Gilbert Arenas, Mike Bibby, Tracy McGrady and Rafer Alston all made a bunch of threes last season, but at what cost to your fantasy team's FG%? Agent Zero is an incredible player who can dominate in points, threes, steals, and FT%, but he shot just 41.8% from the field on 20.9 attempts per game. To see what kind of effect Arenas had on your team's FG%, let's pair him up with Dwight Howard, the league leader in FG% for players with 10+ FGA per game last season.

Arenas: 8.74 - 20.92 = 41.8% FG
Howard: 6.41 - 10.65 = 60.3% FG
COMBINED: 15.15 - 31.57 = 47.99% FG

Not bad. If your fantasy team finished the season at 47.99% FG that would be fantastic, but when you consider that only 33 qualified players shot 48% or better last season, you see that the chances of that happening are slim and none. In fact, if you were to draft a couple more high volume/ low FG% shooters, your team's overall FG% could easily drop below 45%. In most leagues, that would put you in last place for that category. Now let's see what happens when you pair Howard with Steve Nash...

Nash: 6.80 - 12.78 = 53.2% FG
Howard: 6.41 - 10.65 = 60.3% FG
COMBINED: 13.21 - 23.43 = 56.38% FG

The first thing I notice is that Arenas attempted almost as many shots as Howard and Nash combined! Because he takes so many shots, his poor FG% hurts your team that much more. But when you substitute Nash for Arenas, the combined FG% jumps up to well over 56%! Now THAT is how you build a solid foundation for finishing first in FG%. You could then draft a bunch of 46-47% shooters and your team would still finish around 48%, which is usually good for first place in that category. While Arenas and Nash are both excellent fantasy players, if you want to finish at or near the top in FG%, you should opt for the Santa Clara graduate.

Obviously, a player like Nash doesn't come along very often. He is one of just four players in NBA history (Larry Bird, Mark Price, and Reggie Miller) to shoot over 50% from the field, 40% from threes, and 90% from the line in the same season. But even if you don't get a chance to draft Nash, you can at least use him as a blueprint for a special type of player that you want on your team. Last season, there were only 12 players who made 1+ three per game and shot over 47% from the field.

I chose 47% because it's a good benchmark to tell whether a player is hurting or helping your fantasy team in FG%. As you can see, this is a very exclusive club, which is what makes these players so valuable. In this article I will review the 12 players who made the club last season and examine 10 players who might join the club for 2007-08. Pay attention to the names on this list and try to pick several of them for your fantasy team.

CLUB member = 1+ THREE and 47% FG
GOLD CLUB member = 1+ THREE and 47% FG (2+ times)
PLATINUM CLUB member = 1+ THREE and 47% FG (5+ times)
DIAMOND CLUB member = 2+ THREES and 50% FG

(DIAMOND CLUB MEMBERS)

Steve Nash - 2.05 threes, 53.2% FG (DIAMOND CLUB member - 7 times)

Steve Nash already gets PLATINUM CLUB status for making the club 5+ times, but he also gets DIAMOND CLUB status for achieving 2+ threes (2.05) and a FG% of 50% or better (53.2%) last season. How rare is this feat? Well, since the inception of the 3-point line prior to the '79-80 season, a player has made 2+ threes per game in a season (40 games min.) 153 different times. But prior to Nash in '06-07, there was only ONE previous Diamond Club member...

Brent Barry - 1.71 threes, 47.5% FG (DIAMOND CLUB member - 5 times)

In 2001-2002, Brent Barry made 2.02 threes per game and shot 50.8% from the field for Seattle, making him the very first 2+ THREE and 50% FG DIAMOND CLUB member. In case you don't remember, Barry was a fantasy monster that season: 14.4 points, 5.4 boards, 5.3 assists, 1.8 steals, .5 blocks, 2.0 threes, 50.8% FG, and 84.6% FT. He came close to ANOTHER DIAMOND SEASON in '03-04, when he shot 50.4% from the field but made only 1.93 threes per game. Despite being 35 years old and playing limited minutes, Barry made the 1+ THREES and 47% FG club AGAIN last season. He won't play enough to warrant drafting him, but if you need some threes in a pinch and don't want to hurt your team's FG%, then don't forget about Bones!

(GOLD CLUB MEMBERS)

Marion made the club for the 3rd year in a row, just squeezing by with 80 threes in 80 games. His FG% has been above 52% for two years in a row now, to go along with his stellar FT%. To show how versatile and valuable Marion is, he earned the distinction of being the only player in the NBA to be a member of both the 1+ THREES and 47% FG Club AND the 1+ BLOCK and 77% FT Club last season.

LeBron James - 1.27 threes, 47.6% FG (GOLD CLUB member - 3 times)

LeBron's numbers were down a little bit last season, but he still managed to make the club for the 3rd year in a row. He has shot 47-48% in each of the past 3 seasons, but it seems like just a matter of time before he starts shooting over 50% from the field. In the recent FIBA Americas tournament, he shot an insane 76% from the field (73-96) to go along with 2.30 threes per game. This is the perfect example of why LeBron is the leading candidate to become the next DIAMOND CLUB member.

Jason Terry - 2.00 threes, 48.3% FG (GOLD CLUB member - 3 times)

Terry made the club for the 3rd year in a row. Ever since being traded to Dallas before the '04-05 season, his shooting %'s have been phenomenal: over 47% FG, 41% 3P, and 80% FT every year. All fantasy owners should welcome that type of consistency. Terry also made 2 threes per game for the 2nd year in a row and the 4th time overall and was 6th in 3P% at 43.8%. Two more times and he'll be a PLATINUM Club member.

Leandro Barbosa - 2.38 threes, 47.7% FG (GOLD CLUB member - 2 times)

Despite coming off the bench most of the time, Barbosa has made the club two years in a row now. He finished 6th in the league in threes made per game (2.38) and 7th in 3P% (43.4%). The Blur will be a PLATINUM CLUB member in no time.

(FIRST TIME MEMBERS)

Joe Johnson - 2.09 threes, 47.1% FG (CLUB member - 1 time)

Joe Johnson barely made the club by shooting just over 47% from the field last season. He has been a prolific 3-point shooter in recent years, but it will be interesting to see if he can better his FG% again. Johnson's FG% would benefit greatly from the continued emergence of Josh Smith and Marvin Williams (and some fine rookie play by Acie Law and Al Horford) to take some heat off of J.J. on the offensive end.

Kevin Martin - 1.59 threes, 47.3% FG (CLUB member - 1 time)

Kev-Mart shot just 43.8% after the All-Star break but still managed to make the club thanks to shooting 49.4% prior. Was this a case of defenses focusing on stopping him in the second half or Martin getting tired from his first season of extensive playing time? Whatever the case may be, Kev-Mart is a very accurate shooter with a chance to become a PLATINUM CLUB member down the road.

Jason Kapono - 1.61 threes, 49.4% FG (CLUB member - 1 time)

Kapono had one of the best 3-point shooting seasons ever in '06-07. His 51.4% mark from 3-point land was the 4th best percentage of ALL-TIME (easily leading the league), and he won the All-Star Weekend 3-point competition (defeating Dirk and Arenas in the final round) by tying Mark Price's record for most points in the finals (24). His stellar season earned him a 4-year, $24 million deal from Toronto, where he'll get a chance to play at a more up-tempo pace and possibly make even more threes. Kapono has found his niche, and he'll be a member of this club several times over.

Anthony Parker - 1.58 threes, 47.7% FG (CLUB member - 1 time)

Parker's return to the NBA was a success, as he was a very efficient scorer for Toronto last season. His 44.1% on threes placed him 5th in the NBA, and was good for 1.58 made threes per game. The arrival of Kapono may take some three-point attempts away from Parker, but he will still have a very good chance of making the club for his 2nd year in a row.

Walter Hermann - 1.10 threes, 52.7% FG (CLUB member - 1 time)

The rookie from Argentina finally got a chance to play in the second half of the season, and his shooting was lights out. After the All-Star break he shot 56.7% from the field and 80% from the line, while making 1.5 threes per game on 48.3% 3P. With Sean May's health being a serious question mark, Hermann could continue to log serious minutes at the PF spot for Charlotte. It will be interesting to see if Fabio can prove that last season's second half was not a fluke.

Mickael Pietrus - 1.29 threes, 48.8% FG (CLUB member - 1 time)

Pietrus set career-highs in points, rebounds, and blocks last season, but his biggest improvement was his outside shooting. After shooting just 40.4% from the field and 31.8% from threes in '05-06, he raised those numbers to 48.8% FG and 38.8% 3P in '06-07. Now he just has to improve that dismal 64.8% from the free throw line.

Dirk Nowitzki - .92 threes, 50.2% FG (GOLD CLUB member - 3 times)

Dirk has made the club 3 times before, but missed out last year because he only made 72 threes in 78 games. This marked the 1st time since his rookie season that he failed to make over 1 three a game. His shooting %'s were actually career-highs across the board (50.2% FG, 41.6% 3P, 90.4% FT); he simply didn't attempt as many threes as usual. If he can get just a few more threes and blocks, Dirk will re-join BOTH clubs in '07-08.

Rashard Lewis - 2.52 threes, 46.1% FG (Previous CLUB member - 1 time)

If the FG% requirement was 46% instead of 47%, Lewis would be a 5-time club member. Instead, his lone appearance was in '00-01, when he shot 48.0% from the field and made 1.6 threes per game. Could he possibly make 2.6 threes per game while shooting 48% from the field again? Well, that's what Orlando is hoping for after signing him for max money, and it could very well happen with man-beast Dwight Howard terrorizing foes in the paint. FYI- The last player to make over 2.5 threes per game while shooting 48% from the field was Peja Stojakovic in '03-04, when he made 2.96 threes and shot exactly 48%.

Lamar Odom - .96 threes, 46.8% FG (Previous CLUB member - 1 time)

Odom barely missed both club requirements in '06-07 after making the club the previous season, when he shot 48.1% from the field and nailed exactly 1 three a game. What was the difference? It was simply a matter of his 3P% dropping from 37.2% in '05-06 to 29.7% last season. If Odom had shot just 32% on threes last year, he would have made the club. If his left shoulder has healed, expect Odom to return to the club in '07-08.

Mike Miller - 2.89 threes, 46.0% FG (Previous CLUB member - 1 time)

Miller came close to a DIAMOND season in '04-05, when he shot 50.5% from the field while making 1.84 threes per game. Last year he blew away his career high by making 2.89 threes per game (2nd behind Ray Allen), but he was 1 percentage point below the club requirement. Miller's worst shooting month was November (42.6% FG), when Pau Gasol was injured. With a healthy Pau commanding double teams inside and newcomer Mike Conley penetrating and creating, Miller should get more open looks in '07-08, enabling him to make the club a 2nd time.

Michael Redd - 2.21 threes, 46.5% FG (Previous CLUB member - 1 time)

If Redd had made just 5 more of his 1025 field goal attempts, he would have made the club last season. Alas, he has just one club appearance. Redd's offensive arsenal was quite potent in '06-07: he finished 11th in threes per game and set a career-high with 7.8 FT attempts per game. This off season, the Bucks retained their key players while also adding top pick Yi Jianlian and high-flyer Desmond Mason. Bobby Simmons and Charlie Villanueva are also back from injury, so Redd should get more relief on the offensive end, enabling him to improve his FG% and become an official GOLD CLUB member.

Manu Ginobili - 1.71 threes, 46.4% FG (Previous CLUB member - 1 time)

Ginobili made the club in '04-05, when he shot 47.1% from the field and made 1.31 threes per game, but his FG% has dipped below 47% the past 2 seasons. Manu made an impressive 39.6% of his three point shots last year, but a large portion of his FG attempts were 3-point attempts, which will make it hard for him to make the club a 2nd time.

Brandon Roy - .96 threes, 45.6% FG

It was a tale of two halves for Roy in his rookie season. Before the break, he averaged 15.4 points, 3.4 dimes, and .74 threes while shooting 43.4% from the field. Very respectable numbers for a rookie. But after the break, he averaged 18.7 points, 4.9 dimes, and 1.30 threes while shooting 48.5% from the field. Roy just needed some time to get comfortable, and now he's the leader of a talented, young Portland squad. As long as he doesn't force up too many bad shots, Roy will be joining the club in '07-08.

Andres Nocioni - 1.51 threes, 46.7% FG

If Nocioni had made just 2 more of his 584 field goal attempts, he would have made the club last season. Despite playing only 26.5 minutes, he nailed 1.51 threes per game. The 6'7 bruiser may lose some playing time to Tyrus Thomas and Joakim Noah this season, but he'll still bust at least a three a game and could very well make the club in '07-08.

Josh Howard - 1.31 threes, 45.9% FG

After shooting over 47% from the field for 2 years in a row, Howard's FG% dropped to 45.9% last season. The reason? He made and attempted far more threes than he ever had before, dragging down his overall FG%. His 3P% was a very respectable 38.5%, suggesting that he's still getting comfortable from behind the arc and that his outside shot may continue to improve. Howard is just entering his prime, so it wouldn't surprise me to see him join the club in '07-08.

Danny Granger - 1.34 threes, 45.9% FG

Granger had a solid 2nd season for Indiana, being active on defense, nailing 1.34 threes per game, and shooting decent %'s: 45.9% FG, 38.2% 3P, 80.3% FT. How much of an effect did Granger have on his team? In Indiana's 35 wins, he shot 50.6% from the field, whereas in their 47 losses, he shot just 42.7% from the field. Granger shot over 52% from the field in college, and he's very capable of shooting 48% in the NBA. If the Pacers can get more consistent PG play (Travis Diener anyone?), Granger might just make the club this season.