Top 50 Keepers for 2010-2011: Tier 1

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1. Kevin Durant

With Lebron James departing to play with the “big three,” and Kevin Durant already having led the league in scoring last year, placing him at number one is a no brainer.  He’s only getting better and so is Oklahoma City.  There’s no reason not to expect him to score 30+ ppg.  Not only that, but his 90 percent free throw percentage(on 10 attempts per game) will win you that category, even if you have a couple of poor free throw shooters on your team.

2. Chris Paul

Really, this could be 1a. and 1b., as Chris Paul brings valuable contributions across the board.
With averages of 20 ppg and 10 apg, Paul is one of the safest players to build around.  He’s easily the best point guard in the league and should be for many years to come.

3. Lebron James

LeBron used to be the consensus number one pick, but his move to South Beach will hurt his stats a little.  While I expect his assists to exceed ten a game, his scoring will probably go down to the 24-26 ppg range.

4. Dirk Nowitzki

Dirk no longer offers the three point threat, but is a steady contributor every night.  Though getting up there in age, his guile will enable him to be productive into his late 30s.

5. Dwight Howard

For head to head leagues, Dwight Howard belongs here.  If you’re playing a rotisserie league, you might want to wait a while on drafting him, as he will cripple your team’s free throw percentage.

6. Dwyane Wade

Wade will probably be the go-to guy next year in Miami, and I expect his stats to be roughly the same as last year.

7. Stephen Curry

Curry exceeded all expectations last year, especially towards the end of the season.  His threes, steals, and assists make him a valuable chip in keeper leagues.

8. Kobe Bryant

Kobe is on the decline. However, like Michael Jordan before him, he will probably be very effective all the way until age 40.

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