Wayne

Simien

He won’t have much fantasy value this year, unless Udonis Haslem goes down.

At the morning shootaround, Heat coach Pat Riley was asked if he was troubled by the illness that was making its way through the team. “No, we don’t get sick at this time,” Riley said. “We don’t.” Dwyane Wade was reportedly feeling much better with his sinus infection from earlier in the week.

He is a winner, and a fundamentally sound player who can do a little bit of everything, including shooting free throws. He has a history of injuries and there are serious durability questions about him. However, he will be considered a steal at 29, as many people projected him to go much earlier.

If the Heat had not re-signed Udonis Haslem, he actually had a chance at starting. Now he’ll have plenty of time learning the NBA game as a backup and probably won’t have much fantasy value this year.

He’s recovering from surgery and had just three points on 1-of-3 shooting. The prospects of him having fantasy value are slim.

Simien was acquired with Antoine Walker and Michael Doleac in the deal that sent Ricky Davis and Mark Blount to Miami. Simien is the only one who was told not to report to the team.

The Heat get Davis, who should immediately start at shooting guard for injured Dwyane Wade, while the Wolves got a first-round pick and one year less of a bad contract by moving Blount for Walker. Davis could play small forward when Wade returns, as Penny Hardaway and disappointing Dorell Wright are fighting it out for the starting job this season. While it’s not likely that Walker will ever play a game for the Wolves, it should push rookie Corey Brewer into the spotlight in Minnesota, along with Rashad McCants and Randy Foye. Davis’ fantasy value shouldn’t change much with the move, as the Heat were just as desperate for a scorer as the Wolves.

Simien is a talented player, but has never had a chance to show his stuff in the NBA due to a bout with a salmonella infection last year and offseason knee surgery this year. He could eventually be a useful backup for the Wolves, but don’t hold your breath.

We have no idea what Minnesota is going to do with Walker, although a buyout seems likely, but the good news for Ricky Davis owners is that he’d likely step right into the starting lineup for the Heat. It’s believed the Heat will throw in a first-round draft pick to help push the trade through. Davis would likely start at shooting guard, while Blount would help back up Shaquille O’Neal and Udonis Haslem. None of the players going to Minnesota would have any fantasy value.

Simien, who missed most of last season with a salmonella infection, is expected to resume practicing in four to six weeks. Simien looked like a nice prospect until last season’s setback, but could be on the verge of returning to form this year.