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Dion Waiters was playing however, and he made sure people were aware of that fact. Early in the 2nd quarter, the rookie drove to the basket and threw down a powerful dunk over the “Birdman” Chris Andersen. Waiters finished with 16 points, but the Heat snuck out of Cleveland with a 96-95 victory.

March 1, 2013; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Wizards shooting guard Bradley Beal (3) dunks the ball against the New York Knicks in the second quarter at Verizon Center. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

As the NBA season reaches the end, I know many teams want to go back to the previous offseason and take back some of the contracts they offered (Beasley’s three-year, 18 million to Phoenix), or a trade (New Orleans trade of Jarrett Jack) that effected them negatively. Here, I wanted to do something similar, but with the draft. Overall, I would say that this year’s rookie class has been average at best. Portland guard Damian Lillard has been in the spotlight for most of the season, but guys like New Orleans forward Anthony Davis, Charlotte forward Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, and Washington guard Bradley Beal have also shined. The biggest surprise has to be Detroit center Andre Drummond, who went from an unknown to a fan favorite in less than two months.

After those five? It’s really been a gamble. Thomas Robinson went fifth to Sacramento, and got traded to Houston before the trade deadline, Harrison Barnes (7th overall to Golden State) has been lackluster for the past two months, Terrance Ross (8th to Toronto) is shooting just 40%, and Austin Rivers (10th to New Orleans) was having the worst rookie season ever before an injury ended his season. This draft class has the upside to be a great draft, but it’s been off to a terrible start. That being said, here is what I believe would’ve happened if the 2012 NBA draft would’ve went down today.

1. New Orleans Hornets

Original Pick: Anthony Davis | New Pick: Anthony Davis

New Orleans sticks with its original pick. The Hornets won the lottery, and the right to select Anthony Davis, and they keep with that notion. Over his rookie season, Davis has battled concussions and shoulder issues, but when he’s suited up, he’s looked impressive. After growing six inches between his high school junior and senior years, the one concern I had about Davis was how he would match up against other big men. Not only has he been able to stay in front of opposing NBA big men, but he’s also showing that he’ll contest their shot, averaging 2.3 blocks per 36 minutes. Needless to say, Davis will continue to grow into his body, and that could make him a legitimate All-Star talent for the Hor….er, Pelicans.

2. Charlotte Bobcats

Original Pick: Michael Kidd-Gilchrist | New Pick: Andre Drummond

Michael Kidd-Gilchrist has looked good in his rookie season, but even he wasn’t touching Drummond. Even though the collective basketball fans took to twitter for the #FreeDrummond campaign, Drummond still averaged 7.5 points and 7.4 rebounds per game. When you look at his PER 36 numbers, Drummond averaged 13.7 points, 13.6 rebounds, 1.0 steals, and 1.7 blocks. The two things about Drummond that stood out to me was his ability to dominate in the pick-and-roll, scoring on 37 of his 55 total attempts, but he’s been active on the defensive end as well, showing his ability to be a bit of a defensive anchor. As Drummond develops, it’ll be interesting to see if he becomes a dominant center in this league, as he has all the tools to do so.

3. Washington Wizards

Original Pick: Bradley Beal | New Pick: Bradley Beal

One of the few picks to keep the same. The Wizards took Beal as a backcourt mate with John Wall, and so far, the results were so-so. In Wall’s return to the team, Beal’s scoring has increased, and he just looks more comfortable having someone create for him. Not only has Beal’s field-goal percentage increase, but rebounding numbers jumped as well. Going into next season, Beal still has little kinks to get out of his game; he’s a respectable defender, but still gets engulfed by screens, and his jumper, while good, seems to be a bit off, Beal will rise in the ranks of shooting guards, and could become something like Hornets’ guard Eric Gordon.

4. Cleveland Cavaliers

Original Pick: Dion Waiters | New Pick: Harrison Barnes

The Cavaliers shocked many on draft day, going with Syracuse guard Dion Waiters. In the re-draft, the Cavaliers go with Harrison Barnes. While Barnes’ numbers aren’t spectacular (13.1 points, 5.6 rebounds PER 36), he plays with two players who aren’t big on creating. In Cleveland, not only would Barnes get plenty of scoring opportunities, but he’d also be the perfect wing to catch-and-shoot on the wings opposite Kyrie Irving. Moving forward, I think Barnes will continue to develop into a versatile offensive player, but the defensive ability is what intrigues me. With a large wingspan, quick feet, and above-average intelligence, Barnes has the upside to become an elite defender.

5. Sacramento Kings

Original Pick: Thomas Robinson | New Pick: Damian Lillard

It’s so tough to re-draft for Sacramento because their original selection, Thomas Robinson, was trade just five months after being picked. However, there’s one guy that fits ; and his name is Damian Lillard. Going into the season, Sacramento had Jimmer Fredette, Isaiah Thomas, and a recently acquired Aaron Brooks to run the point guard position. The re-selection of Lillard gives Sacramento a point guard who can not only move the basketball, but also provides a leader on the floor. Unless someone explodes the next ten games, Lillard (19.0 points, 6.5 assists, .549 TS%) will win the award for this season’s best rookie, and moving forward, I believe Lillard could become one of the league’s top 10 point guards. While his age limits his upside a bit, Lillard looks to be a respectable guard for years to come.

6. Portland Trail Blazers

Original Pick: Damian Lillard | New Pick: Andrew Nicholson

With Lillard off to Sacramento, the biggest losers in this re-draft, the Portland Trail Blazers, has a couple of options. For this re-draft, I’m giving them Andrew Nicholson for many reasons. The first reason is it saves Blazers fans from the struggle of watching J.J. Hickson put up great numbers while not being actually good. The second reason has to do more with Nicholson’s game; he’s actually a pretty good player. For Orlando, Nicholson couldn’t find himself in the starting lineup but in those reserve minutes, Nicholson has shown the tools to be a solid offensive player. Per 36 minutes, Nicholson has averaged 17.7 points and 7.4 rebounds. When watching Nicholson play, he reminds me of Carl Landry, and if he can become an average defender, Nicholson will have a respectable NBA career.

7. Golden State Warriors

Original Pick: Harrison Barnes | New Pick: Michael Kidd-Gilchrist

One of the biggest benefactors in this re-draft is Golden State. Michael Kidd-Gilchrist falls from second overall to seventh, partially because of team needs, but mainly because Andre Drummond and Andrew Nicholson. In his first season, Kidd-Gilchrist has looked good as an offensive small forward (12.7 points, 7.8 rebounds PER 36), but his ability to fit so many roles is what has me excited for his future. In his short tenure with the Bobcats, Kidd-Gilchrist has shown the ability to defend shooting guards and small forwards, battle for rebounds with power forwards, and defend point guards on the perimeter. Coming out of Kentucky, Kidd-Gilchrist has shown leadership traits, and as Charlotte rebuilds, MKG will be a valuable contributor.

8. Toronto Raptors

Original Pick: Terrance Ross | New Pick: Dion Waiters

Another tricky team. The Raptors could use a big man who could team up with Jonas Valanciunas, but with Andrea Bargnani and Amir Johnson, I think they go with Dion Waiters, who could’ve been the perfect fit for Toronto, mainly because of his ability to score like a shooting guard, and his ability to handle the ball could’ve gotten Waiters some time at point guard. Waiters has looked good at times in his rookie season, but my biggest question about him is what is his long-term role in the NBA. One of my biggest issues with Cleveland selecting him at 4 was that it seemed like he was the perfect sixth man. Regardless, Waiters has a niche in the league; his ability to score the basketball, and he shows some inkling of wanting to be an all-around shooting guard. If Waiters can become a more efficient player (.493 TS%), then Waiters will be well worth the fourth overall pick.

9. Detroit Pistons

Original Pick: Andre Drummond | New Pick: John Henson

Thanks to Drummond’s explosion, he’s not available for the Pistons at 9. However, John Henson is here, and the Pistons make him the pick. Coming out of North Carolina, Henson was the string bean power forward with the ability to defend small forwards and power forwards, and before Anthony Davis dominated college ball in his only season as a collegian, Henson was the player we seemed enamored with. While Henson’s numbers aren’t great, his advanced numbers (16.7 points, 12.3 rebounds, 1.5 blocks per game) are spectacular. Henson still has to develop, but he reminds me of Andrei Kirilenko. As Henson gets more playing time, his defensive ability should allow him to stay on the court, and that should help him figure out his offensive game as well.

10. New Orleans Hornets

Original Pick: Austin Rivers | New Pick: Meyers Leonard 

The Hornets took Austin Rivers 10th overall and within weeks, found another player to play his role in Brian Roberts. Going back, the Hornets stay in the frontcourt and go with another explosive big man in Meyers Leonard. With Anthony Davis penciled in at power forward for the next decade, why not take his counterpart in the frontcourt? Coming out of Illinois, Leonard was seen as this supreme athlete, but also a bit of a mean streak. For the Blazers this season, Leonard has seen spot minutes, but his athleticism has shined through, and he doesn’t look awful on defense. Moving forward, Leonard has to be more active on the boards, and that could make him a starting center in this league for the next 8-10 years.

11. Portland Trail Blazers

Original Pick: Meyers Leonard New Pick: Kendall Marshall

With Lillard and Leonard being off the board, the Blazers have some decisions to make. First, they took Andrew Nicholson to beef up the frontcourt, and now, Portland goes with Kendall Marshall to run the team. Coming out of North Carolina, Marshall was seen as the perfect uptempo point guard. His ability to find the open man was special; allowing many people to throw comparisons to Jason Kidd and Mark Jackson on Marshall. However, there are a few questions I need Marshall to answer. Can he become a solid defensive player in an era of great point guards, and can he become enough of an offensive threat to get his teammates open. If he can solidify both, Marshall should have a successful NBA career.

12. Houston Rockets

Original Pick: Jeremy Lamb | New Pick: Jeremy Lamb

This is the toughest and easiest pick for me. Lamb was traded to Oklahoma City, and has yet to show why he selected in the lottery. However, he was then flipped to Oklahoma City in a package for James Harden. I don’t think Houston goes with anyone else here. In his rookie season, Lamb has seen his time split between the NBA and the NBADL, primarily because of Oklahoma City’s depth in the backcourt. Between Reggie Jackson, Kevin Martin, and Derek Fisher (I wish I was kidding), Lamb has seen spot minutes at best for the Thunder. However, if Oklahoma City loses Martin this offseason, I’m curious to see what Lamb brings to the table in the bench role. Coming out of Connecticut, Lamb was a monster athlete on both sides of the ball. His jumper still needs improvement, but he seems to be a classic UConn wing player, who has the tools to offer defense and intelligence to that OKC second unit, when his minutes increase.

13. Phoenix Suns

Original Pick: Kendall Marshall | New Pick: Terrence Ross 

The Suns went after Eric Gordon last summer, so the wing position was somewhat of a need. Instead of drafting Kendall Marshall to back up Goran Dragic, the Suns add Terrance Ross to help build up a wing position that’s currently fronted by Shannon Brown, Jared Dudley, Michael Beasley, P.J. Tucker, and Wesley Johnson. Moving forward for Terrance Ross, I almost feel bad for him. With DeMar DeRozan and Rudy Gay ahead of him, it’s tough envisioning him leapfrogging either of them. What intrigues most about Ross is his frame and his ability to shoot the basketball. Ross is now shooting 40% from the field, but coming out of school, he seemed like a great shooter. Ross may never profile to be anything better than a role player, but I think with his shooting ability, he could be a huge asset for Rudy Gay, mainly because he could find himself open for a ton of corner threes.

14. Milwaukee Bucks

Original Pick: John Henson | New Pick: Terrence Jones

Sorry Thomas Robinson, I went with Terrence Jones here for the Bucks. While Terrence Jones is still flipping for the NBADL and NBA for the Houston Rockets, I still believe he has the tools to be a great talent for Houston in the future. At Kentucky, he showed me two things that impressed me. The first was his ability to adapt. He started as a small forward at Kentucky, moved to power forward, and still had moderate success. Not only did he do well on the offensive end, but he was solid on the defensive end at both position. The second thing that impressed me was that he just seemed tough. Battling for rebounds, fighting for loose balls, defending on the perimeter, he just seemed like a grinder, and whether he is or not, showing it was enough for me. As Jones progresses in his rookie season, I think he has the upside of an NBA starter, as long as he improves his jumper. If Jones can become a solid three-point shooter, I think he can find himself in the rotation as early as next season.

What do you think about the draft redo?

Feb 17, 2013; Houston, TX, USA; Recording artists Jay-Z (left) and Beyonce in attendance in the first quarter of the 2013 NBA all star game at the Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

“Ladies and gentlemen, this is a public service announcement, sponsored by Fansided.com and the good folks at Saving The Skyhook… ‘Fellow Americans, it is with the utmost pride and sincerity that I present this article, as a living testament and recollection of history in the making during our generation.’”

Those are the lyrics to Jay-Z’s Public Service Announcement with a little variation on my end. You might be wondering why I would begin this post with song lyrics but on a day like today it’s appropriate.

According to a report from ESPN’s Darren Rovell, rapper/entrepreneur Jay-Z will be starting his own sports representation agency. The agency will be known as Roc Nation Sports and Rovell notes that New York Yankees second baseman, Robinson Cano, is first in line to be represented.

Apparently being one of the best rappers of all time, having a share in the Brooklyn Nets franchise, aiding in the production of NBA 2k13, and being married to Beyonce (whom he has a child with) isn’t enough for Mr. Carter. Then again, when you have the kind of money those two do, you have to find something to do with it.

While the first to be represented is a baseball player, it would be almost laughable to assume that guys throughout the NBA won’t want in on this. I’m assuming that the most obvious players to show interest will be his own but it won’t stop there. Jay-Z has formed friendships with numerous players throughout the league (i.e. Lebron James, Chris Paul, Kobe Bryant, etc.) and he, without a doubt, has access to 99.9% of all NBA athletes. With that in mind, I’m predicting that within the next one to three years there will be at least one player from each NBA franchise that is affiliated with RNS.

Personally I think it’s great that a world renowned celebrity has become somewhat of a symbol for the NBA. He is responsible for bringing the Nets to Brooklyn and the team has realized success in one of New York’s most popular burrows. As far as Roc Nation Sports is concerned, it’s pretty safe to say that this firm will be highly successful, especially when you consider the interest Cano has on the first day of it’s existence. Jay-Z has taken the NBA by storm and he’s done nothing but positive things for the league. With David Stern stepping down from his role as commissioner in 2014, don’t be surprised if Adam Silver loses his nearly guaranteed inheritance to a man by the name of Sean Carter. But allow me to reintroduce him, his name is Hov.

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We all thought the Cavs’ misfortunes in the late 80s was purely a result of the Greatest Ever, MJ himself, bursting onto the NBA superstardom scene in a long series of destroying Cleveland with his legendary clutch play, including the oft-mentioned running jumper against the Cavs on a series-clinching buzzer beater in 1989 (known as “The Shot”).  Turns out a full-on curse spanning two and a half decades has translated all the way to this day, most infamously when today’s greatest NBA player, LeBron James, decided to take his talents to South Beach.

And in their latest morale blow, the Cavs blew a 27-point lead that just so happened to be against LeBron and the reigning NBA champs in the 4th quarter. Because, you know, the Cavs could use more gut-wrenching, soul-crushing defeats – especially against a former legendary ally that betrayed them.

Mar 20, 2013; Cleveland, OH, USA; Miami Heat small forward LeBron James (6) walks to the bench during a timeout in the second quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports

Worst of all, LeBron once again showed the Cavs fans – in Cleveland – what they’ve been missing since his departure, posting another triple-double with 25 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists.  Not quite his monster 48-point performance in his first return to Cleveland since The Decision, but impressive nonetheless.  When Cleveland showed some resolve after their severe implosion, they cut Miami’s lead to one with just under five seconds left in the game.  And to add insult to injury, the refs made a very dubious call after the ball went out of bounds with two seconds left; the video replay showed LeBron knocking the ball out of bounds, yet possession was somehow granted to the Heat.  Cleveland had one more shot to send the game into OT, but CJ Miles’ three-point attempt clanked off the rim – a fittingly symbolic imagery of the continuing misfortunes of this team.

That just seems to be the trend with this Cleveland franchise – they show glimpses of hope, but there just seems to be one bad break after another that sets them back.  The fact that this perceived curse spans the generations of Michael Jordan AND LeBron James speaks volumes about how eerily bad the Cavs’ luck has been for several years.

This is the latest misfortune of yet another rough season for Cleveland post LBJ.  We all know how bad they’ve been since LeBron’s departure.  Hell, some even argue that David Stern felt so bad for them that he fixed the 2011 lottery to help Cleveland land their newest promising All-Star in Kyrie Irving.  Their bad luck has translated to both long and short-term affairs – the long-term ones being free agency (or lack thereof) and health (another lack thereof), the short-term being in games.  Even in the game vs. Miami tonight, their two best players (and arguably their two lone bright spots) in Irving and Dion Waiters were out with injuries.  Irving will likely sit out the rest of the season with an injured shoulder, an injury which took major zest out of the Cavs’ season.  And despite Irving’s All-Star season up to that point, the Cavs were still among the league’s worst.  Now without both Irving and Waiters, as well as a prior season-ending injury to Anderson Varejao, it’s difficult to imagine a positive outlook for the rest of the season and beyond.  When it comes to both in-game luck as well as health, the Cavs can never seem to catch a break.

The lesson here is, if you think your team has had some bad luck, you would be wrong – unless you are in Ohio.  And for all the sports analysts that will ramble on and on tomorrow about how this streak will affect the Heat, please stop and consider talking about the worst of Miami’s victims during this winning streak.

To all Cavaliers fans:  you will always have my deepest sympathy.  That is, until you get 25 years of good luck to balance the last quarter-century out.

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Coach of the Year: Mark Jackson

In my opinion, Golden State Warriors’ head coach, Mark Jackson, should be the man to receive Coach of the Year honors. While he isn’t a “landslide candidate,” he has certainly made a case as to why he should be one of the front runners. Jackson enjoyed a very successful 17 year career in the NBA. A career that saw him win Rookie of the Year, receive one All-Star bid, and lead the league in assists in 1997. He was a floor general that truly understood the game in its entirety. If his playing career isn’t proof enough when it comes to deciding whether he knows the game or not, consider his broadcasting stint with ESPN. Whenever you tuned in to an NBA game aired on ESPN, you could fully expect to hear Jackson dissecting both the players and the action. He could explain a sequence of plays to the casual fan in mere minutes.

When I heard that Jackson would be patrolling the sidelines for the Warriors, I was excited to see what he could do at the helm of an organization. In his first year as head coach in Oakland, Jackson’s squad managed to produce a 23-43 record in the lockout shortened season. A poor season to say the least, their dismal record translated to a .348 winning percentage for the season. In turn, the Warriors found themselves in fourth place in the Pacific Division when the season came to a close.

January 21, 2013; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors head coach Mark Jackson (right) argues with referee Marc Davis (8) during the fourth quarter against the Los Angeles Clippers at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Clippers 106-99. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

At this point you’re probably wondering what last season’s numbers have to do with THIS year’s Coach of the Year award. Well, it has a lot to do with it actually. Jackson has taken this cellar dweller team and has turned them into a quiet contender in the Western Conference after just one off season of changes. So far this year, the Warriors have managed to post a 33-23 record through 56 games. In 10 fewer games, Golden State has already surpassed last season’s win total by 10. They have also shaved off 20 games worth of losses from last season’s loss column.

Right now, the Warriors have played well enough to earn themselves a .589 winning percentage which is an exceptional turn around from last year’s .348. If they continue to win at this clip, Jackson’s team is on pace to finish off the year at 48-34. Had last season been a full one, the team would’ve finished with a 28-54 record over 82 games. 20 games up and 20 games down in the win and loss column respectively is an incredible improvement between seasons. 56 games into the 2012-13 campaign, Golden State is sitting somewhat comfortably in the 5th seed spot in the Western Conference. Obviously, barring any major issues, this young team is set to make the playoffs this year, something they couldn’t do in 2011-12.

Mark Jackson is a more than worthy candidate for this year’s Coach of the Year award. As I said before, he turned his club from a losing team into a team that is on its way to the post season. Personally, I love his philosophy: If you play hard and give him 110% on the defensive end, you have the green light on offense. That’s good news for the group of shooters he has in Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, and rookie Harrison Barnes. However, I have a feeling he’d still let Curry and Thompson launch it from downtown if they were playing mediocre defense. Without those two scoring the heck out of the ball, they may not have won as many games as they have. With all the great work and success Jackson is realizing in Oakland this season, don’t be surprised if his name is etched in the 2012-13 Coach of the Year trophy at the conclusion of the regular season.

Rookie of the Year: Damian Lillard

New Orleans Hornets center Anthony Davis hasn’t exactly lived up to all of his hype just yet. Whether he has been injured or just not producing consistently at a high rate, he hasn’t warranted all of the RoY talk. Don’t get me wrong, Davis will be a star in this league for years to come but he won’t be this year’s best rookie. As a matter of fact, that honor will more than likely go to Portland Trail Blazers’ point guard, Damian Lillard.

Perhaps the biggest reason for all of Lillard’s success is the one nobody really talks about. This young man has experience. He played all four years in college and that allowed him to develop into the player he is today. All of his time at Weber State gave him a quiet advantage over a lot of the guys that entered the draft alongside of him. The Blazers took Lillard with the 6th overall pick and not a single guy picked ahead of him was a four year college player. Thomas Robinson was the 5th overall pick and he played at Kansas University up until his junior year. Each selection before Lillard and Robinson were either freshmen or sophomores.

Feb 27, 2013; Portland, OR, USA; Portland Trail Blazers point guard Damian Lillard (0) drives past Denver Nuggets point guard Ty Lawson (3) at the Rose Garden. Mandatory Credit: Craig Mitchelldyer-USA TODAY Sports

Lillard’s extra time at school has been a major factor in how he has translated his game from the NCAA to the pros so seamlessly. According to NBA.com, Lillard is the first player in NBA history to score 900 points and hit 100 plus 3-pointers in his first 50 career games. Not only that, he became the first player since Lebron James to accumulate 1000 points and 300 assists in his first 55 games. Anytime you find yourself in the same company as Lebron, you know you’re doing something right. How many rookies can say that they’ve done what Lillard has done this year? Absolutely zero.

Through 60 games, the rookie has posted 18.6 points per game on 42% from the field and 35% from distance. Perhaps what’s the most impressive about his offense is that he is the only rookie in the league averaging over 15 a game. In addition to his scoring numbers, he dishes out a little more than 6 assists per game while handing the ball over to the opposition 2.97 times per contest. Those two figures translate to a 2.14 assist to turnover ratio which is an exceptional number for a rookie point guard.

Watching Lillard play is a real treat. If you had never heard of him and saw him play, you’d figure he was a 4 year player. He knows exactly what he’s doing out there on the court and shows a maturity beyond his years. He hardly forces the issue on offense and understands when he has the shot. I noticed that he isn’t bashful when it comes to shooting the ball. Lillard has a lot of confidence in his jumpshot and he should. A quick release makes it hard to defend and it falls at a relatively good clip. Damian Lillard is a special player and the only reason why he “fell” to 6th overall in the draft is because New Orleans, Washington, Charlotte, Cleveland, and Sacramento all have their point guards for the future. We should all fully expect to see this kid in numerous All-Star games and he’s going to end up doing great things in Oregon. Lillard will win Rookie of the Year by a landslide.

Sixth Man of the Year: J.R. Smith

Choosing the winner of the 2012-13 Sixth Man of the Year award was the most difficult to choose. The decision ultimately came down to either Jamal Crawford of the Los Angeles Clippers or Smith, a two-guard for the New York Knicks.

If you were to compare the current season’s stats of the veteran shooting guards, you’d notice that Smith has the edge in most of the major statistical categories. However, I will admit that Crawford is a much more efficient scorer as his percentages prove. If you look at the player as a whole though, Smith brings more production to the floor. Smith has a stat line of 16.2 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 2.8 APG, 1.3 SPG, and 0.3 BPG. Crawford owns a stat line of 17.1 PPG, 1.7 RPG, 2.5 APG, 1.1 SPG, and 0.1 BPG. As you can see, Smith gives the Knicks more overall production than Crawford gives to Lob City. Crawford has never been known for much more than his scoring and ball handling throughout his career. He is an extremely talented player and I would take him on my team any day, unless I could choose Smith.

Mar. 7, 2013; New York, NY, USA; New York Knicks shooting guard J.R. Smith (8) looks to dribble the ball around Oklahoma City Thunder point guard Reggie Jackson (15) during the second half at Madison Square Garden. Thunder won 95-94. Mandatory Credit: Debby Wong-USA TODAY Sports

After watching J.R. Smith play during most of his career, his averages honestly tell the story of his game. Smith is a stat sheet stuffer and he’s going to give you 110% night in and night out (Mark Jackson would love him). There aren’t all that many shooting guards that pull down almost 5 and a half rebounds per game but I’ve realized that seeing this guy collect double digit rebounds in a game isn’t all that foreign. As recently as March 3rd, Smith corralled 12 rebounds in a game against the Miami Heat. Miami doesn’t have a true inside presence but its also not easy to rebound the ball with a guy like Lebron James trying to pull it away from you.

Overall, Smith can offer more to a team than Crawford can. I’ve seen J.R. play anywhere from point guard to small forward. He is unbelievably athletic and quick enough to guard the smallest guards but he’s also tough enough to guard bigger small forwards. Not only that, he isn’t afraid to get his hands dirty underneath the basket after the shot goes up. His quickness also helps him stay in front of the ball handler and get into the passing lanes for easy steals and fast break points. These are all things you’re not going to see from Jamal Crawford on a nightly basis. Both guys can go off for 30 points one night but only one of them can grab 10 rebounds and register 3-4 steals the next. It will be close between these two, numbers don’t lie though. That is why J.R. Smith will be this season’s Sixth Man of the Year.

Most Improved Player: Greivis Vasquez

I can honestly say that Greivis Vasquez has shocked me with how well he’s been playing this season. He came out of nowhere and he’s starting to show what he can be in this league. Between him and Anthony Davis, the New Orleans faithful have a lot to be excited about in the future. Through 62 games this season, the Maryland product is doing things that nobody could have predicted prior to the season.

First and foremost, Vasquez is averaging 9.4 assists per game which is good enough for 3rd best in the league. He’s in pretty good company as the two men in front of him are Chris Paul and Rajon Rondo. How far is he from the number one spot though? Essentially, it’s him and Chris Paul dueling for the assist crown since Rondo tore his ACL and will miss the remainder of the season as we all know. Technically you could say Chris Paul is in first with 9.5 and Vasquez is second with 9.4. I’m completely ok with putting it that way and that’s coming from a Celtics fan. Anyways, you did read those numbers correctly. Greivis Vasquez, of all players, is trailing the best in the business by a tenth of an assist a night. Pretty impressive for a guy who only averaged 5.4 dimes per contest last season.

Mar 4, 2013; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Hornets guard Greivis Vasquez (21) and New Orleans Hornets forward Ryan Anderson (33) in action against the Orlando Magic during the game at New Orleans Arena. Mandatory Credit: Tyler Kaufman-USA TODAY Sports

Assists aren’t the only category he has improved in however, as he is averaging career highs in minutes per game, 3-point%, rebounds per game, and points per game. A lot of people argue that all of his career highs are just a product of getting about 9 more minutes per game and that’s a reasonable argument to make. What they fail to realize is that if he’s playing more then he must be taking more threes in each game, right? So if he is taking more threes and he has a higher percentage than last year, he must have improved his jumper. Also, in 9 more minutes his assist average has increased by 4 while his turnover average has increased by less than 1. As a result, he has a better assist to turnover ratio than last year and he’s distributing the ball more effectively. That argument I mentioned before suddenly doesn’t seem so legitimate.

Greivis Vasquez has the potential to be a top 10 point guard in this league and that’s only if he isn’t already. In no way am I suggesting that he is better than the players I am about to mention, but as a point guard’s job is to pass and set up their teammates, it’s certainly interesting. Vasquez is averaging more APG than top tier point guards like Russell Westbrook, Tony Parker, Deron Williams, Kyrie Irving, etc. Granted they all do a lot more scoring than Vasquez does but hopefully you can see my point. I’m old fashion in a sense that I think the amount of assists point guards can rack up is more valuable than the points they can put on the board. I know that isn’t how the game is played today but that’s my opinion. Bottom line: unless a guy like Kenneth Faried or Earl Clark swoops in for the MIP, it’s Vasquez’s to lose.

Defensive Player of the Year: LARRY SANDERS!!!

I have to give it to him, Larry Sanders is having a heck of a year. Whether its been rebounding the ball or blocking shots, the man has been a force to be reckoned with. Essentially, my Defensive Player of the Year candidates boil down to just four players. Those players are Larry Sanders, Serge Ibaka, Dwight Howard, and my sleeper pick, Avery Bradley. Bradley isn’t likely to win it because I feel like anyone who isn’t a Celtics fan doesn’t really know just how disruptive he is on defense. I believe that he is the best on ball defender in the league but there isn’t a great number of people who think that outside of Celtics Nation.

Dwight Howard is almost laughable at this point because he has been a shell of himself the whole season. I understand that he’s been recovering from back surgery and other nagging injuries but the voters for the award aren’t going to wait for you Dwight. He is still fifth in the league in blocks per game with 2.3 but I feel like every time I watch him play, he isn’t the scary post presence he was in prior years. He’s been biting on the simplest of shot fakes and some guys aren’t as hesitant to take it to the rack when he’s in the vicinity of the paint. That was the biggest aspect of Howard’s defensive game. He was a great shot blocker but he was also a great shot alterer. Altering a players shot and giving them a worse look at the basket can be just as effective as sending their shot into the fourth row.

Feb 26, 2013; Dallas, TX, USA; Milwaukee Bucks center Larry Sanders (8) warms up before the game against the Dallas Mavericks at the American Airlines Center. The Bucks defeated the Mavericks 95-90. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

I don’t see Ibaka winning the award only because he has seemed to developed offensively to make himself a more complete player. There’s nothing wrong with that, it brings another valuable dimension to the Oklahoma City Thunder’s already potent offense. Unfortunately the award isn’t for the guy who makes their teams offense even better, it’s for the best defensive player in the league.

The man who more than deserves this accolade is Larry Sanders. Sanders is leading the league in blocks per game with a ridiculous 3.2, good enough for 3 tenths of a block more than Ibaka at 2.9. Sanders has been the defensive anchor the Milwaukee Bucks needed since their two best players are 100% offensive minded. The center out of Virginia Commonwealth has turned himself into an intimidating post presence on the defensive end. His improvement has been drastic too because at this point it isn’t exactly a huge shock when he sends back 5, 6, 7 shots in a single game. It’s more of a “shake your head and smile” kind of surprise. For good measure Sanders has been kind enough to record about a steal each game. I know, it’s not spectacular but the amount of blocks he records makes up for it. With a struggling Howard, static Ibaka, and under appreciated Bradley, look for LARRY SANDERS to take home Defensive Player of the Year honors.

Most Valuable Player: Lebron James

If you scrolled down and skipped everything else just to see who I picked to win MVP, shame on you. You all know who I’m picking, as much as I might not want to choose him, I’m not naive enough to actually pass him by. There are a few other candidates hoping to get their hands on an MVP trophy such as Kevin Durant, Chris Paul, Kobe Bryant, and Carmelo Anthony. Unless there is a massive case of “voters fatigue,” it’s not going to be this year for anyone not named Lebron James.

As of right now, James is averaging 27.0 PPG, 8.1 RPG, and 7.2 assists per game. The dude is nearly a walking triple-double which is just stupid in a good sense of the term. His 8.1 boards per game are a career high as are his 56 and 40% clips from the field and behind the arc respectively. As if Lebron wasn’t already good enough, he’s becoming a much more efficient shooter and his 3-point stroke is much improved.

Mar 6, 2013; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Heat small forward LeBron James (6) looks at the scoreboard in the game against the Orlando Magic during the second half at the American Airlines Arena. The Heat defeated the Magic 97-96. Mandatory Credit: Scott Rovak-USA TODAY Sports

Lebron, as we all know, has the ability to play every position on the floor. He runs the point and distributes the ball in a way that’s reminiscent of Magic Johnson. He has mastered the art of the no-look pass and can deliver the ball to his teammates with pinpoint accuracy. James also has an above average post game that is only getting better as he’s getting more confident in post-up situations. I guess that’s the result of working out with Hakeem Olajuwon who is known as one of the best offensive big men on the low block. There is no doubt in my mind that Lebron is working as hard as he can every single day to become the best basketball player he can possibly be.

Back to his efficiency, how does a +32.24 PER sound? To put it into perspective, the league average PER is +15.00. A big part of his efficiency comes from his assist to turnover ratio which is around a 4 and also from his sky high field goal percentages. A streak of 6 games with 30 points on at least 60% shooting will help you bump those numbers up too. Basically, what I’m trying to get at is that Lebron James is on a whole different level than everybody else in the league. Kevin Durant is close and you can never count out Kobe Bryant, Chris Paul is the best point guard and Carmelo puts his team on his back night in and night out. It’s never going to be enough as long as James is on the floor. No disrespect to Derrick Rose, but Lebron should probably be a 4-time league MVP and if he keeps it up at this rate, he could win the next 5 MVP awards. The man is scary good and unless you can find a player with the same freakishly strong, athletic body and similar skill set, Lebron will be at the summit of the Association just laughing at anyone trying to come for his crown. As much as I hate seeing him go to work against my Celtics, it’s a privilege to watch someone as good as him play the game. He may never be better than Jordan when it’s all said and done but that doesn’t mean he won’t leave us with our jaws hanging open every single night he suits up. At this point of the season, King James is your 2012-13 MVP.

Follow @TimMaclean_StS

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Shavlik Randolph

Earlier this morning, CSN’s Celtics Insider A. Sherrod Blakely broke the news:

#Celticstalk: The #Celtics have signed Shavlik Randolph to a 10-day contract.

— A. Sherrod Blakely (@SherrodbCSN) March 1, 2013

Randolph played his college ball at Duke and in 2005 he declared for the NBA Draft and went undrafted. However, the Philadelphia 76ers gave him a shot by inviting him to training camp, where he played well enough to earn a roster spot. Unfortunately, after spending three years in Philly he became somewhat of a journeyman as he bounced between three teams in the next two seasons. By 2010 he found himself out of the Association and decided to take his talents overseas. Most recently, over the course of the 2012-13 Chinese Basketball Association’s campaign, he averaged an absurd 32.0 PPG and 14.6 RPG. I bet you’re thinking he did it over just a few games and got lucky in one of those contests. That’s just simply not the case, because Randolph was able to maintain these numbers through 28 games.

July 17, 2012; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Washington Wizards player Shavlik Randolph (32) takes a free throw during the game against the Memphis Grizzlies at Cox Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

What to Expect

Shavlik Randolph will not average 32 and 14 in the NBA, I’m just getting that out of the way now. However, if given an adequate amount of minutes, I fully expect him to grab around 5-6 rebounds a game. As for his role offensively, he will probably be lucky if he averages about 4 per outing. He is definitely a capable player on the offensive end but the Celtics didn’t sign him to score the ball. Currently, Boston is ranked 29th in the NBA in rebounds per game as a unit. Enter Randolph, now the team has a 6’10, 236 pound body to throw his weight around down in the trenches.

As a member of the NBA, Randolph has posted averages of 2.4 PPG and 2.4 RPG in just a little over 8 MPG. In an odd way, I’m kind of glad that’s the case. With such low career averages, he will be free to play with practically no expectations at all. While no doubt he will be nervous playing through this 10-day contract, I think he can breathe a little easier than most due to the fact that the Celtics faithful won’t know much about him. If he under performs you’ll hear fans saying, “Well what did you expect,” and if he plays to the potential I know he has you’ll be listening to more of, “Wow, solid pickup for the C’s.” Over the next 10-days the Celtics will take on the Golden State Warriors, Philadelphia 76ers, Indiana Pacers, Atlanta Hawks, and Oklahoma City Thunder. There will be plenty of opportunity for Randolph to showcase his skills so keep an eye out for the big guy, he’ll be wearing number 42.

D.J. White

Two days ago, Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports announced that the Celtics would be signing D.J. White:

After forward D.J. White’s letter of clearance finally arrived from China, he’ll sign with Celtics in next 24 hours, sources tell Y! Sports.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) February 27, 2013

D.J. White was selected 29th overall in the 2008 NBA Draft by the Detroit Pistons. He is only one year removed from the NBA as he played for the Charlotte Bobcats last season. For the majority of this year’s campaign, White found himself suiting up for the Shanghai Sharks of the CBA. Like Randolph, White also dominated in China this season posting per game averages of 21 and 10.

March 7, 2011; Charlotte, NC, USA; Charlotte Bobcats forward DJ White (8) drives to the basket while playing against the Los Angeles Clippers at Time Warner Cable Arena. Mandatory Credit: Sam Sharpe-USA TODAY Sports

What to Expect

White is a bruising 6’9, 250 pound forward who was also brought on to help on the boards. For his career, he averages 16.2 MPG and produces about 6 points and 3 rebounds in that time. Although he sports a 50% FG for his career, don’t look for him to light up the score board. While it is refreshing that he can score rather efficiently, his focus will be on defense and rebounding the basketball. Unlike Randolph, I expect White to come out with a good amount of confidence. He’s played against and alongside the best the league has to offer. With that said, he should fit in somewhat seamlessly as he already knows what to expect from most players. Most importantly, though, White is going to bring more toughness to the floor. Earlier this season, Doc Rivers had accused his team of being soft. Since then they have gotten tougher and have been more aggressive but there is still room for improvement. When Sullinger went down I started seeing players boxing out for rebounds even less. Sully was really the only one who would drive his man out of the way to get the rebound. D.J. White will take the floor and look to put a body on somebody right away.

Terrence Williams

What started out as a 10-day contract turned into a full-time gig:

Celtics will sign Terrence Williams for rest of season and conditionally for 2013-’14, league source tells Y! Sports.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) March 1, 2013

When Terrence Williams signed his 10-day contract with the Celtics, I saw it as a perfect opportunity for him. The Celtics needed some help at the guard position and Williams has proved to be a good fit so far in Boston. In fact, he finds himself playing alongside former teammate, Courtney Lee, and Seattle area natives, Avery Bradley and Jason Terry. I don’t think that Williams could have dreamed up a better situation for himself. If his option for next year is picked up, I am seriously interested in seeing what he will do alongside Rajon Rondo. Williams is extremely athletic and has the ability to throw it down with the best of them.

What to Expect

Williams is averaging 4.3 points and 2 assists per game so far in his short stint with the Celtics. Although the numbers might be low, he’s only been logging around 14 minutes per game. As the year goes on and he gets more practice time under his belt, his minutes will increase. Williams has surprised me with his passing skills thus far and I have a feeling he will be able to get his assist numbers to about 5 a game by season’s end. He makes the correct passes at the correct times and he hardly forces the issue.

Not only can he move the ball around effectively, he has a consistent jump shot. A small sample size of 46% and 50% from the field and behind the arc, respectively, suggests that he’s more than capable of scoring the basketball. Realistically, I think he can probably up his scoring average to around 8 PPG before the season is over. His focus right now is to be a facilitator so he won’t be doing a large amount of scoring. However, if he sticks around next year, I think he has the potential to score anywhere between 12-14 points per game with Rondo setting him up. The C’s were very fortunate to sign Williams at this point in the season. As long as he continues to be a dynamic offensive player the Celtics will be more than happy to have him.

The night I heard that Terrence Williams would be joining the Celtics, I decided to ask him how he felt about the whole situation. He told me that he hadn’t been to sleep since he received the call.

“@timmaclean_sts: @therealtwill How’d you feel when you got the call from the C’s?” Haven’t been to sleep since lol

— Terrence Williams (@TheRealTWill) February 20, 2013

I’m glad that Williams is proud to be a member of my Celtics and I’m looking forward to watching him get better each day under Doc Rivers’ tutelage. The only thing I have to say to TWill is that I hope he’s been able to get some rest, because we’re gonna need him at his best for the rest of the season.

Follow @TimMacLean_StS

Feb. 27, 2013; New York, NY, USA; Golden State Warriors point guard Stephen Curry (30) reacts on the court against the New York Knicks during the fourth quarter at Madison Square Garden. Knicks won 109-105. Mandatory Credit: Debby Wong-USA TODAY Sports

Steph Curry was a man possessed Wednesday night.

Just a night before, Curry and the Warriors were involved in a scuffle with the Indiana Pacers near the end of their game. During the mix-up, twice the Pacers’ Roy Hibbert tossed Curry to the ground. It unfortunately overshadowed what was a great performance from Curry, who scored 38 points on 70% shooting.

Despite having one of the best games of his career on Tuesday, Curry somehow topped that with his brilliant performance last night against the New York Knicks.

Playing all 48 minutes, Curry dropped 54 points, while shooting an incredible 11-13 from three. Not to mention, he also grabbed 6 rebounds and dished out 7 assists. It was a brilliant performance from the budding star. If he wasn’t widely known, among casual NBA fans, he certainly is now.

He was on fire in a way that is seldom, if ever seen in the league. He was hitting from all over the court, and in every way possible: drives to the rim, pull up threes in transition, and coming around screens and shooting off the dribble. It was a remarkable performance that anyone who watched was lucky to have seen.

Check out his shot chart and a video his incredible night below. (H/T to @HPbasketball for the video)

Unfortunately for the Warriors, Curry’s 54 was all for naught as the Knicks outlasted them in Madison Squard Garden, 109-105. Not to be lost in Curry’s brilliance was the performances from Carmelo Anthony, who scored 35 and handed out 8 assists, or Tyson Chandler, who chipped in 16 points and a remarkable 28 rebounds.

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29. Kwame Brown (Previously Unranked)
Shoot! This isn’t the timeline for bad executive decisions made by Michael Jordan; this is the top 50 player rankings. Honest mistake.

29. Kevin Garnett (Previously #19)
This straight-from-high-schooler worked out a little better than Kwame. I dropped Garnett because more often than not, it looks like he’s fighting a losing battle against father time. I still wouldn’t want to have to deal with KG in a playoff series though. There is always the chance he could turn back the hands of time and unleash some vintage Big Ticket performances while trash talking the opposition and eating Honey Nut Cheerios in the process.

28. Deron Williams (Previously #10)
Deron Williams: “Did you hear this garbage about that kid Sonny Giuliano dropping me 18 spots in his NBA player rankings?”

Deron Williams’ Publicist: “Well a lot of it has to do with the fact that you’re in the middle of your worst statistical season since your rookie year and—”

Deron Williams: “What does he know about basketball? And what do you know about basketball? You’re just here to make sure people like me.”

Deron Williams’ Publicist: “About that… you’ve got to stop getting coaches fired. You’re making my job really difficult.”

27. Jrue Holiday (Previously on Toughest Omissions)
Holiday makes the biggest jump of any of the players previously on the toughest omissions list, and for good reason. I forecasted that Jrue Holiday would make the leap into the top 50 because of the 76ers’ addition of Andrew Bynum. Well, Bynum has been busy bowling and growing out his hair to extraordinary lengths, but Holiday’s progression hasn’t slowed a bit. Holiday’s jump from mid-level point guard to arguably a top five point guard in the league has been the deciding factor in keeping the 76ers in the playoff picture after Philadelphia made a trade that left them with nothing to show for it for the time being. Thanks to Holiday (and let’s give some credit to Evan Turner and Thaddeus Young too, they’ve both come along this season as well) the 76ers are hanging around in the East, and maybe with a break or two (Rondo’s torn ACL may be one, potential roster-busting trades for the Bucks and Hawks may end up being another), we could end up seeing Jrue Holiday featured in the playoffs.

26. Paul Pierce (Previously #21)
The truth is, Paul Pierce has lost a step. You can’t tell by the numbers, but he’s definitely lost a step. He isn’t as quick off the dribble as he used to be. He can’t defend like he did in years past. He doesn’t have the spring he had in 2007. It’s his 15^th season in the league, it’s to be expected. In a lot of ways, he isn’t the same Paul Pierce he once was.

The truth is, I’m still terrified of Paul Pierce. And as a LeBron James fan, I’m still terrified of the Celtics. Even though common sense and conventional wisdom says I should be hoping for a plush 1^st round matchup against the Celtics, I’m praying Boston manages to fight out of the 8^th spot because I don’t want the Heat to have to deal with the Celtics in round one. That’s way too much stress for me way too early.

The truth is, Paul Pierce is still the truth. Even though he can’t bring his A game every night, it’s there every once in a while, and Pierce’s A game is just as dangerous as anyone else’s. That’s why I’m terrified.

25. LaMarcus Aldridge (Previously #22)
24. David Lee (Previously #50)
I have a ton of love for LA and WCW (White Chris Webber for those of you who aren’t familiar with the Shaquille O’Neal given nickname of David Lee). They are both all-star caliber power forwards who do just about anything you could want a power forward to do. But the problem is, David Lee’s point guard’s all-star credentials are greater than either of these two. I’ll be picking that nit in a minute.

23. Chris Bosh (Previously #20)
To avoid the wrath of my mother for dropping Chris Bosh in the rankings, let me use this time to say that I’m half way on Chris Bosh’s side when he claims he is a hall of famer. Sure, he might’ve went a little too far when he said he was a Hall of Famer “like four years ago”, but the case could potentially be made that the forgotten man in the Heat Big Three will indeed someday end up in Springfield. Let’s look at his résumé so far:
Career averages of 19.7 points, 9.0 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 50% FG, 80% FT… 8 time All-Star… 7^th in 2006-07 MVP voting, 12^th in 2009-10 MVP voting… One 2^nd Team All-NBA… Three seasons of at least 22 points and 10 rebounds… 3^rd best player on one Championship runner-up, and one NBA Champion

Well, maybe that isn’t the most rock-solid résumé, but consider this: It’s not a stretch that Bosh could end up one of the Top 50 all-time scorers and rebounders. It’s also not a stretch that Chris Bosh could end up with a couple of more titles. So let’s assume Bosh ends his career with 18,000 career points, 8,500 rebounds, 10 All-Star appearances, 3 NBA titles as the 3^rd best player on the team, and a few “Whoa, Chris Bosh is really important to the Heat” moments like he had last year in the playoffs. Is that good enough to make the Hall of Fame? I’d say yes. And the kind folks at www.basketball-reference.com seem to think so too. Bosh is currently the 11^th most likely active player to make the Hall of Fame. This system is a little flawed though, considering Steve Nash is currently 20^th on that list. Let’s just put the Chris Bosh Hall of Fame argument on hold for a few years, and while we’re doing that, I can pray my mom will still make me delicious dinners.

22. Joakim Noah (Previously #45)
This man is the 22^nd best player in the NBA.

Jan. 30, 2013; Phoenix, AZ, USA: Los Angeles Lakers center Dwight Howard (12) against Phoenix Suns center Marcin Gortat (4) at the US Airways Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

21. Pau Gasol (Previously #17)
20. Dwight Howard (Previously #3)
Try to contain your excitement… It’s time for another fun-sized round of “Make up fun fake trades on ESPN’s NBA Trade Machine that will likely never happen.” I can feel your excitement seeping through the computer screen. I’m a firm believer in the idea that the Lakers best move is to keep Pau, trade Dwight Howard (he’s leaving Los Angeles in six months anyways) and try to make the playoffs on the shoulders of Kobe Bryant, some added depth, and Pau Gasol when he comes back from his torn plantar fascia.

Trade #1: Los Angeles gets Kemba Walker, Gerald Henderson, Hakim Warrick and DeSagana Diop; Charlotte gets Dwight Howard.

NOTE: Realistically, this trade never comes close to happening for a myriad of reasons. But the thought of Dwight Howard (a notorious goofball; someone who has the reputation for not being nearly competitive enough) being traded from Los Angeles (where he’s been playing with the competitive player in the NBA) to Charlotte (owned by the most competitive athlete ever) makes me laugh.

Trade #2: Los Angeles gets Omer Asik, Patrick Patterson, and Chandler Parsons; Houston gets Dwight Howard.

NOTE: This is quite a bit of value the Lakers would be getting for Dwight, and enough size to survive for the period of time where Pau Gasol will be out. And wouldn’t Houston want to make this move too? The Rockets would be able to build around Dwight, the Beard and Linsanity, and they could even market Dwight as the next Hakeem (That’s just the marketing side of me thinking. The basketball fan in me is saying Dwight will never be Hakeem). As for Dwight, I can’t help but believe he would consider staying in Houston. It’s a relatively big market, features a young roster, and he would be lucky enough to be coached by one of the best low post scorers of all-time in Kevin McHale. This is a winning deal for all parties. I’m legitimately impressed with myself right now.

Trade #3: Los Angeles gets Dirk Nowitzki, Shawn Marion and Rodrigue Beaubois; Dallas gets Dwight Howard and Metta World Peace.

NOTE: Again, this is a trade that will never ever happen, but just stay with me for a minute. On one hand, Dallas is another city where Dwight would likely stay, but that’s not why I’m making this hypothetical trade. Kobe, Dirk, Marion, and Pau are all under contract through 2014. Add Nash into the mix too. Why not give those five guys a year and a half to play with each other in Los Angeles. I say we contact David Stern and convince him to put this trade into motion. He clearly has the power to do so.

One last thing: I’m sure there are some who will be critical of me for dropping Dwight Howard to 20^th. I’ve made no bones about the fact that he’s my least favorite player in the league, but that isn’t why I dropped him. Do you see what’s happening to the Lakers? It’s a damn circus in Los Angeles, and the reason is Dwight Howard. Part of my criteria for ranking the players is their reputation; “Do players like playing with him or is he despised? Does he do little things that make the team better or is he out for himself? Is he known as a hard worker and leader, or someone who doesn’t always give a crap?” The answer to each of those three questions is the latter choice. And do we know for sure how healthy Dwight is? I don’t think he’s any better than 75% healthy and that isn’t really a good sign going forward. At this point, I’d be more surprised by a three-year Dwight Howard resurgence than a three-year Dwight Howard downfall.

19. Marc Gasol (Previously #27)
18. Zach Randolph (Previously #38)
Quick tangent: I loved the Grizzlies as a potential sleeper team in the playoffs this year, just like I did last year. I don’t think I was necessarily alone in believing that either. We didn’t really have any idea how this team would come together in the postseason when all the pieces were completely healthy, but the only reasonable guess would be that they would have a lot of success since two years in a row they were a tough out in the postseason, one year without Rudy Gay, and one year with a hobbled Zach Randolph. But through free agency and some curious trades, the Grizzlies of 2011 (Zach Randolph, Rudy Gay, Marc Gasol, Mike Conley, Tony Allen, OJ Mayo, Shane Battier, Greivis Vasquez, Darrell Arthur) has been whittled down to Zach Randolph, Marc Gasol, Mike Conley, Tony Allen, a past his prime Tayshaun Prince and a few other young pieces that Grizzlies fans can only hope don’t get collective stage fright in the playoffs. What the hell went wrong?

Alright, my tangent is over. It just makes me upset that a potential Western Conference juggernaut was torn apart for no other reason besides the fact that Grizzlies ownership wanted to save money. But here is the silver lining for the Grizzlies; the fact that they have the best big man tandem in the game is enough to leave them with the smallest sliver of a chance to contend for the title. It’s microscopic, but you have to find a silver lining.

17. Derrick Rose (Previously #8)
Of all 50 players, well actually closer to 75 or so players I had to evaluate for this list, ranking Derrick Rose was my toughest task. How do you rank someone who was the league MVP in 2011, played well when he played in 2012, tore his ACL, and has missed every single game this year? It’s impossible. I kept Andrew Bynum out of the top 50 because he hasn’t played a game this season, but I couldn’t do the same to Derrick Rose.

I can’t exactly explain my rationale for why I have Derrick Rose ranked 17^th. I’m sure some people will say Rose should still be a top ten player. Others will probably say that he shouldn’t be on the list at all since he hasn’t played. I’m not sure if I ranked him properly, and I have no other explanation as to why I put him here besides that it felt right. That’s terrible journalism, but it’s true. Derrick Rose could easily return and be the same exact player he was before. But there are two major what-ifs that come into play.

What if Derrick Rose is never the player he was prior to tearing his ACL? This is the absolute worst case scenario. It would be one of the greatest sports tragedies ever if Derrick Rose, someone who thrived on track star speed, breathtaking athleticism and miles of heart couldn’t be the real Derrick Rose because of torn knee ligaments. But…

What if Derrick Rose goes Adrian Peterson on us? After what All Day just did for the Minnesota Vikings, there is a glimmer of hope that Derrick Rose can return and improbably be better than he was before. Whenever I watch Derrick Rose go down my stomach turns and I feel uneasy. But the thought of Rose returning towards the end of the year, and sparking a storybook run to the Finals is the kind of stuff that gives me goosebumps.

Until Rose returns, I have no idea how far off I am with my ranking of him. For everybody’s sake, I hope he ends up much higher than 17^th.

16. Stephen Curry (Previously #48)
We’re going two routes here. The first route is you listening to Charles Barkley rant about Stephen Curry being snubbed from the All-Star game. The second route is me ranting about Stephen Curry being snubbed from the All-Star game. So click here to listen to Chuck, and then come back for more. Ready, go!

I’ve always loved Charles Barkley, and this was the cherry on top of the metaphorical sundae. Barkley’s voice echoed the tweets of so many who were frustrated with the fact that the brightest young star on the most surprising team of the Western Conference could somehow be left off the roster of the All-Star game. And this wasn’t a sentimental “The game is being played in his city, let’s get him on the roster” kind of snub; and it wasn’t a “This is his last season, let’s get him out there one more time” snub either. This was a blatant “This guy has turned around a franchise and is having a historically good season, he should be in there” snub. Did you know Stephen Curry is on pace to become the first player in NBA history to average 20 points, 6 assists and 3 three-pointers made per game? That’s been done by exactly no one. Not to mention he’s making a somewhat absurd number of three pointers per game on 45% shooting from downtown. And his team (young, relatively inexperienced, and a general surprise) is currently in 6^th in the ultra-competitive Western Conference. What else is missing? And besides the fact that Curry’s credentials more than warrant a spot on the roster, why wouldn’t you want someone who is not only a lights out shooter, but one of the most creative offensive players in the league in a fast paced game like the All-Star game? Seriously, what the hell happened to keep Stephen Curry out of the All-Star game?

And one last thing, Collin Stucko is getting close to owing ten dollars on our “Stephen Curry will never be a top five point guard in the league.” It’s damn close.

15. Kevin Love (Previously #7)
When I talked about Andre Iguodala last week I touched on this idea that after you play with Team USA you have a breakout season. Well, we saw it from Love after his time with Team USA at the World Championships in 2010, and a potential Love breakout season in 2012-13 was one of my favorite subplots until he developed a seemingly chronic right hand injury. Was there potential of a 28-15 season for Kevin Love? I don’t think it was too farfetched.

14. Kyrie Irving (Previously #25)
In two years when LeBron is playing alongside Kyrie Irving in Cleveland, it’s going to be a really interesting debate as to who should take the last shot in a close game. Kyrie is that good. And yes, my sources are telling me LeBron will be back in Cleveland in 2014-15.

NOTE: I have no sources, but it’s fun to pretend I do.

13. Blake Griffin (Previously #14)
Try not to be too concerned with the statistical drop-off Blake Griffin has had since his rookie year. Whether people see it or not, he’s a better player now than he was then. He’s much more patient and definitely more polished offensively than he was during that breakout rookie season. And if you are worried about those numbers steadily decreasing, take a look at his minutes per game which have dropped each year as well. The good news for Blake is there is a direct correlation between his minutes and numbers dropping, but commercial appearances going up.

12. Tony Parker (Previously #16)
Last year Tony Parker got a little bit of MVP buzz that I scoffed at mainly because Skip Bayless was firmly planted on the Tony Parker bandwagon, and I didn’t like that. Well, I changed my television watching habits, and I don’t watch ESPN’s First Take anymore, so I have no idea what Skip Bayless is saying about Tony Parker. That allows me to marvel at the season Tony Parker is having without knowing I’m agreeing with Skip. The fact that Tony Parker is averaging 20.7 points and 7.7 assists for the team with the best record in the league is impressive enough. But man oh man, when I look at his shooting percentage (roughly 54%, 16th in the league) I’m left scratching my head wondering how a 6’2 Frenchman is the only point guard firmly planted in the top 40 in field goal percentage. Even though this year LeBron and Durant are on an entirely different level than anyone else, if Parker keeps this up you could talk me into putting him in the top three of MVP rankings.

February 1, 2013; New York, NY, USA; New York Knicks center Tyson Chandler (6) reacts after a dunk against the Milwaukee Bucks during the fourth quarter of an NBA game at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

11. Tyson Chandler (Previously #30)
I decided to re-do my rankings partly because it was halfway through the regular season, and it seemed logical to take the temperature of the NBA by doing something substantial like this. I also did it to try to correct any big mistakes I made in my prior rankings or in pieces I’ve written since then. When I did the Tyson Chandler section I gushed about the ability of Tyson Chandler to communicate with and motivate some less than stellar defensive players on the Knicks. Still, I might’ve underrated his defensive ability by ranking him 30^th. Apparently I didn’t learn my lesson. About a month ago when I ranked the Eastern Conference teams, I somehow let it slip my mind that Tyson Chandler (in the midst of his best season to date) should be an Eastern Conference All-Star. I have no good excuse for that one. So maybe some will see 11 as a little high for Chandler, but I had to do something to make up for the mistakes I made before.

10. Tim Duncan (Previously #28)
Admittedly I was off on Tyson Chandler. I’m not taking that same blame with Tim Duncan. How would I be able to foresee Duncan once again popping father time in the mouth and delaying the inevitable state of depressing decline? The story with Duncan is the similar to the one we’ve been seeing with Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett. Maybe that A game isn’t there every night, but when it’s there, as Kevin Garnett would say, “Anything is possible.” Call me crazy, but I think it’s possible that the Spurs can ride Tim Duncan to another NBA championship. And as great as Tony Parker has been, the Spurs need vintage Tim Duncan to contend for a title.

9. Rajon Rondo (Previously #5)
Another player extremely tough to rank considering he tore his ACL. Before the bad break against Atlanta, Rondo was in the middle of his career best statistical season which was getting very little appreciation due to the fact that the Celtics were floundering in the Eastern Conference. Now since Rondo has gone down the Celts have won 7 straight and people are forgetting the fact that their title chances have just about evaporated without Rondo in the picture. Sure, the fan in me is still terrified of the Celtics, but the realist says that without Rondo running the show the Celtics aren’t a legitimate title threat.

8. James Harden (Previously #24)
You heard it here first—James Harden for All-Star game MVP. Take that one to the bank. And how about we get James Harden in the MVP discussion? He’s not going to win, and he shouldn’t, but shouldn’t he get some credit for turning the Rockets into a playoff team and clearly proving that he is capable of being “the man” for a good team? I’d say yes.

7. Dwyane Wade (Previously #9)
I’ve moved Dwyane Wade up two spots. See, I’m capable of giving him credit when credit is due.

6. Russell Westbrook (Previously #11)
When my roommate Weston and I were watching the Thunder/Lakers game a couple weeks back we were talking about the role of Russell Westbrook for the Thunder and how he constantly waivers between being the distributor and number one option. After a few sequences of typical Westbrook play (breathtaking athleticism and offensive skill coupled with shaky decision making at times), I came to realize that being a Thunder fan has to be an absolute emotional rollercoaster. In the hypothetical scenario that I were a diehard Oklahoma City Thunder fan, I don’t know if Westbrook would be my second favorite player on the team because he’s one of the top three overqualified number two guys in the league, or my least favorite player because of the constant emotional turmoil he has to put Thunder fans through. Season ticket holders should get free therapy sessions after every ridiculous Westbrook performance.

5. Carmelo Anthony (Previously #13)
I’m approaching my self-appointed word limit, so I’m going to make this as quick as Carmelo Anthony’s release on a transition three-pointer. Carmelo has been awesome this year. The MVP talk has faded a little, but watching Carmelo heat up with a frenzied MSG crowd cheering him on is a little terrifying.

4. Kobe Bryant (Previously #6)
It’s hard not to feel for Kobe Bryant. He’s on pace to become the first player in league history to average 25+ points while in their 17^th season, yet the Lakers, which had such high expectations before the season, have turned into a complete joke. I still maintain the belief that the Lakers will make the playoffs or Kobe Bryant will die trying. Actually, let me rephrase that. I still maintain the belief that the Lakers will make the playoffs or Kobe Bryant will kill someone trying. Yeah, that sounds more realistic.

3. Chris Paul (Previously #4)
Even in defeat and still hobbled, it was evident to me on Friday night when I was at the Clippers/Heat game that Chris Paul plays the point guard position like not many others ever have. He’s in such control of everything going on and sees things differently than 99% of anyone else who plays basketball. I may have said it before and I don’t care to look and see if I did, but watching Chris Paul run the point is like watching an instruction manual of how it’s supposed to be done. The thing that stood out to me most on Friday night was how he composed himself like a general of an army. I’ve never seen a more intimidating 6 foot point guard in my life. There was one sequence where Paul obviously upset about a call and didn’t hide this from the official who made the call, and eventually hit him with a technical. But for about 10 seconds when Paul was going from pursuing the ref to getting right in his face, you could see the competitive juices flowing and that’s what separates Paul from so many others. You could see that he just wanted it more than most do.

2. Kevin Durant (Previously #2)
Durant is the only guy who is standing in the way of LeBron winning his 4^th MVP, and might be the only guy standing in the way of LeBron winning a second NBA Championship. At this point it’s hard to imagine anyone beating a LeBron James led Heat team 4 out of 7 games, but Durant is the only one who I could see being a catalyst in doing so.

1. LeBron James (Previously #1)
Not much to say here to justify why LeBron is number one, so I’ll keep it short and sweet. As I mentioned before, I was at the Clippers/Heat game on Friday night, and I’ve never been more impressed with a basketball player in my life. Keep in mind I’ve seen quite a few “great” players in my life. I’ve seen LeBron multiple times, Dwyane Wade, Shaquille O’Neal, Kobe Bryant, Dwight Howard, Pau Gasol, Karl Malone, John Stockton, Chris Bosh, Vince Carter, Carmelo Anthony, Allen Iverson, Derrick Rose, Deron Williams, Chris Paul, and Blake Griffin; and I’ve never seen someone so close to mastering the game of basketball in my life as LeBron James did on Friday night, and has been for the last, well, basically this whole season. It’s a cliché, but it was almost like watching nine guys on the floor playing one game, and LeBron playing another. It was a treat.

To go back and in just two weeks redo everything I had done previously was tough, especially considering this same task took me a few months to complete the first time around. So what you’ll see here is indeed a two-part list of the top 50 players in the NBA according to me, a fan who cares way too much for his own good. Just don’t expect nearly as many statistical nuggets, relevant notes, or total words as my initial rankings.

If you aren’t familiar with my rankings, I suggest you click here to review the criteria I used to rank the players a few months ago. So without further ado, here are the adjusted top 50 player rankings

NOTE #1: I tried not to react too much to anything that’s happened so far this year, but there are certainly going to be some changes I made that will probably draw some criticism (Hell, I’m not even completely happy with everything I did). I welcome it. The fun part about sports is that everyone is entitled to their own opinion. If we all thought the same way it wouldn’t be nearly as much fun.

NOTE #2: I sincerely hope this doesn’t end up 10,000 words, but I can’t make any promises.

Here’s who got bumped from my original top 50: You’d think in a contract year Paul Millsap (#47 previously) would be having a career year, but he’s actually having a down year compared to the previous two…Roy Hibbert (#44) is averaging 9.9 points and 8.3 rebounds, which is all fine and dandy until you consider the following four things: (1) Both of those numbers are down from last year, (2) He’s 26 years old and has no injury history, so there really isn’t a good reason why those number should be done, (3) He’s averaging a pedestrian 9.9 points on putrid 42% shooting, (4) This wouldn’t be a problem if he wasn’t 7’2 and the starting center on an eastern conference contender… Monta Ellis (#43) gets bumped because there is only so much value I can place on a guy who scores 18 points per game on 18 shots per game when he is supposed to be “the guy.” Look out for that previous sentence to appear again soon… Ricky Rubio (#42) is playing like he spent a little too much time backyard wrestling rather than playing basketball when he was rehabbing his knee… Eric Gordon (#41) has been ravaged with injuries, and until he proves he can stay completely healthy I have to keep him off the list… Does Indiana really miss Danny Granger (#36) that much?… Remember that huge game Manu Ginobili (#27) had this year? Yeah, me neither… Steve Nash (#18) just doesn’t look like Steve Nash anymore… Andrew Bynum (#15) just doesn’t look like Andrew Bynum anymore. He looks more like Frederick Douglass… Dirk Nowitzki (#12) just doesn’t look like Dirk Nowitzki anymore. But let me say this, I hate my own decision to leave him off, and I’d still want to go to war with Dirk Nowitzki in the playoffs… whatever that counts for.

Now it’s time to get to the twelve toughest omissions, in no particular order whatsoever.

Nikola Pekovic/Nikola Vucevic: Who would’ve thought that two Europeans named Nikola would be quality NBA centers?

Brandon Jennings: “There is only so much value I can place on a guy who scores 18 points per game on 18 shots per game when he is supposed to be ‘the guy.’”- Sonny Giuliano

Jan 23, 2013; San Antonio, TX, USA; San Antonio Spurs guard Tony Parker (center) looses the ball while driving to the basket against New Orleans Hornets forward Ryan Anderson (left) and Anthony Davis (right) during the second half at the AT

Ryan Anderson/Anthony Davis/Greivis Vasquez: Maybe the name is a bit of a letdown (New Orleans Pelicans isn’t completely terrible, but doesn’t Bayou Ballers have a pretty nice ring to it?), but the future is definitely bright in New Orleans. If not for nagging injuries, Davis could very well be in the rookie of the year race. Ryan Anderson is doing typical Ryan Anderson things (17 points, 7 rebounds per game, 1^st in the league in 3 pointers made). And has there been a bigger surprise this year on an individual level than Greivis Vasquez. When he was in Memphis it seemed like he was destined to thrive as an overconfident bench player. Now in a starting role, he is running a very young Hornets team and doing extremely well. The most interesting statistic of the year might be that Greivis Vasquez is 3^rd in assists this year.

Kemba Walker: Sure, Kemba might not be carrying the Bobcats on his back like he did with Connecticut a couple years ago, but he has been the second biggest bright spot for the Bobcats franchise. In case you were wondering, the biggest bright spot is the prospective name change back to Hornets, and potentially rocking the old school teal pinstripe uniforms.

J.J. Hickson: I still have a place in my heart for one of my favorite Cavaliers of the LeBron James era (soon to be continued?) and what’s not to like about Hickson? In just 29 minutes per game, J.J. Hickson is averaging 13.0 points and 10.8 rebounds, and is third in double-doubles with 26.

Omer Asik: The Billy Rosewood look-alike is making the most of his increased minutes in his first season as a Rocket. He still lacks a strong offensive game, but the big Turk rebounds the ball at a high rate and is a defensive presence in the middle.

Mike Conley: On one of the most disruptive defensive teams, it all starts with Mike Conley who has developed into one of the best defensive point guards in the league, on top of being a quality game manager and big game player. With Rudy Gay gone and Tony Allen not displaying much of an offensive repertoire, Conley will likely shoulder a larger offensive burden.

David West: The ever-changing status of David West’s value is currently sitting at “underrated.” He was a borderline All-Star this season, and was my 2nd toughest cut from the Top 50.

JR Smith: This one might draw some criticism considering JR Smith was considered by many an All-Star snub. That may be true, but it doesn’t change the fact that JR Smith is a volume scorer who shoots 40%, and has had way too many 7 for 18 type shooting nights to be considered in any higher regard.

I’m looking at this top 50 list as if it were a freezing cold swimming pool. You can’t tiptoe your way into it; you’ve got to dive right in. So here we go!

50. Jamal Crawford (Previously Unranked)
Let me start this off by saying this cut-off spot was a dead heat between JR Smith and Crawford, but there was only room for one of the two. Both Smith and Crawford have had buzz worthy seasons; each of the two got a little too much hype, and a little too much talk sounding like “Even though he’s coming off the bench he’s been the 2^nd best player for his team this year,” leading me to believe that people have quickly forgotten about reigning Defensive Player of the Year Tyson Chandler and the most marketable under 25 player in the NBA, Blake Griffin; each player benefited from a strong opening month of season (After November, JR Smith has shot 39% and Jamal Crawford has shot 40 %.) Ultimately, I decided on Crawford over Smith because I trust Crawford late in games over Smith. Plus, I like the name Jamal better than Earl.

49. Ty Lawson (Previously #46)
When Andre Iguodala came over to Denver in the offseason (we’ll be getting to him in a jiff) I expected Denver to be an offensive machine of some sort (In their defense, Denver is 4^th in the league in points per game. I guess my expectations were a little bit out of hand). Maybe I slightly overrated that pick-up. Or maybe I overrated the potential progression of Ty Lawson, whose shooting and free throw percentages have dropped.

48. John Wall (Previously #37)
The good news for sports fans in the Washington area: When John Wall is healthy and in the lineup, your team is significantly better. Smile! The bad news for sports fans in the Washington area: John Wall has only been on the court in 13 games this year. To make matters much worse in Washington, Robert Griffin III and Stephen Strasburg can’t stay healthy either. Maybe don’t smile.

47. Joe Johnson (Previously #35)
Joe Johnson’s Financial Advisor: “Joe, why are you buying a yacht? Didn’t you watch the 30 For 30 about how athletes recklessly spend all of their money and end up broke?”

Joe Johnson: “Yeah, I saw it. But did you check out my bank account? I’ve already been paid over $100 million in my career, and I’ve still got $87 million coming on my current contract!”

Joe Johnson’s Financial Advisor: “I understand that Joe, but in the last two months you’ve bought a yacht, two houses, a fire truck, an aquarium and ownership in an Italian soccer team. You’re spending way too much money.”

Joe Johnson: “You don’t get it. I’m an above average player with no exciting qualities to my game and a general lack of charisma. Yet somehow, I’m the sixth highest paid player in the whole NBA. I can buy whatever the f*** I want!”

46. OJ Mayo (Previously Unranked)
Mark Cuban is a billionaire. I’m far from it. But oddly enough, Cuban and I have something in common. Most likely, both of us are probably surprised by the free agency developments from the summer of 2012. Mark Cuban probably didn’t expect to have to settle on OJ Mayo, who was coming off a two year stretch of disappointing basketball, as his marquee free agency pick up. Maybe Cubes knew something that I didn’t know, because I didn’t expect Mayo to get back to the level he was playing at during his time at USC and his first couple of years in the league. 

45. Rudy Gay (Previously #32)
44. Nic Batum (Previously on Toughest Omissions)
Here is how I justify putting Nic Batum ahead of Rudy Gay: Batum is two years younger, a better outside shooter (the numbers so say), a better facilitator on the offensive end, arguably a better defender, completely willing to punch opponents below the belt if need be, and from a salary cap standpoint, he has a much more desirable contract. Additionally, part of the criteria I use is the role a player fills on their respective team, and how well he fills that role. Gay and Batum can do all of the same things on a basketball court, only Batum is viewed as one of the best complimentary pieces in the NBA and Rudy Gay is going to be billed as the go-to-guy in Toronto (to some degree he had this same label in Memphis). Maybe Gay will go all James Harden on me and make me regret saying this, but I’m not buying any stock in “Rudy Gay as the best player on an NBA team.”

43. Anderson Varejao (Previously Unranked)
I left Varejao off the list the first time around because in the previous two seasons he’d only played in 56 games. So what’s the difference this year, a season cut short at only 25 games? Well, it was pretty clear that Varejao would likely have been an All-Star if he’d stayed healthy (14.1 points, 14.4 rebounds per game gets him in even on a bad team). Even more important than that is the fact that the Gina Montana lookalike could’ve very well ended up the feature piece in a trade that would drastically swing the title picture. For the last six years you could argue that Varejao was one of the very best role players in the league. He knows his niche and never tries to do something he can’t do. I can’t think of any contender that couldn’t use a healthy Andy Varejao.

42. Kenneth Faried (Previously on Toughest Omissions)
You know what Kenneth Faried is? He’s the slightly undersized Anderson Varejao on speed. I swear that was meant as a compliment. I love watching Kenneth Faried play basketball. He’s actually one of my favorite players to watch. He brings energy that not every player brings, and the stats show it pays off. Faried is 11^thin the league in rebounds in only 29 minutes per game and might be the leading candidate for the “Most Difficult Player to Box Out Because He’s Running Around Like a Damn Maniac Award… presented by Kia.”

Feb 2, 2013; Portland, OR, USA; Portland Trail Blazers point guard Damian Lillard (0) brings the ball up court against the Utah Jazz at the Rose Garden. Mandatory Credit: Craig Mitchelldyer-USA TODAY Sports

41. Damian Lillard (Previously Unranked)
18.5 points, 3.7 rebounds, 5.4 assists. Those are pretty impressive numbers for a rookie point guard, right? I’d say that’s probably a Rookie of the Year worthy stat line, agreed? Actually, that’s definitely a Rookie of the Year stat line, because that stat line doesn’t belong to Damian Lillard. It belongs to Kyrie Irving. Those were Kyrie’s numbers last year. Lillards numbers? 18.4 points, 3.3 rebounds, 6.5 assists. I’m not saying Lillard is Kyrie Irving, I’m just saying these numbers made me go “Hmmm.”

40. DeMarcus Cousins (Previously #40)
I decided to leave DeMarcus Cousins right where I had a few months ago because in my eyes nothing about him has changed in the last… well, I guess since he was a freshman at Kentucky. He’s still immensely talented. He’s still unquestionably nuts. He’s still on the absolute worst possible team he could be playing for. Until Cousins either gets traded or improbably grows up, he’s not going to reach his full potential.

39. Carlos Boozer (Previously Unranked)
It doesn’t make a whole lot of sense that I would move Boozer up 20 or so spots from my first list. In retrospect, I looked at the massive contract he got back in 2010 and saw how Booz was underperforming, and I penalized him for that. He shouldn’t have completely been left off the first time around. Statistically, Boozer is putting up basically the same numbers as he had the previous two years in Chicago, only now in Derrick Rose’s extended absence, his consistent double-double numbers are all the more impressive.

38. Brook Lopez (Previously Unranked)
Three reasons why Brook Lopez didn’t make the list the first time around: 1. He played in only five games in the 2011-12 season; 2. Over the previous two seasons he posted embarrassing rebounding numbers (6.0 in 2010-11, 3.6 in his five games in 2011-12); 3. Despite his impressive repertoire, his teams have always sucked. A bonus fourth reason was because his brother Robin had much cooler hair. This season Lopez returned, he’s healthy and is up to 39 on the midseason list. Why? He’s one of the most talented offensive big men in the league, he’s rebounding at an acceptable rate (7.2 per game), he’s established himself as a rim protector, and thanks to some offseason moves (both personnel wise and the geographical move to Brooklyn) the Nets are relevant once again. I’ll give a good chunk of the credit to Brook Lopez since Deron Williams has been disappointing this year (just ask Avery Johnson how he feels), and really, how much credit can you give to the always stoic Joe Johnson?

37. Greg Monroe (Previously #39)
There is a new rule pertaining to Greg Monroe… whenever you are talking about him, you have to be super quiet since that’s how he carries himself on and off the court. Most people don’t realize that Monroe is an extremely gifted offensive player, a top 15 rebounder and has an extremely high basketball IQ. He goes to work night after night for an exceedingly crappy team. He’s a true professional.

36. Andre Iguodala (Previously #23)
Let’s take a stroll down memory lane, shall we? There is a history of players greatly benefiting from their time with USA Basketball. In the season immediately following the 2008 Summer Olympics, LeBron James won his first MVP Award, made his first All-Defensive team and led Cleveland to 66 wins in the regular season. Kobe Bryant won his first post-Shaq title and Finals MVP. Dwight Howard won his first Defensive Player of the Year Awards en route to leading the Magic to the NBA Finals. Dwyane Wade, coming off knee surgery, led the league in scoring, improved his scoring average by 6 points per game, and took Miami to the playoffs. Chris Bosh, Deron Williams, and Chris Paul all improved statistically. Let’s run through this again only in the 2010-11 season after the 2010 FIBA World Championship. Derrick Rose won the MVP, Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook led the Thunder to the Conference Finals, and Kevin Love had a 53 game double-double streak. When you play with Team USA, you see how the best players in the world compete day in and day out, and you take your game to the next level. I expected Iguodala to make that kind of jump after a summer in London and a trade to Denver. He hasn’t.

35. Paul George (Previously on Toughest Omissions)
“When Danny Granger is out of Indiana, don’t expect the Pacers to drop off too much. George will be well capable of being the man in place of Granger.” This is what I said about Paul George on September 9^th, 2012. Indiana is currently 28-19, tied for fourth in the Eastern Conference, and only three and a half games back of first place. I know what I’m talking about every once in a while.

34. Serge Ibaka (Previously #49)
After Oklahoma City traded James Harden a few days before the beginning of the regular season, the big question other than “Why does Kevin Martin’s jump shot look so squirrelly but still go in” was “Is Serge Ibaka ready to establish himself as something more than a destructive shot blocker?” The answer is yes. Serge is still far from an offensive savant, but he’s scoring 13.8 points per game on 56% shooting, both improvements from last season.

Jan 18, 2013; Boston, MA, USA; Chicago Bulls small forward Luol Deng (left) drives to the basket against Boston Celtics small forward Paul Pierce (34) during the first half at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Mark L. Baer-USA TODAY Sports

33. Luol Deng (Previously #34)
For some reason, Luol Deng is one of my favorite players in the league. He went to Duke, and he plays for a rival team of LeBron James, but it’s hard for me not to appreciate one of the most underappreciated players in the game. Deng has stepped up his game big time in the absence of Derrick Rose, and does so logging huge minutes every night for the last three seasons. He’s the only player in the league playing 40 minutes per game this year. He’s a damn work horse.

32. Al Jefferson (Previously #33)
Utah is 26-22 and in the Western Conference playoff picture despite the terrible lack of explosiveness on the perimeter. Their most effective backcourt player, Mo Williams, has missed half of the Jazz games, so Utah’s success is in large part because of the play of Big Al and the rest of the Utah frontcourt. In a league where slash and kicks and screen and rolls are the popular offensive options, it doesn’t hurt to have someone like Jefferson to throw it inside to and watch go to work.

31. Al Horford (Previously #31)
30. Josh Smith (Previously #28)
Since it seems as if the Atlanta Hawks are primed to make a move before the trade deadline, it’s time for another rousing fun-sized round of, “Make up fun fake trades on ESPN’s NBA Trade Machine that will likely never happen.” Get psyched!

Trade #1: Atlanta gets Dwight Howard and Metta World Peace; Los Angeles gets Josh Smith and Al Horford.

NOTE: Dwight’s from Atlanta so there is a chance Atlanta could lure him into making a commitment to stay long term and being the face of the franchise (As fickle as he is, I could see it happening). Additionally, you can’t convince me this trade doesn’t make Los Angeles a whole lot better. They keep a good young player in Horford for four years, and J-Smoove is a free agent this summer so the Lakers don’t need to take on his salary if they don’t want to.

Trade #2: Atlanta gets Goran Dragic, Marcin Gortat and Channing Frye; Phoenix gets Josh Smith and Devin Harris.

NOTE: Again, this one isn’t too radical. Phoenix is going nowhere, so why not make this move and either clear some cap space while completely rebuilding, or retain a top 30 player in the offseason. Atlanta gets two good, young, European players who could give the Hawks a burst going into the stretch run of the season. Plus, Atlanta gets really big if they start a lineup with Horford at the four and Gortat at the five. A team like Miami might have some trouble with that.

Trade #3: Atlanta gets Dwyane Wade; Miami gets Al Horford and Louis Williams.

NOTE: I had to.

Whoa, we’re almost 4,000 words in! Why don’t we wrap this up and tackle the rest of the list next week. Deal? Deal!

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