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Chris Paul + Blake Griffin = alley-oop heaven

It finally happened: Chris Paul is traded away from the Hornets.

The Los Angeles Clippers have agreed in principle to a deal with the New Orleans Hornets. Here’s the breakdown:

Los Angeles Clippers get: CP3, two future second-round picks

New Orleans Hornets get: Eric Gordon, Chris Kaman, Al-Farouq Aminu and Minnesota’s unprotected 2012 first-round draft pick

Here’s a quick list of fantasy implications:

• This is good news for Paul. Sure, he was a surefire top four pick before the trade, but CP3 is going from playing point guard for a hollow Hornets squad that lost David West to passing and lobbing it to Blake Griffin, who isn’t a bad finisher at the rim. I’d still take CP3 at No. 3 or 4 overall, but this trade is good for him, mentally and for — wait for it — basketball reasons. Griffin should benefit a bit from having Paul feed him the rock, but it’s not a significant bump to his fantasy value. (continue reading…)

It's simple: Don't sleep on Teague. (NBA.com)

Here’s a quick list of my top 20 fantasy basketball sleepers for the 2011-12 NBA season (assuming nine categories), broken down into three tiers: napping, dozing and comatose. For the full list, which includes an introduction and explanations for each listed player, head on over to DimeMag.com.

Napping (sleepers in a loose sense of the word, because just about everyone knows it):

• Arron Afflalo (SG, TBD): Target in rounds 6-7
• Jared Dudley (SG/SF, Suns): Target in rounds 6-7
• Jeff Teague (PG/SG, Hawks): Target in rounds 8-9
• DeAndre Jordan (PF/C, Clippers): Target in rounds 9-10 (continue reading…)

The Griffin will take flight -- again, and again, and again. (Flickr/Keith Allison)

Depth chart:
PG: Mo Williams, Eric Bledsoe
SG: Eric Gordon, Randy Foye, Willie Warren, Travis Leslie
SF: Al-Farouq Aminu, Ryan Gomes, Jamario Moon*
PF: Blake Griffin, Craig Smith*, Trey Thompkins, Ike Diogu, Brian Cook
C: Chris Kaman, DeAndre Jordan**

* unrestricted free agent
** restricted free agent (continue reading…)

Yep, this guy deserves your attention. (GLYN KIRK/AFP/Getty Images)

Game watch:
4 games: CHA, CHI, DAL, GS, IND, LAC, MIL, MIN, NY, OKC, ORL, PHI, POR, SAC, UTA
3 games: ATL, BOS, CLE, DET, HOU, LAL, MEM, MIA, NO, PHO, SA, TOR
2 games: DEN, NJ, WAS

Waiver-wire watch:

• Francisco Garcia: in his first game since Jan. 15, he finished with 18 points, four three-pointers, three rebounds and two steals
• Carlos Delfino: up and down lately, but continues to put up strong overall numbers and racked up nine steals in two games last week
• Wes Johnson: in his four games before the flu derailed him, Johnson was tearing up box scores
• Matt Bonner: usually a good source of threes, has hit nine in his last two games (continue reading…)

Conley's not quite No. 1, but he's been solid this season. (Jeff Gross/Getty Images)

[Read the full post at DimeMag.com]

Beast of the Night: Mike Conley had 26 points, two rebounds, 11 assists, two steals and four three-pointers made last night as he led the Grizzlies to a victory over the Magic. He shot 64 percent (9-14) from the field, 80 percent (4-5) from the free-throw line and had three turnovers. This was his second double-double in as many games. Though Conley’s numbers have slipped a bit from his hot start to the season, he remains a better fantasy player than he has been in past seasons.

Lines for Discussion:
Roy Hibbert: 9-19 FG (47%), 6-9 FT (67%), 24 Pts, 11 Reb, 1 Ast, 2 Stl, 2 Blk, 5 TO

DeMar DeRozan: 3-15 FG (20%), 4-4 FT (100%), 10 Pts, 5 Reb, 4 Ast, 3 Stl, 2 Blk, 2 TO (continue reading…)