NBA Power Rankings: Carmelo Anthony, LeBron and Top Small Forward from Each Team
As I was watching TV and flipping through the channels the other day, I landed on ESPN and saw an interesting debate on the show 1st and 10.
The panel—which, of course, featured Skip Bayless—was arguing over who was the better player: LeBron James or Carmelo Anthony.
I'll give you one guess who Bayless picked. Yeah, it wasn't LeBron.
Anyway, I thought to myself, "Why not take this a step further?"
Here are my power rankings of the top 30 small forwards in the NBA (one from each team).
30. Cleveland Cavaliers: ?????
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Do the Cavaliers even have a true small forward?
I mean, after trading Jamario Moon, Cleveland actually doesn't have a small forward listed on its roster, and the team often starts three guards and two power forwards instead of the typical PG-SG-SF-PF-C lineup.
Like the Cavs have been all season—lost and confused—so am I.
Let's just put them at the bottom of these Power Rankings, where they can be in familiar territory.
29. Charlotte Bobcats: Dominic McGuire
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Now that Charlotte decided to essentially give Gerald Wallace to Portland, the Bobcats are in quite the pickle at the small forward position.
Why? Well, their most productive/best small forward is now...Dominic McGuire.
His 2010-11 stats: 3.7 rebounds, 3.1 points and a .391 field goal percentage.
What a trade, MJ.
28. New Jersey Nets: Travis Outlaw
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It's hard to ignore Travis Outlaw's ridiculous low PER of 8.6, which is 12th best...on the Nets.
But there's really not much to love about New Jersey's small forward situation in general, as Outlaw leads the team's small forwards in points per game (9.5) and rebounds per game (4.3).
No one else at that position is even worth mentioning, unless Damion James' 3.8 points per game really gets you going.
Didn't think so.
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27. Los Angeles Clippers: Al-Farouq Aminu
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Among Clippers small forwards, Al-Farouq Aminu ranks second in both points (6.2) and rebounds (3.4) per game.
But his per-minute production is much better than that of Ryan Gomes.
Gomes, who averages 8.2 points and 3.6 assists, plays 30 minutes per game, while Aminu sees just 18 minutes of action.
Aminu also has the edge in PER, even it is ever so slightly at 10.4 to Gomes's 9.4.
26. Washington Wizards: Al Thornton
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As evidenced by their 1-28 record, the Wizards don't get a whole lot out of their small forwards.
But of all the guys who have seen time at the position, Al Thornton has been the most productive and most efficient.
In just 21.8 minutes of action, he's averaged eight points and 3.1 rebounds.
Sure, Thornton's numbers are down across the board, but that has more to do with his decrease in playing time—from 37.4 minutes in 2008-09 to the aforementioned 21.8 this season—than anything else.
25. Minnesota Timberwolves: Wesley Johnson
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It's a close call in Minnesota as to who's the better small forward—Martell Webster or rookie Wesley Johnson.
But alas, Johnson slightly wins out.
He's done a little bit of everything this season, averaging 9.1 points, 2.9 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 0.69 steals and 0.69 blocks per game.
Johnson should separate himself from Webster as his time in Minnesota drags on.
24. Sacramento Kings: Omri Casspi
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There's not much to be excited about if you're a Kings fan, especially if you live in Sacramento. But the team does have a few bright spots.
And Omri Casspi is one of them.
He's averaging 9.5 points and 4.8 rebounds and is shooting .378 from three-point range.
Though Casspi's production and efficiency has fallen off from his rookie season in 2009-10, he's still a decent option at small forward.
23. Houston Rockets: Chase Budinger
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Chase Budinger's development allowed the Rockets to feel comfortable enough to trade Shane Battier.
Though Budinger has only two starts this season and plays just 18.7 minutes per game, he averages a very respectable 8.5 points, 3.2 rebounds and 1.2 assists.
Now that Battier's departure has opened the door for more playing time for Budinger—maybe 25 minutes or more per game—this could be Budinger's chance to greatly improve not only his stats but his overall contributions to Houston.
22. Toronto Raptors: Linas Kleiza
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Toronto is another one of those teams who rolls out a bunch of different lineups that often see DeMar DeRozan play small forward.
But he's a two-guard, and Linas Kleiza is undoubtedly the most productive SF for the Raptors when he's actually playing.
He averaged 11.2 points and 4.5 rebounds in 26.5 minutes of play before going down with a knee injury that will sideline him for the rest of the season.
Tough break for Toronto.
21. Atlanta Hawks: Marvin Williams
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Once deemed as a future franchise star, Marvin Williams has seen his production spiral downward each and every season since he entered the league.
So far during the 2010-11 season, he's averaging the fewest rebounds (5.1), steals (0.7) and blocks (0.3) since his rookie campaign in 2005-06, the third-fewest points of his career, and his lowest field goal percentage since 2006-07.
The Hawks even tried to ship Williams out of Atlanta before the trade deadline but couldn't find any suitors.
His days as a Hawk are likely numbered.
20. San Antonio Spurs: Richard Jefferson
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After a really rough first season in San Antonio, it's been much of the same for Richard Jefferson in his second season as a Spur.
Though he's dramatically improved his three-point shooting—from .316 last season to .433 this season—he's averaging less points, rebound, assists, blocks and steals.
To sum up, Jefferson's been even worse in 2010-11. But no one has noticed because the Spurs have been so good all season long.
19. Los Angeles Lakers: Matt Barnes
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Ron Artest has been sucking it up big-time this year, so the Lakers are likely breathing a sigh of relief that they signed Matt Barnes over the summer.
Barnes averages 7.4 points and 4.8 points per game in 20.8 minutes of play, while Artest averages just 8.2 points and 3.0 rebounds and is averaging career lows in most categories pretty much across the board, including those points and rebounds categories.
In addition, Barnes blows Artest out of the water in John Hollinger's PER ratings, 14.9 to 11.1.
Though certainly not one of the league's elite small forwards, Barnes definitely earns his salary.
18. New Orleans Hornets: Trevor Ariza
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A year ago, I would have thought Trevor Ariza would be much higher on this list.
But after his breakout season with Houston in 2009-10, Ariza's numbers have decreased in numerous major categories: field goal percentage, three point percentage, rebounds, assists and points per game.
Ariza is still a good defender, but he should be the third option for the Hornets.
And he hasn't been one.
17. Dallas Mavericks: Shawn Marion
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Caron Butler would likely be here if he wasn't out for the season, but this spot now goes to Shawn Marion.
The former four-time All-Star is the Mavericks' third-leading scorer and averages 6.6 rebounds per game, which is quite impressive for an aging small forward.
Perhaps more importantly, though, Marion has really taken his game to another level since the injury to Butler, having scored in double digits in all but two games since Jan. 22.
16. Milwaukee Bucks: Corey Maggette
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Corey Maggette's production has plummeted in his first season in Milwaukee—he's averaging 13.2 points after averaging 19.8 last season.
But his minutes are way down (from 29.7 last season to 22.8 this season), and he's still outproducing fellow Bucks small forward Carlos Delfino by a wide margin.
Though Maggette's best days are behind him, only Andrew Bogut has been more efficient for the Bucks this season, and Maggette's numbers would look better on paper if he was on the court a little more.
15. Phoenix Suns: Grant Hill
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What year is this? 1998?
It sure seems like it, as Grant Hill recently had a 34-point performance and has started all 56 games for Phoenix.
He's third on the team in scoring (13.8), rebounds (4.6) and assists (2.5).
Oh, by the way, he's been in the NBA since 1994 and is 38 years old.
14. Philadelphia 76ers: Thaddeus Young
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At just 22 years old, Thaddeus Young seems to have a very bright future ahead of him.
He only plays 25.9 minutes per game and has started just one game this season, but he still averages 12.4 points, 5.1 rebounds and 1.03 steals per game.
Some will wonder why I don't have Andre Iguodala in this spot instead of Young, but Iggy is listed as a shooting guard and is more of a two/three tweener who plays small forward when Philadelphia has three guards on the court.
Young, on the other hand, is a truer small forward, and even though his playing time has dropped dramatically this season, he's still a good young player.
13. Golden State Warriors: Dorell Wright
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In his first year in Golden State, Dorell Wright is clearly in the midst of his breakout season.
He's averaging career highs in minutes played (39), rebounds (5.5), assists (3.1) and points (16.5) per game.
Wright has also been one of the league's best three-point shooters at the small forward position, shooting a career-high .398 and making 2.4 shots per game from beyond the arc.
12. Utah Jazz: Andrei Kirilenko
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I still can't look at Andrei Kirilenko's goofy hairstyle, but the dude can actually play some basketball.
He averages 12 points, 5.5 rebounds, three assists, 1.3 steals and 1.2 blocks per game, which makes him one of the more versatile small forwards in the NBA.
Kirilenko hasn't been much of a scorer since around 2004, but he knows his role in Utah and fits it very well.
11. Detroit Pistons: Tayshaun Prince
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Tayshaun Prince is never going to drop any jaws with his statistical production—come on, he plays for Detroit—but that's not what his main value is to the Pistons.
Though he averages 14.1 points and 4.6 rebounds, his primary purpose is to use his length and athleticism on defense.
For the last several years, Prince has been one of the league's best defenders at the three, which is crucial when you have to face the likes of LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony on a consistent basis.
10. Orlando Magic: Hedo Turkoglu
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Since being brought back to Orlando mid-season, Hedo Turkoglu has had plenty of ups and downs.
But all in all, the Magic have gotten pretty much exactly what they expected out of him.
In 34 games with Orlando, Turkoglu has averaged 10.6 points, 5.5 assists and 4.6 rebounds, and is shooting .452 from the field, the third-highest mark of his career.
He'll continue to do what he's done through his Magic career: a little bit of rebounding, plenty of assisting and some scoring.
9. Denver Nuggets: Wilson Chandler
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It's too early into Wilson Chandler's tenure in Denver to evaluate his performance as a Nugget, but lost in all the Melo hoopla was the fact that Chandler is a pretty damn good player.
In 51 games with the Knicks this season, he averaged 16.4 points, 5.9 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.4 blocks per game. He also shot .461 from the field (the second highest mark of his career) and .351 from beyond the arc (a career-high).
Chandler is no slouch, and now that he's in Denver, he could actually turn into a top-five small forward down the road.
8. Chicago Bulls: Luol Deng
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Often forgotten among the hoopla surrounding Derrick Rose, Joakim Noah and Carlos Boozer, Luol Deng has been crucial to Chicago's success this season.
He averages 17.8 points, 6.1 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 0.9 steals and 0.6 blocks per game.
Sure, he's probably only the fourth-most important player on the Bulls (behind those guys I mentioned), but the team wouldn't be the same without him.
7. Indiana Pacers: Danny Granger
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Danny Granger isn't performing as well as he did the past two seasons, but he's still very good and is undoubtedly the best player on the Pacers.
He's averaging 21 points, 5.2 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.1 steals, and he is also shooting .391 from three-point range and leading Indiana in PER (17.9).
It's still a bit surprising to me that Granger is only a one-time All-Star.
6. Portland Trail Blazers: Gerald Wallace
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What a lopsided trade for Portland, huh?
They essentially gave up nothing to get Gerald Wallace, who is one of the league's more underrated small forwards.
In 48 games with Charlotte before the trade to the Blazers, Wallace averaged 15.6 points, 8.2 rebounds (tops among small forwards), 2.4 assists, 1.2 steals and one block per game.
He thrives by scoring and cleaning up the glass, but he's not afraid to contribute in other areas either, as evidenced by the fact that he was on the All-Defensive First Team in 2010.
5. Memphis Grizzlies: Rudy Gay
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Rudy Gay has always hovered around that 19-20 points-per-game mark, and that's exactly where he's at once again this season.
The Grizzlies star is averaging 19.8 points, to go along with 6.2 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.7 steals and 1.1 blocks.
And before going down with an injury, Gay was also shooting a career-high .398 from downtown, .805 from the free throw line and .471 from the field.
In other words, he's drastically improved in three key areas and looks like he may be worth that contract after all.
4. Boston Celtics: Paul Pierce
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A nine-time NBA All-Star, Paul Pierce does a little bit of everything for the Boston Celtics.
He leads the team with 19 points per game but also adds five rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.05 steals and even 0.59 blocks.
Not to mention that Pierce was the NBA Finals MVP in 2008 and is the only pure small forward on Boston's roster.
Though Pierce may not be a bona fide superstar, there are very few teams in the league who ask for more out of their small forward.
3. New York Knicks: Carmelo Anthony
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One of the league's elite scorers, Carmelo Anthony gets criticized for one main aspect that's lacking in his game: defense.
But even though he'll never win any Defensive MVP awards, his contributions on the court are ridiculous.
Prior to the trade to the Knicks, Melo averaged 25.2 points, 7.6 rebounds and 2.8 assists for the Nuggets. And in three games since getting shipped to the Big Apple, he's put up 27.7 points, nine rebounds and two assists for New York.
I'd expect his scoring to jump up a bit now that he's longer a Nugget, and when it comes to Melo, scoring—and rebounding—is mainly what you can expect out of the guy.
2. Oklahoma City Thunder: Kevin Durant
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At only 22 years old, Kevin Durant has already ascended into superstardom.
After winning his first scoring title last season, the Thunder forward once again leads the league in scoring at 28.2 points per game.
Durant also averages 7.2 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.0 blocks and 1.1 steals, and is shooting .464 from the field.
In addition, he posts a ridiculous 23.72 PER, which is tied for eighth-best in the NBA.
1. Miami Heat: LeBron James
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Unless you simply hate LeBron James, it's hard to make a case against him being the league's best small forward.
He leads the league in PER—and really, Dwight Howard is the only one who's even close—and he's second in scoring at 26.2 points per game.
Add to that the fact that James also contributes 7.5 rebounds, 7.2 assists and 1.6 steals, and it's clear that he has the most well-rounded game in the NBA.
Plus, did I mention that he's a two-time MVP and a two-time All-Defensive First Teamer as well?
Oh yeah, he is.
When it comes to NBA small forwards, King James is, well, king.
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