This is the third part of PBN's series of positional player rankings, which will also feature a Top 100 and a seperate list of Top Rookies as ranked by senior writer Tony Mejia. The rankings are based on an ambiguous formula of past accomplishments, upside, team role and general worthiness of swagger. As in, who's most swagger-worthy? They're entirely subjective, so arguments are not only expected, but encouraged.

Houston's Yao Ming was intentionally omitted from this list since he'll miss the entire 2009-10 season with a foot injury.

1. Dwight Howard, Orlando - The strides he's made on the offensive end haven't come fast enough for some critics, but rest assured, he's made progress. What makes the 23-year-old truly special is how dominant he is despite being an unfinished product, controlling the game on the boards and defensive end the way few in the game's history have.

2. Tim Duncan, San Antonio - The seven games he missed last season were his most since 2004-05, a testament to how durable he's been once he hit his 30s. Expect Gregg Popovich to be more careful with him from here on out, resting him during back-to-backs to keep him fresh for May and June. Last season's numbers were down a bucket and a board from his career averages due to the decreased minutes, but he's still a good bet to rack up another season of 19 and 10, continuing his double-double streak to 13 -- every year he's been in the league.

3. Pau Gasol, L.A. Lakers - After never even winning a playoff game in Memphis, he's proven himself on the grandest of stages since joining L.A., capping his latest impressive postseason with a superb Finals. Even though he's going to play his share of power forward, his ability to play center takes the pressure off Andrew Bynum, allows Lamar Odom to get himself off comfortably and makes the Lakers the team to beat.

4. Amar'e Stoudemire, Phoenix - Playing with Shaquille O'Neal didn't work out according to plan, as Stoudemire's numbers actually suffered when he was healthy enough to play with his new mentor/bodyguard. Though he says he would've welcomed one more year alongside Big Cactus, he's probably better off holding the fort down on his own. It is after all, a contract year. Provided his right eye is fine and protective goggles don't bother him, expect his knees to hold up through a big season that puts him in position to try and cash in on a max deal.

5. Al Jefferson, Minnesota - After tearing his right ACL late last season, a speedy recovery has him on track to start the season at 100 percent. Considering Kurt Rambis has been given the mandate to run at all costs, a slimmed down Big Al should have plenty of opportunities to rack up points and rebounds.

6. Shaquille O'Neal, Cleveland - The most riveting "Shaq vs." episode will play out long after his TV series is off the air. It's the ongoing battle between him and time. Phoenix's training staff did remarkable work in helping keep him healthy, springy and motivated through 75 games last season, rescuscitating a career that was dying a slow death in Miami. Attempting to share the stage with LeBron James will keep him focused and hungry to pull his weight with the Cavs. Still, we shouldn't forget that he's now 37 with tons of mileage, so be realistic with your expectations.

7. Emeka Okafor, New Orleans - A change of scenery should do Okafor some good. He'll get to play with the league's most dynamic point guard and an All-Star power forward, allowing him to concentrate on doing the things he does best. Getting out of the same division as Orlando's Howard, the only player drafted ahead of him in '04, could help, too, since his performances always seem to have a shadow cast on them by the Magic center.

8. Mehmet Okur, Utah - He's been the top-shooting center in the league for a few years now, surpassing former teammate Rasheed Wallace. Okur is coming off a season where he shot a career-best 45 percent from 3-point range, earning himself an extension scheduled to keep him in the business of open looks courtesy of Deron Williams through 2012.

9. Nene, Denver - Part of Denver's rise can be attributed to the big Brazilian staying healthy for 77 games and a postseason run, something he hadn't accomplished since 2004. He averaged a career-high 14.6 points, 7.8 rebounds and shot 60 percent from the field, adding a dimension the Nuggets otherwise lack with his quality size in the middle as a proficient post scorer and underrated defender.

10. Andrea Bargnani, Toronto - Cut him a little slack. So what if it took him a while to get himself acclimated to this side of the world and the NBA? After bouts of inconsistency, he averaged nearly 20 points per game over the season's final months and showed the type of versatile flow game that got him selected No. 1 in '06. His progress this coming season will ultimately serve as the top recruiting tool for keeping Chris Bosh in town.

11. Andrew Bynum, L.A. Lakers - It seems he can never maintain any momentum, coming up hurt whenever he's finally in the flow and taking advatage of his physical gifts. Just 10 days after scoring a career-high 42 points in late January, he tore his MCL and was a shadow of himself come the postseason. He'll turn 22 when the season tips off and has a decade of prominence at his fingertips if he can ever get out of his own way.

12. Brook Lopez, New Jersey - His rookie season could only have gone better if the Nets had snuck into the playoffs to get him that experience. He played every game, starting 75, and dazzled with his post skills and shot-blocking, emerging as a better defender than the doubters who labeled him mechanical had anticipated. With Vince Carter gone and Jersey committed to building from the ground up, look for his touches and production to improve significantly on his impressive first-year numbers (13.0 ppg, 8.1 rpg).

13. Al Horford, Atlanta - His postseason was hampered by a bum ankle, putting a grim end to a season where Horford made some progress, exhibiting a better feel for the game and building off a strong rookie season. Now healthy and ready to ripen at age 23, look for his development to be a major factor in Atlanta's bid to join Orlando, Boston and Cleveland as the East's beasts.

14. Andrew Bogut, Milwaukee - It's never good when you reach your mid-20s nursing a significant back injury, and the Australian center told the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel that he won't know what his time frame to start the season will be until he undergoes some contact drills. When healthy, he's not the superstar you associate most No. 1 picks as being, but rather a strong glue guy who rebounds well, sets good screens, makes smart passes and facilitates offense.

15. Greg Oden, Portland - So what if he's forever injured and foul-prone? If he was on your roster, wouldn't you want him? Even with Brandon Roy locked up and LaMarcus Aldridge headed down that same path, Oden remains the key to the Trail Blazers' surge to the top of the Western Conference, as there are only a handful of guys in the league with his combination of size and explosive athleticism. Written off by many at the age of 21, look for him to turn the corner now that he's gotten his feet wet. Despite constant setbacks, he managed to average roughly nine points and seven boards in just 21.5 minutes, a hint of how productive he can be if he can stay on the floor.

16. Marcus Camby, L.A. Clippers - The 2007 Defensive Player of the Year may not end the season with the Clips unless they're making a playoff push, so you'll be able to see just how valuable he's perceived to be when the hunt for his services heats up. A dynamic rebounder and shot blocker, the 35-year-old is at the stage of his career where he's solely interested in winning, making him a candidate to be a vital potential mercenary come the trade deadline.

17. Jermaine O'Neal, Miami - He may seem ready for the retirement home given his persistent injuries, but don't lose sight of the fact J.O. got drafted as a 17-year-old and will be just 31 when the season starts. In the final year of a massive contract, O'Neal has to have his body bounce back in order to make any significant coin come the summer and has been working out constantly to report in peak physical condition. Maybe he'll never be a perennial All-Star again, but he can still alter shots, rebound and score around the basket, not to mention being able to defend most opposing centers one-on-one.

18. Chris Kaman, L.A. Clippers - When he's able to play, it's hard to argue against his effectiveness. He admitted pressing to live up to his large contract extesion back in '06-'07 and struggled, but has otherwise performed when injuries haven't gotten in the way. If his badly injured left foot finally got enough rest to heal correctly, he's capable of finally giving L.A. a return on their investment.

19. Andris Biedrins, Golden State - He is who he is, a limited offensive player whose length and energy allow him to make positive contributions more often than not, especially since he fits in perfectly with his team's up-tempo approach. Despite missing 20 games, Biedrins averaged a double-double for the first time last season (11.9 ppg, 11.2 rpg) and at 23, is entering the stage of his career where he'll reach his peak physically and should be most effective over the next three-to-five years.

20. Kendrick Perkins, Boston - He gets the least credit among the Celtics regulars, but has proven invaluable with his terrific defense and heady play. Without Kevin Garnett available to the Celtics last postseason, he stepped up with 11.9 points, 11.6 rebounds and 2.6 blocks while doing an effective enough job on Orlando's Howard to give his short-handed team an opportunity to reach the conference finals. Perfectly suited for his role on a team filled with stars, Perk will do more for their pursuit of another ring than high-profile pickup Rasheed Wallace, who figures to cut into some of his minutes, but won't supplant him in the lineup.

Also considered: Brad Miller, Brendan Haywood, Rasheed Wallace, Nenad Krstic, Joakim Noah, Tyson Chandler, Marcin Gortat, Spencer Hawes, Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Roy Hibbert, Samuel Dalembert, Marc Gasol, Hasheem Thabeet, Darko Milicic, Joel Przybilla, Zaza Pachulia, DeSagana Diop, Jeff Foster, JaVale McGee, Kwame Brown, Erick Dampier, Chris Andersen, Nick Collison, Etan Thomas, Ronny Turiaf.

Tony Mejia is senior writer for Pro Basketball News. He can be reached at mejia@probasketballnews.com.

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