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Apr. 13 -- As the season winds down, we look back and take stock of notable fantasy performances around the league. Here are my choices for the fantasy MVP on each team, along with this season’s surprise package and next year’s sleeper candidate.

Boston Celtics: MVP: Paul Pierce. Pierce posted the best statistical averages of his career and is an easy choice for the Celtics’ fantasy MVP.

Surprise: Delonte West. West started hot and kept the point guard job all season, posting great numbers in all categories.

Sleeper: Kendrick Perkins. Perkins showed he could be the power player in the post for the Celtics and if he stays injury-free will be a prime breakout candidate at center.

New Jersey Nets: MVP: Jason Kidd. Seven triple-doubles, most by any player this season. Case closed.

Surprise: Richard Jefferson. Pre-season predictions suggested a drop-off in numbers playing behind Jason Kidd and Vince Carter. So much for pre-season predictions.

Sleeper: Nenad Krstic. Great post-All Star numbers. A few more blocks and rebounds is all Krstic needs to be an elite center next season.

New York Knicks: MVP: Stephon Marbury. Starbury was a big disappointment but then so was everyone else on the Knicks.

Surprise: Channing Frye. Frye’s play was the lone bright spot for the Knicks.

Sleeper: Channing Frye. If Frye stays healthy and plays a full season, he should be the most-owned Knicks player in fantasy leagues.

Philadelphia 76ers: MVP: Allen Iverson. Who else?

Surprise: Chris Webber. Raise your hand if you thought Webber would play more than 70 games this season?

Sleeper: Andre Iguodala. Any guard who hits 50 percent of his shots is fantasy gold as it is. Next season should see AI-2 emerge as the fantasy stud many expect him to be.

Toronto Raptors: MVP: Chris Bosh. Bosh did fall just short of the 20-10 mark but his high percentages from the field and the free throw line make him one of the best centers to own.

Surprise: Mike James. Twelve games with 30 or more points, more than 160 three-pointers. All from a free agent pickup.

Sleeper: Charlie Villanueva. That’s two drafts in three seasons the Raptors have come out with a player to build around. Villanueva will be a trendy sleeper next year and rightly so - anybody who can hit the three-pointer and block shots should be.

Chicago Bulls: MVP: Kirk Hinrich. Granted, his field goal percentage is low but he does everything a top fantasy point guard should do and does it well.

Surprise: Andres Nocioni. Nocioni is finishing the season strong with regular double-doubles and winning championships for many fantasy teams.

Sleeper: Andres Nocioni. Can he do it for a full season?

Cleveland Cavaliers: MVP : LeBron James. Duh.

Surprise : Donyell Marshall. Not a pleasant surprise at all. Marshall went from a “can’t miss” sleeper to “just about roster-worthy” in the first month to the “biggest bust” as the season ends.

Sleeper : Ronald Murray. Flip can flat out score and he has added the three-point shot to his repertoire. As long as he gets minutes he will produce.

Detroit Pistons: MVP: Chauncey Billups. In a season when Billups turned in the finest performance of his career, the best part of it is that he is on track for another 80-game season.

Surprise: The starting five. The Pistons starting five has missed just two games among them. That’s as remarkable an achievement as any this season.

Sleeper: None. The starting five should be good for another season.

Indiana Pacers: MVP: Stephen Jackson. With so many injuries, S-Jax gets the MVP honors just for staying on the court for the most games and his numbers aren’t shabby either.

Surprise: Jeff Foster. Two seasons in a row, Foster has shown he can be a rebounding machine when he gets playing time. He doesn’t do much else, but double-digit rebounds from a free agent can make the difference between winning the championship and losing it.

Sleeper: Danny Granger. Granger was up and down in his rookie season but the talent is there. If he gets regular minutes he can be the poor man’s Shawn Marion.

Milwaukee Bucks: MVP: Michael Redd. Very quietly, Michael Redd has put up a season worthy of MVP considerations.

Surprise: T.J. Ford. Not only did Ford show he can still play after a career-threatening injury, he actually excelled and surpassed all expectations.

Sleeper: Andrew Bogut. Bogut showed flashes of brilliance every now and then. With a season under his belt, he should show more consistency next season.

Atlanta Hawks: MVP: Joe Johnson. Well, he sure can carry a team on his own. JJ posted great numbers across the board and hasn’t missed a game in four seasons.

Surprise: Zaza Pachulia. Pachulia came out of nowhere and established himself as one of the few centers worth owning in fantasy leagues.

Sleeper: Josh Smith. Everyone knows him but the way he has turned it on in the second half, Smith could be a bargain no matter where you take him in next season’s draft.

Charlotte Bobcats: MVP: Brevin Knight. Cheapest source of assists and steals you’ll find in fantasy leagues.

Surprise: Raymond Felton. If Knight’s stats made you drool this season, just imagine what a full season from Felton will do. Easily a top-tier fantasy point guard.

Sleeper: Emeka Okafor. Okafor’s injury troubles will mean he goes way lower in next year’s draft than his talent level suggests.

Miami Heat: MVP: Dwyane Wade. Is there anything this guy can’t do? Maybe shoot more three-pointers (but that’s being greedy).

Surprise: Alonzo Mourning. 173 blocks from someone we thought would never play again. That sure deserves a mention here.

Sleeper: Jason Williams. J-Will showed he can be the third banana behind Wade and Shaquille O’Neal. He also showed he can post great fantasy numbers when healthy.

Orlando Magic: MVP: Dwight Howard. This guy is a double-double machine.

Surprise: Jameer Nelson. Nelson is playing so well the Magic didn’t hesitate to trade away Steve Francis.

Sleeper: Darko Milicic. 7-foot, 21-year-old center with lots of untapped potential.

Washington Wizards: MVP: Gilbert Arenas. A few turnovers would be great but there is nothing to complain about Arenas.

Surprise: Antawn Jamison. Seriously! Who knew Jamison was so good from the three-point arc?

Sleeper: Caron Butler. The way the Wizards love shooting three-pointers, I wouldn’t be surprised if Butler starts raining them next season. If that happens watch out!

Pravin Bhandakkar is a fantasy expert for NBA.com. His column Around the Eastern Conference runs every Thursday as part of the NBA.com Premium Scouting Report. Contact him at Praywin@TalentedMrRoto.com .

The views expressed by the TalentedMrRoto.com represent only the views of the writers; they do not represent the views of the NBA or any NBA team.