Sports

Butler averaged a career-best 11.2 points per game for the Hornets a season ago, but he's not much of a fantasy option in a time-share with Thornton. His stay in the starting lineup doesn't seem likely to be a permanent thing, either.

For now, Rasual Butler is ahead of him on the depth chart at small forward. Thornton believes the reason behind his slow start is that he has been pressing. After averaging 16.8 points per game a season ago, it's hard to imagine he'll be out of the lineup very long.

Kobe can opt out of the final year of his deal and became a free agent next summer - quite a good time to be on the open market in case you had not heard. That being said, both sides sound committed to hammering out an extension, and the chances of Kobe leaving the Lakers next summer appear to be somewhere near non-existent.

There hasn't been any indication that he will be out Sunday. That being said, Johnson is a role player with no fantasy value.

The Magic are 3-0 in those games, and understandably not anxious to rush back one of their key players too early. If he doesn't play on Sunday, expect him to play on Tuesday.