Dwyane Wade in LA. Carmelo under the bright lights in MSG. LeBron to the Suns. The landscape of the NBA is changed at the click of a button, the stars of the league realigned.

A fantasy draft in NBA 2K11 may be one of the most entertaining things you can do to liven up your Association mode. NBA 2K’s AI general managers also draft intelligently, selecting the league’s youngest and brightest stars early in the draft to build around. Rondo, John Wall and Derek Rose are all consistently chosen within the top 10 of the draft.

When building your draft boards, some of us dream about the luxury of having a CP3 or Dwight Howard available to us. But sometimes the ping-pong balls just don’t fall in your favor, and you may find yourself drafting towards the end of the first round.

Regardless of your draft position, you can still build a strong foundation of a team around players not named Kobe, LeBron or Durant. Here are some players to build around when the superstars are no longer on your draft board.

I believe in strong team defense. Protect the paint -- a basketball fundamental preached by the league’s best defensive teams. Players such as Tim Duncan and Kevin Garnett are going to be there towards the end of the first round because of their large contracts and advanced ages. This is not a bad place to start in the first round, but if you look a little deeper, you might be able to find a gem later in the draft.

LaMarcus Aldridge NBA 2K11 OS Scouting Report

Inside Game: A-
Post Def: B-
Rebounding: B

LaMarcus Aldridge of the Portland Trail Blazers can solidify your post defense. Pulling down nearly nine rebounds a game this season, he can help control the boards as well. Not only that, he is one of the purest scorers at the power forward position. He may not be dominant in the post, but a mix of solid athleticism and a sweet jumper make him quite dangerous. And at the age of 25 years young, he can be the man to build around for seasons to come.

Drafting him will sign him to your squad for a five-year, $65 million contract -- relatively cheap for a low-post presence in the NBA. Aldridge may also be available in round two or three.

A long-shot player to select could be LaMarcus' teammate Greg Oden. In NBA 2K11, his injuries have damaged his stock, but his size and power are still valuable. Oden will protect the hoop, play good defense on low-post players and block an occasional shot or two. His ceiling is still very high on the simulation hardwood.

Generally speaking, a pure scorer is a key asset to have on your fantasy squad. Some of you may think it's a good idea to grab a point guard in this point-guard driven league, but there is time to grab a quality point later with a third-round pick. So I say buck the trend and take a gifted scorer instead.

Wilson Chandler NBA 2K11 OS Scouting Report

Outside Scoring: B
Perimeter Def: B
I.Q.: B+

A personal favorite of mine on the wing is Wilson Chandler. At age 23, he is averaging about 18 points per game for the Knicks this season. Chandler has size at 6-foot-8 to play strong perimeter defense on opposing small forwards and shooting guards, and he has one of the best strokes in the NBA. He can also create his own shot in isolation situations.

Beyond Chandler, look for players such as Joe Johnson, Paul Pierce or Vince Carter late in the second round; somebody who can create his own shot in an isolation situation, and can catch fire at any given time.

A player like Rudy Gay may also fit this mold. Gay may not have the most polished offensive game to this point in his career, but he is a gifted scorer.

When drafting a point guard, I want an all-around game: size, speed, defense and the ability to break down defenses.

Tyreke Evans NBA 2K11 OS Scouting Report

Handles: A-
I.Q.: A-
Perimeter Def: B+

Tyreke Evans, a 6-foot-6 220-pound point guard out of Memphis is my go-to guy here. His jump shot is still a work in progress, but that's okay. He can attack the hoop with some of the best scorers in the league.

Owed just over $13 million total for the next three seasons, Evans is a true franchise player on the cheap. The guard from the Sacramento Kings may come off the board late in the first round, so be prepared to make that executive decision to take him early if you must.

If you do decide to draft a point guard later on, Baron Davis will be passed on for the young guns of the league. Davis has a solid all-around game, and he will not be pushed around on defense. BD’s jumper in NBA 2K11 is a bit off from beyond the arc, but he can still be lethal on offense. Baron is also unique because he can dominate most other point guards in the low post.

Two quick, young slashing guards that I recommend are Jerryd Bayless and Darren Collison. These guys have top-end speed to push a high-tempo offense -- if that’s your style. So if you plan to run the Mike D'Antoni system, then these two players should fit your system nicely. Both possess great drive-and-kick skills at a very affordable price.

When I scout for role players in the NBA, I look for athletic perimeter defenders who can knock down open shots when called upon. Arron Afflalo fits this mold perfectly. At age 25, Afflalo has the fresh legs to put in work on the defensive end. His overall rating has moved up from 65 to 72 this season, including improvements in his mid-range game. In other words, don’t underestimate his shot in NBA 2K11.

If you're looking for additional scoring, Michael Redd might be worth a look. He's actually a 49 overall on the latest rosters, but when you head into a fantasy draft the injury is removed and his ratings return. Obviously after tearing his ACL and MCL last year, Redd is injury prone in NBA 2K11. But trust my scouting skills, it’s worth the risk. Redd should be able to come off your bench with instant offense. His shot is silky smooth, comparable to that of only Ray Allen -- his shot does not hit the rim, even on contested jumpers. And even if he does fail, he's got a massive expiring contract.


So give up the goods OSers. What guys are sleepers out there in Association mode fantasy drafts? And what do you think is the best way to build a fantasy squad?