Insider "Fantasy Report" - mostly crap you already

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Insider Fantasy File

Chad Ford

ESPN Insider

Tuesday, October 15, 2002

Did your favorite fantasy player's off-season diet consist of Twinkies and Kool-Aid? Did he hire Marcus Camby's personal trainer? Spend training camp on Latrell Sprewell's houseboat? Spend more time in court than on it? Celebrate his 70th birthday? Demand to be traded when Chris Dudley returned from the dead?

Insider asked coaches and GMs around the league to help whittle our list down to these 10 big names that have "fantasy bust" written all over them.

Michael Jordan, SG, Wizards

How will MJ fare coming off the bench? Unlike last year, when he was easily able to beat out Courtney Alexander and Tyrone Nesby for minutes, the competition will be a bit tougher this time around. Jerry Stackhouse will command big minutes at the two and Larry Hughes will also want some time there. Jordan can spend time at the three, but Bryon Russell and lottery pick Jared Jeffries will have fresher legs. You can argue that MJ, at 40, is still better than anyone else on the Wizards, but the point is he won't dominate the offensive categories the way he did last season. Then factor in the possibility of injury and Jordan's worth no higher than a seventh round pick.

Brent Barry, SG, Sonics

Barry was a top 10 fantasy performer last season, but the emergence of Desmond Mason and the off-season acquisition of Kenny Anderson may dilute his value. Mason has been the Sonics best performer in camp and there are whispers in Seattle that Barry's days as a starter are over. Then, factor in a lineup that has Anderson running the point and Payton playing two guard and all signs point to Barry's minutes taking a substantial hit. He's still a great fantasy player, but is he really worth a third to fourth round pick?

Danny Fortson, PF, Warriors

Fortson was the NBA's fourth leading rebounder last season, but his glass cleaning days with the Warriors are numbered. Coach Eric Musselman may give him some token minutes to keep his trade value alive, but second year forward Troy Murphy is already penciled in as the starter. If Murphy stumbles, or if Mike Dunleavy improves, Antawn Jamison is waiting in the wings to take over the four. Either way, Fortson is poised to turn into this year's Marc Jackson.

Doug Christie, SG, Kings

Christie is coming off a phenomenal year (he ranked sixth among fantasy two-guards in 2001-02), however third-year swingman Hidayet Turkoglu is really pushing for the starting position. Christie is a better defender, but Turkoglu is more versatile and an upgrade on offense. With Mike Bibby out six to eight weeks the time crunch is somewhat alleviated -- Turkoglu will run the point on occasion. Once Bibby returns? Turkoglu has what it takes to really eat into Christie's minutes.

Darrell Armstrong, PG, Magic

Armstrong ranked eighth among fantasy point guards last season, but his minutes and assists will take a blow with the addition of Jacque Vaughn and a healthy Grant Hill. Vaughn has already nabbed the starting point guard slot and Doc Rivers likes to run lots of sets with Hill handling the ball. Armstrong will still get minutes off the bench, but not enough to make him worth your while.

Anfernee Hardaway, SG, Suns

Penny wants your love, but please don't squeeze the Charmin. He'll be the first to point out that he didn't have a bad year last season and he managed to stay relatively healthy, but the Suns are focusing on their youth movement, which means that Joe Johnson is the latest kid to steal Penny's slot. Hardaway will continue to get his minutes backing up Johnson, but unless Stephon Marbury's ankle worsens, this could be the final act for Little Penny.

Elden Campbell, C, Hornets

Speaking of softies, Campbell ranked sixth among fantasy centers last season but injuries, age and the emergence of Jamaal Magloire could all spell trouble for Campbell's fantasy value. Campbell, who's been bothered by a sore left knee, has yet to practice this pre-season while Magloire's toughness in the paint has made him a Hornets camp standout.

Damon Stoudamire, PG, Blazers

The Blazers have been trying to find a big point guard for the last two years. This summer they found two of them - Jeff McInnis and Antonio Daniels - who should be able to replace Stoudamire. Mighty Mouse is not going down without a fight, but the best-case scenario for Stoudamire is some sort of platooning relationship with McInnis. That should put him on par with Moochie Norris for fantasy value.

Shane Battier, Michael Dickerson and Stromile Swift, Grizzlies

The Grizzlies have real depth for the first time ever, which has led to an interesting camp this fall. The only two players who are totally set are Pau Gasol and Jason Williams. Battier can do it all, but the play of rookie Gordan Giricek has Sidney Lowe seriously considering bringing Battier off the bench in a utility role. Giricek is a better shooter and is one of the few Grizzlies who really knows how to create his shot off the dribble. He may technically be a rookie, but at age 25, Giricek is an international veteran who knows how to light it up. Dickerson has been battling injuries, giving Wesley Person a chance to claim some minutes, if not the starting spot, at the two. Swift has also played well this fall, but Drew Gooden has played even better. If Lowe leaves Gooden on the second team, there won't be too many scraps left on the table for Swift.

Donyell Marshall, SF, Bulls Marshall may be only one of two veterans on this young Bulls team, but that shouldn't translate into big fantasy numbers. Jerry Krause is still enamored with Eddie Robinson at the three and coach Bill Cartwright wants to give Tyson Chandler every chance to succeed at the power forward slot. Where does that leave Marshall? See Charles Oakley circa 2001.

Chad Ford is the NBA Insider for ESPN.com. Check out his frequent work on ESPN Insider , including the recent NBA Turf Wars .