DeMar DeRozan will contribute points but not much else

Today we’re going to look not only at the projected leaderboard for the NBA this upcoming season, but also some statistical assassins–players who are top-10 in that particular category but don’t offer much else. Depending on your draft strategy and need, these are people to either target for their specialty or avoid for their lack of well-roundedness. Those players specializing in the category but lacking well-rounded production will be noted in bold.

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POINTS

1. James Harden (HOU – SG,SF) – 2,342
2. Russell Westbrook (OKC – PG) – 2,229
3. Kevin Durant (GS – SF,PF) – 2,144
9. DeMar DeRozen (TOR) – 1,711

It’s cliche to mention this, but the Thunder may have really bungled their handling of James Harden and Kevin Durant. Now, though, two (and the remaining Russell Westbrook) project as the best scorers in the NBA and will chip in across the board, whether it is assists for Harden, pretty much everything but 3PM for Westbrook, or 3PM and blocks for Durant. There’s also a real chance that Harden’s new role as a point guard in a Mike D’Antoni offense could make his points projection here look like a severe underestimate. DeRozen may get some steals (82 projected), but his lack of 3PM and low FG% help make him our first statistical assassin.

REBOUNDS

1. DeAndre Jordan (LAC – C) – 1,127
2. Andre Drummond (DET – PF,C) – 1,110
3. Hassan Whiteside (MIA – C) – 983
8. Julius Randle (LAL – PF) – 803

Drummond, Jordan, and Whiteside are all relatively low usage guys, so while they will all end the season with a pretty great FG%, their primary contributions are going to be in rebounds and blocks. Randle grabs a bunch of rebounds but doesn’t really do anything with them. He also has a notoriously short wingspan, meaning he won’t grab many steals or block many shots. If you’re looking for that rebounding depth, though, he may be your guy.

ASSISTS

1. Russell Westbrook (OKC – PG) – 876
2. John Wall (WAS – PG) – 831
3. Chris Paul (LAC – PG) – 769
4. Rajon Rondo (CHI – PG) – 710

Westbrook is otherworldly in his contributions and will show up one more time in this article. Wall, when healthy, is going to run and get into the lane and score points as well as nab some steals. Paul, of course, remains one of the best point guards of all-time. So, none of the top three here are any surprises, but the real competition was for the assassin spot. Rondo got the title simply from having the most assists, but Ricky Rubio, Elfrid Payton, and Dennis Schroeder all made great cases. Another way to say this: point guard is super deep, so waiting on assists is a solid draft strategy.

BLOCKS

1.Hassan Whiteside (MIA – C) – 270
2. DeAndre Jordan (LAC – C) – 197
3. Rudy Gobert (UTH – C) – 174
6. Clint Capela (HOU – C) – 144

Whiteside and Jordan both reappear here after being top three in rebounds, too. Gobert, while not quite top three, is still projected top-10 there and will be evolving as a player on a young and improving team. Capela will have a high FG% simply because most of his shots are right at the rim, but his low usage rate will keep him from being truly dominant there. His job in Houston is going to be mostly setting picks and blocking shots, and with new head coach Mike D’Antoni, he’ll have plenty of chances at both.

STEALS

1. Chris Paul (LAC – PG) – 164
2. Russell Westbrook (OKC – PG) – 160
3. John Wall (WAS – PG) – 147
6. Tony Allen (MEM – SG,SF) – 143

The top three in assists show up again here, albeit in a different order. So, again, the competition is for the assassin spot. Allen gets it simply for being one of the best perimeter defenders of the decade, but Trevor Ariza (145 projected steals) and Monta Ellis (144 projected steals) were pretty stiff competition. Allen’s playing time may slip as his lack of shooting doesn’t quite fit the Grizzlies’ new emphasis on pace and space, but in the end, Ariza hits too many threes (160 projected) and Ellis’ ability to score in spurts keep them from being true assassins here.

Jake Stern is a correspondent with FantasyPros. For more from Jake, check out his profile or follow him @TVsJakesStern.