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After Drew Cannon ranked the NCAA's top 100 players, we wanted to do the same for the NBA. In the interim, a host of player rankings popped up all over the Internet. So instead, we decided to try something different: Redrafting the NBA.
Over the next three weeks, Basketball Prospectus' four NBA analysts will be drafting two teams apiece for a total of eight teams and 96 players. We will be selecting players strictly on the basis of expected performance during the 2011-12 season, giving our own ranking of sorts--though one affected by positional scarcity and other outside factors.
Previous rounds: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6
49. Dan A - Marc Gasol, C, Memphis Grizzlies
You've probably read this one before from me: best player available, big man (meaning one fewer for Kevin, Bradford and Sebastian), etc. Plus, Gasol plays well with Zach Randolph.
50. Bradford A - Gerald Wallace, SF, Portland Trail Blazers
I'm banking on Wallace's willingness to fill a reserve role behind Luol Deng, even though many--possibly including Wallace himself--might argue that he is the superior player. With Wallace, Deng and Tony Allen, I love the defensive potential of my wings. Wallace and Deng both offer versatility as well--I can see them playing together with Dwight Howard in the middle.
51. Kevin A - Chauncey Billups, PG, New York Knicks
In case Stephen Curry struggles at all playing point guard, I'm going to give myself a terrific insurance policy in the form of "Mr. Big Shot." Billups still has plenty left to offer and his size allows me to play him alongside Curry at times depending on how I fill out the rest of my bench. Having two point guards who excel at spot-up shooting should be a boon for Dwyane Wade and Paul Pierce.
52. Sebastian A - Devin Harris, PG, Utah Jazz
Team pick-and-roll needs a backup point guard, and I really think that Devin Harris is an ideal guy to play behind Chris Paul. Paul and Harris present different styles (Paul is more methodical and Harris is more of a whirling dervish), but they are both very effective in the pick-and-roll, both when looking for teammates and when looking to score.
53. Sebastian B - Tyreke Evans, G, Sacramento Kings
For team B I am going to need a backup ballhandler who needs to be able to play heavy minutes behind Jason Kidd. This might be a reach, but I am going to go with Tyreke Evans here. Evans showed his rookie season that he could be a primary ball handler, distribute the basketball, and score. Sure, he had a drop off season last year, but I'm banking on him being healthy.
54. Kevin B - James Harden, SG, Oklahoma City Thunder
I thought a bit about taking Joe Johnson, but then I realized I can't stand Johnson's game and I don't want the chance of him taking shots away from Derrick Rose and Carmelo Anthony. Harden, by contrast, has plenty of experience playing shooting guard alongside a high-scoring PG-SF duo. He really came into his own during the second half of last season and his versatile skill set is a nice fit for a team like this. I will have to work with Harden at the defensive end since he's going to have to take on the toughest matchups on the wing when the starting five is on the floor.
55. Bradford B - Arron Afflalo, SG, Denver Nuggets
It may too early to draft this guy, but I need a role-playing starting two who isn't going to hog shots, has decent size and can defend the other team's top wing. Afflalo has emerged as something a cut above a role player. He's not a core-type, but he's got a better array of skills than a typical 3-and-D player and is on the upswing. He'd fit on a lot of contending teams.
56. Dan B - Danny Granger, SF, Indiana Pacers
I took Rudy Gay with my previous pick, in part because I didn't believe Granger would be available here. Well, he is, and although he doesn't really fill a need after I took Gay, I'm happy to have a starting-caliber (in this league) small forward as my backup.
Complete draft order
1. Dan A - LeBron James, SF, Miami Heat
2. Bradford A - Dwight Howard, C, Orlando Magic
3. Kevin A - Dwyane Wade, SG, Miami Heat
4. Sebastian A - Chris Paul, PG, New Orleans Hornets
5. Sebastian B - Dirk Nowitzki, PF, Dallas Mavericks
6. Kevin B - Derrick Rose, PG, Chicago Bulls
7. Bradford B - Kevin Durant, SF, Oklahoma City Thunder
8. Dan B - Kobe Bryant, SG, L.A. Lakers
9. Dan B - Pau Gasol, F/C, L.A. Lakers
10. Bradford B - Deron Williams, PG, New Jersey Nets
11. Kevin B - Blake Griffin, PF, L.A. Clippers
12. Sebastian B - Manu Ginobili, SG, San Antonio Spurs
13. Sebastian A - Tim Duncan, F/C, San Antonio Spurs
14. Kevin A - LaMarcus Aldridge, F/C, Portland Trail Blazers
15. Bradford A - Kevin Love, PF, Minnesota Timberwolves
16. Dan A - Steve Nash, PG, Phoenix Suns
17. Dan A - Zach Randolph, PF, Memphis Grizzlies
18. Bradford A - Rajon Rondo, PG, Boston Celtics
19. Kevin A - Paul Pierce, SF, Boston Celtics
20. Sebastian A - Russell Westbrook, G, Oklahoma City Thunder
21. Sebastian B - Jason Kidd, PG, Dallas Mavericks
22. Kevin B - Carmelo Anthony, SF, New York Knicks
23. Bradford B - Joakim Noah, C, Chicago Bulls
24. Dan B - Kevin Garnett, PF, Boston Celtics
25. Dan B - Amar'e Stoudemire, F/C, New York Knicks
26. Bradford B - Al Horford, F/C, Atlanta Hawks
27. Kevin B - Nene, C, Denver Nuggets
28. Sebastian B - Hedo Turkoglu, SF, Orlando Magic
29. Sebastian A - Tyson Chandler, C, Dallas Mavericks
30. Kevin A - Josh Smith, F, Atlanta Hawks
31. Bradford A - Luol Deng, SF, Chicago Bulls
32. Dan A - Chris Bosh, PF, Miami Heat
33. Dan A - Andrew Bynum, C, L.A. Lakers
34. Bradford A - Ray Allen, SG, Boston Celtics
35. Kevin A - Stephen Curry, PG, Golden State Warriors
36. Sebastian A - Brook Lopez, C, New Jersey Nets
37. Sebastian B - Eric Gordon, SG, L.A. Clippers
38. Kevin B - Andre Iguodala, G/F, Philadelphia 76ers
39. Bradford B - Lamar Odom, F, L.A. Lakers
40. Dan B - Tony Parker, PG, San Antonio Spurs
41. Dan B - Rudy Gay, SF, Memphis Grizzlies
42. Bradford B - Jason Terry, SG, Dallas Mavericks
43. Kevin B - Serge Ibaka, F/C, Oklahoma City Thunder
44. Sebastian B - David West, PF, New Orleans Hornets
45. Sebastian A - Jamal Crawford, G, Atlanta Hawks
46. Kevin A - Andrew Bogut, C, Milwaukee Bucks
47. Bradford A - Tony Allen, G/F, Memphis Grizzlies
48. Dan A - Kevin Martin, SG, Houston Rockets
49. Dan A - Marc Gasol, C, Memphis Grizzlies
50. Bradford A - Gerald Wallace, SF, Portland Trail Blazers
51. Kevin A - Chauncey Billups, PG, New York Knicks
52. Sebastian A - Devin Harris, PG, Utah Jazz
53. Sebastian B - Tyreke Evans, G, Sacramento Kings
54. Kevin B - James Harden, SG, Oklahoma City Thunder
55. Bradford B - Arron Afflalo, SG, Denver Nuggets
56. Dan B - Danny Granger, SF, Indiana Pacers
Complete rosters
Dan A - Nash/K. Martin/James/Bosh/Z. Randolph/M. Gasol/Bynum
Bradford A - Rondo/R. Allen/Deng/Love/Howard/T. Allen/G. Wallace
Kevin A - Curry/Wade/Pierce/J. Smith/Aldridge/Billups/Bogut
Sebastian A - Paul/Westbrook/Turkoglu/Duncan/Lopez/Harris/Crawford
Sebastian B - Kidd/Gordon/Ginobili/Nowitzki/Chandler/T. Evans/Da. West
Kevin B - Rose/Harden/Anthony/Griffin/Nenê/Iguodala/Ibaka
Bradford B - D. Williams/Afflalo/Durant/Horford/Noah/Terry/Odom
Dan B - T. Parker/Bryant/Gay/Garnett/P. Gasol/Granger/Stoudemire
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