point guard spot is outstanding.
Ramon Sessions- Charlotte Bobcats
There are a few potential fantasy contributors off the Charlotte Bobcats. With Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and Kemba Walker in the fold, there are some fantasy points out there. However, I like the man off the bench in Ramon Sessions.
Sessions has shown his productivity in reserve roles in the past, and I don’t see this being any different. I figure on Sessions getting about 20-25 minutes of court time a night in a reserve role behind Walker. Despite limited minutes, Sessions puts up solid scoring, rebounding and assist numbers. If Sessions can move into the starting lineup, then watch for his averages to increase. Sessions should not be considered a PG1 or PG2 in any league; however, if daily leagues are your thing, watch for a favorable period in the schedule for the Bobcats, as well as early struggles in Kemba’s game.
This brings our Eastern Conference analysis to a close. In summary, we have the Toronto Raptors, Cleveland Cavaliers, Detroit Pistons, Milwaukee Bucks, Orlando Magic, Washington Wizards and the Charlotte Bobcats as being non-playoff teams. Don’t be fooled by their team’s lack of success, there are excellent fantasy players on these teams. Let your fellow General Managers discount these players value, while you steal a player that just might put you at the top.