Rajon Rondo looks primed for a true breakout campaign this season. He improved as the season progressed last year and looks even better this year. He won't score a ton of points playing on a loaded team like Boston, but rare is the point guard who shoots close to 50 percent from the field. He's a poor free throw shooter, but he doesn't take enough attempts there to do any real damage. Rondo is one of the better rebounding point guards in the league, and his assist total should jump during his second year as starter. He should also contend for the league-lead in steals, so he has plenty of value despite playing fourth fiddle on his own team.
Andris Biedrins is off to a huge start to the season, averaging 17.5 points and a staggering 14.5 rebounds. The big news is that Don Nelson may have finally warmed to him, as Biedrins is playing 36:12 minutes per game, nine more than last season. Despite a 6-11, 245 lb frame, he's athletic, making him a perfect fit in Golden State's uptempo offense. With Baron Davis and Monta Ellis not around, Biedrins will shoulder more of the scoring load, and he's a huge help in FG%. He's regressed as a shot blocker, and you won't find an uglier shooter at the charity stripe, but the onslaught of double-doubles isn't going away anytime soon.
When Marquis Daniels broke onto the scene as a rookie in 2003/04, I was convinced he was a future star. He's 6-6 yet capable of playing point guard and racking up big steal totals, but Daniels has been a huge disappointment during his career. It's only been two games, but given 35 mpg, here is what Daniels has produced this year: 12.5 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 3.5 apg, 1.0 spg, 1.0 bpg, 47.6 FG%. There's no doubt he can fill up the stat sheet if given the opportunity, and with Mike Dunleavy nursing a knee injury that could be potentially serious, it looks like Daniels may finally get a chance. He's never lived up to his potential, and this playing time increase may only be short-term, but he needs to be owned in all leagues right now.
I recently saw the odds on the Lakers winning the NBA championship this year at 3:1. While I almost never go with favorites, this strikes me as tremendous value. Have you seen Los Angeles play lately? There's a very real possibility this team wins 70 games this season. Andrew Bynum hasn't even begun to scratch the surface, and Jordan Farmar is one of the most improved players in the league. Trevor Ariza is good. Lamar Odom off the bench? Did I mention Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol are on the team? I'm not even sure why they are playing out the season, as it's a foregone conclusion; Lakers take it all in 2008/09.
Speaking of Los Angeles, maybe last year's Pau Gasol trade wasn't the epic rip off it seemed to be, as Marc Gasol looks like the real deal. During the first four games of his NBA career, he's averaging 10.3 boards in just 30 mpg. He also looks more than capable on the defensive side of the floor (0.8 spg, 1.8 bpg) and possesses solid moves in the post. It's early, but those who took Gasol late in fantasy drafts may have gotten the biggest steal of all.
Not sure why he was in Scott Skiles' doghouse to begin with, but Ramon Sessions simply has to be Milwaukee's starting point guard. He's at least locked up the backup job, something he didn't secure when the season began. But come on, Luke Ridnour? Really? Sessions is a far better defensive player, and all he's done during nine career starts is get 13.6 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 12.1 apg 1.8 spg and 47.2 FG%. You'll have to deal with Ridnour getting the starts for the time being, but patient owners who stash Sessions should be rewarded handsomely later on.