LeBron James returns home to Cleveland but still remains top NBA fantasy player. James elected after the Miami Heat lost to the San Antonio Spurs to opt out of his contract. This opened the door up for James to return to a Cavaliers organization that originally drafted him number one overall in 2003.
Since then James has developed into one of the top NBA players in the league on both sides of the court. James does it all on the court that translates him as the clear number one player for the upcoming NBA Season. James has averaged at least 26.7 points per game with at least 6.7 rebounds, 6 assists and 1.6 steals per game in every season but his rookie year.
With James set to be the first player of the board in most fantasy drafts this gives us a chance to look at the rest of the first round.
* LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers: This decision got a lot easier after Kevin Durant injured his right foot. LeBron’s all around game boosts his fantasy value add in the fact the Cavaliers have one of the best point guards in the league we could see a boost to the king’s points per game total.
* Chris Paul, Los Angeles Clippers: The Clippers point guard is coming off his first double digit assist season since 2009-10 season. Paul has the ability to be a scorer or an assist man based on how the team is playing.
* Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors: The fifth year star out of Davidson has emerged as one of the top talents in the NBA. Last season Curry posted career highs in assists per game at 8.5 and points per game at 24. The three point threat has the ability to take over any game.
* Anthony Davis, New Orleans Pelicans: Davis averaged a double double in his second season in the NBA posting 20.8 points per game and 10 rebounds per game. The future is so bright for the former Kentucky Wildcat.
* Carmelo Anthony, New York Knicks: Anthony has averaged at least 25 points per game in eight of 12 NBA seasons. Last season Anthony posted a career high in rebounds at 8.1 per game.
* Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City Thunder: The foot injury drops his stock but the season is a long one allowing him enough time to get back. Durant has led the NBA in scoring in four of the past five seasons with the other season finishing second overall.
* John Wall, Washington Wizards: Wall is emerging as one of the top point guards in the NBA despite failing to make Team USA this summer. Look for Wall to average more than 20 points a game this season and over nine assists per game.
* James Harden, Houston Rockets: Harden continues to be one of the top scorers in the NBA but he also adding the ability to assist to his resume. Last season Harden posted a career high with 6.1 assists per game.
* Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City Thunder: Westbrook might have found his way into the second round but the injury to Durant has him as the teams top scoring threat.
* DeMarcus Cousins, Sacramento Kings: Cousins rounds out the first round just above Serge Ibaki and Kevin Love. Cousins will be relied on more on the Kings than Ibaki or Love on their teams.