NBAnalysis

Back to Business Vol. 1: Spurs Amnesty Jefferson

2011-12-07T13:44:00.000-08:00

With the NBA recuperating and prepped to start an abbreviated but hugely anticipated 66-game season in Christmas there will be plenty of moves being made over the next three weeks. NBAnalysis is tackling them all.

Surprisingly few projected that the Spurs would amnesty Jefferson. I can’t say that I’m an exception – I never gave it much thought, with so many more obnoxious contracts out there – but it certainly isn’t a controversial move. The Spurs were only half-crazy to pay him $14.2 million for his services in the 2009-10 campaign when he was coming off a 19.6 PPG season in Milwaukee. They were absolutely nuts to hand him a 4 year/$39 million deal after putting up 12.3 PPG, 4.4 RPG in 31 minutes two seasons ago. That was a rare questionable move on the part of San Antonio’s front office and they as much as anyone can feel grateful for the newly implemented amnesty clause.

Jefferson has always been a terrific scorer who relied heavily on his athleticism, which would explain his massive decline when he hit 30. As noted earlier,Jefferson averaged just 12.3 points and 4.4 boards in his first year with the Spurs; from 2003-09 Jefferson averaged 19.7 poings and 5.3 boards a night. Last year he got even worse, scrounging up just 11 poins and 3.8 boards a night. Had his 3-point percentage not inexplicably skyrocketed to 44% (3.8 attempts per game), we would have heard a great deal more amnesty chatter over the past week. Jefferson is a classic example of an athletic scorer whose devolving production correlates strictly with his loss of quickness and explosiveness. In 2010-11, Jefferson finished with a meager PER of 12.42, good enough for 219^th in the league. He's on the wrong side of 30 and has $30 million left on his contract. If you're the Spurs, you get him off your books the second you get the chance.

The numbers are so telling that the Spurs’ current condition hardly plays a factor. It is, however, interesting in terms of gauging where they think they’re headed. You could argue that no team has managed their stars’ contracts better than the Spurs; Duncan has one year left (conveniently, his last as a franchise guy), Ginobili has two (the right number for a 34-year old who got some MVP votes last year), and Parker, the 29-year old in his prime, has three to go. Cutting ties with Jefferson means that they will likely target another wing in free agency and that they’re considerably more confident in Kawhi Leonard than we already thought. Trading fan favorite George Hill for an offensively-raw wing was a risky move, but many thought that he would be drafted 10 spots higher than where the Spurs got him. Leonard is ready to defend NBA wings right now and he should be able to contribute 12-15 points down the line. Even if they should sign another wing, Leonard can now look forward to close to 25 minutes of run each night.

It’s sad to see this happen to Jefferson, a likable player who has come oh so close with a few squads (J-Kidd’s Nets and last year’s 61-win Spurs squad stick out) and now might be mired in a mentoring role. While it doesn’t compensate for his transformation into a mediocre scorer, Jefferson’s much-improved three-ball is a great sign that he’s learning how to play with his new (which is to say, aged) abilities. He would be a terrific fit for a young team in need of a solid veteran wing, such as the Clippers or Bobcats. However, the best fit might with the franchise that launched him. The Nets, with the impending amnesty of Travis Outlaw, fit him best as a young team in need of leadership that happens to have a huge hole at the swing.

2011 Mock Draft 1.0

2011-05-18T10:19:00.001-07:00

With the ping pong balls having revealed where each team will pick in the 2011 draft, it's now safe to predict where players may land. The first mock draft is always the most innocent, as we don't know who's two inches shorter than listed, which team promised to pick whom (but just might not), and which teams are interested in moving up for whichever picks. If the draft was to take place tomorrow night, without any of the aforementioned variables, here's how I think it would go down:

1. Cavaliers - Kyrie Irving (6-2/180; PG; Freshman; Duke)
He isn't as distinct a top overall prospect as some scouts are making him seem, but he is the perfect fit for the Cavs. Despite still being a teenager, Irving is NBA-ready, and as a very dynamic point guard he's the best player to start the rebuilding process with.

2. Timberwolves - Enes Kanter (6-11/270; PF/C; 18 years old)
What the Wolves will do with this pick is anybody's guess. Derrick Williams might be the second best prospect in the draft, but he's practically a melding of Beasley and Love, both of whom averaged at least 19 points per game last year and are both just 22. So why take another forward just like them, especially when your starting center is a joke? Kanter has all the tools to eventually be an elite center in the league, and would be a great piece next to Love in the low post. The Timberwolves are also very open to trading the pick, and in a league with so few decent centers, you can bet that Kanter will be the most valuable trade chip.

3. Jazz - Brandon Knight (6-3/185; PG/SG; PG/SG; Kentucky)
If Williams does indeed slip past the second pick, the Jazz will be in quite a pickle. Williams is the best on the board and would fill a need at SF, but he isn't exactly what the Jazz need. Utah is in a position to select a point guard to replace Deron Williams and continue their lineage of elite floor generals, and Knight has terrific upside. Utah's biggest need is shooting, and Knight has shown the ability to knock down multiple threes in a row and confidently take the fadeaway with seconds remaining.

4. Cavaliers - Derrick Williams (6-8/245; PF/SF; Sophomore; Arizona)
If the Cavs should land Irving, the top prospect, and Williams, who satisfies their greatest need, the basketball-loving world should just be happy for them.

5. Raptors - Kawhi Leonard (6-7/225; SF; Sophomore; San Diego State)
The lowly Cavs were the only team with a worse crop of small forwards than the Raptors, with their remarkably inefficient tandem of Linas Kleiza, Julian Wright and James Johnson. Enter Kawhi Leonard, a tough, well-rounded and long swingman with the potential to guard three positions. Leonard will at the very least be a good pro for 10 years, and if he continues to improve his jumper, he could be a star.

6. Wizards - Jan Vesely (6-11/240; SF/PF; 21 years old)
The Wizards would have loved to pair either Williams or Kanter with JaVale McGee down low, giving Wall a big man he can confidently throw the ball to near the basket. Luckily they still covet Vesely, an extremely versatile wing with huge upside.

7. Kings - Kemba Walker (6-0/180; PG; Junior; Connecticut)
The Kings likely had the worst luck in the lottery, but if they could scoop up Kemba, you'll hear no complaints from the organization. The best player in college last season, Walker would allow Tyreke to move to his natural position and would bring a much-needed winning attitude.

8. Pistons - Bismack Biyombo (6-9/243; PF/C; 18 years old)
With Greg Monroe firmly in place at power forward (or center), the Pistons will look for another young big man to complement him on the low block. Biyombo, who's been compared to Ben Wallace, would be a perfect fit with his toughness, length, and massive potential.

9. Bobcats - Jonas Valanciunas (6-11/240; C/PF; 19 years old)
Charlotte is dying for another big man, and Valanciunas could be the perfect center to grow alongside Tyrus Thomas.

10. Bucks - Alec Burks (6-6/195; SG; Sophomore; Colorado)
John Salmons was a major disappointment in the first year of his contract as the Bucks finished last in the league in scoring. Burks has one of the most mature skill sets of anyone in the draft and would be a great running mate for Jennings in the backcourt.

11. Warriors - Marcus Morris (6-9/235; PF; Junior; Kansas)
Loaded with talent at every position, the Warriors will likely look for a versatile role player, and Morris is one of the few players in who's ready to handle and produce in big minutes right away.

12. Jazz - Jordan Hamilton (6-7/220; SF/SG; Sophomore; Texas)
In dire need of shooters (C.J. Miles is the only shooter on the team) and loaded with big men, expect the Jazz to target another wing. Oklahoma Coach Jeff Capel said of Hamilton, who made 2.5 threes per game, "You could put him in a phone booth, and he'd figure out how to score."

13. Suns - Jimmer Fredette (6-2/195; PG; Senior; Brigham Young)
Whether or not he's worthy of being Nash's heir apparent, there's no doubting that Jimmer would be an extremely efficient, even explosive scorer in the Suns' offense.

14. Rockets - Chris Singleton (6-9/225; SF; Junior; Florida State)
Houston finished first in the league scoring last year and near the bottom in points allowed, so why not take the best perimeter defender to come along in years? Singleton could be their Shane Battier, only with greater potential on the offensive end.

15. Pacers - Klay Thompson (6-6/207; SG; Junior; Washington State)
They've been hunting for a starting shooting guard for years, and the position is still a major question mark. Thompson was one of the best scorers in college last year, averaging 21.6 points and 2.9 threes, and at 6-6, he has great size for the position.

16. 76ers - Donatas Motiejunas (7-0/220; PF/C; 20 years old)
The Sixers need to get bigger and are in the market for some shooters. Not only is Motiejunas huge, but he's an excellent shooter in the Andrea Bargnani mold.

17. Knicks - Markieff Morris (6-10/245; PF; Junior; Kansas)
Having hopefully at last realized that they will not be able to draft the franchise center that they need, the Knicks would be wise to go with the best player available. Morris can play inside (62.5% from inside the arc) and out (42.4% from range), is very physical (8.3 boards in just 24.4 minutes), and yes, has the size to slide in and play center now and then.

18. Wizards - Tristan Thompson (6-8/225; PF; Freshman; Texas)
A high energy rebounder/defender with a rapidly improving offensive game and mature style of play, Thompson would be a great fit in a frontcourt that's perpetually disorganized.

19. Bobcats - Darius Morris (6-4/190; PG; Sophomore; Michigan)
Jordan's club has had a love/hate relationship with D.J. Augustin for the past three years, and with the team now heading in a new direction, look for them to take a point man with one of their first round picks. A 6-4 point guard who's proven to be a great distributor (6.7 assists, fifth in the nation), Morris is also an adept scorer and could be a huge sleeper for any team picking in the second half of the first round.

20. Timberwolves - Marshon Brooks (6-5/190; SG; Senior; Providence)
With seemingly all of their scoring coming from forwards, the Wolves could use a shooting guard who can create for himself. Brooks, who finished second in the nation in scoring and dropped 52 in one game, has the potential to be a special scorer in whatever capacity he's set in.

21. Trailblazers - Kenneth Faried (6-8/225; PF; Senior; Morehead State)
Morehead State standout Faried is the type of guy any team would be lucky to have. The Blazers' big men are seemingly always banged up, and their future is a bit uncertain with Oden entering free agency and Marcus Camby having just turned 37. The Blazers, as much as any other club, would love to nab Faried.

22. Nuggets -Lucas Nogueira (7-0/218; C; 18 years old)
No team is deeper than the Nuggets, whose bench (Felton/J.R. Smith/Chandler/Harrington/Andersen) would be a playoff team in the East. They took a risk on a relatively unknown Brazilian center with their first round pick nine years ago; why not try their luck again with Nogueira, the 7-foot 18-year old from Rio de Janeiro?

23. Rockets - Davis Bertrans (6-10/210; SF/PF; 18 years old)
With a great deal of young talent (Patterson, Budinger, Thabeet, Terrence Williams) vying for playing time, it might make sense to take a young foreigner to develop overseas. Bertrans is probably the best shooter of any forward in the draft.

24. Thunder - Tobias Harris (6-8/230; SF/PF; Freshman; Tennessee)
If there's anything negative to point out about the Thunder's makeup, it's their lack of players who can and want to create offense for themselves. Harris was one of the most impressive freshman in the country from a scoring standpoint, with his big frame, soft touch and nose for the goal. A rugged small forward in a power forward's body, Harris would be a great foil to Durant off the bench.

25. Celtics - Trey Thompkins (6-10/245; PF; Junior; Georgia)
Few entering big men are more polished than Thompkins, who has a top-notch jumper to pair with a nice array of post moves. Garnett and the O'Neals aren't getting any younger, and Thompkins is ready to produce right now.

26. Mavericks - Tyler Honeycutt (6-8/200; SF; Sophomore; UCLA)
Considering how effectively Ben Howland's offense tends to hide his player's potential, Honeycutt could be a major sleeper. The Mavs wings are almost as old as the Celtics' bigs, qualifying Dallas as the perfect late first round landing spot for Honeycutt.

27. Nets - JaJuan Johnson (6-10/220; PF; Senior; Purdue)
Ask just about anyone who the Big 10 player of the year was this past season, and they (yours truly included) would likely say Jared Sullinger. The actual Big 10 POY, JaJuan Johnson, would be a great scorer off the bench for a team that has no such players.

28. Bulls - Charles Jenkins (6-3/220; PG/SG; Senior; Hofstra)
They look borderline perfect, but the Bulls are still looking for shooters, new starting shooting guard and another backup for Rose. Jenkins fits at least two of those needs. The NYC public school product averaged 22.6 points (2 threes as a sophomore) and despite being just 6-3, has the strength and length to move to the wing on occasion.

29. Spurs - Kyle Singler (6-8/215; SF; Senior; Duke)
Don't mistake Singler's failure to improve as a sign of regression. Singler has great size for the three, a picture perfect stroke, and competes as hard as anyone.

30. Bulls - Iman Shumpert (6-4/210; PG/SG; Sophomore; Georgia Tech)
Flying under the radar at Georgia Tech, Shumpert is a beguiling prospect and a perfect fit in Chicago. The 6-4 combo guard improved his scoring immensely (10 to 17.3) as a junior and pulled down 6 boards while playing point guard for much of the time. He's also an elite defender (2.7 steals), making him a perfect fit on Thibodeau's squad.

2010 NBA Draft Grades

2010-06-26T01:34:00.000-07:00

Atlanta Hawks
Picks: Jordan Crawford (27), Pape Sy (53)
With an undersized center, a ton of swingmen, and a bunch of guards vying for playing time, the Hawks' need for big man was clear. With potential-laden shot-blockers Daniel Orton, Hassan Whiteside, and Solomon Alabi still on the board at 24, picking Damion James - yet another swingman - was rather puzzling, and trading him for Jordan Crawford was downright beguiling. Crawford is going to be a good scorer in the NBA, but he's unmistakably similar to Jamal Crawford (not just in name), so it's hard to see what role he'll play on this Hawks team.
Grade: C-

Boston Celtics
Picks: Avery Bradley (19), Luke Harangody (52)
With their guard rotation in utter disarray (Ray Allen, Nate Robinson, Tony Allen and Marquis Daniels are all free agents), Ainge recognized the need for a versatile ball-handler. Avery Bradley is an athletic young point guard who played off the ball in college, a la Russell Westbrook and Jrue Holiday, and like those fine young talents, he is a terrific defender. Like most young combo guards he is not a great shooter or a great passer, but his athleticism and focus will make his transition relatively smooth. Seeing how well the Celtics have molded undersized power forwards into solid pros (Glen Davis and Leon Powe helped them to a title), Harangody was an excellent pick up late in the second round.
Grade: A-

Charlotte Bobcats
Picks: None
Grade: N/A

Chicago Bulls
Picks: None
For $17 million over next two years, Kirk Hinrich, who averaged 10.9 points and 4.5 assists last year, is ridiculously overpaid. Handing him and his burdensome contract off to the Wizards - and subsequently positioning themselves as the favorite to sign LeBron James - was an absolute coup.
Grade: A

Cleveland Cavaliers
Picks: None
Grade: N/A

Dallas Mavericks
Picks: Dominque Jones (25)
Despite boasting great depth at both guard spots, Jones was a steal at 25. He put up huge numbers (21.6 points, 6.3 rebounds, 3.6 assists) against tough Big East competition, and has all the tools to succeed in the pros. With Nowitzki opting out, Haywood's contract expiring, and Eric Dampier continuing to stink, they might have been better served drafting a big man. They want to win now, however, and while Jones won't necessarily win games for them this year, he'll prove to be much more valuable than an unpolished center.
Grade: B

Denver Nuggets
Picks: None
Grade: N/A

Detroit Pistons
Picks: Greg Monroe (7), Terrico White (36)
Joe Dumars makes up for drafting Austin Daye 15th overall last year by nabbing Monroe, the true center they've needed for so long. A terrific passer with great post moves and commendable instincts on the defensive end, he could be the solid big man that stabilizes this erratic Pistons squad. White, an incredibly athletic 6-5 combo guard, was a great value pick at 36.
Grade: A

Golden State Warriors
Picks: Ekpe Udoh (6)
The Warriors drew some heat for this pick, having failed to mold long and lanky forward prospects Brandan Wright and Anthony Randolph into reliable starters. What the haters don't seem to understand is that Udoh is an entirely different player, and a much better fit in Golden State's system. The Warriors were in dire need of a shot-blocker, and Udoh averaged 3.7 swats per game for a team that nearly reached the Final Four. He is much more polished than fans realize, boasting a smooth jumper and terrific handles for a guy his size. Wright was 19 on draft day and Randolph was 18; Udoh is 23, which should be viewed as a positive in terms of his ability to contribute immediately to a team that could definitely use his skills.
Grade: A-

Houston Rockets
Picks: Patrick Patterson (14)
The presence of power forward Jordan Hill, the ninth player in taken in last year's draft, is all that prevents this pick from earning the highest mark I can bestow. With Luis Scola set to become a free agent, and Yao's health still in question, Houston wisely addressed a need in the front court. Patterson is arguably the most NBA-ready player in this class, which makes him a perfect fit for the Rockets, who expect to be a playoff team when healthy. One wonders, however, if this means that they've given up on Jordan Hill, who has more upside but struggled mightily in his rookie campaign. Regardless, grabbing a potential starter with the last pick in the lottery warrants legitimate praise.
Grade: A-

Whoops...

Indiana Pacers
Picks: Paul George (10), Lance Stephenson (40), Magnum Rolle (51)
Their franchise player is a sweet-shooting 6-8 swingman who doesn't do much of anything else. So naturally, rather than fill a need down low or take a chance on a point guard to replace T.J. Ford, they draft a sweet-shooting 6-9 swingman who doesn't do much of anything else. It is hard to imagine George, a watered-down clone of Granger, playing alongside the All-Star forward, a thought that's particularly frustrating when you consider how they could have added depth and talent to either one of the two most important positions on the floor. Stephenson's potential makes him a steal at 40, but he's just another swingman who dominates the ball and will want to take shots away form Granger. He has always been a head case, so now one can't help but wonder how the Coney Island product feels about playing in Indiana, after his hometown Knicks took Andy Rautins and Landry Fields - neither of whom really expected to get drafted - immediately before the Pacers picked at 40.
Grade: C-

Los Angeles Clippers
Picks: Al-Farouq Aminu (8), Erick Bledsoe (18), Willie Warren (54)
When you grab three prospects who at some point in their college careers were all projected to be a top-10 pick, you know you've come away with a great haul. Aside from simply filling a glaring hole at small forward, Aminu is a perfect fit. His athleticism, ability to guard any one of three of positions, unselfishness, and tenacity on the defensive end will allow surrounding starters Baron Davis, Eric Gordon, Blake Griffin, and Chris Kaman to do their thing on offensive more comfortably. Bledsoe will make an immediate impact as Baron's backup, and Warren could still be a star if he's properly nurtured.
Grade: A

Los Angeles Lakers
Picks: Devin Ebanks (43), Derrick Caracter (58)
For the first time in years, it appears the Lakers were really trying. The 6-8 Ebanks was held as a potential lottery pick for much of his career, and he might actually get some run on a team that only has one reliable reserve taller than 6-4. Caracter was hailed as a transcendent talent as a young teenager, but garnered the reputation of being immature and selfish throughout much of his college career, though he grew up a bit after transferring to UTEP. Los Angeles might the perfect place for him to realize his potential.
Grade: A

Memphis Grizzlies
Picks: Xavier Henry (12), Greivis Vasquez (28)
The burgeoning Zach Randolph ordeal is too complex to muse on at this point, so let's leave his potential departure out of this for the time being. With Rudy Gay set to become an unrestricted free agent - and without any guards they can rely upon to score - taking Henry was certainly a smart move. Rumor is they're planning on moving O.J. Mayo to the point, but in case they decide not to move Conley, Maryland's Greivis Vasquez will at least give him some strong competition. A great scorer with great court vision, he will make himself useful no matter what.
Grade: B+

Miami Heat
Picks: Dexter Pittman (32), Jarvis Varnado (41), Da'Sean Butler (42)
Despite training their focus entirely on free agency, Miami made some surprisingly smart picks. Taking Pittman early in the second round was a surprise, but he is gigantic and has some refined post moves. Varnado, the greatest shot-blocker in NCAA history, was a steal at 41, and had Da'Sean Butler not sustained a terrible injury in West Virginia's clash with Duke in the Final Four, he would have been a first round pick. The Heat's obsession with cutting costs suggests that a couple of these guys might never see the floor, but if they are given a chance, they should prove to be worthwhile additions.
Grade: B

Milwaukee Bucks
Picks: Larry Sanders (15), Darrington Hobson (37), Jerome Jordan (44), Tiny Gallon (47)
Despite possessing just one first round pick, Milwaukee managed to nab a potential starter, an All-American forward, a 7-footer who can actually play, and one of the top 10 prospects in last year's recruiting class. Sanders' dominance on the defense end could make him the perfect complement to Bogut down the road, Jordan could immediately become the backup center, and Gallon adds some bulk to a relatively thin front line. The addition of Chris Douglas-Roberts makes it hard to see how Hobson fits in, but he was a bargain at 37.
Grade: A-

Minnesota Timberwolves
Picks: Wesley Johnson (4), Lazar Hayward (30), Nemanja Bjelica (35), Paulo Prestes (45)
Though he might never be an All-Star, Wesley Johnson was a great pick at the four spot, giving the lowly Wolves a much-needed outside shooting threat, versatility on both ends of the floor, and a winning attitude. He will likely start from day one, and while he won't lead them to the playoffs without another solid addition or two, he will help lead them out of the gutter. Cousins was the better available prospect, but apparently Minnesota was concerned with his maturity (read: lack thereof) and how he would fit in with Al Jefferson and Kevin Love. Johnson was surely a smart pick, but their three later selections are puzzling. Hayward will be playing behind Johnson, Brewer, and the newly acquired Martell Webster, and Bjelica and Prestes might not come to the NBA. There were plenty of players on the board in the second round who could have made an impact this year.
Grade: B

New Jersey Nets
Picks: Derrick Favors (3), Damion James (24)
Nothing New Jersey did on draft night made much sense. How the Nets rebuild will be defined by who they acquire in free agency (they have over $30 million in cap room), and even if Favors was the best prospect on the board, his being a young, potential-laden power forward will likely scare away the players they had the best chance of signing, like Amare Stoudemire, Carlos Boozer and Chris Bosh; had they drafted Wes Johnson, they would have filled a hole in the lineup and then could more comfortably offer a power forward a lucrative contract. Memphis will likely match anything that Rudy Gay is offered, Joe Johnson is not going to a 12-win team, and they are not expecting to sign LeBron James. They sort of made up for that mishap by finally adding a lights-out shooter in Jordan Crawford, only to trade him and the 31st-overall pick for another swingman who can't shoot; the Nets lost so many games last year because they simply could not hit jump shots, and Crawford could have been huge for them. Favors might have as much potential as anyone in the draft, but this draft could be viewed as a setback in their rebuilding process.
Grade: D-

New Orleans Hornets
Picks: Craig Brackins (21), Quincy Pondexter (26)
Burdened with bad contracts and their franchise player's growing frustration, the Hornets had a lot to prove last Thursday, and man did they deliver. Unsatisfied with their options at 11, they drafted and immediately traded Cole Aldrich and Morris Peterson to Oklahoma City for the 18th pick, a genius maneuver. With David West's contract expiring at the end of this season they would not want to be left with two undersized centers who can't really score (Okafor being the other), and managed to clear over $6 million in cap space, effectively evading a luxury tax bill. Brackins is the scoring big man they needed (he dropped 42 on Kansas as a sophomore), and Pondexter will get big minutes for a late first round pick.
Grade: A-

New York Knicks
Picks: Andy Rautins (38), Landry Fields (39)
Syracuse's Andy Rautins, who led the Orange to a 30-5 record and ranks among the draft's five best shooters and passers, and Stanford's Landry Fields, who averaged 22 points and 8.8 rebounds for a Pac-10 school, are examples of unheralded prospects who deserved to go as high as they did, but are rightfully viewed by fans as gross errors in judgement by the team that took them. Of the five Knicks under contract for next season, three are wings (Danillo Gallinari, Wilson Chandler, Bill Walker), one is a point guard who can't really play the point (Toney Douglas), and one is Eddy Curry, meaning Rautins and Fields - both wings - have already been rendered useless. They could have added depth at point guard with Willie Warren or Sherron Collins, and definitely could have used Gani Lawal's low-post scoring or Jarvis Varnado's low-post defense. Rautins and Fields can both play, but whether they'll ever play in a Knicks uniform is very much in question.
Grade: D+

Oklahoma City Thunder
Picks: Cole Aldrich (11), Tibor Pleiss (31), Latavious Williams (48), Ryan Reid (57)
The crop of prospects Oklahoma City rounded up is extraordinarily interesting. They come from three different leagues (Aldrich and Reid from the NCAA, Pleiss from the German League, and Williams from the NBDL), and only one averaged double-figures in scoring (Aldrich), and he only averaged 11.3 points per game. The Thunder addressed major needs in the front court by drafting a sensational low post defender in Aldrich and a true center with great scoring potential in Pleiss, and could reap major dividends from this haul even if Williams and Reid (who averaged 6.8 points and 4 rebounds as a senior) never see the floor.
Grade: B+

Orlando Magic
Picks: Daniel Orton (29), Stanley Robinson (59)
It's so hard to give the Magic a good grade, because you know neither of these guys will play their rookie year. Both were huge steals (Orton could have been a lottery pick, Robinson was expected to go about 25 spots earlier), and they would fit in well with the Magic, but they might not play a minute of solid game time in the foreseeable future. This is a team so deep that talented forwards Brandon Bass and Ryan Anderson, who could easily average 14-7 on any other team, were not even playing at the end of the year due to a shortage of minutes to go around, while they're paying Marcin Gortat $7 million a year knowing he'll play only 13 minutes a night. Regardless, Orton is very much like Dwight Howard, who should be a great mentor for the talented young center, and should they lose both J.J. Redick and Matt Barnes in free agency, Robinson could potentially make an impact at the swing. This is a team that is trying as hard to win right now as anyone in the league, however, so if anyone is to leave, they'll likely be replaced with a veteran who's ready to start for them. You have to admire the effort they put in, though.
Grade: B+

Philadelphia 76ers
Picks: Evan Turner (2)
He won't fit in next to Andre Iguodala, there's a logjam in talent at the guard spots, blah, blah, blah. Not only was Turner the best prospect on the board, but he fills the only hole in their lineup, and should realize his potential in the pros, it wouldn't matter if he was playing alongside Phillip Seymour Hoffman in Along Came Polly.
Grade: A

Phoenix Suns
Picks: Gani Lawal (46), Dwayne Collins (60)
Preparation for Amare's departure? The Suns used both of their second round picks on power forwards, and while neither would be able to replace Stoudemire in the starting lineup, the athletic and reasonably experienced Lawal could earn big minutes.
Grade: B+

Portland Trailblazers
Picks: Luke Babbitt (16), Elliot Williams (22), Armon Johnson (34)
In his last act as GM of the Portland Trailblazers, Kevin Pritchard proved not only why he should have kept his job, but why he is, and has been since the day he arrived in Portland, the best GM in the entire league. Martell Webster was no longer contributing, so Pritchard wisely dealt him to move up to 16 where he nabbed Luke Babbitt, who some had going as high as 8th overall. Elliot Williams is a great scorer and a top-notch defender (he's just a bit undersized), and recognizing that the Blazers don't have a true backup point guard, Pritchard astutely selected Nevada's Armon Johnson. Unless Pritchard committed some heinous act that the Blazers' organization wants to keep under wraps, his firing was utterly inexplicable.
Grade: A-

Sacramento Kings
Picks: DeMarcus Cousins (5), Hassan Whiteside (33)
Quick! Name five great centers in the NBA! How about three? Two? Andrew Bogut made an All-NBA team this past season, which only reaffirmed my pride in having Cousins ranked atop my big board since November. No team is going to want to play a team with Tyreke Evans and DeMarcus Cousins. On top of nabbing Cousins the Kings managed to grab 7-footer Hassan Whiteside, who averaged 5.4 blocks as a freshman and was hailed as a can't-miss prospect all year. So, why don't the Kings earn top marks? Well, Cousins and Whiteside were the only players in the draft who were universally labeled "immature." They both left after their freshman year, are used to dominating and getting what they want...and they both play the same position. NBADraft.net projected Whiteside would be the #1 pick in 2011 earlier this year. Don't think he isn't aware.
Grade: B

San Antonio Spurs
Picks: James Anderson (20), Ryan Richards (49)
Once again, the Spurs parlay a late pick into a potential major contributor. Anderson was expected to go earlier, seeing as he tore the Big 12 to shreds and at 6-6 boasts prototypical size for the shooting guard position in the league. With Roger Mason now gone, he could see big minutes as a rookie. Ryan Richards is a mystery, and while he's certainly not the heir to Tim Duncan's throne, he will become the only other Spur taller than 6-9 (he's 7-0), making him immediately valuable in that respect.
Grade: A

Toronto Raptors
Picks: Ed Davis (13), Solomon Alabi (50)
I hadn't planned on dishing out so many A's, but I've been given no choice! Preparing to lose Chris Bosh, the Raptors wisely targeted big men and landed an absolute steal in North Carolina PF Ed Davis (my #1 college prospect entering the season), who should start right away, his excellent defensive instincts (2.8 blocks) and efficiency in the post (57.8% FG) making him a great complement to emerging star Andrea Bargnani. Florida State's Solomon Alabi was a major steal at 50 (many thought he would go in the first round), and could allow Bargnani to move to the power forward spot, where he's more comfortable, when out on the floor with him.
Grade: A

Utah Jazz
Picks: Gordon Hayward (9), Jeremy Evans (55)
Coming off a surprisingly good year in which they won 53 games, the Jazz had two very clear needs: a shot-blocker, and some explosiveness. Gordon Hayward not only fulfills neither of these pressing needs, but only further stereotypes concerning Utah's affinity for white guys. Preparing to lose Carlos Boozer, and having relied upon Kyrylo Fesenko - arguably the least-skilled player ever to start a playoff game - against the eventual champion Lakers, the Jazz were in dire need of a shot-blocker, and with Ed Davis, Larry Sanders, and the extremely talented Hassan Whiteside still on the board, they had plenty of options; in terms of explosiveness, Paul George or Xavier Henry would have made more sense than I can begin to complain about. But they took Hayward, Draft Express' #9 small forward prospect (that "small forward" prospect, not "overall" prospect), a shooter who shot 29.4% from range. They could have redeemed themselves somewhat late in the second round by taking the explosive, NBA-ready Stanley Robinson, or Rutgers center Hamady N'Diaye, who averaged 4.5 blocks last season. Instead they took the least talented player in the draft, Jeremy Evans, a 196-pound power forward who averaged 10 points and 6.9 rebounds for Western Kentucky. Well done.
Grade: F

Washington Wizards
Picks: John Wall (1), Kevin Seraphin (17), Trevor Booker (23), Hamady N'Diaye (56)
In Wall, the Wizards have a surefire franchise point guard who should be an All-Star very soon. Trevor Booker was a reach at 23, but he's a real gamer and already the Wizards' best low-post option; ESPN's David Thorpe even went so far as to rank him #8 in his rookie rankings entering the 2010-11 campaign. Trading for Kirk Hinrich and the 17th pick was simply ridiculous, however. The Wizards were looking to make a major splash in free agency in 2011, but will now be saddled with the two years and $17 million left on Hinrich's deal. He will make them a slightly better team this year, but could be the difference between landing or losing a max free agent next summer. The Wizards could only make mistakes on draft night; they just couldn't keep their wallet shut.
Grade: C+

FINAL 2010 NBA MOCK DRAFT

2010-06-24T14:37:00.000-07:00

1. Wizards: John Wall
Surefire franchise point guard, potential franchise savior.
2. 76ers: Evan Turner
He is not a great fit for them, and they will likely try to trade down, but he's too good to pass up.
3. Nets - Derrick Favors
Syracuse's Wes Johnson would be a much better fit, as he could immediately fill in at the 3, whereas Favors could scare away a number of free agents they were planning on wooing, namely Amar'e Stoudemire and Carlos Boozer. As speculation concerning the Nets potentially drafting Johnson picked up steam, however, a few respected analysts emerged praising Favors as having the most potential of any prospect.
4. Timberwolves - Wesley Johnson
Satisfies their need for a wing who they can depend on to put the ball in the basket.
5. Kings - DeMarcus Cousins
If anyone can tame the infamously hot-headed Cousins it's Paul Westphal, who coached the comparably unstable Barkley to an MVP award and Finals appearance.
6. Warriors - Ekpe Udoh
Monroe and Aminu might be better prospects, but Udoh fits perfectly in their system as an athletic big who can shoot and run the floor like a guard. He's also the tenacious defender they lack down low.
7. Pistons - Greg Monroe
They will decide between Monroe and Ed Davis here, and while Davis has more upside, Monroe is the true center they've needed for years, and could contribute immediately.
8. Clippers - Al-Farouq Aminu
Harboring high hopes for the first time in years, the Clips have a great core that includes Baron Davis, Eric Gordon, Blake Griffin, Chris Kaman - and a gaping hole at small forward. For the past few weeks it appeared that Aminu, widely regarded as the best SF prospect, would be gone by the time they picked, though now he looks to fall right into their lap.
9. Jazz - Ed Davis
A big man with the desire to play defense and someone who might provide some explosiveness are the Jazz's biggest needs, and Davis fulfills both.
10. Pacers - Patrick Patterson
They're actively trying to trade up, and for a point guard, but should they keep the pick, Patterson is their man. He is similar to Hansbrough, but he's tougher and more versatile (Hansbrough looks to be a career backup), and with Troy Murphy set to depart in the next year, they need more size down low.
11. Hornets - Paul George
In order to convince Chris Paul to stay, they might need to hit a home run tonight. Scouts have likened George to Rudy Gay, and he could be an impact scorer from day one.
12. Grizzlies - Luke Babbitt
The Nevada swingman could go as high as 8 to the Clippers, but should he fall further he would be a great fit in Memphis as an insurance policy should they lose Gay, while bearing the potential to fill in at the 4 should they lose Zach Randolph as well.
13. Raptors - Avery Bradley
Bradley is a point guard who played off the ball in college and put up mediocre numbers...but hey, the same can be said about Russell Westbrook and Jrue Holiday! The Raptors are preparing to shake things up in a big way, and they're high on the potential-laden Bradley, who they think could become a building block alongside DeMar DeRozan.
14. Rockets - Gordon Hayward
Houston will nab the best available player here, bearing dependable starters at every position on the floor. Hayward has awesome potential, great size for 2 or the 3, and you can never have too many shooters.
15. Bucks - Daniel Orton
Acquiring Maggette means they might not target a wing, as many had predicted they would. Orton, an incredibly tough defender and a monster on the glass, would be a great fit next to Bogut, one of the league's most offensively proficient centers who gets better on the offensive end each year.
16. Timberwolves - Xavier Henry
Should Henry fall this far he would be an absolute steal. He's similar to Wayne Ellington, only he's much better at just about everything.
17. Wizards - Damion James
Every young team could use a little toughness, and while James would be just a rookie next year, he's pretty damn tough. One of the most experienced players on the college level last season, James steadily improved as a scorer over the course of his career at Texas, and he might be the best rebounder in this class.
18. Thunder - Cole Aldrich
This would be another huge steal for OKC. 6-10 centers with remedial athleticism and little offensive polish aren't hot these days, but Aldrich is an all-world defender with a good feel for the game, and many feel he's worthy of a lottery pick.
19. Celtics - Eric Bledsoe
Boston's backcourt could be in complete dissaray very soon; Ray Allen, Tony Allen, Nate Robinson and Marquis Daniels will all become free agents come July 1, so you can be sure Danny Ainge will target a guard. Bledsoe is a point guard with outstanding range, is a lockdown defender, and has experience playing off the ball. He would be a great fit in Boston, especially if they're thinking of rebuilding.
20. Spurs - Hassan Whiteside
Some (myself included) feel Whiteside is worthy of being a top five selection, but concerns about his attitude (he's compared himself to Hakeem Olajuwon), age (he's a 21-year old freshman), and polish on the offensive end have scared some teams away. San Antonio would be a perfect fit, as the extraordinarily talented young 7-footer could learn from the game's most humble future Hall of Famer in Tim Duncan, and could earn playing time right away due to the Spurs lack of depth down low, without being heavily relied upon.
21. Thunder - Tibor Pleiss
Apparently Sam Presti believes the 7-foot German could be the serviceable center they've lacked since Durant came to town.
22. Trailblazers - James Anderson
A top-15 talent, Anderson would be yet another prototypical Pritchard steal.
23. Timberwolves - Elliot Williams
He would be the third shooter they drafted, but then again, this is a team that depended on Corey Brewer to knock down threes.
24. Hawks - Solomon Alabi
The Hawks desperately need size down low, and Alabi is a big body capable of blocking shots and snagging boards. He might not be a starter, but he would certainly fill a major need.
25. Grizzlies - Kevin Seraphin
Would add much-needed toughness to the Grizzlies front line, especially if Zach Randolph leaves due to legal troubles.
26. Thunder - Dominique Jones
The ever-improving Thunder still lack dependable outside shooting, and Dominique Jones is one of the most well-rounded scorers to be had in this draft.
27. Nets - Jordan Crawford
They will likely grab a dependable shooter in free agency, but should they fail to reel one in, Xavier's Jordan Crawford is a tremendous scorer who routinely shoots the lights out, and is known to ocassionaly dunk on LeBron James at his basketball camp.
28. Grizzlies - Greivis Vasquez
Projected as a very late second round prospect for much of the year (many thought he wouldn't be drafted), Vasquez, who at 6-6 plays the point guard position as well as anyone in this class not named Wall, is finally getting recognition as being worthy of a first round pick. The Grizzlies want to move O.J. Mayo to the point, or at the very least grab someone to compete with Conley, making the versatile Vasquez a great fit.
29. Magic - Willie Warren
The Magic have nothing to lose (they don't have room in the rotation for at least two players who could start on a number of teams), so if Warren acts up, they can just bench him. For them, the risk is absolutely worth the potential reward. Jameer Nelson is the only point guard the Magic have locked up next year, and Warren is a terrific ball-handler with tremendous upside.
30. Wizards - Samardo Samuels
They could use a true post scorer, and Samuels is as comfortable playing around the basket as anyone in this class.

31. Nets - Tiny Gallon
32. Heat - Lance Stephenson
33. Kings - Quincy Pondexter
34. Trailblazers - Armon Johnson
35. Wizards - Trevor Booker
36. Pistons - Devin Ebanks
37. Bucks - Larry Sanders
38. Knicks - Darrington Hobson
39. Knicks - Gani Lawal
40. Pacers - Mikhail Torrance
41. Heat - Terrico White
42. Heat - Craig Brackins
43. Lakers - Lazar Hayward
44. Bucks - Nemanja Bjelica
45. Timberwolves - Paulo Prestes
46. Suns - Stanley Robinson
47. Bucks - Luke Harangody
48. Heat - Ryan Richards
49. Spurs - Thomas Heurtel
50. Mavericks - Jerome Jordan
51. Thunder - Alexey Shved
52. Celtics - Brian Zoubek
53. Hawks - Sherron Collins
54. Clippers - Jarvis Varnado
55. Jazz - Hamady N'Diaye
56. Timberwolves - Jon Scheyer
57. Pacers - Latavious Williams
58. Lakers - Mac Koshwal
59. Magic - Art Parakhouski
60. Suns - Manny Harris

Penultimate Mock Draft

2010-06-18T10:29:00.001-07:00

This mock draft is entirely need-based. I will post the final one either Wednesday night or Thursday morning. It will undoubtedly change a great deal over the next couple days, but if the draft were to take place tomorrow, here's how I would see it going down.

1. Wizards: John Wall (6-4/195; PG; Freshman; Kentucky)
It will be interesting to see how Wall meshes with Arenas. Props to the Wizards' brass for not formally announcing their intention to draft the Kentucky phenom.

2. 76ers: Evan Turner (6-7/214; SG/SF; Junior; Ohio State)
Here is an interesting case of a player fillling a major hole and at the same time not fitting in. Turner is very similar to Andre Iguodala, but at this point the Sixers think they can make it work. Philly will attempt to shop the pick (as well as Iggy and Elton Brand) up until they're called on to make a selection.

3. Nets: Derrick Favors (6-10/246; PF; Freshman; Georgia Tech)
The 18-year old Georgia Tech product could form with Brook Lopez one of the lesgue's most dynamic low-post pairings. The Nets could (and should) go for DeMarcus Cousins after he turned in an awesome performance in his workout for them, but for now, Favors still looks to be the pick.

4. Timberwolves: Wesley Johnson (6-7/206; SF; Junior; Syracuse)
The Wolves have all but sent out a press release announcing their intention to draft Johnson, who satisfies their need for a wing who they can depend on to put the ball in the basket.

5. Kings: DeMarcus Cousins (6-11/292; C; Freshman; Kentucky)
After blowing them away in a workout in which he hit 78% of his shots, Cousins leapfrogged Monroe as the lead contender for the Kings' selection. If anyone can tame the infamously hot-headed Cousins it's Paul Westphal, who coached the comparably unstable Barkley to an MVP award and Finals appearance.

6. Warriors: Greg Monroe (6-11/247; PF/C; Sophomore; Georgetown)
The Warriors desperately for size down low, and Monroe is the more traditional big man who could help organize and stabilize such an erratic team.

7. Pistons: Al-Farouq Aminu (6-8/216; SF; Sophomore; Wake Forest)
Detroit is is dire need of a center, and while there are plently of talented bigs to be had, none measure up to Aminu in terms of potential. Tayshaun Prince only has one year left on his contract, so drafting a wing despite having a hole down low isn't so ridiculous. Cole Aldrich would have been a perfect fit, but when he measured an inch shorter than expected and tested as a remedial athlete, Dumars likely resolved to focus on talent above need.

8. Clippers: Luke Babbit (6-9/218; SF; Sophomore; Nevada)
Harboring high hopes for the first time in years, the Clips have a great core that includes Baron Davis, Eric Gordon, Blake Griffin, Chris Kaman - and a gaping hole at small forward. They will doubtlessly target and wing, and while they'll hope Aminu falls to them, Babbit is likely the pick. A terrific scorer (averaged 21.9 ppg while shooting 41.6% from range and 91.7% from the line) with great size and a higher vertical leap than Aminu, Babbit could easily step in and contribute at the swing right away.

9. Jazz: Ed Davis (6-10/225; PF; Sophomore; North Carolina)
GM Kevin O'Connor is enamored of Greg Monroe, whose NBA-readiness, size and skill set and would allow them to more comfortably let Carlos Boozer walk, but there is no way he slips past Detroit. The Jazz could use some explosiveness on the wing, but they desperately need size. While they're high on Ekpe Udoh and Cole Aldrich, they feel that Davis is a better fit in their system and has the potential to become a star, not just a defensive specialist.

10. Pacers: Daniel Orton (6-10/269; PF/C; Freshman; Kentucky)
In having screwed themselves by finishing the year on a high note - and relinquishing what would have been the fourth pick in the draft with just three weeks left in the season - the Pacers find themselves in something of a pickle. Should they keep the pick, they will likely target a high-risk/high-reward prospect - which is why they requested a second workout with Daniel Orton. The Pacers are very weak down low, and could use someone to protect Danny Granger. Kentucky's Daniel Orton might not have played more than 13 minutes per game in college, but he wields his massive frame with uncommon agility, has a high basketball IQ for someone so young, and has the potential to become a dominant defensive big man.

11. Hornets: Patrick Patterson (6-9/240; PF; Junior; Kentucky)
David West only has one year left on his contract, and drafting a more offensive-minded big man makes sense considering Emeka Okafor will never be a reliable option in the post. The Hornets are a playoff team when healthy, and Patterson can contribute immediately, and his much-impoved outside shot suggests he could play alongside West and Okafor, if not as a starter.

12. Grizzlies: Ekpe Udoh (6-10/237; PF/C; Junior; Baylor)
The impending loss of Zach Randolph to a correctional facility suggests they will go big, and Udoh is a great fit. Drafting a wing in case Gay departs in free agency would make sense, but both Sam Young and DeMarre Carroll had very promising rookie campaigns, and Memphis currently doesn't have anyone who could fill in at the four. Udoh won't be as prolific a post scorer as Randolph, but he's an outstanding defender with great size for the position and could give Marc Gasol more room to grow.

13. Raptors: Avery Bradley (6-3/180; PG/SG; Freshman; Texas)
Rated the #1 recruit of last year's freshman class by ESPN, Bradley is a point guard who played off the ball in college and put up mediocre numbers...but hey, the same can be said about Russell Westbrook and Jrue Holiday! The Raptors are preparing to shake things up in a big way, and they're high on the potential-laden Bradley, who they think could become a building block alongside DeMar DeRozan.

14. Rockets: Gordon Hayward (6-8/211; SG/SF; Sophomore; Butler)
Houston will nab the best available player here, bearing dependable starters at every position on the floor. Gordon Hayward will be competing with Paul George here, and the fact that Hayward was officially invited to the green room suggests that he might just be the more coveted swingman.

15. Bucks: Xavier Henry (6-6/210; SG; Freshman; Kansas)
The formerly mediocre Bucks morphed into one of the best teams in the East after acquiring John Salmons, demonstrating the importance of putting a capable shooting guard on the floor with Jennings. Signing Salmons this off-season will be a priority (assuming he opts out), but in case he should leave, the young yet NBA-ready Henry would be a good insurance policy. They would love to get their hands on Patrick Patterson, a brusing big man to complement Bogut down low, but he will almost certainly be off the board by the time they pick.

16. Timberwolves: Paul George (6-9/214; SG/SF; Sophomore; Fresno State)
Though they'll likely draft Johnson and fill a major need at the swing position, the Wolves could still use a great deal of help on the perimeter. George is a terrific shooter and could potentially fill in at any of three positions on the offensive end if called upon to do so.

17. Bulls: James Anderson (6-6/208; SG; Junior; Oklahoma State)
Rose needs a backcourt mate who can help shoulder his load on offense. Anderson tore the Big 12 to shreds last year, has prototypical size for the shooting guard position in the league, is as NBA-ready as they come, and his picturesque stroke would nicely complement Rose's more bullish style of play.

18. Heat: Cole Aldrich (6-10/236; C; Junior; Kansas) 6-10 centers with remedial athleticism and little offensive polish aren't hot these days, but Aldrich is an all-world defender with a good feel for the game. He's not worth a lottery pick, but could be very valuable for a team like Miami, which could really use a defensive presence on the low block.

19. Celtics: Dominque Jones (6-4/216; SG; Junior; South Florida)
Boston's backcourt could be in complete dissaray very soon; Ray Allen, Tony Allen, Nate Robinson and Marquis Daniels will all become free agents come July 1, so you can be sure Danny Ainge will target a guard. South Florida's Dominique Jones is a perfect fit: He's a tremendous scorer (21.6 ppg in the Big East), a great rebounder for his size (6.1 rpg), and is very unselfish (3.6). For the Celts, he's the definition of a value pick.

20. Spurs: Hassan Whiteside (7-0/227; C; Freshman; Marshall)
Some (myself included) feel Whiteside is worthy of being a top five selection, but concerns about his attitude (he's compared himself to Hakeem Olajuwon), age (he's a 21-year old freshman), and polish on the offensive end have scared some teams away. San Antonio would be a perfect fit, as the extraordinarily talented young 7-footer could learn from the game's most humble future Hall of Famer in Tim Duncan, and could earn playing time right away due to the Spurs lack of depth down low, without being heavily relied upon.

21. Thunder: Damion James (6-7/227; SF; Junior; Texas)
Every young team could use a little toughness, and while James would be just a rookie next year, he's pretty damn tough. One of the most experienced players on the college level last season, James steadily improved as a scorer over the course of his career at Texas, and he might be the best rebounder in this class.

22. Trailblazers: Eric Bledsoe (6-1/192; PG/SG; Freshman; Kentucky)
The prototypical Kevin Pritchard steal. Had Bledsoe stuck around in Lexington for one more year in order to show off his point guard skills he would have easily been a top-10 pick. A lockdown defender with great explosiveness and a superb jumper for a young point guard, Bledsoe would be a great value pick for a team that as of now does not have a true backup point guard.

23. Timberwolves: Elliot Williams (6-4/180; SG; Sophomore; Memphis)
Word is Williams has a promise somewhere in the first round, and it's hard to see him slipping past the Timberwolves. He would be the third shooter they drafted, but then again, this is a team that depended on Corey Brewer to knock down threes.

24. Hawks: Solomon Alabi (7-1/237; C; Sophomore; Florida State)
Al Horford has exceeded most everyone's expectations by becoming an All-Star in his third year in the league, but he is just not a starting center. The Hawks desperately need size down low, and Alabi is a big body capable of blocking shots and snagging boards. He might not be a starter, but he would certainly fill a major need.

25. Grizzlies: Greivis Vasquez (6-6/211; PG/SG; Senior; Maryland)
The ACC Player of the Year warned everyone to be shocked on draft night, and if the four-year Maryland standout's remarkably exciting career has been any indication, we should heed his advice. Projected as a very late second round prospect for much of the year (many thought he wouldn't be drafted), Vasquez, who at 6-6 plays the point guard position as well as anyone in this class not named Wall, is finally getting recognition as being worthy of a first round pick. The Grizzlies want to move O.J. Mayo to the point, or at the very least grab someone to compete with Conley, making the versatile Vasquez a great fit.

26. Thunder: Samardo Samuels (6-8/245; PF; Sophomore; Louisville)
The absence of a reliable post presence is all that's preventing Oklahoma City from wining 60 games. They will likely get their man in free agency, but Samuels could potentially fill that role. The most bewilderingly underrated prospect in the draft, ESPN rated Samuels the #2 recruit in the class of 2008, and he did nothing to disappoint in his two years at Louisville, averaging 15.3 points and 7 rebounds this past season while going up against elite Big East big men night in and night out. He has excellent post moves, soft touch around the basket, and is exceptionally strong. He will be the steal of the night, and for a team like the Thunder, an immediate difference-maker.

27. Nets: Jordan Crawford (6-4/198; SG; Sophomore; Xavier)
The Nets lost 72 games last season because nobody on the team could reliably hit a shot outside 14 feet, plain and simple. They will likely grab a dependable shooter in free agency, but should they fail to reel one in, Xavier's Jordan Crawford is a tremendous scorer who routinely shoots the lights out, and is known to ocassionaly dunk on LeBron James at his basketball camp.

28. Grizzlies: Craig Brackins (6-10/229; PF; Junior; Iowa State)
With their third selection the Grizzlies will no doubt take the best player available, leaving them with Iowa State's Craig Brackins. At 6-10 Brackins can play both forward positions, and he's one of the best scorers to be had in this entire class (he dropped 42 on Cole Aldrich and Kansas as a sophomore).

29. Magic: Willie Warren (6-4/208; PG/SG; Sophomore; Oklahoma)
Personal issues aside, Warren is a top-10 talent. The Magic have nothing to lose (they don't have room in the rotation for at least two players who could start on a number of teams), so if Warren acts up, they can just bench him. For them, the risk is absolutely worth the potential reward. Jameer Nelson is the only point guard the Magic have locked up next year, and Warren is a terrific ball-handler with tremendous upside.

30. Wizards: Quincy Pondexter (6-7/215; SF; Senior; Washington)
After they select Wall, the Wizards' execs should be repeatedly reciting one word in their minds when it comes to drafting: Stability. No head cases, no ball hogs, no one-and-dones. Pondexter, the PAC-10 Player of the Year, is ready to contribute immediately, can play either forward position, is a terrific scorer (19.3 ppg on 52.8% shooting), but most importantly, has four years of college ball under his belt and has carries not the slightest bit of baggage.

31. Nets: Armon Johnson (6-3/190; PG; Junior; Nevada)

32. Thunder: Lance Stephenson (6-6/227; SG/SF; Freshman; Cincinnati)

33. Kings: Gani Lawal (6-9/233; PF; Junior; Georgia Tech)

34. Trailblazers: Larry Sanders (6-10/222; PF/C; Junior; Virginia Commonwealth)

35. Wizards: Trevor Booker (6-7/236; PF; Senior; Clemson)

36. Pistons: Kevin Seraphin (6-9/263; PF/C; 20 years old; France)

37. Bucks: Luke Harangody (6-7/240; PF; Senior; Notre Dame)

38. Knicks: Jarvis Varnado (6-9/210; PF/C; Senior; Mississippi State)

39. Knicks: Terrico White(6-5/203; PG/SG; Sophomore; Mississippi)

40. Pacers: Mikhail Torrance (6-5/209; PG/SG; Senior; Alabama)

41. Heat: Devin Ebanks (6-8/208; SF; Sophomore; West Virginia)

42. Heat: Stanley Robinson (6-8/213; SF; Senior; Connecticut)

43. Lakers: Tibor Pleiss (7-0/222; C; 20 years old; Ukraine)

44. Darrington Hobson (6-6/204; SG/SF; Junior; New Mexico)

45. Timberwolves: Trailblazers: Lazar Hayward (6-6/226; SF; Senior; Marquette)

46. Suns: Hamady N'Diaye (7-0/223; C; Senior; Rutgers)

47. Bucks: Jerome Jordan (7-1/244; C; Senior; Tulsa)

48. Heat: Sherron Collins (5-11/223; PG; Senior; Kansas)

49. Spurs: Jerome Dyson (6-3/180; Senior; SG; Connecticut)

50. Mavericks: Tiny Gallon (6-10/302; PF/C: Freshman; Oklahoma)

51. Thunder: Ryan Thompson (6-6/210; SG/SF; Senior; Rider)

52. Celtics: Art Parakhouski (6-11/268; C; Senior; Radford)

53. Hawks: Dexter Pittman (6-11/303; C; Senior; Texas)

54. Clippers: Nemanja Bjelica (6-10/223; SF; 22 years old; Serbia)

55. Jazz: Andy Rautins (6-4.192; SG; Senior; Syracuse)

56. Timberwolves: Charles Garcia (6-9/232; SF/PF; Junior; Seattle)

57. Pacers: Elijah Millsap (6-6/210; SF; Junior; Alabama-Birmingham)

58. Lakers: Jon Scheyer (6-6/180; PG/SG; Senior; Duke)

59. Magic: Latavious Williams (6-8/205; PF; 21 years old; NBDL)

60. Suns: Derrick Caracter (6-9/280; PF; Junior; Texas-El Paso)

2010 Draft: NBAnalysis Big Board

2010-05-28T05:50:00.000-07:00

A personal ranking of the 30 best prospects in the draft.

1. John Wall (6-4/196; PG; Freshman; Kentucky)
Surefire franchise point guard boasts tremendous speed and athleticism and a high basketball IQ.
2. DeMarcus Cousins (6-11/292; PF/C; Freshman; Kentucky)
All the more valuable due to the lack of dominant centers in the league, some believe Cousins is actually the most talented prospect in this draft class.
3. Evan Turner (6-7/214; PG/SG/SF; Junior; Ohio State)
Played like LeBron on the college level, but needs to develop a more consistent jump shot if he's to fulfill his potential in the pros.
4. Derrick Favors (6-10/245; PF; Freshman; Georgia Tech)
Scout.com's #1 recruit never got going on the offensive end of the floor in his lone year at GT, but his physical gifts are astonishing and he's still just 18.
5. Wesley Johnson (6-7/206; SG/SF; Junior; Syracuse)
Doesn't dominate, but is an elite-level shooter with tremendous length, quickness, great defensive instincts and jump-out-the-gym athleticism.
6. Greg Monroe (6-11/247; PF/C; Sophomore; Georgetown)
Rarely took over games, but has great post moves with soft touch around the basket, possesses a high basketball IQ and is a great passer for his size.
7. Hassan Whiteside (7-0/227; C; Freshman; Marshall)
A legit 7-feet with an inhuman 7-7 wingspan, Whiteside averaged 5.4 blocks (8.3 per 40 minutes) as a freshman, and his offensive game is improving.
8. Luke Babbitt (6-9/218; SF; Junior; Nevada)
Averaged 21.9 ppg on Nash-like shooting percentages (50%FG/41.6%3PT/91.7%FT), and tested as one of the best athletes. What's not to love?
9. Al-Farouq Aminu (6-8/216; SF; Sophomore; Wake Forest)
Athletic swingman can score in a variety of ways and rebounds like a maniac. Made a great decision to return to school for his sophomore year.
10. Ekpe Udoh (6-10/237; PF/C; Junior; Baylor)
Combo big man with awesome length averaged 3.7 blocks for an Elite 8 team, has great handles for his size and can consistently knock down jumpers.
11. Ed Davis (6-10/227; PF; Sophomore; North Carolina)
Efficient post-scorer (57.8%) and shot-blocker (2.7 per game) relied a great deal on his athleticism and length in college. Game needs just a little polish.
12. James Anderson (6-6/210; SG; Junior; Oklahoma State)
Though sort of one-dimensional, his outstanding scoring ability allowed him to dominate the Big 12, often looking like an NBA player out on the floor.
13. Patrick Patterson (6-9/240; PF; Junior; Kentucky)
Generally viewed as the safest pick in the draft due to his strength, tenacity, well-rounded offensive repetoire and experience in three years at Kentucky.
14. Xavier Henry (6-6/210; SG/SF; Kansas; Freshman)
Despite still being a teenager, many scouts believe Henry has most NBA-ready body of any prospect to go along with his mature offensive game.
15. Eric Bledsoe (6-1/192; PG; Freshman; Kentucky)
Not yet a proven point guard, but he's incredibly strong, a lockdown defender, and can really shoot (hit 8 three-pointers in a tourney game.)
16. Paul George (6-9/214; SG/SF; Sophomore; Fresno State)
Beautiful shooting stroke allows him to play like a shooting guard, and though he's unproven against major talent scouts have likened him to Rudy Gay.
17. Dominique Jones (6-4/216; SG; Junior; South Florida)
Stuffed the stat sheet at USF, averaging 21.4 points, 6.1 rebounds and 3.6 assists, and possesses great length to compensate for his size.
18. Daniel Orton (6-10/269; PF/C; Freshman; Kentucky)
Smart young center with a tremendous frame looks to inject some bruising energy into a league overpopulated with soft big men.
19. Gordon Hayward (6-8/211; SG/SF; Sophomore; Butler)
Has the size to play either the 2 or 3 and a refined offensive game but one wonders whether he can do anything besides score.
20. Armon Johnson (6-3/195; PG; Junior; Nevada)
A jewel in the weakest point guard draft in memory, Johnson tested as arguably the best athlete at the combine, but needs to prove he can run a team.
21. Cole Aldrich (6-10/236; PF/C; Junior; Kansas)
While he's an all-world defender, one wonders how effective a relatively unathletic 6-10 center with little offensive game can be in the NBA.
22. Elliot williams (6-4/180; SG; Sophomore; Memphis)
Athletic combo guard can light it up, bring the ball up the floor, organize the offense, and is one of the premier man-to-man defenders in this class.
23. Damion James (6-7/227; SF/PF; Senior; Texas)
Much like Patterson, the experiened Texas product is strong and athletic, relentless on both ends of the floor, and has an improving mid-range game.
24. Willie Warren (6-4/208; PG/SG; Sophomore; Oklahoma)
The oft-troubled combo guard is arguably a top 10 talent, and will have to land in a position where he can be mentored and strictly disciplined.
25. Jordan Crawford (6-4/198; SG; Sohpomore; Xavier)
Famously dunked on LeBron at his camp last summer, but more importantly is a veritable scoring machine, averaging 20.5 points as a sophomore.
26. Craig Brackins (6-10/229; PF; Junior; Iowa State)
Dropped 42 on Cole Aldrich and Kansas as a sophomore and has a great inside-outside game but can be too passive and needs some extra weight.
27. Jarvis Varnado (6-10/210; PF/C; Senior; Mississippi State)
The best shot-blocker in NCAA history will carve a niche as a dynamite defensive stopper for one lucky team.
28. Trevor Booker (6-7/236; PF; Senior; Clemson)
Much like Paul Millsap, Bookeer is an undersized but uncommonly strong and athletic power forward who can score creatively in the post.
29. Terrico White (6-5/203; PG/SG; Sophomore; Mississippi)
White is for some reason listed as a point guard despite averaging 1.5 assists, but had the best vertical at the combine and has great upside.
30. Lance Stephenson (6-6/227; SG/SF; Freshman; Cincinnati)
One of the most physically gifted players in this class, Stephenson left college too early but his combination of strength, athleticism and youth is intriguing.

Post-Lottery Mock Draft

2010-05-18T18:56:00.000-07:00

The first of many.

1. Wizards: John Wall (6-4/195; PG; Freshman; Kentucky)
A very easy choice that Washington won't ever be chastised for making. Seeing how he meshes with Gilbert Arenas in the backcourt will be interesting, as Agent Zero can now comfortably move to the off-guard spot, where he has less responsibility. Wall will also be key in luring free agents to D.C., which might prove to be a major twist in the impending free agency extravaganza.

2. 76ers: Evan Turner (6-7/210; SG/SF; Junior; Ohio State)
A perfect fit. With more than $28 million owed to Elton Brand and Samuel Dalembert next year, and Marreese Speights proving to be a promising young talent, the Sixers had been prepared to be forced to draft a big man with what was supposed to be the 6th pick...only to have Naismith Trophy winner Evan Turner - the best shooting guard in the draft - fall right into their lap and fill the only hole in their lineup.

3. Nets: DeMarcus Cousins (6-11/270; PF/C; Freshman; Kentucky)
Need I enumerate the reasons why Cousins, and not Favors, is the pick here? Probably, so here goes.
- The Nets don't want to win 12 games again. That's a virtual impossibility based on the cap space they have, but Favors wouldn't be able to contribute much next season, or even the season after. Cousins averaged 25.7 points, 16.7 rebounds and 3 blocks per 40 minutes for an Elite 8 team.
- The Lakers' domination has demonstrated what a team can do when they have two giants capable over dominating in the post on both ends. Cousins has 1-2 inches and 40 pounds on Favors.
- Not only is Cosuins capable of dominating, but he he really wants to every time he steps on the floor. Favors was criticized throughout the year for sleepwalking and being too passive. Cousins wants the ball on every possession and knows what to do when he gets it. He tears down boards and swats shots with enthusiasm. He's extremely passionate, and brings a winning attitude.
New Jersey was likely devastated when they lost the top pick, but Cousins might turn out to be an even better fit than Wall.

4. Timberwolves: Wesley Johnson (6-7/205; SF; Junior; Syracuse)
This is a relatively easy pick that many are making too much of a fuss about. It's simple. The Timberwolves have two double-double machines who both stand 6-10/260, and neither is older than 25. They don't need Favors or Cousins, should one of them slip. The Wolves made just 5 threes per game last year, and Wesley Johnson is a lights-out shooter with the ability to defend three positions. He's their man.

5. Kings: Al-Farouq Aminu (6-9/215; SF; Sophomore; Wake Forest)
With three talented young big men (Carl Landry, Jason Thompson and Spencer Hawes), I think the Kings will either have to trade one of their young centers or reach for a swingman. Aminu is not the jump-shooter the Kings need to ease Tyreke Evans' offensive load, but he would add much-needed toughness to a relatively frail lineup while filling a major gap in the starting lineup.

6. Warriors: Derrick Favors (6-10/245; PF; Freshman; Georgia Tech)
Here's the perfect fit for Favors. Due to the inconsistent play of past lottery picks Anthony Randolph and Brandan Wright, the Warriors have a big hole at the 4. Favors is stronger than both those guys, is a better defender, and would fit perfectly in Don Nelson's uptempo offense.

7. Pistons: Cole Aldrich (6-11/245; PF/C; Kansas)
The Pistons have plenty of guys who can score, and are dying for a true center (shockingly, Kwame Brown was not the answer). Aldrich is a fantastic shot-blocker and rebounder with NBA length and invaluable experience, and could start immediately.

8. Clippers: Ed Davis (6-10/225; PF; Sophomore; North Carolina)
They'll pray Aminu falls to them, as they have a gigantic hole at the 3, but if he should be selected by the time they're on the clock they will likely look for the forward most compatible with Blake Griffin and Chris Kaman. Because center DeAndre Jordan has been surprisingly productive off the bench, a power forward would be the best fit, and Davis is athletic enough to potentially play with their franchise big men. A top-notch shot-blocker and rebounder, Davis would add needed intensity to a lineup that consists mainly of scorers who don't care to do much else. Gordon Hayward could be an upset pick here.

9. Jazz: Greg Monroe (6-11/247; PF/C; Sophomore; Georgetown)
Suffering elimination at the hands of the Lakers for the third year in a row should finally impress upon the Jazz the importance of legitimate size in the post. A terrific passer with refined post moves and an impressive basketball IQ, Monroe would be a perfect fit in Jerry Sloan's system.

10. Pacers: Ekpe Udoh (6-10/240; PF/C; Junior; Baylor)
Lacking athleticism and toughness down low since the days of Antonio and Dale Davis, Udoh's awesome length and shot-blocking ability (3.7 per game) should certainly pique the Pacers' interest.

11. Hornets: Hassan Whiteside (7-0/235; C; Freshman; Marshall)
The Hornets lack depth down low, and are terrible at defending the paint. Hassan Whiteside, the 7-footer whom NBADraft.net predicted would be the first pick in the 2011 draft earlier this year, averaged 5.4 blocks as a freshman. David West has just one year left on his contract, making the prospect of adding a potentially dominant big man such as Whiteside even more appealing.

12. Grizzlies: Gordon Hayward (6-8/200; SF/PF; Butler)
Losing Rudy Gay is a very real possibility at this point for Memphis, who last year had the league's second lowest payroll. Hayward would be a decent replacement, and even if Gay should remain put, the kid who almost beat Duke with a half-court shot at the buzzer would immediately become their top scoring option of the bench.

13. Raptors: Daniel Orton (6-10/255; PF/C; Freshman; Kentucky)
The Raptors drafting a big man is a virtual certainty at this point. Orton boasts tremendous size and an NBA-ready physique, and his defensive tenacity would complement Andrea Bargnani's scoring prowess nicely.

14. Rockets: Donatas Motiejunas (7-0/215; PF; Lithuania)
The Rockets will go for the best player available, and Motiejunas simply has too much potential to pass up. If Yao doesn't return in time he could be very valuable.

15. Bucks: Patrick Patterson (6-9/235; PF; Kentucky; Junior)
Milwaukee is terribly thin down low, and Andrew Bogut is the only big man who's remotely intimidating. Patterson is tough, NBA-ready, and has a very refined offensive game that he didn't get to flash too frequently playing for an extremely talented Kentucky team.

16. Timberwolves: James Anderson (6-6/210; SG; Junior; Oklahoma State)
The Wolves will take the best available player here in Oklahoma State's James Anderson, who dominated the Big 12 and possesses all the tools necessary to succeed in the pros.

17. Bulls: Paul George (6-8/210; SG/SF; Sophomore; Fresno State)
After losing Ben Gordon, and then John Salmons, Chicago has recognized the importance of landing a reliable backcourt companion for Derrick Rose. They are apparently enamored of George, a top-shelf athlete with a picturesque jumper.

18. Heat: Luke Babbitt (6-9/225; SF/PF; Sophomore; Nevada)
The Heat have needs at nearly every position, so it's hard to imagine them zeroing in on any particular one when they know they likely won't be able to find an immediate starter this late. Babbit averaged 21.9 points in 37 minutes per game for Nevada, and on Nash-like shooting percentages, hitting 50% of his shots, 41.6% of his threes, and 91.7% of his free throws.

19. Celtics: Avery Bradley (6-2/180; PG/SG; Freshman; Texas)
The absence of a backup point guard, combined with the possiblity of Ray Allen not re-signing, means it's time to go combo guard hunting. I think Willie Warren would thrive with some veterans keeping him in line, but they're more likely to go for Bradley, the #1 rated recruit in the 2009 class (yes, higher than Wall) according to ESPN, who despite playing off the ball at Texas can handle the point and has proven to be a lockdown defender.

20. Spurs: Xavier Henry (6-6/220; SG; Freshman; Kansas)
No way Henry falls any further. A standout as a freshman, and one of the most NBA-ready guards regardless of age, Henry would inject a ton of energy into an aging rotation.

21. Thunder: Damion James (6-7/225; SF; Senior; Texas)
Tough on both ends of the floor while boasting superior athleticism and a rapidly improving offensive game, James could be the versatile sub Oklahoma City needs.

22. Trailblazers: Eric Bledsoe (6-1/190; PG; Freshman; Kentucky)
Andre Miller is getting old, and doesn't even have a backup at this point. Bledsoe, who would have been a top 10 pick had he stayed at Kentucky another year, is the typical Prtichard steal.

23. Timberwolves: Larry Sanders (6-11/235; PF/C; Junior; Virginia Commonwealth)
It's hard to imagine the T-Wolves drafting three players again, but should they keep them all, Sanders would provide some shot-blocking assistance and a spark off the bench.

24. Hawks: Solomon Alabi (7-1/251; C; Junior; Florida State)
In their series against the Magic in which they were swept and lost by an average of 25.3 points, the Hawks were seriously overmatched down low, forcing Dwight Howard to miss just four shots in the entire series. The threat of Josh Smith coming from the weak side to occasionally block a shot is no longer sufficient. Alabi has steadily improved over the course of his career at FSU, and really knows how to wield his huge frame on the defensive end.

25. Grizzlies: Elliot Williams (6-4/180; SG; Sophomore; Memphis)
The Grizzlies are getting ready to shake up their backcourt, and have little depth at both guard spots. Williams, who in two years in college played under Coach K and Coach Cal, is capable of scoring consistently in the NBA right now and could bring the ball up the floor once in a while.

26. Thunder: Jerome Jordan (7-0/251; C; Senior; Tulsa)
In need of a starting center, the Thunder will likely wait until the off-season to get their man, but are so stacked that they can afford to take a chance on a prospect like Jordan whose length, athleticism, and willingness to work on every aspect of his game suggest that he could one day become not just a starter, but a star.

27. Nets: Dominique Jones (6-4/205; SG; Junior; South Florida)
You want to know why the Nets won so few games last season? Simple. Nobody could consistently hit an open jumper. Enter Dominique Jones, as lethal a scorer as any in college basketball last year (he dropped 46 on Providence, 37 on Pitt, and 30 on Syracuse), who could erase the Nets' nightmares of Keyon Dooling continuously missing wide-open shots from 11 feet out.

28. Grizzlies: Kevin Seraphin (6-9/258; PF/C; France)
With so little room on the roster, Memphis will likely find someone they can stock overseas for a couple years. The raw but promising Seraphin would still be in good position if encouraged to stick it out in his native France for a bit longer.

29. Magic: Willie Warren (6-4/199; PG/SG; Sophomore; Oklahoma)
The Magic will almost certainly take a guard with this pick, and I think they would be foolish to pass on Willie Warren. The Oklahoma combo guard had a terribly rough sophomore campaign, but a team with so little to lose should only see the positives in a player with superstar potential. Look, this team is so deep that Brandon Bass and Ryan Anderson, forwards who could start on a lot of teams, never even see the court, so if worst comes to worst, they wouldn't have to feel bad about not playing Warren should he screw up again.

30. Wizards: Luke Harangody (6-7/240; PF; Senior; Clemson)
They're set at both guard spots with Wall and Arenas, and filling out the front line will be a real challenge. Seeing how Al Thornton rarely wants to pass, Andray Blatche rarely wants to play defense, and JaVale McGee struggles to maintain his focus at times, they'll want sometime who's dedicated, who gives his all every single possession. Harangody won't come close to replicating the stats he posted in college, but he's averaged at least 20 points in each of his last three seasons and plays like his life depends on every rebound.

Mid-Season Mock Draft

2010-02-06T09:33:00.001-08:00

The 2010 NBA Draft is 130 days away, but who's counting?

The All-Star break allots the perfect opportunity to muse on the upcoming draft, with every team having played a little more than 50 games, and college basketball in full swing. The league standings will obviously change over the course of the next couple months, but not so drastically.

The notion that the worst teams in the league have already solidified their lottery status, and that the best teams will simply play musical chairs with the next 16 picks, necessitates creating an in-depth mock draft, for one already has a clear idea of the range in which each team will likely select come June. With the All-Star break affording time to evaluate each franchise, I've decided to do an in-depth mock draft which takes into account the needs of every team in the league; as in, if the Warriors were to make their pick tomorrow, and based on their current standing, they would likely target a big man to fill the void at power forward.

I have used my own discretion in projecting who might stay in school or enter the draft early, not strictly following the assertions of mock draft websites, just as my entire mock draft is unique. I predict that the likes of Texas guard Avery Bradley, Nevada point guard Armon Johnson, Kansas shooting guard Xavier Henry, Baylor big man Ekpe Udoh, and Gonzaga swingman Elias Harris will all stay in school, while Kentucky point guard Eric Bledsoe, Memphis off-guard Elliot Williams, and Ohio State's William Buford will all enter early.

Crafting an in-depth mock draft so long before the draft might seem like a waste of time to some, but consider that the first 10 picks could very well be in the same order come draft day, just as the last 6 or 7 picks are nearly set in stone. I have accounted for teams whose picks were traded, noting the correct team (i.e., the Jazz have the Knicks' first round pick, the Grizzlies have the Lakers first round pick). A lot will certainly change before John Wall hears his name called first on June 24, but the overall picture won't be noticeably altered. Were the draft to take place tomorrow, here's how it might transpire:

1. Nets: John Wall (6-4/190; PG; Kentucky)
Devin Harris and future #1 overall pick John Wall cannot co-exist; if either one of them could really shoot they would make for a most dynamic backcourt, but neither can. Should the Nets retain their stranglehold on the top pick in the draft, they will immediately begin scouring trade options. This team is in dire need of a shooter, and a trade chip like Harris could net them a real impact scorer.

2. Timberwolves: Evan Turner (6-6/210; PG/SG/SF; Ohio State)
With a franchise point guard in Jonny Flynn and a couple of terrific big men in Al Jefferson and Kevin Love, the Wolves might be a versatile glue guy away from making waves in this league. Though Turner doesn't satisfy their need for a jump shooter, he's the dynamic playmaker this team needs.

3. Warriors: Demarcus Cousins (6-11/270; PF/C; Kentucky)
In recent drafts the Warriors have tended to gravitate towards otherworldly athletes who fit Don Nelson's uptempo style, but this year, it's time for them to take a bruising big man to fill out their small, skinny lineup. Cousins is the inside force the Warriors have been without for as long as I can remember (he's averaging 16.4 points, 10 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks in just over 21 minutes a game), and would at least ensure that Nelson's club isn't routinely steamrolled by teams that live on the low block.

4. Wizards: Derrick Favors (6-10/245; PF/C; Georgia Tech)
Before they dealt their pick in last year's draft, the Wizards pick looked to be the team that would determine the course of the rest of the lottery, for the first four picks seemed to be locks. This year looks to be no different, only this time, projecting who the Wizards might take is utterly impossible. Their roster is a disaster. Gilbert Arenas' future is in limbo, Javaris Crittenton is gone, and with the contracts of Mike James, Early Boykins, and Randy Foye set to expire (though the Zards can tender Foye a qualifying offer), we're looking at a team that might not have a point guard on their roster come draft day. Brendan Haywood is set to depart in free agency, meaning they'll be without a true center, and with a deal that would send Antawn Jamison and Caron Butler to the Celtics for Ray Allen (an expiring contract) in the works, who the hell knows, the Wizards might have three players left next season! Set to rebuild from the ground up, one must assume that they will go for a potential franchise player, and while I am not the biggest fan of Favors (I think North Carolina's Ed Davis will make a better pro), he's the dynamite prospect who will prove to be most attractive to the Wizards, desperate for a future star.

5. Kings: Al-Farouq Aminu (6-8/220; SF; Wake Forest)
I think the league's other 29 teams deserve some insight into what the Kings are planning. They have two great young talents down low (Jason Thomspon and Spencer Hawes), but they're both weak and inconsistent. Does Kevin Martin fit into their future plans as Tyreke Evans' backcourt mate? How much do they value potential stars Omri Casspi and Donte Green? Like the Wizards, the Kings pose a lot of problems and should cause mock drafts to go haywire come June. One thing about Sacramento is certain, however: their roster is very malnourished, with Evans and Jon Brockman being the only exceptions. Wake Forest forward Al-Farouq Aminu is an incredibly strong and tough swingman, is currently pulling down 11 boards a game, has upped his scoring output to 16.4 points a game, and is still just 19. Even with Syracuse's Wes Johnson still on the board, I don't think the Kings would be able to pass up Aminu's toughness and potential.

6. Pacers: Eric Bledsoe (6-1/190; PG; Kentucky)
Kentucky's other freshman point guard sensation would be wise to stay in school for another year to show what he can do without John Wall beside him. But then again, only three or four point guards are projected to be taken in the first round (as opposed to 12 last year), so Bledsoe might want to cash in on the Wildcats' success and his relative worth. T.J. Ford has been one of the biggest disappointments in the league this year, and with Jamal Tinsley gone and Earl Watson and Travis Diener playing out the final year of their contracts, the Pacers would be lucky to get their hands on Bledsoe, an extremely tough point guard with an NBA-ready body and huge upside.

7. Pistons: Ed Davis (6-10/225; PF/C; North Carolina)
So, where's Wes Johnson? Well, I can tell for sure where he won't be: On a Pistons team that has Rip Hamilton, Tayshaun Prince, Ben Gordon, and Austin Daye all under contract, and yet no center locked in for the 2010-11 season. North Carolina sophomore Ed Davis, though undersized for the center position, is a prototypical Piston, a tremendous rebounder (9.6) and shot blocker (2.8), who also happens to be one of the absolute most talented players in his class.

8. Jazz: Wesley Johnson (6-7/200; SF; Syracuse)
Here is the most perfect pairing in the lottery. Still preparing to lose Carlos Boozer despite their domination of late, the Jazz will use the Knicks' pick as a consolation prize, likely targeting someone who can contribute immediately. The Jazz and Wes Johnson would simply be a match made in heaven, for Utah is still in desperate need of outside shooting, explosiveness, and a versatile defender besides the recently resurrected AK47. Considering what he's done for Syracuse, the transfer from Iowa State, who could go as high as three in this draft depending on who's picking, might be able to do for the Jazz what he's done for the Orange.

9. 76ers: Willie Warren (6-4/205; SG; Oklahoma)
The Sixers have been trying tirelessly to deal just about everyone on the roster despite guards Jrue Holiday and Lou Williams, whom they still hold as the future despite the intrusion of Allen Iverson. Though they might be set on starting Holiday and Williams for the next couple years, this team is extremely forward-heavy, in need of a dynamic guard, someone who can actually shoot. I'm a big fan of Willie Warren, whose range, ability to catch fire, and versatility at both guard positions should appeal to Philly.

10. Clippers: Patrick Patterson (6-9/230; PF; Kentucky)
The NBA's worst franchise, while improving, is still comprised of a bunch of loafers who want to camp out on the three-point line and play as little defense as possible. Kentucky's veteran leader Patrick Patterson, a terrifically skilled, NBA-ready forward, does not loaf. Having developed a more consistent outside shot, Patterson is like Paul Millsap, only with a more well-rounded offensive repertoire (out of college, at least), and would inject energy and intensity into a lackadaisical Clippers team that could really use a spark plug.

11. Bucks: Greg Monroe (6-10/245; PF/C; Georgetown)
There isn't a single team in the Eastern Conference that wouldn't cringe at the prospect of going up against the pairing of Bogut, a true center currently averaging 16 and 10, and Monroe, an exceptionally posed and athletic big man averaging 15.4 points, 9.5 boards, 3.6 assists, and 1.7 blocks for the 7th ranked Georgetown Hoyas. The 6-11 Monroe's size, court awareness, and versatility would perfectly complement 7-footer Bogut's mature inside game. Even if they might not deserve the "twin towers" designation, they would surely make things easier for franchise point guard Brandon Jennings.

12. Grizzlies: Elliot Williams (6-4/185; SG; Memphis)
After averaging just 4.2 points in 16.6 minutes at Duke his freshman year, Williams transferred to Memphis, where he's currently averaging 19 points in 33 minutes for the Tigers. Williams is a lot like Grizzlies star shooting guard O.J. Mayo, but Memphis is extremely shallow at both guard spots and could use another shooter. There are plenty of extremely talented big men still available, but with a great trio of talents in Zach Randolph, Marc Gasol, and Hasheem Thabeet, the Grizzlies are going to look for another guard who can really produce.

13. Hornets: Donatas Motiejunas (7-0/225; PF/C; Lithuania)
The Hornets have found themselves in something of pickle, saddled with a couple ridiculous contracts (Peja Stojakovic and Emeka Okafor) and a very frustrated Chris Paul. Lithuanian big man Motiejunas has superstar potential, and would add depth to a very shallow frontcourt, which at this point is essentially just Okafor and David West.

14. Rockets: Cole Aldrich (6-11/245; C; Kansas)
If Houston could land Cole Aldrich with their late lottery pick, they would be inexpressibly elated. I think Aldrich's value will likely decline when the season concludes, when scouts start to take into consideration his remedial offensive skill set and debate whether or not he might have any value when his team has possession. There is no doubting his defensive prowess, rebounding ability, or intensity, however, and he could still be a force despite his lack of polish. With a perpetually injured franchise player (Yao) and the smallest starting center in NBA history (Chuck Hayes), the Rockets will target a big man, and Aldirch is a perfect fit.

15. Bulls: Dominique Jones (6-4/215; SG; South Florida)
Despite their newfound success, the Bulls have struggled to score mightily throughout the season, failing to account for the loss of sharpshooter Ben Gordon. South Florida's Dominique Jones has proven to be one of the most lethal scorers on the college level, averaging over 22 points per game in his junior campaign, including a 46-point outburst against Providence, while dropping at least 25 on the likes of Syracuse, West Virginia, Pittsburgh and Georgetown. If Jones isn't the next Ben Gordon, he would surely make a great impact on a Bulls team in need of a well-rounded scorer.

16. Heat: Jarvis Varnado (6-9/230; PF/C; Mississippi State)
With the contracts of Jermaine O'Neal and Udonis Haslem set to expire at season's end, the Heat will have no choice but to use this pick on big man. Varnado isn't a sexy pick, but he's one of the greatest shot blockers in NCAA history (4 per game over his career), and has made great strides as a scorer and rebounder, posting averages of 13.4 points and 11.3 boards in a sensational senior campaign. The Mississippi State defensive dynamo would give the Heat some versatility at both low post positions, while ensuring that the basket is guarded like it hasn't been since Alonzo Mourning held down the fort.

17. Timberwolves: James Anderson (6-6/200; SG; Oklahoma State)
The Wolves, like the Bulls, desperately need a scorer capable of providing instant offense. A prototypical shooting guard with a pro-style game, Anderson is averaging 23 points per game in Big 12 play, flaunting his terrific range and advanced offensive repertoire. The Timberwolves, who average exactly 4 three-pointers per game, would be blessed to add a guy like Anderson.

18. Heat: Jon Scheyer (6-5/190; Combo Guard; Duke)
The Heat have been unsuccessful in their attempts to find a suitable point guard to run Wade's team. Why not take a chance on a guy like Scheyer? One of the very best players in the country, Scheyer is a phenomenal ball handler (3.17 assist/turnover ration), a great scorer (19.1 point per game, including nearly 3 three-pointers a night), boasts four years of experience in Coach K's system, and at 6-5, has awesome size for the point guard position in the league. After considering Scheyer's attributes, one wonders: Would the team that drafts him really be taking a chance at all?

19. Trailblazers: Larry Sanders (6-10/225; PF/C; Virginia Commonwealth)
The Blazers now know to be overstocked with big men after the Oden/Pryzbilla injury debacle which likely killed their chances of contending in the West this season. Sanders, who ran with Eric Maynor at VCU for a couple years, is a bouncy, athletic big man with great shot blocking ability and rapidly improving offensive skill set, not to mention ideal size and length. For all their talent, the Blazers still need a guy like Sanders.

20. Thunder: Damion James (6-7/230; SF/PF; Texas)
With money to spend in the off season, the Thunder will try to land an experienced center who they can rely on to rebound and block shots, like Brendan Haywood, meaning that they will likely use their draft pick on the best player available. Texas senior Damion James could contribute immediately on both ends of the floor, while providing needed toughness and versatility.

21. Spurs: Jerome Dyson (6-3/190; Combo Guard; Connecticut)
After a few years of picking near the end of the first round, the Spurs have begun to take the draft seriously again, and have scored big the past couple years with the likes of George Hill and Dejuan Blair. With two guards under contract for next season, the Spurs should target someone who can contribute immediately, with UConn's Jerome Dyson a perfect fit. Stuffing the stat sheet with averages of 19 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 4.6 assists, Dyson also happens to be an above average athlete capable of playing both guard positions, not unlike George Hill. The type of player's who's typically underrated simply because he's a senior, Dyson might prove to be one of the most skilled players in this draft class.

22. Thunder: William Buford (6-5/200; SG; Ohio State)
The league's new beloved franchise is pretty much stacked, but they could still use some outside shooting and another guard who can score. After a disappointing start to what was supposed to be a tremendous sophomore season, Buford has really turned it on of late, displaying his NBA range and mature offensive game. Though they would have very few minutes to allocate to another guard, the Thunder could use an occasionally unconscious scorer like Buford.

23. Nets: Da'Sean Butler (6-7/225; SF; West Virginia)
The reason the Nets don't win games is simple: nobody on the team can shoot the ball. In Butler they would have a versatile, experienced scorer capable of shooting the lights out. Looks like a good fit to me.

24. Jazz: Solomon Alabi (7-1/235; C; Florida State)
Despite their constant hustle and effort on the defensive end, the Jazz are one of worst shot blocking teams in the NBA. Projected to be a lottery pick earlier in the year, Alabi is an immensely talented prospect, and has proven to be a very reliable shot blocker for the Seminoles. Utah needs a big man who can alter shots, and that's what Alabi's all about.

25. Celtics: Sherron Collins (5-11/200; PG; Kansas)
The Celts are not especially deep at either guard spot, and with an aging roster, will most likely look for someone who could make an immediate impact. Collins' experience and championship pedigree should pique Danny Ainge's interest.

26. Hawks: Stanley Robinson (6-9/240; SF: Connecticut)
Even though they have more talented swingmen than most teams have talent, the Hawks wouldn't be able to pass up on someone like Robinson, especially with Joe Johnson supposedly planning to leave. Capable of guarding power forwards and stepping out to pop threes, Robinson is the type of player Hawks coach Mike Woodson covets, and would be a good fit in the ATL despite their wealth of highly skilled forwards.

27. Grizzlies: Lance Stephenson (6-6/225; SG/SF; Cincinnati)
Though he's mired in the second round on most draft boards, Stephenson is arguably as talented as any prospect in the nation. His reputation will scare a good many franchises away, but a team like the Grizzlies, who have a very solid rotation and therefore won't feel compelled to rush him into battle, can afford to take a chance on him.

28. Magic: Jan Vesely (6-11/230; SF/PF; Czech Republic)
Boasting the league's deepest rotation, the Magic will either trade this pick for cash or select a foreign prospect who they can stock overseas. Let's hope that foreigner is content with his current team.

29. Grizzlies: Charles Garcia (6-10/230; SF/PF; Seattle)
The Grizzlies are deep down low, but don't have any big men who can routinely step out and spread the floor. A big, versatile forward who can score in a variety of ways, Seattle's Charles Garcia would be a welcome addition.

30. Cavaliers: Luke Harangody (6-7/250; PF; Notre Dame)
It's very likely that neither Shaq nor Big Z will be on the team next year, meaning Cleveland should target inside help. Harangody won't be able to fill the void at center, but he's as NBA-ready as they come and could contribute immediately.

Prospect Profile: Wesley Johnson

2010-02-04T07:07:00.001-08:00

Wesley Johnson (6-7/205; Small forward; Junior; Syracuse University)

Numbers to Date: 16.7 points 9 rebounds 1.8 blocks 1.7 steals 54.5% FG
NBA Comparison: Rudy Gay
Age on Draft Day: 23
Potential Pick Range: 2 - 9
Good Fits: Nets, Timberwolves, Warriors

The Player: After winning Big 12 Rookie of the Year at Iowa State, Johnson regressed somewhat in his sophomore campaign and decided to depart Ames, Iowa for Syracuse, New York, where he was forced to sit out a year before making his debut for the Orange. Only the fifth transfer accepted by Jim Boeheim in the Hall of Famer's 33-year tenure as head coach, Johnson has proven to be more that just a neat addition to a talented team: He has morphed into one of the most consistently dominant and versatile players in the nation, destined to garner a handful of accolades before he inevitably enters the draft. In leading the Syracuse to its best start in school history, Johnson looks to become the first player since Shane Battier to average 15 points, 5 rebounds, 2 blocks and 2 steals, while shooting 50% from the field. While Wes is certainly a tremendous athlete and a dependable shooter, his enviable versatility is his calling card.

Strengths: Inarguably the best athlete in the college game...Routinely converts impossible alley-oops, skies above the rim for rebounds, and swats shots like a mad man...Superhuman leaping ability...Dead-eye shooter with a gorgeous jump shot...Loves to face up defenders at the top of the key and pop a quick, smooth J...Shooting 42.5% from range on the year...Unselfish to a fault...Understands what it takes to win as thoroughly as any player in the country...Perhaps the best rebounder in the nation at the small forward position, posting 10 double-doubles by the end of January...A dynamite defender, averaging nearly 2 blocks and 2 steals per game...His playing style is tailored for the NBA, as evidenced by three distinct characteristics of his game: His confidence in shooting contested jumpers from at least 18 feet out, his defensive tenacity, and killer instinct...Has a great attitude on and off the court, frequently flashing a huge smile when the Orange are on a roll, and sending Facebook messages to Syracuse students reminding them to come out to games and wear orange...Exceptional length and bounce allow him to clog passing lines and alter shots like a big man...Prototypical size for the SF position.

Weaknesses: Gripes with Wesley's game generally start and end with his complacency - in that he doesn't score 20 points night in and night out - but his supposedly inadequate production on the offensive end can be explained by the Syracuse system, the Orange's wealth of weapons (six players averaging at least 9 points per game), and the fact that on this team, there's always a better shot to be taken (Syracuse leads the nation in field goal percentage)...Not a great ball handler, especially for a swingman...Must become more comfortable taking defenders of the dribble, a la Evan Turner...A very good passer, but still averages more turnovers than assists...While he can create his own shot off the dribble with ease, he relies too heavily on others to set him up and get him going on offense...His slight frame and reckless play around the basket have some questioning his durability...Despite his athleticism and rapid development, his age (23) has understandably raised concerns about his potential.

Bottom Line: Still a contender for the Naismith Award, Johnson has the Orange, who were picked to finish sixth in the Big East, contending for a national title. Some of Johnson's critics are convinced that his age will scare away a number of ball clubs pining for the next superstar, but more will covet him for his potential to contribute from day one. He might not have Wall's upside, but he might have the most impact of any rookie next season. Teams that consider themselves a competent, versatile starter away from really competing might not want to wait on the likes of Derrick Favors or Donatas Motlejunas, seeing Johnson as a desired free agent who can be had for a very small price. If his impact on Syracuse is any indication, whichever franchise scoops him up on draft day might find themselves playing at a level they never imagined they might have achieved before Wesley and his thousand-watt smile came to town.

Born Again in 2010

2010-01-30T07:25:00.000-08:00

The NBA is all about consistency. Teams don't just come out of nowhere and beat the Lakers in the conference finals, and a former role player whose resurgence makes for a great story isn't going to oust LeBron in the MVP race. But that doesn't mean the L doesn't have its fair share of pleasant surprises. The dawn of a new decade has seen an array of previously unheralded, or forgotten, players making a name for themselves, posting awesome numbers for newly thriving teams. Here's a look at five faces - some new, some with facelifts - who have defied their critics by posting terrific numbers in January.

Stephen Curry
2010 Numbers: 19.5 ppg 5.1 apg 4.4 rpg 2.1 spg
In his first couple months as a pro, Curry proved to be the opposite of what scouts expected him to be: an efficient, picky scorer with a high assist-to-turnover ratio. In the new year Curry has remained efficient, but has exploded into the realm of stardom. Averaging nearly 40 minutes a game (he's played at least 40 minutes in the Warriors last 9 contests), Curry has been averaging nearly 20-5-5 a night, to go along with 2 swipes and 2 three-pointers. For a rookie from a mid-major schools, those numbers are quite remarkable.

Derrick Rose
2010 Numbers: 23.1 ppg 6.4 apg 4.4 rpg
In mid-January, HoopsHype blogger Eddie Johnson named Derrick Rose one of the top ten disappointments of the 2009-10 campaign. Yet he might just be the frontrunner for Eastern Conference Player of the Month. Derided earlier this year due to the Bulls' inconsistency and his low assist numbers, Rose has been a revelation in January, averaging 23 points and 6 assists while leading Chicago to a 10-7 record - including road wins at Boston, Phoenix, Houston, Oklahoma City and New Orleans - and the #7 seed in the East after they commenced the new year with a 13-17 mark. I think it's safe to say Eddie Johnson owes someone an apology.

Stephen Jackson
2010 Numbers: 24.5 ppg 5.3 rpg 2.3 spg
Previously one of the game's biggest enigmas, Jackson has come into his own as the catalyst of the Bobcats' best start in franchise history. In leading Charlotte to an 11-4 record in January, Jackson has become the force that his terrific size (6-8/215) and range (972 career three-pointers) projected he might become, dropping nearly 25 points a night while shouldering a 40-minute per game load. Under the guise of Larry Brown, the former renegade has channeled his considerable energy into devastating opponents on a nightly basis, transitioning the Bobcats from league door mat to one of the most feared ball clubs in the East.

Corey Brewer
2010 Numbers: 16.2 ppg 3.9 rpg
The 7th overall pick in the 2007 draft made his case for being one of the biggest busts in recent memory, averaging 5.8 points on 37.4% shooting his rookie year, and playing just 15 games in his sophomore campaign. In January, Brewer's shown some signs that he might not be such a turkey after all. Registering five 20-point games this month, the Florida product has been consistent for the first time in his career, suggesting that this 6-9 swingman, who's still just 23 years old, might yet realize his potential. With a franchise point guard in Johnny Flynn, Ricky Rubio on the way, and a venerable low post combo in Kevin Love and Al Jefferson, the Wolves have been insisting that they'll target a swingman in the draft. Should they maintain that mindset, at least they'll have some real depth for the first time in years.

Andrei Kirilenko
2010 Numbers: 13.4 ppg 4.6 rpg 1.5 spg 1.4 bpg 57.3% FG
For three years now, analysts have been touting Kirilenko as one of the league's most overpaid players (he's set to earn $16.5 million this year and $17.8 million in 2010-11), but he's really been earning that paycheck of late. His numbers in January certainly aren't mind-boggling, but the impact of his rediscovered role on a previously hobbling Jazz team has been extraordinary. Since the Jazz made him a starter on January 9th, Utah has gone 8-1, vaulting from the 10th seed in the West to the 4th seed with ease. Looking more and more like the AK47 of old - the AK47 who fully deserved his lucrative contact when he signed it - night in and night out, Kirilenko is averaging 18 points, 6 boards, 2.8 blocks, while shooting 67% from the field during Utah's 5-game win streak. If he remotely maintains this level of play, the Jazz won't have wasted a dime.

Naismith Watch

2010-01-28T18:11:00.000-08:00

1. Evan Turner (Jr., Ohio State)

Subtract the game in which Turner injured his back (7 minutes), and his first game back in the lineup (20 minutes), and he's averaging 20.7 points, 11 rebounds, and 5.8 assists. No player means more to his team (the Buckeyes are 11-3 with Turner, compared to 3-3 without him), and he's proven he can take over games when he's called upon to do so. But can Ohio state win enough games to validate his standing?

2. John Wall (Fr., Kentucky)

The South Carolina loss proved that he's mortal, but so long as Kentucky hovers around the top five, he has to be considered the frontrunner.

3. Jon Scheyer (Sr., Duke)

He's increased his scoring considerably, has one of the best A/TO ratios in the country at 3.72, and has turned Duke into a contender for this first time in years. A rare down year for the ACC might end up hurting his chances.

4. Wesley Johnson (Jr., Syracuse)

The Iowa State transfer has been the most pleasant surprise of the season, turning a Syracuse team which was expected to finish in the middle of the Big East into a championship contender. His outstanding numbers (17.1 points, 9 rebounds, 1.9 blocks, 1.8 steals, 55.6% FG) attest to his near-peerless versatility.

5. Damion James (Sr., Texas)

The Big 12's all-time leader in rebounding has been extraordinary, posting career highs in scoring (18.2 ppg), rebounding (10.9), steals (1.7 spg) and field goal percentage (50.4%).

6. Scottie Reynolds (Sr., Villanova)

Despite his decorated career, I'd say he's the frontrunner for Most Improved Player (if there was such an award). Not only has Reynolds increased his scoring by 3.5 points, but the career 39.9% shooter has upped his accuracy to a very admirable 49.6%.

7. James Anderson (Jr., Oklahoma State)

The superstar guiding the most underrated team in the nation has been tremendous, averaging 22 points and nearly 6 boards a night. His performance in the Cowboys' win at Kansas State (30 points) was downright heroic.

8. Sherron Collins (Sr., Kansas)

His numbers are way down, but he's one of the most respected seniors in the country and the heart and soul of a 19-1 Kansas team that's gunning for a title.

9. Jacob Pullen (Jr., Kansas State)

A legitimate frontrunner at mid-season, Pullen was disgraceful in a vital two game stretch - the win over Texas (2-15 from the field), and K-State's four point loss to Oklahoma State (2-15, again), in which he was beasted by James Anderson. Scoring in double-figures in every game for one of the best teams in the country will keep him in the conversation.

10. Patrick Patterson (Jr., Kentucky)

Like Collins, Patterson is a respected veteran who commendably opted to stay in school knowing that his numbers might dip. Without him Kentucky would be too inexperienced and immature to contend; with him, they're a veritable powerhouse.

Utah Jazz Trade Options

2010-01-05T07:33:00.000-08:00

For the first time in franchise history, the perennially stable Utah Jazz will be forced to make significant roster moves mid-season, undoubtedly altering the franchise, and perhaps, with it, the Western Conference or the entire NBA. The Jazz, who boast one of the league's highest payrolls, have a two-time All-Star in Carlos Boozer whom they are desperately trying to rid themselves of, as well as a max player in Andrei Kirilenko who could thrive in any other situation, along with one of the most prized assets in the entire NBA: The New York Knicks' unprotected first round pick.

The Jazz have noted that their primary goal is to incur as small a luxury tax bill as possible, which means potentially sacrificing an All-Star for undeveloped talent or players whose expiring contracts have come to define their stature in the league. The Jazz, understandably, cannot stomach financing a $77 million payroll to stand 9th in the Western Conference halfway through the season. Word is that no one on the roster except Deron Williams is indispensable, and that they're gunning to save over $10 million by the All-Star break. But rather than finding a way out, what if they exercise their considerable assets to find a way in?

As David Aldridge pointed out in an article for NBA.com, the Jazz are in a position to improve upon their already good standing (this before they dropped from 16-11 to 9th in the West) like no team since the Magic when they netted Penny in the draft the year after picking Shaq. With Boozer, a 20-10 machine, and the Knicks' first round pick in a loaded class, Aldridge noted that any team besides Kobe's Lakers and Lebron's Cavs would have to consider a Utah proposal. Unfortunately, almost every superstar the Jazz could conceivably acquire (Chris Bosh, Amar'e Stoudemire) is in a contract year, so the pool for a blockbuster deal is much shallower than analysts like Aldridge surmised.

Here are five potential deals that I hope the Jazz might consider:

Boozer ($12.7M), C.J. Miles ($3.7M), and a First-Round Pick to the Warriors for Monta Ellis ($11), Ronny Turiaf ($4.1M), and Anthony Morrow ($0.7M)

Here's the blockbuster, the home run, the deal that Sloan deserves for all he's given the team and the relatively little the Jazz have done for him by way of going out and making deals to bolster talented but incomplete teams. Assuming the Jazz are willing to take on a few contracts, giving them perhaps the league's highest payroll, this should work perfectly. The Jazz would be able to form one of the most lethal backcourts in NBA history in Deron Williams (19.5 ppg 9.8 apg) and Monta Ellis (25.8 ppg 5.2 apg), while adding a legitimate post defender in Ronny Turiaf and the best young three-point shooter in the league in Anthony Morrow.

If the Warriors haven't figured by now that they will never win with Monta Ellis running the team, their future is not bright. For the services of Ellis, Turiaf and Morrow, the Warriors, who don't have enough minutes to hard around for their plethora of young talents, would gain an All-Star in Boozer (if only for the rest of the season), as well as a sharpshooter in Miles, whom Don Nelson would surely love. But most intriguingly, the Warriors would enter next year's lauded free agent class with a payroll of just $40 million, and a solid core in Stephen Curry, Andris Biedrins, Corey Maggette, Anthony Randolph, Kelena Azubuike, Miles and Brandan Wright, not to mention the Knicks' first round pick, which will most likely fall in the top 10.

Carlos Boozer ($12.7M) to the Trailblazers for Joel Pryzbilla ($6.9M), Travis Outlaw ($4M) and Jerryd Bayless ($2.1)

Jazz GM Kevin O'Connor has demonstrated that he won't shy away from trading within the Northwest division, and though this deal might bolster the Blazers more than the Jazz, it is still a neat scenario. Now here's a unique way for the Jazz to evade luxury tax expenditures: acquire the injured Pryzbilla and buy him out in order to avoid dollar-for-dollar luxury tax payments on his contract. To make the deal even sweeter, the Jazz would get Travis Outlaw's expiring contract - another $4 million off the books - and a potential star in Jerryd Bayless, who just might be the explosive, promise-laden scorer the Jazz need, and for just over $2 million a year. But will they be willing to hand Boozer over to a division rival?

Andrei Kirilenko ($16.5M) and Kyle Korver ($5.2M) to the Rockets for Tracy McGrady ($23.2M)

The Jazz would sell their souls for a shot at this deal, which would allow them to get rid of Kirilenko and the oft-injured Korver for a superstar with a $23 million contract that will come off the books next season. It would be hard to convince Houston to take on Kirilenko's contract for another year, but he perfectly fits the mold of that Rockets team and, as an All-Star with enviable versatility, is a good insurance policy should Yao not return in time. Korver's expiring contract is a similarly enticing pawn. If the Rockets are desperate to shed McGrady, they might give this deal a hard look.

Boozer ($12.7M) and C.J. Miles ($3.7M) to the Wizards for Caron Butler ($9.8M) and Mike James ($6.5M)

The Jazz have expressed their readiness to trade anyone on the roster except Deron Williams, while the Wizards would consider unloading everyone except Brendan Haywood, Randy Foye and Mike Miller. This is a low-risk deal for both teams, and would satisfy their respective wants. Sloan would love to have a versatile, All-Star like Butler, while Mike James' outside shooting and substantial expiring contract should have the Jazz interested. The Wizards would acquire a potential building block in Miles ($3.7M), who in his fifth season in the league is just 22 years old, and could then rid themselves in $12.7 million in cap space when Boozer's contract comes off the books at the end of the season.

Boozer ($12.7M) to the Bulls for John Salmons ($5.5M), Tyrus Thomas ($4.7 million), and Taj Gibson ($1 million)

This is the least exciting trade option, but considering Boozer's desire to play in Chicago and the Bulls' willingness to part with just about anyone, it might be the most plausible. Salmons, Thomas and Gibson certainly would not appear to be 'equal value' for Boozer on paper, but considering Utah's need for a spark plug, defensive presence, and dependable shooting, the 23-year old Thomas, 24-year old Gibson, and combustible Salmons could prove to be a worthwhile gamble.

Draft 2010: A Class of their Own

2009-12-06T08:32:00.000-08:00

Nearly a month into the season the 2010 NBA Draft is starting to take shape, if we don't yet have a remotely complete picture of who will draft whom next June. What we do have, however, is a crop of 10 prospects who are distinctly ahead of their peers in terms of potential. I have not yet seen Lithuanian big man Donatas Motlejunas, a consensus top five pick, or any other foreigners for that matter, but have ingested a great deal of college ball and feel comfortable anointing these ten players the best the nation has to offer.

1. John Wall (6-4/195; PG; Freshman; Kentucky)
Pre-Season Rank: Freshman
The top-rated prospect in a loaded 2009 class, Wall has realized his extraordinary potential as quickly as any college point guard in memory. In leading Kentucky to its first 8-0 start in over 15 years and a top 5 ranking early on, Wall leads the Wildcats in scoring (18.1 points per game) and is second in the nation in assists (7.7 assists per game), while averaging 2.6 swipes per game and shooting a healthy 54.8% from the field. At 6-4, Wall boasts enviable size for the position, and is one of the quickest and most athletic players in the nation, an unmistakably gifted talent. Now here's an interesting question: Assuming the Nets retain their stranglehold on the #1 pick, and assuming that Wall is the can't miss prospect of this class, would New Jersey consider pairing him with Devin Harris in the backcourt?

2. Evan Turner (6-7/205; PG/SG/SF; Junior; Ohio State)
Pre-Season Rank: 2
In my pre-season ranking of the top ten NCAA talents I likened Turner to LeBron James in playing style and willingness to take over games. That might have seemed preposterous to some, but before he sustained an injury 7 minutes into a rout of Eastern Michigan, Turner, playing point guard for the Buckeyes, was averaging 20.6 points per game, 12.9 rebounds, and 6.6 assists while shooting 61.8% from the field, a ridiculous stat line that the King would surely smile upon. Though he looks to be out for about two months, Turner's presence will continue to weigh heavy on NBA general managers expecting to draft early in this year's lottery. Capable of dominating at any one of three positions, Turner's versatility, poise, and Oscar Robertson-like output should assure that he's among the first five prospects to hear his name called at MSG next June.

3. DeMarcus Cousins (6-11/260; PF/C; Freshman; Kentucky)
Pre-Seaosn Rank: Freshman
So much is made of lithe, versatile forwards with supposedly limitless upside, but what of the bruising yet nimble big men whose value will be forever underestimated? Enter Kentucky freshman DeMarcus Cousins, a 6-11/260 behemoth whose proven to be one of the most dominant players in the nation already; he is currently averaging 14.8 points per game, 8.1 rebounds and 2.4 blocks in just 19.4 minutes per game. That's right - essentially half a game. For the many teams mired in lottery land in need of a potentially dominant low post presence, Cousins could be one of the very most sought after prospects as the seasons wears on.

4. Ed Davis (6-10/225; PF; Sophomore; North Carolina)
Pre-Season Rank: 1
My odds-on favorite to be taken first in the draft before the season commenced, Davis has performed admirably per my lofty expectations. Touted as an unstoppable low-post scorer with amazing defensive instincts, the sophomore big man is averaging 13.3 points per game to pair with a healthy 9.4 boards, while blocking 2.4 shots per game. And as for him being unstoppable down low? How's 68.2% from the field sound to you? Though his current timidness prevents him from taking over games and he is in need of at least 15-20 more pounds, Davis remains a truly formidable talent with the potential to be a perennial All-Star once he become more comfortable out on the floor.

5. Derrick Favors (6-10/246; PF; Freshman; Georgia Tech)
Pre-Season Rank: Freshman
One hardly hears the name Derrick Favors without the name Amar'e Stoudemire mentioned immediately before or after. A bouncy, crafty big man with refined skill around the basket, Favors runs the floor like a guard and finishes with shattering force. Posting numbers similar to Davis - 13.4/8.3/2.1/67.9% - the Atlanta product is one of the catalysts of Georgia Tech's hot start, forming with future first round pick Gani Lawal one of the most lethal low post combos in the country. Should he add more range to his game, Favors will be all but unguardable, much like the superstar to whom he is incessantly compared.

6. Wesley Johnson (6-7/205; SG/SF; Junior; Syracuse)
Pre-Season Rank: NR
After playing his first two years of college ball at Iowa State, then taking a mandatory year off after transferring to Syracuse, a plethora of questions surrounded the unquestionably talented swingman whose rocky career incurred worry in scouts who thought him an incomplete prospect. Now, has there been a more impressive player in the nation thus far this season? The focus of an 8-0 Syracuse team that looks to contend for a national championship despite losing the likes of Johnny Flynn, Paul Harris and Eric Devendorf, Wes is stuffing the stat sheet like Andrei Kirilenko in his prime, averaging 17 points, 7.3 rebounds, 2.3 steals, and and 2.1 blocks while proving to be exceptionally unselfish. Boasting ideal size for the swing position in the L, and top-notch athleticism - in fact, he's probably the most athletic player in the country - concern surrounding Johnson's upside (he's 22) is all that might prevent him from being taken in the top 5.

7. Willie Warren (6-4/199; SG; Sophomore; Oklahoma)
Pre-Season Rank: 4
Very similar to, if certainly the not the equal of, a certain Miami Heat shooting guard, Oklahoma standout Willie Warren has capitalized nicely on a great freshman campaign, upping his scoring averaging from 14.6 to 19.2 points per game, and his assists from 3.1 to 5.7 dimes a night. The Sooners have struggled in the wake of losing consensus player of the year Blake Griffin, but Warren has been nothing short of outstanding, demonstrating why he's been likened to combo guards such as Wade, Ben Gordon, and O.J. Mayo. Warren has as refined an offensive game as you will see in a guard on the college level, one that should translate very nicely to the next level.

8. Al-Farouq Aminu (6-9/215; SF/PF; Sophomore; Wake Forest)
Pre-Season Rank: 8
A pathetic performance against Cleveland State in the first round of the NCAA tournament motivated Aminu to return to school, a decision that should prove to be very wise. Utilizing his size and athleticism as scouts expected him to last season, the big, versatile forward is averaging a double-double (16.4 and 10.1) and looking to dominate games, where he coasted for long stretches last season. The prototypical swingman with awesome upside that has GM's salivating, Aminu just needs prove that he can produce against real competition to assure a spot in the lottery.

9. Cole Aldrich (6-11/245; C/PF; Junior; Kansas)
Pre-Season Rank: 5
The anchor of the top-ranked Jayhawks, Aldrich is certainly the biggest enigma in this year's class. Playing 5 less minutes per game this year assumedly due to the fact that Kansas wins every game by about 35 points, Aldrich's scoring and rebounding numbers have both dropped dramatically, though he's blocking shots at an astonishing rate (3.7 per game). The Aldrich enigma lies more in his game, however. Though he's big enough to play center and appears to have the tools necessary to succeed, Aldrich is occasionally very awkward and does not look near ready dominate in the NBA, averaging just 11.2 ppg as a junior, which begs the question, is he destined to be merely a strong defensive presence? Is he Brook Lopez or Hasheem Thabeet? Either way, Aldrich's defensive prowess is very rare, and should he improve his low post game, Aldrich will surely be of tremendous value to a number of teams in need of a dependable presence down low.

10. Jarvis Varnado (6-9/230; PF/C; Mississippi State; Senior)
Pre-Season Rank: NR
How long can a player fly under the radar before he's allotted the attention he deserves? In his sophomore and junior seasons, the 6-9 Varnado, who may well be the greatest shot blocker in NCAA history, averaged 4.6 blocks per game and 4.7 blocks per game, respectively, besting the 7-3 Hasheem Thabeet in both campaigns; this year he's off to a fittingly decent start, averaging 5.3 blocks a night through seven games. Lest one assume that Varnado is entirely one-dimensional, know that he's averaging a solid 14.4 points per game this season on inhuman 67.3% shooting, while also pulling down 9.7 boards a contest. He isn't the flashiest player the country, but I can't think of one that I'd rather have playing for me.

The 50 Most Valuable Players in the NBA

2009-08-08T09:36:00.001-07:00

This is not a list of the best players in the NBA.

Rather, this is a ranking of the most valuable and coveted talents in the league, the fifty players who would be of most worth to a team starting from scratch, say, if the league recycled its rosters and instituted a fantasy draft in which every player in the league was included. Would the team on the clock go for immediate rewards or long-term potential?

I find that more great arguments and statements can arise from a ranking such as this. It begs the question, would you rather start a team with the 36-year old Shaquille O'Neal, who averaged 17 and 8 this past season, or the 21-year old Greg Oden, who averaged 8 and 7? How about Pau Gasol or Andrew Bynum? Carlos Boozer or Paul Millsap? Kevin Garnett or Blake Griffin?

After all, that question is more applicable to the NBA's organization than whether a player in simply better than another. The most obvious example of this is free agency, as teams weigh a player's potential value over a number of seasons - Andre Miller is the best fit now, but do we want to commit $30 over 3 years to a 33-year old point guard? Would we be better off signing the younger Ramon Sessions? - more than anything else. Trades, and even draft picks, where just about everyone is between 18 and 22 years old, abide by this principle.

So many factors went into constructing this list, but I think you'll find it's pretty succinct. Don't expect to agree with everything, but please, by all means, comment on how you feel about it.

Some technical notes: all statistics, including measurements, are from ESPN.com or Basketball-Reference.com, two invaluable sources of basketball info. Because the first posting comes with this long intro, the first article will be players ranked 50-41. On Thursday, I will post 40-26, on the following Monday, 25-11, and on Thursday, 10-1. I refrained from including Yao due to his medical issues and the concern surrounding his ever playing again. This article is dedicated to him.

50. Lamar Odom (6-10/230; SF/PF; 11.3 ppg 8.2 rpg; 10 seasons)
He's the most enigmatic talent in the league, one moment jogging down the court on a fast break, the next knocking down a fade-away three without a moment's hesitation. He doesn't produce like he used to, though he's still a tremendous rebounder (9.9 rpg per 36 minutes), exceedingly unselfish (4.2 apg, not bad for a forward coming off the bench), and can play any one of four positions with ease.

49. David West (6-9/240; PF; 21 ppg 8.5 rpg; 7 seasons)
Relatively unheralded coming out of Xavier, West has slowly but surely morphed into one of the league's most venerable power forwards. I suppose he's been playing under the radar his whole career - in the Atlantic 10 in college, drafted outside the lottery in that historic 2003 class, numbers always second to CP3 - and I guess that suits him fine. But here's one fact about the 2-time All-Star that may unfortunately go unnoticed as well - he's an 84.1% career free throw shooter.

48. Josh Smith (6-8/240; SF; 15.6 ppg 7.2 rpg 1.6 bpg; 5 seasons)
Just 23 and with five seasons under his belt, Smith is one of the main reasons for the Hawks emergence from the basement of the league. Drafted out of high school, Smith made his mark on the league faster than anyone could have expected, rapdily refining what was thought to be a raw offensive game to average 13.8 ppg for his career, including 17.2 ppg in 2007-08 campaign. Where Smith really shines, though, is on the defensive end, posting career averages of 2.4 bpg and 1.2 spg, validating his standing as one of the game's last great stat-stuffers.

47. Hedo Turkoglu (6-10/220; SF/PF; 16.8 ppg 5.3 rpg; 9 seasons)
Formerly known primarily as a scorer, Turkoglu shed that image in the 2009 Playoffs by leading the Magic to the finals not with his jump shot, but his great playmaking ability. The 6-10 point forward had the ball in his hands every possession down the stretch, and used his size to see over opposing defenses and spread the floor. Still a threat to drop 25-30 on any given night, Turkoglu is the glue guy that turns talented teams into winning teams.

46. Vince Carter (6-6/220; SG; 20.8 ppg 5.1 rpg 4.7 apg; 11 seasons)
As his scoring has declined, his other numbers have jumped. In 2007-08, when he averaged 21.3 ppg (compared to 27.5 ppg with NJ in '04-05, 24.2 in '05-06, and 25.2 in '06-07), he also posted career highs in rpg (6.0) and apg (5.5). Now as well-rounded as he's ever been, Carter has only to prove that he can win.

45. Anthony Morrow (6-5/210; SG; 10.1 ppg 46.7% 3PT; 1 season) and Anthony Randolph (6-10/210; 7.9 ppg 5.8 rpg 1.2 bpg; 1 season)
For all the hype surrounding the 2008 draft, many slept on two of the absolute brightest prospects in the Warriors' sophomore Anthony's, Morrow and Ranolph, whose accomplishments and potential surely rank them among the game's finest young talents. Morrow, one of the two or three best shooters in the league, scored 37 points in his NBA debut, a record for an undrafted rookie, led the league in three point field goal percentage - as a rookie - and just recently set a summer league record with 47 points against the Hornets. Randolph, who many expected to be a bust after just one year at LSU, put up terrific numbers for a rookie buried in Don Nelson's depth chart, averaging 15.1 ppg and 10.6 rpg in the final month of the season - not bad for the youngest player in the entire league. The two have a great rivalry going, as Morrow, who apparently hit 90 out of 102 three pointers in a shooting drill and 98 out of 114 in another, reportedly beat Randolph in H-O-R-S-E left-handed (he's a righty). Randolph responded by tying the summer league record with a 42 point outburst against the Bulls, and earning a Team USA invite as a result, but Morrow one-upped him once more, shattering the mark just a couple days later. Once this rivalry extends into the rest of the Association, every contest might just appear another summer league game to these gifted and motivated young guns.

44. Ray Allen (6-5/205; SG; 18.2 ppg 40.9% 3PT; 13 seasons)
Accepting a reduced role has done wonders for Allen's game, as he set new career marks in field goal percentage (48%) and free throw percentage (95.2%) in 2008-09, while shooting above 40% from three for just the second time in seven years. Even if you think he wouldn't be able to drop 25 a game if he was the #1 option again, he's still - and will be until he retires - the best shooter in the league.

43. Kevin Martin (6-7/185; SG; 24.6 ppg 3.6 rpg; 5 seasons)
The 26-year old Martin is an enigma, the type of player who could outscore Kobe in a seven-game series or never make the playoffs for lack of improving the players around him. All we have to go on now is the fact that Martin is one of the league's top scorers, averaging 22.8 ppg over the past three seasons, while consistently shooting over 40% from three. One can't help but notice, though, that Martin's had more turnovers than assists in each of the past couple seasons, and his team has struggled to compete - he's also very injury prone. For a young guard saddled with the responsibility of out-scoring his opponent night in and night out, he's still an elite talent.

42. David Lee (6-9/240; PF; 16 ppg 11.7 rpg 54.9% FG)
There really isn't a more efficient big man in the game today. From the 2007 T-Mobile Rookie Challenge, when Lee scored 30 points on 14-14 shooting - no, that's not a typo - to the 2008-09 season, his fourth, in which he led the NBA in double-doubles, Lee has proven again and again that he is, quite simply, an animal. At 26, Lee's scoring has improved every season, and his career low shooting season came in 2008-09, when he shot a mere 54.9% from the floor. He might not be able to carry a team, but there are few players I'd rather have on mine.

41. Shaquille O'Neal (7-0/325; C; 17.8 ppg 8.4 rpg; 17 seasons)
Along with Kevin Garnett, he's the toughest player to rank. At 36, and boasting an average of 58 games of the past four seasons, he's not exactly the type of player one aim's to build around...but he's still Shaq, the dominant, ultra-competitive center who averages near 20 points and 10 rebounds per game when healthy and shoots around 60% from the floor. Would you rather start a team with Shaq, the three-time Finals MVP hurtling towards retirement, than any of the guys have ranked closely to him? That's a debate worth having.

40. Caron Butler (6-7/228; SF; 20.8 ppg 6.2 rpg 4.3 apg; 7 seasons)
Everything you could want in a SF, from size, to toughness, to a dynamic offensive repetoire. His averages of 20 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 4.3 apg, and 2 apg over the past three seasons put him in elite company, and he's just entering his prime. The only cause for concern surrounding Butler is the Wizards' dismal performance last season.

39. Carlos Boozer (6-9/266; PF; 16.2 ppg 10.4 rpg; 7 seasons)
The classic example of an extremely productive college player taken late in the draft due to concerns about his physicality, Boozer proved his worth immediately as a rookie, averaging 10 ppg and 7.5 rpg. He's since become a human double-double, averaging 19.4 and 10.8 over the past three seasons, while shooting 53.3% from the field. All that's holding him back from becoming a superstar are his mentality on the defensive end and nagging injuries.

38. Paul Millsap (6-8/250; PF; 13.5 ppg 8.6 rpg 53.4% FG; 3 seasons)
When you become the first player to lead the NCAA in rebounding three times - and leave college after your junior season - and that's not enough to warrant being picked in the top 45, well, there's something seriously wrong with that. Millsap set out to prove everyone wrong, and has since developed a reputation as one of the hardest-working players in the league. Wondering why he's ranked higher than Boozer? Well, last season he ripped off the longest double-double streak of any player in the league (16 games) and the Jazz were considerably better when Millsap was in the lineup in Boozer's absence. At 24, Millsap, who three years ago many expected never to see the floor, looks to become one of the game's elite power forwards.

37. Emeka Okafor (6-10/255; PF/C; 13.2 ppg 10.1 rpg 1.7 bpg 56.1% FG; 5 seasons)
Possibly the most underrated player in the league. Yes, he plays in Charlotte, and he struggled with injuries early in his career, but how many guys do you know that averaged a double-double their first five seasons in the league? Probably not more than two or three in the last 15 years. Also one of the league's top five post defenders, Okafor boasts a career average of 1.9 bpg, and is healthier than ever, missing not one game in the last two years. He won't put up numbers as gaudy as Dwight Howard's, but really, what more could you ask for?

36. Ben Gordon (6-3/200; SG; 20.7 ppg 45.5% FG; 5 seasons)
For a while, BG was the K-Rod of the NBA. He wouldn't start, but would come off the bench and light it up, especially in crunch time. Minute for minute one of the best scorers in the league, the 26-year old Gordon has an 18.5 ppg career scoring average despite starting in just 51% of his 602 career games. No player in the league - not DWade, not LeBron, not Agent Zero - is more fearless when it comes to shooting in seemingly impossible situations, and he has the ability to change a game unlike any other player in the league. Remember when I noted that Ray Allen's shot over 40% from three just two times in the past seven years? Well Ben Gordon's done it five years straight - every year of his career.

35. Monta Ellis (6-3/180; Combo Guard; 19 ppg 4.3 rpg; 4 seasons)
Injury and character issues overwhelmed talk of Ellis' tremendous talent last season, but barring any future motorcycle accidents, we can expect the firey combo guard who impossibly shot 53.1% from the floor, despite routinely taking some of the hardest shots imaginable, en route to averaging 20.2 ppg in 2007-08, to continue to improve at an alarming rate. Still just 23, and already one of the league's most feared scorers, Ellis just has to prove he can run a team to be considered among the game's elite guards.

34. Greg Oden (7-0/285; C; 8.9 ppg 7 rpg 56.4% FG; 1 season)
Still plagued by the injury that cancelled his rookie season, Oden, still only 21, is locked and loaded for the 2009-10 season, in the best shape of his life. While he wasn't a dominant force on the offensive end, Oden lived up to his billing as a defender, averaging 7 rpg and 1 block in only 21.5 minutes a night (11.6 rpg and 1.9 bpg per 36 minutes), while shooting 56.4% from the floor. He's still every bit as talented as he was when he entered the league, and expect him to make good on his being selected first overall in '07 as he anchors a Trailblazers team that may soon be atop the West.

33. Paul Pierce (6-7/235; SF; 20.5 ppg 5.6 rpg; 11 seasons)
The Celtic depended on to win games, Pierce relishes the spotlight like none other and still plays twice as hard as anyone on the opposing team. He's lost a step and perhaps relies too much on his size and strength to score, but he's still as gutsy, clutch - and productive, of course - as they make 'em. Pierce continues to define veteran leadership, and he didn't need that Finals MVP trophy to validate it.

32. Rudy Gay (6-8/222; SF; 18.9 ppg 5.5 rpg; 3 seasons)
Deemed something of a dissapointment at UConn after being touted as the #1 college recruit and failing to beat George Mason in the tournament, little was expected of Gay when he slipped to the Rockets late in the lottery - they thought so little of him, in fact, that they traded him to Memphis for Shane Battier, who the previous year had averaged 10.1 ppg. Lacking a jump shot and motivation, Gay's shocked almost everyone by becoming a prolific scorer, averaging 19.5 ppg over the past two seasons, due to added muscle and hustle, evidence of his becoming increasingly motivated. He hasn't yet found success with the Grizzlies, but he's done a great job in leading a very young team and demonstrating why he's one of the absolute most talented players in the game. With two college seasons and three NBA seasons under his belt, Gay is still somehow just 22, projecting that he might one day become the superstar he seemed destined to be out of high school.

31. Andre Iguodala (6-6/207; SG/SF; 18.8 ppg 5.7 rpg 5.3 apg; 5 seasons)
At 24, Igu, who's played two years of college ball but might as well have come out of high school according to his age, is one of the rare prospects drafted in the lottery solely due to his athleticism and potential that actually panned out. The second-most durable player in the league since he came in (teammate Andre Miller is first), Iguodala has played in 404 out of a possible 410 games, playing all 82 every year but one, and blossomed into one of the most well-rounded players in the league, averaging 19 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 4.7 apg, and 1.9 spg over the last three seasons. And he's still just 24.

30. Rajon Rondo (6-1/171; PG; 11.9 ppg 8.2 apg 5.2 1.9 spg 3 seasons)
When a 23-year old point guard averages 16.9-9.8-9.7 in the playoffs, and his GM is doing everything within his power to try to trade him, you know something's wrong. Word is that Rondo's insane - uncoachable, stubborn, selfish - but unlike, say, Zach Randolph and Stephon Marbury, about whom similar things are said, Rondo produces across the board and flat out wins games. The numbers he compiled in the post-season, in which the Celtics were one game away from the conference finals despite playing the entire playoffs without their best player, are simply staggering, the sutff legends are made of. An outstanding defender and top-notch game manager, Rondo is still weak offensively and many argue that he is a product of his environment. That said, he's still very, very young, and what he's accomplished in his first couple years is at least enough to offset claims about his mental state.

29. Jose Calderon (6-3/210; PG; 12.9 ppg 8.9 apg 98.1% FT)
I love point guards, and Calderon, to me, is almost perfect. The numbers he's posted over the past couple seasons, since taking over the starting role, are just bananas. In 2007-08, he averaged 8.3 apg and 1.5 TO, an A/TO ratio of 5.53:1, the greatest of all-time; Last season he averaged 8.9 apg to a mere 2.1 TO, good enough to lead the league again. What's more, he shot 98.1% from the charity stripe, another all-time record. How many records does he need to set before he gets some respect around here?? At 27, Calderon is just entering his prime, and having started for just one entire season, appears to just be scratching the surface of his potential.

28. Gilbert Arenas (6-4/215; Combo Guard; 8 seasons)
During the beginning of his tenure as a Wizard everybody was obsessed with trying out figure out who Agent Zero really is, with his wacky off-court persona and fittingly untraditional game. But now, people are wondering who Gilbert Arenas is, and they're not kidding around. After a couple seasons among the league's scoring leaders, Arenas has played 15 games in the past two seasons; Penny Hardaway never missed so many games over a two-year span. Gilbert is capable - or was capable - of putting up 30, 40, 50, even 60 points on any given night, but hasn't acheived an A/TO ratio over 2:1 in any year, most times not even coming close, including one year in which he averaged 5.0 apg and 4.1 TO. That's unacceptable for a PG. But despite all this, he can be as valuable as they come, as witnessed by Washington's complete and utter collapse without him last season. He may well be one of the game's best players, but he has more to prove than anyone else in the NBA.

27. LaMarcus Aldridge (6-11/240; PF/C; 18.1 ppg 7.5 rpg; 3 seasons)
A most deserving companion to Brandon Roy, the former 2nd-overall pick has fully lived up to his billing as a supremely agile big man with a mature offensive game. He doesn't quite rebound or block shots like he should - yet - but he's become an incredibly efficient player (78.4% FT, only 1.5 TO), and should start averaging over 20 ppg in the next couple seasons. The truth is, players with Aldridge's size and skill level, at his age, aren't totally uncommon, and the best part of Aldridge's game is the way he utilizes all his tools on every possession and exercises his potential to the max.

26. Joe Johnson (6-7/240; SG/SF; 21.4 ppg 5.8 apg; 8 seasons)
A silent assassin, Johnson came to the Hawks with the expectation of improving upon the numbers he posted in Phoenix, but nobody could have thought he would have turned the entire franchise around so quickly. He's simply been one of the best players in the league since he arrived in Atlanta, averaging 22.1 ppg, 5.6 rpg and 4.3 rpg over that four year span, leading his exceptionally young squad to 26 wins, 30 wins, 37 wins, and 47 wins in his tenure. He's not the flashiest star, but he's on his way to becoming one of the most accomplished.

25. Pau Gasol (7-0/227; PF/C; 18.9 ppg 9.6 rpg 56.7% FG)
He enjoyed arguably his best season yet in 2008-09, acheiving career highs in rebounds and field goal percentage, and even improving upon his numbers in the playoffs. He might have the best post moves in the league and is a tireless competitor, and all that prevents him from being ranked even higher is his lackadisical nature on the defensive end, i.e., a Rockets team minus Yao and T-Mac should not score 40 points in the paint in a playoff game going up against the Lakers and their bigs. I think a fair characterization of Gasol would be to call him the best player in the league who doesn't dominates games.

24. Andrew Bynum (7-0/285; C; 14.3 ppg 8 rpg 56% FG)
He's the second most erratic player in the league, after teammate Lamar Odom, of course, but more understandably so, as he has the proclivity to pick up fouls, gets flustered easily and is still barely old enough to drink. But when Andrew Bynum's on, he is truly unstoppable. Bynum is able to score at will (58.5% FG over the past three seasons), is a great rebounder (8.0 rpg in only 26.5 mpg over that same three year period), and an even better defender (1.8 bpg in that span). When you consider the rate at which he's improving, and the fact that he's still just 21 years old, he has to be ranked among the game's best building blocks.

23. Blake Griffin (6-10/248; PF; Rookie)
One of the filthiest players to enter the league this decade (in case you've been hibernating for the past 10 months, Blake averaged 22.7-14.4 as a sophomore and shot 65.4% from the field - not the line, the field - en route to winning player of the year), Griffin is NBA-ready, and though he might not average 20 and 10 a rookie (still, don't count it out), figure that its a virtual certainty that he'll be posting such numbers by age 22. Motivated and ferocious on the block, he would make a perfect centerpiece for a team starting from the ground up.

22. Danny Granger (6-8/228; SF/PF; 25.8 ppg 5.1 rpg; 4 seasons)
I love Danny Granger, and I've never seen him play. I love that people were so high on him out New Mexico State, though they'd probably never seen him play, and I love that he became everything scouts hoped and more. I love that he's probably - no, definitely - the only player in history to improve his scoring average by at least 5 ppg his first four seasons in the league (would have been 6 ppg had he not only improved from 13.9 ppg to 19.6 ppg between his second and third seasons. Slacker!) But there are still so many question marks surrounding him. Is he the player that finishes in the top 10 in scoring every year but never makes the playoffs? In his career he has 2 more assists (553) than turnovers (551) - is that who he is? Does he make the players around him better? At 6-8, can't he average more than 5 or 6 rpg? For now, I think it would be best to push those concerns to the back burner as the 25-year old continues to mature, and give him the benefit of the doubt.

21.Brook Lopez (7-0/260; C; 13 ppg 8.1 rpg 1.8 bpg; 1 season)
What do the Heat, Grizzlies, Thunder, Timberwolves, Clippers and Bobcats have in common? They all made excellent selections with their top 10 pick in the 2008 draft, and they'll all still be haunted to the grave for passing up on Brook Lopez. After one season in the league, Lopez appears not only to be a great pro, but a future fixture of All-NBA teams, as played all 82 games (started 75), averaged 13.1 and 8.1, blocked nearly two shots a night (good for 4th in the league), and was remarkably efficient, shooting 53.1% from the floor and 79.3% from the line. He's already proven to have terrific chemistry with PG Devin Harris, as 45% of Harris points came off pick and rolls, almost all of which were run through Brook. Here's a guy you can build around.

20. Amare Stoudemire (6-10/249; PF/C; 21.4 ppg 8.1 rpg; 7 seasons)
Injuries may have slowed him down, but they haven't deminished his talent. Not only is Amare still the bounciest player in the league, he's also one of the best around the basket, shooting a sensational 56.8% over the past three seasons, and averaging over 20 ppg every year since his rookie campaign save for one, the 2005-06 season, in which he played 3 games. A superior defender capable of guarding three positions, Amare is simply a basketball machine when healthy, the type of player that's impossible to plan around. He's still a special talent, and at 26, he still has room to grow.

19. Chris Bosh (6-10/230; PF; 22.7 ppg 10 rpg; 6 seasons)
After the 2006-07 season, when the Raptors won 47 games and coach Sam Mitchell won Coach of the Year, star Chris Bosh looked to finally join the company of LeBron, DWade and Carmelo, fellow top 5 picks in the already legendary 2003 draft class, as a legitimate superstar, only to see the team collapse in on itself like a supernova in the following years. Not only is he one of the league's best power forwards, he's the most frighteningly consistent scorer in the game, averaging between 22.3 and 22.7 ppg in each of the past four seasons, and is still constantly improving, averaging 10 rpg for the second time in his career this past year. And he still has awesome potential. After all, he's been the best PF in the East for four years now - and he's only 25.

18. Kevin Garnett (6-11/253; PF/C; 15.8 ppg 8.5 rpg; 14 seasons)
Garnett's numbers in 2006-07/2008-09: ppg - 22.4/15.8; rpg: 12.8/8.5; apg: 4.1/2.5; bpg: 1.7/1.2. Can those steep declines be attributed to his accepting a less demanding role in Boston? Of course. He's still, with 14 seasons under his belt, a player I'd start my team with, though he's no longer one of the top ten players in the league and is aging fast. Still an all-world defender and capable of averaging 20 and 10 when healthy, you can arguably learn as much from him as from any player in the league. A champion and an MVP, he'll always be the Big Ticket.

17. Chauncey Billups (6-3/202; PG; 17.9 ppg 6.4 spg; 12 seasons)
One of only five players to play in seven consecutive conference finals - and the only one to do it with two teams - Billups is arguably the best winner in the game today. Mr. Big Shot is in many ways the perfect point guard, finishing among the leaders in A/TO ratio every year (leading the league in 2005-06, avering 8.6 apg to just 2 TO), shooting an inhuman 88.9% from the line for his career, and scoring when he's called upon to do so, averaging 17.1 ppg since 2002-03, when he finally settled down with the Pistons after playing with four teams in his first five years in the league. Most indicative of Billups' winningness is his being traded three games into the season to the Nuggets for Allen Iverson, who most everyone would say is a superior player, and subsequently leading them to a 54-win season and a conference finals appearance after they had lost in the first round of the playoffs in each of the past six seasons; the Pistons, conversely, not only did not make the conf. finals for the first time in 7 years, but finished the season a paltry 39-43. He's still got a lot left in the tank, and if I was fielding a team for just one season, he would likely be my point guard.

16. Devin Harris (6-3/185; PG; 21.3 PPG 6.9 APG 1.6 SPG; 6 seasons)
Expectation has followed Harris everywhere, from being handed the key to Wisconsin basketball as a freshman, to being the 5th pick overall and traded for All-Star Antawn Jamison on draft day, to be being traded for future hall of famer Jason Kidd, who had led the Nets to the NBA Finals twice without having won a single division title in their history before his arrival. And Harris has conquered every expectation with equal poise. Last season Harris was the second highest-scoring point guard, averaging 21.3 ppg (a 6.5 ppg improvement from the prior year), while averaging 6.9 apg and shooting 82% from the line. Also a top-notch defender (1.7 spg), the 26-year old Harris is improving more rapidly than any player in the game, and has solidified his standing as one of the top point guards in the league while having just tapped his tremendous potential.

15. Tony Parker (6-2/180; PG; 22 ppg 6.9 apg 50.4% FG; 8 seasons)
He might not be the most underrated player in the league, but he hardly gets the respect a future first-ballot hall of famer deserves. A three-time champion and MVP of the 2007 Finals, Parker has transitioned from a game manager to one of the game's most dominant weapons, this past year setting not just a career high in scoring (22 ppg), but also in assists (6.9 apg). He's also exceedinly efficient, finishing as high as third in the league in FG% in 2005-06. He never quite averages as many assists as he should though, which is all that prevents him from being top 10.

14. Steve Nash (6-3/178; PG; 15.7 ppg 9.7 apg 93.3% FT; 13 seasons)
The greatest point guard never to have played in an NBA Finals game, Nash is still the best passer and facilitator in the league. Having shot over 50% from the field in each of the last four seasons, a whopping 43.2% from three and 90% from the line for his career while averaging 17.1 ppg since becoming a Sun, he's much more adept offensive than he's often credited, which only re-inforces the common assertion that he's still the most dangerous player in the league with the ball in his hands. At 35, its hard to make an argument for him as the centerpiece for a budding franchise, but considering all thats he has experienced (102 playoff games) and accomplished (two MVP trophies), and the fact that he still averages 10 apg, you have to include him among the players who could permanently turn a franchise around.

13. Al Jefferson (6-10/266; PF/C; 23.1 ppg 11 rpg; 5 seasons)
When he was selected 15th overall by the Celtics in 2005, few people could have expected the big and burly high school prospect so similar to Eddy Curry to be averaging 20 and 10 by age 22, the same age at which Kevin Garnett acheived that feat (the oversized high school prodigies both went to the Farragut Academy in Chicago, and were traded for one another in 2007). Big Al is the rare young big man who resolved to harness his incredible talent early on, and the results have been explosive. Never having played with any real talent has certainly made his development rough, but he's accepted the go-to role like a veteran, averaging 22.1 and 11.1 as a Timberwolf, and steadily improving his defense, averaging a healthy 1.7 bpg this past season, a career high. Don't let his team's record deceive you - he's one of the absolute most dominant players in the league, which would be much more evident if he had some semblance of talent surrounding him.

12. Carmelo Anthony (6-8/230; SF; 22.8 ppg 6.8 rpg; 6 seasons)
Prior to the 2008-09 season, he wouldn't have been ranked so highly - probably closer to Danny Granger. In posting his lowest scoring average in four years, Melo became the player that O.J. Mayo can only aspire to become - a gifted scorer who puts his team first. The 6-8 forward, who's averaged 20 ppg every year of his career, was a different player when Chauncey Billups arrived, but most noticeably in the postseason, when he went toe-to-toe with Kobe Bryant, not just in the box score, but by jostling with him on defense, going for every loose ball and getting under his skin. We hadn't seen Melo the Competitor since college, when he led Syracuse to the title in his one and only season, and now that he's back, the LeBron's, Kobe's and Wade's of this world have another superstar to reckon with.

11. Dirk Nowitzki (7-0/245; PF; 25.9 ppg 8.4 rpg; 11 seasons)
An MVP who was this close to winning a championship, Dirk, a young 31, is still playing at the top of his game. No player makes more - maybe as much as, but not more - of an effort to win ball games, and he's probably hit the most game-deciding shots of any 7-footer in history. You could also make an argument for Nowitzki as the most durable player in the league - the fact that the mobile 7-footer who essentially plays the swing position has played at least 76 games in each of the past 10 seasons is absolutely mind-boggling. In many ways a flawless player, Nowitzki rebounds his size (8.6 rpg career average), is one of the best free throw shooters in the game (87.2%) and rarely turns the ball over (1.9 TO). All that prevents him from being in the realm of the league's immortals is his defense.

10. Kevin Durant (6-9/216; SG/SF; 25.3 ppg 6.3 rpg; 2 seasons)
I readily admit that I wasn't so high on KD1 out of college. I know he broke a ton of records and became the first freshman to win POY, but I saw him as an Iverson/Randolph/Marbury type, not at all based on attitude, but as the type of player who can lead the league in a litany of categories and still never win. He hasn't won in OKC yet, but I obviously am not holding that against him, and have come to admire how he's handled leading the least experienced team into battle every night, consistently competing with the league's best. As a scorer he is truly a special, special talent, in fact he's probably the best pure scorer in the game already, averaging 25.3 ppg while shooting 47.6% from the field 42.2% from three and 86.3% from the line in his second year in the league. The 20-year old Durant has many scoring titles and All-Star appearances in his future - but I'm still kind of skeptical about his ability to make his teammates better and take them to the next level.

9. Derrick Rose (6-3/190; PG; 16.8 ppg 6.3 apg; 1 season)
This is the guy you want to have leading your team. At age 20, Rose has won three high school state championships, led Memphis to the national championship game in his only college season, and won NBA rookie of the year. Rose is not just the prototypical point guard, he's the point guard, a totally unselfish, yet lethal scorer with a killer instinct, not to mention awesome size and out of this world athleticism. In his rookie year he nearly led his Bulls past the defending champion Celtics, averaging 19.7 ppg, 6.4 apg, and 6.3 rpg in the seven game series. And he's just 20 years old! Bursting with potential, and having sufficiently silenced those who thought Michael Beasley should be picked #1 in the 2008 draft, Rose has played 81 games and is already the best point guard in the East.

8. Tim Duncan (6-11/260; PF/C; 19.3 ppg 10.7 rpg; 12 seasons)
I feel dirty putting him here, I really do, but I also don't have much of a choice. The past two seasons have seen The Big Fundamental average under 20 ppg for the second and third times in his career, his first two seasons averaging under 2 bpg, and the Spurs are coming off their 2nd-worst season in Duncan's tenure. I guess the sign of a truly great player, though, is how you can point out all these negative aspects of his performance and still call him without a hesitation one of the 10 best players in the league. He's still won three championships in the last seven years, still the winningest player in the league, and when you're the winningest player in the NBA and still routinely averaging 20 and 10, no matter you're age, you're still one of the 10 players a GM could hope to start his franchise with.

7. Dwight Howard (6-11/266; C; 20.6 ppg 13.8 rpg 2.9 bpg; 5 seasons)
The second-coming of Moses Malone, at least statistically thus far, has proven to be the best center in the league at age 23, with his numbers ballooning in most every category. A veritable force, Howard has morphed into not just a prolific scorer and rebounder but a great shot blocker, taking home Defensive Player of the Year honors in a sensational 2008-09 that was capped with a run to the Finals. Seeing as most every championship since Jordan's second retirement have been won by big men, Howard would seem a sure lock for a top 5 ranking, only he just doesn't seem to really want it on each and every possession, to do all the little things, unlike, say...

5. Chris Paul (6-0/175; PG; 22.8 ppg 11 apg 2.8 spg; 4 seasons) and Deron Williams (6-3/207; PG; 19.4 ppg 10.7 apg; 4 seasons)
The inevitable Chris Paul, Deron Williams pairing. For the purpose of this list they're here so I can demonstrate how they're better than just about everyone else, not to be compared with one another, but I'll throw you a line to make you more comfortable: Paul has slightly better numbers, Williams averages about 2 or 3 more regular season wins per year and has played in twice as many playoff games. There. Now shut up. I really think fans don't understand the enormity of what CP3 and Dwill are accomplishing. Paul, age 24, is one of a small handful of players in history to average 20 points and 10 assists (he's done it twice), and recorded a steal in a record 108 games; Williams, age 25, has recorded more points and assists in a single season than Jason Kidd ever did, and led the Jazz to the conference finals his second year in the league (averaging 21.6 ppg and 10 apg in their run). They're already in the company of the game's greatest point guards, with at least a dozen more great years ahead of them.

4. Dwayne Wade (6-4/216; SG; 30.2 ppg 7.5 apg 5 rpg 2.2 spg; 6 seasons)
Of all the NBA's elite, otherworldly talents, DWade is the player most unmistakably at his peak at the time of this article's publication, having led the league in scoring (30.2 ppg), while posting career highs in assists (7.5 apg) and steals (2.2 spg) and games played (79) this past season. Now at the point where he can take over any game at will, effortlessly, Wade boasts career scoring (25.2 ppg), assists (6.7 apg) and defensive numbers (1.8 spg) superior to Kobe's, and if the comparison solely with each player's first 6 seasons in the league taken into account, Flash would have blown him out of the water. Most unfortunately, though, Wade has struggled with nagging injuries his whole career (averaging 66 games per season), and for the last three seasons since he earned Finals MVP honors has struggled to lead the Heat out of mediocrity. Still, I, and most every fan can say with confidence - especially considering his '08-09 campaign - that he's arguably the most exciting, inspiring, and easy to root for player in the game.

3. Brandon Roy (6-6/211; SG; 22.6 ppg 5.1 apg 4.7 rpg; 3 seasons)
He isn't just here for the awesome numbers he's posted, and his leading the Blazers to an improvement of at least 10 games in each of his three seasons. Brandon Roy is here because of what he stands for. He stands for the rehabilitation of one of the most reviled teams in league history, the 'Jailblazers,' with their sex offenders, dog fighters, and drug addicts, who, prior to Roy's joining the team in 2006, had stood for everything that people hate about the NBA. He stands for studying tirelessly for the SAT due to a learning disability he's struggled with his entire life and taking it as many times as was necessary to ensure he could go to a good college, and not just skip out on it like Brandon Jennings, and for working on the Seattle docks to ensure that he could pay for that education. He stands for playing four years in college to hone his game. As a triple double threat and exceedingly selfless teammate, he stands for vengeance for the fated careers of Penny Hardaway and Grant Hill. To me, a Utah Jazz fan, he's an enemy. But having seen him play, I can't say there's another play in the league who I have more respect for.

2. Kobe Bryant (6-6/205; SG; 26.8 ppg 5.3 rpg 4.9 apg; 13 seasons)
I recognize that saying that Kobe is not the best player in the NBA cannot totally be justified, and that ranking either Kobe Bryant or LeBron James '2nd' on any list requires more justification than outright praise for the player - in this case, I'll save that justification for my #1. While his scoring totals are down, he's undoubtedly playing the best basketball of his career - he is, finally, the closest we will ever come to seeing Jordan in his prime again, from phyisical, competitve, and performance standpoints. I think referencing Kobe's stats might even be an insult to his game - they wouldn't be able to accurately reflect his talent or his success, even if he averaged 45 points per game. Fact is, Kobe's the perfect player, who defenders truly cannot stop and only hope to contain, who scores more prolifically and efficiently in the clutch than any player I've ever seen, passes like a point guard, defends like a man possessed, competes like there's no tomorrow, glides and leaps with uncommon agility and grace, bears a genius basketball IQ, and is inarguably the most fundamental player in the game. To me, at least, simply mentioning his averaging 30 ppg in the playoffs doesn't do that justice. Winning a fourth championship? That's more fitting.

1. LeBron James (6-8/250; SF; 28.4 ppg 7.6 rpg 7.2 apg; 6 seasons)

I can promise that I respect Kobe Bryant as a basketball player as much as, if not more so than, the next guy. But to me the Kobe/Lebron debate can be boiled down to one fact and one proposition that go hand in hand: Lebron led the Cavaliers to 66 wins with a starting lineup that was rounded out by Mo Williams, Delonte West, Anderson Varejao, and Zydrunas Ilgauskas, a band of journeymen who would likely be 5th, 6th or 7th men on any other team, and no consistent bench play whatsoever. That (at least the 66 wins part) is the fact. Now imagine if instead of them, LeBron had Pau Gasol, Andrew Bynum, Lamar Odom, one of Ron Artest or Trevor Ariza, and a four-time champion in Derek Fisher running the point (i.e., Kobe has three teammates on this list; Lebron has zero). that's the proposition. That team would never lose. If LeBron could win 66 games with those guys, what could he do with Kobe's all-world teammates?

LeBron is the type of player you couldn't make up in a video game. To reference every still-quoted scouting report from his high school days, he has the frame of a power forward - a strong power forward at that - and the vision of a point guard, and a scoring attack that defies guardability. He's the most consistent triple-double threat since Oscar Robertson, an All-NBA 1st-team defender, he's led the league in scoring (and could every year if the Cavs could justify playing him when up by 25 points), and played in 60 playoff games over the past four seasons, averaging 35.3 ppg and 9.1 rpg in 2008-09. He's 24 and has scored 12,993 points - Kareem Abdul Jabar, the game's all-time leading scorer, didn't reach that plateau until age 28. With any semblance of talent around him, he would win the title ever year. It's just that simple. To put his accomplishments into even clearer perspective, he's younger than at least one player drafted out of college in the most recent NBA draft, and he's scored 12,993 points in the NBA.

LeBron is the world's greatest gifts to sports, a player who isn't just tailored, physically and talent-wise, to dominate, but who is so visibly hard-working and motivated, utterly likable and charismatic, so as to shame the aggravatingly reserved, often nasty Kobe. He's the pinnacle of potential, and the #1 reason to keep watching, loving, and debating this great game.

The 50 Most Valuable Players in the NBA: 10-1

2009-08-06T07:55:00.001-07:00

Part 4 of 4 in my ranking of the league's 50 most valuable players.

10. Kevin Durant (6-9/216; SG/SF; 25.3 ppg 6.3 rpg; 2 seasons)
I readily admit that I wasn't so high on KD1 out of college. I know he broke a ton of records and became the first freshman to win POY, but I saw him as an Iverson/Randolph/Marbury type, not at all based on attitude, but as the type of player who can lead the league in a litany of categories and still never win. He hasn't won in OKC yet, but I obviously am not holding that against him, and have come to admire how he's handled leading the least experienced team into battle every night, consistently competing with the league's best. As a scorer he is truly a special, special talent, in fact he's probably the best pure scorer in the game already, averaging 25.3 ppg while shooting 47.6% from the field 42.2% from three and 86.3% from the line in his second year in the league. The 20-year old Durant has many scoring titles and All-Star appearances in his future - but I'm still kind of skeptical about his ability to make his teammates better and take them to the next level.

9. Derrick Rose (6-3/190; PG; 16.8 ppg 6.3 apg; 1 season)
This is the guy you want to have leading your team. At age 20, Rose has won three high school state championships, led Memphis to the national championship game in his only college season, and won NBA rookie of the year. Rose is not just the prototypical point guard, he's the point guard, a totally unselfish, yet lethal scorer with a killer instinct, not to mention awesome size and out of this world athleticism. In his rookie year he nearly led his Bulls past the defending champion Celtics, averaging 19.7 ppg, 6.4 apg, and 6.3 rpg in the seven game series. And he's just 20 years old! Bursting with potential, and having sufficiently silenced those who thought Michael Beasley should be picked #1 in the 2008 draft, Rose has played 81 games and is already the best point guard in the East.

8. Tim Duncan (6-11/260; PF/C; 19.3 ppg 10.7 rpg; 12 seasons)
I feel dirty putting him here, I really do, but I also don't have much of a choice. The past two seasons have seen The Big Fundamental average under 20 ppg for the second and third times in his career, his first two seasons averaging under 2 bpg, and the Spurs are coming off their 2nd-worst season in Duncan's tenure. I guess the sign of a truly great player, though, is how you can point out all these negative aspects of his performance and still call him without a hesitation one of the 10 best players in the league. He's still won three championships in the last seven years, still the winningest player in the league, and when you're the winningest player in the NBA and still routinely averaging 20 and 10, no matter you're age, you're still one of the 10 players a GM could hope to start his franchise with.

7. Dwight Howard (6-11/266; C; 20.6 ppg 13.8 rpg 2.9 bpg; 5 seasons)
The second-coming of Moses Malone, at least statistically thus far, has proven to be the best center in the league at age 23, with his numbers ballooning in most every category. A veritable force, Howard has morphed into not just a prolific scorer and rebounder but a great shot blocker, taking home Defensive Player of the Year honors in a sensational 2008-09 that was capped with a run to the Finals. Seeing as most every championship since Jordan's second retirement have been won by big men, Howard would seem a sure lock for a top 5 ranking, only he just doesn't seem to really want it on each and every possession, to do all the little things, unlike, say...

5. Chris Paul (6-0/175; PG; 22.8 ppg 11 apg 2.8 spg; 4 seasons) and Deron Williams (6-3/207; PG; 19.4 ppg 10.7 apg; 4 seasons)
The inevitable Chris Paul, Deron Williams pairing. For the purpose of this list they're here so I can demonstrate how they're better than just about everyone else, not to be compared with one another, but I'll throw you a line to make you more comfortable: Paul has slightly better numbers, Williams averages about 2 or 3 more regular season wins per year and has played in twice as many playoff games. There. Now shut up. I really think fans don't understand the enormity of what CP3 and Dwill are accomplishing. Paul, age 24, is one of a small handful of players in history to average 20 points and 10 assists (he's done it twice), and recorded a steal in a record 108 games; Williams, age 25, has recorded more points and assists in a single season than Jason Kidd ever did, and led the Jazz to the conference finals his second year in the league (averaging 21.6 ppg and 10 apg in their run). They're already in the company of the game's greatest point guards, with at least a dozen more great years ahead of them.

4. Dwayne Wade (6-4/216; SG; 30.2 ppg 7.5 apg 5 rpg 2.2 spg; 6 seasons)
Of all the NBA's elite, otherworldly talents, DWade is the player most unmistakably at his peak at the time of this article's publication, having led the league in scoring (30.2 ppg), while posting career highs in assists (7.5 apg) and steals (2.2 spg) and games played (79) this past season. Now at the point where he can take over any game at will, effortlessly, Wade boasts career scoring (25.2 ppg), assists (6.7 apg) and defensive numbers (1.8 spg) superior to Kobe's, and if the comparison solely with each player's first 6 seasons in the league taken into account, Flash would have blown him out of the water. Most unfortunately, though, Wade has struggled with nagging injuries his whole career (avering 66 games per season), and for the last three seasons since he earned Finals MVP honors has struggled to lead the Heat out of mediocrity. Still, I, and most every fan can say with confidence - especially considering his '08-09 campaign - that he's arguably the most exciting, inspiring, and easy to root for player in the game.

3. Brandon Roy (6-6/211; SG; 22.6 ppg 5.1 apg 4.7 rpg; 3 seasons)
He isn't just here for the awesome numbers he's posted, and his leading the Blazers to an improvement of at least 10 games in each of his three seasons. Brandon Roy is here because of what he stands for. He stands for the rehabilitation of one of the most reviled teams in league history, the 'Jailblazers,' with their sex offenders, dog fighters, and drug addicts, who, prior to Roy's joining the team in 2006, had stood for everything that people hate about the NBA. He stands for studying tirelessly for the SAT due to a learning disability he's struggled with his entire life and taking it as many times as was necessary to ensure he could go to a good college, and not just skip out on it like Brandon Jennings, and for working on the Seattle docks to ensure that he could pay for that education. He stands for playing four years in college to hone his game. As a triple double threat and exceedingly selfless teammate, he stands for vengeance for the fated careers of Penny Hardaway and Grant Hill. To me, a Utah Jazz fan, he's an enemy. But having seen him play, I can't say there's another play in the league who I have more respect for.

2. Kobe Bryant (6-6/205; SG; 26.8 ppg 5.3 rpg 4.9 apg; 13 seasons)
I recognize that saying that Kobe is not the best player in the NBA cannot totally be justified, and that ranking either Kobe Bryant or LeBron James '2nd' on any list requires more justification than outright praise for the player - in this case, I'll save that justification for my #1. While his scoring totals are down, he's undoubtedly playing the best basketball of his career - he is, finally, the closest we will ever come to seeing Jordan in his prime again, from phyisical, competitve, and performance standpoints. I think referencing Kobe's stats might even be an insult to his game - they wouldn't be able to accurately reflect his talent or his success, even if he averaged 45 points per game. Fact is, Kobe's the perfect player, who defenders truly cannot stop can and only hope to contain, who scores more prolifically and efficiently in the clutch than any player I've ever seen, passes like a point guard, defends like a man possessed, competes like there's no tomorrow, glides and leaps with uncommon agility and grace, bears a genius basketball IQ, and is inarguably the most fundamental player in the game. To me, at least, simply mentioning his averaging 30 ppg in the playoffs doesn't do that justice. Winning a fourth championship? That's more fitting.

1. LeBron James (6-8/250; SF; 28.4 ppg 7.6 rpg 7.2 apg; 6 seasons)

I can promise that I respect Kobe Bryant as a basketball player as much as, if not more so than, the next guy. But to me the Kobe/Lebron debate can be boiled down to one fact and one proposition that go hand in hand: Lebron led the Cavaliers to 66 wins with a starting lineup that was rounded out by Mo Williams, Delonte West, Anderson Varejao, and Zydrunas Ilgauskas, a band of journeymen who would likely be 5th, 6th or 7th men on any other team, and no consistent bench play whatsoever. That (at least the 66 wins part) is the fact. Now imagine if instead of them, LeBron had Pau Gasol, Andrew Bynum, Lamar Odom, one of Ron Artest or Trevor Ariza, and a four-time champion in Derek Fisher running the point (i.e., Kobe has three teammates on this list; Lebron has zero). that's the proposition. That team would never lose. If LeBron could win 66 games with those guys, what could he do with Kobe's all-world teammates?

LeBron is the type of player you couldn't make up in a video game. To reference every still-quoted scouting report from his high school days, he has the frame of a power forward - a strong power forward at that - and the vision of a point guard, and a scoring attack that defies guardability. He's the most consistent triple-double threat since Oscar Robertson, an All-NBA 1st-team defender, he's led the league in scoring (and could every year if the Cavs could justify playing him when up by 25 points), and played in 60 playoff games over the past four seasons, averaging 35.3 ppg and 9.1 rpg in 2008-09. He's 24 and has scored 12,993 points - Kareem Abdul Jabar, the game's all-time leading scorer, didn't reach that plateau until age 28. With any semblance of talent around him, he would win the title ever year. It's just that simple. To put his accomplishments into even clearer perspective, he's younger than at least one player drafted out of college in the most recent NBA draft, and he's scored 12,993 points in the NBA.

LeBron is the world's greatest gifts to sports, a player who isn't just tailored, physically and talent-wise, to dominate, but who is so visibly hard-working and motivated, utterly likable and charismatic, so as to shame the aggravatingly reserved, often nasty Kobe. He's the pinnacle of potential, and the #1 reason to keep watching, loving, and debating this great game.

The 50 Most Valuable Players in the NBA: 25-11

2009-07-27T07:59:00.001-07:00

Part 3 of 4 in my ranking of the most valuable players in the league.

25. Pau Gasol (7-0/227; PF/C; 18.9 ppg 9.6 rpg 56.7% FG)
He enjoyed arguably his best season yet in 2008-09, acheiving career highs in rebounds and field goal percentage, and even improving upon his numbers in the playoffs. He might have the best post moves in the league and is a tireless competitor, and all that prevents him from being ranked even higher is his lackadisical nature on the defensive end, i.e., a Rockets team minus Yao and T-Mac should not score 40 points in the paint in a playoff game going up against the Lakers and their bigs. I think a fair characterization of Gasol would be to call him the best player in the league who doesn't dominates games.

24. Andrew Bynum (7-0/285; C; 14.3 ppg 8 rpg 56% FG)
He's the second most erratic player in the league, after teammate Lamar Odom, of course, but more understandably so, as he has the proclivity to pick up fouls, gets flustered easily and is still barely old enough to drink. But when Andrew Bynum's on, he is truly unstoppable. Bynum is able to score at will (58.5% FG over the past three seasons), is a great rebounder (8.0 rpg in only 26.5 mpg over that same three year period), and an even better defender (1.8 bpg in that span). When you consider the rate at which he's improving, and the fact that he's still just 21 years old, he has to be ranked among the game's best building blocks.

23. Blake Griffin (6-10/248; PF; Rookie)
One of the filthiest players to enter the league this decade (in case you've been hibernating for the past 10 months, Blake averaged 22.7-14.4 as a sophomore and shot 65.4% from the field - not the line, the field - en route to winning player of the year), Griffin is NBA-ready, and though he might not average 20 and 10 a rookie (still, don't count it out), figure that its a virtual certainty that he'll be posting such numbers by age 22. Motivated and ferocious on the block, he would make a perfect centerpiece for a team starting from the ground up.

22. Danny Granger (6-8/228; SF/PF; 25.8 ppg 5.1 rpg; 4 seasons)
I love Danny Granger, and I've never seen him play. I love that people were so high on him out New Mexico State, though they'd probably never seen him play, and I love that he became everything scouts hoped and more. I love that he's probably - no, definitely - the only player in history to improve his scoring average by at least 5 ppg his first four seasons in the league (would have been 6 ppg had he not only improved from 13.9 ppg to 19.6 ppg between his second and third seasons. Slacker!) But there are still so many question marks surrounding him. Is he the player that finishes in the top 10 in scoring every year but never makes the playoffs? In his career he has 2 more assists (553) than turnovers (551) - is that who he is? Does he make the players around him better? At 6-8, can't he average more than 5 or 6 rpg? For now, I think it would be best to push those concerns to the back burner as the 25-year old continues to mature, and give him the benefit of the doubt.

21.Brook Lopez (7-0/260; C; 13 ppg 8.1 rpg 1.8 bpg; 1 season)
What do the Heat, Grizzlies, Thunder, Timberwolves, Clippers and Bobcats have in common? They all made excellent selections with their top 10 pick in the 2008 draft, and they'll all still be haunted to the grave for passing up on Brook Lopez. After one season in the league, Lopez appears not only to be a great pro, but a future fixture of All-NBA teams, as played all 82 games (started 75), averaged 13.1 and 8.1, blocked nearly two shots a night (good for 4th in the league), and was remarkably efficient, shooting 53.1% from the floor and 79.3% from the line. He's already proven to have terrific chemistry with PG Devin Harris, as 45% of Harris points came off pick and rolls, almost all of which were run through Brook. Here's a guy you can build around.

20. Amare Stoudemire (6-10/249; PF/C; 21.4 ppg 8.1 rpg; 7 seasons)
Injuries may have slowed him down, but they haven't deminished his talent. Not only is Amare still the bounciest player in the league, he's also one of the best around the basket, shooting a sensational 56.8% over the past three seasons, and averaging over 20 ppg every year since his rookie campaign save for one, the 2005-06 season, in which he played 3 games. A superior defender capable of guarding three positions, Amare is simply a basketball machine when healthy, the type of player that's impossible to plan around. He's still a special talent, and at 26, he still has room to grow.

19. Chris Bosh (6-10/230; PF; 22.7 ppg 10 rpg; 6 seasons)
After the 2006-07 season, when the Raptors won 47 games and coach Sam Mitchell won Coach of the Year, star Chris Bosh looked to finally join the company of LeBron, DWade and Carmelo, fellow top 5 picks in the already legendary 2003 draft class, as a legitimate superstar, only to see the team collapse in on itself like a supernova in the following years. Not only is he one of the league's best power forwards, he's the most frighteningly consistent scorer in the game, averaging between 22.3 and 22.7 ppg in each of the past four seasons, and is still constantly improving, averaging 10 rpg for the second time in his career this past year. And he still has awesome potential. After all, he's been the best PF in the East for four years now - and he's only 25.

18. Kevin Garnett (6-11/253; PF/C; 15.8 ppg 8.5 rpg; 14 seasons)
Garnett's numbers in 2006-07/2008-09: ppg - 22.4/15.8; rpg: 12.8/8.5; apg: 4.1/2.5; bpg: 1.7/1.2. Can those steep declines be attributed to his accepting a less demanding role in Boston? Of course. He's still, with 14 seasons under his belt, a player I'd start my team with, though he's no longer one of the top ten players in the league and is aging fast. Still an all-world defender and capable of averaging 20 and 10 when healthy, you can arguably learn as much from him as from any player in the league. A champion and an MVP, he'll always be the Big Ticket.

17. Chauncey Billups (6-3/202; PG; 17.9 ppg 6.4 spg; 12 seasons)
One of only five players to play in seven consecutive conference finals - and the only one to do it with two teams - Billups is arguably the best winner in the game today. Mr. Big Shot is in many ways the perfect point guard, finishing among the leaders in A/TO ratio every year (leading the league in 2005-06, avering 8.6 apg to just 2 TO), shooting an inhuman 88.9% from the line for his career, and scoring when he's called upon to do so, averaging 17.1 ppg since 2002-03, when he finally settled down with the Pistons after playing with four teams in his first five years in the league. Most indicative of Billups' winningness is his being traded three games into the season to the Nuggets for Allen Iverson, who most everyone would say is a superior player, and subsequently leading them to a 54-win season and a conference finals appearance after they had lost in the first round of the playoffs in each of the past six seasons; the Pistons, conversely, not only did not make the conf. finals for the first time in 7 years, but finished the season a paltry 39-43. He's still got a lot left in the tank, and if I was fielding a team for just one season, he would likely be my point guard.

16. Devin Harris (6-3/185; PG; 21.3 PPG 6.9 APG 1.6 SPG; 6 seasons)
Expectation has followed Harris everywhere, from being handed the key to Wisconsin basketball as a freshman, to being the 5th pick overall and traded for All-Star Antawn Jamison on draft day, to be being traded for future hall of famer Jason Kidd, who had led the Nets to the NBA Finals twice without having won a single division title in their history before his arrival. And Harris has conquered every expectation with equal poise. Last season Harris was the second highest-scoring point guard, averaging 21.3 ppg (a 6.5 ppg improvement from the prior year), while averaging 6.9 apg and shooting 82% from the line. Also a top-notch defender (1.7 spg, ) the 26-year old Harris is improving more rapidly than any player in the game, and has solidified his standing as one of the top point guards in the league while having just tapped his tremendous potential.

15. Tony Parker (6-2/180; PG; 22 ppg 6.9 apg 50.4% FG; 8 seasons)
He might not be the most underrated player in the league, but he hardly gets the respect a future first-ballot hall of famer deserves. A three-time champion and MVP of the 2007 Finals, Parker has transitioned from a game manager to one of the game's most dominant weapons, this past year setting not just a career high in scoring (22 ppg), but also in assists (6.9 apg). He's also exceedinly efficient, finishing as high as third in the league in FG% in 2005-06. He never quite averages as many assists as he should though, which is all that prevents him from being top 10.

14. Steve Nash (6-3/178; PG; 15.7 ppg 9.7 apg 93.3% FT; 13 seasons)
The greatest point guard never to have played in an NBA Finals game, Nash is still the best passer and facilitator in the league. Having shot over 50% from the field in each of the last four seasons, a whopping 43.2% from three and 90% from the line for his career while averaging 17.1 ppg since becoming a Sun, he's much more adept offensive than he's often credited, which only re-inforces the common assertion that he's still the most dangerous player in the league with the ball in his hands. At 35, its hard to make an argument for him as the centerpiece for a budding franchise, but considering all thats he has experienced (102 playoff games) and accomplished (two MVP trophies), and the fact that he still averages 10 apg, you have to include him among the players who could permanently turn a franchise around.

13. Al Jefferson (6-10/266; PF/C; 23.1 ppg 11 rpg; 5 seasons)
When he was selected 15th overall by the Celtics in 2005, few people could have expected the big and burly high school prospect so similar to Eddy Curry to be averaging 20 and 10 by age 22, the same age at which Kevin Garnett acheived that feat (the oversized high school prodigies both went to the Farragut Academy in Chicago, and were traded for one another in 2007). Big Al is the rare young big man who resolved to harness his incredible talent early on, and the results have been explosive. Never having played with any real talent has certainly made his development rough, but he's accepted the go-to role like a veteran, averaging 22.1 and 11.1 as a Timberwolf, and steadily improving his defense, averaging a healthy 1.7 bpg this past season, a career high. Don't let his team's record deceive you - he's one of the absolute most dominant players in the league, which would be much more evident if he had some semblance of talent surrounding him.

12. Carmelo Anthony (6-8/230; SF; 22.8 ppg 6.8 rpg; 6 seasons)
Prior to the 2008-09 season, he wouldn't have been ranked so highly - probably closer to Danny Granger. In posting his lowest scoring average in four years, Melo became the player that O.J. Mayo can only aspire to become - a gifted scorer who puts his team first. The 6-8 forward, who's averaged 20 ppg every year of his career, was a different player when Chauncey Billups arrived, but most noticeably in the postseason, when he went toe-to-toe with Kobe Bryant, not just in the box score, but by jostling with him on defense, going for every loose ball and getting under his skin. We hadn't seen Melo the Competitor since college, when he led Syracuse to the title in his one and only season, and now that he's back, the LeBron's, Kobe's and Wade's of this world have another superstar to reckon with.

11. Dirk Nowitzki (7-0/245; PF; 25.9 ppg 8.4 rpg; 11 seasons)
An MVP who was this close to winning a championship, Dirk, a young 31, is still playing at the top of his game. No player makes more - maybe as much as, but not more - of an effort to win ball games, and he's probably hit the most game-deciding shots of any 7-footer in history. You could also make an argument for Nowitzki as the most durable player in the league - the fact that the mobile 7-footer who essentially plays the swing position has played at least 76 games in each of the past 10 seasons is as absolutely mind-boggling. In many ways a flawless player, Nowitzki rebounds his size (8.6 rpg career average), is one of the best free throw shooters in the game (87.2%) and rarely turns the ball over (1.9 TO). All that prevents him from being in the realm of the league's immortals is his defense.

The 50 Most Valuable Players in the NBA: 40-26

2009-07-22T13:32:00.003-07:00

This a continuation of my ranking of the 50 most valuable players in the league: For numbers 50-41, please go here:

http://nbanalysis.blogspot.com/2009/07/50-most-valuable-players-in-nba-50-41.html

38. Paul Millsap (6-8/250; PF; 13.5 ppg 8.6 rpg 53.4% FG; 3 seasons)
When you become the first player to lead the NCAA in rebounding three times - and leave college after your junior season - and that's not enough to warrant being picked in the top 45, well, there's something seriously wrong with that. Millsap set out to prove everyone wrong, and has since developed a reputation as one of the hardest-working players in the league. Wondering why he's ranked higher than Boozer? Well, last season he ripped off the longest double-double streak of any player in the league (16 games) and the Jazz were considerably better when Millsap was in the lineup in Boozer's absence. At 24, Millsap, who three years ago many expected never to see the floor, looks to become one of the game's elite power forwards.

37. Emeka Okafor (6-10/255; PF/C; 13.2 ppg 10.1 rpg 1.7 bpg 56.1% FG; 5 seasons)
Possibly the most underrated player in the league. Yes, he plays in Charlotte, and he struggled with injuries early in his career, but how many guys do you know that averaged a double-double their first five seasons in the league? Probably not more than two or three in the last 15 years. Also one of the league's top five post defenders, Okafor boasts a career average of 1.9 bpg, and is healthier than ever, missing not one game in the last two years. He won't put up numbers as gaudy as Dwight Howard's, but really, what more could you ask for?

36. Ben Gordon (6-3/200; SG; 20.7 ppg 45.5% FG; 5 seasons)
For a while, BG was the K-Rod of the NBA. He wouldn't start, but would come off the bench and light it up, especially in crunch time. Minute for minute one of the best scorers in the league, the 26-year old Gordon has an 18.5 ppg career scoring average despite starting in just 51% of his 602 career games. No player in the league - not DWade, not LeBron, not Agent Zero - is more fearless when it comes to shooting in seemingly impossible situations, and he has the ability to change a game unlike any other player in the league. Remember when I noted that Ray Allen's shot over 40% from three just two times in the past seven years? Well Ben Gordon's done it five years straight - every year of his career.

35. Monta Ellis (6-3/180; Combo Guard; 19 ppg 4.3 rpg; 4 seasons)
Injury and character issues overwhelmed talk of Ellis' tremendous talent last season, but barring any future motorcycle accidents, we can expect the firey combo guard who imossibly shot 53.1% from the floor, despite routinely taking some of the hardest shots imaginable, en route to averaging 20.2 ppg in 2007-08. Still just 23, and already one of the league's most feared scorers, Ellis just has to prove he can run a team to be considered among the game's elite guards.

34. Greg Oden (7-0/285; C; 8.9 ppg 7 rpg 56.4% FG; 1 season)
Still plagued by the injury that cancelled his rookie season, Oden, still only 21, is locked and loaded for the 2009-10 season, in the best shape of his life. While he wasn't a dominant force on the offensive end, Oden lived up to his billing as a defender, averaging 7 rpg and 1 block in only 21.5 minutes a night (11.6 rpg and 1.9 bpg per 36 minutes), while shooting 56.4% from the floor. He's still every bit as talented as he was when he entered the league, and expect him to make good on his being selected first overall in '07 as he anchors a Trailblazers team that may soon be atop the West.

33. Paul Pierce (6-7/235; SF; 20.5 ppg 5.6 rpg; 11 seasons)
The Celtic depended on to win games, Pierce relishes the spotlight like none other and still plays twice as hard as anyone on the opposing team. He's lost a step and perhaps relies too much on his size and strength to score, but he's still as gutsy, clutch - and productive, of course - as they make 'em. Pierce continues to define veteran leadership, and he didn't need that Finals MVP trophy to validate it.

32. Rudy Gay (6-8/222; SF; 18.9 ppg 5.5 rpg; 3 seasons)
Deemed something of a dissapointment at UConn after being touted as the #1 college recruit and failing to beat George Mason in the tournament, little was expected of Gay when he slipped to the Rockets late in the lottery - they thought so little of him, in fact, that they traded him to Memphis for Shane Battier, who the previous year had averaged 10.1 ppg. Lacking a jump shot and motivation, Gay's shocked almost everyone by becoming a prolific scorer, averaging 19.5 ppg over the past two seasons, due to added muscle and hustle, evidence of his becoming increasingly motivated. He hasn't yet found success with the Grizzlies, but he's done a great job in leading a very young team and demonstrating why he's one of the absolute most talented players in the game. With two college seasons and three NBA seasons under his belt, Gay is still somehow just 22, projecting that he might one day become the superstar he seemed destined to be out of high school.

31. Andre Iguodala (6-6/207; SG/SF; 18.8 ppg 5.7 rpg 5.3 apg; 5 seasons)
At 24, Igu, who's played two years of college ball but might as well have come out of high school according to his age, is one of the rare prospects drafted in the lottery solely due to his athleticism and potential that actually panned out. The second-most durable player in the league since he came in (teammate Andre Miller is first), Iguodala has played in 404 out of a possible 410 games, playing all 82 every year but one, and blossomed into one of the most well-rounded players in the league, averaging 19 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 4.7 apg, and 1.9 spg over the last three seasons. And he's still just 24.

30. Rajon Rondo (6-1/171; PG; 11.9 ppg 8.2 apg 5.2 1.9 spg 3 seasons)
When a 23-year old point guard averages 16.9-9.8-9.7 in the playoffs, and his GM is doing everything within his power to try to trade him, you know something's wrong. Word is that Rondo's insane - uncoachable, stubborn, selfish - but unlike, say, Zach Randolph and Stephon Marbury, about whom similar things are said, Rondo produces across the board and flat out wins games. The numbers he compiled in the post-season, in which the Celtics were one game away from the conference finals despite playing the entire playoffs without their best player, are simply staggering, the sutff legends are made of. An outstanding defender and top-notch game manager, Rondo is still weak offensively and many argue that he is a product of his environment. That said, he's still very, very young, and what he's accomplished in his first couple years is at least enough to offset claims about his mental state.

29. Jose Calderon (6-3/210; PG; 12.9 ppg 8.9 apg 98.1% FT)
I love point guards, and Calderon, to me, is almost perfect. The numbers he's posted over the past couple seasons, since taking over the starting role, are just bananas. In 2007-08, he averaged 8.3 apg and 1.5 TO, an A/TO ratio of 5.53:1, the greatest of all-time; Last season he averaged 8.9 apg to a mere 2.1 TO, good enough to lead the league again. What's more, he shot 98.1% from the charity stripe, another all-time record. How many records does he need to set before he gets some respect around here?? At 27, Calderon is just entering his prime, and having started for just one entire season, appears to just be scratching the surface of his potential.

28. Gilbert Arenas (6-4/215; Combo Guard; 8 seasons)
During the beginning of his tenure as a Wizard everybody was obsessed with trying out figure out who Agent Zero really is, with his wacky off-court persona and fittingly untraditional game. But now, people are wondering who Gilbert Arenas is, and they're not kidding around. After a couple seasons among the league's scoring leaders, Arenas has played 15 games in the past two seasons; Penny Hardaway never missed so many games over a two-year span. Gilbert is capable - or was capable - of putting up 30, 40, 50, even 60 points on any given night, but hasn't acheived an A/TO ratio over 2:1 in any year, most times not even coming close, including one year in which he averaged 5.0 apg and 4.1 TO. That's unacceptable for a PG. But despite all this, he can be as valuable as they come, as witnessed by Washington's complete and utter collapse without him last season. He may well be one of the game's best players, but he has more to prove than anyone else in the NBA.

27. LaMarcus Aldridge (6-11/240; PF/C; 18.1 ppg 7.5 rpg; 3 seasons)
A most deserving companion to Brandon Roy, the former 2nd-overall pick has fully lived up to his billing as a supremely agile big man with a mature offensive game. He doesn't quite rebound or block shots like he should - yet - but he's become an incredibly efficient player (78.4% FT, only 1.5 TO), and should start averaging over 20 ppg in the next couple seasons. The truth is, players with Aldridge's size and skill level, at his age, aren't totally uncommon, and the best part of Aldridge's game is the way he utilizes all his tools on every possession and exercises his potential to the max.

26. Joe Johnson (6-7/240; SG/SF; 21.4 ppg 5.8 apg; 8 seasons)
A silent assassin, Johnson came to the Hawks with the expectation of improving upon the numbers he posted in Phoenix, but nobody could have thought he would have turned the entire franchise around so quickly. He's simply been one of the best players in the league since he arrived in Atlanta, averaging 22.1 ppg, 5.6 rpg and 4.3 rpg over that four year span, leading his exceptionally young squad to 26 wins, 30 wins, 37 wins, and 47 wins in his tenure. He's not the flashiest star, but he's on his way to becoming one of the most accomplished.

The 50 Most Valuable Players in the NBA: 50-41

2009-07-20T06:40:00.000-07:00

This is not a list of the best players in the NBA.

Rather, this is a ranking of the most valuable and coveted talents in the league, the fifty players who would be of most worth to a team starting from scratch, say, if the league recycled its rosters and instituted a fantasy draft in which every player in the league was included. Would the team on the clock go for immediate rewards or long-term potential?

I find that more great arguments and statements can arise from a ranking such as this. It begs the question, would you rather start a team with the 36-year old Shaquille O'Neal, who averaged 17 and 8 this past season, or the 21-year old Greg Oden, who averaged 8 and 7? How about Pau Gasol or Andrew Bynum? Carlos Boozer or Paul Millsap? Kevin Garnett or Blake Griffin?

After all, that question is more applicable to the NBA's organization than whether a player in simply better than another. The most obvious example of this is free agency, as teams weigh a player's potential value over a number of seasons - Andre Miller is the best fit now, but do we want to commit $30 over 3 years to a 33-year old point guard? Would we be better off signing the younger Ramon Sessions? - more than anything else. Trades, and even draft picks, where just about everyone is between 18 and 22 years old, abide by this principle.

So many factors went into constructing this list, but I think you'll find its pretty succinct. Don't expect to agree with everything, but please, by all means, comment on how you feel about it.

Some technical notes: all statistics, including measurements, are from ESPN.com or Basketball-Reference.com, two invaluable sources of basketball info. Because the first posting comes with this long intro, the first article will be players ranked 50-41. On Thursday, I will post 40-26, on the following Monday, 25-11, and on Thursday, 10-1. I refrained from including Yao due to his medical issues and the concern surrounding his ever playing again. This article is dedicated to him.

50. Lamar Odom (6-10/230; SF/PF; 11.3 ppg 8.2 rpg; 10 seasons)
He's the most enigmatic talent in the league, one moment jogging down the court on a fast break, the next knocking down a fade-away three without a moment's hesitation. He doesn't produce like he used to, though he's still a tremendous rebounder (9.9 rpg per 36 minutes), exceedingly unselfish (4.2 apg, not bad for a forward coming off the bench), and can play any one of four positions with ease.

49. David West (6-9/240; PF; 21 ppg 8.5 rpg; 7 seasons)
Relatively unheralded coming out of Xavier, West has slowly but surely morphed into one of the league's most venerable power forwards. I suppose he's been playing under the radar his whole career - in the Atlantic 10 in college, drafted outside the lottery in that historic 2003 class, numbers always second to CP3 - and I guess that suits him fine. But here's one fact about the 2-time All-Star that may unfortunately go unnoticed as well - he's an 84.1% career free throw shooter.

48. Josh Smith (6-8/240; SF; 15.6 ppg 7.2 rpg 1.6 bpg; 5 seasons)
Just 23 and with five seasons under his belt, Smith is one of the main reasons for the Hawks emergence from the basement of the league. Drafted out of high school, Smith made his mark on the league faster than anyone could have expected, rapdily refining what was thought to be a raw offensive game to average 13.8 ppg for his career, including a 17.2 ppg in 2007-08 campaign. Where Smith really shines, though, is on the defensive end, posting career averages of 2.4 bpg and 1.2 spg, validating his standing as one of the game's last great stat-stuffers.

47. Hedo Turkoglu (6-10/220; SF/PF; 16.8 ppg 5.3 rpg; 9 seasons)
Formerly known primarily as a scorer, Turkoglu shed that image in the 2009 Playoffs by leading the Magic to the finals not with his jump shot, but his great playmaking ability. The 6-10 point forward had the ball in his hands every possession down the stretch, and used his size to see over opposing defenses and spread the floor. Still a threat to drop 25-30 on any given night, Turkoglu is the glue guy that turns talented teams into winning teams.

46. Vince Carter (6-6/220; SG; 20.8 ppg 5.1 rpg 4.7 apg; 11 seasons)
As his scoring has declined, his other numbers have jumped. In 2007-08, when he averaged 21.3 ppg (compared to 27.5 ppg with NJ in '04-05, 24.2 in '05-06, and 25.2 in '06-07), he also posted career highs in rpg (6.0) and apg (5.5). Now as well-rounded as he's ever been, Carter has only to prove that he can win.

45. Anthony Morrow (6-5/210; SG; 10.1 ppg 46.7% 3PT; 1 season) and Anthony Randolph (6-10/210; 7.9 ppg 5.8 rpg 1.2 bpg; 1 season)
For all the hype surrounding the 2008 draft, many slept on two of the absolute brightest prospects in the Warriors' sophomore Anthony's, Morrow and Ranolph, whose accomplishments and potential surely rank them among the game's finest young talents. Morrow, one of the two or three best shooters in the league, scored 37 points in his NBA debut, a record for an undrafted rookie, led the league in three point field goal percentage - as a rookie - and just recently set a summer league record with 47 points against the Hornets. Randolph, who many expected to be a bust after just one year at LSU, put up terrific numbers for a rookie buried in Don Nelson's depth chart, averaging 15.1 ppg and 10.6 rpg in the final month of the season - not bad for the youngest player in the entire league. The two have a great rivalry going, as Morrow, who apparently hit 90 out of 102 three pointers in a shooting drill and 98 out of 114 in another, reportedly beat Randolph in H-O-R-S-E left-handed (he's a righty). Randolph responded by tying the summer league record with a 42 point outburst against the Bulls, and earning a Team USA invite as a result, but Morrow one-upped him once more, shattering the mark just a couple days later. Once this rivalry extends into the rest of the Association, every contest might just appear another summer league game to these gifted and motivated young guns.

44. Ray Allen (6-5/205; SG; 18.2 ppg 40.9% 3PT; 13 seasons)
Accepting a reduced role has done wonders for Allen's game, as he set new career marks in field goal percentage (48%) and free throw percentage (95.2%) in 2008-09, while shooting above 40% from three for just the second time in seven years. Even if you think he wouldn't be able to drop 25 a game if he was the #1 option again, he's still - and will be until he retires - the best shooter in the league.

43. Kevin Martin (6-7/185; SG; 24.6 ppg 3.6 rpg; 5 seasons)
The 26-year old Martin is an enigma, the type of player who could outscore Kobe in a seven-game series or never make the playoffs for lack of improving the players around him. All we have to go on now is the fact that Martin is one of the league's top scorers, averaging 22.8 ppg over the past three seasons, while consistently shooting over 40% from three. One can't help but notice, though, that Martin's had more turnovers than assists in each of the past couple seasons, and his team has struggled to compete - he's also very injury prone. For a young guard saddled with the responsibility of out-scoring his opponent night in and night out, he's still an elite talent.

42. David Lee (6-9/240; PF; 16 ppg 11.7 rpg 54.9% FG)
There really isn't a more efficient big man in the game today. From the 2007 T-Mobile Rookie Challenge, when Lee scored 30 points on 14-14 shooting - no, that's not a typo - to the 2008-09 season, his fourth, in which he led the NBA in double-doubles, Lee has proven again and again that he is, quite simply, an animal. At 26, Lee's scoring has improved every season, and his career low shooting season came in 2008-09, when he shot a mere 54.9% from the floor. He might not be able to carry a team, but there are few players I'd rather have on mine.

41. Shaquille O'Neal (7-0/325; C; 17.8 ppg 8.4 rpg; 17 seasons)
Along with Kevin Garnett, he's the toughest player to rank. At 36, and boasting an average of 58 games of the past four seasons, he's not exactly the type of player one aim's to build around...but he's still Shaq, the dominant, ultra-competitive center who averages near 20 points and 10 rebounds per game when healthy and shoots around 60% from the floor. Would you rather start a team with Shaq, the three-time Finals MVP hurtling towards retirement, than any of the guys have ranked closely to him? That's a debate worth having.

Son of a Pritch!

2009-07-13T06:21:00.001-07:00

Ridding Portland of the 'Jailblazers' moniker was no easy task. No quality of coaching, resources or fan loyalty could cleanse the Blazers of the sex offenders, dog fighters, drug addicts, and plain knuckleheads (as for fan loyalty: Bonzi Wells famously stated in a 2002 interview interview, "They [fans] really don't matter to us. They can boo us every day, but they're still going to ask for our autographs if they see us on the street.") The front office had failed for years to move the likes of Qyntel Woods, Ruben Patterson, Bonzi Wells and Zach Randolph, among others, which resulted in a string of losing seasons almost immediately following the years in which they contended with the Lakers and Kings atop the Western Conference. Then Kevin Pritchard took hold of the reigns.

For all the awesome debates raging among NBA fans today - who's better, Kobe or Lebron, who's a better coach, Red Auerbach or Phil Jackson, etc., - there's one assertion concerning 'the best' that is exceedingly hard to refute: Kevin Pritchard has been the best GM in the league over the past few seasons. Upon inheriting a 21-61 team with virtually no valuable pieces aside from mental case Randolph, Pritchard did everything within his power to transform them from league doormat to Western Conference power. Three years into his tenure, they're a 54-win team, and the average starter on the 2008-09 squad was about 25 years old.

Which makes Pritchard's decisions over the past few months so alarming.

Pritchard's first uncharacterisic action was his pressuring the league's other 29 teams not to sign Darius Miles, the former Blazers swingman who typically did nothing to warrant his ludicrous salary while in the black and red. Miles had in 2006 suffered a potentially career-ending injury, and few expected him to ever play again. Doctors ruled that the injury was severe enough for the Blazers to be relieved of having to pay the $18 million remaning on his contract, so it came as quite a shock to them when they realized Miles was healthy enough to suit up, and they would therefore not be granted that precious cap relief. The Blazers immediately sent out an email warning teams not to sign the 27-year old, but no one budged, and Pritchard was criticized for his attempting to bully the other organizations. Many wrote it off as overblown due to Pritchard's squeaky clean record, only for it to seem like a legitimate omen to just about everybody eight months on.

The 2009 off-season has thus far been similarly beguiling, the first blunder being the mishandling of free agent Hedo Turkoglu. I don't necessarily hold Portland's losing him, after apparently signing him, as a great failure on Pritchard's part, though it certainly wasn't a positive. The Blazers need a veteran small forward like Marbury needs his entourage, seeing how Portland needs someone with experience to bolster exceptionally young big men Alrdridge and Greg Oden, a player to take pressure of Brandon Roy and step up in the clutch. Turkoglu is all that and more. His playing there may never have truly been a possibility, if we are to believe his decision to play in Toronto was motivated by his wife wanting to live in a more European city, but still, with him in their clutches, losing Hedo might mean losing out on a trip to the Finals in the next couple seasons.

That was semi-understandable. Now, it gets personal.

As a Utah Jazz fan, I'm incensed by their pursuit of power forward Paul Millsap, a player who by all accounts they don't need, and who is not worth, to them at least the $36+ million they're offering him. $36 million for a backup power forward? Are you crazy? A 24-year power forward to back up a 23-year old power forward? Yes, the Blazers have $9 million in cap space and yes, they are a little slim down low, but wouldn't they rather save that money for 2010, when they'll be able to get most every free agent on the phone and lock down someone who's actually a semi-decent fit? Why didn't they pursue Brandon Bass or Glen Davis, talented young power forwards similar to Millsap and half as expensive? Just because they have salary cap room does not mean they have to spend it. They would save $9 million, key in this economy, I'd assume, and could next year find someone who's more compatible with their squad.

This is just wrong in so many ways. The Blazers are scurrying to improve, as any team should, but are overreacting like the Yankees when Boston signs a fifth reliever. The truth is, they don't need to go out and get anyone - in fact, signing a big free agent might only make things worse. Keep in mind, this is a team that's improved it's win total by 11 (21-61 to 32-50), 9 (41-41), and 13 (54-28) games over the past three seasons, solely through the development of their young players. And they managed 54 wins last season, a monster accomplishment in the West, despite suffering a number of setbacks: Martell Webster, who averaged a career high 10.7 ppg in 2007-08 missed 81 games, Greg Oden missed 21 and was developing the whole year, and Steve Blake missed 13. Does Pritchard not think they would be able to improve if Webster was healthy the whole season and Oden improved the slightest bit? Pritchard got to this point by honing talent he acquired in the Draft - why try to fix what ain't broke?

One of the most puzzling aspects of all this is why they're so gung-ho on Millsap when they're biggst needs are at point guard and small forward, where they're trying to upgrade. Why not pursue proven veterans Andre Miller or Kirk Hinrich, both of whom are on the block? And, most mind-boggling of all, where is Lamar Odom in all this? The versatile Odom would be the perfect complement to Roy, Aldridge and Odom, and they could have him for the same price as Millsap, who they would have backup Aldridge, who plays 37 minutes a game. Not only has Pritchard not pursued Odom - they haven't mentioned him once.

The sad thing is, despite being a die hard Jazz fan, I secretly root for the Blazers a bit. I love how they've altered their image, how they approach the NBA draft like its an expansion draft, and I think Brandon Roy is one of the five best players in the league. None of these misteps of his may prove to be cataclysmic, but we've come to expect more from the newly minted golden boy of the the managerial scene.

NBA Summer League '09 Preview

2009-07-10T07:30:00.001-07:00

Some guys just can't handle Vegas. Believe it or not, that saying can apply as easily to pro basketball as it can to hangovers. Every year, player's hearts are broken, dreams are shattered...or lit anew in the UNLV arena, with as many scouts and team officials on hand as fans as they watch their, and their opponents, prized talents and go head to head, plenty of them for the first time in an NBA uniform.

I think every fan has an idea sports getaway, usually a week-long Super Bowl excursion or taste of Fenway Park, but for me, watching the league's best, mostly uncultivated talent ferociously compete for playing time and a roster spot over 10 days in Vegas is my grail. I believe $200 gets you a pass to every game, and I plan on going next year. For now, I'll have to rely on the reported stats and other coverage. While we're going about our days at home, here's what will be going down in the desert.

Anthony Morrow will have opponents begging for mercy
Having averaged 10 ppg as a rookie and led the league in three point field goal percentage (46.7%) - as a rookie - it came as quite as a surprise to me to see Morrow on the Warriors summer league roster. Not only is Morrow one of the 2 or 3 best shooters in the league - the righty has reportedly been beating teammates in H-O-R-S-E left-handed, and in one drill hit 90 out of 102 threes he attempted - he's also a tremendous and well-rounded scorer, famously dropping 37 (15-20 FG) in his first career start. At the summer league, I expect him to be the player who, were he in high school, would be having opposing coaches asking to see his birth certificate.

The Minnesota Timberwolves soap opera premieres July 12
There have to be more awesome storylines associated with this team than with any other summer leagues squad in the history of the event. Were it a soap opera, the ads might communicate something of this sort:

Spanish prodigy and T-Wolves top pick Ricky Rubio nowhere to be found!
Bobcats rookie Gerald Henderson, the #12 pick in the draft, playing for Minny!
Johnny Flynn and Paul Harris, teammates in high school and at Syracuse, reuinited!
First-round pick Wayne Ellington and Gerald Henderon, teammates in high school but rivals at UNC and Duke...Reunited!!
Mid-major wonder Ben Woodside, who scored 60 points in a game and 37 against Kansas in the tournament, on the roster!

Yes, it will be awesomely exciting, especially considering they have Corey Brewer, still looking to prove he can play, as well as the talented Bobby Brown and Oleksiy Pecherov, a first-round pick three years ago, on board as well. Indeed, no NBA fan will want to miss an episode.

The Kings could go undefeated
In many ways, the perfect team for this event. Down low they have the summer league equivalent of the Twin Towers in talented and proven big men Spencer Hawes and Jason Thompson, who both averaged 11 and 7 last year, and are just 21 and 23 years old, respectively, and at the swing position Donte Green, who memorably averaged a whopping 22.6 ppg in the summer league last year, including 40 points in his debut. And if that weren't enough, they've also got #4 pick Tyreke Evans at guard and fellow first-round pick Omri Casspi in the lineup as well. If they can develop some chemistry, they're almost unbeatable.

The Cavaliers will suprise a lot of people
Looking at the Cavs roster you would probably think they just aren't trying, and really, they're not - but the players damn sure will be. With virtually no room on the roster for anyone besides current, but practically anonymous benchwarmers Tarence Kinsey and Jawad Williams, and maybe Christian Eyenga, who still might not join the team next year, the Cavs fielded a team of just 9 players, or, half as many as the Mavericks. Expect them to play their hearts, out, though, and steal a few games from some heavily favored opponents. They're very balanced, with a couple big, physical point guards (Jamont Gordon and Maureece Rice), athletic and dynamic swingmen (Eyenga, Danny Green), versatile forwards (Jawad Williams, Leo Lyons), and a great amount of NBA experience in Kinsey and center David Harrison. They won't run the table, but don't expect them to be run out of the gym, either.

The Knicks, as only the Knicks would, aim to mentor Jordan Hill with the biggest washouts of the decade
What's the best way to prepare your top draft pick, an extremely talented young big man, for success in the NBA? Prepare him with a few of the biggest busts ever at his position, of course! The Knicks roster boasts the unique talents of Nikoloz Tskitishvili (5th pick in 2002 draft), Yaroslav Korolev (12 pick in 2005 draft) and Mouhamed Sene (10th pick in 2006 draft), all of whom stand at least 6-10, and none of whom ever averaged more than 3.9 ppg in a season. These three supposedly talented big man stand for everything that's wrong with talent evaluation in the league, and are arguably the three least productive draft picks of the last ten years. Are these the guys they want to first surround Jordan Hill with? Best of all, only one of them (Sene) was on the Knicks roster last season, and the others haven't been in the league for two full years, meaning they actually made an effort to go get these guys.

The Nuggets are short but sweet
Like Cleveland, the Nuggets are coming off a conference finals appearance and have little room on their roster, so their team is comprised of just 9 players, including the best group of guards in the summer league. Among them are first-round pick and NCAA champion Ty Lawson, the resilient Coby Karl, fresh off leading the Celtics in scoring in the Orlando Summer League, Arkansas product Sonny Weems, who averaged a crazy 20.5 ppg in only 28.3 mpg in the D-League this past season, and six-year veteran Kareem Rush, who's averaged 6.5 ppg in career. If former lottery pick Cedric Simmons and C.J. Giles can hold it down the fort on the block, they're a dangerous squad.

Grading the Moves, Part I: Major Trades

2009-07-01T18:31:00.000-07:00

Phoenix traded center Shaquille O'Neal to Cleveland for center Ben Wallace, guard-forward Sasha Pavlovic, a 2010 second-round draft pick and cash.

-- Cleveland did just about as much as it could to sate LeBron James' demands for another weapon, as Shaq will do wonders for this team which struggled to score in the paint all season, not to mention he brings 4 championship rings and a slew of NBA and Finals MVP's along with him. Its almost impossible to fault this deal, especially since the Cavs gave up nothing to get him.
Cavs Grade: A
-- You have to wonder what Steve Nash is thinking right now. I could see trading away 16-year veteran Shaq for a couple expiring contracts if that team was planning on totally rebuilding, but the Suns are not, and have thus essentially given away Shawn Marion and Shaq over the course of the year, all but dismantling a perennial 60-win team. The move will give them some salary cap flexibility in 2010, but by then, it might be too late for Nash, Hill & Co.
Suns Grade: C-

New Jersey traded guard Vince Carter and forward Ryan Anderson to Orlando for guards Rafer Alston and Courtney Lee and center Tony Battie.

-- The Nets gave up any chance they had of winning next year, though it could turn out to be a great move. Consider that last year they were almost totally healthy, and managed just 34 wins, and that Carter's scoring has dropped off considerably. I think that justifies a change. Acquiring Courtney Lee, probably the most accomplished rookie to be traded after one season in my memory, forms with Devin Harris and Brook Lopez arguably the best core of young stars in the East, and shedding Carter's contract means that in 2010-11 they will improbably have only $15.6 million tied up in contracts, which has to be the lowest potential payroll in the league. If in '010 they can get any one of Carlos Boozer, Chris Bosh, Mehmet Okur, Jermaine O'Neal or another PF to team with Lopez down low, they're a contender again.
Nets Grade: B+
-- **THIS WAS WRITTEN WITH HEDO TURKOGLU'S LEAVING DUE TO SALARY CAP CONSTRAINTS A VIRUAL CERTAINTY** Acquiring Vince Carter made the Magic the most talented team in the league, but will it work? Getting Carter likely means letting go of Hedo Turkoglu, and that could prove to be very risky. Hedo was the player that made this group of stars gel, with his terrific passing ability, poise, and ability to play 4 positions. Carter may average five more points per game than Hedo, but how will this hurt the Magic's chemistry? Do they think they could not have won if Jameer Nelson was at full strength? I'm a little reluctant to praise the Magic for letting go of arguably their playoff MVP immediately after making it to the Finals. Also, we must consider the fact that the Nets regressed from Eastern Conference power to bubble playoff team when Carter arrived, and he never did win in Toronto. So what does he really bring to the table? The Magic certainly don't need shooting (they also acquired Ryan Anderson, who had a very impressive rookie campaign and whose game is all about the 3 ball), and now Rashard Lewis may actually be forced to play the PF position, as Hedo's size made things much easier for them on defense. Still, their lineup is the most talent-laden in all the league, and we have to think Steve Van Gundy will make it work.
Magic Grade: B

Minnesota traded guards Randy Foye and Mike Miller to Washington for the 2009 No. 5 draft pick, forwards Etan Thomas, Darius Songaila, Oleksiy Pecherov.

-- I can understand why Minnesota made this deal - they knew they were going nowhere. But they gave away Foye (16.3 ppg) and Miller (1,173 career 3-PT FG) and accepted two or three of the worst contracts in the league to draft a player who might never play for them?? The initial logic was sensible, putting themselves in a position to draft two potential franchise guards with the 5th and 6th picks to complement Al Jefferson and Kevin Low down low, but with only one guard presumably on the way, this might turn out to be a disaster.
Timberwolves Grade: C-
-- Just like the T-Wolves, the Wizards logic in making the deal was sound - upset with receiving the 5th pick rather than the second, they acquire immediate help and rid a couple nagging contracts in the process - but when the dust settled on the 2009 NBA Draft, they were riddled with regret. The fact is this: the Wizards could have had Ricky Rubio. They could have had Rubio, apparently a Wizard with the ball who's unselfish to a fault, dishing to elite-level scorers Gilbert Arenas, Caron Butler and Antawn Jamison. It would have been a perfect fit for both. Will the Wizards be better next year with Foye and Miller than they would have been with Rubio? Most likely. But consider this: the Wizards traded away the #5 pick, a point guard for veteran talent (Jamison) before. That point guard became Devin Harris.
Wizards Grade: C+

San Antoniotraded forwards Bruce Bowen and Kurt Thomas and center Fabricio Oberto to Milwaukee for forward Richard Jefferson.

-- Rising from the dead and encouraging discssion of a veto rule to dissallow trades such as these that makes the best teams better at the expense of worse teams' money woes (ok, maybe I'm the only that's upset about trades like this, and Kwame Brown and Jarvis Crittenden for Pau Gasol...), the Spurs, coming off their worst season since Tim Duncan joined the team in 1997, are primed to contend for the title once again. San Antonio didn't give away anyone of real value to them, and in returned nabbed a swingman who routinely averages 18-22 ppg and is entering his prime, healthier than ever. The franchise appeared doomed after dropping 4-1 to the 6th-seeded Mavs in the first round, but with this move - coupled with the Lakers apparent refusal to re-sign both Odom and Ariza to the deals they desire - are arguably the team to beat in the West once again.
Spurs Grade: A
-- Almost over night the Bucks went from a potential 45-win team with an extremely solid lineup consisting of Ramon Sessions, Michael Redd, Richard Jefferson, Charlie Villanueva and Andrew Bogut to league doormat. The move was apparently made to free up cap space for Sessions and Villanueva, but now the latter is gone and the former is fielding serious offers from four or five teams. Even if they keep Sessions, we're looking at the least talented team of the league, one that also sadly struggles with injuries and tons more bad luck. And no, Brandon Jennings is not the answer. The only hope for this team is to nab one or two impact free agents in '010, and that will still be hard as they'll have a hefty $42 million locked up. Really, its just sad, but its hard to pity them, seeing as they essentially gave an All-Star to a team that's won three championships in the last seven seasons for nothing at all.
Bucks Grade: D+

New York traded guard Quentin Richardson and cash to Memphis for center Darko Milicic.

-- When a team acquires Darko Milicic, you can't say "that was smart move." You're not allowed, unless you're being sarcastic...but in this case, and I never thought I'd say this, the Knicks were right to deal QRich for him. Richardson seriously underperformed in every season as a Knick, and keeping him would only serve to hinder budding star Wilson Chandler's development. If Milicic ever capitalizes on his potential it will be under the guise of a coach like D'Antoni, who honed his style in the Europe, which works to the athletic Milicic's advantage, and he won't start, meaning less responsibility and downside. Plus, he's off the books after next year, so there's minimal risk involved. Yeah, he's sucked thus far, but I have a feeling D'Antoni could make a real impact on him.
Knicks Grade: B-
-- Memphis dealt Richardson to the Clippers for Zach Randolph days later, so this grade gets an incomplete for now. More on that trade when it becomes official.

Golden State traded guard Jamal Crawford to Atlanta for guards Acie Law and Speedy Claxton.

-- FACT: Jamal Crawford has played for three different teams. The average improvement in a team's first year without Jamal Crawford is a 16-win increase. He has the lowest winning percentage of any player in the league, struggles to shoot 40% from the field (he's shot below 40% in three different seasons), and does not play defense. Did I mention teams improve by an average of 16 games after getting rid of him?
Warriors Grade: A
-- FACT: Jamal Crawford has played for three different teams. A team's average first season with Jamal Crawford is a 9-win regression, most notably the Warriors going 48-34 in 2007-08, acquiring Crawford in the off-season, then going 29-53 the following year. The Hawks were 47-35 last year. They can expect a similar fate.
Hawks Grade: F

2010 NBA Draft: Top NCAA Prospects

2009-06-29T13:30:00.000-07:00

Griffin, Rubio, Thabeet, Curry? They're so 2009.

With the 2009 Draft slowly fading into the upcoming season, its time to focus on the exciting new talents we'll be buzzing about aroudn this time next year.

I've kept this to NCAA prospects because I haven't seen enough of top recruits such as John Wall (the projected #1 pick), DeMarcus Cousins and Derrick Favors to rate them accurately. Anyway, I think they'll have trouble upstaging these stars who have proven be forces at their level.

1. Ed Davis (6-9/215; PF; Sophomore; North Carolina)
Blake Griffin was far and away the best player in college basketball last year, Stephen Curry was the most show-stopping talent, but North Carolina freshman Ed Davis, who came off the bench for almost the entire season, well - how do I say this? - impressed me the most. Often unstoppable, Davis has a remarkably smooth post game, is a tenacious rebounder (6.6 rpg in 18.8 mpg), and perhaps best of all, averaged 1.7 blocks per game while playing just about half of every game. He's not an awe-inspiring physical specimen, and considering what he might become should he add 25 pounds to his light frame should be enough to validate his standing as the top NCAA prospect entering the 2009-10 season.

2. Evan Turner (6-7/200; PG/SG;SF; Junior; Ohio State)
Ohio State's Mr. Everything, the 6-7 Evan Turner reminded me of LeBron James occasionally throughout the season, as he had the ball in his hands every possession down the stretch despite not handling it for long stretches during the game, constantly poses mismatch proplems, is extremely unselfish and was let down by his teammates at the end of the season despite playing his heart out (i'm talking to you, BJ Mullens). One of the most efficient players in the country, Turner averaged 17.3 ppg, 7.1 rpg, 4 apg and 1.8 spg, while shooting 50% from the field, an incredible 44% from three, and 78.8% from the line. A point guard in a small forward's body, Turner's game should translate as smoothly to the L as any player in next year's class.

3. Greg Monroe (6-11/234; PF/C; Sophomore; Georgetown)
He was the #1 rated recruit by Rivals for over a year before he was finally replaced by Ohio State-bound big man BJ Mullens, and for good reason: Monroe failed to shine on the national statge, sleepwalking through the McDonald's All-American game, and failing to display any sort of will to take over games. That all changed when he arrived at Georgetown, presumably motivated by the challenge of turning the Hoyas around, as Monroe displayed every bit of his talent, stuffing the stat sheet with averages of 12.7 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 2.5 apg, 1.8 spg and 1.5 bpg, while shooting 57.2% from the field. Agile enough to play small forward and long enough to play center, Monroe's rapidly improving game and finally present tenacity should see him drafted early in the lottery.

4. Willie Warren (6-4/200; SG; Sophomore; Oklahoma)
Reminiscent of Eric Gordon, a top 10 pick in the 2008 draft, Warren is an explosive scorer capable of taking over games at will despite his size. Powerful yet lightning quick, Warren gained fame with one of the greatest posterizations in the history of high school basketball - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5a_wW6Zf0Qk - then proved to be invaluable as a freshman at Oklahoma, his presence elevating the Sooners from borderline tournament team to national power. With a frame and game similar to Gordon and Dwyane Wade, this Sooner has a chance to become one of the game's next great combo guards.

5. Cole Aldrich (6-11/250; PF/C; Junior; Kansas)
In just two years in Lawrence the 6-11 Aldrich has compiled a resume worthy of the greatest ever to play for the storied program, playing an instrumental role in their national championship in 2008 while just a freshman, and posting averages of 14.9 and 11.1 while blocking 2.7 shots per game as a sophomore, including the sixth-ever triple double in an NCAA Tournament contest. A ferocious competitor, Aldrich's length and athleticism allowed him to dominate Big 12 big men routinely, including POY Blake Griffin, against whom Aldrich went for 15 points and 20 rebounds while blocking 4 shots. As of now, he's arguably the most complete big man prospect.

6. Patrick Patterson (6-8/235; PF; Junior; Kentucky)
Deemed a likely one-and-done prospect the day he signed with Kentucky, Patterson has shocked fans not once, but twice, returning to school after his freshman and sophomore seasons despite being a surefire first-round pick. Patterson's devastating post game allowed him to post sensational numbers his sophomore year, averaging 17.9 ppg and 9.3 rpg while shooting over 60% from the field. Though scouts feel he should add 10 or 15 pounds, there's nothing light about his game, as he was a beast on the defensive end as well, averaging 2.1 blocks per contest. Primed to lead Kentucky back to the top - the Wildcats signed the top 2 recruits for the 2009-10 season - Patterson's ability to run the floor like a gazelle, combined with his NBA-ready offensive repetoire, will see him ranked among the top big men come draft day.

7. Devin Ebanks (6-8/205; SF; Sophomore; West Virgina)
After making the difficult decision to withdraw his committment to Indiana following Kelvin Sampson's dismissal and instead choosing West Virginia, Ebanks took some time to settle in (scored in double-figures in 6 of his first 19 games), but wound up enjoying an extremely productive freshman campaign with the Mountaineers (scored in double-figures in 14 of his last 17 games). Reminiscent of Rudy Gay, the only real knock on Ebanks is that he's a good 20 pounds underweight, and with that added strength could become a venerable force in the league. Ebanks has a terrific offensive game, a killer instinct, and hustles and defends like a veteran, averaging 7 rpg despite his rail thin frame. In time, Ebanks could become the small forward every GM drools over.

8. Al-Farouq Aminu (6-9/215; SF; Sophomore; Wake Forest)
If Aminu learns to play inside and use his NBA-ready body to its full potential instead of settling for jump shots, we're looking at a top 5 pick. As a freshman, Aminu propelled Wake Forest to new heights alongside first-round picks Jeff Teague and James Johnson, posting 12.9 ppg, 8.2 rpg, 1.2 bpg and 1 spg while remaining consistent throughout the year. Scouts love his athleticism and strength, and a great sophomore campaign could make him the most sought after swingman in the draft.

9. Craig Brackins (6-10/230; PF; Junior; Iowa State)
I admit I didn't see much of him, but scouts enamored of the Iowa State big's size, athleticism, and ability to produce against top competition. An agile 6-10, Brackins caused matchup hell for most everyone he faced last year. You thought DeJuan Blair beasting Hasheem Thabeet, only to be drafted 35 picks later, was bad? How about Brackins dropping 42 and 14 on Cole Aldrich? I'm really psyched to see what he can do next year.

10. Kyle Singler (6-9/201; SF; Junior; Duke)
A protoypical NBA swingman with an rapidly developing offensive game, Singler emerged as the leader of the first contending Duke team in years, averaging 16.5 and 7.7 while playing any one of three positions. Versatile and a proven competitor (his high school squad defeated Kevin Love's seemingly unbeatable Lake Oswego 58-54 in the 2007 Oregon state championship game), Singler has been deemed a can't-miss prospect since he was a underclassmen at high school and will likely continue to be called such until he suits up in the pros.

2009 NBA Draft Grades

2009-06-26T06:15:00.000-07:00

Atlanta Hawks -- B-
Picks: Jeff Teague (19,), Sergey Gladyr (49)
Fearing the possibility of Bibby leaving in free agency, and having just traded Acie Law and Speedy Claxton for SG Jamal Crawford, the Hawks likely considered only point guards with the 19th pick. One of the primary reasons for Atlanta's newfound success has been their having at least four players capable of knocking down a jump or shot or creating something on their own on the court at all times, and Teague is that versatile scorer. With Bibby potentially leaving, though, should they have gone for a more NBA-ready PG, such as Eric Maynor or Darren Collison?

Boston Celtics -- B+
Picks: Lester Hudson (58)
A 24-year old PG (he'll be 25 in August) from UT-Martin? Best believe! Hudson considered entering last season but dropped out at the last moment, even generating some serious buzz about his being picked late in the first round. Last season Hudson averaged 27.5 ppg, 7.9 rpg, 4.2 apg and even 2.3 spg, and is profficient at both guard positions. With Eddie House planning to test free agent waters, and their guard situation in utter dissaray, Hudson might turn out to be a brilliant pick.

Charlotte Bobcats --B-
Picks: Gerald Henderson (12), Derrick Brown (40)
I think the Bobcats should have targeted a big man at 12 (you can't expect Okafor to be happy playing with four guards), but Henderson, who played his college ball close by, gives them a versatile scorer to platoon with the oft-injured Wallace and Bell at the swing. Brown is similar to Diaw, but could have a future on this team as an instant-offense boost off the bench.

Chicago Bulls -- C-
Picks: James Johnson (16), Taj Gibson (26)
The Bulls professed the need for another big man to bang inside...so they drafted James Johnson to back up Luol Deng and John Salmons at the 3? The plan must be for him to play PF at some point, but that doesn't excuse taking him over DeJuan Blair, who would have been an absolutely perfect fit. Taj Gibson matches that description a lot better, but they should have used one of those picks on off-guard to groom as Ben Gordon's replacement.

Cleveland Cavaliers -- C
Picks: Christian Eyenga (30), Danny Green (46), Emir Preldzic (57)
The Cavs #1 goal should have been to take a player capable of contributing immediately, and Eyenga probably isn't that guy, though he supposedly has great potential. Danny Green fits that mold slightly better, but neither will have any sort of impact for at least a couple years.

Dallas Mavericks -- B+
Picks: Rodrigue Beaubois (25), Nick Calathes (45), Ahmad Nivins (56)
The Mavs scored in their first semi-meaningful draft in years. With experts suggesting that Kidd has played his last full season in Dallas, the Mavs were after a PG, as J.J. Barea is much more effective off the bench. Beaubois is quick, has the wingspan of a SF, and is perfectly suited to run the Mavs offense, from what I glean. Picking Calathes was a smart move; the don't have room on the roster for anyone else it seems, and it will be comforting knowing they have a potential future starter being groomed overseas.

Denver Nuggets -- B
Picks: Ty Lawson (18)
They're virtually stacked, but Antony Carter will only be serviceable for so long. Lawson, whose up-tempo style will be welcome in Denver, has a great mentor in Chauncey Billups, who can hopefully teach him a thing or two about the art of the pull-up J.

Detroit Pistons -- C
Picks: Austin Daye (15), Dajuan Summers (35), Jonas Jerebko (39)
Reports concerning the Pistons' having promised to take BJ Mullens had been circled for a while, reports they dispelled by drafting Daye, who just about everyone seems to have mixed feelings about. He makes sense for a team in a rebuilding phsae, but still shouldn't have gone this high, I don't think. Summers is a powerful forward who I'm not sure they needed.

Golden State Warriors -- C+
Picks: Stephen Curry (7)
It's hard to defend this pick. Curry was the best player available, but he is a carbon copy of Monta Ellis: a scrawny 6-3 combo guard who's just almost always looking to score. I don't have know they will be able to collaborate offensively, let alone guard anyone without being flattended. Curry is great for their system, though, and because he's my fave, I can't stomach giving the team that picked him an awful grade.

Houston Rockets -- A-
Picks: Jermaine Taylor (32), Sergio Llull (34), Chase Budinger (44)
The Rockets work their mid-draft magic again, swiping big-time scorer Taylor (26.2 ppg) and, improbably, Arizona swingman Chase Budinger, whom I projected would go 20th, and thought should go even earlier. Taylor and Budinger help balance out a very forward-heavy team and add sizzling range to a team that lives mostly in the paint, especially with McGrady's future uncertain.

Indiana Pacers -- C+
Picks: Tyler Hansbrough (13), A.J. Price (52)
Hansbrough fulfills his destiny of rounding out the whitest front line in the league, as the Pacers can now potentially start Mike Dunleavy, Hansbrough and Troy Murphy...and when they're out, Rasho Nesterovic, Jeff Foster and Josh McRoberts cans step in and white it up. But seriously, the Pacers set out looking for an athletic big man, and Hansbrough, who tested better than expected at the combine, could be a good fit (though here's another tragic case of DeJuan Blair's being passed up). A guard was their second target, and Price was a steal at 52.

Los Angeles Clippers -- A
Picks: Blake Griffin (1)
They weathered the trade proposals, rumors of their 'getting to work on screwing this up,' and Zach Randolph to finally, finally make the right choice.

Los Angeles Lakers -- D
Picks: Chinemelu Elonu (59)
Have they learned nothing from the trajectory of the Phoenix Suns, who were a perennial 60-win powerhouse, and sold all their picks over about three years - picks that would become Rajon Rondo, Rudy Fernandez, Luol Deng and Marcin Gortat - only to fade into mediocrity, left without a backup to Nash or any youth worth mentioning? The Lakers might think they're stacked now, but let my warning them be noted on the record.

Memphis Grizzlies -- A
Picks: Hasheem Thabeet (2), DeMarre Carroll (27), Sam Young (36)
The Grizzlies arguably accomplished more in their selections that any team on draft day. Thabeet is set to form arguably the best tandem of young bigs in the league when paired with Marc Gasol, his defensive tenacity complementing Gasol's refined offensive repetoire. What most impressed me was their satisfying intangible needs, like more strength throughout the depth chart (Gasol is the only starter who appears to be acceptably nourished). Thin from PG (Mike Conley) through PF (Darrell Arthur and Hakim Warrick), the Grizz added two powerful swingmen in Carroll and Young, both whom could have a real impact without posting big numbers.

Miami Heat -- C
Picks: Patrick Beverly (42), Robert Dozier (60)
Wisely avoiding pure shooters like Jack McClinton, the likes of which they have too many, Miami nabbed two decent talents who might never see the floor. Beverly is highly regarded, but his best case scenario is backing up Chalmers, and right now he's the third PG; Dozier is a lot like Haslem and will have to carve out a niche as a rebounder/versatile post defender if he hopes to contribute.

Milwaukee Bucks -- B+
Picks: Brandon Jennings (10), Jodie Meeks (41)
I think its impossible to accurately grade a team based on picking Jennings; he's the draft's biggest mystery, not because people aren't familiar with him, but because he's either a franchise-wrecker or the second coming of Allen Iverson (let's consider that as a positive in this case). I love Jodie Meeks, though. I'm a firm believer that any player that averages 24 ppg for a major conference school - let alone breaks one of the nation's most storied program's single-game scoring record - should at least get first round consideration, which Meeks was refused. But he couldn't have landed in a better environment, because, you see, Meeks reminds me of another relatively undersized and supposedly un-athletic SG who starred at a major school but was drafted 43rd overall, and wound up having a sensational NBA career - Michael Redd.

Minnesota Timberwolves -- C+
Picks: Ricky Rubio (5), Johnny Flynn (6), Wayne Ellington (28), Henk Norel (47)
Utterly beguiling. Since there's no way Rubio is going to play SG, we have to assume that A) Flynn, a 5-11 PG with no real jump shot, will play the 2 or B) They're working ond dealing one of these guys to NY in a sign-and-trade involving either David Lee or Nate Robinson. The backcourt could conceivably work, but it's a stretch. Ellington was a great choice, seeing as they didn't have any shooting guards on the roster Thursday morning.

New Jersey Nets -- B
Picks: Terrence Williams (11)
The Nets have a great young core in Devin Harris, Courtney Lee and Brook Lopez, and expect Louisville's Terrence Williams, one of the most complete players in the draft, will be the glue guy. I think it was a smart, if conservative, pick, and it means that their forwards, especially Yi and Josh Boone, will really have to step it up.

New Orleans Hornets -- A-
Picks: Darren Collison (21), Marcus Thornton (43)
Ironically I had the Hornets picking Thornton, one of my favorite prospects, in the first round. Either way, I'm glad they got him. Collison, who deserved to go in the first round after playing in three Final Fours and having entered the draft seemingly every year, only to return to school to fine tune his game, will be a worthy backup to Chris Paul, and I love Thornton as their future starting SG - he reminds me of Gilbert Arenas.

New York Knicks -- C+
Picks: Jordan Hill (8), Toney Douglas (29)
For once, I actually felt sorry for Knicks fans. Not only was Steph Curry born to run in D'Antoni's offense, but LeBron is one of his biggest fans, having attended Davidson's Sweet 16 contest against Wisconsin for the sole purpose of seeing Curry, who scorred 33 in a 16-point victory. He dropped further than expected, only to be snatched up by Golden State, where he's not an ideal fit. Jordan Hill is a lot like David Lee, and in a draft filled with point guards, you would think this team, dying for one, would have used their lottery pick to take one. They were in a very unfortunate situation though. Douglas could be good.

Oklahoma City Thunder -- B
Picks: James Harden (3), BJ Mullens (24), Robert Vaden (54)
Sam Presi has quickly estabilished OKC as the gutsiest team in the league in terms of drafting. Harden was a sensible, good pick, but it was in drafting Mullens that they pulled out all the stops. He's God-awful, but should he realize his potential, this team could really go places. But then again, the franchise doesn't have a great track record in cultivating the talents of young centers (Robert Swift, Johan Petro, Saer Sene), and were really playing with fire in acquiring the notoriously diffucilt Mullens by dealing away Beaubois, who would have been a solid backup to Westbrook, no doubt about that. The grade comes down to Harden, though, and they were wise to pass on Rubio for the better fit in the Arizona State All-American.

Orlando Magic -- N/A
No Selctions

Philadelphia 76ers -- B
Picks: Jrue Holiday (17)
Many would say he was a steal, I would argue otherwise, but it really was a smart pick. They have loads of talent down low (Brand, Dalembert, Jason Smith, Marreese Speights), but nothing to speak of in the backcourt outside of Andre Miller and Lou Williams. Not a true PG, Holiday will benefit from the tutleage of Miller, who's currently 13th all-time in apg and has played in 501 consecutive games.

Phoenix Suns -- D-
Picks: Earl Clark (14), Taylor Griffin (48)
Run, Steve Nash, run! In the last two days the Suns will have lost Shaq and Amare Stoudemire, and will likely start year with Andris Biedrins and, um...Robin Lopez? down low. Clark and Griffin are big, but neither is the answer. Clark fits nicely into the system, but he's exactly like Boris Diaw, whom they signed to a big contract and then immediately shipped off, recognizing their mistake, and he would be their 1,000,000th SF.

Portland Trailblazers -- A-
Picks: Victor Claver (22), Jeff Pendergraph (31), Dante Cunningham (33), Patrick Mills (55)
GM Kevin Pritchard again proves why he's the savviest GM in the game. Recognizing a slowly growing hole at SF - they're talking about acquiring Turkoglu - they traded up to get their man, 6-9 SF Victor Claver. They then acquired Patty Mills, one my favorite players in the draft.

Sacramento Kings -- A+
Picks: Tyreke Evans (4), Omri Casspi (23), Jon Brockman (38)
Sacramento was, truly, King for the night. Refusing to stand for Ricky Rubio's nonsense, they took the better player and fit in Tyreke Evans, who i'm a big fan of. Unsure of whether they were ready to kick Beno Udrih to the curb, and with Kevin Martin perpetually struggling with injuries, they now in Evans an unselfish, exatraordinarily talented guard capable of playing three positions. Also, like the Grizzlies, they focused on adding strength, especially down low, as Jason Thompson and Spencer Hawes both could use 25 pounds. Brockman, as efficient a post player as there was in college last year, is a great addition, and Evans (6-5/220) adds strength to a backcourt that includes Martin (6-7/185) and Francisco Garcia (6-7/195). Finally, Casspi is a well-rounded forward in the Hedo Turkoglu mold, and they hope he'll have similar success.

San Antonio Spurs -- A-
Picks: DeJuan Blair (37), Jack McClinton (51), Nando De Colo (53)
Though he slipped shockingly far, Blair found himself in the best position imaginable, as the Spurs just shipped off two contributing forwards. He'll be able to make a real impact here, and could start as soon as next season, while getting a lot of run as a rookie.

Toronto Raptors -- B
Picks: DeMar DeRozan (9)
Despite not being a fan of DeRozan, I find it hard to fault the Raptors making this pick. Anthony Parker doesn't fit into their future plans, and DeRozan's potential was irresistible.

Utah Jazz -- A-
Picks: Eric Maynor (20), Goran Suton (50)
Its hard to argue against the Jazz as being the best drafting team in the NBA over the past few seasons. Recognizing that Brevin Knight had probably the worst +/- in the league, they went out and finally got a point man worthy of backing up Deron Williams, which Maynor should be expected to do immediately. Some may fault Utah for taking Suton solely for his whiteness - he is very white - but the Jazz expect both Boozer and Okur to opt out, and Suton's an experienced big man with an NBA-ready game.

Washington Wizards -- C
You expected an A here, didn't you? Not a chance. They'll be better next year than they would have been had they kept this pick, but making that trade for Foye and Miller - couldn't they have waited another day? - means that they missed out on Ricky Rubio, who would have been a dream come true for D.C. (and Rubio's camp), and would have erased the Wizards' dissapointment about not landing a higher pick in the lottery. Is a lineup of Arenas-Miller-Butler-Jamison-Haywood with Foye off the bench (remember they also have Nick Young) really more appealing than Rubio-Arenas-Butler-Jamison-Haywood? Ricky Rubio running this offense?? Getting rid of Etan's contract was great, and this team could still win 45-55 games - that's not up for debate, as they're going to be a force in the East - but Grunfeld must be kicking himself. I know they didn't expect Rubio to fall this far, but damn.

2009 Mock Draft

2009-06-25T16:08:00.000-07:00

http://draftday.nbadraft.net/nba_mock_drafts/16964/edit

Prospects I Love and Prospects I Don't

2009-06-24T09:25:00.000-07:00

The Prospects I Love
We all love Blake Griffin, we all know James Harden's a great scorer, and that Hasheem Thabeet has the potential to block 4 shots a game. But these five players, a couple of whom may be considered in the class of those aformentioned three, are prospects that I not only think highly of in terms of talent and potential, but have taken a liken to, as if they were stars on my favorite team. My favorites last year were Eric Gordon, Kosta Koufos, Courtney Lee and Anthony Randolph.

Stephen Curry
I can very well imagine telling my grandchildren, decades and decades from now, that Davidson College guard Stephen Curry was the best college basketball player I ever saw. Beyond the stats (career 25.3 ppg scoring average, to go along with 4.5 rpg 3.7 apg and 2.1 spg), the eternally memorable performances (25 points in the 2nd half against Georgetown in the second round of the tournament, overcoming a 17-point halftime deficit) is a kid that just loves to play the game, and whose quickness, playmaking ability and lethal jump shot will erase any doubts concerning his size.

Tyreke Evans
The #6 recruit in the 2009 class isn't your stereotypical one-and-done guy who was planning on quitting school after a single season from the moment he signed his letter of intent (for such examples, see the prospects I loathe). Not only did Evans have a legitimate reason for declaring - he was devastated when Calipari left for Kentucky - but he earned the right to immediately join the NBA ranks with a spectacular freshman campaign, in which he nearly one-upped his predecessor, Derrick Rose. Inheriting a 38-2 team that had lost nearly all of its stars, including Rose, Chris Douglas-Roberts and Joey Dorsey, Evans averaged more points (17.1) rebounds (5.4), and just half an assist less, and led the Tigers to a 35-4 record. Bred as a shooting guard, Evans even ran the point for the better part of the season, and demonstrated he's the type of dynamic, mature talent that almost never presents itself after just one year in school.

Jodie Meeks
And you thought Jordan Hill made great strides his junior year? Jodie Meeks, who by the end of the 2008-09 proved to be arguably the most dangerous scorer in the country, nearly tripled his scoring average from the year prior, averaging 23.7 ppg, and was known to drop the occasional 40 or 50-bomb on opposing teams. Meeks might be an inch or two smaller than the average shooting guard, and he won't leap over any teammates in the slam dunk contest, but consider my take: If you average 23 ppg for an SEC school and set the single-game scoring record for arguably the greatest program in the history of college basketball, you're a first round pick.

Patrick Mills
The lack of hype surrounding Patty Mills is an absolute mystery to me. Not only did Mills take advantage of the USA in the olympics, or singehandedly elevate St. Mary's to national prominence, but he proved at the combine to be the fastest true PG and appears to be the best shooter after Stephen Curry. I saw him play twice and was blown away each time, especially in a contest against Gonzaga, in which he scored 18 points (on 6 three-pointers) in the first half, but then broke his hand and was sidelined for the rest of the game, and a few weeks after. This kid is a gamer, and he'll prove it in the L.

Marcus Thornton
When I watched Marcus Thornton play, once in the regular season and in two NCAA tournament games, all I could think of was how much he reminded me of Gilbert Arenas. With a killer instinct and an offensive repetoire that even includes a neat post up game, Thornton is a scorer in every sense of the word, averaging 21.1 ppg for the season (to go along with 5.5 rpg and only 1.8 TO) and scoring 30+ on seven occasions. At 6-4/205, it's all too easy to mistake him for Agent Zero on the court.

The Prospects I Loathe

These are the prospects I simply cannot stand, as the mere mention of his name, especially in reference to the lottery, makes my head steam. The players I loathed last year were J.J. Hickson, DeAndre Jordan and Russell Westbrook (as you can tell, I'm slightly prejudiced against combo guards leaving UCLA early, though Westbrook, to his credit, put up numbers and had a real niche as a lockdown defender).

DeMar DeRozan

A top two recruit in the class of 2009, DeRozan garnered a lot of praise for his play at the end of the year, as he put up decent numbers and helped lead a mediocre USC team farther than their regular season record would have predicted. But to judge his freshman campaign based solely on that would be a gross mistake. In DeMar DeRozan we have a great talent, but one who is hardly deserving of being picked near the lottery at this point, for in DeMar DeRozan we have a 'shooting guard' who shot 16.7% from three, and who totaled more turnovers that assists. He's an all-world athlete with great size, but he just hasn't yet proven that he worth drafting higher over the dozens of other NCAA prospects that proved to have truly mastered the game.

Jrue Holiday
Depending on who drafts him, I plan on writing a long, angry article on why Jrue Holiday not only deserves - or deserved - to go undrafted. Quite simply, he's one of the greatest enigmas in draft history. This is bascially the rundown on Jrue Holiday: A scrawny, 6-4 combo guard who can't shoot (30.7% 3PT), is by no means a proven PG, having never started at the point at UCLA (3.7 apg, 2.1 TO) while being a scorer in high school, failed to score in double figures in 21 of his 35 college games, and is by no means a great athlete (#26 vertical at the combine). Will SOMEBODY tell me what the appeal is??

Brandon Jennings
Mark my words: No team will ever win - really win - with Brandon Jennings at the point for he's a PG who only passes when he to, didn't score well enough on the SAT to keep a scholarship, and all but refuses to take instructions from coaches. He's the newest version of Zach Randolph or Stephon Marbury, who can put up 31 points and his team will likely lose by 15. He may put up numbers, and thus give the impression that he's a very valuable player, but what he gives up in lazy defense, poor leadership ability end up hurting much, much more. He's got a lot to prove.

BJ Mullens
If you had told me last season that Mullens was the nation's #1 recruit, I would have thought you were joking. He has great size and is a superior athlete, but, um, how should I put this...yeah, he really just sucked last year. He shot 63.8% from the field, mostly on dunks and putbacks. That statistic is all he has going for him. Aside from seemingly trying to catch passes with his forearms, Mullens seemed to care less than anyone I sawin college, failing to score in double figures 17 times despite the fact that he was often at least 2-3 inches taller than his defender and a much better leaper. Projected to lead the young Ohio State team just had lauded recruits Greg Oden and Kosta Koufos had, Mullens just laid back and forced them to carry him. Is that the type of player you want to pick in the first round?

THE 2009 NBA Draft Preview

2009-06-20T19:31:00.000-07:00

This is not a mock draft. This is the tuesday before the draft, the last possible day for me to churn something of depth out before the crazy, supposed "promises" to players start hurdling out and the player pool gets one big shake-up, highlighted by sure-seeming trades and buyout controveries. This is my getting a feeling for the draft and who each team will take. I'll post a rather bland looking mock hopefully a couple hours before the draft takes place.

1. Los Angeles Clippers
The question concerning the #1 pick in this year's draft is not who the Clippers will pick, but what kind of impact Oklahoma PF Blake Griffin will make, and how the team will change to accommodate him.

2. Memphis Grizzlies
I think Ricky Rubio is a better fit here, but the Grizz are supposedly enamored of Hasheem Thabeet, who would comprise the best combo of young bigs in the league when paired with sophomore Marc Gasol. Playing alongside the offensive-minded Gasol would mean Thabeet wouldn't have to take it upon himself to score, and focus more on defending the hole while he gets comfortable scoring on bigger and more skilled NBA defenders...but unfortunately, Thabeet is not enamored of them. I think the likeliest scenario here is that the Timberwolves trade up to acquire him or Rubio and reluctantly let go of Kevin Love.

3. Oklhoma City Thunder
The Thunder would love to draft a big man who actually likes to play inside, but seeing as this is the shallowest class of centers and power forwards in memory, they'll likely scoop up Arizona State All-American James Harden, who they believe will mesh nicely with Russell Westbrook in the backcourt, and act as a solid distraction for opposing defenses that aim to swarm Kevin Durant night in and night out. I believe that what this team needs most is a point guard, but apparently they're set on Westbrook, who's reportedly warning them not to draft another one. Still, don't be shocked if they scoop up Ricky Rubio - or Thabeet, is he's available - and accept Westbrook's displeasure as a casualty of moving this team forward.

4. Sacramento Kings
Beno Udrih proved to be serviceable, but Ricky Rubio is a franchise-type talent that a team as desperate as Sacramento can't afford to pass up on. Rubio's playmaking ability and uninhibited flash will be welcomed with open arms by a team that was stomped on, by even the dregs of the Western Conference, for the entirety of the 2008-09 season. Adding a true scorer to relieve the pressure on star Kevin Martin would be nice, but Rubio is the best fit. Should they back off in fear, though, considering the possibility that the Spanish-speaking teenager is not yet equipped to run a 17-65 team, they might turn towards the experienced Johnny Flynn, the even more experienced Stephen Curry, or the more versatile Tyreke Evans.

5. Washington Wizards
This is the pick that will decide that will most radically alter the draft, from the 6th pick on down through the early second round. Because I can't possibly organize my thoughts well enough on this matter to write a coherent paragraph, I'll just have to break down the prospects they're most seriously considering - all five of them - and hope that something comes of this.

Jordan Hill - Scouts and websites love him here, but he doesn't make as much sense as a point guard. He could get some run with the Wizards chaotic lineup, but seeing as they've gotten surpsingly solid production out of young bigs Andray Blatche and Javale McGee - with Oleksiy Pecherov in waiting - I have trouble seeing them adding Hill to that rotation.
Stephen Curry - The Wizards' opinion of my second favorite player in the draft depends on how they think he would mesh with Gilbert Arenas. Neither is a true point guard, and starting two offense-minded combo guards might prove disastrous for Washington, which has great chemistry when Arenas, Jamison and Butler are all healthy.
Tyreke Evans - The same can be said about Evans, though he's more versatile than Curry and probably more unselfish. That's not to say he's better, but I think he's a slightly better fit. Keep in mind this team has Nick Young at the 2 as well, so a combo guard, despite his worth, might be out of the question entirely.
Johnny Flynn - I love him here. His ability to run a team from, and only from, the point guard position would do wonders for this team which is occasionally out of whack when Gilbert tries to make everything happen bringing the ball up court.
Ricky Rubio - If he falls to 5, he's not falling any further.

6. Minnesota Timberwolves
Tragically, it appears that Stephen Curry will not become a Knick - at least not on draft day. Without a venerable offensive threat to draw defenses away from powerhouse Al Jefferson, the Wolves will certainly be hunting for a guard, and Curry is their man. Having Randy Foye and Sebastian Telfair on board means Curry won't necessarily have to run the point from day 1, as he adapts to the professional game and settles in. This situation was complicated slightly, though, by a massive PG workout that saw Tyreke Evans possibly steal their hearts (Curry had canceled a week prior), and Flynn, Ty Lawson and Brandon Jennings impress in their own ways (Jrue Holiday, predictably, was not in the same galaxy as these guys). Despite these last lunges, Curry's their man.

7. Golden State Warriors
The Warriors have a terribly difficult decision to make here. By all accounts this team is in need of a true point guard, but Monta Ellis is intent on ensuring that he's the only floor general in town, despite his performing much better when he has someone to set him up and create, a la Baron Davis. Should the Warriors heed this threat, their man is Jordan Hill, who would add muscle inside to nicely complement Andris Biedrins, run the floor with the guards, and develop at a more comfortable rate as there will be less pressure for him to produce on the offensive end. And yet another problem presents itself: the Warriors last two lottery picks were Brandan Wright ('07) and Anthony Randolph ('08), both of whom showed flashes of their enormous potential last season and could still become stars - and they're both 6-10 forwards, just like Hill. I see Johnny Flynn as the best fit here - he was born to run this offense - but the Warriors, to their credit, have been great about not letting anything on.

8. New York Knicks
Hungering for a point guard for the future, which Chris Duhon, though serviceable, cetainly ain't, the Knicks won't be able to pass one up this year, drafting in the top ten in a deep PG class. Johnny Flynn, with his playmaking ability, 40" inch vertical and toughness, is a perfect fit. There's been talk of Jrue Holiday, but I think the Knicks are just too smart for that, as they not only want somebody who can competently play the game, but will be ready to contribute, and who can be used as bait when LeBron James becomes a free agent in '010. And you thought that 6OT game was the last of the memorable moments Flynn would have at MSG...

9. Toronto Raptors
Anthony Parker performed admirably for the Raptors in his tenure over the past few seasons, but its come time to replace him. DeMar DeRozan would be a nice fit in the Raptors offense, and best of all, he wouldn't have to start right away, and could soon fill out a dynamite backcourt with the inhumanly efficient Jose Calderon. Similarly, Duke off-guard Gerald Henderon fits the mold as well, and DeRozan's aversion to playing in Canada might encourage them to go with the more manageable of the two.

10. Milwaukee Bucks
Hoping against hope for the opportunity to draft Johnny Flynn, the Bucks pick will inevitably come down to whether they choose to keep PG Ramon Sessions or Charlie Villanueva. It appears that they're more eager to dispose of Villanueva, but because they're less likely to find a replacement for him, with Jordan Hill assumedly off the board, they may have no choice but to go small. Ty Lawson makes sense here, and though they supposedly are high on Jeff Teague, I doubt they have the guts to take him this high. Earl Clark and James Johnson are real sleepers here.

11. New Jersey Nets
The Nets have apparently narrowed it down to Tyler Hansbrough and Terrence Williams, but you've got to think others are still in the mix, as neither of those two are really expected to be lottery picks. Hansbrough makes sense, as playing alongside Lopez would mean his size and athleticism, though he measured better than expected, would not be so much of a factor, and his intensity and love for the game ensure that he wouldn't have the same debilitaitng mindset as Josh Boone or Sean Williams. Terrence Williams is hard to figure, seeing as they have Ryan Anderson and Yi at SF, both of whom appear to have a future in this league, and Bobby Simmons and Jarvis Hayes locked down for at least another year. Don't be surprised if they take a chance on the potentially injured Dajuan Blair, who would add muscle to a relatively weak front line.

12. Charlotte Bocats
Scouts and analysts across the board are projecting a SG here, but I just don't see it, as they have a very solid guard rotation in Felton-Bell-Augustin, and no true PF to aid Okafor in the post (Diaw is more of a SG than a big man). NBADraft.net, Draft Express and ESPN all vote Gerald Henderson, but we here at NBAnalysis feel that Dajuan Blair should be their main target.

13. Indiana Pacers
Brandon Jennings is a plausible choice here - NBADraft.net, Draft Express and ESPN all agree - but the Pacers, who got an astonishing 31.7 ppg in PG production last season from the combination of T.J. Ford, Jarret Jack and Travis Diener, don't appear too desperate for another point man. Admittedly in search of an athletic big man to pair with Troy Murphy down low, we could see Dajuan Blair, or even Earl Clark set Jennings back even further.

14. Phoenix Suns
What'll it be? A PG for the future? A more athletic wing player? A big man to platoon with the oft-injured Amare and Shaq, who may soon be gone? Any way you slice it, the Suns need depth, and fast, as this team might be utterly unrecognizable in a couple years. Earl Clark seems to be the best fit to me, though he's eerily similar to Boris Diaw, whom they threw tens of millions at and then shipped off soon after, recognizing their failure. I think this is going to boil down to a dogfight between Ty Lawson , Eric Maynor, Brandon Jennings, and Jrue Holiday to become Nash's apprentices, though they'll strongly consider the versatility James Johnson offers at the forward position.

15. Detroit Pistons
There's been talk of a promise to B.J. Mullens, which in most cases would sound preposterous - he's the least NBA-ready prospect - but a franchise such as this, in the midst of a massive overhaul, can afford to take the plunge. Should they come to their senses, though, Earl Clark would be a great fit.

16. Chicago Bulls
Fearing Ben Gordon's departure, the Bulls will likely target an off-guard, such as Gerald Henderson or Chase Budinger, and are even considering dealing their two first round picks - #16 and #26 - to the Nets for pick #11. A big man capable of banging inside like Dajuan Blair or Tyler Hansbrough is also a pressing need.

17. Philadelpiha 76ers
This forward-heavy Philly team's outside shooting woes might be eased by the arrival of Jason Kapono, but they're still in search of a guard who can shoot the rock. Chase Budinger and Wayne Ellington fit that description to a T, and Ty Lawson's name has popped up in discussions as a possible successor to Andre Miller.

18. Minnesota Timberwolves
In search of depth in the backcourt, the Wolves will likely target the 'supposedly' versatile Jrue Holiday, who's 'supposed' ability to run a team will be key, especially should they trade up for Thabeet and remain saddled with Sebastian Telfair at the point.

19. Atlanta Hawks
With Bibby set to become a free agent and Acie Law not performing up to snuff, expect the Hawks to go small or reach for a big man to eventually supplant ZaZa Pachulia down low. Jeff Teague would make sense even if they do decide to keep Law on board, and Victor Claver, though more of a finesse type, could provide immediate assistance.

20. Utah Jazz
Pining for a someone who can come off the bench and score points, especially with Kyle Korver prepping to test free agent waters and Paul Millsap gearing up for a starting role should Carlos Boozer depart, the Jazz will look for a scorer with this pick. LSU's Marcus Thornton, one of the best scorers in this draft class when he's feeling it, might be the answer, as could Chase Budinger, who's ever-improving stroke and dynamic offensive game undoubtedly appeal to the Jazz.

21. New Orleans Hornets
It will either be a SG or a SF for the hornets, as Rasual Butler is struggling to justify playing next to CP3 and Peja continues to wrestle with injuries. They're said to be very high on local product Marcus Thornton, who would be an ideal fit, but the potential of a guy like Austin Daye will be hard to ignore.

22. Dallas Mavericks
Of deep concern in Dallas is the team's point guard situation, as many experts speculate that Kidd won't play another full season in Big D, which would leave J.J. Barea, who's much more effective off the bench, in control of the team. You couldn't blame them for drafting Eric Maynor , but the defensive toughness and leadership chops UCLA point man Darren Collison would bring to the table should be even more enticing.

23. Sacramento Kings
In need of another impact guard but also without any real post presence outside of starters Jason Thompson and Spencer Hawes, the Kings will consider a host of big men with their second selection, with James Johnson, Taj Gibson, and Jeff Pendergraph at the top.

24. Portland Trailblazers
You never know what Portland will do on draft day, but you can be sure that whatever they will do will be genius. In the enviable position of laying back and drafting the best player available, the Blazers will still target a SG, as Martell Webster missed the entire '08-09 season, and Toney Douglas of FSU would be a nice addition.

25. Oklahoma City Thunder
This team is drafting a PG whether Russell Westbrook likes it or not, meaning you can expect Patty Mills, Darren Collison and the L-ready A.J. Price to get equal consideration here.

26. Chicago Bulls
Chi-Town's stacked from PG-SF, and though they could use a little bit of help down low, they'll opt to go small again in this weak big man class. I like Sam Young as an immediate contributor, especially with Luol Deng's future up in the air.

27. Memphis Grizzlies
You've got a real problem on your hands when you only have one PG on your depth chart, and he's awful young and inconsistent. I hope GM Chris Wallace loves Patty Mills as much as I do.

28. Minnesota Timberwolves
Odds are the Wolves aren't going to keep three first round picks. Should that be the case, they can take Rodrigue Beaubois and stock him overseas.

29. Los Angeles Lakers
With no holes to fill, the defending champs take the best player available and steal the highly-regarded Israeli swingman Omri Casspi.

30. Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cavs will probably be focusing more of their energy on the draft than any team that's ever picked last before, as they're desperate for an impact player to liven James' confidence in their front office even the slightest bit, which means going with a more experienced talent. I love Jodie Meeks, who proved to be capable of putting up 40, or even 50 points on any night, and whose silky smooth J should translate fine to the NBA. Taj Gibson would make a fine complement to Ilgauskas down low - they're dying for a reliable post scorer - and Toney Douglas, who drove every ACC team nuts, could be of use right away.