Anthony Davis: Projecting Hornets' Starting Lineup If Kentucky Star Goes No. 1

According to Jim Eichenhofer of Hornets.com, the New Orleans Hornets are working out Kentucky power forward and consensus No. 1 pick Anthony Davis in New Orleans Tuesday.

In the grand scheme of the 2012 NBA draft, however, Tuesday's workout is nothing more than a formality. 

Davis, who in one year at Kentucky won Player of the Year and a National Championship, has been widely considered a lock to be the No. 1 overall pick of the 2012 draft, regardless of which team was making the pick. 

The Hornets won the draft lottery late last month, and there has been no indication of the team having interest in any other player at No. 1 overall. 

With that reality in mind, we can take a way-too-early look at how the Hornets' starting lineup may look  to start the 2012 season.

Point guard: Jarrett Jack

No surprise here. In 44 games in 2011-12, Jack averaged almost 16 points and seven assists—numbers New Orleans likely weren't expecting when they turned over the point guard duties to Jack this fall.

25-year-old Greivis Vasquez (8.9 points, 5.4 assists, 2.6 rebounds) is a versatile, talented backup at the point. He's a perfect player to man the second unit. 

Barring some drastic and unforeseen circumstances, Jack will be starting 2012 as the Hornets' starting point guard.

Shooting guard: Eric Gordon

For the Hornets to take a big step in 2012, Gordon needs to assume his role as the star of this roster. The key piece in the Hornets' trade with Los Angeles that saw Chris Paul—the franchise's best-ever player since coming to New Orleans—leave town, Gordon played in just nine games last season. 

He has the scoring ability to average 22 to 24 points a game, and that's probably what the Hornets need out of him next season. 

Behind Gordon, Marco Belinelli is a capable scorer and shooter off the bench (11.8 points per game in 2011-12). 

Small forward: Trevor Ariza

Many are expecting the Hornets to ship Ariza out of New Orleans this offseason, especially after coach Monty Williams sat him for the last 10 games of the regular season in favor of a younger Al-Farouq Aminu. I'm not as convinced that will happen. 

Aminu showed some flashes, but he may be better suited to come off the bench. Ariza hasn't become the star that some expected when he left Los Angeles, but he's still a solid defender and can score on the offensive end in the right system. 

New Orleans should hold on to Ariza for another season to see how he meshes with Davis, who is a more defensive-minded player, too. 

Power forward: Anthony Davis

As long as Davis is the No. 1 pick, there's little chance Williams doesn't start him at the four next season. Carl Landry—also a candidate to start here—might be back with the Hornets, but that possibility is looking more and more unlikely. 

The real question at power forward might be with how the Hornets use their No. 10 overall pick. New Orleans has worked out several power forwards who could be available when the team's second first-rounder comes up. 

In a draft so heavily stocked with quality big men, the Hornets very well could find their starter and backup at power forward with their top two picks. 

Center: Emeka Okafor

Okafor could be a prime candidate for the amnesty clause, but the Hornets will have to really consider their front line depth if Landry and Chris Kaman leave New Orleans this summer.

Kaman is a good bet to leave, considering the $14 million he made last season. New Orleans might be forced to bring back Okafor if Kaman bolts, as teams don't want to strip that much depth in one offseason. 

It's not an ideal situation, but a combination of Ariza, Davis and Okafor does represent a solid defensive trio of players in the front court. The Hornets would need to find suitable depth behind the injury-prone Okafor, however.