Team analysis: New Orleans Hornets
There will be no more of this tomfoolery going on this season, and that's good news for CP3. (Joe Murphy/NBAE/Getty Images)
Depth chart:
PG: Chris Paul, Mustafa Shakur, D.J. Strawberry
SG: Marcus Thornton, Willie Green, Marco Belinelli
SF: Trevor Ariza, Peja Stojakovic, Quincy Pondexter
PF: David West
C: Emeka Okafor, Jason Smith, Aaron Gray, Darryl Watkins
Relevant fantasy players and projected draft positions/per-game stats:
Chris Paul – PG (Rd. 1): 21 Pts, 1 three, 4 Reb, 11 Ast, 2 Stl
David West - PF (Rd. 3-4): 18 Pts, 8 Reb, 2.5 Ast, 1 Stl, 1 Blk
Trevor Ariza – G/F (Rd. 5-7): 16 Pts, 2 threes, 6.5 Reb, 3.5 Ast, 2 Stl
Marcus Thornton - SG (Rd. 6-7): 15 Pts, 2 threes, 3.5 Reb, 2.5 Ast, 1 Stl
Emeka Okafor - C (Rd. 10-11): 11 Pts, 10.5 Reb, 2 Blk
Peja Stojakovic - G/F (Rd. 13+): 9 Pts, 1.5 threes, 3 Reb
Marco Belinelli – SG (Rd. 13+): 7.5 Pts, 1 three
Sleeper:
Belinelli
Most likely to surprise:
Okafor
Most likely to disappoint:
West
Category specialists:
- Threes: Thornton, Ariza
- Steals: Ariza
- Blocks: Okafor
Things to watch:
- unlikely waiver-wire value if a starter gets hurt on this thin roster
- if playing alongside Paul can boost Ariza‘s FG%
- how West fares in a much-improved starting lineup
Team’s statistical NBA ranks from 2009-10:
- Pts: 17th
- FGM: T6th
- FGA: 9th
- FG%: 13th
- FT%: 7th
- 3PTM: 9th
- Reb: 25th
- Ast: T7th
- TO: 9th
- Stl: T9th
- Blk: T28th
Fantasy-friendliness for 2010-11: B