ESPN 2014 NBA Player Rankings

The irony here is any team in a vacuum to build a team would take Howard over Love or Harden over Curry. Situationally I see how you could choose let's say Love over Howard on Lebron's team but for instance GS was flirting with trading for Love. Had Howard been available, wouldn't they have preferred him and maybe even thrown In Klay Thompson? I think so....

 

The Rockets got Harden because the Thunder had a hard time moving him with his salary demands. For example, the Thunder offered Harden for Klay Thompson and the Warriors declined. Part of it is due to money, but I would think that, if the Warriors prefer Klay Thompson over James Harden, that they would also prefer Steph Curry over him as well.

In the 80's, it was customary to build a team around a center, but it seems that, in todays game, the center just gets in the way. Deandre Jordan's role on the Clippers seems to be where centers are moving. Anchor the defense, protect the rim, and limit offense to blown defenses and put backs. So that said, I'd rather build my team around Kevin Love than Dwight Howard.

 

LMAO!

"I'd rather build my team around the dude who's never made the playoffs in 6 years than the guy who's carried a team to the Finals"

slestack11...we get it...you don't like the Rockets and think they suck, but at least try to make your trolling efforts somewhat respectable.

 

Popovich doesn't usually want anyone on his team that only plays one end of the floor. Everyone that is on the Spurs is expected to contribute on offense and defense.

 

I don't see why it's trolling if I don't think Harden and Howard are the two best players in the league. I'm just making objective opinions which, like everyone's else, are just opinions. Even when ESPN makes their rankings, they are just opinions. Love has a lot of talent and can put up huge numbers...it's not his fault that he has never been on a team with enough talent to compete in a tough Western Conference. Howard had more talent around him in Orlando than people gave credit for and he made the Finals in a year where the Eastern Conference was pretty weak. If I remember correctly, those Magic were quickly disposed of by the Lakers in the Finals.

 

Thompson will never lead a team to the playoffs in the West as a first option like Harden did couple of years ago. Harden is much better player than Klay, its not even close.

As for Curry, its closer but Harden is better Klay n Curry are just better shooters than Harden n thats it

 

Oh. I guess I just don't like the format they're using. I'd rather the top 10 BE the top 10. Whoever is #2 isn't going to be the real #2 so what's the point. Durant's going to miss 20 games I understand that, but LeBron/CP3 could potentially get hurt and miss 20 games sometime during the season too. Unexpected injuries happen way too often to let them affect player rankings. If a player is injury prone like Wade I can understand that, but Durant is very far from that. I just feel like they kind of wasted the rankings by doing it this way. Even with the way they're looking at it though, I'd still rather have Durant 62 games then Love for 82.

 

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>KD weighs in on his <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBArank?src=hash">#NBArank</a>: <a href="http://t.co/jo1xJHMwcJ">pic.twitter.com/jo1xJHMwcJ</a></p>&mdash; Royce Young (@royceyoung) <a href="https://twitter.com/royceyoung/status/526136160893300737">October 25, 2014</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

KD got his mega nike deal, he doesn't need to placate the bull**** anymore, haha

 

He was at 6 last year too. I personally think Harden has a more complete, well rounded offensive game than Curry. Both of their defenses are mediocre to poor.

 

yep I agree, although Curry is a better facilitator IMO, but harden has much more defensive potential, and if he is able to keep up his preseason defensive effort, I really could see him in the top 3-5 (he was already a top 5 MVP vote getter last season as well, even with the bad defense).

 

Spoiler

500. Shayne Whittington(NR)
499. Chris Babb(NR)
498. Jack Cooley(NR)
497. Johnny O'Bryant(NR)
496. Ognjen Kuzmic(NR)
495. Joey Dorsey(NR)
494. JaMychal Green(NR)
493. Arinze Onuaku(494)
492. Tyler Johnson(NR)
491. Bryce Cotton(NR)
490. Adonis Thomas(NR)
489. Scotty Hopson(NR)
488. Sim Bhullar(NR)
487. Dwight Powell(NR)
486. Alex Kirk(NR)
485. Cameron Bairstow(NR)
484. Will Cherry(NR)
483. Roy Devyn Marble(NR)
482. Ian Clark(NR)
481. Eric Moreland(NR)
480. Greg Oden(284)
479. Robert Covington(479)
478. Josh Huestis(NR)
477. Eric Griffin(NR)
476. Casper Ware(NR)
475. Jorge Gutierrez(NR)
474. Jason Collins(448)
473. Dionte Christmas(NR)
472. Dewayne Dedmon(NR)
471. Erick Green(NR)
470. James Southerland(NR)
469. Jerami Grant(NR)
468. Brandon Davis(NR)
467. Damion James(470)
466. James Ennis(NR)
465. Josh Powell(NR)
464. Donald Sloan(486)
463. Malcolm Thomas(444)
462. Keith Bogans(307)
461. Hasheem Thabeet(347)
460. Andrew Bynum(100)
459. Doron Lamb(440)
458. Grant Jerrett(490)
457. Allen Crabbe(412)
456. Lance Thomas(391)
455. Bruno Caboclo(NR)
454. Joe Harris(NR)
453. Diante Garrett(NR)
452. Chris Wright(NR)
451. Markel Brown(NR)
450. Damien Inglis(NR)
449. Justin Hamilton(NR)
448. Jordan Clarkson(NR)
447. Darius Morris(420)
446. Spencer Dinwiddie(NR)
445. Clint Capela(NR)
444. Thanasis Antetokounmpo(NR)
443. Carrick Felix(NR)
442. Mike Muscala(NR)
441. Jusuf Nurkic(NR)
440. Bernard James(427)
439. Elliot Williams(NR)
438. Nemanja Nedovic(447)
437. Jared Cunningham(408)
436. Damjan Rudez(NR)
435. Victor Claver(422)
434. DeAndre Liggins(NR)
433. Luigi Datome(397)
432. Robbie Hummel(NR)
431. Aaron Gray(345)
430. Gal Mekel(358)
429. Erik Murphy(446)
428. Toure' Murry(NR)
427. Jarvis Varnado(456)
426. Cory Jefferson(NR)
425. Pierre Jackson(NR)
424. Chris Johnson(NR)
423. Garrett Temple(417)
422. Jarnell Stokes(NR)
421. Cole Aldrich(459)
420. Hollis Thompson(NR)
419. Jeremy Tyler(400)
418. Ricky Ledo(386)
417. C.J. Wilcox(NR)
416. Tony Mitchell(366)
415. Nazr Mohammed(348)
414. Travis Outlaw(371)
413. Phil Pressey(439)
412. Shavlik Randolph(467)
411. Tyshawn Taylor(399)
410. Roger Mason(384)
409. Russ Smith(NR)
408. Shawne Williams(NR)
407. Henry Sims(NR)
406. Shannon Brown(285)
405. Joel Anthony(311)
404. Joel Freeland(441)
403. Luke Babbitt(NR)
402. Antawn Jamison(266)
401. Patric Young(NR)
400. Jannero Pargo(390)
399. Sebastian Telfair(349)
398. Joel Embiid(NR)
397. Nick Johnson(NR)
396. Andre Roberson(409)
395. K.J. McDaniels(NR)
394. Wayne Ellington(277)
393. Ivan Johnson(NR)
392. Archie Goodwin(392)
391. Ryan Hollins(426)
390. Lou Amundson(340)
389. Sergey Karasev(314)
388. Vitor Faverani(481)
387. John Jenkins(301)
386. Josh Harrellson(388)
385. Arnett Moultrie(346)
384. Lucas Nogueira(NR)
383. Rasual Butler(NR)
382. Robert Sacre(432)
381. Ish Smith(445)
380. Solomon Hill(383)
379. John Lucas III(298)
378. Jeff Ayres(324)
377. Rodney Hood(NR)
376. Earl Clark(214)
375. Chris Singleton(333)
374. Darius Miller(380)
373. Hedo Turkoglu(372)
372. E'Twaun Moore(337)
371. Reggie Williams(319)
370. Kyle O'Quinn(437)
369. Kenyon Martin(260)
368. Aron Baynes(436)
367. Jordan Adams(NR)
366. T.J. Warren(NR)
365. Willie Green(308)
364. Festus Ezeli(267)
363. Alexis Ajinca(NR)
362. Jeff Withey(387)
361. Glenn Robinson III(NR)
360. Jimmer Fredette(287)
359. Greg Smith(300)
358. Chris Douglas-Roberts(430)
357. Troy Daniels(NR)
356. Meyers Leonard(255)
355. Greg Stiemsma(350)
354. Quincy Miller(359)
353. Eric Maynor(226)
352. Charlie Villanueva(313)
351. Cartier Martin(NR)
350. Rashard Lewis(405)
349. Austin Dayne(286)
348. Drew Gooden(331)
347. James Young(NR)
346. Quincy Acy(373)
345. Jason Richardson(290)
344. Marquis Teague(274)
343. Brandon Rush(222)
342. James Jones(398)
341. Michael Beasley(378)
340. Jordan Hamilton(365)
339. Isaiah Canaan(419)
338. John Salmons(289)
337. Ronny Turiaf(362)
336. Brendan Haywood(315)
335. Tyler Ennis(NR)
334. Ronnie Brewer(261)
333. Jeff Adrien(475)
332. Brian Roberts(316)
331. Alonzo Gee(241)
330. Reggie Bullock(304)
329. Will Barton(379)
328. Jeremy Evans(356)
327. Bojan Bogdanovic(NR)
326. Steve Novak(251)
325. Jeff Taylor(268)
324. Perry Jones(368)
323. Darrell Arthur(201)
322. Cleanthony Early(NR)
321. Shabazz Muhammad(291)
320. P.J. Hairston(NR)
319. Anthony Tolliver(335)
318. Wesley Johnson(336)
317. Jon Leuer(389)
316. Leandro Barbosa(310)
315. Richard Jefferson(306)
314. Ben Gordon(217)
313. Kyle Anderson(NR)
312. Matthew Dellavedova(NR)
311. Rudy Gobert(423)
310. Khris Middleton(454)
309. Shabazz Napier(NR)
308. Ray McCallum(357)
307. Udonis Haslem(215)
306. Zach LaVine(NR)
305. Will Bynum(216)
304. Lavoy Allen(272)
303. Kent Bazemore(332)
302. Chris Copeland(188)
301. Ekpe Udoh(240)
300. Austin Rivers(286)
299. Dante Cunningham(282)
298. Bismack Biyombo(236)
297. Mitch McGary(NR)
296. Dennis Schroder(258)
295. Kevin Seraphin(263)
294. Alex Len(295)
293. Landry Fields(248)
292. Nate Wolters(438)
291. Beno Udrih(218)
290. Shane Larkin(336)
289. Tony Wroten(341)
288. Reggie Evans(191)
287. Jason Terry(137)
286. Tony Snell(351)
285. Luke Ridnour(225)
284. Jason Maxiell(254)
283. Nick Calathes(321)
282. Jermaine O'Neal(312)
281. Ryan Kelly(477)
280. Gary Harris(NR)
279. Kendrick Perkins(259)
278. Chuck Hayes(230)
277. Marreese Speights(233)
276. Adreian Payne(NR)
275. Tayshaun Prince(192)
274. Cory Joseph(280)
273. Ian Mahinmi(271)
272. Emeka Okafor(138)
271. Shelvin Mack(431)
270. Jonas Jerebko(242)
269. Dorrell Wright(200)
268. C.J. Watson(238)
267. Gary Neal(168)
266. Pablo Prigioni(231)
265. Glen Rice Jr.(338)
264. Alexey Shved(193)
263. Francisco Garcia(239)
262. Xavier Henry(451)
261. Alan Anderson(293)
260. Otto Porter(207)
259. Caron Butler(182)
258. Andrew Nicholson(197)
257. Quincy Pondexter(210)
256. Matt Bonner(219)
255. Luc Richard Mbah a Moute(159)
254. Elfrid Payton(NR)
253. Jason Smith(243)
252. Tyler Hansbrough(208)
251. Omri Casspi(288)
250. Noah Vonleh(NR)
249. Glen Davis(164)
248. James Johnson(360)
247. Jae Crowder(279)
246. Steve Nash(88)
245. Mike Scott(394)
244. Aaron Brooks(283)
243. Jason Thompson(186)
242. Martell Webster(175)
241. Thomas Robinson(204)
240. Zaza Pachulia(212)
239. J.J. Barea(172)
238. Kyle Singler(257)
237. Chris Kaman(176)
236. Jordan Farmar(305)
235. Trevor Booker(303)
234. Tyler Zeller(250)
233. Anthony Morrow(265)
232. Kendall Marshall(320)
231. Kris Humphries(162)
230. Elton Brand(181)
229. Gerald Wallace(149)
228. Evan Fournier(249)
227. Andrea Bargnani(143)
226. Norris Cole(235)
225. Danny Granger(69)
224. Raymond Felton(108)
223. Ramon Sessions(229)
222. C.J. McCollum(185)
221. Steve Blake(253)
220. Evan Turner(148)
219. Aaron Gordon(NR)
218. Nik Stauskas(NR)
217. Donatas Motiejunas(244)
216. Mirza Teletovic(318)
215. Derrick Williams(163)
214. Pero Antic(465)
213. Jeremy Lamb(264)
212. Marvin Williams(223)
211. C.J. Miles(270)
210. Jared Dudley(123)
209. Anthony Bennett(133)
208. Ben McLemore(157)
207. Randy Foye(232)
206. Jordan Crawford(252)
205. Carl Landry(141)
204. Kirk Hinrich(183)
203. Cody Zeller(166)
202. DeJuan Blair(256)
201. Brandon Bass(158)
200. Al-Farouq Aminu(170)
199. Chase Budinger(145)
198. Mo Williams(169)
197. Jarrett Jack(115)
196. O.J. Mayo(91)
195. Jerryd Bayless(146)
194. Samuel Dalembert(205)
193. Andre Miller(151)
192. Doug McDermott(NR)
191. Thabo Sefolosha(171)
190. Amar'e Stoudemire(125)
189. DeMarre Carroll(302)
188. Mo Harkless(178)
187. Nate Robinson(144)
186. Brandan Wright(195)
185. Ed Davis(156)
184. Devin Harris(209)
183. Courtney Lee(224)
182. Luis Scola(129)
181. J.J. Hickson(127)
180. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope(234)
179. Timofey Mozgov(145)
178. Mike Miller(211)
177. Lou Williams(120)
176. P.J. Tucker(354)
175. Jameer Nelson(147)
174. Kelly Olynyk(202)
173. Dante Exum(NR)
172. Gerald Henderson(139)
171. Rodney Stuckey(173)
170. Jodie Meeks(276)
169. D.J. Augustin(227)
168. Andray Blatche(137)
167. Marcus Thornton(131)
166. Chris Andersen(155)
165. Jordan Hill(237)
164. Andrei Kirilenko(101)
163. Nikola Mirotic(NR)
162. Alec Burks(213)
161. Kosta Koufos(150)
160. Nick Collison(154)
159. John Henson(184)
158. Marco Belinelli(187)
157. Marcus Smart(NR)
156. Terrence Jones(297)
155. Tim Hardaway Jr.(294)
154. Enes Kanter(112)
153. Mario Chalmers(122)
152. Mike Dunleavy Jr.(140)
151. Patty Mills(342)
150. Nick Young(228)
149. Julius Randle(NR)
148. Darren Collison(190)
147. Greivis Vasquez(124)
146. Gerald Green(326)
145. Marcus Morris(262)
144. Miles Plumlee(414)
143. Corey Brewer(152)
142. Tobias Harris(126)
141. Javale McGee(98)
140. Jared Sullinger(199)
139. Brandon Knight(132)
138. Shaun Livingston(273)
137. Carlos Boozer(61)
136. Shawn Marion(135)
135. Terrence Ross(203)
134. Patrick Patterson(167)
133. Gorgui Dieng(327)
132. Matt Barnes(136)
131. Michael Kidd-Gilchrist(118)
130. Steven Adams(406)
129. Spencer Hawes(179)
128. Ray Allen(95)
127. Ersan Ilyasova(94)
126. Tristan Thompson(99)
125. Iman Shumpert(119)
124. Jose Calderon(125)
123. J.R. Smith(93)
122. Harrison Barnes(76)
121. Vince Carter(142)
120. Draymond Green(206)
119. Jeff Green(83)
118. Trey Burke(161)
117. Josh McRoberts(334)
116. Channing Frye(292)
115. Kevin Martin(81)
114. Andrew Wiggins(NR)
113. Kevin Garnett(41)
112. Mason Plumlee(355)
111. Wilson Chandler(105)
110. Eric Gordon(71)
109. Avery Bradley(102)
108. Brandon Jennings(70)
107. Reggie Jackson(160)
106. Amir Johnson(165)
105. George Hill(85)
104. Markieff Morris(247)
103. Patrick Beverley(174)
102. Nerlens Noel(221)
101. Dion Waiters(110)
100. Jeremy Lin(106)
99. Danilo Gallinari(72)
98. Tyreke Evans(79)
97. Boris Diaw(196)
96. Tiago Splitter(111)
95. Jabari Parker(NR)
94. Tony Allen(67)
93. Larry Sanders(45)
92. Robin Lopez(128)
91. Jonas Valanciunas(84)
90. Derrick Favors(68)
89. J.J. Redick(92)
88. Giannis Antetokounmpo(376)
87. Danny Green(113)
86. Jamal Crawford(96)
85. Nikola Vucevic(97)
84. Trevor Ariza(194)
83. Wesley Matthews(130)
82. Paul Pierce(48)
81. Victor Oladipo(114)
80. Ryan Anderson(56)
79. Michael Carter-Williams(198)
78. Arron Afflalo(116)
77. Thaddeus Young(89)
76. Anderson Varejao(62)
75. Josh Smith(36)
74. Andrew Bogut(65)
73. Ricky Rubio(49)
72. Kyle Korver(117)
71. Omer Asik(64)
70. Jimmy Butler(66)
69. David Lee(51)
68. Jrue Holiday(43)
67. Isaiah Thomas(143)
66. Nikola Pekovic(53)
65. Taj Gibson(103)
64. Jeff Teague(74)
63. Nene(75)
62. Tyson Chandler(37)
61. Kemba Walker(80)
60. David West(44)
59. Joe Johnson(59)
58. Luol Deng(46)
57. Marcin Gortat(87)
56. Manu Ginobili(86)
55. Deron Williams(20)
54. Greg Monroe(42)
53. Monta Ellis(84)
52. Nicolas Batum(57)
51. Rudy Gay(55)
50. Lance Stephenson(121)
49. Brook Lopez(28)
48. Bradley Beal(73)
47. Gordon Hayward(90)
46. Roy Hibbert(22)
45. Ty Lawson(38)
44. Pau Gasol(29)
43. Chandler Parsons(58)
42. Kenneth Faried(47)
41. Eric Bledsoe(63)
40. Kobe Bryant(25)
39. Andre Iguodala(31)
38. Klay Thompson(60)
37. Rajon Rondo(27)
36. Dwyane Wade(18)
35. DeMar DeRozan(104)
34. DeAndre Jordan(77)
33. Zach Randolph(35)
32. Paul Millsap(50)
31. Mike Conley(32)
30. Andre Drummond(54)
29. Kyle Lowry(78)
28. Derrick Rose(9)
27. Goran Dragic(107)
26. Al Horford(19)
25. Serge Ibaka(39)
24. Kawhi Leonard(34)
23. Kyrie Irving(8)
22. Al Jefferson(52)
21. Tim Duncan(16)
20. Chris Bosh(24)
19. DeMarcus Cousins(40)
18. John Wall(21)
17. Dirk Nowitzki(26)
16. Damian Lillard(30)
15. Tony Parker(12)
14. Marc Gasol(10)
13. LaMarcus Aldridge(17)
12. Joakim Noah(23)
11. Carmelo Anthony(15)
10. Dwight Howard(7)
[9. Paul George(13)]
9. James Harden(4)
8. Kevin Durant(2)
7. Kevin Love(11)
6. Stephen Curry(6)
5. Blake Griffin(14)
4. Russell Westbrook(5)
3. Anthony Davis(33)
2. Chris Paul(3)
1. LeBron James(1)

 

Chris 2nd best, Davis 3rd best

Tons to prove this season

 

I think I've said this before here already, but if Davis is truly a top 3 player, then the Pelicans have to make the playoffs. If they are relatively healthy and miss the playoffs he ain't no top 3 player... yet.

 

Not necessarily. Kobe/TMac in their primes had teams that failed to make the playoffs.

And if you look at the Hornets' roster, they're very disjointed.

If he has them in playoff contention, that should solidify his status as a top 5 player.

 

The Hornets current roster is pretty stacked

Holiday
Gordon
Evans
Davis
Asik

with Ryan Anderson coming off the bench. No way they miss the playoffs if Davis is the third best player in the freaking league.

I personally think Davis will be top 10 this season but not top 5 or 3.

 

That's a very disjointed roster. All those guards you mentioned want the ball, don't like to create, aren't efficient, and don't play D. Plus, they're all young.

If they buy into Davis being the go-to guy, they will do well. But Evans/Gordon wants theirs. Let's hope those 2 specific guys get their act together for the benefit of the team.

 

Davis Westbrook curry love and griffin all pass harden up this season.

Hmmm

 

Westbrook, Love, and Griffin were ahead of Harden two seasons ago so you can argue they mistakenly moved Harden past them last year. Players on these rankings tend to go up and down because ESPN writers like to mix things up every year. Besides Lebron, Durant, and CP3 who seem to be fixtures at the top 3, the rest are all mixed up every year.