Chris Wilcox

Wilcox is yet another Celtic flier who has battled injury woes throughout his career, but is only 29 and can provide some punch when healthy. His days of putting up big fantasy numbers are by the wayside, but his 58% shooting percentage last season could definitely be of use if an opportunity for playing time arises.

After spending a year struggling to get off the Pistons’ bench, Wilcox opted to pick up his player option this offseason and spend another season donning red, white, and blue warm-ups. If the athletic big man wasn’t able to crack the Pistons’ injury-depleted rotation last year, he doesn’t stand much of a chance to see significant run in 2010-11.

After a couple successful seasons in Seattle, Wilcox was lost in the shuffle in Oklahoma City and New York last year. He finished the season with his lowest output in points (7.2) since his rookie campaign and only snagged 4.5 boards per game. At 27, Wilcox is hardly washed-up and could be in line for a career resurrection in Detroit. If he can fend off Brown and Wallace for minutes, Wilcox provides solid production with his points and rebounds, but his career mark of 0.4 blocks per game means you'll have to team him with good defensive players.

Wilcox has never developed into the player many thought he’d become after helping lead Maryland to the NCAA title in 2002. And he may be running out of opportunities to show his stuff… Oklahoma City is clearly a team in the process of rebuilding around young stars Kevin Durant, Jeff Green and Russell Westbrook. The arrival of Westbrook this year probably shifts Durant to the three and Green to the four, which leaves Wilcox as a backup at power forward. The best case scenario is that he gets enough games at center to qualify there in your league, which would represent a significant boost to his fantasy value.

Wilcox had solid production last season (13.5 ppg, 7.7 rpg, 53% FG), but he could be in for a playing time crunch this year. The Sonics completely revamped their roster this season with the trades of Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis, and the two new foundation pieces of the team (Kevin Durant and Jeff Green) could each get some time at the power forward position. Considering that Nick Collison is coming off of a breakout season in the middle, and the last three Sonics drafts before this year brought in project big men that should be healthy this season, there may not be a lot of room left for Wilcox. Even at his best, Wilcox is a limited fantasy producer who doesn’t contribute much outside of points and rebounds.

Wilcox broke out in the second half of last season after being traded to the Sonics and getting some playing time, averaging 14.3 points on 59% FG and 78% FT shooting with 8.4 rebounds in 30.7 minutes after the All-Star break. Wilcox has extreme jumping ability and good quickness to go with his 6-10, 235-pound frame. The question for this season is whether it took so long for Wilcox to break out due to lack of opportunity (behind Elton Brand on the Clippers), or if it were due to motivational issues. It raises red flags that Wilcox’s breakout came in a contract year, and now that he has a lucrative contract extension, he must prove that last year wasn’t a fluke.

Wilcox will be the primary backup to Kaman at the five spot in the Clippers lineup, and will also provide backup at power forward to Brand. Should Kaman not play well or get injured, however, Wilcox will be first in line to take over as the team's starter. Wilcox needs to get a better handle on the NBA style of play and needs to become more physical, but he's a tremendous athlete with quickness and shot-blocking ability.

Wilcox played well when given minutes last season and could be a solid contributor off the bench this time around. His value could increase significantly if someone like Elton Brand or Chris Kaman falls to injury.

Former lottery pick who plays with extraordinary athleticism. Great timing and low post positioning. Main backup to Elton Brand at PF. Will see significant minutes and could have a mild fantasy impact. His stock skyrockets with an injury to Brand.