Position Analysis: Shooting Guard

Starters Rankings:

1. Kobe Bryant-LAL.............................27.0ppg, 5.0apg, 5.4rpg, All-Defensive (1st)- 73 games played/57 wins
   
2. Dwyane Wade-MIA..........................26.6, 6.5, 4.8, All-Defensive (2nd)-77/47
   
3. Joe Johnson-ATL.............................21.3, 4.9, 4.6- 76/53
   
4. Brandon Roy-POR...........................22.5, 4.7, 4.4- 65/50
   
5. Monta Ellis-GS.................................25.5, 5.3, 4.0- 64/26
   
6. Vince Carter-ORL............................16.6, 3.1, 3.9- 75/59
   
7. Andre Igoudala-PHL........................17.1, 5.8, 6.5- 82/27
   
8. Stephen Jackson-CHR....................20.6, 3.7, 5.0-81/2 teams, helped lead Charlotte to playoffs
   
9. Caron Butler-DAL.............................16.3, 6.2rpg- 74/2 teams, helped lead Dallas to playoffs
   
10. Ray Allen-BOS..................................16.3, 3.2rpg- 80/50
    
11. Jason Richardson-PHO...................15.7, 5.1rpg- 76/54
    
12. O.J. Mayo-MEM................................17.5, 3.0, 3.8- 82/40
    
13. John Salmons-MIL............................15.4, 3.3rpg- 81/2 teams, helped lead Milwaukee to playoffs
    
14. Eric Gordon-LAC..............................16.9, 3.0apg- 62/29
    
15. Trevor Ariza-HOU..............................14.9, 3.8, 5.6- 72/42
    
16. Rip Hamilton-DET.............................18.1, 4.4apg- 46/27
    
17. Corey Brewer-MIN.............................13.0, 3.4rpg- 82/15
    
18. Beno Udrih-SAC................................12.9, 4.7apg- 79/41
    
19. Kirk Hinrich-CHI.................................10.9, 4.5, 3.5- 47/41
    
20. Thabo Sefolosha-OKC......................6.0, 4.7rpg, All-Defensive (2nd)-82/50
    
21. Courtney Lee-NJ................................12.5, 3.5rpg- 71/12
    
22. Aaron Afflalo-DEN..............................8.8, 3.1rpg- 82/53
    
23. Anthony Parker-CLV..........................7.3, 2.9rpg- 81/61
    
24. Peja Stojakovic-NO...........................12.6, 3.7rpg- 62/37
    
25. C.J. Miles-Utah....................................9.9, 2.7rpg-63/53
    
26. Brandon Rush-IND..............................9.4, 4.2rpg-82/32
    
27. DeMar DeRozan-TOR........................8.6, 3rpg- 77/40
    
28. Nick Young-WAS.................................8.6- 74/26
    
29. Toney Douglas-NY...............................8.6- 56/29
    
30. Keith Bogans-SA.................................4.4- 79/50
    

Top 10 Backups:

1. Manu Ginobili-SA.................................16.5, 4.9, 3.8- 75/50-would rank around #6
   
2. Jamal Crawford-ATL...........................18.0, 3.0apg, won NBA's 6th man award- 79/53-would rank around #9
   
3. Jason Terry-DAL..................................16.6, 3.8apg- 77/55-would rank around #13
   
4. J.R. Smith-DEN....................................15.4, 3.1rpg- 75/53-would rank around #17
   
5. Marcus Thorton-NO..............................14.5, 2.9rpg-73/37-would rank around #18
6. Ben Gordon-DET..................................13.8ppg- 62/27-would rank around #19
   
7. Anthony Morrow-GS..............................13.0, 3.8rpg- 69/26-Would rank around #19
   
8. J.J. Reddick-ORL...................................9.6ppg- 82/59-would rank around #22
   
9. James Harden-OKC...............................9.9, 3.2rpg- 76/50-would rank around #22
   
10. Dahntay Jones-IND...............................10.2, 3.0rpg- 76/32-would rank around #25
    

NOTE: Obviously Manu Ginobili is a better/more important player than Keith Bogans. However since Bogans started 50 games and Manu started 21 games I put Bogans with the starters. For mid-season trades I always put the team the player ended with.

Notable players not on list due to injuries:
Kevin Martin-HOU
Michael Redd-MIL

Highest Paid Starter: Kobe Bryant-23.03 million
Lowest Paid Starter: Toney Douglas- 996,240

Oldest Starter: Anthony Parker-6/19/75
Youngest Starter: DeMar DeRozan-8/7/89

Top Free Agents:
Dwayne Wade (PO)
Joe Johnson
Ray Allen
John Salmons (PO)
J.J. Reddick (RFA)
Anthony Morrow (RFA)

3 Young Players to Watch:
Terrence Williams-NJ-22 years old
Ronnie Brewer-MEM-25 years old
Rudy Fernandez-POR-25 years old


Overall Synopsis: As you can see the disparity between the superstars and the bottom 25-30 is a big one. Kobe and DWade are in a class by themselves. Joe Johnson, Brandon Roy and Monta Ellis are just a notch below in production. Wade and Johnson are two of the top free agents this summer.

Several good veterans helped their new teams reach the playoffs including Vince Carter, Stephen Jackson, Caron Butler (who is really more of a SF), John Salmons and JRich (in his first full season with the Suns). Trevor Ariza came up just short of the playoffs in his first year in Houston.

Several players serve as lock down defenders on their opponents top wing. These players include Thabo Sefolosha, Aaron Afflalo, and Anthony Parker. Young 2 guards O.J. Mayo, Eric Gordon and Corwy Brewer continue to improve.

The most versatile player that no one talks about is Andre Igoudala. The 76ers have the 2nd pick and could draft Evan Turner making Igoudala a hot trade commodity. Kirk Hinrich could start at the point on many teams, he will also be a player that could be shipped this summer.

With many of the top backups in the league playing the 2 guard I decided to rank the top 10 backups. I feel that all of the top 10 back ups could be starting for at least 1/5th of the teams in the NBA. We will see if J.J. Reddick and Anthony Morrow sign somewhere else in hopes of becoming a starter.