This week: Ten candidates for Most Improved Player. This award is designed to honor the player who has made a dramatic impovement from the previous season or seasons. It is not intended for a player who has made a "comeback."

All stats through March 27.

Ricky Davis • Cleveland Cavaliers • Forward On a team heavy with swingmen, Davis' athleticism and improved shooting touch made it impossible for Cleveland to keep him on the bench. Became more than just a dunker, but can still finish with flair. G GS MPG FG% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG 2001-02 71 6 22.5 .467 2.9 2.1 0.80 0.24 10.4 2000-01 7 0 10.0 .414 1.0 1.6 0.71 0.29 4.6 Troy Hudson • Orlando Magic • Guard Best argument for Hudson is that his exceptional play forced Magic to find him playing time despite having Darrell Armstrong ahead of him. Makes most of his minutes, and can both direct offense and score in bunches. G GS MPG FG% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG 2001-02 70 1 22.0 .439 1.8 3.1 0.69 0.09 11.1 2000-01 75 7 13.4 .336 1.4 2.2 0.49 0.04 4.8 Todd MacCulloch • New Jersey Nets • Center Acquired as a free agent from Philadelphia, MacCulloch was immediately inserted into the Nets' starting lineup, providing a big body and soft hands around the basket to complement the run-and-gun style of Jason Kidd. G GS MPG FG% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG 2001-02 55 54 24.5 .533 6.1 1.2 0.40 1.40 9.9 2000-01 63 3 9.5 .589 2.7 0.2 0.11 0.30 4.1

Lee Nailon • Charlotte Hornets • Forward

Went from one-dimensional power player to steady jump-shooter who can swing between three, four and -- in a pinch -- shooting guard. Allowed Hornets to stay in playoff hunt when Mashburn was on IL. G GS MPG FG% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG 2001-02 69 41 25.7 .485 4.0 1.3 0.81 0.25 11.5 2000-01 42 0 11.2 .485 2.2 0.6 0.21 0.12 3.9

Jermaine O'Neal • Indiana Pacers • Center

Last season he was good; this season he was indispensable. Always a workhorse on defense, but became go-to guy for Pacers on offense. Teams with Brad Miller to give Indy one of best young frontlines in league. G GS MPG FG% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG 2001-02 62 62 37.0 .475 10.6 1.6 0.63 2.42 18.2 2000-01 81 80 32.6 .465 9.8 1.2 0.60 2.81 12.9

Michael Redd • Milwaukee Bucks • Guard

A no-name rookie who saw a total of 35 minutes all last season, Redd developed a reliable jumpshot and played his way into the rotation, backing up Milwaukee's star guards and contributing double-figures in scoring. G GS MPG FG% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG 2001-02 66 8 21.1 .483 3.3 1.4 0.62 0.11 11.3 2000-01 6 0 5.8 .263 0.7 0.2 0.17 0.00 2.2

Quentin Richardson • Los Angeles Clippers • Guard

In his second season, the Clips' sixth man has become a long-range sharpshooter, ranking among the NBA's top 20 in threes made and attempted. G GS MPG FG% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG 2001-02 71 0 26.8 .435 4.3 1.5 1.01 0.28 13.8 2000-01 76 28 17.9 .442 3.4 0.8 0.55 0.09 8.1

Wally Szczerbiak • Minnesota Timberwolves • Guard

Already established as a solid forward during his first two seasons, Szczerbiak moved to shooting guard became an All-Star scorer, ranking among the league leaders in both field-goal and three-point percentage. G GS MPG FG% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG 2001-02 70 70 38.5 .504 4.9 3.2 0.86 0.23 18.8 2000-01 82 82 34.8 .510 5.5 3.2 0.72 0.40 14.4

Kenny Thomas • Houston Rockets • Forward

Often overlooked playing beside Steve Francis and Cuttino Mobley, Thomas has given Houston the size up front it needed desperately, improving his play and his numbers across the board. G GS MPG FG% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG 2001-02 60 59 35.0 .486 7.2 1.9 1.30 0.87 14.5 2000-01 74 21 24.6 .443 5.6 1.0 0.54 0.58 7.1

Hedo Turkoglu • Sacramento Kings • Forward

The league's best team doesn't lose much when it goes to its bench, and in his second season, Turkoglu has anchored the Kings' second unit with his shooting touch and improved rebounding skills. G GS MPG FG% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG 2001-02 68 5 24.5 .427 4.6 2.0 0.74 0.43 10.3 2000-01 74 7 16.8 .412 2.8 0.9 0.70 0.32 5.3