So, with the “first half” of the season over with, the All-Star break slowly fading in the rearview mirror, here’s a look at the top five MVP candidates through the 2012-13 NBA season:

1.) LeBron James – 27.3 ppg, 56.5% FG, 8.2 rpg, 6.9 apg, 1.7 spg, 31.4 PER

Team Record: 36-14

LeBron James has been the best player in the NBA for a number of years now; all other arguments were merely attempts to make a change in the scenery. James has been MVP three of the last four seasons, and now this is where it gets scary: This season, James is shooting the best FG% of his career on the fewest number of shot attempts in his career; he’s averaging a career-high in rebounding and rebound rate; his Usage Rate is the lowest since his second year in the league; his Player Efficiency Rating is at the second highest of his career; and he’s playing on the best team in the Eastern Conference. Astoundingly, James has taken his game to another level and it’s been through a more subtle, subdued approach. He’s cut down on his three-point attempts and long jumpers (he’s also hitting both at a better clip), instead focusing more on attacking the basket where he can’t be denied, and operating a large chunk of Miami’s offense from the post, where he abuses smaller players, and hits his teammates, most often, for passes at the rim or behind the arc. Simply said, nobody is playing at the level LeBron James is.

2.) Kevin Durant – 29.2 ppg, 51.9% FG, 7.4 rpg, 4.4 apg, 1.6 spg, 1.2 bpg, 29.2 PER

Team Record: 39-14

If LeBron James is operating at the highest level in the NBA, Kevin Durant is operating on a close second, and likely by himself. It’s a shame that James’s greatness has largely overshadowed the fact that Durant, too, is having the best season of his career and becoming close to being unfairly good. Durant is on pace to become the first player since Larry Bird to lead the league in scoring while shooting 50-40-90 — 50% or over from the field, 40% or over from three-point range, and 90% or over from the free throw line. Durant’s having his best season shooting the ball from all three locations. At only 24 years old, he’s nearly impossible to guard, and it’s becoming even harder now that he has increased offensive versatility (a developed post game) and increased willingness to pass, as evidenced by his career highs in assists per game and assist percentage. If Durant completes the above accomplishment, and the Thunder finish with a better record than the Heat, it might be enough to move Durant into first place in the MVP race.

3.) Tony Parker – 20.8 ppg, 53.6% FG, 3 rpg, 7.6 apg, 24.5 PER

Team Record: 42-12

Unlike Durant and James, Tony Parker isn’t having his best season in quite so many statistical categories, but when evaluating the San Antonio Spurs, it’s pretty clear that the team’s success begins with Parker. Sure, Gregg Popovich may be the finest coach in the league, Tim Duncan has evaded Father Time, the Spurs’ effortlessly integrate new pieces into their system with nary a drop-off, but Parker’s brilliance is perhaps the biggest reason why the Spurs have the best record in the league for the third year in a row. Furthermore, Parker has had to carry the team with Duncan and Manu Ginobili missing a combined 23 games. His scoring and FG% are both near career highs, he’s shooting the three-ball better, getting to the free throw line and making his shots at a good rate, his assists per game are nearly at a career high, and his assist percentage is a borderline ludicrous 40%. Watch a Spurs game and Parker’s value jumps out more than his stats. On offense, Parker just prods and prods until he’s in the lane where he shoots a terrific percentage at the rim, or he can set up his roll-man or kick it out to any number of shooters the Spurs possess. On defense, Parker is still not (and won’t become) a great defender, but he’s capable and his effort is there pretty consistently. Though the Spurs’ greatness is affected by a number of things, one gets the feeling that Parker may now have the keys over Duncan as to how far he can carry the team.

4.) Chris Paul – 16.6 ppg, 48.2% FG, 3.4 rpg, 9.6 apg, 2.6 spg, 26.8 PER

Team Record: 39-17

By most statistics, it would appear that Chris Paul is having a down season. His minutes, scoring, assists, rebounds, steals, and 3FG% are all lower than his career averages. However, similar to Tony Parker, Paul’s worth goes beyond the stats. The Clippers have entered championship contender talk, and while an improved supporting cast certainly deserves mention, Paul may be the lone factor that decides whether the Clippers are actual contenders, or merely a good playoff team. In the nine games that Paul missed in late January and early February, the Clippers went just 3-6 (though some of those were without Blake Griffin). Paul is one of the few players with the ability to seemingly take over a game at any moment. Though he doesn’t look for his shot often, he can score at will, get anywhere on the court with a clever handle and surprising speed and strength, and his teammates greatly benefit from the attention Paul draws when he goes into attack mode. However, missed games, and occasional tendency to operate on cruise control may hurt Paul’s chances at winning MVP.

5.) Carmelo Anthony – 28.6 ppg, 44.7% FG, 6.5 rpg, 2.7 apg, 23.8 PER

Team Record: 32-18

Perhaps it was the Olympic experience, perhaps it was his peer LeBron James winning his first NBA title, but whatever it was, Anthony stormed into the season with a new attitude. Anthony is scoring at a near career best level, shooting the three-pointer far better than at any other point, and defending like he never has before. If the players ranked above him weren’t playing at such a high level, Anthony could be ranked higher based on the immense weight of the Knicks that he carries on his shoulders. Though the Knicks, too, have improved through better coaching and a deeper supporting cast, it seems as though their ultimate fate rests on Anthony’s jumpshot. His scoring eruptions have almost become routine to the point that his five 40-point games this season hardly even stand out. Throw in a previously-unseen willingness to defend and pass (though stats don’t reflect it, the eye test does), and Anthony may be having the best season of his career. Unfortunately for he and the Knicks, it just hasn’t been better than the names listed above him.

Honorable Mentions: Tim Duncan, James Harden, Stephen Curry

Follow Scott Davis on Twitter: @WScottDavis

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GUARDS

Stars:

Feb 16, 2013; Houston, TX, USA; San Antonio Spurs guard Tony Parker (9) during the 2013 NBA all star skills challenge at the Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

1. Tony Parker – SA@SAC – $8,500

The Kings simply aren’t very good at covering opposing point guards and Parker has been on one of the best hot streaks in the NBA.  His price has finally caught up to his value of late as he has nine straight games of 30+ FDP, but there really isn’t a more reliable PG option out there.

2. Ty Lawson – BOS@DEN – $7,900

I like Lawson as a slightly cheaper alternative to the top two PGs (Parker/Curry) if you can use the saved money to your liking at another position. Lawson’s averaging a robust 34.6 FDP over his past games and while he gets the toughest matchup draw out of the three listed with Avery Bradley, he already showed success against Boston once this year and it’s hard to not play the hot hand.

3. Mike Conley – MEM@DET – $6,100

When you get into this price range of guards, there’s seemingly more inconsistency than there is at the forward or center position. Out of the middle-of-the-pack PGs, I like Conley to perform at Detroit, where there isn’t much perimeter defense.

Values:

4. Gerald Henderson – CHA@ORL – $4,600

Henderson has been getting consistent minutes of late and for his low price, can be a solid 20+ FDP contributor against a weak Orlando team.

5. Jason Terry – BOS@DEN – $4,400

Terry has been getting a few more looks once Rondo went down. He probably won’t do anything crazy, but should be a solid filler if need be against a Denver team that will be pushing the pace at the Pepsi Center.
FORWARDS

Stars:

Feb 13, 2013; New York, NY, USA; Toronto Raptors small forward Rudy Gay (22) dunks against the New York Knicks during the first half at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

1.  Rudy Gay – TOR@WAS – $7,500

Gay is still well worth his price tag, especially in this match-up. In his 7 games as the star of the Raptors, he’s averaging over 20 shot attempts a game. He’s shooting at a very low clip lately, but with this amount of opportunities and no FanDuel penalty for misses, he’s the best forward play of the day.

2.  Kevin Garnett – BOS@DEN – $7,700

Garnett has been hot, scoring 28 or more FDP in each of his past five games as he is relied on for an increased role without Rondo. Look for him to continue his streak of solid games against a Denver team that he dominated with 53 FDP his last time out, albeit in 3OT.

3.  Paul Millsap  – GS@UTA – $7,200

Millsap is in line to have a solid game against the Warriors, who continue to struggle on the road. With the trade deadline quickly approaching and with the Jazz rumored to potentially move Millsap or Jefferson, it wouldn’t be a shock to see increased minutes to showcase him more as well.

Value:

4.  Jason Thompson – SA@SAC – $4,900

While Duncan is back, it’s tough to gauge how many minutes Pop will give him in the second half as the Spurs are already looking towards the playoffs. The Spurs have been letting up ample points to big men of late and Thompson’s averaging 28.8 FDP over his past five.

5.  Andrew Nicholson – CHA@ORL – $4,200

Nicholson is relatively inconsistent and unproven, but he’s probably the best of the bottom power forwards for the price. He’s averaging slightly over 20 FDP over his last five games and the matchup really doesn’t get any better than going up against the Bobcats bigs.

CENTERS

Star:

1. Nikola Vucevic – CHA@ORL – $7,600

There are a few good centers who should have success in this slate of games such as Monroe and Jefferson, but Vucevic should be right up there. Much like Nicholson, a lot has to do with the matchup against the Bobcats, but Vucevic is much more capable of feasting in scoring and boarding in this one. Feel free to ignore his last game, which was off of his norms, because of an absolute blowout at the hands of the Hawks.

Value:

2. Samuel Dalembert – MIL@BKN – $5,600

Although no longer considered a steal as his price jumped due to a good string of recent games, he should continue to be productive for his price as long as Larry Sanders is out.

But what all Knicks fans care about is the showdown in San Antonio. The 5-0 New York Knicks will take on the 7-1 San Antonio Spurs in their second game of their three game road trip. The Spurs are coming off a last second win against the Lakers where Danny Green was the hero. Carmelo Anthony and the Knicks are the hottest team in the league and only undefeated team left and this will be a great road test for them early in the season. Here’s everything you need to know about tonight’s game.

When: Thursday, November 15^th at 8:30 P.M. EST

Where: AT&T Center in San Antonio, Texas

Watch: MSG, NBA League Pass

Betting Line: San Antonio Spurs (-5)

When the Knicks have the Ball: Knicks Offense:  103.5 PPG (2^nd in NBA) Spurs Defense – 92.6 (9th in NBA)

When the Spurs have the Ball: Spurs Offense: 96.6 PPG (18^th in NBA) Knicks Defense – 87.8 PPG (1^st in NBA)

Key Matchup: Tony Parker vs. Knicks’ Point Guards 

November 13, 2012; Los Angeles, CA, USA; San Antonio Spurs point guard Tony Parker (9) speaks with head coach Gregg Popovich during the second half at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-US PRESSWIRE

You know the Spurs’ story already. They are too old. How long will they be around? Will Tim Duncan ever slow down? All the Spurs do is win and will forever be a contender for the title as they sit 7-1on top of the Western Conference. You know the Knicks’ story, as well as they are the only defeated team left in the NBA as they are getting it done on both ends of the floor. It will be New York’s first road test and first test since Opening Night against the Heat.

The Spurs get the job done and their teamwork is the reason why they are so good. They rank 2^nd in the league with 24.6 assists a game. Their leading scorer, Tim Duncan, is only averaging 18 points a game but they have 4 players averaging double digits with a near 5^th in Kawhi Leonard averaging 9.9. They are doing this all with a banged up Manu Ginobili.

So what will happen tonight in San Antonio? The Knicks haven’t lost a game and the Spurs are 4-0 at home. I hate to be the bearer of bad news but the Knicks aren’t going 82-0. I am absolutely loving this team so far but if you have to swallow one loss it has to be against the Spurs in their house. The Knicks won’t lie down and let the Spurs run all over them, but reality sets in as the Knicks lose a close one.

Prediction: Spurs 94, Knicks 90

Team USA led France only 22-21 after the first quarter, but for the final three quarters it was all team USA as they outscored the Frenchmen 76-50 the rest of the way, en route to a 98-71 win.

Three-time NBA scoring champion Kevin Durant took over and led the Americans with 22 points and nine rebounds and LeBron played the role of facilitator, dishing out nine assists as his unselfish play really got Team USA rolling.

The French featured several NBA-stars including Tony Parker, Nicolas Batum, Boris Diaw and Ronny Turiaf, but the overall talent level of the Americans eventually won out.

It started sloppy for Team USA and they didn’t shoot well early on, which if they were to lose, would be their downfall, but after missing their first six three-point attempts, they made eight of their next 19.

It wasn’t a great performance overall and Team USA showed there is room for much improvement, but they showed the potential for dominance once they started clicking.

The balance on this team is scary as only Durant, Kevin Love (14) and Kobe Bryant (10) finished the game in double figures.

Ali Traore led the French team in scoring with 12 points and Parker was the only other player to reach double-figures with 10.

As for the two New York Knicks playing for Team USA, both Carmelo Anthony and Tyson Chandler, each grabbed nine rebounds as Team USA outrebounded the French 56-40.

Melo played 17 minutes and scored nine points but struggled from the floor, making only three of 10 attempts from the floor, also missing both of his attempts from behind the arc.

Chandler played only 11 minutes, scoring eight points, dishing out three assists, and making 2-of-5 shots from the floor.

Up next for Team USA is a matchup with Tunisia on Tuesday, July 31

Follow Matt Shetler on Twitter for news, reaction and analysis from around the NBA.

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While this may not resemble “The Decision,” by any chance, whatever the arbitrator rules of whether or not the Knicks get the Bird Right’s of Jeremy Lin and Steve Novak becomes a huge decision for the future of the Knicks.

Mar 21, 2012; Philadelphia, PA, USA; New York Knicks guard Jeremy Lin (17) during the fourth quarter against the Philadelphia 76ers at the Wells Fargo Center. The Knicks defeated the Sixers 82-79. Mandatory Credit: Howard Smith-US PRESSWIRE

Whether or not the Knicks have to use the MLE on Lin or not, it is worth at least looking at how high Lin’s ceiling really is.

It’s so hard to predict Lin’s future due to the fact that we’ve only had a 25 game look at him. To immediately think that just because they may re-sign him that the Knicks would have one of the best point guards in the NBA would be foolish thinking.

I love the promise Lin showed, but the one thing that could determine how he progresses as a point guard and how the Knicks progress as a team could be how Lin handles himself among the elite point guards in the NBA.

Judging off last season alone, would you be confident of Lin in a playoff series against the likes of a Tony Parker, Russell Westbrook, Chris Paul, Derrick Rose or Rajon Rondo type of point guard?

Aside from the horrific Miami game for Lin, some of his worst performances were turned in against the likes of the Boston Celtics, San Antonio Spurs, New Jersey Nets and Chicago Bulls. What those teams have in common is an elite floor general.

That’s not to say that Lin won’t continue to get better and I think he will, but that is still something that could raise a red flag. I think it’s very good for Lin right now that he’s healthy and has the entire offseason to prepare to play major minutes next season.

What the Knicks are hoping for is that Lin progresses and becomes maybe a Top 10 point guard in the NBA. That will require a lot of work, but I think he’s talented enough to get there. For the Knicks to win a championship, they will need a point guard that can hold his own against the better point guards in the NBA during a seven-game series.

Is Lin that guy?

Who knows right now, but given a full season under his belt, I’m pretty confident he can be.

Hopefully it is in a Knicks uniform.

May 28, 2012; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Heat small forward LeBron James (6) reacts during the second half in game one of the Eastern Conference finals of the 2012 NBA playoffs against the Boston Celtics at American Airlines Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-US PRESSWIRE

When you think of the NBA and it’s superstar’s first two names that instantly pop up in everybody’s heads are Kobe Bryant and LeBron James.

I define a superstar as a franchise player that you wouldn’t trade for anyone else besides one of the top tier superstars in the league. An NBA superstar throughout the years has had reoccurring traits. These traits include: league leading stats, marketability, leadership, and most of all – winning.

A superstar is the guy you build your whole franchise around for the next 10 years. The guy who is taking the last shot. The player who makes everyone around him better. They are the Michale Jordan, Larry Bird, and Magic Johnson of today.

Superstars are not just the best players at their position. Andrew Bynum started for the West this year in the All Star game; he’s not even close to been called a superstar. One of my rules is my mother has to know who you are. My mom knows Kobe, LeBron, Dwyane Wade, and obviously Carmelo Anthony because of the Knicks. Superstars sell jerseys and put fans in the seats both home and away.

Do you think if Bynum were on the Houston Rockets they would sell out a Nets game?

The NBA is different from every sport in one way, their faces are always seen. There’s no helmet or cap hiding their face. I think marketability is key in superstardom. Just look at Jordan. The guy has his own clothing company.

The Jordan brand and sneakers has been synonymous with MJ for decades now but it would have never happened if he never won. He had the stats, the looks, the highlight reel plays and dunks, the swag and the likeability.

But it all means nothing if you do not win.

The NBA has several franchise players, but not many superstars. Kevin Love is obviously the Twolve’s franchise player, but he is not a superstar. Here is my ranking in top 10 superstars:

May 21, 2012; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant (24) reacts to the loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder in game five of the Western Conference semifinals of the 2012 NBA Playoffs at Chesapeake Energy Arena. The Thunder defeated the Lakers 106-90. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-US PRESSWIRE

1. Kobe Bryant – For a player who some say he is past his prime, he was second in the league in scoring by .07. He has the 5 rings, the endorsements, and is the king of Los Angeles. Everyone in the world knows his name and who he is. At the end of the day I think he is No. 2 behind Jordan. That number 2 spot will be forever up for debate.

2. LeBron James – Three MVP awards in four years, and is coming off his best statistical year of his career. He is tearing up the league and is just entering his prime. We all know how “The Decision,” went down and how he embraced the villain role, but that shouldn’t take away from the guy’s game. He hasn’t won but he has lead his team to two Finals appearances, on the verge of his third. LeBron and Kobe are the top tier of superstars in today’s NBA.

3. Kevin Durant – This spot is up for grabs by a lot of players, but it has to go to KD here. I don’t think everyone realizes how great he truly is. This is only his fourth year in the league and he has already won three scoring titles, made three All-Star games, won an All-Star MVP, Rookie of the Year, and has been selected to three All-NBA First teams. Did I mention he’s only 23? Durant has a personality that no one can hate, just hard working and keeps to himself. You will never hear bad press about him, never in every headline like LeBron, the guy just balls. The Finals appearances will come very shortly.

4. Dwyane Wade – Before LeBron and Chris Bosh came to Miami, South Beach was all Wade’s. He won a 2006 title by coming back and beating the Dallas Mavericks. He gives it his all every game, and got James and Bosh to come to HIS team. They could have gone other places together but he was the bigger man and sacrificed. Wade is the second best shooting guard in the league, and you can make a case for taking him over Kobe right now.

5. Dwight Howard – The best big man in the league without question I rank as my No. 5. I know he has maturity issues the past year, but I think once he gets out of Orlando and lands in a place like Brooklyn with a top five point guard in Deron Williams, he will flourish. He has made a name for himself and led his team to the Finals with Jameer Nelson and Hedo Turkoglu as his second and third best players. He is extremely marketable and a physical monster. You want to build your franchise with a big man? He’s the way to go.

6. Chris Paul – With the best point guard in the league debate as hot as ever, Chris Paul has been constantly the best or near the best for years now. The guy does everything you need, plays with heart, a media’s dream, and a leader. I believe it is a lot harder for a pass first point guard to single handing lead a team to a championship. You look at the past decade’s champions and the point guard’s are never the best player on the team. With a little more help in L.A CP3 has a good chance of leading the Clippers in deep playoff runs for the next several years.

With the list half way done, think to yourself, would you be mad if the Knicks traded Carmelo Anthony for anyone of these top 6? The only one I can see if Dwight Howard because of the Knicks already crowded frontcourt, but if they didn’t, Melo – Dwight swap wouldn’t upset many. On to the bottom 4:

7. Derrick Rose – Last year’s MVP is turning into the best scoring point guard in the league. When healthy his quickness and speed make it hard for anyone to defend. With his monster deals with both the Bulls and Addidas, D-Rose will be a household name in a few years right up there with LeBron and Kobe. If the Bulls see Finals in the next two years and he beats the Heat, he will sky rocket up this list.

May 9, 2012; Miami, FL, USA; New York Knicks small forward Carmelo Anthony (7) during the second half of game five in the Eastern Conference quarterfinals against the Miami Heat of the 2012 NBA Playoffs at the American Airlines Arena. Miami won 106-94. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-US PRESSWIRE

8. Carmelo Anthony – And here we go. I am going to tell it how it is with Carmelo coming from a die-hard Knick fan. Melo has been a superstar ever since he came into the league. I think this partly has to do with him winning in college and the draft class he was in. If he were a third pick in any other draft I don’t think he would have gotten that much buzz. When you get drafted with LeBron, Wade, and Bosh along with coming off winning a college championship as a freshman, stardom will come to you no matter what. He has the numbers and all-star games already, now he has to win plain and simple. He is the man on his team and has the coach he wanted. He’s in the city he chose and has proved he is clutch. He now has to advance the Knicks deep into the playoffs, if he does this he will easily be top five.

9. Tony Parker – The best point guard still playing the playoffs this year is Parker. He just beat Chris Paul’s Clippers and chances are he will beat Russell Westbrook and Durant on the way to his fourth championship. I think he is one of the most underrated and disrespected players in the league. Does anyone remember two years ago when there was a rumor he was going to the Knicks or another team via sign and trade? None of these players on his list will ever be openly traded for any reason other than request. Parker is known internationally and is also a household name for marrying Eva Longoria. He is running the Spurs like a well-oiled machine.

10. Dirk Nowitzki – A year removed from his championship, Dirk has become a household name. With most of the country rooting for him vs. the hated Heat last year, Dirk became a hero. He has been an all-star and a solid player for years, but winning a championship and last year’s magnified stage propelled Dirk into superstardom. Without last year, he is not on this list.

Honorable Mentions – Tim Duncan, Blake Griffin, Paul Pierce, Deron Williams
On the cusp – Rajon Rondo, Kevin Love, Russell Westbrook,

Superstars don’t have to be the best talented players playing right now. No question LeBron is the best talent in the world, but Kobe is the bigger superstar. Kevin Love puts up better numbers than Dirk, but clearly Dirk is the bigger star. Superstars win games, sell jerseys, sell out arenas, the public knows them, and are leaders.

The Spurs represent what every NBA team should strive for: continuity, perseverance, unwavering confidence, a complete team. Down 24 to the Clippers yesterday, in a rowdy Staples Center, the Spurs never faltered. Even at 36 years old, the virtually indefensible Tim Duncan did not call for isolations and stagnate the offense. The Spurs – the best 3-point shooting team in the NBA – did not hoist shots from beyond the arc in hopes of initiating an improbable run. Instead, they stuck to what they always do. Tony Parker continued to attack and attack, driving into the paint with his patented crafty force. They moved the ball from side to side, in and out, consisting hitting Tim Duncan in pick-and-rolls, and forcing the Clippers to pick their poison on who to send help to.

What the Spurs represent is a team that believes in their system, believes in their team. The Knicks and the rest of the NBA would be smart to follow the Spurs’ example.

This is not meant to be a debate about Mike D’Antoni vs. Mike Woodson, but while D’Antoni was head coach, the Knicks had an offensive system that could have been successful if everyone bought into it. However, as we know, not everyone did, namely Carmelo Anthony, though there were likely others.

With Mike Woodson, we saw that the Knicks bought into and trusted his defensive system, and as a result, they jumped into the top five most efficient teams on defense in the NBA. However, on offense, as we saw during the playoffs, the Knicks didn’t have enough go-to plays on offense. There was hardly any consistency in play-calling as well.

For the Knicks to make the jump to becoming an elite team in the East, they have to buy into a system on both ends of the floor and stick to it through good and bad. Of course, there is something to be said of stability and consistency, neither of which are words that can be identified with the Knicks for the past decade. However, as the Spurs have proven, with their core of Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, and Manu Ginobili, other players and parts can be integrated into the system, and because Duncan, Parker, and Ginobili believe in that system, the surrounding players follow suit.

For the Knicks, this means Carmelo Anthony cannot dominate the ball on every possession and call for clear-outs. It means he has to trust his teammates and be willing to share the ball, and not go one-on-five when things aren’t working. It means that Amar’e Stoudemire has to stay focused on defense and rebounding, even if he isn’t getting his touches on offense. And when he does get his touches on offense, he has to keep an open mind as to what to do with the ball, as Duncan has proven throughout his career – not every touch is a scoring opportunity.

The Knicks have their core in place, and while the surrounding cast of players may continue to be of the turnstile dynamic, if Anthony, Stoudemire, and Tyson Chandler completely buy into a system and prove it can be successful, other players will too.

The Spurs could have given up yesterday afternoon, but they didn’t. The Knicks shouldn’t be willing to give up either.

Tony Parker won't be walking through that door to save us. Then again, with Dwight Howard not coming tonight, hopefully we can avoid feeling we need to be saved. (Source: Yardbarker.com)

Rumors of dissatisfaction and Big Apple longing have made New Yorkers constantly hoping to land Carmelo Anthony and Chris Paul, but at the end of last season we were all fantasizing about snagging a different star: Tony Parker.  Apparently the San Antonio Spurs’ All-Star point guard was now expendable because backup George Hill had performed admirably.  Plus with TP married to glamorous actress Eva Longoria, clearly she’d prefer he move to Manhattan.  We here at Buckets even posted about a rumored potential trade of Tony for David Lee.  However, after CP3′s toast at ‘Melo’s wedding that they’d team up with Amar’e Stoudemire to form their own Big Three on the Knicks, Mr. Parker-Longoria slipped from many people’s minds.

Rest assured that Knick president Donnie Walsh hadn’t forgotten about the former Finals MVP.  Thus he, like any seriously knowledgable Knick fan, was distressed to hear that Tony signed a multi-year extension with the Spurs over the weekend.  While Chris Paul might be better, Parker’s contract ended this year, making him a serious possibility for us to snag.  Players who receive max contracts, like LeBron and Amar’e, they can be tough to lure as the NBA’s rules allow their home team to offer them more money.  However, with players like Tony Parker who aren’t quite at that level, we could’ve potentially offered a more lucrative contract than San Antonio (he signed for four years at only about $50 million).  That meant he was the easiest, most realistic top baller we could’ve gotten.

With Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili aging, wouldn’t it have made sense for him to at least wait until the off-season to see what options were available?  Well, due to injuries, the last three years Parker missed 13, 10 and 26 games.  So part of the reason he likely signed the deal was to be safe in case anything serious happened to him this year.  The other big concern of course is that a new Collective Bargaining Agreement will be signed, which means that there’s a chance he might not be able to get as good a deal once the new CBA is in place.  I still think he should’ve held off, because again, with him not getting a max contract, it seems like it’s pretty likely he could’ve signed just as lucrative a deal.  Bottom line: cross him off the list.  Sure we can still trade for him, but now there’s nothing about him that makes that more conceivable than any other trade we might make.

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In other news, asbestos fell from the ceiling in Madison Square Garden so tonight’s game against Dwight Howard and the Orlando Magic has been cancelled.  You’re probably bummed about that if you had tickets to tonight’s game (or if you have any Knick or Magic player on your fantasy squad and put them in your line-up).  However, honestly, I think it might be good for us.  I keep harping on the difficulty of our first five games.  If you agree with my power ranking, then Orlando would be the third top five team we played in a row (after having played Boston & Portland over the week).  In other words, even if we are significantly better than last year, it would be quite an upset or coup to beat Orlando.  But most people look only at win-loss record rather than difficulty of schedule, and a third loss in a row would throw fans and journalists into a further panic of are-we-just-as-bad-as-we-were-last-year.  Instead now we have a far more winnable game against the Chicago Bulls, followed by two games we should win against Washington and Philadelphia.  Yes, we will have to play that Orlando game eventually, but it’s better to have it later in the year where a loss won’t cause any early season panic to erupt.

Many view Kevin Durant as the Second Coming. We see him and the Thunder more likely coming Third through Sixth. (Source: Yardbarker.com)

On Wednesday we discussed what the Eastern Conference Playoff picture looks like, and today we go west, young man.  We’d already previously examined how much teams improved/regressed during the off-season, but now we’re talking about how they stack up against each other.  Meaning, we gave Orlando a zero for their summer and the Wizards a +2, but now we’re here to tell you that yes, of course Orlando is still gonna be far better.  For those who haven’t seen those posts on off-season grades, click the following links to see what we had to say about the Northwest, Atlantic, Central, Southeast, Pacific and Southwest Divisions.  Also, we’re only gonna be talking about the regular season here.  So even though we don’t think the Celts will be a top two team record-wise, it doesn’t mean we think they’re incapable of making it through the gauntlet again.  Lastly, some teams will be put in clusters ‘cuz they’ll likely end up with similar records and what does a victory or two here and there matter amongst friends?

#1 – Lakers

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If the acquisition of Trevor Ariza convinces CP3 to remain a Hornet for life, that'll end up being one amaze-alicious trade. (source: Yardbarker.com)

In this penultimate chapter of our off-season grades we’ll examine the Dallas Mavericks, Houston Rockets, Memphis Grizzlies, New Orleans Hornets and San Antonio Spurs.  For the first four parts, check out our reviews for the Atlantic, Central, Southeast and Pacific Divisions.  Tomorrow will be the Northwest Division. Once again, for the newcomers, here are the rules:

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Anthony Randolph is thrilled to be out of Don Nelson's doghouse in Golden State, with a chance to finally explode in the Big Apple (Source: Yardbarker.com)

The proposed sign-and-trade that Chase wrote about (David Lee to the Golden State Warriors for Anthony Randolph, Kelenna Azubuike and Ronny Turiaf) has been finalized. As I wrote in the comments section of that post, I’m not thrilled with the move. While Randolph (the heart of this trade) has otherworldly potential, he does play the same position of power forward as our big new signee, Amar’e Stoudemire. For potential to blossom, a player needs minutes like a flower needs water. Sure we could possibly move Amar’e over to center for a bit, but Amar’e has said many times in the past that he prefers to not play that position. Personally, I think we should’ve kept David Lee to make up for Amar’e rebounding deficiencies, ‘cuz it ain’t like Randolph is known for doing the dirty work or the little things. Plus Lee is a known commodity that could be used in a trade. If Randolph doesn’t develop, then we gave away a home-grown All-Star for nuthin’.

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Amar'e, already acting like a regular New Yawker, caught a Yankee Game on July 4th. Can he draw other stars here? Or will we end up not even giving him an offer? (Source: Yardbarker.com)

Amar’e Stoudemire, out on the town catching a musical, revealed that he’s already trying to recruit players to join him in New York:

“I’ve talked to Carmelo Anthony that he needs to come out here,” Stoudemire said. “I’ve talked to Tony Parker. Both guys are ready to join me if I decide to come here. So we will see if we can work it out.”

Discussing that possibility, ESPN’s Chris Sheridan wrongly reports:

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Rival executives will continue to try to convince the Hornets to make Chris Paul available in trades, pointing to the fact that Williams can simply slide the promising Darren Collison and his modest $1.4 million salary into that spot. When those teams get shot down, look for the Hornets — based on the hints we’ve received from more than one exec — to make Collison available as long as the interested party is willing to take back the cap-clogging contract of Emeka Okafor,James Posey or Peja Stojakovic with Paul’s backup.

Everyone’s talkin’ ’bout Tony Parker as a trade target, how’s about the much cheaper Darren Collison with Okafor thrown in as center?  Particularly since New Orleans wants to cut costs they’d be interested in Eddy Curry, unlike San Antonio.  We’d still be able to sign two max free agents, or one and keep David Lee with money left over.

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Future Kings of New York?

In very odd timing, the Knicks front office revealed this summer’s major targets, and none of the names come as a surprise. Lebron James, Chris Bosh, and Dwyane Wade were noted as Walsh’s biggest targets for the upcoming summer.

Two names were left off which I found surprising, Amare Stoudemire and Joe Johnson were left off Walsh’s list for whatever reason and that is actually pretty releaving because I really don’t want to see either in a Knick uniform.

So without further a do let me break down Walsh’s wish list.

Chris Bosh:

So, obviously adding Bosh would be great but not without adding Lebron or Wade. Now, a lot of people may wonder what Bosh brings to the table that David Lee doesn’t. Lee is a consistent scorer on the offensive end, but Lee’s game is very limited and really is not even close to the level Bosh is currently at. Bosh can command the post like few in this game, and can virtually score from anywhere around basket.

Bosh plays a very similar style to Pau Gasol. Gasol gets a lot of unwarranted hate for being “soft” much like Bosh. Gasol is perhaps one of the most underrated post players in the game today, but since Bosh has been surrounded by players who don’t mesh at all Bosh’s game has suffered mightily. Both players are the perfect #2 options on championship teams, so placing Bosh with either Lebron or Wade would without a doubt make us a contender.

Now comes the very difficult part; Dwyane Wade or Lebron James? Let us first dive into Wade’s World.

Dwyane Wade:

Wade is already ahead of James on my wish list for one reason and one reason only; he’s won a championship. Granted, Wade has struggled with injuries over last few seasons, but the simple fact of the matter is Wade has done something Lebron has not and that is win an NBA title. Wade’s game resembles Allen Iverson’s in a lot of ways, except Wade’s defense is miles ahead of Iverson’s and is a much better team player then Iverson ever was. Granted, I don’t think Wade would of won his championship without Shaq but that is perhaps one of the stupidest arguments in basketball.

Well, Kobe wouldn’t have won any titles without Shaq or Pau, Jordan without Pippen or Rodman, Pierce without KG, the list goes on and on. This argument is tossed around ESPN all the time and it’s beyond infuriating. Wade was the #1 option on the Heat’s championship campaign and Shaq came through as the #2 option, which propelled the Heat to become NBA champions. Kobe has been the #1 option on a championship team once, which was last season. Duncan never would have won any titles without the help of Ginobli and Parker as well.

Wade is one of the best #1 options in the league and has proven he’s capable of carrying a team on his back into the playoffs, but EVERY #1 option needs a #2 option to win a championship and Chris Bosh fills that void.

Wade would absolutely dominate in D’Antoni’s system, but playing alongside Toney Douglas might not be the best fit going forward. Wade won a championship with two of the best passers this game has ever seen in Gary Payton and Jason Williams at the point. If the Knicks can bring in Tony Parker or another veteran point to play with Wade and Bosh anything short of championship would be unacceptable.

Lebron James:

Lebron James is the greatest player in the game today, there is no argument anymore. So obviously I’d love to have him come to the Big Apple, but there are still a lot of question marks that come with Lebron. After watching Lebron take Game 5 and 6 off in this year’s NBA playoffs I lost a lot of respect for Lebron as a player. Wade may not be as talented as Lebron, but Wade would never have taken games off like Lebron did. Lebron is still a very immature player, and that’s pretty frustrating considering just how good he is.

Another big concern I have with Lebron being in New York is all the distractions and pressure he’d have. Lebron is the king of Cleveland, but I’m not sure he could handle being the king of New York. Lebron also plays the same position as 3/4 of our returning players going into next season, including our top-10 lottery pick just two years ago in Danilo Gallinari. We’re already crowded with forwards so adding Lebron would still not fill our major holes on the roster.

Final Verdict:

In closing, adding Bosh and Lebron/Wade would instantly propel the Knicks into contenders going into next season, but in regards to who would be the best fit?

The answer is quite simply, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh.

A Perfect Fit

When Isola first reported Parker might have interest in New York, I didn’t take it for much, but with these new reports coming from multiple sources that spoke with newsday perhaps there is some truth to Parker’s New York interest.

There’s just one problem; we have no trading pieces. I really have no earthly idea how we could for Parker without giving up more picks and Eddy Curry’s expiring. Parker would be an incredible addition to this squad and if Walsh somehow finds a way to land Parker it could really set the tone for the rest of the Knicks summer.

We desperately need a solid PG to play within this system and Parker fills that void. I’m just not so sure the Spurs are sold enough on Hill that they’d be willing to move a former Finals MVP for a young, inexperienced George Hill. Hill is a solid player, but I really don’t see his ceiling ever reaching Parker’s.

If Walsh lands Parker, that covers a major need for this team and really puts us in a good position for this summer.

Get it done Donnie.

Joe Johnson – Atlanta Hawks

As we discussed after the recent Knicks/Hawks game, JJ has a nice relationship with Coach Mike D’Antoni from their time together in Phoenix, plus the Knicks have somehow managed to look competitive this year in the three games he played against us.  When JJ was on those D’Antoni Suns teams, although he was huge for them, at the time he was considered to be at best their fourth most important player (after Steve Nash, Amar’e Stoudamire & Shawn Marion).  Joe rightly felt he could be more, a centerpiece, and he wanted to be paid accordingly.  Having achieved all that with the Hawks, he now has reached the point most vets get to: the main thing he wants now is the chance to play for a championship.  He is even one of the few stars who has literally put his money where his mouth is and has stated he’d be willing to take a bunch less money to be on such a team.

Now don’t misunderstand: he knows he has a very good thing going with the Hawks and that they are a really, really good team.  He’s not gonna just leave them to play on a mid-level Knick team.  So ignore this quote in the NY Daily News:

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New Yorkers, rightfully, are worried that this is an all-or-nothing proposition.  Basically, unless we get LeBron James or Dwayne Wade, we’ll just be a slightly above average team.  Kinda like how we looked with Crawford & Randolph.  While there are other studs available this summer like A’mare Stoudamire, Chris Bosh, Joe Johnson, Carlos Boozer, none of ‘em are mega-stars who ensure you’ll have a legit shot at winning a championship.  Those second-tier guys just assure that you’ll make the playoffs.  Even if you do get two of ‘em.

So if we don’t get Plan A, does that mean Plan B is doomed to fail?  Not necessarily.  Most Knicks fans are worried about Plan B, but that’s ‘cuz they assume it means not just that we sign two lesser talents, but that we sign them to more than they’re worth.  The fear is that we do something like the Pistons did this summer, when they had a bunch of cash and felt compelled to spend it, thus overpaying for Ben Gordon and Charlie Villanueva, both of whom are currently coming off the bench for Detroit.  Likewise, several years ago a few teams cleared cap space to sign Tim Duncan and Grant Hill.  After Duncan stayed with the Spurs and Hill went with Tracy McGrady to Orlando, Chicago paid a bunch of money to some scrubs just to say they got someone.

Now if Isiah was still in charge, sure, we all know he would definitely follow that path, but doesn’t Donnie Walsh deserve the benefit of the doubt?  Besides the remarkable salary dumping job he did for us, he had quite a run with the Indiana Pacers.  Not only did he assemble enough talent for them to constantly be in the top of the east during the late 1990s, but he even got that team to Finals against the Lakers in… what was it, 2000?  And after that within a year or two he had completely rejuvenated that team, getting rid of Rick Smits, Mark Jackson, Dale Davis, Antonio Davis, Jalen Rose, and turning them into a young Eastern Conference contender around Jermaine O’Neal, Brad Miller, Ron Artest, Stephen Jackson, Jamaal Tinsley, and the still effective Grandpa Reggie Miller.  This was a team that seemed poised to make it to the finals for the next few years until the unfortunate Malice At The Palace, players-and-fans-scuffle.  Has a team ever been turned around that quickly with a completely new cast?  The Lakers new team is still built around Kobe, one of their two supernova stars from their earlier three-peat.  The old-time Celtics won like 11 championships with various supporting stars, but they all centered around Bill Russell.

Fine, you say, we’ll give Walsh a chance.  But if he doesn’t get LeBron or Wade, what can he reasonably do to get the rest of the cream of the crop?  The key is getting some supporting parts at reasonable prices.  Houston has been excellent at that, getting solid unflashy guys like Shane Battier, Trevor Ariza, Luis Scola, and Carl Landry on the (relative) cheap.  Get Chris Bosh and Joe Johnson to agree to slightly less than the max, and then try to snag Ray Felton, Brendan Haywood, Josh Childress, Shannon Brown, Rudy Gay, Manu Ginobili, Kyle Korver, or Mike Miller on the cheap.  Maybe David Lee or TMac will agree to a lesser deal.  It would be pretty solid to have a line-up of Bosh, Lee, Gallo, Chandler, and Felton with Childress, Brown, Miller & TMac coming off the bench.

Yes, that’d still probably only get us to 4th or 5th in the East, but here’s the thing: it also would keep us out of the tax.  Since you personally don’t have to pay the tax as a fan, you probably don’t care, but it matters a bunch.  Why?  It means that the following summer, 2011, when Eddy Curry’s $11.3 million salary comes off the books, we can use that full amount to sign someone else.  If we give out excessive contracts this summer, we’ll go over the cap and won’t be able to add anyone new after we get rid of Curry.

With that $11+ mill, we could have a real shot at such 2011 free agents as Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, Greg Oden, Jason Richardson, Samuel Dalembert, Jeff Green, David West, Zach Randolph, Marc Gasol, Mike Conley, Troy Murphy, Mike Dunleavy Jr., Shane Battier, Aaron Brooks, Tayshaun Prince, Rodney Stuckey, J.R.Smith, Nene, Caron Butler, Joakim Noah, Boris Diaw, Kendrick Perkins, Jamal Crawford, Al Horford, and some guy named Carmelo Anthony.  Adding just one of those guys to the above roster would probably elevate the team to one of the East’s elite.  Adding Melo would bring a very real possibility of winning multiple championships.

By having a few reasonable, desirable smaller contracts, we could also trade Curry’s expiring contract in the middle of next season, so we wouldn’t even have to wait for 2011.  Like by next year the Celtics will finally have to accept that Kevin Garnett is so half-dead he’s practically a zombie.  They realize they need to blow up the team, so they decide to get rid of Paul Pierce for an expiring contract.  He makes more than Curry, but we throw in Mike Miller to make things work.  Using those contracts would also help if say someone like Melo wants more than that $11 mill.  We basically give a Mike Miller to a team for free (like only getting a second round pick in return), and then we have like another $3 mill available to pay Anthony.

The point is that it’s not LeBron/Wade or mediocrity.  It’s about not returning to the ways of Scott Layden & Isiah Thomas (& honestly lots of other GMs), and overpaying mid-level players.