Cedric

Simmons

He won’t be returning to N.C. State, but should a mid-to-late first-round pick this year.

There are questions about his offensive maturity, so he could be somewhat of a project. He could be another Gerald Wallace in the making, as he’s a defensive-minded player, and he was projected as possibly going much higher than the 15th pick. Because he’s a project, he’s not likely to have fantasy value next season.

Simmons will receive $2.62 million for two years with the team holding an option for the third and fourth years.

Simmons has a chance to step in and be a real contributor on the Cavs, especially if Anderson Varejao is not brought back. He was stuck behind Tyson Chandler and David West on the Hornets, and spent most of his rookie season stapled to the bench.

He will be unavailable for tonight’s game against the Detroit Pistons, and there is no timetable on his return. He has a role with the Cavs backing up Zydrunas Ilgauskas and Drew Gooden, especially in the absence of Anderson Varejao, but probably doesn’t have much fantasy value.

The Cavs announced Saturday that Marshall suffered a sprained right wrist Wednesday against the Mavs. After Friday’s game, the medical staff determined that the wrist had to be immobilized to heal properly. He did not practice Saturday, but did travel with the team on their six-game West Coast trip. Cedric Simmons, who is still getting over an ankle injury, will likely get some action now.

''I wasn’t that high in the air, hopefully it is not too bad,’' Simmons said. Most of you probably didn’t even know Simmons was on the Cavaliers, and this has minimal fantasy implications.

Simmons recently received a cortisone shot and painful shock therapy treatment this week, but regardless of when he returns he won’t have any fantasy value.

Simmons isn’t likely to see much action and won’t have much, if any, fantasy value this year.

This is one bit of bad news for the suddenly-healthy Cavaliers, who just got Larry Hughes, Cedric Simmons and Anderson Varejao back in the active lineup. If you can, bench Gibson until he is certain to be playing at full speed.