The following rankings determine the most effective and most consistent players on each NBA team. Only players appearing in 60% of their team's games are eligible. Effectiveness is measured using the mean of the player's fantasy value, calculated by ESPN's formula [Pts + Reb + 1.4*Ast + Stl + 1.4*Blk -.7*TO + FGM + .5*TGM -.8*(FGA-FGM) + .25*FTM - .8*(FTA-FTM)] and consistency is measured by the standard deviation of the player's ESPN values divided by the mean.
Eastern Conference
Atlantic Division
Boston Celtics:
Best Player: Rajon Rondo-33.8
Most Consistent Player: Rondo-.28
Most Inconsistent Player: Brian Scalabrine-1.33
New Jersey Nets:
Best Player: Brook Lopez-34.33
Most Consistent Player: Lopez-.32
Most Inconsistent Player: Trenton Hassell-.95
New York Knicks:
Best Player: David Lee-40.15
Most Consistent Player: Lee-.30
Most Inconsistent Player: Toney Douglas-.96
Philadelphia 76ers:
Best Player: Andre Iguodala-32.7
Most Consistent Player: Iguodala-.32
Most Inconsistent Player: Jason Kapono-1.46
Toronto Raptors:
Best Player: Chris Bosh-41.57
Most Consistent Player: Bosh-.29
Most Inconsistent Player: Antoine Wright-.89
Southeast Division
Atlanta Hawks:
Best Player: Josh Smith-34.31
Most Consistent Player: Smith-.31
Most Inconsistent Player: Jeff Teague-1.16
Charlotte Bobcats:
Best Player: Gerald Wallace-34.66
Most Consistent Player: Wallace-.38
Most Inconsistent Player: Derrick Brown-1.01
Miami Heat:
Best Player: Dwyane Wade-42.53
Most Consistent Player: Wade-.29
Most Inconsistent Player: Dorell Wright-.84
Orlando Magic:
Best Player: Dwight Howard-37.65
Most Consistent Player: Howard-.34
Most Inconsistent Player: Ryan Anderson-.76
Washington Wizards:
Best Player: Andray Blatche-21.86
Most Consistent Player: Al Thornton-.61
Most Inconsistent Player: Quinton Ross- 1.17
Central Division
Chicago Bulls:
Best Player: Derrick Rose-32.59
Most Consistent Player: Rose, Luol Deng-.36
Most Inconsistent Player: James Johnson-1.03
Cleveland Cavaliers:
Best Player: LeBron James-52.99
Most Consistent Player: James-.23
Most Inconsistent Player: Jamario Moon-.75
Detroit Pistons:
Best Player: Rodney Stuckey-27.65
Most Consistent Player: Stuckey-.33
Most Inconsistent Player: Austin Daye-.87
Indiana Pacers:
Best Player: Danny Granger-34.84
Most Consistent Player: Granger-.35 (45 of 64 games)
The more that I watch Wall play, I'm struck by the ease with which he plays the game at such a high level.Dominating major college basketball just looks easy for him.I'm thrilled to see how good he can be at the next level.
2)Minnesota Timberwolves- Evan Turner- SG (Ohio State)
Turner is the type of player who can score at will, but chooses to get his teammates involved instead.That is the sign of a real leader, and the type of player who understands how to win basketball games, rather than just putting up huge numbers.He will be a great addition to the rebuilding process in the Twin Cities.
3)Golden State Warriors- Derrick Favors- PF (Georgia Tech)
Like I've said before, Favors has all of the potential to be a great player, but with fewer red flags than DeMarcus Cousins (character) and Hassan Whiteside (lack of polish), who has skyrocketed up draft boards in recent weeks.
4)Indiana Pacers- Wesley Johnson- SG (Syracuse)
Johnson would be a great fit next to Danny Granger on the Pacers' perimeter.Cousins and Whiteside are possibilities here too, but a second scoring option seems like a more pressing need.If Indiana opts for a big man, expect Troy Murphy's days as a Pacer to be numbered.
5)Detroit Pistons- DeMarcus Cousins- C (Kentucky)
Cousins has been the most dominant post player in college basketball this season, and he would be a great fit in Detroit's thin front line.There are character questions surrounding him, but his talent makes him well worth the gamble at this point in the draft.
6)Utah Jazz (from New York)- Cole Aldrich- C (Kansas)
Utah is flush with perimeter options, but very thin up front.Re-signing Carlos Boozer would fix that, but drafting a promising young big man would be a far more cost effective solution.The Jazz will likely consider Donatas Motiejunas, Al-Farouq Aminu, and Hassan Whiteside along with Aldrich here, but of the four, Aldrich is the only player ready to make a significant contribution to a playoff team right away.
Unlike the Jazz, the Wizards are in no hurry to win right away.Motiejunas is very raw, but he has as much potential as anyone in this draft not named John Wall.His face-up, stretch style would also be a nice compliment to the bruising style of Andray Blatche.
The Kings have two major needs to address this off-season: a point guard and a shot blocker.After Wall, the point guard crop is very thin, but Whiteside has unbelievable shot-blocking instincts.He is definitely a project (Michael Olowokandi comes to mind), but Sacramento has the bodies up front to give him time.
9)Philadelphia 76ers- Xavier Henry- SG (Kansas)
This is a bit of a dream scenario for the 76ers, as they get one of the most complete players in this draft all the way down at number nine.Henry's outside shooting ability and versatility should give Philadelphia a lot of flexibility at the two through four spots.
10)Los Angeles Clippers- Al-Farouq Aminu- PF (Georgia Tech)
Most scouts project Aminu as a small forward at the next level, but I think he is better suited to play the power forward.He does have nice handles for a man of his size, but his best asset may be his rebounding, and his jump shot is absolutely horrendous at this point in his development.
11)Chicago Bulls- James Anderson- SG (Oklahoma State)
Anderson will likely get snatched up in the lottery, as his game has really matured this season.He has shown leadership ability and a willingness to be more than just an outside shooter.The Bulls could really use a shooter, so they may be in the running for Joe Johnson this summer, but Anderson is a nice contingency plan.
12)Houston Rockets- Solomon Alabi- C (Florida State)
Houston has eight perimeter players under contract next season (assuming that they re-sign Kyle Lowry), and presumptive long-term options at the one through four spots (Aaron Brooks, Chase Budinger, Trevor Ariza, and Jordan Hill).They also have an aging center with a history of injury problems, who could really use a breather every now and then.
13)Memphis Grizzlies- Ed Davis- PF (North Carolina)
Davis will probably slide a bit because of his team's struggles and his late season injury, as well as the power forward depth in this draft, but he should still land in the lottery.His motor is a bit of a question mark, but he has all the physical tools to be an All-Star at the next level.
14)New Orleans Hornets- Damion James- SF (Texas)
I've been a huge proponent of James for a couple of years now.He is so consistent and has really assumed a leadership role for a young Longhorns team this season.He has always been a great rebounder, and his offensive game is incredibly smooth.
Minnesota is loaded with talented power forwards, but Al Jefferson's drunk driving arrest may punch his ticket out of town, and while Monroe might not fill a need, he does provide great value, which was David Kahn's justification for drafting point guard after point guard last season.
16)Miami Heat- Patrick Patterson- PF (Kentucky)
Patterson's rebounding tenacity and surprising face-up game remind me a lot of Udonis Haslem, the long-time member of the Heat whose contract expires this summer.He could re-sign, but Patterson would be a more cost-effective choice with his rookie scale deal at #16.
17)Milwaukee Bucks- Larry Sanders- PF (Virginia Commonwealth)
The Bucks have made a huge surge over the past few weeks, and they find themselves in the thick of things in the "All-it-takes-is-two-strong-weeks-and-you're-the-five-seed" Eastern Conference.They would love to land Monroe or Patterson this late in the draft, but they'll settle for Sanders if it means they get a taste of the postseason.
18)Miami Heat (from Toronto)- Stanley Robinson- SF (Connecticut)
Robinson is the best athlete in this class without question, but his team underachieved drastically down the stretch, which will likely hurt his draft stock.Still, he would be a nice addition to a TBD Miami bench.
19)Portland Trail Blazers- Jan Vesely- SF (Czech Republic)
This seems to make too much sense not to happen.Portland still needs their answer at small forward and they LOVE foreign prospects; so if Vesely drops to them, don't expect them to pass on him.
20)San Antonio Spurs- Avery Bradley- SG (Texas)
Bradley was a trendy pick to sneak into the lottery a few weeks ago, but his lack of a natural position may give teams pause.On the other hand, he is a lock down defender with explosive offensive ability, and he still has a lot of room to grow.The Spurs hit another home run with this pick.
21)Oklahoma City Thunder (from Phoenix)- Ekpe Udoh- PF (Baylor)
Udoh has shown huge improvement since transferring from Michigan to Baylor.He was always a great athlete with good shot-blocking instincts, but his offensive game seems to finally be catching up.He'll be a nice backup option for a team that should be starting Serge Ibaka sooner rather than later.
22)Oklahoma City Thunder- Devin Ebanks- SF (West Virginia)
If OKC keeps this pick, they'll likely take a flier on a foreign prospect like Mario Delas, Alexey Shved, or Artem Zabelin, but a trade here would make sense too.Ebanks has been very underwhelming this season, and his gaffe at the end of the Villanova game on Saturday almost cost his team a very important decision.He certainly has bust potential, but he could also develop into a nice player in the right system.
23)Atlanta Hawks- Gani Lawal- PF (Georgia Tech)
Lawal is the best rebounder in the class, and while he won't wow anyone with his athleticism, he has all the makings of a solid role player behind Josh Smith and Al Horford.
24)New Jersey Nets (from Dallas)- Jordan Hamilton- SF (Texas)
If Hamilton decides to forego his sophomore season at Texas, he would be a good fit for the Nets.He is still raw, but has a lot of potential and could be brought along slowly by playing behind Courtney Lee, Terrence Williams, and Chris Douglas-Roberts.
25)Boston Celtics- Paul George- SF (Fresno State)
George was a trendy lottery pick early in the season because of his myriad physical tools, but his decision-making has been a major sticking point this season.He has hoisted up bad shots far too often as the obvious first option for the Bulldogs.However, the transition to small fish in the Big Three's pond should mellow his quick trigger.
26)Minnesota Timberwolves (from Utah)- Luke Babbit- SF (Nevada)
It's pretty unlikely that Minnesota keeps all three of their first rounders, but if so, Babbit would round out their roster very nicely.He is a solid rebounder and a very efficient shooter with deep range.
It's back-to-back picks for the Wolfpack, as the Grizzlies grab a backup option to Mike Conley, who has done a good job of establishing himself in Memphis over the last half of the season.
28)Orlando Magic- Sheron Collins- PG (Kansas)
Orlando is one of the deepest teams in the league, but Jason Williams can't be counted on in the long-term.Collins is a nice player, who will never be a superstar, but will be a solid contributor off the bench for the Magic.
29)Memphis Grizzlies (from LA Lakers)- Mario Delas- SF (Croatia)
Like the Timberwolves, the Grizzlies have three first round picks, and at least one of them won't be on the roster next year.Delas is a European prospect in the Hedo Turkoglu mold.He has shot 71% from the field and 92% from the line in limited Euro League action.
30)Cleveland Cavaliers- Jerome Jordan- C (Tulsa)
Jordan hasn't shown much growth in his time at Tulsa, but that's another way of saying he's been very consistent.He is averaging 15 points, eight rebounds, and nearly three blocks a game, and would give the Cavs a true center if Shaq and Big Z retire or relocate.
Wall will be a superstar sooner rather than later, and almost any team in this draft would love to have him.
2)Minnesota Timberwolves- Evan Turner- SG (Ohio State)
Turner has the Buckeyes on a huge roll in the Big 10, with an eye on a potential number one seed if they can win out and claim the conference tournament championship.He has also forced his way into the National Player of the Year discussion.
3)Golden State Warriors- Derrick Favors- PF (Georgia Tech)
It's a three horse race for this selection, with Favors, DeMarcus Cousins, and Wesley Johnson in the discussion. Johnson fits perfectly into the Warriors' system, but their need for a big man is far more pressing.Favors and Cousins both have All-Star potential, but while Cousins may be farther along at this point, there are still lingering character concerns surrounding his actions off the court.
4)Utah Jazz (from New York)- Wesley Johnson- SG (Syracuse)
Utah is thrilled to see the Knicks struggles continue, as their pick has a real chance of landing in the top five.The Jazz are faced with a tough choice between Cousins and Johnson, but again the character and chemistry issues surrounding the Kentucky big man are the deciding factor.
5)Detroit Pistons- DeMarcus Cousins- C (Kentucky)
Some media reports make Cousins out to be some sort of monster off the floor, and while those issues are likely largely overblown, they become stories for a reason.That is to say, while Cousins may not be as big of a risk as some believe, there is at least some cause for concern.This will likely be enough to drop him out of the top three, but hardly enough for him to slip past the first six or seven spots.Detroit is a great fit because of their lack of frontcourt depth and back-to-the-basket scoring.
Sacramento was reportedly in the running to acquire Troy Murphy before the trading deadline, and Motiejunas is a stretch power forward in the Murphy mold.They would love to land a franchise point guard, but the value is far from there at number six.On the other hand, taking on a bit of a project seems understandable for a franchise in rebuilding mode.
7)Indiana Pacers- Xavier Henry- SG (Kansas)
Henry's stock has been all over the map this season, but he has made a nice recovery over the past couple of weeks, just in time for a strong tournament push.If he can play well and lead the Jayhawks to the Final 4, he could still be looking at a top five pick.
8)Washington Wizards- Ed Davis- PF (North Carolina)
This is a really tough spot to project because the Wizards are in such a transitional stage right now.Who will and won't be on their roster a year from now is still very much in question, so this pick could go several directions.Al-Farouq Aminu is the highest player on my board, but he doesn't seem to fit.Next is Cole Aldrich, but something tells me that he won't be the guy here either.That leaves Monroe and Ed Davis.I had Monroe here first, but changed my mind.A month from now, the Georgetown big man will likely be considered the better pick because of his team's success in March, but come draft time, that won't matter anymore, and Davis will move back ahead because of his production at UNC.
Most mocks project Aminu as a small forward at the next level, but moving him to the swing spot hinders his rebounding, which has proven to be one of his best assets.His jump shot is also very suspect, leading me to believe he'll play mostly down low (at least in the near future).Still, his athleticism and versatility will be a great addition to a 76ers team in need of an identity.
10)Los Angeles Clippers- Hassan Whiteside- PF (Marshall)
This is a tough pick to project, but for a different reason than the Wizards' choice at number eight.The Clippers roster for next season is very thin, but quite defined.Eric Gordon, Blake Griffin, and Chris Kaman are likely in for the long-term, with Baron Davis likely stuck in Donald Sterling's own personal purgatory.The only other player likely to return next year is DeAndre Jordan, and he is hardly an impact player at this point in his career.
Cole Aldrich and Avery Bradley are the highest players on my board, but they are practically carbon copies of Kaman and Gordon, respectively. Greg Monroe and Patrick Patterson are also high on my board, but they are traditional power forwards, like last year's first overall pick, Griffin.
This leaves the Clippers with a bit of a reach (I'm sure no one saw that coming.) for either Whiteside, who provides huge potential though he is a project, or Stanley Robinson, who plays a need position and has unreal athleticism, but boasts little growth potential.
Someone is bound to take the bait on the Whiteside hype, and why wouldn't it be the Clippers?
11)Charlotte Bobcats- Cole Aldrich- C (Kansas)
The Bobcats' books are a mess.They already have three centers on their roster for next season, but Aldrich has too much value to pass up at number 11.This could easily be a traded pick, with Minnesota a possible destination. (Charlotte would get back the pick they owe Minnesota plus cash and/or a second round pick.)
12)Memphis Grizzlies- Patrick Patterson- PF (Kentucky)
Patterson isn't a freak athlete and probably will never be an All-Star, but he'll have a productive and steady career.He is a relatively safe pick at this point in the draft.
13)Houston Rockets- Solomon Alabi- C (Florida State)
Alabi needs some seasoning, but could develop into a very nice player down the line.His size and surprising shooting touch will allow him to spell Yao Ming right out of the gate.
New Orleans could use an athletic swingman like Stanley Robinson, but they could also use frontcourt depth, and Monroe has huge value at #14.
15)Miami Heat- Avery Bradley- SG (Texas)
Bradley is a tough prospect to place because he is undersized and hasn't been very consistent as a freshman.If he develops the skills to run an offense, he'll be a tough guard at the next level, much like Monta Ellis.If not, he still has the potential to be an above average two guard, a lot like Eric Gordon.Playing in Miami with Dwyane Wade (presumably) would give him the flexibility to be either/or.
16)Milwaukee Bucks- James Anderson- SG (Oklahoma State)
This is the first time I've had Anderson going anywhere but Chicago in quite a while, but with all the elite power forwards off the board, Milwaukee will focus on replacing the aging Michael Redd.Anderson and Brandon Jennings will be a strong backcourt partnership for years to come.
17)Chicago Bulls- Stanley Robinson- SF (Connecticut)
Missing out on Anderson makes the Bulls even more likely to overpay Joe Johnson this summer.With the matter of a shooter taken care of, Chicago eyes an athlete in Robinson, who will take some pressure off of Luol Deng.
18)Miami Heat (from Toronto)- Larry Sanders- PF (Virginia Commonwealth)
Miami will likely need to fill out their roster with several minimum-salary level players, so they'll look to maximize their first rounders.After grabbing a do-it-all guard in Bradley with their first choice, they choose a long, high upside big man at #18.
19)Portland Trail Blazers- Damion James- SF (Texas)
James may not have the upside of Paul George or Devin Ebanks, but he is an established player, who knows his strengths.He is a great rebounder and has a very smooth mid-range game.
20)San Antonio Spurs- Ekpe Udoh- PF (Baylor)
Udoh is a great leaper with good shot-blocking instincts and a quickly developing offensive game.He also has good hustle and a positive attitude, which are Greg Popovich staples.
21)Oklahoma City Thunder (from Phoenix)- Jan Vesely- SF (Czech Republic)
Vesely has good size and defensive instincts and has shown promise on the offensive end.He'll likely need a year or two in Europe, but the Thunder have a very full roster moving forward, so he's a nice fit here.
22)Oklahoma City Thunder- Gani Lawal- PF (Georgia Tech)
The Thunder would love to get their hands on Sanders, but Lawal is an acceptable backup option.He is the best rebounder in this class and should be a productive third or fourth forward.
Stephenson has some character concerns, which should hurt his stock, but he has all the tools to replace Joe Johnson if he changes addresses this summer.
24)New Jersey Nets (from Dallas)- Devin Ebanks- SF (West Virginia)
Ebanks has fallen steadily after beginning the season as a potential top five pick.His play has been inconsistent and uninspired, and staying at West Virginia for a third season seems like his best option, unless the Mountaineers can generate a late run in March.
25)Boston Celtics- Luke Babbit- SF (Nevada)
Babbit is a solid rebounder and a very efficient scorer, who could become a very valuable weapon off the Celtics' bench.
26)Minnesota Timberwolves (from Utah)- Paul George- SF (Fresno State)
George has all the tools to be a spectacular NBA player, but he really needs to grow up and learn to fit in to a team game.He seems like the type of player whose best years will be with a subsequent team.
Warren's season is finished after contracting mono, so what you see is what you get.And honestly, what we saw wasn't very good.His season will close with more questions than answers, and if he declares, his status is a fringe first rounder at best.
28)Orlando Magic- Armon Johnson- PG (Nevada)
Johnson has good size and has posted good numbers for a winning team at Nevada, but he has some holes in his game, as well.Specifically, he struggles from the outside (21%) and the free throw line (63%).
29)Cleveland Cavaliers- Da'Sean Butler- SG (West Virginia)
Butler has great size for a shooting guard, and he possesses a deadly outside shot along with the willingness to fire at will.He should take some of the perimeter pressure off of LeBron James assuming the King holds court in Cleveland.
30)Memphis Grizzlies (from LA Lakers)- Mario Delas- SF (Croatia)
Delas is a little under the radar, but I see a lot of similarities to Hedo Turkoglu.In limited minutes in the European League, Delas has shot 71% from the field and 92% from the free throw line.
