The Best Before 2000

In part two of this two-part series, we look at the best ‘old guys’ in the NBA. In part one, Grayson Gold-Garvey focused on the future of basketball with the best under-25 team. Today we’ll take a look at the best of the best from before 2000 and those who are still playing at a high level even at end of the career. This list might be an easy one because there aren’t that many who are still around from pre-2000 draft classes, but those who are, they’re what makes basketball fun sometimes. Here's what I came up with.

G- Andre Miller (39) Miller is what you call a seasoned vet. In his 16^th NBA season Miller is in Minnesota, his 9^th team, and along side another veteran in Kevin Garnett, is helping tutor two of the brightest young stars in the league in Andrew Wiggins and Karl-AnthonyTowns. Miller might be one of the more underrated point guards in the history of the game; he doesn’t have the accolades like a Steve Nash or Allen Iverson, but Miller is perhaps one of the best defensive guards in the league and one of the smartest to ever play. (Career: 12.7 PPG, 6.6 PPG, and 8,478 career assists)

G- Kobe Bryant (37) Bryant announced his retirement recently so the flashbacks of Kobe Bean Bryant have be plenty. Arguably one of the greatest players to ever lace up a pair of sneakers Bryant is third on the NBA’s All-Time scoring list, 5 NBA titles, and has been named to the All-Star team 17 times. Kobe is the perhaps the best of the best since Michael Jordan and his retirement should make us appreciate the art of basketball. (Career: 25.2 PPG, 44% FG, 33% 3P, and 32,916 career points)

F- Paul Pierce (38) 'The Truth' as he's as known is one of those players who you love if he's on your team but you hate him if he isn't, and for his first 15 seasons that team was Boston. Pierce won his only championship in a Celtics uniform and it was hard to picture him in anything other than green and white. He isn't the most athletic in NBA history, but when he found his spot, which was from the elbow to the three-point line, Pierce was unstoppable. He was also the reason LeBron didn't get to the Finals as many times as he could have. (Career: 20.4 PPG, 37% career free-throw, and 26,010 career points) 

F- Dirk Nowitzki (37) Nowitzki recently passed Shaquille O’Neal for sixth on the all-time scoring list. Not many people would guess that Dirk is that high on the list but the 7-footer from Germany is one of the best shooters the game has ever seen. Nearly a 40% 3-point shooter for his career, Nowitzki consistently makes his mark for one of the best all-time. He captured his first NBA title in 2012 and in 15 of his 17 NBA seasons has shot better than 85% from the free throw line. When Dirk hangs it up he’ll be labeled as the best 7-foot shooter in NBA history.

(Career: 22.1 PPG, 87% career free throw, 38% career 3-point, and 26,609 career points)

 C- Tim Duncan (39) I know Duncan isn’t labeled as a center, but for the purposes of putting Dirk in this starting five he’s a center. Much like Bryant, Duncan is labeled at one of the greatest of all-time, and somehow like Nowitzki underrated. Known as ‘The Big Fundamental’, Duncan has captured 5 NBA Championships, 15-time NBA All-Star, 10-time All-NBA First Team, and is in the top 15 in blocks, rebounds and points. Don’t look now but Duncan has a chance in his 18^th season to win his sixth NBA title.

(Career: 19.3 PPG, 10.9 RPG, 3.1 APG, and 26,213 career points)

The other guys: Kevin Garnett (39), and I'll put Jason Kidd and Derek Fisher on this list as they're still apart of league as coaches. 

Stephen Springer, Follow him on Twitter, @Stephen_Springs 

The Future of Basketball (Under 25 Team)

As part of a series on the transition of the NBA, Sideline Sports Reports will highlight the past, future, and present of the league. With the influx of supreme talent and the soon-to-be departure of a handful of legends that helped modernize the game, Stephen and I thought it would be a good time to sit down and discuss the transition that the league is currently undergoing. While it is easy to see the present stars like LeBron, Curry, KD, and Westbrook, sometimes we forget how special some of the older guys in the league were during their prime. It's probably even easier for us to overlook the young guys as they rise to the ranks of stardom.

In this series we will highlight the greats that many of us grew up watching and examine the way their careers are coming to a close. We will also look at the current stars of the league and project how the rest of their careers will go. In this edition of the series I will look at the best players in the league that are under the age of 25. The league is filled with young talent, forcing me to make a 1st team and a 2nd team.

1st Team U-25

G- Kyrie Irving (23)  Although Irving has missed most of the season, it is clear that he is right on the cusp of top-5 point guard status. Irving is a freakish athlete and probably has the best handles in the game. With LeBron by his side, Irving will be able to develop all facets of his game and has learned how to play off the ball. I have no doubt that Kyrie Irving can make 10+ All-Star games and will eventually be a 2 or 3 time champion.

G- Bradley Beal (22)  Beal is currently out with a foot injury, but he is still due for a massive pay day this off-season. Beal is a great outside shooter and can be a high volume scorer (19.8 ppg). He plays off the ball really well and combines with Wall to make one of the best backcourts in the league. If Beal remains in Washington, him and Wall could do something special.

F- Kawhi Leonard (24)  Leonard is already a star. The 2014 Finals MVP and the 2015 Defensive Player of the Year Award winner, has once-again expanded his game this off-season. Kawhi has developed into one of the most efficient offensive players in the league. He is averaging a career high 21.1 ppg, with a slash line of .510/.472/.879. If four years ago you had told me Kawhi would be approaching 50/40/90 status I would have called you crazy. The sky is the limit for Leonard as he continues to grow and plays for arguably the most stable franchise in sports.

 

F- Anthony Davis (22)  This year has been a bit of a disappointment for Davis, as the Pelicans continue to lose games. With a lack of healthy supporting players around him, Davis has been forced to carry the load and has struggled some while facing double and triple teams. The guy is still an animal and is putting up supreme numbers. Davis is averaging a double-double with nearly 3 blocks per game. People seem to forget that he is only 22 years old and have come to expect too much from him. This winter, Davis will make his third All-Star game in four seasons.

C- Andre Drummond (22)  Drummond can make a case for both MVP and Defensive Player of the Year. Drummond is putting up rebounding numbers that haven't been seen since Dennis Rodman. He is averaging 18 and 16.2 through 29 games and has claimed the title of best center in the league. The Pistons are a young and encouraging team that has a 17-12 record after 3 straight wins. If Drummond signs a max extension this off-season and they continue to progress as a team, they have a chance to become a consistent threat in the East.

2nd Team U-25

G- Brandon Knight (24)
G- Andrew Wiggins (20)
F- Giannis Antetokounmpo (21)
F- Derrick Favors (24)
C- Karl-Anthony Towns (20)


Grayson Gold-Garvey, Twitter @TheGraygo
*Image provided by Soobum Im, USA Today

NBA Power Rankings (Week 9)

The league may be top-heavy, but the middle of the pack is as tight as ever. So far, the East has been highly competitive. The 2nd seed and the 12th seed are separated by just four games. The West has been down so far, but contains three of the league's top four teams and arguably four of the the five most playoff ready squads, if you throw in the Clippers. This week saw some movement, with Atlanta climbing back into the top ten after winning four straight. After a strong week, Houston is finally over .500 and the Pelicans continue to disappoint, raising the question of weather or not Monty Williams should have been let go. The Warriors and the Sixers continue their record setting pace, but for different reasons. See where your team sits after an insane week filled with buzzer beaters and a quadruple overtime thriller in Chicago.

1. Golden State Warriors (26-1) [1]
2. San Antonio Spurs (24-5) [2]
3. Cleveland  Cavaliers (18-7) [3]
4. Oklahoma City Thunder (19-9) [4]
5. Miami Heat (16-10) [9]
6. Indiana Pacers (16-11) [7]
7. Los Angeles Clippers (16-13) [6]
8. Atlanta Hawks (18-12) [13]
9. Chicago Bulls (15-11) [5]
10. Toronto Raptors (17-12) [8]
11. Detroit Pistons (16-12) [14]
12. Boston Celtics (15-13) [10]
13. Charlotte Hornets (15-12) [11]
14. Orlando Magic (16-12) [16]
15. Memphis Grizzlies (15-14) [12]
16. Dallas Mavericks (15-12) [15]
17. Houston Rockets (15-14) [17]
18. Washington Wizards (12-14) [19]
19. New York Knicks (14-15) [22]
20. Utah Jazz (12-14) [21]
21. Phoenix Suns (12-18) [20]
22. Milwaukee Bucks (11-18) [18]
23. Denver Nuggets (11-16) [24]
24. Minnesota Timberwolves (11-17) [25]
25. Sacramento Kings (11-17) [26]
26. Portland Trailblazers (11-19) [23]
27. New Orleans Pelicans (8-19) [28]
28. Brooklyn Nets (8-20) [27]
29. Los Angeles Lakers (4-23) [29]
30. Philadelphia 76ers (1-28) [30]

Grayson Gold-Garvey, Twitter @TheGraygo

The 4 Most Overpaid Players

Kobe Bryant (1 year, 25 Million) As the highest paid player in the league, Kobe is grossly overpaid.  At this point in his career, Kobe is simply getting paid for his past accomplishments. Kobe alone takes up 35% of the Lakers payroll. That’s a high price to pay for a guy that ranks 30^th among small forwards with a PER of 12.8. That’s not exactly what you’re looking for from a player whose usage rating is up there with LeBron James and Stephon Curry. While Kobe makes way more than his play dictates, the deal isn’t all bad for the Lakers. The amount of revenue they’re bringing in due to Kobe’s retirement tour will easily pay for his contract. Even with the added revenue of Kobe’s farewell tour, his season averages of 16.7 pts, 4.3 rebs, and 3.4 asts, with a slash line of .34/.25/.79 makes him one of the least efficient players in the league.

Derrick Rose (2 years, 41.4 Million) When the Bulls gave Rose his extension; it looked like a contract that would be great for both parties. However, that was 4 years ago, when Rose was coming off his MVP campaign. Since then, Rose has been riddled with injuries and is a shell of his former self. Since 2012-2013, when his deal kicked in, Rose has suited up for only 45% of the Bulls regular season games. This year Rose has only missed two contests, but his play has been tough to watch. The Bulls and Jimmy Butler are tired of Rose’s ball demanding yet inefficient play. As the second highest payed point guard in the league, Rose ranks 58^th among point guards in PER and 16^th in usage rate.

Enes Kanter (4 years, 70 Million) I’m not sure if Kanter is overpaid or under used. The big man played great last season after being acquired from the Jazz. With injuries to Ibaka and Durant, Kanter played a starting role for the Thunder and was able to show off his fine-tuned offensive game. Kanter’s play and the market demand for high volume rebounders led to his max deal this past offseason. However, with Durant and Ibaka being healthy, Kanter’s minutes have been slashed. The former 3^rd overall selection has been limited to 20 mpg this year. Kanter is still averaging a highly efficient 11 and 8, while shooting over 55% from the field. If Kanter can develop into a decent defender, he may be able to find increased minutes.

Joe Johnson (1 year, 24.9 Million) The combination of Joe Johnson and Brook Lopez basically guaranteed that the Nets would be over the salary cap this year. Brooklyn is nearly $14 MM over the salary cap, which has translated to the team being 12 games under .500. The Nets are a train wreck, which can be attributed to over spending and poor personnel decisions under owner Mikhail Prokhorov. Johnson is having just about as bad of a season as Bryant. With a PER under 10 and his worst scoring output since 2002, Johnson looks done. He’s shooting an atrocious 36% from the field yet due to lack of depth; he’s still getting 34 minutes per game. Jonson is washed up and the Nets have no choice but to eat his terrible contract.

  

*Statistics provided by basketball-reference.com and NBA.com

*Image provided by redticketblues.com

Grayson Gold-Garvey, Twitter @TheGraygo

NBA All-Star Predictions

The All-Star Game isn’t until February but voting has already begun. There are plenty of deserving players in both conferences this season. One question that will be raised is; should Kobe Bryant be voted an All-Star? Kobe announced a few weeks ago that this is going to be his last season and while he isn’t have a Kobe-like season and the Lakers are heinous, fans will have the chance to send Kobe off with one final All-Star appearance. The argument is that if Kobe is voted in there will be someone who is left out from a loaded Western Conference. That’s a debate that will be hot until voting is done, but for now lets take a look at who could make up the starting lineups for the Eastern and Western Conference. 

Eastern Conference:

Point Guard: Kyle Lowry, Toronto Raptors- Lowry isn’t the best point guard in the East but with the game being in Toronto he figures to be voted in. You can’t knock his production in recent years however, this season he’s averaging 21.6 points and 6.0 assists. He’s slowly climbing the ladder of best point guards in the NBA.

Shooting Guard: DeMar DeRozan, Toronto Raptors- Much like his Raptors teammate, DeRozan isn’t having an “All-Star season” like some other players but again, with the game being in Toronto, it’s likely that he will be voted in by the fans. DeRozan was voted an All-Star in 2014 and thus far is averaging 21.7 points and 4.0 rebounds in 2015.

Small Forward: LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers- James is going to become a 12-time All-Star when the rosters are announced. James has won the All-Star MVP twice in his career and looks to add a third. James is fourth in the NBA in scoring this season averaging 26.3 points a game.

Power Forward: Kevin Love, Cleveland Cavaliers- Love is having a much bigger role than he did last season until Kyrie Irving comes back (Irving by the way could be voted an All-Star once he returns), Love isn’t putting up double double numbers like he did in Minnesota but he’s still putting up 17.9 points and 10.9 rebounds per game.

Center: Andre Drummond, Detroit Pistons- Drummond is a beast and partly the reason why the Pistons have a chance to make the playoffs. The third year big man hasn’t been named an All-Star in his young career but this year that will change. Drummond is putting up huge numbers this year averaging 17.7 points and 16.2 rebounds per game with 23 double doubles in 27 games.

Western Conference:

Point Guard: Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors- The Warriors are 25-1 and Steph Curry is leading the way with 32.0 points a game. The reigning MVP is slowly becoming one of the most popular players in the NBA and will likely lead the league in All-Star votes.

Shooting Guard: Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers- This is by far the least likely out of anyone I have on this list, but there aren’t many shooting guards in the West that would really deserve to be voted in. Kobe is averaging 16.5 points a game on a 4-win Laker team but hey, it’s Kobe Bryant.

Small Forward: Kawhi Leonard, San Antonio Spurs- Leonard has arguably been one of the most improved players in the NBA over the last two seasons and is one of the best defensive players the league has. He finally gets his chance to shine during All-Star weekend. Leonard leads the Spurs in scoring with 21.0 points a game.

Power Forward: Blake Griffin, Los Angeles Clippers- Griffin’s game has improved every year and he’s become one of the more versatile players in the league. The fifth year player leads the 4^th place Clippers with 23.9 points per game.

Center: Marc Gasol, Memphis Grizzlies- Gasol isn’t a “sexy” pick for an All-Star game because he’s more of an old school type of player, but he’s becoming one of the better two-way centers in the NBA. The 2-time All-Star is leading the Grizzlies in points (16.1) and blocks (1.2).

Stephen Springer, Follow him on Twitter @Stephen_Springs 

Dwight Howard Trade Options

After another embarrassing loss for the Rockets and rumors circling about Dwight Howard being once again unhappy, it opens up speculation about a trade. The Rockets have been a tough team to watch this year and firing McHale doesn’t seem to have solved any problems. They’ve gone 0-3 against the 11-14 Nuggets and were swept by the 7-17 Nets. With championship aspirations you simply cannot lose to these teams. After losing by double digits to a Rondoless Kings, something needs to change. So let’s explore some possible trade scenarios for the Houston Rockets.

One possibility would be sending Dwight Howard and Montrezl Harrell to Miami in exchange for Josh McRoberts and the expiring contracts of Luol Deng and Chris Andersen. Along with the players the Rockets would get the Heat’s 2017 first round pick. This would allow the Rockets to maintain their cap space and turn Dwight Howard into a first round pick before he opts-out of his contract for free agency.  This would immediately benefit the Heat as they would be able to cycle out Howard and Whiteside to keep a dominant center on the court at all times.

Another possible destination for the disgruntled center is Washington. Washington could use some change after a poor first quarter of the season and Howard would provide them with a dominant rim protector. In this scenario, the Warriors would receive Howard in exchange for Nene Hilario, Alan Anderson and Gary Neal, along with a top-10 protected 2016 first round pick. This deal is attractive for both sides, as Howard could propel the Wizards to a playoff spot and would solidify their defense. It would be a good move for Houston because they would get a first round pick that they could most likely cash in immediately after this season and all the players that they would receive are on expiring deals.

The dream scenario for me is a trade with the Knicks. The Rockets would deal Howard, Sam Dekker, and a lottery protected 2017 first round pick for Carmelo Anthony. This deal is excellent for New York as they can get rid of Melo’s contract while adding an intriguing young piece in Sam Dekker. This would help the Knicks in their rebuilding process and would allow them to explore free agency this off-season. It has become clear that free agents don’t see Melo as a guy they can win with and this probably won’t change this off-season. The move would provide the Rockets with a deadly scoring duo of Carmelo Anthony and James Harden. It’s highly unlikely that this would lead to playoff success for Houston, but it would be awesome for fans to watch. Just imagine the two all-stars fighting over touches. If there’s anyone in the league that would make this trade it would be Daryl Morey.

Grayson Gold-Garvey, Twitter @TheGraygo

NBA Power Rankings (Week 8)

The biggest NBA news this week was the Golden State loss in Milwaukee on Saturday. After a hard fought contest, the Warriors came up short on the final leg of their 7 game road trip. Even with the loss, a 6-1 record on the trip including a double overtime finish at the TD Garden is extremely impressive. The Warriors maintain their number one ranking, but another Western Conference team has Golden State in their sights. The surging Spurs are only 3.5 games back of first place and have won 8 of 10. San Antonio is a team to keep an eye on moving forward, as they are only getting more and more comfortable playing with LaMarcus Aldridge. Another team on the rise is Oklahoma City. The Thunder are on a five game winning streak and with KD and Westbrook running the squad anything can happen.
*Bracketed numbers indicate previous ranking

1. Golden State Warriors (24-1) [1]
2. San Antonio Spurs (21-5) [2]
3. Cleveland Cavaliers (15-7) [3]
4. Oklahoma City Thunder (16-8) [4]
5. Chicago Bulls (14-8) [6]
6. Los Angeles Clippers (15-10) [8]
7. Indiana Pacers (14-9) [5]
8. Toronto Raptors (16-10) [10]
9. Miami Heat (14-9) [9]
10. Boston Celtics (14-10) [12]
11. Charlotte Hornets (14-9) [15]
12. Memphis Grizzlies (14-12) [11]
13. Atlanta Hawks (14-12) [7]
14. Detroit Pistons (14-12) [14]
15. Dallas Mavericks (14-11) [13]
16. Orlando Magic (13-11) [17]
17. Houston Rockets (12-13) [18]
18. Milwaukee Bucks (10-15) [21] 
19. Washington Wizards (10-13) [19]
20. Phoenix Suns (11-15) [22]
21. Utah Jazz (10-13) [16]
22. New York Knicks (11-14) [20]
23. Portland Trailblazers (11-15) [23]
24. Denver Nuggets (10-14) [25]
25. Minnesota Timberwolves (9-14) [24]
26. Sacramento Kings (9-15) [26]
27. Brooklyn Nets (7-17) [28]
28. New Orleans Pelicans (6-18) [27]
29. Los Angeles Lakers (3-21) [29]
30. Philadelphia 76ers (1-25) [30]

Grayson Gold-Garvey, Twitter @TheGraygo