Top shooting guards: Bryant, Wade remain leaders of the pack
This is the fifth 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.
1. Kobe Bryant, L.A. Lakers - You know he'll be driven to win three more now, right? To top Mike. Jordan was 33 when he won his fourth ring, while Bryant captured his at 30, recently celebrating his 31st birthday on Aug. 23. He's got a stacked team, the will and the skills, so even though his scoring average has dropped over the past four seasons, he's reached the point where winning it all is all that matters. It will be fun to see how the next five years play out.
2. Dwyane Wade, Miami - Suffering those unfortunate injuries to his left shoulder and leff knee ruined two seasons, but in 2008-09, the magic returned. From playing super sixth man at the Olympics to averaging a career-high 30.2 points a game for his first scoring title, Wade served notice that he intends to remain one of the NBA's biggest forces. Whether he intends to remain in Miami is still up in the air, but you can expect him to help his bargaining position by maintaing his current form.
3. Brandon Roy, Portland - Ron Artest wasn't the only one to notice how good B-Roy has gotten, calling him the toughest player in the league to guard. While that's debatable, there's no denying Roy has turned into a monster, capping his finest season with his first playoff appearance, hanging 26.7 points a game on Ron-Ron and the Rockets. Roy signed a max-dollar extension that will keep him in Portland until at least 2014, and at the rate he's going, Blazers fans can realistically aspire to reach an NBA Finals or two within that time frame.
4. Joe Johnson, Atlanta - Unless he gets the Hawks to commit to a max-dollar extension, odds are Johnson will be forced to used this season as a showcase to lure in suitors when he becomes an unrestricted free agent next summer. He's averaged over 22 points, four boards and five assists consistently over his four seasons in the A-T-L and just turned 28, leaving him in perfect position to capitalize on the market. Performing better in the playoffs would be the clincher, as he comes off a disappointing turn against the Heat and Celtics this past spring.
5. Andre Iguodala, Philadelphia - He'll miss Andre Miller, but his former backcourt mate's departure puts more leadership responsibilities on his shoulders at the right time. Iguodala 25 now, finally put together a strong postseason and seems ready to truly become the face of the franchise. With Eddie Jordan on board, look for him to get easier looks and become a more efficient scorer, likely winding up with over a 20-point scoring average for the first time in his career.
6. Vince Carter, Orlando - It was really impressive that he so genuinely embraced the leadership role on a rebuilding New Jersey squad, so he's going to appreciate walking into a situation like the one he's in with the Magic now more than ever. Despite critics citing that he now lacks the explosion that once made him a one-man attraction, Carter still packs plenty of punch. He's averaged over 20 a game in 10 of his last 11 seasons and will be Orlando's primary shot-taker in the clutch, replacing Hedo Turkoglu.
7. Manu Ginobili, San Antonio - Not participating in international duty this summer should have Ginobili healthy for the beginning of the season and will hopefully keep him fresh for a long run. The Spurs are simply a different team when he's out there -- a championship team. Hate him for his flopping if you must, but as far as creating offense and coming through in the clutch goes, he's up there with the best of them.
8. Kevin Martin, Sacramento - A bum ankle contributed to Martin missing 31 games last season, but he provided one last reminder of how nasty he can be by dropping 50 on the Warriors on April 1. The Kings are so young that he's going to be a marked man the next few seasons, but there's no question he's one of the game's most talented shooters and is liable to steal his share of games for rebuilding Sactown.
9. Tracy McGrady, Houston - T-Mac was never really himself last season, finally pulling the plug and opting for microfracture surgery in late February. Is he done? There are many who think he is, but the 30-year-old did guarantee Houston's FOX affiliate that he'd play this season, hinting that it will be sooner than expected. He's got to show something to try and take advantage of his impending free agency, so look for him to tease us all with his talent at some point in 2010 to land one last big payday.
10. O.J. Mayo, Memphis - The runner-up in last season's Rookie of the Year race should be more polished after his first go-round. His defense and playmaking skills are a work in progress, but Mayo wasted no time in proving that he's a high-level pro scorer, able to to use his strong body to get wherever he wants while also possessing the ability to pull up with a timely jumper. Expect him to build on the 18.5 points per game he averaged as a rook.
11. Michael Redd, Milwaukee - He'll start the season a newly-turned 30 years old, following grueling rehabilitation to come back from a pretty nasty January knee injury that saw him tear his ACL and MCL, requiring surgery that will likely jeopardize the first month of 2009-10. He's never been much of a defender or distributor, and his scoring average has declined each of the past three seasons, so it's clear his career path isn't currently going in the right direction. He's beaten the odds before, though.
12. Ray Allen, Boston - Now 34, there's no reason Allen can't continue to do what he does best if he keeps his body in good condition. After an inconsistent first season playing third fiddle, he improved his shooting percentage to a career-best 48 percent last season and was his usual deadly self from beyond the arc. His postseason performance has been spotty despite the C's success, but he has already played in 40 playoff games these last two years, three more than he had managed in the first 11 years of his career combined.
13. Jason Richardson, Phoenix - J-Rich became a much more efficient scorer in his first season with the Suns, mainly because he didn't have to take some of the bad looks he had to settle for with those bad Bobcats and Warriors teams. Steve Nash makes the game easier for him, and Phoenix re-committing to the run-and-gun style he's most comfortable with should generate healthy numbers.
14. Richard Hamilton, Detroit - The Allen Iverson experiment impacted Rip most of all, jerking him out of the starting lineup for the first time in his Pistons career and irking him to no end. He shot under 45 percent for the first time since 2005 and slumped terribly in his team's painfully brief playoff stint. With a new coach, new teammates and a guaranteed starting spot, a bounce back year is a good possibility.
15. Jason Terry, Dallas - If there was a clutch shot to be hit last season, Terry hit it, endearing himself to new coach Rick Carlisle in his most productive season since joining the Mavs. The reigning runaway winner for the Sixth Man of the Year award should be the favorite again in 2009-10, though you can count on the race being tighter this time around.
16. Ben Gordon, Detroit - He's hit over 40 percent of his many 3-point field goal attempts every season he's been in the league and comes off the most complete campaign he's ever had. After starting almost exclusively last season, he'll return to a bench role in Detroit as the truest replica of Vinnie Johnson the city has seen the Micraowave left in '91.
17. Eric Gordon, L.A. Clippers - Overshadowed by Rose, Mayo and even Russell Westbrook in the race for top rookie, Gordon actually put together an extremely impressive season. Even with the Clippers in a state of flux and consistently pathetic, Gordon kept his mind clear, improved every month and always gave an honest effort. Fears that he'd end up being a volume shooter never really materialized, as he knocked down over 45 percent of his shots and nearly 39 percent of his 3-pointers. He's got a bright future.
18. J.R. Smith, Denver - He's been a knucklehead, and it's not necessarily clear whether that phase of his life is over yet, but anybody who knows the game will tell you he's as talented as they come, blessed with natural scoring instincts and unlimited range. If he plays enough defense to stay on the floor, he's special enough to help elevate the Nuggets to a championship level.
19. John Salmons, Chicago - A testament to gradual improvement, he broke through in a big way in his seventh NBA season, starting for the Kings and Bulls while making major contributions on the wing for each. Averaging over 18 points, four rebounds, three assists and a career-best 42 percent from beyond the arc, Salmons can greatly enhance his national profile if he continues to succeed. Starting alongside Derrick Rose at Jordan's former position, he'll certainly command plenty of attention.
20. Ronnie Brewer, Utah - His defense has always been ahead of his offense, but the gap is shrinking. Among the best athletes in the league, Brewer is a terror in transition, can lock up most wings and really gets after it from a hustle standpoint. Only 24, he's a jumper away from becoming a special player.
Also considered: Mike Miller, Mike Dunleavy, Rudy Fernandez, Courtney Lee, Mickael Pietrus, Jamal Crawford, Raja Bell, Delonte West, Francisco Garcia, James Harden, Anthony Parker, Larry Hughes, Thabo Sefolosha, Dahntay Jones, Carlos Delfino, Thabo Sefolosha, Morris Peterson, Roger Mason, C.J. Miles, Kelenna Azubuike, Ricky Davis, Nick Young, Stephen Curry, Sasha Pavlovic, Martell Webster, DeMar DeRozan.
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Tony Mejia is senior writer for Pro Basketball News. He can be reached at mejia@probasketballnews.com.
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