3. Deron Williams 6’3” Age: 24

Williams is a superb talent.  Each year he adds a little something to his game, and he has apparently established himself as a team leader in Utah. 

His three point shooting is better than Rondo’s and similar to that of Paul.  He can also finish a bit harder than either of the two with a few inches aiding him in that respect. 

However, he seems a bit more inclined to score than to set up his teammates.  If this is a product of having fewer options to pass to, perhaps he deserves to be in the number two spot. 

However, the Jazz team of last year was one of the most well-rounded in the league, so he should have had people to pass to. 

Of course, he did pass the ball to the tune of an excellent 10 apg, but he perhaps could have had more and  in doing so, helped a team that I thought was good enough to reach the finals win a bit more often. 

This is what Rondo did, which is why I give him a paper-thin edge.

4. Tony Parker 6’2” Age: 26

As much as I’ve disliked Parker’s celebrity wife and seemingly fake humbleness in interviews and such, I’ve got to give credit where it’s due. 

He has been the engine behind the Spurs machine for years, but he’s still young since he entered the league at such a young age. 

Between his slicing through the lane and finding Tim Duncan exactly where he needs it, Parker has proved invaluable at crucial times for the Spurs. 

Though his three point range is a bit shaky, he manages to get past defenders or shoot over them with his floaters and fall aways.  His defense is pretty solid, too.

4. Mike Conley 6’1” Age: 20

This spot is hard to justify seeing as I haven’t seen Conley (or the Grizz) play as much as most of the other guys on this list. 

However, his numbers are creeping on the come up, and what I have seen of him bodes very well for a solid NBA career. 

The fact that he’s only 20 gives him the potential for another fifteen years in the league, which is hard to come by, especially for a player with his experience playing with Greg Oden in Ohio, and already having a year of solid NBA work on his resume.

5. Gilbert Arenas 6’4” Age: 26

This was not an easy pick (none of these really are) because I think Gilbert Arenas has off-court issues. 

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