This is an amateur version/tribute to Bill Simmons and his Trade Value Column. This column takes into consideration if Player A was traded for Player B straight up, who wins the trade, taking into account salaries. Also, if a team offered another team Player A for Player B, would the other team accept the offer?
Without further delay, this is my list. It is merely a rough idea. Don't be too harsh with me.
13. Kevin Durant—This guy is the total package. He can shoot, is athletic, and is a good-character, hard-working guy. Once Durant's body grows and he learns to take over a game, this guy will be a franchise player in the NBA.
12. Gilbert Arenas—I know Gilbert is a distraction and kills team chemistry, but you can't deny his talent. Gilbert is an assassin, clutch, and an explosive shooter. Guys that can put up 50 points don't grow on trees. Gilbert has injury issues as well, but if, if he can get healthy, he will be near the top on many teams' wish lists this summer, when he is a free agent.
11. Paul Pierce—After what Pierce has done this season, he is definitely a top-15 player in the NBA. His offensive game is incredible. He can shoot it, create off the dribble, and finish the play. He has shown to be a good defender on LeBron James. Pierce is a leader and inspires his teammates as well.
10. Chris Bosh—Bosh is young, athletic, and extremely skilled. He has long arms and can block shots. He can also score in the post, and can jump out of the gym. Bosh is a stud already, and he will only get better.
9.Tim Duncan—I know Duncan is old, but he still has a lot of value. Duncan is still a 20-and-10 guy, and is a perfect face of a franchise. He can score at will in the post, and anchor a solid defense. Duncan is a tone-setter, and he sets a perfect example by working hard and never getting in trouble.
8. Dwayne Wade—The great things about Wade are his intangibles. Wade is tough, clutch, and his desire to win is off the charts. Add "Flash" quickness and explosiveness, and you get a complete-package superstar. Wade, if he gets healthy, will continue to be a face of the NBA and carry his team to greatness.
7. Amare Stoudemire—Just look at the numbers. In February and March, Stoudemire, aka STAT, averaged 29 points and 10 rebounds. I repeat: 29 points and 10 rebounds. Stoudemire can run the floor, score in the half court, and can dominate the pick-and-roll. He has the potential to dominate every game he plays. All fans should wish to have Amare Stoudemire on their team.
6. Kevin Garnett
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7 months ago
No team, especially the Celtics, would trade Garnett to get Deron Williams.
I'm also not sure Arenas belongs on here, mostly because there are just a lot of other players who bring just as much to the table altogether without the problems and injury concerns. Remember that the Wizards played better without him.
from 7 months ago
Good job on the whole, those are just my main critiques.
from 7 months ago
You're right about that.
You have to take into account the situation. Right now, KG is God in Boston, so they would never trade him anytime soon.
But would you rather have Garnett for 3 years, or Deron Williams for 12 years? Williams has much more time left in the NBA, and that makes him more valuable.
from 7 months ago
You can't quite look at it that way, because the NBA doesn't work like that. You generally think in five-year windows at the longest with player acquisitions, unless you know they are going to stay.
Let's put it this way: I don't think the Timberwolves would have traded Garnett for Deron Williams straight up, even if the money matched, and even if he had this year's season last year. They would have wanted another player and a pick, or something like that. Don't you think Al Jefferson is good enough to contend with Durant and Arenas to be on this list? Look how much else it took to get Garnett, and Big Al was 22 at the time.
Williams isn't the best of defenders, and he turns the ball over a lot (3.4 per game). Way more than the number of steals he comes up with (1.1). Other young points like Chris Paul and Rajon Rondo have a much better ratio in that department. (I'm not suggesting Rondo is worth more in a trade, but he is a better defender and ball-handler.)
6 months ago
First off the only guy on Utah who was consistently playing great against LA was D-Will. Garnett right now is struggling, but he is still the main cog of the front line. Williams should definitely merit attention in his ability, and also the system run by sloan is not as free as what Rondo and Paul have. Rondo is not a better ball handler than D-Will, if you gave Williams the athletes Rondo has you would see greater execution from Williams. You can't just point to the stats specifically in this situation, you have to watch the game to realize the play of Williams is worth so much more than what stats can state. On defense he does not gamble to the extent Paul does, and it does not correlate to more steals. A great example would be the series against San Antonio where Paul would gamble on occasion against Tony and that would force the front line to collapse after Parker bypassed Paul. John Hollinger wrote a great article a while back on PER I believe, and it highlighted the average of other players against Williams and Paul. Players averaged more points against Paul. I personally think they have different outlooks on defense, Williams focuses on the strength portion, while Paul goes for sparks by creating turnovers. As for the turnovers on offense, a lot of those aren't from careless play or lack of execution especially if you've managed to run the offense Jerry Sloan likes, but D-Will isn't surrounded by the greatest of athletes, so a lot of his mistakes come from miscommunication or trying to do too much when the team tends to become stagnant on offense, like we saw in the Lakers series, where he played alone. Honestly I watched all 82 games of the Jazz this year, and the playoffs, obviously I can't find you stats, or ratios asides from the Hollinger reference, but this is just from my eye. Yes I am a D-Will fan, so I got defend him on that. If the Celtics had D-Will right now over KG they would definitely have an amazing back court, but you can't underscore the importance that KG is to the front line and how he is one of the most intense players to play the game. I don't think the Celtics would have gotten as far as they have with KG if they had D-Will because the front line disparity would be too much, but if they found someone serviceable like the equivalent of a Rondo as a frontline player they could potentially replicate this current run. In example if they had the lineup of Williams, Allen, Paul, Al Jefferson, and Perkins.
6 months ago
Great article by the way, the Dwight Howard and Chris Paul argument is tough, but I think you are right in selecting Chris ahead. Any idea on who you think could elevate himself to this list soon, such as an upcoming draft pick or any of our other rookies, i.e. Al Horford, Greg Oden. I would take Gilbert out of that list and maybe insert David West, Boozer, or Caron Butler.
6 months ago
I think you have a few things that need tweaking, but a great job overall. Great work!
from 6 months ago
Thanks a lot! Appreciated.
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