In fantasy hoops, you can never have too many quality big men.  With Yao Ming and Pau Gasol already lacing them up for this team, I’m going to seal the deal on the front court and select on the biggest up-and-comers in the league:

3.12 Al Jefferson, PF/C
Minnesota Timberwolves

Fool me once, shame on you.  Fool me twice, shame on me….until you blow up the third time around, then it’s back to shame on me.

In the fantasy arena, fewer members have been snake bitten by a player more than I have by Al Jefferson.  Each of the first two years, I awaited his breakthrough, and each of those seasons ended in misery as I couldn’t let go.

Enter 2006 where Jefferson likely goes undrafted in a lot of leagues.  Kendrick Perkins is supposed to be the man, with Ryan Gomes getting love at the power forward.  Not so much.

Injuries plagued the Celtics, and Big Al got the shot to perform…and did just that.  Jefferson ended last season by averaging 16 points, 11 rebounds, 1.5 blocks and a field goal percentage over 51%.  Yes, this season now finds him in Minnesota where the opponents found in the key are typically a bit tougher, but he’s also going to be one of the main weapons on a very, very young ‘Wolves squad. 

While this is his fourth year in the league, he won’t be 23 years of age until January and is primed to build off of a season that finally saw him stay healthy for a 70-game stretch.  Yes, it does scare me a bit that Jefferson hasn’t played more than 69 games in his very young career, but there’s no way I’m passing up on a guy who can ice four categories for my team and allow me to focus on the rest of the stats in the remaining rounds.  Of course, I could just be jinxing myself and the rest of the fantasy world as well…

Other Players On This Fantasy Team:

1.12 Yao Ming, C, Houston Rockets
2.1 Pau Gasol, PF/C, Memphis Grizzlies

Previous Picks This Round:

3.1. Paul Pierce, SG/SF, Boston Celtics
3.2. Marcus Camby, C, Denver Nuggets
3.3. Baron Davis, PG, Golden State Warriors
3.4. Deron Williams, PG, Utah Jazz
3.5. Chauncey Billups, PG, Detroit Pistons
3.6. Gerald Wallace, SG/SF, Charlotte Bobcats
3.7. Vince Carter, SG/SF, New Jersey Nets
3.8. Tracy McGrady, SG/SF, Houston Rockets
3.9. Jermaine O’Neal, PF/C, Indiana Pacers
3.10 Michael Redd, SG, Milwaukee Bucks
3.11 Caron Butler, SF, Washington Wizards

Previous Round Selections:
Round One Recap
Round Two Recap