After reading the Honorable Mention, I believe you would like to see the people in the rankings huh? Let’s start part 1 of 5 with the players who just made the cut.
50. Tyreke Evans- Reke Havoc is one of two second year players on this list. I didn’t want to add too many youngin’s on the list but Evans ( and number 49) are two special players in my eyes. Evans could be compared to Dwayne Wade and more comparable to Penny Hardaway. How about Joe Johnson for a comparison? Evans makes me believe he’s good enough to play point guard. Should he be? Nope but can he be the lead guard for a title team? Remains to be seen. Let’s not forget that the 20-5-5. Only 4 (FOUR) have done that in the history of the NBA.
49. Brandon Jennings- Jennings get my second spot young gun spot over Curry for one reason. Jennings has the swagger and playmaking ability to be the number one player for the Bucks- NEXT SEASON. You read that right. Andrew Bogut is a stud, and he’s higher on this list but that doesn’t stop me saying this guy should be a top 5 PG in the NBA when he hits his prime.
What do I mean prime? I mean when his shooting percentages don’t look like this: 37% in December, 32% in January and 30% in February (YIKES!)
48. David Lee- I call him ” PNR machine”. As a Knicks fan, David Lee entertained me for 7 good seasons. I feel attached to him because I saw him turn from a slightly overweight curly headed bench warmer to a 80 million dollar man. Not only that but Lee? He’s one of the 3 best big men I have seen dominate in the pick and roll ( the others- Carlos Boozer and oddly enough, Amar’e Stoudemire). Going into Golden State, I expect and believe he will get similar numbers he earned in New York why? He’s moving back to power forward and he’s looking to slim down even more.
Good Luck David. Also- Thank You for giving us Anthony Randolph, who I hope to see in this group next year.
47. Jason Kidd- Still going strong. I think Kidd might be losing his job this season. Roddy B is hot on his tails and could take tons of his PT. The reason Kidd is still on this list is because I can tell you this: How many 37 year old guards can still get 10,9 and almost 2 steals? Not only that, he averaged 36 mpg last season. He may not be the Kidd I remember in New Jersey but he’s still going strong after all these years.
46. Russell Westbrook- Remember when people thought Westbrook was a reach at #4 in 2008? Well, 16 points, 8 assists and 1.3 steals later: Westbrook is one of the younger players on this list. Westbrook has also the defensive ability as well. Playing alongside a top 5 player helps but it’s fair to say he’s the #2 man in Oklahoma City.
45. Vince Carter- Vince. VC. Vinsanity. It’s arguable that he been overrated since 2004. He goes to NJ and never makes it past round 2, He goes to Orlando and suddenly- Ray Allen and Paul Pierce are Jordan and Pippen. With saying all that: He’s the last of the 90’s to me. He’s the last ” I’m a scoring guard- I can defend sometimes if motivated” guys with McGrady and Iverson on the way out. I’m willing to say he’s a #3 option at this point. Vince shown many people he cannot handle being Robin so i believe it’s time to make the move to Alfred.
Technically- Batgirl was the 3rd piece but I don’t wanna diss Vince’s manhood here.
44. Marcus Camby- Underrated. I forgot Camby in my 1st draft of the top 50. Since he’s been moved from the Knicks, check these stats out: 7-1, 10-2, 10-3, 12-3, 11-3, 13-3, 11-2, 12-2, 11-2. The first number are his rebound totals and the 2nd are his block totals. You could make the case: Marcus Camby was one of the best defenders in the west ( not named Tim Duncan) since 2002.
Not only that but he’s shot over 41% since he got away from New York.
43. O.J. Mayo- Rudy Gay got 80 million this offseason. I felt that’s a little much to pay your number 2. Mayo is the best defender and late game scorer on that team. He’s missed 1 game in his career so far and he’s produced 17-3-3 in back to back seasons. Right now, I feel Mayo could become one of the best combo guards in the game. I think he should make the move to point guard next season. Then we could be seeing a 17-6 type season from Mayo. Right now, I have him at 43 but he could easily be moved up or down this list.
42. Brook Lopez- The second best C in the East? I cannot see. A potential offensive C? I can see. In some cases- Call him the offensive Dwight Howard. ( Alright, maybe not) Lopez made stride this past season. 18 points from a center in the NBA are rare these days. He could be producing 20-22 in the next couple years.
The issue? He averaged 8 rebounds without a legit big man next to him. Can he get 10 rebounds in a season? Maybe but that scares me a little bit. Another problem? He’s a defensive problem in the post. I’ve seen him against post players his size ( Dwight Howard) and guys smaller then him ( Carlos Boozer) and the problem? He cannot defend.
Now if only the Lopez twins could fuse into one Lopez.
41. Marc Gasol- I remember hearing alot of ” If only Pau was like his brother” talk last season. Not only that, he’s actually a good defender.
Put it like this: The Nets would never deal Lopez for Gasol but if they did? Gasol would have better numbers then Lopez.
Why? Gasol plays next to swamp monster (Zach Randolph) who had a throwback season. Even amidst Randolph’s renaissance, Gasol posted 14-9 and 2. Swap Gasol and Lopez: Gasol would be a 22-11 player by himself.
Note: I was never high on Marc Gasol. I thought he was overrated and could never be a legit NBA starter. To see someone prove me wrong and make me eat crow is something I love to see.
What do you think? Tune in to the Sir Charles Site Tomorrow for 40-31!