NBA Power Rankings: Derek Fisher and Each Team's Worst Starting Player
Every team in the NBA have two things in common—they have a best starting player and they have a worst starting player. Even the Los Angeles Lakers fit that model.
The thing is that sometimes the worst starting player is still an essential piece of the team. Replacing the "worst" player may or may not improve the team. In fact, sometimes replacing the worst player could hurt the team.
Following are the worst starters on every team and whether they should be replaced this summer.
Note: Recognizing that teams use changing starting lineups for the purpose of this article, I primarily used the depth chart as listed on Yahoo. There are a few exceptions, but with some teams in flux it's hard to say who really is the starter.
Atlanta Hawks: Jason Collins
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As the starting center he's averaged 2.1 points and 3.0 boards. Jason Collins is just not an NBA starting caliber center. He's starting as a desperation move. Josh Smith and Al Horford both play out of position as power forward and center.
On the plus side, Atlanta addressed their other big weakness in acquiring Kirk Hinrich before the trade deadline. They need a true NBA center if they want to compete on an elite level though.
Boston Celtics: Nenard Kristic
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Nedad Kristic is the answer for the Boston Celtics and the long term future at center. If you're laughing and didn't stop reading then you'll know that was not intended to be taken seriously, but saying it out loud certainly elucidates how big of a hole is there.
Before the trade, the Celtics were the strongest starting five in the NBA. One through four, they still are but at the five spot, they need a long term solution. Kristic is not the answer.
Charlotte Bobcats: Kwame Brown
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There seems to be a pattern developing here doesn't there? The problem is that there just aren't as many starting caliber centers in the world as there are positions in the league. I think Michael Jordan's competitive nature is getting the best of him.
He still wants to prove to the world that he didn't make a mistake in drafting him. The one problem is that he's wrong. Kwame Brown is just not good enough and never will be.
Chicago Bulls: Keith Bogans
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Keith Bogans is somewhat in the same picture as Derek Fisher. When you look at his numbers you might think, gee, this guy is worthless. The fact is though, he's better than his numbers. He works well within the system.
Using on/off with the Bulls is a bit of a conundrum because every player in the rotation has an on court plus of at least five, which makes the off court comparisons tough to do. Whichever unit is on the court tends to outproduce their opponents.
Still, of those in the regular rotation, Bogans has the lowest plus on the team. He's not the perfect fit, he just does a reasonably good job doing the things he needs to do. The Bulls would be served with a shooting guard who could shoot and guard, and they may obtain him this summer.
Cleveland Cavaliers: Alonzo Gee
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I'm going to be honest here, I just don't even know how to approach Cleveland. If I offended one of the remaining Cavalier fans that didn't take their fandom to South Beach, I apologize. Cleveland's lineup has been in such flux, I don't even know what's going on anymore.
Maybe Alonzo Gee is the right answer, but if he is, gee! I just haven't seen it.
Dallas Mavericks: Rodrigue Beaubois
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The Mavericks are so deep that it's almost hard to even distinguish the starters from the bench payers, and in some cases like this one, the backup is better than the starter, but the backup should be the backup.
Terry is perfect in the sixth man role, and he's on the court in the fourth quarter.
Beuabois is just there to man the position until Caron Butler returns anyway. The sole reason he's on the list is that I had to put someone here.
Denver Nuggets: Ty Lawson
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This is another product of having to put someone down. I have no stranglehold grip on this position. I just feel that Raymond Felton is a better player, but I have only gotten two opportunities to see the new look Nuggets, and they won both games.
Overall though, I'm not going to argue with winning. Consider this more of a "I like Felton" than a "there's something wrong with Lawson" slide though.
Detroit Pistons: Richard Hamilton
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Richard Hamilton is listed, but the Pistons need to clean house. They've got some nice young players, but with the antics and shenanigans of Richard Hamilton, Rodney Stuckey and Tracy McGrady, that's a lot of veterans teaching the young players that it's OK to disrespect your coach.
No player is good enough to dispel a cancerous attitude.
Golden State Warriors: Andris Biedrins
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It may come as a surprise to you that when the Golden State Warriors have their full starting five intact, they are 21-21. They actually have the makings of a pretty good team. With Steph Curry and Monta Ellis, I seriously wonder if they have the best backcourt tandem since the Knicks of the early 70s.
The one thing they need is a defensive presence in the middle. Biedrins is not it. They don't need the most electric scorer. Look at the impact Perkins has had on the mentality of the Thunder. That's what they need.
The Warriors have all the ability to be a good defensive team. They just need a warrior in their starting five.
Houston Rockets: Chase Budinger
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I'm not really down on Budinger, he's not bad. He's fairly athletic and takes care of the ball well. His per 36 minute stats aren't that bad, and he's been capable, but not great in the starting role. They can win with him as the starter.
So he's able to be a starting small forward in the NBA, but I still wonder if he's the best suited as a starting wingman long term. I personally think he'd be better suited as a sixth man leading the second unit. Some players, such as Jason Terry, are better for their teams as a bench player, and Budinger might be one of them.
Houston doesn't need to make a desperation move in an upgrade, but if something comes available they should look at it carefully.
Indiana Pacers: Paul George
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Paul George is not the long term answer for a starting shooting guard, and in his temporary time starting in place of the injured Mike Dunleavy, he's proven that. Averaging eight points a game as a starter isn't going to cut it.
I don't see giving Mike Dunleavy a new contract as a long term answer, either. The Pacers offense needs a go to guy. They have some very nice role players and a good point guard for the long term, but they need that star quality scorer, and neither Dunleavy nor George is it.
Los Angeles Clippers: Chris Kaman
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The team is 4-11 when Chris Kaman starts and 21-29 when DeAndre Jordan starts. Kaman's career is headed down, and Jordan's career is headed up. Jordan has the speed, strength and athleticism to play with Blake Griffin and Kaman doesn't.
The Clippers, for obvious reasons, are not a routinely featured team in the national spotlight, so I don't get to see them very often. If any Clippers fans care to elucidate for me why Kaman is still starting, feel free.
Los Angeles Lakers: Derek Fisher
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Don't be offended Lakers fans, but statistically speaking, not only is Derek Fisher the worst starter on the Lakers he may very well be the worst starter in the entire NBA. He's averaging 6.7 points and 2.7 assists per game. His PER is 8.7.
Of all players in the NBA with at least 2000 minutes played this season, only Raja Bell's is lower. Of players with 1000 minutes played, only three have a lower PER, and one of them is his backup, Steve Blake.
But let me say this. Sometimes numbers really don't say everything. Fisher helps the Lakers in ways the numbers don't tell.
You could replace Fisher with a better point guard and make the Lakers a worse team. There's a reason he has five rings on his finger, and it's not just Kobe Bryant.
Memphis Grizzlies: Marc Gasol
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Part of the reason the Grizzlies have improved so much is that their starting five is actually pretty impressive. They are young and improving. Marc Gasol is listed here of necessity because someone needs to be.
Tony Allen is a defensive specialist. Sam Young is spelling for the injured Rudy Gay. Mike Conley is breaking out. Gasol has taken a step backwards. Maybe it was the summer.
For Memphis to take the next step up they're going to need Gasol to fill out his All-Star potential, particularly if they are going to lose Zach Randolph this summer as it appears they might.
Miami Heat: Eric Dampier
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When your starting center is waiver wire fodder that hung around unemployed through training camp and the first part of the season, that tells you something about how bad off you are in that position.
What makes it even sadder is that Dampier is probably the best center on the team.
And no, Eddie Curry is not the answer.
Milwaukee Bucks: John Salmons
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John Salmons is good for about the first half season after he gets traded, and then he shows why the team that traded him wanted to trade him away. He's really not a starting caliber player.
He's better equipped to be a sixth man type of player, and that's only if you also hire him his own personal motivational speaker.
Minnesota Timberwolves: Darko Milicic
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Darko Milicic is auctioning off his championship ring for charity. That's right, he has one. Detroit never would have won that championship without his four missed field goals or three turnovers that went along with his zero points and three boards the entire postseason either.
Has anyone ever done less to get their ring?
Doney Darko is just not that good. He's not even that average. He's a seven foot player with an 11.8 percent total rebound percentage and a field goal percentage below .470. He's also under .600 from the charity stripe.
Bottom line, there are two other seven footers in NBA history that have that particular bad combination with 1500 plus minutes played for a season, Jason Collins and Jon Konack.
New Jersey Nets: Travis Outlaw
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When you give a big contract to a career bench player that is coming off of injury and playing out of position, there's a phrase for that: @#$^@ stupid!
Outlaw will continue to make seven million a year for the next three seasons to continue to produce at a below average rate. Maybe they can convince someone else he's worth it.
New Orleans Hornets: Marco Belinelli
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Marco Belinelli is averaging 10.3 points, 1.9 rebounds and 1.1 assists. Since being traded to Sacremento Marcus Thornton is averaging 20.9 points, 4.6 rebounds and 3.4 assists. This raises two questions.
First, why was Thornton the one who was traded and second, why is Belinelli starting in the first place.
New York Knicks: Jared Jeffries
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Do you see Jeffries in the picture there, watching the dunk. Jared Jeffries is about intimidating in the middle as me.
The completely unrealistic expectations of adding Deron Williams or Chris Paul to the team aren't going to change that. What the Knicks need is a big man who plays defense and gets rebounds. For all his talents, Amar'e Stoudemire's aren't those two things.
What the Knicks need is a real NBA center that would allow Stoudemire to assume his more natural position of power forward.
Oklahoma City Thunder: Thabo Sefolosha
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Thabo or not Thabo, that is the question. And the answer is yes.
The Oklahoma City Thunder are the most set team for the long term with their starting five. Thabo is not so much the "worst" of the Thunder's starting five as he is the "least good."
The thing I really like about the Thunder since the trade is that they have a defensive mindset. Thabo is a part of that mindset, but combined with Serge Ibaka and Kendrick Perkins, the tide is tipped. And when they need that third scorer they have James Harden to come off the bench.
If there's a team that can challenge the Lakers in the West, it's the Thunder.
Orlando Magic: Hedo Turkoglu
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Hedo should change his name to Hedon't. He's not worth the money he's getting paid. He's not worth a starting spot.
While there's been a lot of talk about how he's better with Orlando, it's not true. Per 36 minutes, his scoring is down 1.2 and his rebounding is down 0.2. His assists are up 2.1, so that's a good sign.
Overall, he's at best an average small forward, but that's being generous. His defense is less than average. He's only won 19 of his 42 matchups in terms of efficiency by the opposing small forward. The Magic are 11-12 when Hedo loses his personal matchup.
With the Magic, their scheme is all outside or inside. Apart from Jason Richardson who only has 18 percent of his shots in the paint, they have no one who can create their own shots. They need a small forward who can play like a wing man and Turkoglu is not that guy.
Philadelphia 76ers: Spencer Hawes
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Spencer Hawes has a PER of 14.1 and an opponent PER of 19.4. The 76ers need an upgrade at center. That up upgrade could come in the form of an improved version of Hawes.
In the games I've seen with Philadelphia I haven't noticed a lack of effort from Hawes, but the effort isn't applied where on the court it needs to be applied. He doesn't seem to want to be in the paint, offensively or defensively. He's a player that could actually be better by hitting the gym, and getting the mindset to deliver and absorb contact.
If he takes those steps he could become a real asset to the team. If not, he's a debt.
Phoenix Suns: Jared Dudley
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Jared Dudley is an effort guy and has already done more than you could expect him to with his physical ability. It's hard to believe that even Dudley can get much more out of Dudley and frankly, they need a lot more out of the shooting guard position.
A mere 10.2 points per game is just not enough for an offensive oriented team.
Portland Trailblazers: Nicolas Batum
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Nicolas Batum got plenty of inquiries before the trade deadline. When other players are asking about your worst starter, that's a good sign for your starting five.
The Trailblazers have a very deep team and the addition of Gerald Wallace gives them so much flexibility that they can create a mismatch for almost anyone in the NBA.
Batum might be the worst starter, but that's only a technicality. They don't need to get rid of anyone.
Sacramento Kings: Francisco Garcia
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Francisco Garcia isn't very good and he isn't going to get any better. There's really not a whole lot to discuss.
Perry Jones has been a player that has come up in some mock drafts for the Kings. If they can get a kid like that to go with the young talent they already have, they could be a team that is winning for the next six or seven years.
Depending on whether the Clippers are able to stay together (they won't), the Lakers might be the third best team in So-Cal in a few years.
San Antonio Spurs: Tiago Splitter
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I am probably not going to endear myself to the San Antonio community here, but the Spurs are in trouble for the postseason. I just don't see Splitter and DeJuan Blair matching up against Andrew Bynum for a seven game series, and because of that I don't see them getting past Los Angeles.
They've done a commendable job for getting as far as they have with who they have, but they need an improvement at center to get back to the NBA finals.
Toronto Raptors: Andrea Bargnani
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Bargnani might be the leading scorer on Toronto, but don't confuse that with being the best player. He's mostly a volume scorer. He's a seven foot center who averages less than six rebounds per game. Derrick Rose has more rebounds and more blocks than he does.
Not only that, only 20 percent of his points are inside the paint. His opponent PER is 21.3. He's a soft defender, weak inside. I mean, what about this guy makes anyone think he's a player to build around?
I have no idea.
Utah Jazz: Raja Bell
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If you read the Lakers slide you know that the only starting NBA player with a lower PER than Derek Fisher is Raja Bell. Unlike Fisher though, Bell really has no redeemable qualities.
He's got an undeserved reputation as a good defender. He isn't.
Based on Synergy, his points per play against is 0.99 which makes him the 390th ranked defender in the NBA. Somebody needs to at least try and unring this bell. Get a real shooting guard in there. Even Keith Bogans is better.
Washington Wizards: Maurice Evans
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What a prize the Wizards got in Jordan Crawford! He's really been a revelation with Washington. Between he, Wall and McGee, there's a good young nucleus.
Andre Blatche plays out of the world for patches, but he's about as consistent as a nonagenarian with IBD. At least he plays well sometimes though.
That leaves Evans as the worst starting player on the Wizards. If the Wizards can get yet another athletic and explosive player on the wing, they would be a nightmare to defend, and that might make Blatche more consistent in the middle.
To be perfectly honest, I'm not sure that Flip Suanders is the best choice to be coaching this team either. I would love to see a guy like Brad Davies take over this young team.
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