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Going into the NBA season, its easy enough to place expectations on LeBron James, Kobe Bryant or Kevin Durant, they are established stars that will play leading roles for their respective teams. While situations might be different for stars moving to new teams, like Steve Nash, Dwight Howard or Joe Johnson, they have still set a certain performance standard that is expected to continue in their new uniforms. This article seeks out some of the players that might be looking at new and better opportunities this season; maybe a move into a starting role, or just a regular turn in the rotation for the first time, giving these players an increase in potential value. Glen Davis, PF, Orlando - Big Baby has been hanging on in a reserve role for five NBA seasons, but started a dozen games down the stretch last season, averaging 16.4 points and 8.8 rebounds per game in April. With the Magic frontcourt gutted (losing Howard and Ryan Anderson), Davis now has an opportunity to be the primary option on the low block and he leads the Magic with 17.7 points per game in the preseason, so he could be the primary scorer on a team lacking an established scoring option. Andrew Bynum, C, Philadelphia - Unlike others on this list, Bynum has been in a starters role for the better part of the last six seasons and averaged career-highs in points (18.7), rebounds (11.8) and field-goal attempts (13.3), setting the stage for Bynum to take over as the centrepiece of the 76ers offence.Unfortunately, a knee problem has kept Bynum on the sidelines for the entire preseason, preventing him from establishing his place as a player who can take a lot of the shots that departed Philadelphia this summer when Andre Iguodala, Elton Brand and Lou Williams (32.1 field goal attempts per game between them) departed. A healthy Bynum could put up 24-12 as the 76ers first option, but well have to wait and see when that might happen. Andrei Kirilenko, SF, Minnesota - During his 10 previous NBA seasons, Andrei Kirilenko has never failed to register at least one block and one steal per game, topping out at 1.9 steals (2003-04) and 3.3 blocks (2004-05). After a year playing in Russia, Kirilenko returns to the NBA and even if the 31-year-old isnt a big scorer -- he averaged under a dozen points per game in each of his last five seasons -- he can fill the stat sheet enough to hold fantasy appeal. Brandon Roy, SG, Minnesota - The sixth overall pick in the 2006 draft quickly became a franchise player in Portland, averaging 21.1 points per game in three seasons from 2007 through 2010, but chronic knee problems forced him to retire, perhaps prematurely as it turns out. Roy may not be the go-to guy for the T-Wolves, but hes easily capable of starting at shooting guard. If his knee holds up and he delivers 15-17 points per game, that would not only be a remarkable comeback story, but a value play for fantasy owners. J.J. Hickson, C, Portland - Inconsistency has prevented Hickson from earning a steady starting job through his first four years in the league, but he took advantage of an opportunity with the Trail Blazers late last season, putting up 17.2 points and 9.5 rebounds per game in 19 games after he was waived by Sacramento (who obviously had no room a guy averaging 9.2 ppg and 9.9 rpg in 35 games). Hickson, at 6-foot-9, is undersized as centres go, but his quickness gives him an advantage and if he can simply hold the starting job, hes going to be productive enough to provide value. Omer Asik, C, Houston - After signing an offer sheet with the Rockets, for three years and more than $25-million, Asik goes from playing a dozen minutes per game for the Bulls to Houstons starting lineup. Even if hes not much of an offensive threat, Asik can contribute in other ways. For example, over the last two seasons, he ranks fifth in rebounds per 36 minuts (12.0) and eighth in blocks per 36 minutes (2.3), so Asik can be an effective big man, even if he doesnt have a significant offensive contribution. Kirk Hinrich, PG, Chicago - For as long as Derrick Rose is sidelined, which could conceivably be all season, Hinrich is slated to be the Bulls starting point guard, just as he was from from 2003 to 2010. After setting career-lows in points (6.6), assists (2.8) and minutes (25.8) per game with Atlanta last season, Hinrich has an opportunity to play 30 minutes with the Bulls first team and therefore return to fantasy relevance, at least for those in deep leagues. Gerald Green, SF, Indiana - A first-round pick in 2005, Green has largely flamed out to this point, bouncing around to five teams and starting a total of 43 games. However, he earned a shot in New Jersey last year and dunked his way onto the highlight reels, earning a three-year, $10.5-million contract with the Pacers. Backing up Danny Granger and Paul George on the wings may not offer prime minutes for Green, but after averaging 12.9 points in 25.2 minutes with the Nets last season and 12.7 points in 26.0 minutes per game in the preseason, 26-year-old Green does look like hes ready to start fulfilling some of that promise that he showed as a teenager. Patrick Patterson, PF, Houston - Patterson has started a total of seven games through his first two seasons with the Rockets, but appears to be first in line to replace Luis Scola in the starting lineup this year. While his numbers arent terribly productive (7.1 ppg, 4.2 rpg in 20.3 mpg) through his first two years, moving into the starting lineup should give him more chances to shoot. In the preseason, for example, Patterson has averaged 10.8 field goal attempts in 23.8 minutes per game and if he ends up playing 28-30 minutes as a starter, getting that many touches will mean a legitimate opportunity to produce. Nikola Vucevic and Gustavo Ayon, C, Orlando - A pair of second-year pivots given the job of filling Dwight Howards sizeable shoes. Ayon is sidelined for a couple of weeks with a sprained thumb, leaving Vucevic, who has been productive in the preseason. While playing only 20.5 minutes per game, Vucevic has averaged 8.7 points and 7.8 rebounds per game, which could translate into double-double numbers if he holds the starters role. Scott Cullen can be reached at Scott.Cullen@bellmedia.ca and followed on Twitter at http://twitter.com/tsnscottcullen. For more, check out TSN Fantasy on Facebook. cheap jerseys us . "I just thought it was a double," the Washington Nationals third baseman said. The way the Nationals are playing lately, everything seems to come with a bonus. cheap jerseys . Sebastian Collberg, Elias Lindholm, Filip Sandberg and Filip Forsberg scored for Sweden (1-0), while Mikael Vikstrand added two assists. Lukas Sedlak had the only goal for the Czech Republic (0-1) while Matej Machovsky stopped 37 shots. EDMONTON -- Cory Boyd was the leading rusher in the CFL two months ago. On Thursday, he found himself unemployed for the second time this season. The veteran running back was the odd man out in a crowded Edmonton Eskimo backfield and was released by the team along with defensive back Ronnie Prude. It was the end of an underwhelming tenure in Edmonton for Boyd, who was picked up by the Eskimos a day after being unexpectedly released by the Toronto Argonauts in August. Expected to provide depth to a then injury-plagued backfield, Boyd played four games for Edmonton and had just 18 carries for 76 yards and four catches for 40 yards. During his time in Toronto, Boyd was the leagues leading rusher with 80 carries for 447 yards and two touchdowns. He also hauled in 23 passes for 70 yards and two touchdowns. "It was a very difficult decision," Edmonton head coach Kavis Reed said. "He was nothing but professional. He accepted his role and did a phenomenal job as part of the locker-room. But it is a business and Cory understood that. It was difficult for us and difficult for him to accept. "Hes a phenomenal back and I dont think hell be unemployed very long." A week after signing Boyd to provide insurance behind Hugh Charles, the Eskimos got fullback Jerome Messam back after his failed attempt to win a job with Miami in the NFL. Reed tried to find ways to work all three of them into the game plan without success. "Its just one of those things that didnt work out," said Charles, who has never relinquished his role as the teams premier running back.dddddddddddd. "We tried the three-headed monster, one of those experiments thats come and gone." Reed said the performance of Charles and Boyds import status contributed to Thursdays decision. Despite having his touches reduced for several games, Charles is fifth in CFL rushing with 700 yards on 146 carries. Last week Reed declared Charles the teams No. 1 running back for the rest of the season. "Hugh Charles has done a phenomenal job as a running back and as a receiver out of the backfield," Reed said. "We tried to accommodate all of them, but it was very hard to get them all into the backfield. Cory was the third man out." With Charles solidified as the No. 1 back and Messam having non-import status, the import Boyd was the logical casualty. Charles, who sat beside Boyd in the locker-room, said Boyd "kept his spirits high and knew where he stood." "Its sad to see him go but hes taking it well and hopefully hell find a team to shine with again," Charles said. "Im sure a lot of guys spirits are down, we were all close to him." Prude spent the first three weeks on the one-game injured list. In five games he was on the game day roster, he had 12 defensive tackles, one special teams tackle, one pass-knockdown and one interception. He was re-injured Aug. 10 and missed five of the last six games. ' ' '
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