Thornton selected for All-Rookie team: Rookie of the Year Kevin Durant and Al Horford headlined the NBA All-Rookie team announced Tuesday. Atlanta's Horford was the only unanimous choice with 58 votes, followed by Seattle's Durant with 57 in balloting by the league's head coaches. Houston's Luis Scola (53), Los Angeles Clippers forward Al Thornton (48) and Seattle's Jeff Green (43) also made the first team. Thornton had the second highest scoring average of any rookie during the 2007-08 regular season, trailing only Durant with 12.7 points per game. He appeared in 79 games and started 31 of them. As a starter, he averaged 15.6 points, 6.1 rebounds and 1.9 assists -- getting 35.5 minutes of playing time in those games. (Updated 05/13/2008).
Injury Report
No information available at this time (Updated 7/25/08).
Fantasy Analysis
Fantasy owners should realize that much of Thornton's success as a rookie came with Elton Brand out of the mix due to an Achilles' injury. With that said, Thornton did average 14.9 points and 6.4 games in April while playing alongside Brand, so the team will likely look to give him as much playing time as possible as a sophomore. There is also the possibility that Brand skips town with a player option to bail out of his contract in the offseason. In any case, Thornton is one of the better keeper options in Fantasy and will be a solid middle-round pick with his upside. (Updated 05/13/2008).
No information available at this time.
Thornton selected for All-Rookie team: Rookie of the Year Kevin Durant and Al Horford headlined the NBA All-Rookie team announced Tuesday. Atlanta's Horford was the only unanimous choice with 58 votes, followed by Seattle's Durant with 57 in balloting by the league's head coaches. Houston's Luis Scola (53), Los Angeles Clippers forward Al Thornton (48) and Seattle's Jeff Green (43) also made the first team. Thornton had the second highest scoring average of any rookie during the 2007-08 regular season, trailing only Durant with 12.7 points per game. He appeared in 79 games and started 31 of them. As a starter, he averaged 15.6 points, 6.1 rebounds and 1.9 assists -- getting 35.5 minutes of playing time in those games. (Updated 05/13/2008).
Injury Report
No information available at this time (Updated 7/25/08).
Fantasy Analysis
Fantasy owners should realize that much of Thornton's success as a rookie came with Elton Brand out of the mix due to an Achilles' injury. With that said, Thornton did average 14.9 points and 6.4 games in April while playing alongside Brand, so the team will likely look to give him as much playing time as possible as a sophomore. There is also the possibility that Brand skips town with a player option to bail out of his contract in the offseason. In any case, Thornton is one of the better keeper options in Fantasy and will be a solid middle-round pick with his upside. (Updated 05/13/2008).
