August 30, 2011
Redrafting the NBA
Round Six

Basketball Prospectus

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

41. Dan B - Rudy Gay, SF, Memphis Grizzlies
This team needs a small forward, and if Danny Granger didn't fall to its next pick, I'd be really stuck. I could debate whether Gay or Marc Gasol is the best player available, but positional need bumped Gay into this slot without reservation.

42. Bradford B - Jason Terry, SG, Dallas Mavericks
The B2s still need a two guard but I'm thinking about strict 3-and-D player is my target for that and it's way too early to dip into that pool. Terry will team with Odom to give me a dynamic second unit but is also a nice fit alongside Deron Williams.

43. Kevin B - Serge Ibaka, F/C, Oklahoma City Thunder
This team is short on athleticism and help defense in the frontcourt. Adding Ibaka will address both of those issues. This might seem a little high for a guy who was a backup as recently as February, but Ibaka is growing daily and could emerge as an All-Star as soon as 2013. He's got huge breakout potential next season.

44. Sebastian B - David West, PF, New Orleans Hornets
For the purpose of this draft, I am going to assume that West comes back from injury and performs at that same level. If that's the case, he is the best available big in my opinion, and he is another pick-and-roll player for a team that will be running it 50 percent of the time this season.

45. Sebastian A - Jamal Crawford, G, Atlanta Hawks
Team A has some scorers, but all of them seem to have a tendency to be a little inconsistent. That's why I want to have a sixth man who can come in, play three positions (Crawford is a shooting guard, but he can run the point or play the three in a pinch), and put the ball in the basket. Crawford's one of the best scorers off of the bench, and I'm glad I got him.

46. Kevin A - Andrew Bogut, C, Milwaukee Bucks
To round out Team A's frontcourt rotation, I wanted to make sure I had a legitimate 7-footer. When healthy, Bogut is one of the better ones in the league. As Kevin Garnett ages, Bogut has emerged as arguably the league's second-best defender after Dwight Howard. A year removed from his horrific elbow injury, I anticipate he'll be more productive on the offensive end of the floor next season. Since he's a backup, I can survive the stretches Bogut may miss due to injury over the course of the season.

47. Bradford A - Tony Allen, G/F, Memphis Grizzlies
We're already at an interesting juncture. We've got our core players in place for the most part and we've been trying to build around them for the last couple of rounds. For me, as I scan the list looking for complementary players, I see guys that I think COULD fill a role but I'm not sure that they WOULD. For the B1s, I'm ready to start building my second unit and in scanning my starters, I see that I'd like an athletic, defensive-oriented swing type to complement what I already have. Allen, I believe, has All-Defensive potential and has the athleticism to help me amp up the tempo from time to time. There are better, more well-rounded players higher up on my draft list, but I'm going for fit.

48. Dan A - Kevin Martin, SG, Houston Rockets
This team still needed a starting shooting guard, and I'm thrilled Martin was available. I had planned to suck it up, draft Joe Johnson and pray his decline slows. But Martin can be a superb version of what Raja Bell was for the Phoenix Suns in their running heyday. I can't wait for all the open three-pointers. Plus, this team will draw a ton of fouls.

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

Complete rosters

Dan A - Nash/K. Martin/James/Bosh/Z. Randolph/Bynum
Bradford A - Rondo/R. Allen/Deng/Love/Howard/T. Allen
Kevin A - Curry/Wade/Pierce/J. Smith/Aldridge/Bogut
Sebastian A - Paul/Westbrook/Turkoglu/Duncan/Lopez/Crawford
Sebastian B - Kidd/Gordon/Ginobili/Nowitzki/Chandler/Da. West
Kevin B - Rose/Anthony/Griffin/Nenê/Iguodala/Ibaka
Bradford B - D. Williams/Durant/Horford/Noah/Terry/Odom
Dan B - T. Parker/Bryant/Gay/Garnett/Gasol/Stoudemire

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