Some people have all the luck. You probably know someone that seems to be in the right place at the right time. You hear stories about people on flights getting bumped to business class from economy class because the airline overbooked economy. Then there are people that walk into department stores and find an awesome sale on something you have been looking for for months. LaMarcus Aldridge is one of these lucky people. How else can you explain Zach Randolph getting traded in the offseason to the Knicks and treasured draft pick Greg Oden missing this season with micro-fracture knee surgery. Opportunity has the door wide open for LaMarcus Aldridge to have a monster season.

Round 5 Pick 9: LaMarcus Aldridge, PF/C, Portland Trail Blazers

Aldridge had a slow start to his rookie season last year as at the start of last season, Coach Nate McMillan decided to start the veteran centers, Jamaal Magloire and Joel Przybilla and slowly ease Aldridge into the rotation. By the All-Star break, Aldridge had muscled in on a starting gig and producing decent fantasy numbers. Check out his numbers after the All-Star break:

GP 19, Min: 28.36 – 14.0 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 0.4 apg, 0.7 spg, 1.6 bpg, 0.8 topg, 53.4 FG%, 74.4 FT%

These numbers are fairly impressive considering that he was sharing the frontcourt with the “Black Hole” or the player formerly known as Zach Randolph. The dysfunctional Knicks like the character of Zach and decided that he could join their circus. The Trail Blazers traded Zach Randolph to the Knicks in a draft day trade this year which set up an envisioned frontcourt of Greg Oden and LaMarcus Aldridge. Minus Greg Oden from the equation and Aldridge will be the main man in the paint for the Blazers this year.

The only thing that can derail LaMarcus’ potential monster season is injuries. At the end of last season, Aldridge missed the last nine games due to a rapid heartbeat caused by Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome. The ailment is under control and LaMarcus has been given the green light this season. If Aldridge can stay healthy then he will reward fantasy owners with great big man stats in points, boards, blocks, and solid percentages.

LaMarcus Aldridge is riding the good karma train these days. He should buy some stocks, lottery tickets or take out a personal ad and with his luck, things will turn out all right. Fantasy GMs should bounce Aldridge up their cheat lists as he will make owners that draft him this year, lucky.

Other Players on this Fantasy Team:
1.9 Dwyane Wade, PG/SG, Miami Heat
2.4. Andre Iguodala,SG/SF, Philadelphia 76ers
3.9. Jermaine O’Neal, PF/C, Indiana Pacers
4.4. Jason Richardson, SG/SF, Charlotte Bobcats

Previous Picks this Round
5.1. Antawn Jamison, PF/SF, Washington Wizards
5.2. Kirk Hinrich, PG/SG, Chicago Bulls
5.3. Mo Williams, PG, Milwaukee Bucks
5.4. Zach Randolph, PF, New York Knicks
5.5.Rasheed Wallace, PF, Detroit Pistons
5.6.Mike Miller, SG/SF, Memphis Grizzles
5.7. Manu Ginobili, SG, San Antonio Spurs
5.8. Ricky Davis, SG/SF, Minnesota Timberwolves

Previous Round Selections
Round One Recap
Round Two Recap
Round Three Recap
Round Four Recap