More early 2008 NBA roster analysis

By Rick Morris

Here's more great analysis from our Senior Editor Jason Jones as he dissects all 30 NBA rosters in the aftermath of this past week's draft. Note that with his roster rankings, he lists a few of the key players on each team. Bear in mind also that the statistical rankings relate to Part I of his post-draft analysis in the column posted just below this one.

Gut Check Roster Rankings
1	BOS	KG, Pierce, Allen, Rondo
2	PHO	Nash, Amare, Shaq
3	DET	Billups, Rip, Prince, Sheed
4	DAL	Dirk, Kidd, Josh, Terry
5	POR	Oden, Roy, Bayless, Webster
6	LAL	Kobe, Gasol, Bynum, Odom
7	NJN	Carter, Yi, Lopez, Harris, Krstic
8	SA	TD, Parker, Bowen, Manu
9	LAC	Brand, Maggette, Egordon
10	ATL	Johnson, Smith, Bibby, Horford
11	DEN	AI, Melo, Camby, Nene, JR
12	UTA	Boozer, Deron, AK47, Koufos
13	MIA	Wade, Beasley, Marion, Mario
14	PHI	Iguodala, Miller, Carney, Speights
15	TOR	Bosh, O'Neal, Bargnani, Calderon
16	MEM	Conley, Gay, Mayo, Darco
17	CLE	Lebron, Boobie, Z, Ben, West
18	CHI	Rose, Hughes, Deng, Gooden
19	HOU	T-Mac, Yao, Battier
20	NO	Paul, Peja, West, Peterson
21	MIN	Love, Jefferson, Brewer, Foye
22	CHA	Felton, Richardson, Wallace
23	SEA	Durant, Green, Westbrook
24	MIL	Redd, Jefferson, Villanueva, Bogut
25	GS	Davis, Ellis, Jackson, Harrington
26	ORL	Howard, Lewis, Nelson
27	WAS	Arenas, Butler, Jamison
28	SAC	Martin, Artest, Miller
29	IND	Ford, Rush, Granger, Hibbert
30	NYK	Marbury, Crawford, Gallinari, Curry

Statistical Rankings by Roster
1	PHO	Nash, Amare, Shaq
2	DAL	Dirk, Kidd, Josh, Terry
3	DEN	AI, Melo, Camby, Nene, JR
4	MIA	Wade, Beasley, Marion, Mario
5	LAC	Brand, Maggette, Egordon
6	DET	Billups, Rip, Prince, Sheed
7	MEM	Conley, Gay, Mayo, Darco
8	BOS	KG, Pierce, Allen, Rondo
9	NJN	Carter, Yi, Lopez, Harris, Krstic
10	NO	Paul, Peja, West, Peterson
11	UTA	Boozer, Deron, AK47, Koufos
12	HOU	T-Mac, Yao, Battier
13	TOR	Bosh, O'Neal, Bargnani, Calderon
14	POR	Oden, Roy, Bayless, Webster
15	ATL	Johnson, Smith, Bibby, Horford
16	SAC	Martin, Artest, Miller
17	CLE	Lebron, Boobie, Z, Ben, West
18	LAL	Kobe, Gasol, Bynum, Odom
19	MIL	Redd, Jefferson, Villanueva, Bogut
20	SA	TD, Parker, Bowen, Manu
21	ORL	Howard, Lewis, Nelson
22	WAS	Arenas, Butler, Jamison
23	MIN	Love, Jefferson, Brewer, Foye
24	IND	Ford, Rush, Granger, Hibbert
25	CHI	Rose, Hughes, Deng, Gooden
26	PHI	Iguodala, Miller, Carney, Speights
27	SEA	Durant, Green, Westbrook
28	GS	Davis, Ellis, Jackson, Harrington
29	CHA	Felton, Richardson, Wallace
30	NYK	Marbury, Crawford, Gallinari, Curry

2007-08 Final Team Rankings
1	BOS	KG, Pierce, Allen, Rondo
2	LAL	Kobe, Gasol, Bynum, Odom
3	DET	Billups, Rip, Prince, Sheed
4	NO	Paul, Peja, West, Peterson
5	SA	TD, Parker, Bowen, Manu
6	ORL	Howard, Lewis, Nelson
7	UTA	Boozer, Deron, AK47, Koufos
8	CLE	Lebron, Boobie, Z, Ben, West
9	HOU	T-Mac, Yao, Battier
10	WAS	Arenas, Butler, Jamison
11	PHO	Nash, Amare, Shaq
12	TOR	Bosh, O'Neal, Bargnani, Calderon
13	DAL	Dirk, Kidd, Josh, Terry
14	PHI	Iguodala, Miller, Carney, Speights
15	DEN	AI, Melo, Camby, Nene, JR
16	ATL	Johnson, Smith, Bibby, Horford
17	GS	Davis, Ellis, Jackson, Harrington
18	IND	Ford, Rush, Granger, Hibbert
19	POR	Oden, Roy, Bayless, Webster
20	NJN	Carter, Yi, Lopez, Harris, Krstic
21	SAC	Martin, Artest, Miller
22	CHI	Rose, Hughes, Deng, Gooden
23	CHA	Felton, Richardson, Wallace
24	LAC	Brand, Maggette, Egordon
25	MIL	Redd, Jefferson, Villanueva, Bogut
26	MIN	Love, Jefferson, Brewer, Foye
27	NYK	Marbury, Crawford, Gallinari, Curry
28	MEM	Conley, Gay, Mayo, Darco
29	SEA	Durant, Green, Westbrook
30	MIA	Wade, Beasley, Marion, Mario

Assumed Team Movement
1	ATL	None
2	BOS	None
3	CHA	? About S. May and R. Felton
4	CHI	Hinrich and Thabo may be available
5	CLE	Exp Contracts, look for a big trade
6	DAL	Desperately need a real Big Man
7	DEN	Need Defense BADLY
8	DET	Could move any of the big 4
9	GS	Still need a real Center
10	HOU	Must stay healthy…that’s it
11	IND	Rebuilding might not be done
12	LAC	Health is an issue, otherwise nice
13	LAL	Need Andrew Bynum for a real shot
14	MEM	Building for the future, nicely
15	MIA	Need a big, but sexy 1-4
16	MIL	Rebuilding, Redd could be out (cle)
17	MIN	Nice little team, but far away
18	NJN	Deepest team, go 11 deep
19	NO	Much better than on paper
20	NYK	TRADE SOME PG's!!!!!!
21	ORL	Need one more significant player
22	PHI	Growing slowly, could surprise in 08
23	PHO	Dead after the starting 5+Barbosa
24	POR	If in the east, a sure playoff team
25	SA	May need to rebuild by 2010
26	SAC	Artest is gone, need 3 more players
27	SEA	A real big away from being serious
28	TOR	Very young, could be a sleeper
29	UTA	Very nice s5, just wait for Koufos
30	WAS	Arenas is gone, so are the Wiz

2008-09 Tier Groupings
	tier one	Elite, for now
1	BOS
2	PHO
3	SA
4	DET
5	DAL
	tier two	The Next Elite Group
6	LAL
7	NO
8	CLE
9	HOU
	tier three	Look Out, 'Cause They're Coming
10	POR
11	NJN
12	MIA
13	UTA
14	LAC
15	MEM
16	SEA
17	MIN
	tier four	Overrated
18	DEN
19	WAS
20	ORL
21	ATL
22	GS
	tier five	Still a Little Ways Away
23	PHI
24	CHI
25	TOR
26	IND
27	CHA
	tier six	Dude, It's Time to Start Over
28	NYK
29	MIL
30	SAC

2008-09 Preliminary League Projections
1	LAL	Bynum will be the difference
2	BOS	Still very very good
3	PHO	They will find a way to be relevent
4	NO	Chris Paul carries the team again
5	NJN	Depth pays off
6	CLE	Lebron, Lebron, Lebron
7	DAL	Still decent but not great
8	HOU	If healthy, they'll be in it
9	MIA	Huge turn around in the East
10	SA	Falling with each passing minute
11	UTA	Very solid nucleus
12	DET	With players moved, they will fall
13	POR	Growing into a West Conf playoff team
14	PHI	Exciting but not there yet
15	MEM	Growing into a West Conf playoff team
16	CHI	Growing pains, but still fun to watch
17	LAC	If healthy, they'll be in it
18	ATL	Team needs to gel with consistancy
19	ORL	Still a prime time player away
20	TOR	Getting better, but still very young
21	DEN	Melo+AI=No Defense
22	GS	Fast and fun, but not good enough
23	MIN	Growing nicely, but need time
24	SEA	Nice pieces but still not there yet
25	WAS	No Arenas, just decent
26	IND	Rebuilding, don't expect much
27	CHA	Jordan and Brown will need time
28	SAC	No Artest, no chance still need players
29	MIL	Rebuilding, don't expect much
30	NYK	A team of PG's can't win games

2008-09 Very Preliminary Playoff Rankings
	Eastern Conference
1	BOS	Still Very Very Good
2	NJN	Like BOS, will win…often
3	CLE	Top 4 team, without Redd
4	MIA	Huge improvement in a lesser Conf
5	DET	With changes, they will be just OK
6	PHI	Strong team tough to defend
7	CHI	Growing but still a second tier team
8	ATL	Will win games, but not a contender
	Western Conference
1	LAL	Bynum is the difference…period
2	PHO	Will find a way to win games
3	NO	How does Chris Paul do it?
4	DAL	Dirk and Kidd are good enough for 4
5	HOU	T-Mac/Yao healthy, they're in
6	SA	Getting older will hurt their chances
7	UTA	Coming into their own for the playoffs
8	POR	Will be a juggernaut in time
	Eastern Conference Finals
		BOS vs. CLE
	Western Conference Finals
		LAL vs. NO
	NBA Finals
		LAL vs. BOS
	NBA Champions
		Los Angeles Lakers

Roster analysis, post-NBA Draft

By Rick Morris

Our Senior Editor and Chief NBA Draft analyst Jason Jones has come up with a tremendous breakdown of team rosters, post-draft. He projects the depth charts and assigns scores to all players on the roster. Here is the scoring system:

10: Future Hall of Famer
9: Perennial All-Star
8: Occasional All-Star
7: Fringe All-Star
6: Legitimate Starter
5: Rotation Contributor
4: Role Player
3: Situational Player
2: Bum
1: NDBL Player

Now, this is only one way to evaluate the overall strengths and weaknesses of the teams in the league, but I find Jason's analysis fascinating.

Atlanta
PG	M. Bibby	A. Law
SG	J. Johnson	S. Stoudamire
SF	J. Smith	J. Childress
PF	M. Williams	S. Jones
C	A. Horford	Z. Pachulia

Three 7s, Two 6s, Three 5s, Two 3s: Average 5.4

Boston
PG	R.Rondo	T. Allen	G. Pruitt
SG	R. Allen	J.R. Giddens
SF	P. Pierce	J. Posey	Bill Walker
PF	K. Garnett	L. Powe	G. Davis
C	K. Perkins	P.J. Brown	S. Erden

Three 10s, Two 6s, Three 5s, Two 4s, Four 3s: Average 5.5

Charlotte
PG	R. Felton	D.J. Augustine	K. Weaver
SG	J. Richardson	M. Carroll
SF	G. Wallace	J. Dudley	A. Morrison
PF	E. Okafor	S. May
C	A. Ajinca	N. Muhammed	O. Harrington

One 7, Three 6s, Four 5s, Three 4s, One 3, One 2: Average 4.4

Chicago
PG	D. Rose	K. Hinrich	JamesOn Curry
SG	L. Hughes	B. Gordon	Thabo Sefolosha
SF	L. Deng	A. Nocioni	Demetrius Nicols
PF	D. Gooden	T. Thomas	Cedric Simmons
C	J. Noah	A. Gray	Omer Asik

One 8, Four 6s, Four 5s, Four 4s, One 3, One 2: Average 4.8

Cleveland
PG	D. West	D. Jones
SG	D. Gibson	S. Pavlovic
SF	Lebron	W. Szczerbiak
PF	B. Wallace	J. Smith	J.J. Hickson
C	Z. Ilgauskas	A. Varejao	D. Jones

One 10, One 8, One 7, One 6, Four 5s, One 4, Two 3s, One 2: Average 5.3

Dallas
PG	J. Kidd	J. J. Barea
SG	J. Stackhouse	J. Terry
SF	J. Howard	E. Jones
PF	D. Nowitzki	J. Howard
C	E. Dampier	B. Bass

Two 10s, One 7, One 6, Four 5s, One 4, One 2: Average 5.9

Denver
PG	A. Iverson	C. Atkins	T. Green
SG	J.R. Smith	Y. Diawara	S. Weems
SF	C. Anthony	L. Kleiza
PF	K. Martin	Nene
C	M. Camby	S. Hunter

One 10, One 9, One 8, Three 6s, Three 5s, Two 4s, One 3: Average 5.9

Detroit
PG	C. Billups	R. Stuckey	D. Washington
SG	R. Hamilton	A. Afflalo	W. Sharpe
SF	T. Prince	A. Johnson	W. Hermann
PF	R. Wallace	J. Maxiell	T. Plainsted
C	A. Mcdyess	C. Samb

Three 9s, One 7, One 6, Four 5s, Four 4s, One 3: Average 5.6

Golden State
PG	B. Davis	C. Watson
SG	M. Ellis	M. Belinelli	R. Hendrix
SF	S. Jackson	K. Azubuke
PF	A. Harrington	A. Randolph	B. Wright
C	A. Biedrins	M. Pietrus	K. Perovic

One 8, Four 6s, Three 5s, Two 4s, Two 3s, One 2: Average 4.5

Houston
PG	B. Jackson	R. Alston
SG	T. McGrady	L. Head	S. Francis
SF	S. Battier	D. Greene	C. Hayes
PF	L. Scola	J. Dorsey	M. Leunen
C	Y. Ming	L. Woods

Two 10s, Four 6s, Five 5s, Two 3s: Average 5.5

Indiana
PG	T.J. Ford	R. Murray	T. Diener
SG	B. Rush	S. Graham
SF	D. Granger	M. Daniels	S. Williams
PF	T. Murphy	D. Harrison
C	R. Hibbert	J. Foster

Seven 6s, Two 5s, Two 4s, One 2: Average 5.1

LA Clippers
PG	S. Livingston	B. Knight	S. Parker
SG	E. Gordon	C. Mobley
SF	C. Maggette	A. Thornton	Mike Taylor
PF	E. Brand	T. Thomas	N. Fazekas
C	C. Kaman	D. Jordan

One 10, One 7, Six 6s, Two 5s, Two 4s, One 2: Average 5.6

LA Lakers
PG	D. Fisher	J. Farmar
SG	K. Bryant	S. Vujacic	C. Karl
SF	L. Odom	L. Walton	T. Ariza
PF	P. Gasol	R. Turiaf	J. Crawford
C	A. Bynum	C. Mihm	D. Mbenga

One 10, One 9, Two 7s, One 6, Four 5s, Two 4s, Two 3s, One 1: Average 5.3

Memphis
PG	M. Conley	K. Lowry	J. Crittendon
SG	O.J. Mayo	J. Carlos Navarro	M. Jaric
SF	R. Gay	A. Walker	G. Buckner
PF	H. Warrick	D. Arthur	A. Brown
C	D. Milicic	J. Collins

One 9, One 8, One 7, Six 6s, One 5, Two 4s, Two 3s: Average 5.6

Miami
PG	M. Chalmers	M. Banks
SG	D. Wade	D. Cook	B. Ahearn
SF	M. Beasley	R. Davis	D. Wright
PF	S. Marion	M. Blount	D. Jackson
C	U. Haslem	E. Barron

One 10, One 9, Two 8s, Four 6s, Two 5s, Three 3s: Average 5.7

Milwaukee
PG	M. Williams	C. Bell
SG	M. Redd	D. Mason
SF	R. Jefferson	J. Alexander
PF	C. Villanueva	L. Mbah A Moute
C	A. Bogut	D. Gadzuric

Two 8s, One 7, Three 6s, One 5, Two 4s, Two 3s: Average 5.3

Minnesota
PG	R. Foye	S. Telfair
SG	R. McCants	K. Snyder	Nikola Pekovic
SF	C. Brewer	M. Miller	R. Gomes
PF	K. Love	C. Smith	C. Richard
C	A. Jefferson	M. Madson	J. Collins
			B. Cardinal

One 9, Two 7s, Three 6s, Two 5s, Five 4s, One 3, One 2: Average 5.1

New Jersey
PG	D. Harris	M. Williams	M. Ager
SG	V. Carter	C. Douglas-Roberts	T. Hassell
SF	Y. Jianlian	B. Simmons
PF	N. Krstic	J. Boone	R. Anderson
C	B. Lopez	S. Swift

Two 9s, One 8, Two 7s, Two 6s, Three 5s, Two 4s, One 3: Average 6.1

New Orleans
PG	C. Paul	J. Pargo
SG	M. Peterson	M. James
SF	P. Stoyakovic	J. Wright	R. Butler
PF	D. West	M. Ely	C. Anderson
C	T. Chandler	H. Armstrong

One 10, One 8, Two 7s, One 6, Four 5s, Two 4s: Average 5.5

New York
PG	S. Marbury	N. Robinson	M. Collins
SG	J. Crawford	J. Jeffries
SF	D. Gallinari	Q. Richardson	R. Balkman
PF	Z. Randolph	D. Lee	M. Rose
C	E. Curry	J. James	R. Morris

Two 7s, Three 6s, Three 5s, One 4, Two 3s, One 2, Two 1s: Average 4.3

Orlando
PG	J. Nelson
SG	C. Lee	K. Bogans
SF	R. Lewis	M. Evans
PF	H. Turkoglu	B. Cook	T. Battie
C	D. Howard	J. Augustine	A. Foyle

One 9, One 8, Two 6s, Three 5s, Two 4s, Two 3s: Average 5.2

Philadelphia
PG	A. Miller	L. Williams
SG	R. Carney	W. Green
SF	A. Iguodala	T. Young
PF	M. Speights	J. Smith	L. Amundson
C	S. Dalembert	S. Randolph	C. Booth

Four 7s, One 6, Two 5s, One 4, Two 3s, One 2, One 1: Average 4.7

Phoenix
PG	S. Nash	D. Strawberry
SG	R. Bell	A. Tucker
SF	B. Diaw	G. Hill
PF	A. Stoudemire	M. Hairston
C	S. O'Neal	R. Lopez

Two 10s, One 9, Two 7s, One 6, One 5, One 4, Two 3s: Average 6.4

Portland
PG	J. Bayless	S. Blake
SG	B. Roy	V. Wafer
SF	M. Webster	T. Outlaw	D. Miles
PF	L. Aldridge	C. Frye	J. McRoberts
C	G. Oden	J. Pryzbilla	R. LaFrentz

One 9, Four 8s, Two 5s, Three 4s, Two 3s, One 2: Average 5.4

Sacramento
PG	S. Singletary
SG	K. Martin	Q. Douby	J. Salmons
SF	R. Artest	F. Garcia
PF	S. Williams	M. Moore	S. Abdur-Rahim
C	B. Miller	S. Hawes	K. Thomas

One 8, Two 7s, Two 6s, Five 5s, Two 4s, One 3: Average 5.4

San Antonio
PG	T. Parker	D. Stoudamire	G. Hill
SG	M. Ginobli	G. Dragic
SF	B. Bowen	I. Udoka	B. Jones
PF	T. Duncan	M. Bonner	J. Gist
C	F. Oberto	I. Mahinimi

One 10, Two 9s, One 7, Three 5s, Two 4s, Two 3s, Two 2s: Average 5.2

Seattle
PG	R. Westbrook	E. Watson	L. Ridnour
SG	J. Green	D. Wilkin
SF	K. Durant	A. Griffin	R. Dupree
PF	N. Collison	D.J. White	C. Wilcox
C	J. Petro	D. Hardin	S. Kahn
			S. Ibaka

One 9, Three 6s, Five 5s, Three 4s, Two 3s, One 1: Average 4.7

Toronto
PG	J. Calderon
SG	J. Moon	C. Delfino	J. Graham
SF	A. Bargnani	J. Kapono	J. Garbojosa (FA)
PF	C. Bosh	K. Humphries	M. Baston
C	J. O'Neal

Two 9s, Three 6s, Three 5s, One 4, Two 3s: Average 5.5

Utah
PG	D. Williams	R. Price	J. Hart
SG	R. Brewer	K. Korver	M. Almond
SF	A. Kirilenko	M. Harpring	C.J. Miles
PF	C. Boozer	P. Milsap	T. Dragicevic
C	K. Koufos	M. Okur	J. Collins

Two 9s, One 8, One 7, Five 6s, Three 4s, Two 3s, One 2: Average 5.5

Washington
PG	G. Arenas	A. Daniels
SG	D. Stevenson	N. Young
SF	C. Butler	O. Pecherov	D. McGuire
PF	A. Blatche	D. Songalia
C	B. Haywood	J. McGee	E. Thomas

One 8, One 7, Three 6s, Five 5s, One 3, One 2: Average 5.2