Embattled Battie

With the continuous development of Orlando centerpiece Dwight Howard, many would wonder if there is room for another big alongside Superman over in Florida. Today, FantasyTank previews another player shaking off the rust, hoping to bring the Magic further from its Eastern Conference semifinal spot last year: Tony Battie.

* Tony Battie
* #4
* Forward-Center
* Orlando Magic
* Height: 6-11
* Weight: 240

Why you should get him:
Block party - True, Dwight Howard is the one Orlando turns to in patrolling the lanes, but with the return of Battie, you have two FC's who are capable of swatting a shot lobbed without caution. Battie has always been good for a block a game throughout his career, and should continue to do so once he steps onto the court this year. Playing time will not be a problem, as his only competitors for the job are Adonal Foyle and Marcin Gortat (who?).

Numbers correlate to Orlando's game result - Back in the 2006-2007 season, a win normally translates to a decent to noticeable performance from this big man, while a loss is equivalent to another one of those forgettable games. If this will be the trend once again coming into this season, then GM's can expect 40-something performances worth tacking onto the fantasy charts, give or take.

Why you shouldn't get him:
Lack of points - Battie has never been known as a scorer, only averaging a career-high 8.4 points per game in his 1997-1998 rookie season with the Nuggets. He will compensate in order ways such as minimal turnovers (for a big man) and FG%, but don't expect any offensive explosions, especially if the GM's goal is to win the points category.

Recovery rate - While Battie has been cleared to play as early as the playoffs last season, his rotator cuff (shoulder) surgery indicates that his performance could have been hampered and opted to sit it out. Like all other players returning from year-long injuries, it will be notable to track his progress over the course of the season.

Projected 08-09 statistics:
GP: 74
Ppg: 6.8
Rpg: 6.1
Apg: 0.7
Spg: 0.3
Bpg: 1.3
TOs: 0.8
FG%: 46.4
3sM: 0.0
FT%: 71.4



Verdict:
Methinks that Tony Battie should be an early 13th round pick in 15-20 team leagues and a late 15th round pick in 12-14 team leagues. He may be undrafted in smaller leagues and will be picked up when dropping a player, particularly a big man, midway in the season due to disappointing statistics or injuries.

Photo courtesy of Orlando Sentinel