Matt Harpring

The knee surgeries over the years have reduced Harpring to a less-than 20-minute a night player. Harpring has been used as a backup swingman at the two and three, but will have more competition for that playing time. He’s been a very good contributor off the bench, but with less playing time, there’s no spot for him on a fantasy roster.

Harpring continues to be Utah's most dependable bench player, posting comparable numbers to Kirilenko in nearly every fantasy category (save for blocks and assists). Harpring is a hard-nosed player who brings it every night. If Kirilenko continues to struggle, don't be surprised to see Harpring get more of Kirilenko's minutes.

Harpring will split his 30 minutes per game between shooting guard and small forward, and when he's in the lineup, he'll be productive. Harpring generally shoots for a nice percentage (49% in 2004-05), and provides toughness and good rebounding for his position, grabbing 6.2 boards per game last season. He can pick up the scoring load if defenses collapse on Andrei Kirilenko and Carlos Boozer, and while he isn't a great three-point shooter, he's got a good enough mid-range jumper to keep defenses honest. Expect numbers around his career averages of 13.1 points, 6.1 rebounds, and about a steal per game.

A small forward by trade, Harpring will be moved over to the shooting guard spot this season due to the offseason acquisitions of Carlos Boozer and Mehmet Okur who push Andrei Kirilenko to three. Harpring is a hard-working, hard-nosed player who should put up 15-16 points per game and provide excellent FG percentage and solid rebounding numbers. Harpring could also see some time at small forward when the Jazz decide to go small by sliding Boozer to the five and Kirilenko to the four. Harpring could be a nice swingman to have on your bench in case one of your star shooting guards or small forwards go down with an injury. Take Harpring late eighth or early ninth round and expect consistent production all season long.

Harpring enjoyed his finest season as a professional in 2002-03, averaging 17.6 points and 6.6 rebounds while hitting 51.1 percent from the field and 41.3 percent from the three. He can play both small forward and shooting guard, but qualifies only at forward (three games as guard last season). He won’t have John Stockton setting him up, nor will Karl Malone absorb the attention of defenses in 2003-04. But as the team’s number one offensive option entering the season, Harpring retains the value he accrued last season.