NBA Fantasy Basketball 2009-2010 : Rating the Top 10 Shooting Fowards in the NBA

With the 2008-09 season coming to a close after a the Lakers' 5 game victory over the Orlando Magic , it's time to look ahead towards the 2009-2010 NBA Fantasy Basketball season. With plenty of teams fighting for the top sot in the league, there is little doubt the new basketball season will yield an equally great Fantasy Basketball season. Here then are the top 10 Shooting Forwards to go after in your Fantasy Basketball Draft.

Lebron James (Cavaliers)

Fantasy Basketball is all about numbers, and King James can put up numbers across all category. Lebron is coming off a season which saw him average 28.4 points, 7.3 assists, and 7.6 rebounds a game. What's more, the 6-8, 250 lbs forward will also net you steals and blocks without hurting your shooting percentages in the process. When it comes to Fantasy Basketball, James is a first round, first pick player. If you do not have one of the top three picks in the draft chances are you will not have a shot at James this year.

Kevin Durant (Thunder)

Durant, the NBA's first overall pick 2 seasons ago, is a superstar on the rise. Last season he scored at a 25.3 ppg pace, while grabbing 6.2 rebounds a game. Kevin was also deadly from the foul line (86.3%) and the three point line (42.2%), and got his fair shares of blocks and steals. Though not Lebron James, when it comes to Fantasy Basketball, Durant is plenty good enough., and should be a top 10 pick in any league.

Paul Pierce (Celtics)

Yes, the 6-7, 235 lbs Pierce plays as a guard as well, which only adds to his all-around value. Fantasy Basketball wise, Pierces numbers have been down since the arrival of Garnett and Allen, and he is getting up in years with over 800 regular season games under his belt, but he is still among the top players in the league. Paul will score well across most categories except block shots, and his averages should hover around the 20 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists per game mark. Pierce is a steady player who will be gone in the top 3 rounds

Vince Carter (Nets)

Carter never became the second coming of Michael Jordan, and he is past his days of scoring 25-27 points a game. Still, he will score and get assists for your team as a Guard-Forward. Carter will also help you from beyond the arc (37.6 pct), and from the foul line (81.6 over the last two seasons), and there is little not to like about him, so draft him without reservation.

Danny Granger (Pacers)

Granger is coming off a career year in which he average 25.8 points per game for the Pacers, and if you are looking for a Fantasy Basketball player who can hit from beyond the arc (2.7 three points made per game) and help you at the foul line as well (87.8 average) then Granger is your man. Though he will still get you 5 or 6 rebounds a game and a few assists, Granger's game is scoring with the ball.

Hedo Turkoglu (Magic)

Anyone who follows the Magic, knows Turkoglu is a great underrated all-around player. Hedo can score (16.8 ppg) , rebound (5.3 rbg) and hand out assists (4.9 apg). Hedo can also get you a fair share of three pointers, and will hit his shots from the foul line. Look for Turkoglu to fly under the radar in most leagues in be available in the late middle rounds of the draft

Caron Butler (Wizards)

If you can overlook the fact that Butler has averaged only 63 games a season for over the past 3 years, you will see that his numbers rank pretty high among shooting forwards. Last year Butler scored 20.8 points, grabbed 6.2 rebounds, and handed out 4.3 assists per game. As an added bonus, Bulter will get you plenty of steals, and hits on a high percentage from the foul line (85.2 lifetime pct).

Andre Iguodala (76ers)

Iguodala enjoyed a terrific playoff series against the Orlando last year, where he got to exhibit his great all-around skills. Andre is a player who will give you 38-40 minutes per night and get you 20 points, 5 assists, and 5 rebounds per game. You can't ask for much more from a shooting forward, and he chances are you can have him in the mid rounds of the draft.

Rudy Gay (Grizzlies)

Gay is a bright spot on an otherwise lackluster Memphis team. The former Connecticut Huskies should be good for 19-20 points a game for seasons to come, and he will help you from beyond the three point arc, as well as the defense categories.

Gerald Wallace (Bobcats)

Wallace does not get much press playing for the Bobcats, but this former first round draft pick can still put up decent numbers for Charlotte. Wallace will average between 16-19 points, 6-8 rebounds, and 3 assists per game this season. As an added bonus, he will also get you a few steals and a block per game. It's doubtful that Gerald is high on many people's list, and you may be able to steal him in the mid rounds of the draft.

Statistical Sources:

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/stats/