This is the second of five installments of my position-by-position rankings, where I consider the four major factors that affect a player's total value: talent (statistical performance), affordability, age and potential. To see a more detailed explanation of my approach, give my point guard rankings a gander.
To summarize a player's stats, I'll use the NBA Efficiency statistic, which is defined as:
EFF = ((Points + Rebounds + Assists + Steals + Blocks) - ((Field Goals Att. - Field Goals Made) + (Free Throws Att. - Free Throws Made) + Turnovers))
Essentially, the order of this list depends on the answer to the question - would you trade Player X for Player Y, assuming the goal is to win a title in the next three seasons, while also building a strong franchise for years to come?
On with the rankings:
1. Kobe Bryant, Lakers
Age: 29
EPG: 26.8
Contract: three years, $69.1 M ($23.0 M per)
His salary is astronomical, which makes it difficult to rank him ahead of the almost-as-effective-for-half-the-price Manu Ginobili, but Kobe is probably the league's best one-on-one player and is the only guy who can match Manu's fire and competitiveness.
2. Manu Ginobili, Spurs
Age: 30
EPG: 19.9
Contract: two years, $20.6 M ($10.3 M per)
Ginobili should still be effective for the next three years, so his very reasonable contract makes him a reasonably close second to Kobe. His game has no holes and he is one of the best players in the league in the clutch.
3. Brandon Roy, Blazers
Age: 23
EPG: 19.4
Contract: three years, $12.2 M ($4.1 M per)
Who would you rather have - Roy for $4.1 million per season or Dwyane Wade for $15.8 million? I'd take Roy and spend the difference elsewhere. He's a terrific combo guard that has helped to bring the Blazers back to respectability.
(See the rest of the list after the jump.)
To summarize a player's stats, I'll use the NBA Efficiency statistic, which is defined as:
EFF = ((Points + Rebounds + Assists + Steals + Blocks) - ((Field Goals Att. - Field Goals Made) + (Free Throws Att. - Free Throws Made) + Turnovers))
Essentially, the order of this list depends on the answer to the question - would you trade Player X for Player Y, assuming the goal is to win a title in the next three seasons, while also building a strong franchise for years to come?
On with the rankings:
1. Kobe Bryant, Lakers
Age: 29
EPG: 26.8
Contract: three years, $69.1 M ($23.0 M per)
His salary is astronomical, which makes it difficult to rank him ahead of the almost-as-effective-for-half-the-price Manu Ginobili, but Kobe is probably the league's best one-on-one player and is the only guy who can match Manu's fire and competitiveness.
2. Manu Ginobili, Spurs
Age: 30
EPG: 19.9
Contract: two years, $20.6 M ($10.3 M per)
Ginobili should still be effective for the next three years, so his very reasonable contract makes him a reasonably close second to Kobe. His game has no holes and he is one of the best players in the league in the clutch.
3. Brandon Roy, Blazers
Age: 23
EPG: 19.4
Contract: three years, $12.2 M ($4.1 M per)
Who would you rather have - Roy for $4.1 million per season or Dwyane Wade for $15.8 million? I'd take Roy and spend the difference elsewhere. He's a terrific combo guard that has helped to bring the Blazers back to respectability.
(See the rest of the list after the jump.)
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