Jason Smith

Smith, a frontcourt reserve who plays both power forward and center, played just 14.4 minutes per game last season. With that kind of workload, it’s hard to gain Fantasy relevance, as that kind of time on the floor can’t produce significant numbers. He averaged 5.7 points and 3.5 rebounds per game while shooting 52.9 percent from the floor. One area he did improve in, however, was his three-point shooting. He took a career-high 1.1 threes per contest and made them at a 47.4 percent clip. That development may help him prolong his career, though seemingly won’t lead to more minutes this upcoming season, as he’ll still be behind the likes of Markieff Morris and Marcin Gortat in the starting five and will be competing with Ian Mahinmi and Otto Porter for reserve frontcourt minutes. Overall, Smith can be safely avoided in the vast majority of Fantasy formats.

Smith had a career year in his lone season with the Knicks, playing all 82 games for the first time in his seven-year career. Aside from leading them in total games, turnovers, and fouls, he averaged 8.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and 0.5 blocks in 22 minutes per match. Smith signed a one-year, $4.5 million deal with the Magic and seemingly swapped places with former Magic and current Knick Kyle O'Quinn. The newly-inked reserve center shot 43 percent from the field, 83 percent from the foul line, and 36 percent on a career-high 42 attempts from downtown last year. Smith's offensive repertoire consists of mid-range jumpers, converting nearly 45 percent each of the last two seasons, and bungling shots around the rim, finishing 47 percent in the restricted area last season. A stout 7-foot even, Smith registered a career-low block and rebound rate with the Knicks, but the triangle offense allowed him to boast a career-high assist percentage. Escaping the rigid confines of the triangle, Smith joins the Magic's defensive-minded head coach, Scott Skiles, and the marriage could relocate Smith closer to the basket. He'll have to fend off Dewayne Dedmon and Andrew Nicholson for playing time.

Signed to a one-year deal this offseason, Smith joins the Knicks after averaging 9.7 points, a career-high 5.8 rebounds, and 0.9 blocks for the Pelicans in 27 minutes per game last season. Although Smith started 27 contests and shot 47 percent from the field, cartilage damage in his right knee ended his season in mid-January after just 31 games. In fact, Smith has not played more than 51 games since the 2010-11 season. As such, with the Knicks trading Tyson Chandler this offseason, Smith and fellow veteran Samuel Dalembert could split time at center to preserve both players' health, with Amar'e Stoudemire and Andrea Bargnani representing two more fragile alternatives. Nonetheless, Smith is one of the NBA's best mid-range shooting big men, which should fit wonderfully in new coach Derek Fisher's Triangle offense and create spacing for his new teammates to operate. Additionally, with Chandler gone, the Knicks need to make up for his lost rebounding production, so the seven-foot, 240-pound Smith embodies one favorable candidate to help on the glass. Overall, Smith offers modest fantasy production in deeper leagues, but his injury record probably caps whatever value he may have entering this season.

Smith is the longest tenured Pelican, entering his fourth season with the team. As of now, Smith isn't able to workout, still not being fully healed from the torn labrum surgery he underwent last March. Already at the end of his 4-to-6 month timetable, Smith's availability for training camp is up in the air. When healthy, the Pelicans value Smith's toughness and veteran presence. Though he won't be a 20-plus minute per game player, he has shown an ability to produce in the past, posting 17.3 points and 7.6 rebounds per 36 minutes last season. Smith could work his way into the starting conversation at some point this season.

Smith re-signed last offseason due to his loyalty to the coaching staff. Smith should see that loyalty pay off with an increase in production. While playing in 40 games last season, Smith averaged 9.9 ppg, 4.9 rpg and 1.0 bpg game last year. He made a name for himself as a pick-and-pop shooter and was able to improve his defense and rebounds. With a very young frontcourt and point guard who spent a season playing with Smith, his role can increase and he can be seen as a viable scoring option off of the bench.

Smith re-signed with the Hornets in the offseason as a direct result of his loyalty to the coaching staff. He should see that loyalty pay off with an increase in production. Smith averaged 4.3 points and 3.1 rebounds per game last year and made a nice name for himself as a pick-and-pop shooter. With a versatile frontcourt and a point guard familiar with his style of play, look for Smith to improve on his numbers and become a solid role player for the Hornets.

Acquired in a September trade, Smith adds another seven-footer to the Hornets' frontcourt. Coming off a year averaging 11 minutes a night, Smith likely won’t see many more minutes than that on a crowded frontcourt bench. He isn’t a great scorer, but with his size, the Hornets could potentially employ packages that would allow Okafor to play power forward (his natural position) and have a seven-footer to defend the bigger centers.

Smith missed all of last season after undergoing surgery to repair a torn ACL in his left knee. The Sixers love his upside, but the 7-footer showed little in the way of fantasy production during his 2007-08 rookie season.

Smith tore his anterior cruciate ligament and is not expected to play during the 2008-09 season.

The 20th pick of the 2007 Draft fills an immediate need as an offensive-minded big man with shooting range out to the three-point line. Because of his shot he could see considerable playing time at power forward early in the season.