Blake was traded twice this offseason, first from the Trail Blazers to the Nets and then from the Nets to the Pistons. The steady, 35-year-old veteran point guard will likely battle Spencer Dinwiddie for backup point guard duties in training camp, and one of them will hold down the job until Brandon Jennings is ready to return from the left Achilles surgery he underwent in January. Jennings could miss the first couple months of the season. Through 81 games with Portland last season, Blake averaged 4.3 points 1.0 three-pointer, 1.7 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 0.5 steals, and 0.1 blocks in 19 minutes per game while shooting 37 percent from the field, 35 percent from three, and 71 percent from the line. There's not much to like from Blake in fantasy. He's an older player with poor shooting percentages who isn't likely to play big minutes again. It would take several bad injuries for Blake to be relevant in standard leagues this season.
The vagabond that is Steve Blake had found the most consistent home of his 11-year career with the Lakers, but they traded him mid-season to the Warriors, uprooting him once again. Leaving the dysfunctional and injury-laden Lakers to play a reduced role on the up-and-coming Warriors. The guard didn't sidestep injury himself, missing nearly two months after tearing the UCL in his right elbow in early December, but ailments to backcourt mates allowed the Maryland product to start all 27 contests in which he was active with the Lakers, during which he contributed 9.5 points (on 38-percent shooting), 7.6 assists, 3.8 rebounds, 1.9 three-pointers, and 1.3 steals in 33 minutes per outing. After exchanging Hollywood for the Bay Area, his production predictably faltered playing behind Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson - 4.4 points, 3.6 assists, 2.0 rebounds, and 1.0 threes in 22 minutes nightly - but Blake at least attained a playoff berth for a fourth consecutive season. Nonetheless, once free agency opened, Golden State pounced on Shaun Livingston to fill Blake's role, and the game of musical chairs continued, with the latter finding a familiar home in Portland. This season, Blake will play both with and off the ball, depending on standout point guard Damian Lillard's presence, but the 34-year-old may have to fend off the developing CJ McCollum or Will Barton for prime status off the bench.
Blake saw an increase in minutes, points, rebounds, and assists last year compared to the 2011-12 season. With Nash's health a concern to begin the season, Blake has the potential to see decent minutes. Blake has failed to take advantage of this opportunity, however, as he has struggled significantly with his shot. If he can turn his shooting woes around, he has the chance to see minutes on a nightly basis since Nash will more than likely need some rest over the course of the season. If he continues to struggle, Jordan Farmar may start to take some of his minutes.
He figures to be the favorite heading into camp to backup Steve Nash at the one, a role that he should thrive in. At times last season Blake was asked to do a little too much, especially when Derek Fisher was still on the team. He profiles much better as a reserve that can come in and run the offense and hit corner threes. Blake’s best fantasy nights will be those where he’s running the offense late in a lopsided victory. His value is very limited now that Nash is in town.
Blake has had decent years in the past, but last year was not one of them. He struggled to fit into the triangle offense, averaging just four points and 2.2 assists per game last year. There's room for improvement but not enough to make Blake a viable fantasy option in most leagues.
Blake inked a four-year deal with the Lakers this offseason. He'll backup incumbent starter Derek Fisher at point guard. Blake's production won't match what he was able to do as a starter with the Blazers, but he'll still be a decent source of 3-pointers and assists in deeper formats.
The 2008-09 season was a banner year for Blake. He averaged career-highs in points (11.0) and threes (2.0) while dishing out five assists per game. But those numbers were due, in part, to of a lack of depth behind him at point guard, and that'll change this year with the addition of Andre Miller. Blake will still provide plenty of value for the Blazers with his heady point guard play and underrated defense, but his minutes will be too limited to make another surprise splash in fantasy.
Blake is entering the final year of his contract and doesn’t have a future beyond this season with the Blazers, but that doesn’t mean he won’t serve a purpose. Portland coach Nate McMillan has already endorsed him as the starting point guard, but we don’t see Blake getting 30-plus minutes a night. First, McMillan will have to get creative to find minutes for Rudy Fernandez. That means having Brandon Roy play some point guard. Even with Blake on the court last year, Roy was often the initiator on offense. And rookie phenom Jerryd Bayless will also be part of the mix at the one. It looks like Blake will have to find his production in 20-25 minutes a night, which isn’t enough to be a starting fantasy point guard.
Blake started last year playing sparingly for the Bucks and ended up doubling his playing time in Denver. His numbers doubled to 8.3 points and 6.6 assists per game, but he was less effective in the playoffs, averaging just 7.3 points and 4.6 assists per game in 36 minutes. Blake is a good playmaker but a liability on the defensive end because of his lack of size and strength. He's penciled in as the starter at point guard, though Jarrett Jack and Brandon Roy will take some time away from him. Blake's fantasy value is exclusively for assists in deeper leagues.
Signed by the Blazers as a free agent from the Wizards. Blake is a good three-point shooter, but probably will not get much get playing time with the Blazers who are top heavy with point guards in Sebastian Telfair, former Wizards and Maryland teammate Juan Dixon and Jarrett Jack, whom they picked up in the draft. But Portland is high on him and sees him as a steal in the free-agent market.
Blake, who underwent successful offseason surgery to remove a chipped bone in his right ankle, could miss over a month of the regular season. Once the second-year player, who is the closest thing the team has to a pure point guard, returns, look for him to slide back into his backup role. In 2003-04, Blake averaged 5.9 points and 2.8 assists per game, and sported a not-so-nifty shooting percentage of .386, which he hopes to improve upon this season.
Blake, who was the Wizards' second round pick in June's draft, will provide the team with depth at point guard. He'll be reunited with Juan Dixon, his backcourt mate when Maryland won the NCAA championship in 2002, but don't expect them to be cutting down any nets anytime soon.
