26-year old small forward Trevor Ariza plays hard on both ends of the basketball court, but, he needs to start taking better shots.  Ariza only hit 39.8% from the floor last year and that needs to improve.  Ariza played in 75 games (all starts) for the Hornets last year and he averaged 34.7 minutes, 11.0 points, 5.4 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.6 steals per game.  He has now played in 458 games (198 starts) so far in his NBA career and he is averaging 25.0 minutes, 8.9 points, 4.3 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.3 steals per game.  23-year old Quincy Pondexter will backup Ariza in 2011-12.  Pondexter played in 66 games (6 starts) for the Hornets last year as a rookie and he averaged 11.1 minutes, 2.8 points, 1.3 rebounds and 0.4 assists per game.

26-year old point guard Chris Paul remains one of the best at his position in the NBA.  Paul played in 80 games (all starts) for the Hornets last year and he averaged 36.0 minutes, 15.9 points, 4.1 rebounds, 9.8 assists and 2.4 steals per game.  He has now played in 425 games (all starts) in his first six years in the NBA and he is averaging 37.1 minutes, 18.7 points, 4.6 rebounds, 9.9 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game.  28-year old Jarrett Jack will be Paul’s backup once again in 2011-12.  He played in 83 games (15 starts) for the Hornets & Raptors last year and he averaged 20.7 minutes, 8.9 points, 2.1 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game.  Jack has now played in 487 games (210 starts) in his first six years in the NBA and he has averaged 27.0 minutes, 10.3 points, 2.6 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game.  The Hornets are in great shape at point guard for the 2011-12 season.