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NBA: Ranking the top 10 small forwards entering 2017-18

By Ryan Magdziarz

CLEVELAND, OH - JUNE 09: LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers and Kevin Durant #35 of the Golden State Warriors speak after a foul in the third quarter in Game 4 of the 2017 NBA Finals at Quicken Loans Arena on June 9, 2017 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH - JUNE 09: LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers and Kevin Durant #35 of the Golden State Warriors speak after a foul in the third quarter in Game 4 of the 2017 NBA Finals at Quicken Loans Arena on June 9, 2017 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NY – APRIL 12: Carmelo Anthony #7 of the New York Knicks falls into the crowd as he goes after a ball in the first quarter against the Philadelphia 76ers at Madison Square Garden on April 12, 2017 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – APRIL 12: Carmelo Anthony #7 of the New York Knicks falls into the crowd as he goes after a ball in the first quarter against the Philadelphia 76ers at Madison Square Garden on April 12, 2017 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /

8. Carmelo Anthony, New York Knicks

If this is Hoodie Melo, we might as well sweep LeBron James to the side and stamp his place at the top. However, this is New York Knicks, non-Olympics Melo, so he lands at 8th on our list. Since the 2013 season averaging 28.7 points per game, Melo has been on a slow decline on an individual level, and as a member of the New York Knicks.

Some of us still see Melo as a superstar and a top player in this league due to the fact that he was a supernova in the Mecca of basketball that is Madison Square Garden. His name carries a ton of weight because of his history with a storied franchise, but the fact of the matter is, he hasn’t produced. Averaging 22.4 points per game on a 31 win team in 2017 doesn’t do much for his reputation as a league’s top small forward, and until he decides to move on from the Knicks, I don’t see his role changing.

Let’s say Harden and Chris Paul get their hands on Melo and is shipped to Houston. Being a part of a winning team where he doesn’t have to be “the guy” would really benefit Carmelo. Just as he was on the Olympic team, Anthony would be a sidekick or deferring to two other guys before he gets his. The alleviated pressure of doing too much is off his shoulders. He can relax, and stay Me7o.

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