Aaron Brooks, Houston PG
Brooks is a matchup problem for most NBA point guards based on his speed alone. His ability to break down defenses was on display in the playoffs last year, something that he will only get better at. With Yao out for the season and Ron Artest in LA, AB will be needed to carry some of the scoring load so you should see his PPG go up. The third-year speedster has a decent 3-point shot and will be given the freedom to launch at will, most likely. I expect a big year out of Brooks, who should see his stats balloon as he becomes a fantasy stalwart at PG.

Joakim Noah, Chicago PF/C
His hair isn’t pretty. His game isn’t pretty. Matter of fact, nothing that Joakim Noah does on the hardwood actually looks good; but he gets the job done. If you can snag this guy deep in your draft – do it. He’ll give you everything he’s got every night on the court; that you can be sure of. This means blocks, defensive rebounds, offensive rebounds, good shooting percentage and the occasional double-digit game in points. He’s got the ability to run the floor and will see about 30 minutes a night. He’ll be overlooked in most drafts, simply because of his ugly game and mug to match.

Anthony Randolph, Golden State PF
Get your hands on this guy if you can. He showed flashes of brilliance last year in limited minutes, but that will change this year. He is slated to be the starter at power forward for the Warriors, and he will see much more court time. Randolph will be a double-double machine and doesn’t bring many negatives to the table, if at all. He should sport some impressive, broad-ranging stat lines that includes blocks, steals, rebounds and great percentages across the board. As an added bonus, look for him to average 15 points a game. He is very impressive and will run with fury in Don Nelson’s high-octane offense; not to mention all of the upside this guy possesses.

Roy Hibbert, Indiana C
The Georgetown Giant should see a boost in playing time in his sophomore season – especially if he earns the starting job at center in Indiana. An impressive preseason campaign thus far bodes well for this to come to fruition. Hibbert possesses size that is difficult to match, regardless of who guards with him. He’ll fill the stat sheet with blocks, as well as rebounds of both varieties. His shooting percentage should hover around 50 percent, if not greater – and his PPG should increase, too. His back-to-the-basket post up game is underutilized in today’s game, but Hibbert should prove that it still holds value in a modern, fast-paced game.

Marreese Speights, Philadelphia PF
SPEIGHTS! Love the name, love his game. The second year forward/center can be considered a sleeper in deep leagues, depending on his minutes per game. Assuming he sees 25 mpg, he’ll give you a lot of scoring at a good field goal percentage. His rebounding rate should increase if he comes into the season with better conditioning, considering his size and length.

Thaddeus Young, Philadelphia, SF
Thaddeus Young will see a ton of minutes this year for what should be a run-and-gun Sixers squad. Philadelphia sports an athletic starting five that suits Young’s game well. Expect to see an abundance of fast breaks with Young, Andre Iguodala and Lou Williams at the helm. The upside here is huge, and a good preseason has built the hope that Young builds on a strong finish to the season last year. He has good size for a small forward, standing at 6’8″, combined with a wealth of athleticism that is hard to find, even in the NBA.

Luis Scola, Houston PF/C
There will be multiple players who’s fantasy value will surge because of the absence of Yao Ming – but none more than Luis Scola. This guy has proven his value in the NBA, as well as at the international level. The crafty Argentinian won’t contribute to your block totals or free throw percentage, but won’t hurt you in any other areas. He shoots a high percentage from the field, mostly because of his skills near the basket. He has an unorthodox offensive game that is hard for bulkier power forwards to keep up with. His jump shot isn’t bad either and he has a knack for rebounding. The opportunity is there, and so is the skill – Scola should be a nice addition to any fantasy team this year.

Paul Millsap, Utah PF
Regardless of the Boozer situation in Utah, Paul Millsap will be relevant in the fantasy realm again this year. Millsap defines the term workhorse. He’s a smart player who took advantage of increased playing time last year when Boozer was out for an extended stretch. Millsap will give you an abundance of offensive rebounds, points, field goal percentage, as well as a steal per game. If Boozer is dealt, Millsap will be the starter for the Jazz and his production will skyrocket. Be sure to check out this situation before your drafts.

Other Notables:

Kevin Love, Minnesota PF; Jason Thompson, Sacramento PF/C; Carl Landry, Houston PF; Courtney Lee, New Jersey SG; Mike Miller, Washington SG/SF; Sam Young, Memphis SF

Slice’s journey to this point included the first MMA event to broadcast live on primetime network television in a fight under EliteXC . His opponent, James ‘Colossus’ Thompson, carried a reputation for having a suspect chin – a match up that seemed favorable for Kimbo. Thompson entered the ring sporting a cauliflower ear that resembled something out of Resident Evil – straight up mutant style. It was only a matter of time it seemed. The moment came in the third round when Kimbo landed an overhand right directly to Colossus’ left ear, bursting it like a balloon full of plasma. Instantly, blood came spewing from the flopping cartilage that was once an ear. A few more unanswered blows and it was all over – to the disbelief of Thompson, who gave ref Dan Mirogliotta an opened hand slap to the face, companied with a cock-eyed look of ‘You CANNOT be serious!’ Regardless, Kimbo exited with a hard-fought win, sending his pro record to 3-0. Yes, it was a circus – but no one can deny the sheer level of good-ole entertainment it provided. Still, Kimbo received bad press from critics, pros and MMA fans alike, describing his performance as lackluster, at best.

Next in line for Slice was Ken Shamrock – MMA veteran who was in the twilight years of his career. The old-timer, however, suffered a mysterious cut during pre-fight warm ups, leaving Elite XC scrambling to find an opponent for their main attraction. Enter Seth Petruzelli. ‘The Silverback’ had previously fought on season 2 of the Ultimate Fighter and had two bouts in the UFC, both losses, before being cut. He stepped up from light-heavyweight to fight Kimbo – a pick by EliteXC that was meant further bolster Slice’s record. Well, sometimes what’s ‘supposed to happen’ just doesn’t pan out. Of those who witnessed it, not many will forget the the 14-second TKO that was dealt to Kimbo. 14 seconds. In the worlds of Happy Gilmore – “holy sh*t – talk about your all-time backfires.” It was one of the biggest debacles in mixed martial arts history, and when Kimbo went down – so did the entire Elite XC organization. After watching the replay repeatedly, it proved to be a glancing blow – a phantom blow, it seemed – that spelled T-K-O for Kimbo. The Kimbo-haters were ecstatic – Kimbo Slice was exposed.

Although many thought the days of MMA were over for Slice, the big brute still yearned to silence the critics and prove himself in world that combines Jui Jitsu, Muay Thai, boxing, grappling and wrestling. UFC President Dana White had bad-mouthed Kimbo since his tenure in EliteXC, calling him a joke and a disgrace to true MMA artists around the world. White is known for his vindictive ranting, but he also has built a reputation for failing to fulfill his promises from time to time. He challenged Kimbo to join the Ultimate Fighter series as his doorway to get into the UFC, the NFL of MMA, if you will. But did he actually think Slice would take him up on his offer? Fat chance. Now, Kimbo has that chance. He’s had time to train and he has portrayed himself as focused and eager to learn. Now Kimbo has the opportunity to put a feather in his cap, err doorag, and take out a legitimate challenger in Roy Nelson. Tune into tonight at 10 pm on SpikeTV for some guaranteed fireworks and some must-see TV.

The Cream

Roger Federer – Despite the shocking setback in Flushing Meadows, 2009 proved fruitful for the greatest tennis player in history. The Maestro found the final piece of his Grand Slam puzzle at Roland Garros this year – thanks in large part to Robin Soderling – the Swede who gave Rafa Nadal his first taste defeat on the red clay of Paris. He then reclaimed his reign of Centre Court, outlasting a transformed Andy Roddick at Wimbledon by the remarkable score of 16-14 in the ultimate set. Federer is still, undoubtedly, the measuring stick for the rest of the field, although the tennis world wonders how long he can maintain his uncanny level of play. The man doesn’t know what complacency is, despite becoming the first player to earn $50 million…in prize money. His legacy is cemented and now he has the chance to add a little more glitter to his grandiose trophy assortment. I should know better, but I predict Fed-Ex to bat .250 next year with a single. He was exposed as…well…human, and I believe other players will step up to the challenge and topple Mt. Everest.

Rafael Nadal – The ultimate warrior of the tour fell victim to his own fighting style this year by running himself ragged. The tread on his wheels began to wear at Roland Garros, and finally went bald in New York. Rafa’s greatest strength – his unwavering tenacity – proved to be his Achilles heel. Actually, the eternal flame burning in his heart and his mental fortitude are what defines him. Yet, sometimes the mind and the body don’t see eye to eye. His drubbing at the hands of Del Potro (2-6 2-6 2-6) in the semifinals of the Open is something tennis fans have never witnessed before. That just doesn’t happen to Nadal. Yet it did – and the Spaniard will have to adjust accordingly if he wants his career on court to last longer than Moose Tracks ice cream in my freezer. At the ripe age of 23, Rafa Nadal should be a force for years to come if he plays his cards right. He will re-assume himself as king of clay in 2010, and take back what’s rightfully his in Paris next summer.

Andy Murray – Okay, okay, so I’ll probably catch some flack for generously including the ‘new’ Andy in the premier class of court jesters. The truth is, if you can handle it, that he belongs here. I know he hasn’t won a Grand Slam. I’m aware he didn’t even make it to a Grand Slam final in 2009, after breaking through to his first last September in New York. But the chap proved he can play with the best of ‘em. Murray boasts a 6-3 record against Federer, including four of the last five. He plays a cat-and-mouse game and thrives off forcing his foes into hitting an extra shot almost every point, thanks to his tenacious D. He possesses deceiving power, combined with what I deem the best return in the game. Pressure is ever mounting on the shoulders of the highly-touted Scot, but he’s witty enough to learn from his apathetic showing against Marin Cilic. Some critics question his mental toughness, but Murray will lay the heavy burden of the UK’s tennis hopes to rest with a slam victory at Melbourne in January.

Juan Martin Del Potro – He will forever be remembered as the man who toppled Fed on Arthur Ashe in one of the biggest upsets in recent tennis history. His journey among the top ranks has just begun, and at a mere 20-years-old, he’ll only get better with age. Delpo is an all-court player with massive groundstrokes from both wings and a serve with a top speed in the high 130s. His length will trouble all challengers and he is a decent mover for his height. While hardcourt is his best surface, don’t be surprised to see a deep run at the Queen’s Club come July.

The Crop

Novak Djokovic – The Djokster or Jock-a-vic, if you will, remains a legitimate threat for any title. He’s working with Craftsman-like set of tools – the serve, solid ball-striking off both sides, speed and defense. He should add a touch of variety to his game, especially inside the service lines. But his lack of success in 2009 by his standards – merely 2 titles – is due to his lack of mental savvy. Too many times he breaks serve and is unable to consolidate it – ie the first set against Federer last weekend in the semis. While he regained the favor of the New York crowd and enjoyed a casual rally with John McEnroe on Arthur Ashe, Novak will have to prove he’s still among the elite in 2010. His skill set is undeniable, but can he keep his wits?

Andy Roddick – Poor Andy. He’s undoubtedly raised his game in 2009 and almost overcame the biggest hurdle he’ll face through out his career at Wimbledon – the longest match ever played in the history of the Championships. Key word: almost. But he fell short…just short this time. After serving for survival 9 consecutive games, he fell to the man who will haunt him for years to come. Four career losses in Slam finals – all to Roger Federer. Roddick’s game suits Rog’s to a T. That’s the quagmire he’s been stuck in for years now. No one on the pro tour will admit to moral victories, but that’s just what A-Rod got – and his game has flourished ever since. Despite a third round exit at the Open to the upstart giant – 6’9″ John Isner – Roddick will reassert himself as a heavyweight contender next year.