Antonio Daniels

Daniels remains a valuable role player for the Wizards, but he has only scored in double digits once in his career (2004-05) and is coming off a 7.1-ppg campaign. He also chipped in 3.6 apg and 2.2 rpg, in 22 minutes per game during the regular season. His 13.3 ppg in the playoffs (in 44 minutes per game) is the sort of production you can project if he is thrust into a starting role in the event of another Gilbert Arenas injury. In short, Daniels is only worth drafting in deeper leagues as a reserve or if your roster is deep enough to allow you to stash an Arenas insurance policy.

A free agent acquisition prior to last season, Daniels got off to a slow start with the Wizards, but he averaged 14.2 points and 4.4 assists in March and 13.7 points and 4.9 assists in April. The addition of DeShawn Stevenson and return of Jarvis Hayes gives him more competition for playing time, but there will always be room in the rotation for a guard who can get to the line and takes such good care of the ball. His 3.19 assist/turnover ratio was among the league’s best, which is a nice bonus since Gibert Arenas led the league with 3.7 turnovers per game. After weighing 206 pounds last fall, Daniels reported to camp this season at 197 pounds and said he's cut his body fat to around 4.7 percent. He also worked on his jump-short form, with nice looking results so far, this past offseason. He’ll reprise his role as a key reserve guard off the bench, but Daniels will need injuries to occur to fellow guards to approach last year’s late season results.

Daniels, who signed with the Wizards as a free agent after two years in Seattle, has the ability to hold down time at either guard position and his 6-4 frame allows him to defend both ones and twos. In all likelihood, Daniels will start at shooting guard and help fill in at the point in those rare instances when Gilbert Arenas needs a breather. Last season, Daniels scored a career-best 11.2 points per game while averaging 4.1 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game for the Sonics.

Early word out of Seattle is Luke Ridnour will start at point guard. That leaves Daniels to come off the bench, a role in which he excelled last season. Daniels led the league last year with an assist-to-turnover ratio of nearly 5-to-1. Daniels could take the starting duties away from Ridnour, but even if he doesn't he'll get solid minutes with Brent Barry out of the mix. Daniels also shoots for a high percentage, and can succeed if he gets enough minutes.

Daniels will push Brent Barry for starting point guard duties. Expect Barry to win out, though, with Daniels coming off the bench. He doesn't hold much fantasy value.