The Brooklyn Nets.

[Lakewood Dogger]

I guess Jay Z is tired of taking the Misses to watch a loser. Deron Williams signs at 20 million per. Joe Johnson is arguably one of the top 10 2 guard scorers in the game. And, they are the front runners to acquire Dwight Howard. Not to shabby. I guess the knicks better get a point guard to keep pace.

[Flipside]

Sweet...hope they get Dwight!!

[Dream Pits]

Joe Johnson being top 10 is funny, maybe a few years back but still that's a great nucleus. They are instant contenders with those 3 together. I hope it happens. I'm a big D Howard fan, best big in the league

[Lakewood Dogger]

Lets see.


10. Kevin Martin(notes), Houston Rockets (last year: ninth)
Healthy, playing for a coach who knows how to get him open, and working with a team that will depend on him for scoring, Martin should have a bounce-back season in 2010-11. Martin's numbers with Houston last season were nearly identical to his pre-trade numbers with the Sacramento Kings, but he's just 27 entering the season and could start to ring up a series of career years.

9. Jason Richardson(notes), Phoenix Suns (last year: 13th)
Richardson played absolute knockout basketball for the Suns in the playoffs last season, averaging nearly 20 points on 50 percent shooting while making 47.5 percent of his 3-pointers. And while a 16-game sample size is nothing to bank on, the 29-year-old could come home with the best season of his career in 2010-11. With Amar'e Stoudemire(notes) in New York, Richardson's all-around gifts will be badly needed. And a silver lining for Suns fans? I don't recall many of Richardson's threes coming from some amazing extra pass tossed out by a double-teamed Amar'e.
8. Stephen Jackson(notes), Charlotte Bobcats (last year: 11th, but as a small forward)
He passed less and shot more, per possession, but I was struck by the way Jackson handled the trade that sent him from the Golden State Warriors to Charlotte last year. Going from one of the fastest teams in the NBA last season to one of the slowest, Jackson's defense improved, his scoring (21.1 per game) stayed strong (though, for all those minutes and shots, it should) and his defense was fantastic despite his 31 years of age. I'm guessing one more of those years before the drop-off, though I concede that might be too optimistic.

7. Tyreke Evans(notes), Sacramento Kings (last year: unranked)
Tyreke handles the ball a ton for the Kings, but he also lines up in the starting five alongside Beno Udrih(notes). And unless you want to start calling the 5-11 Udrih a shooting guard, Evans gets the call as a ball-dominating off-guard. Some didn't like the way Evans and the Kings shot for that 20-point, five-rebound, five-assist average last season, but it was really all Sacramento had going for it, and I didn't think the attention too unseemly. Evans is a special talent, and his next trick is going to be learning how to mesh those all-around talents in a five-man pro setting.
6. Andre Iguodala(notes)
So, here's where we get to the mea culpa.
For every 30 players I put up, I write bios for about 33 or so for contention, decide on the placement and then rewrite the bios according to the placement. And right before I posted the 30-through-21 list, I chickened out regarding Evan Turner's(notes) placement (or, non-placement) on this list and substituted him into the lower rungs while rewriting his descriptive paragraph -- with the understanding that everyone else would move down a spot.
The problem is that I didn't move everyone else down a spot. I just substituted Turner for Marcus Thornton(notes), and forgot to lose Thabo Sefolosha(notes) along the way. And, really, Thornton will be much, much better than Turner this season. Most likely better than a few of the guards ahead of Turner on the 30-through-21 list. It was insecurity that led to an unprofessional late switch -- the reason the post went up at five minutes after 10 a.m. ET on Thursday and not 10 -- and I was wrong to do it.
On top of that? I originally had Andre Iguodala as a shooting guard, going back and forth as to whether or not he should be a two or a three, thinking that -- in Doug Collins' system -- Iggy will guard small forwards while Turner will be shoved to the side as a small forward on offense while A.I. handles the ball. But I shouldn't go there, and should rank Iguodala as an all-out wing. So this would be Iggy's place as a shooting guard, but he's not one, and you'll read about him on the small forward list.
If anything else, I hope that these screwups give you a little insight as to how nutty I am about getting these rankings right. Even if they go way, way wrong.

5. Manu Ginobili(notes), San Antonio Spurs (last year: fourth)
At his best and healthiest, Manu is just a step below Kobe Bryant(notes). The problem is that he's not often healthy, doesn't play enough minutes and can't sustain the type of brilliance that we saw last March, when Manu averaged 22.1 points in just 31 minutes on 52 percent shooting, with 9.6 combined rebounds/assists. So, No. 5 sounds about right, with the caveat that, when everything is going smoothly, few can take over a game like Manu.

4. Joe Johnson(notes), Atlanta Hawks (last year: fifth)
I called his contract extension "the worst contract in NBA history," and I meant it. A $120 million contract that will pay Johnson from age 29-35? Terrible.
But for this season and the next, Johnson will be a sound all-around wing player for the Hawks. Yes, he needs the ball and plenty of minutes to drop his (over) 20 points and (nearly) five assists and five rebounds, but he's also a lower-rung All-Star who can be counted on to sop up minutes (and for that yearly January swoon, as the minutes catch up to him), and that's enough for a top-five ranking at this position.

3. Brandon Roy(notes), Portland Trail Blazers (last year: third)
Roy took a bit of a step back in 2009-10, but, if anything, it pointed out that his all-world play in 2008-09 might be a bit of an aberration and last season is more of the norm. But what a norm it is -- 26 other teams would kill for that "norm." Roy averaged 21.5 points and 9.1 combined assists/rebounds on a team with the fewest possessions per game. The injuries worry the heck out of me, but let's not get into that until we have to, OK?

2. Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers (last year: second)
You can rant and rail and tell me once again that I'm looking for attention or trying to create waves, but Kobe Bryant is coming off a year that saw him drag an injured leg and back around, and he's still got a bum index finger on his shooting hand. He's played over 45,000 minutes in his career counting the playoffs and he turns 32 on Monday. Dwyane Wade(notes) shot better, turned the ball over fewer times, assisted more despite terrible teammates, picked up more steals and blocks -- and he's four years younger. And he'll have the better season in 2010-11.
The Lakers are still the favorites in my eyes, and Kobe Bryant should be respected more than any other player in this league, but he's part of a great team now. And he passed the torch last season. Really, he passed two seasons ago to those who were playing attention.

1. Dwyane Wade, Miami Heat (last year: first)
Nobody wants anything to do with Wade, his teammates and the unseemly mess that produced what will be the 2010-11 Miami Heat, but you can't argue with Wade's production from last season. Constantly double- and triple-teamed, with some defenses sending trap defenders to get the ball out of his hands 30 feet from the hoop, Wade still put up 26.6 points per game on 47.6 percent shooting, with 11.3 combined assists/rebounds. He also averaged 1.8 steals and 1.1 blocks. At age 28, this guy is just hitting his prime, too.

[Naustroms]

joe johnson will under perform.

[Lakewood Dogger]

joe johnson will under perform.

I think he will do what he does. He will average 18, 5, and 3 rebounds a game.

[Dream Pits]

He holds the ball the entire shot clock, he isn't very efficent if you actually watch. Sort've like when Kobe takes 35 shots to score 30 points. Yeah he had 30 but that's nott a good game.

[Lakewood Dogger]

He holds the ball the entire shot clock, he isn't very efficent if you actually watch. Sort've like when Kobe takes 35 shots to score 30 points. Yeah he had 30 but that's nott a good game.

I watch. I'm a lifetime knick fan. He gives the Nets a top back court. I'm not saying he is great but he does give them some respectability.

[Dream Pits]

For sure, I won't argue that. If they get Howard Brooklyn is on the map. Jus need a few role players

[dutchy954]

Lets get back to the real topic at hand.... Orlando has the best center in the whole NBA. Tell me why you would not bend over backwards to make him happy and build a team around him?? Sounds like something my Celtics would do.

[lil mayhem]

@ dutchy because he doesn't want them bro!! And f*&% Joe Johnson the presence of Daron and Dwight is what puts them on the map. They would seriously need someone who doesn't think that they ARE the scoring option to compliment Dwight Howard to make a very serious run. Joe Johnson is a role player at best but he doesn't realize that, to me that's what would hurt them. Add a guy that knows his role and they are a serious contender.

[dutchy954]

Orlands is dumb as shit. Had the previous best center in Shaq and get rid of him,,, for Shaq to win what, 3 rings in a row! I just dont see how Joe Johnson is even involved in this mess, hes average. All these years in ATL and they are always just not good enough. Celtics dish Johnson off for him to be paid like hes Kobe when hes simply just a great 6th man.

Orlando would be smart to trade with Lakers and acquire Bynum.

And what were the Nets going to lose getting howard. lopez, humphries and 3 future 1st round picks?! You lose a future for maybe a great uninjured season with Dwight. I dont get it.

[Dream Pits]

Joe is vert talented, just doesnt play smart. Dwight wants to win, Orlando is on that dumb shit so...

[BILLSKI]

Wow. Joe Johnson is a very talented player. His best years were in phx, playing with a good pg in steve nash, just like stoudamires were. Atl has no pg, and no direction, never has. Now hes gonna play with deron williams, another stellar pg. hmmmmmmm? Who in college basketball, or on the high school horizon is turning heads? (crickets chirping) So why not give up suspect draft picks for what could be, for what is? 20pts 12rbs and 3blks! Get him while you can! Nobody coming out of the draft the next three years will put up those numbers! Nobody, and if you are a competitive team, you wont be a lottery team so you cant draft a player of that caliber anyway.

[slim12]

the nets are offering an awful lot for someone just off back surgery....especially a big man with back surgery....especially a big man who has little skill beyond 8ft....skills beyond 8ft. extend a career...trading for a banger with a bad back is a good idea if the trade can be made without sacrificing future picks...i would give up lopez, humph. and brooks and maybe a pick....but never three picks.....dos anyone remember the herschel walker trade??? trading part of your future is a gamble....staking your entire future on the bad back of a player that can only play at the basket is a bit much for me....the flip side....the Pacers palyed two games in the middle and had the heat on the ropes....saying that, howard can be a key ingredient to fending off the heat in the east....US1

[Lakewood Dogger]

The price is indeed steep. Here is the thing with the draft picks. If the Nets are what they seem, the draft picks will not matter. Howard, Williams and Joe Johnson is a better core then most.

[Dream Pits]

You cant put a price on an impact player of that magnitude. Basically if they traded everyone but dwill for Howard they would be a better team the next year

[Lakewood Dogger]

You cant put a price on an impact player of that magnitude. Basically if they traded everyone but dwill for Howard they would be a better team the next year

Would love to see Humphries as the power forward on the team. But, to get the franchise center, he can go.

Looks like my Knicks better get Nash to be competitive this year.

[slim12]

like i said, three years ago i would trade the farm for howard....but a big man coming off back surgery that only has a low post game...i just think it is a lot to trade....if howard had a 15ft game that could ease some of the beatings he takes and gives down low...a 15ft game extends his career a few years and then i could see giving up all the picks...but his window of production is limited....but i do think that the nets should be really competitive with howard, williams and johnson....i like the combo....and couple that with the nets owner having all the money in the world...the cap should not hurt them like other teams....i just think it is a lot for a big man coming off back surgery with no game other than banging at the basket....US1

[Lakewood Dogger]

like i said, three years ago i would trade the farm for howard....but a big man coming off back surgery that only has a low post game...i just think it is a lot to trade....if howard had a 15ft game that could ease some of the beatings he takes and gives down low...a 15ft game extends his career a few years and then i could see giving up all the picks...but his window of production is limited....but i do think that the nets should be really competitive with howard, williams and johnson....i like the combo....and couple that with the nets owner having all the money in the world...the cap should not hurt them like other teams....i just think it is a lot for a big man coming off back surgery with no game other than banging at the basket....US1

Valid point indeed. He is limited away from the basket but the blocks, rebounds and changed shots should make up for it. They will be in serious need of rebounding though.