Tyrus Thomas

Thomas should benefit the most of the shallow Bobcats front court. He could end up being the starting power forward through the entire season if the Bobcats do not acquire another center for their roster. Thomas averaged 10.2 points and 5.5 rebounds in 41 games off the bench last season. As a starter we could potentially see him average slightly beyond last year’s numbers for a Bobcats team that is desperate for size.

After spending four-and-change seasons in and out of the doghouse for multiple coaches in Chicago, Thomas was traded to Charlotte last season and finally settled into a regular role. He re-signed with the 'Cats this offseason and is expected to serve as Larry Brown's sixth man and – alongside all-star Gerald Wallace – form a lock-down defensive tandem, especially late in games. Thomas has off-the-charts athleticism, but hasn't developed much of an offensive game to date; most of his points come off dunks and put-backs. But his otherworldly hops and excellent quickness are evidenced in his block and steal numbers (1.6 and 1.2 per game, in just over 22 minutes).

While he still leaves some fantasy owners wanting more, Thomas finally became a viable option last year, averaging 10.9 points, 6.4 rebounds, 1.2 steals and 1.9 blocks. Not bad, considering he played just 27 minutes per contest. His game remains limited on the offensive end, relying mostly on put-backs and dunks. However, the steals and blocks indicate huge upside. Thomas is still just 23 years old, so his raw offensive ability can improve, and the Bulls’ brass is finally starting to believe in his talent. Thomas is an underrated free-throw shooter and is a freak athletically. With Derrick Rose fast becoming a superstar, the addition of John Salmons and a healthy return of Luol Deng, Chicago will be a tough team to defend. Moreover, Brad Miller is a terrific passer for a center, so Thomas should continue to see easy opportunities around the basket.

A freakishly-gifted athlete who parlayed an outstanding NCAA Tournament run with LSU into the fourth-overall selection in the 2006 NBA Draft, Thomas has alternated between brilliant and maddening during his two NBA seasons, and his inconsistent play and frequent stays in the coach’s doghouse have left Bulls fans wishing they’d kept LaMarcus Aldridge. (Thomas and Aldridge were traded for each other on draft night ‘06.) This year, Thomas has a chance to start fresh with a new coach – but he’s still going to be up against Drew Gooden, Joakim Noah, Andreas Nocioni and Luol Deng for forward minutes.

Thomas was drafted last season as a project, and in the second half of the season he had enough flashes of brilliance to suggest that he could become fantasy relevant in the near future as a shot-blocking, rebounding role player. Unfortunately for him, the Bulls used their lottery pick this summer to draft Joakim Noah, a 7-footer with a similar skill set. When you add in the presence of Ben Wallace, the former king of shot-blocking, rebounding role players, you start to see the problem. Thomas has the least size among the trio, but he’s also by far the most explosive and has the ability to play small forward on occasion. He may not get enough minutes to be an impact player this season, but he’s worth keeping an eye on because if he does start getting consistent minutes he has the rare athleticism that could allow him to break out at any time.

Thomas is a tweener forward, with the length and jumping ability of a power forward, but the height and weight of a small forward. Thomas is also on a suddenly very deep Bulls team, and could have trouble earning minutes with guys like Ben Wallace, PJ Brown, Andres Nocioni, and Luol Deng in the frontcourt. But when he is on the court, no matter which forward position he plays Thomas should immediately be a dynamic shotblocker that can also help out a bit on the boards. That may be his only immediate fantasy contribution as his offensive game needs further development, but a shotblocking specialist with upside could be worth a late-round flier.