at at the prospect of Hickson being dealt before the trade deadline. Just three weeks ago or so you had Cavs fans on here saying they wouldn't take Chris Bosh if he was offered up to them for nothing because they had J.J. Hickson.
They also have Ryan Hollins though.
But those idiots wouldn't talk about Hickson in trades to get another superstar to keep LeBron happy.. They deserve everything that came to them.Originally Posted by JPZx
at at the prospect of Hickson being dealt before the trade deadline. Just three weeks ago or so you had Cavs fans on here saying they wouldn't take Chris Bosh if he was offered up to them for nothing because they had J.J. Hickson.
But those idiots wouldn't talk about Hickson in trades to get another superstar to keep LeBron happy.. They deserve everything that came to them.Originally Posted by JPZx
at at the prospect of Hickson being dealt before the trade deadline. Just three weeks ago or so you had Cavs fans on here saying they wouldn't take Chris Bosh if he was offered up to them for nothing because they had J.J. Hickson.
Let the Melo mania begin.
On Tuesday, the New Jersey Nets, Houston Rockets and Los Angeles Lakers agreed to a three-team trade that raises the stakes in a showdown between the Knicks and Nets over which New York-area team might end up with Carmelo Anthony, Denver's high-scoring forward, as the Nets landed two more first-round draft choices to sweeten the pot.
The part of the deal with the Lakers is the most interesting, since it signals the Nets' new intent to use their financial resources under new owner Mikhail Prokhorov. The Nets essentially purchased a first-round pick from L.A., something that never would have happened under the penny-pinching regime of Bruce Ratner, by agreeing to take on the final year of Sasha Vujacic's contract. New Jersey took on $3.2 million in salary to get a (presumably) late first-round draft pick, which seems fair: The going rate for such picks has been $3 million, and the Nets can probably flip Vujacic's expiring deal again at the trade deadline for other considerations.
This was a shrewd move by the Lakers, as well, landing an end-of-rotation veteran big man in Joe Smith -- something they desperately needed -- and shaving $8.7 million in expenses, considering the luxury-tax bill. With Shannon Brown's eruption, Vujacic was an expensive luxury making $5.5 million at the end of the bench.
New Jersey picked up another first-rounder (a lottery-protected 2012 pick from the Rockets) by agreeing to send flaky second-year pro Terrence Williams to Houston. Williams seems an odd fit there -- he sure as heck won't be spacing the floor for Yao Ming -- but he's very athletic and a very good passer, two things that are in short supply in the Rockets' wing rotation at the moment. I wouldn't be surprised if he plays a "point forward" role with the Rockets' second unit.
Nonetheless, all this is merely the preamble to the bigger question. The Nets now have five first-round picks in the next two years, four of which they can trade, and they can also insert No. 3 overall pick Derrick Favors into a deal. Those assets, plus the expiring contract of the still-useful-unless-your-coach-is-Avery-Johnson Troy Murphy, would seemingly be a very tempting proposition for the Nuggets' front office.
Such a deal would also allow the Nets to sell Melo on a Devin Harris-Brook Lopez-Anthony core, which they couldn't do in previous incarnations of the trade that required Harris' inclusion. The Nets could utilize more small lineups with Travis Outlaw as a small-ball 4, playing to the rest of the squad's strengths.
Nonetheless, the word from ESPN.com's Chris Sheridan is that if Anthony is traded, he will sign an extension only with the Knicks. He can opt out of his contract and become a free agent after the season, so he has a lot of power in these trade scenarios -- there's no way the Nets (or another team) can give up so many assets just to rent him for half a season. New Jersey would want any deal to be an "extend-and-trade," where Anthony signs an extension and then is immediately traded to the Nets.
So would the Knicks, of course, but they have the luxury of time on their side. If Anthony is truly dead-set on becoming a 'Bocker next fall, the Knicks will have the means to sign him without compensation in free agency. Thus, New York remains the favorite to land him, either by trade this year or via free agency this summer.
But that only raises another question: How much would he help?
I ask because the Knicks' offense doesn't appear to require much first aid right now. Anthony is primarily an offensive player, and primarily one who operates more on volume than efficiency. He rebounds well for his size but doesn't play much defense and has a fairly high turnover rate.
Sans Melo, New York is tied for second in the NBA in offensive efficiency, and second in true shooting percentage. While those marks are likely to go down a bit once New York plays better teams, starting Wednesday night against Boston's top-ranked defense, it still shows the Knicks are a high-efficiency offense even without Anthony.
Furthermore, New York's biggest offensive weakness is its 3-point accuracy, an area where Anthony's acquisition would only hurt. First, he's not good himself, at 30.7 percent for his career, and second, any trade for Anthony would certainly cost the Knicks their best shooter, Danilo Gallinari, who leads the team in both attempts (5.2 per game) and accuracy (37.7 percent). That might cause the whole house of cards to collapse -- Amare Stoudemire's effectiveness depends in part on having credible 3-point threats around him, and so does Anthony's.
In fact, the area where Anthony is likely to help the most is one we wouldn't normally consider -- the glass. Anthony is a ferocious rebounder for a small forward, ranking second at his position in rebound rate. With the Knicks at 20th in offensive rebound rate and tied for 21st on the defensive boards, he'd prove quite helpful in that respect.
Nonetheless, he'd also take a high-efficiency offense and likely drag down its efficiency -- for one thing, his 53.1 true shooting mark is far lower than New York's as a team (57.4).
So that ends the debate? Not exactly. Denver has had a high-efficiency offense the past few years, despite Anthony's volume approach, because they've been able to surround him with the types of players who can take advantage of all the attention he draws.
New York could easily do the same thing. Yes, they'd lose Gallinari, but in the NBA, Danilos can be found much more cheaply than Carmelos. One can see that by looking at another Anthony in the New York area -- Nets guard Anthony Morrow. He's a 45.1 percent career 3-point shooter, which ranks him second all-time, and he just signed for a mere $4 million a year. In other words, it appears New York could get floor-spacing wings through trades or free agency.
But I'd encourage the Knicks to tread carefully here. Anthony in New York would be more "helpful" than "panacea." Completing a trade for him would put the Knicks a step ahead of where they are now, but only one. Presuming they were without Gallinari and either Wilson Chandler or Landry Fields (or both) as a result of the trade, some serious remedial work would still be left to fill the roster with shooters and defenders.
The same roster-building caveats, of course, apply to New Jersey, but the difference is that the Nets don't have anything to lose. To our great surprise, it appears the Knicks do.
Wow, what a difference an offseason can make. Two things happened this past summer that have transformed the look of this class. First, some players got busy getting better. And second, NBA coaches turned on the video and figured out how to defend some of the better players from this group.
It's always like this, as teams just don't have the time during a season to really examine how to better defend guys who are killing them. They have to wait for the postseason, when they have ample time to study one team, or the offseason, when they have months to prepare.
So which players from the 2009-10 rookie class got better? Which got worse? There are some surprising findings among the second-year players:
Curry1. Stephen Curry, Warriors
Curry started the season by scoring 41 points on 16-for-25 shooting and dishing out 17 assists in his first two games. And he hasn't let up. Curry is top-three in his class in almost every offensive category, leading the class in scoring and player efficiency rating. (The only thing that has slowed him is his bad ankle.)
This past spring, we thought he'd end up being the best player in his draft class by the end of his career, but he's making the case that he already is now that some of his competition has dropped off (although Blake Griffin is forcing me to rethink that list).
In my mind, Curry is still the closest thing to Steve Nash we've ever seen. His vision, decision-making, ball skills and shooting talents make him extremely hard to defend in the full-court or half-court game, and it appears he can get much better as a lead guard. As the smartest player in the class, he'll keep learning from every mistake.
2. Brandon Jennings, Bucks
Remember how incredibly hot Jennings started last season? Although he couldn't come close to maintaining that level, he still finished the season decently overall. This season, Jennings started out playing relatively poorly, but if they gave out a sophomore player of the month award for December, he would be the likely winner.
Jennings is learning how to manage games while still staying aggressive offensively. And his 3-point stroke is back, which makes him incredibly hard to defend on the Bucks' ball-screen action and in space.
One of the things I've loved about Jennings from day one is his passion to play both sides of the court. This year is no different. The Bucks try to play solid defense without gambling much, forcing teams to beat them five-on-five (and not five-on-four). Still, Jennings gets more than a steal a game; he's recorded at least one steal in 16 of his past 19 games.
Most importantly, Jennings' strong play has sparked his team to playoff relevance. The Bucks have won four of their past five (Miami was the only team to beat them), including a huge win in Dallas. Jennings and Andrew Bogut sparked that win Monday and are becoming one of the best point guard-center duos in the league.
Ibaka
3. Serge Ibaka, Thunder
When smartly run teams draft talented but raw players, they do so with a plan in hand to help their pick reach the potential the team saw when scouting him. Somebody should steal the plan Oklahoma City used for Ibaka, who is fast becoming a high-level player on a good Thunder team.
Everything with Ibaka starts with his defense, as he ranks third in the league in blocks per game (second in blocks per 48 minutes). Offensive players know he's lurking, but he still surprises them with his quickness and timing.
But the story now is also about Ibaka's offense. Watch him drain more than half his jumpers from beyond 16 feet, and you'll see a nice shooting motion. The same can be said for his free throws, which he's now making at an 80 percent clip. And best of all, Ibaka does not need to score or block shots to impact his team and the game, as his passion and energy alone infect his teammates. He's a candidate for the league's Most Improved Player award.
4. Wes Matthews, Trail Blazers
Take an athletic and skilled guy, snub him in the draft, then turn him loose. It doesn't matter that Matthews is already making more money than any other player in his draft class, he still plays as though he's just trying to make someone's summer league roster.
Matthews is on a tear in December, racking up more than 19 points per game and 2.4 steals per game with at least one steal in every game this month. And how does 47 percent from 3 and 89 percent from the line sound? Great, if you're a Blazers fan, especially because he doesn't rely on his shooting to make an impact.
Gibson
5. Taj Gibson, Bulls
This may be the highest Gibson will be on this report, because Carlos Boozer's return limits his contributions. But to this point, he's been a key player on a strong team -- he's shooting better than expected, rebounding, defending and playing the whole game with the composure of a veteran. Put it this way: Chicago is a contender partially because its first big off the bench can play.
6. Darren Collison, Pacers
He's been solid but not special as the full-time point guard in Indiana. Similarly to how Collison played last season, he's been a good but somewhat reluctant shooter who also seems a little too cautious running his team. This lack of aggression can be adjusted, however, if he uses his quickness to attack people and force defenses to pick their poison (the way Derrick Rose does in Chicago).
Lawson
7. Ty Lawson, Nuggets
Lawson had a slow start but has returned to his normal style of late. He is shooting and passing well and has had a good month from the free throw line. This is a key area for him, especially because he's playing behind Chauncey Billups, one of the best free throw shooting point guards of all time. As the Nuggets figure out their future, Lawson is a valuable asset who is desired by many teams.
8. Jrue Holiday, 76ers
The Sixers are 5-2 since losing to the Heat on Nov. 26, and Holiday has been a core part of their improvement. Although his stats are only OK, they look better when taking into account that he's one of the league's youngest players. His ability to manage a game and defend the other team's point guard is impressive. Holiday is not shooting as well as he did last season, but I expect him to make progress in this area as the season unfolds.
Evans
9. Tyreke Evans, Kings
For the most part, the league has figured out what Shane Battier, Kobe Bryant and LeBron James did last season when guarding Evans -- take away his right-hand finishes at the rim. I know he has a sore foot, but his problem finishing inside has as much to do with opposing defenses as anything else. But remember, Evans always has been a crafty player, and over time, he should figure out new ways to finish shots.
10. Jodie Meeks, 76ers
Stroking it from deep and playing with fire, Meeks is doing what fellow classmate Marcus Thornton did last season as a rookie. He's been a huge part of Philly's recent success, making shots and good decisions with the ball. Half his shot attempts are 3s, helping the Sixers' offense a great deal by forcing teams to honor him and play four-on-four inside or help off him and live with the results.
Williams
11. Reggie Williams, Warriors
No one is sure what his best position is -- he's played at least three positions this season alone (point guard and both wing spots). But he's proved to be a scorer who knows how to make simple plays, he's been perhaps the best shooter from deep in the entire league this month (59.3 percent) and he's very gifted at finding ways to get wide-open thanks to his excellent feel for the game.
12. DeJuan Blair, Spurs
Blair stumbled out of the gates as a starter, not getting his first double-double until mid-November. But he's back on track now, posting two double-doubles and averaging more than two steals a game in December. If he can get his midrange jumper going (think Glen Davis), he's going to be a big contributor in the Spurs' playoff drive.
DeRozan
13. DeMar DeRozan, Raptors
Many people are disappointed with the lack of real growth by DeRozan, especially after an excellent summer league run. But he has shown some promise in multiple games and is starting for an improving team. His 26 points on 13 shots in Orlando remains his current ceiling, and it's good to know he's capable of having a big game like that. Developing a 3-point shot is next on his shopping list.
14. Omri Casspi, Kings
Casspi reminds me of all-time great NFL receiver Cris "All he does is catch touchdowns" Carter. All Casspi does is play incredibly hard, race the floor whenever he can and make 3-pointers. He gets exposed on defense, but that happens to a long list of guys in Sacramento. I'd be surprised if Casspi does not rise up this list.
Douglas
15. Toney Douglas, Knicks
His shooting stats won't give anyone warm and fuzzy feelings, but Douglas is making a difference for the Knicks with his toughness and willingness to defend. And that's not even what he's doing best. Despite playing more than 20 minutes a game, Douglas is averaging less than one turnover per game in December. Knicks coach Mike D'Antoni has to love that because taking care of the ball means more opportunities for Amare Stoudemire to get touches.
16. James Harden, Thunder
Harden always will be the type of player whose sum is greater than his stats suggest. Even so, he's having a solid December after a rough start, scoring more than 13 points a game on more than 43 percent shooting from deep while still maintaining his excellent overall floor game. If he asserted himself a little more and made more athletic plays (which he has plenty of in him), he'd be a better player.
Maynor
17. Eric Maynor, Thunder
Like Harden's role, Maynor's is not to be a stat stuffer. Rather, he needs to quarterback his team on offense and spearhead solid defense. He's doing just that as a big part of OKC's second unit. He's also making 40 percent of his 3s and has a better than 2-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio.
18. Jordan Hill, Rockets
Finally getting some consistent minutes in Houston, Hill is making big contributions in almost every game he plays. He's the Rockets' only guy who can rebound above the rim, and his energy combines with his athleticism to make sparkling plays pretty consistently. He's not any kind of passer yet, but he's a better shooter and finisher than you'd think.
Budinger
19. Chase Budinger, Rockets
Budinger came out of the gate almost as badly as you could script it, mostly because he made just 2 of his first 20 3-point shots. But December has seen the Budinger from last season, cutting harder to the rim and knocking down more than 40 percent of his 3s in his key role off the bench. He'll now be pressed for time because the Rockets have acquired Terrence Williams.
20. Austin Daye, Pistons
Daye ekes out this spot over a few other guys but really does not deserve special mention yet. He did start the season decently and is making better than 40 percent of his 3s, but he is struggling in December.
Let the Melo mania begin.
On Tuesday, the New Jersey Nets, Houston Rockets and Los Angeles Lakers agreed to a three-team trade that raises the stakes in a showdown between the Knicks and Nets over which New York-area team might end up with Carmelo Anthony, Denver's high-scoring forward, as the Nets landed two more first-round draft choices to sweeten the pot.
The part of the deal with the Lakers is the most interesting, since it signals the Nets' new intent to use their financial resources under new owner Mikhail Prokhorov. The Nets essentially purchased a first-round pick from L.A., something that never would have happened under the penny-pinching regime of Bruce Ratner, by agreeing to take on the final year of Sasha Vujacic's contract. New Jersey took on $3.2 million in salary to get a (presumably) late first-round draft pick, which seems fair: The going rate for such picks has been $3 million, and the Nets can probably flip Vujacic's expiring deal again at the trade deadline for other considerations.
This was a shrewd move by the Lakers, as well, landing an end-of-rotation veteran big man in Joe Smith -- something they desperately needed -- and shaving $8.7 million in expenses, considering the luxury-tax bill. With Shannon Brown's eruption, Vujacic was an expensive luxury making $5.5 million at the end of the bench.
New Jersey picked up another first-rounder (a lottery-protected 2012 pick from the Rockets) by agreeing to send flaky second-year pro Terrence Williams to Houston. Williams seems an odd fit there -- he sure as heck won't be spacing the floor for Yao Ming -- but he's very athletic and a very good passer, two things that are in short supply in the Rockets' wing rotation at the moment. I wouldn't be surprised if he plays a "point forward" role with the Rockets' second unit.
Nonetheless, all this is merely the preamble to the bigger question. The Nets now have five first-round picks in the next two years, four of which they can trade, and they can also insert No. 3 overall pick Derrick Favors into a deal. Those assets, plus the expiring contract of the still-useful-unless-your-coach-is-Avery-Johnson Troy Murphy, would seemingly be a very tempting proposition for the Nuggets' front office.
Such a deal would also allow the Nets to sell Melo on a Devin Harris-Brook Lopez-Anthony core, which they couldn't do in previous incarnations of the trade that required Harris' inclusion. The Nets could utilize more small lineups with Travis Outlaw as a small-ball 4, playing to the rest of the squad's strengths.
Nonetheless, the word from ESPN.com's Chris Sheridan is that if Anthony is traded, he will sign an extension only with the Knicks. He can opt out of his contract and become a free agent after the season, so he has a lot of power in these trade scenarios -- there's no way the Nets (or another team) can give up so many assets just to rent him for half a season. New Jersey would want any deal to be an "extend-and-trade," where Anthony signs an extension and then is immediately traded to the Nets.
So would the Knicks, of course, but they have the luxury of time on their side. If Anthony is truly dead-set on becoming a 'Bocker next fall, the Knicks will have the means to sign him without compensation in free agency. Thus, New York remains the favorite to land him, either by trade this year or via free agency this summer.
But that only raises another question: How much would he help?
I ask because the Knicks' offense doesn't appear to require much first aid right now. Anthony is primarily an offensive player, and primarily one who operates more on volume than efficiency. He rebounds well for his size but doesn't play much defense and has a fairly high turnover rate.
Sans Melo, New York is tied for second in the NBA in offensive efficiency, and second in true shooting percentage. While those marks are likely to go down a bit once New York plays better teams, starting Wednesday night against Boston's top-ranked defense, it still shows the Knicks are a high-efficiency offense even without Anthony.
Furthermore, New York's biggest offensive weakness is its 3-point accuracy, an area where Anthony's acquisition would only hurt. First, he's not good himself, at 30.7 percent for his career, and second, any trade for Anthony would certainly cost the Knicks their best shooter, Danilo Gallinari, who leads the team in both attempts (5.2 per game) and accuracy (37.7 percent). That might cause the whole house of cards to collapse -- Amare Stoudemire's effectiveness depends in part on having credible 3-point threats around him, and so does Anthony's.
In fact, the area where Anthony is likely to help the most is one we wouldn't normally consider -- the glass. Anthony is a ferocious rebounder for a small forward, ranking second at his position in rebound rate. With the Knicks at 20th in offensive rebound rate and tied for 21st on the defensive boards, he'd prove quite helpful in that respect.
Nonetheless, he'd also take a high-efficiency offense and likely drag down its efficiency -- for one thing, his 53.1 true shooting mark is far lower than New York's as a team (57.4).
So that ends the debate? Not exactly. Denver has had a high-efficiency offense the past few years, despite Anthony's volume approach, because they've been able to surround him with the types of players who can take advantage of all the attention he draws.
New York could easily do the same thing. Yes, they'd lose Gallinari, but in the NBA, Danilos can be found much more cheaply than Carmelos. One can see that by looking at another Anthony in the New York area -- Nets guard Anthony Morrow. He's a 45.1 percent career 3-point shooter, which ranks him second all-time, and he just signed for a mere $4 million a year. In other words, it appears New York could get floor-spacing wings through trades or free agency.
But I'd encourage the Knicks to tread carefully here. Anthony in New York would be more "helpful" than "panacea." Completing a trade for him would put the Knicks a step ahead of where they are now, but only one. Presuming they were without Gallinari and either Wilson Chandler or Landry Fields (or both) as a result of the trade, some serious remedial work would still be left to fill the roster with shooters and defenders.
The same roster-building caveats, of course, apply to New Jersey, but the difference is that the Nets don't have anything to lose. To our great surprise, it appears the Knicks do.
Wow, what a difference an offseason can make. Two things happened this past summer that have transformed the look of this class. First, some players got busy getting better. And second, NBA coaches turned on the video and figured out how to defend some of the better players from this group.
It's always like this, as teams just don't have the time during a season to really examine how to better defend guys who are killing them. They have to wait for the postseason, when they have ample time to study one team, or the offseason, when they have months to prepare.
So which players from the 2009-10 rookie class got better? Which got worse? There are some surprising findings among the second-year players:
Curry1. Stephen Curry, Warriors
Curry started the season by scoring 41 points on 16-for-25 shooting and dishing out 17 assists in his first two games. And he hasn't let up. Curry is top-three in his class in almost every offensive category, leading the class in scoring and player efficiency rating. (The only thing that has slowed him is his bad ankle.)
This past spring, we thought he'd end up being the best player in his draft class by the end of his career, but he's making the case that he already is now that some of his competition has dropped off (although Blake Griffin is forcing me to rethink that list).
In my mind, Curry is still the closest thing to Steve Nash we've ever seen. His vision, decision-making, ball skills and shooting talents make him extremely hard to defend in the full-court or half-court game, and it appears he can get much better as a lead guard. As the smartest player in the class, he'll keep learning from every mistake.
2. Brandon Jennings, Bucks
Remember how incredibly hot Jennings started last season? Although he couldn't come close to maintaining that level, he still finished the season decently overall. This season, Jennings started out playing relatively poorly, but if they gave out a sophomore player of the month award for December, he would be the likely winner.
Jennings is learning how to manage games while still staying aggressive offensively. And his 3-point stroke is back, which makes him incredibly hard to defend on the Bucks' ball-screen action and in space.
One of the things I've loved about Jennings from day one is his passion to play both sides of the court. This year is no different. The Bucks try to play solid defense without gambling much, forcing teams to beat them five-on-five (and not five-on-four). Still, Jennings gets more than a steal a game; he's recorded at least one steal in 16 of his past 19 games.
Most importantly, Jennings' strong play has sparked his team to playoff relevance. The Bucks have won four of their past five (Miami was the only team to beat them), including a huge win in Dallas. Jennings and Andrew Bogut sparked that win Monday and are becoming one of the best point guard-center duos in the league.
Ibaka
3. Serge Ibaka, Thunder
When smartly run teams draft talented but raw players, they do so with a plan in hand to help their pick reach the potential the team saw when scouting him. Somebody should steal the plan Oklahoma City used for Ibaka, who is fast becoming a high-level player on a good Thunder team.
Everything with Ibaka starts with his defense, as he ranks third in the league in blocks per game (second in blocks per 48 minutes). Offensive players know he's lurking, but he still surprises them with his quickness and timing.
But the story now is also about Ibaka's offense. Watch him drain more than half his jumpers from beyond 16 feet, and you'll see a nice shooting motion. The same can be said for his free throws, which he's now making at an 80 percent clip. And best of all, Ibaka does not need to score or block shots to impact his team and the game, as his passion and energy alone infect his teammates. He's a candidate for the league's Most Improved Player award.
4. Wes Matthews, Trail Blazers
Take an athletic and skilled guy, snub him in the draft, then turn him loose. It doesn't matter that Matthews is already making more money than any other player in his draft class, he still plays as though he's just trying to make someone's summer league roster.
Matthews is on a tear in December, racking up more than 19 points per game and 2.4 steals per game with at least one steal in every game this month. And how does 47 percent from 3 and 89 percent from the line sound? Great, if you're a Blazers fan, especially because he doesn't rely on his shooting to make an impact.
Gibson
5. Taj Gibson, Bulls
This may be the highest Gibson will be on this report, because Carlos Boozer's return limits his contributions. But to this point, he's been a key player on a strong team -- he's shooting better than expected, rebounding, defending and playing the whole game with the composure of a veteran. Put it this way: Chicago is a contender partially because its first big off the bench can play.
6. Darren Collison, Pacers
He's been solid but not special as the full-time point guard in Indiana. Similarly to how Collison played last season, he's been a good but somewhat reluctant shooter who also seems a little too cautious running his team. This lack of aggression can be adjusted, however, if he uses his quickness to attack people and force defenses to pick their poison (the way Derrick Rose does in Chicago).
Lawson
7. Ty Lawson, Nuggets
Lawson had a slow start but has returned to his normal style of late. He is shooting and passing well and has had a good month from the free throw line. This is a key area for him, especially because he's playing behind Chauncey Billups, one of the best free throw shooting point guards of all time. As the Nuggets figure out their future, Lawson is a valuable asset who is desired by many teams.
8. Jrue Holiday, 76ers
The Sixers are 5-2 since losing to the Heat on Nov. 26, and Holiday has been a core part of their improvement. Although his stats are only OK, they look better when taking into account that he's one of the league's youngest players. His ability to manage a game and defend the other team's point guard is impressive. Holiday is not shooting as well as he did last season, but I expect him to make progress in this area as the season unfolds.
Evans
9. Tyreke Evans, Kings
For the most part, the league has figured out what Shane Battier, Kobe Bryant and LeBron James did last season when guarding Evans -- take away his right-hand finishes at the rim. I know he has a sore foot, but his problem finishing inside has as much to do with opposing defenses as anything else. But remember, Evans always has been a crafty player, and over time, he should figure out new ways to finish shots.
10. Jodie Meeks, 76ers
Stroking it from deep and playing with fire, Meeks is doing what fellow classmate Marcus Thornton did last season as a rookie. He's been a huge part of Philly's recent success, making shots and good decisions with the ball. Half his shot attempts are 3s, helping the Sixers' offense a great deal by forcing teams to honor him and play four-on-four inside or help off him and live with the results.
Williams
11. Reggie Williams, Warriors
No one is sure what his best position is -- he's played at least three positions this season alone (point guard and both wing spots). But he's proved to be a scorer who knows how to make simple plays, he's been perhaps the best shooter from deep in the entire league this month (59.3 percent) and he's very gifted at finding ways to get wide-open thanks to his excellent feel for the game.
12. DeJuan Blair, Spurs
Blair stumbled out of the gates as a starter, not getting his first double-double until mid-November. But he's back on track now, posting two double-doubles and averaging more than two steals a game in December. If he can get his midrange jumper going (think Glen Davis), he's going to be a big contributor in the Spurs' playoff drive.
DeRozan
13. DeMar DeRozan, Raptors
Many people are disappointed with the lack of real growth by DeRozan, especially after an excellent summer league run. But he has shown some promise in multiple games and is starting for an improving team. His 26 points on 13 shots in Orlando remains his current ceiling, and it's good to know he's capable of having a big game like that. Developing a 3-point shot is next on his shopping list.
14. Omri Casspi, Kings
Casspi reminds me of all-time great NFL receiver Cris "All he does is catch touchdowns" Carter. All Casspi does is play incredibly hard, race the floor whenever he can and make 3-pointers. He gets exposed on defense, but that happens to a long list of guys in Sacramento. I'd be surprised if Casspi does not rise up this list.
Douglas
15. Toney Douglas, Knicks
His shooting stats won't give anyone warm and fuzzy feelings, but Douglas is making a difference for the Knicks with his toughness and willingness to defend. And that's not even what he's doing best. Despite playing more than 20 minutes a game, Douglas is averaging less than one turnover per game in December. Knicks coach Mike D'Antoni has to love that because taking care of the ball means more opportunities for Amare Stoudemire to get touches.
16. James Harden, Thunder
Harden always will be the type of player whose sum is greater than his stats suggest. Even so, he's having a solid December after a rough start, scoring more than 13 points a game on more than 43 percent shooting from deep while still maintaining his excellent overall floor game. If he asserted himself a little more and made more athletic plays (which he has plenty of in him), he'd be a better player.
Maynor
17. Eric Maynor, Thunder
Like Harden's role, Maynor's is not to be a stat stuffer. Rather, he needs to quarterback his team on offense and spearhead solid defense. He's doing just that as a big part of OKC's second unit. He's also making 40 percent of his 3s and has a better than 2-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio.
18. Jordan Hill, Rockets
Finally getting some consistent minutes in Houston, Hill is making big contributions in almost every game he plays. He's the Rockets' only guy who can rebound above the rim, and his energy combines with his athleticism to make sparkling plays pretty consistently. He's not any kind of passer yet, but he's a better shooter and finisher than you'd think.
Budinger
19. Chase Budinger, Rockets
Budinger came out of the gate almost as badly as you could script it, mostly because he made just 2 of his first 20 3-point shots. But December has seen the Budinger from last season, cutting harder to the rim and knocking down more than 40 percent of his 3s in his key role off the bench. He'll now be pressed for time because the Rockets have acquired Terrence Williams.
20. Austin Daye, Pistons
Daye ekes out this spot over a few other guys but really does not deserve special mention yet. He did start the season decently and is making better than 40 percent of his 3s, but he is struggling in December.
