With Kevin Garnett’s big stats and Allen Iverson’s small stats already on board, I have the option of taking whom I feel is the best player available instead of reaching for a certain position.  As Alvin touched on health issues with several players, he didn’t mention this guy as he pounded out 80 games in each of the last two seasons.  Oh, and he’s pretty good too.

Round 3, Pick 4 – Deron Williams, PG, Utah Jazz

Fewer players had a bigger impact for their team in last year’s postseason than the point guard from the Utah Jazz.  Taken before one Chris Paul only three drafts ago, Deron Williams stepped his game up several levels in 2006 to record year-over-year increases in points, rebounds, steals, field goal percentage, and free throw percentage.  Oh, I’d be a bit remiss if I didn’t mention his assists-per-game doubling between 2005 and 2006.

The bump in production will obviously increase Williams’ draft value between the two seasons as well.  Last year, he was selected with the second pick in the seventh round.  This year, you’ll likely be lucky to get this guard with the second pick of the third round.  For this reason, I feel that 3.4 is a very nice place to get a guy that can log you 17 points and eight assists a night.

Last season, Ron Chow said that Deron’s 6.6 assists a night would be sustainable given a healthy frontcourt.  Little did we all know, our man Ron was low-balling the potential All-Star.

If you want to take a look at his numbers when it mattered most, the playoffs, try these on for size: 19.2 pts, 8.6 ast; 1.5 stl; 4.3 reb; 45% fg; 79% ft

Now do I think he’ll be a 20 and 10 guy?  No…but he may not be as far away as most others may think.  All I do know is that Deron Williams now allows Dennis Velasco to go 2-for-2 on breakout players.  D, who ya got this year?

Other Players On This Fantasy Team

1.4 Kevin Garnett, SF/PF, Boston Celtics
2.10 Allen Iverson, PG, Denver Nuggets

Previous Round Selections:

Round One Recap
Round Two Recap