NBA Power Rankings: Ranking the Best Small Forwards in the NBA

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This article will take a look at the best small forwards in the league.  While sometimes it is difficult to determine a player's "true" position, with all the tweeners and hybrids, I have tried to make the best determination that I could, mainly based on what position the player starts the game at (assuming he is a starter, not all of these players are).

It's sometimes difficult to gauge the value of a player whose main attribute is potential, but you will notice a few on here who haven't done a whole lot yet in their NBA career. As well, you will notice some that have been left off because they are no longer viable weapons for their teams.

Without further ado, here is the rankings for the top 30 small forwards in the NBA.

30. Jared Dudley

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Dudley didn't appear to have a bright career ahead of him—until he got to working really hard.  His three point shot is very good (41.5 percent) and he's a pretty good defender.

29. Austin Daye

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Daye is the future at small forward for the Detroit Pistons.  He's basically a Tayshaun Prince clone and is the main reason Tracy McGrady won't see any time this year.

28. Marvin Williams

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Marvin Williams is a classic case of a high pick underachiever that came out of college a year earlier than he should have.  He's always had the potential to be a very effective player, and on some nights he is, but then there are long stretches of games where he just doesn't show up to play.

27. Matt Barnes

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Barnes has played for eight different teams in his career so far, but he's a good role player and solid defender.  That's not to mention the fact he tried to punk Kobe out.  Kobe said "Anyone crazy enough to mess with me is crazy enough to play with me."

26. Shane Battier

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Battier used to be the best defender in the league.  Period.  He is still a pretty good one, and hits the corner three like many on this list.

25. Jamario Moon

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Moon was actually a Harlem Globetrotter at one point in his career.  He is entertaining.  Very athletic and a decent shooter, Moon has a decent career ahead of him, though he started it very late.

24. Grant Hill

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I don't need to tell you how great Grant Hill once was.  He's still pretty good and manages to make a lot of big plays for the Suns.  He looks like vintage Grant some nights, but other nights he looks like the guy with more metal in his foot than bone.

23. Omri Casspi

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Casspi, the first Israeli in the NBA's history, is a versatile swingman that is capable of doing a lot of different things well.  His versatility might enable him to start eventually, but right now he is fighting with Francisco Garcia for minutes.

22. Wesley Johnson

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Wes Johnson has the potential to move up this list very far.  A great scorer on a very bad team, he should get plenty of opportunities to show his stuff this year.

21. Tayshaun Prince

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Prince is a great defender, who made defense his calling card after shutting down a then-in-his-prime Tracy McGrady.  He is an effective three point shooter, hitting 37 percent for his career.  He's struggled with back problems in recent years, but is still a viable starter for many teams.

20. Ron Artest

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Artest is a lockdown defender.  He is not a good shooter, but finds ways to hit them when they count.  He has the strength to guard many power forwards and if he were maybe two inches taller he would probably make a much better power forward than he does a small forward now.

19. Shawn Marion

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For Fantasy Basketball gurus out there, I don't need to explain the former greatness of Marion.  In his days as a Phoenix Sun, he was the No. 1 pick in fantasy leagues year in and year out, due to his across the board contributions.  Coming off the bench for the Mavs this year, he is in his twilight years, but still a pretty effective player.

18. Linas Kleiza

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Kleiza's coming out party, if you were tuning in, was the FIBA World Championships last summer.  He took it to everybody except the US and led Lithuania to the Championship game.  This year, in Toronto, he will be counted upon heavily to score as the Raptors have few options.

17. Terrence Williams

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Williams has the potential to be a very poor man's Lebron James.  He is built like a truck, yet still lithe and fast, and he is a great passer.  He had a triple double last year and is likely to get many more in his career.

16. Carlos Delfino

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Delfino is the best player on this list that few know about.  A member of the vaunted Argentinian national team, Delfino provides valuble scoring off the bench for the Bucks and is averaging 12 a game this year so far.

15. Corey Maggette

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Maggette is really good at scoring, but doesn't offer a lot of help in other areas.  He is a bit selfish looking for his shot at times and sometimes it seems he doesn't look for teammates at all.  That said, he is still a great talent for scoring and has a knack for getting to the line a lot.

14. Richard Jefferson

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Jefferson used to be a top five small forward, but is now past his prime.  While still a great three point shooter, he no longer has the athleticism that made him so difficult to guard earlier in his career.

13. Wilson Chandler

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Wilson Chandler looks to be one of the best sixth men in the league this year.  He comes off the bench for needed scoring and energy and should help the Knicks a lot if they reach the playoffs this year. 

12. Luol Deng

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Deng is considered overrated by some and underrated by others.  The truth obviously, is that he is right in the middle of the two labels.  Deng had the potential to be one of the league's best small forwards, but it doesn't seem he ever cashed in on that potential, not to mention the fact that he received a very hefty contract.

11. Caron Butler

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Butler is on his way down.  He's a bit past his prime but is still very effective and has the capability of blowing up for 30+ points on any given night.

10. Nicolas Batum

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Batum is on his way up on this list.  He plays lockdown defense and is another one that hits the corner three very well.  He gets a lot of steals and blocks and ignites Portland's rare fast breaks.

9. Danilo Galinari

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Tracy McGrady was a bit taken back at just how good Galinari is already.  Affectionately known as "The Rooster," Galinari is an excellent shooter from anywhere on the court.

8. Trevor Ariza

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Trevor Ariza is a complimentary role player...but he is a VERY good one.  He plays excellent defense and plays passing lanes extremely well.  He's also very adept at hitting the corner three. 

Here's a link to an interview Steve Kyler of Hoopsworld conducted with Trevor Ariza during the preseason:

http://www.magicsideline.com/2010/10/former-magic-forward-trevor-ariza-interview/

7. Rudy Gay

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Rudy Gay was inked to a max contract this last summer and a lot of people felt that was too much money for a player whose greatest asset is "immense potential."  Through eight games this year, Rudy has made a fool of those doubters, playing 41 minutes a game and averaging 28 points a game.  He has the potential to be a perennial all-star.

6. Paul Pierce

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Pierce is getting up there in years, at 34, but is still one of the game's best closers and one-on-one players.  Boston can always count on isolating Pierce at the end of quarters and the end of games.  Pierce has spent his entire career with Boston and most likely will retire a Celtic after signing a two-year extention last summer.

5. Andre Iguodala

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"Iggy's" calling card is his defense, but he can score too.  While basically a lockdown defender, Iguodala does contribute 17 points a night on the offensive end.  He needs to improve his three point shooting a little to take the next step as a player.

4. Danny Granger

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Granger manages to go largely unnoticed, and it's because he plays in the small market of Indiana.  His stats are nearly as good as Carmelo and we hear about him 1/10th as much.  Last year he made his first all-star team, and it looks likely that he will make a few more before his career is over.  Granger hits a ton of threes and also plays great defense, frequently averaging over a steal and a block a game.

3. Carmelo Anthony

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Some may clamor that 'Melo is overrated, but I don't necessarily buy into all that.  Last year he increased his scoring average by nearly six points a game.  He can be counted upon in crunch time, and the only thing that is ever suspect about Carmelo is his defense.  If he ever improves on that end of the court, he will take a step into the next tier of league stars.

2. Kevin Durant

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Three years younger than Lebron, Durant is a possible candidate for multiple league scoring titles.  He scores fluidly and with ease, using his 6'11" frame to stretch out over and past defenders, who are simply unable to keep pace with his silky smooth moves.  He led a Thunder team to 50 wins last year—something no one expected them to do.  And he was within a Thunder rebound of forcing a game 7 with the Lakers in last year's playoffs.

1. LeBron James

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At this point in their respective careers, Lebron is a much better facilitator than Durant, and still able to put up big scoring numbers when he needs to or wants to.  His defense is pretty solid, and he always makes the highlights for his famous chase-down blocks.  He's the first player since Oscar Robertson with a legitimate chance at averaging a triple double.