NBA: 5 Best Small Forwards to Start a Franchise

Calling

LeBron James

a “small” forward just doesn’t seem right, does it? Photo Credit: Keith Allison, Flickr.com

Small Forward (via miriam-webster)

noun

: a basketball forward who is usually smaller than a power forward and whose play is characterized by quickness and scoring ability.

That may be the dictionary definition of what a small forward is, but in today’s game, everything has changed.  A “3” in today’s NBA can be bulkier than Karl Malone (as LeBron James is) or taller than Bill Russell (as Kevin Durant is).  The word “small” isn’t exactly the most accurate way to describe what we see on a nightly basis.  At the position, versatility is key.  The truly elite can be a nightmare matchup offensively or a game wrecker defensively with the capability of defending multiple positions.

Everyone loves a good old fashioned top-five list.  But each year, positions get more and more muddled as players in the NBA become more and more adept at doing just about everything on the floor.  During the NBA Finals, LeBron James defended Tony Parker and Tim Duncan and ran the offense as the point guard at times.  Throughout the regular season, Carmelo Anthony played very few minutes as a traditional 3 for the New York Knicks, instead spending the bulk of his time both offensively and defensively on the block, as a traditional power forward would.  Just trying to figure out what position a player should qualify for is half the battle.  So as the game evolves, here’s a list of the top five small forwards to build a franchise around in the NBA (while we are still considering them “small forwards” in the traditional sense).

Honorable Mentions

The toughest omission from this list was Kawhi Leonard, fresh off of posting a 19-point, 16-rebound effort in Game 7 of the NBA Finals at just 21 years of age.  In this case, it’s hard not to get stuck as a prisoner of the moment after the postseason he had and sneak him into the top five.  But Leonard’s regular season numbers (11.9 points, 6.0 rebounds per contest) don’t exactly jump off the page.  However, as he enters year three in San Antonio and becomes more of a focal point, there is a solid chance he’ll crack this list soon.

Paul Pierce has had a terrific career.  He is an NBA champion and a stone lock for the Hall of Fame.  And even having played 14 years in the league, his numbers haven’t much digressed at all.  But you can’t really build a franchise around a 35-year-old with as many miles on him as “The Truth” has, regardless of how good he is.

Rudy Gay qualifies for this list in just about every way possible.  He has tremendous size at 6’8″ and 230 pounds.  He has the length and versatility to play multiple positions both offensively and defensively.  And, at just 26 years of age, he has a lot of good years left in this league.  But after seeing how much better the Memphis Grizzlies were without him and seeing how little of a bump the Toronto Raptors got after acquiring him, it really makes you question whether the gaudy averages he posts are just empty, inconsequential stats.

5. Paul George, Indiana Pacers

A superstar in the making, Paul George. Photo Credit: NBA.com

Size: 6’8″, 221 lbs.

Age: 23 

2012-13 Averages: 17.4 points, 7.6 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 1.8 steals, 0.6 per game 

It was a breakout year in 2012-13 for Paul George, who is now the most indispensable player on a very solid Indiana Pacer team.  There are maybe three or four players in the entire league capable of the perimeter defense George provides thanks to his incredible length and athleticism.  The job he did on LeBron James in the Eastern Conference Finals was not only commendable, but really proved to be a nice platform, as George finally received some of the national recognition he deserved all season long.  What has really made him a star, though, is his improved offensive game.

George is now a viable 3-point threat (better than 36 percent for the regular season) which complements his ability to beat bigger defenders off the dribble.  Basically, the sky is the limit for George, a first-time All-Star in 2012-13 without a real hole in his game as he enters his fourth NBA season.

4. Josh Smith, Atlanta Hawks (free agent)

(NBA.com photo)

Size: 6’9″, 225 lbs.

Age:  27

2012-13 Averages: 17.5 points, 8.4 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.8 steals, 1.2 blocks per game

Simply put, Josh Smith is the most polarizing player on this list.  His basketball IQ and shot selection have constantly come in to question and you can’t help but wonder why his jump shot hasn’t shown a heck of a lot of improvement since he entered the NBA.  Is it a due to a questionable work ethic?  What you cannot deny is Josh Smith’s unique skill set and defensive versatility.  He and LeBron James were the only two players in the NBA to average in excess of 17 points, eight rebounds and four assists per night.  It isn’t just numbers with Smith either, he passes the eye test as well.

Often when watching the Atlanta Hawks, he looks as though he is the best player on the floor.  But there are games in which he disappears for stretches as well.  Is this his fault, or should the play of his teammates and the game planning of his coaching staff come into question?  A player who can win a dunk contest, defend five positions, and take over a game offensively is a rare type of talent.  And at age 27, Smith has shown the ability to do all of these things at one time or another.  Can he put all of it together and make the leap into superstardom?  With a change of scenery and some re-motivation, there’s reason to believe he can.

3. Carmelo Anthony, New York Knicks

Photo Credit: Mark Runyon, Basketball Schedule

Size: 6’8″, 230 lbs.

Age: 29

2012-13 Averages: 28.7 points, 6.9 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 0.8 steals, 0.5 blocks per game

The NBA’s scoring champion, Carmelo Anthony is probably the most difficult player to defend in the NBA, regardless of position.  Carmelo’s explosive first step makes it virtually impossible for any power forward to contain him off the dribble.  His tenacity in the post can turn a smaller defender into mincemeat.  As if that weren’t enough, Anthony possesses one of the best mid-range games in the league and shot better than 37 percent from 3 on the year.

He is the total package on offense and is arguably the most explosive scorer in the sport.  So why isn’t he higher on this list (besides the fact that the two players ahead of him are both once-in-a-generation type talents)?  Defense.  Anthony is a better post defender than he is given credit for and he is more than capable of digging deep and playing perimeter defense when he is called upon to do so, but he just doesn’t put forth the effort often enough.  On most nights, he seems content to skate by on that end of the floor, conserving energy for when he has the ball in his hands.

Anthony made a leap as a player 2012-13, becoming a willing passer and leading the Knicks to the second round for the first time in more than a decade.  It stands to reason that if he can make a similar leap defensively, he may be able to move even higher up this list.

2. Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City Thunder

(NBA.com photo)

Size: 6’10”, 235 lbs.

Age:  24

2012-13 Averages: 28.1 points, 7.9 rebounds, 4.6 assists, 1.4 steals, 1.3 blocks per game

At 24 years old, Kevin Durant put forth one of the most efficient offensive seasons in NBA history when you take into consideration the sheer volume of shots he puts up.  Durant joined the 50-40-90 club (50 percent from the floor, 40 percent from 3, 90 percent from the line) in 2012-13 while averaging in excess of 28 points per game, a feat matched only by Larry Bird in 1987-88.

You’d be hard pressed to find a better jump shooter in the entire league.  And when you consider the fact that he is 6’10” with a high release point and endless range, he may be the only player in the league that can get off a high- percentage shot whenever he wants and from wherever he wants.  In terms of changing a franchise, KD is one of the handful of NBA players that makes any team a contender upon arrival.  Is he elite defensively?  Not yet.  But he is improving.

And at just 24 years of age and a desire to become the best player in the sport, we likely haven’t even come close to seeing the best of Kevin Durant yet.

1. LeBron James, Miami Heat

James is the total package. (NBA.com photo)

Size: 6’8″, 249 lbs

Age:  28

2012-13 Averages: 26.8 points, 8.0 rebounds, 7.3 assists, 1.7 steals, 0.9 blocks

The best player in the NBA and the greatest individual talent since Michael Jeffrey Jordan.  LeBron James will enter the 2013-14 season as a reigning two-time NBA champion, a reigning two-time MVP and a reigning two-time NBA Finals MVP. No player has ever had his skill set at 6’8″, 249 lbs.

He will win the MVP award every year until the media is tired of voting for him.  He is a first-team All-NBA defensive player with the ability to guard anyone on the floor, from point guards to centers.  He has cemented a legacy as an all-timer despite being just 28 years old.  And the crazy part is, he continues to improve each season.

Food for thought:

Michael Jordan at 28: Two-time MVP, one NBA title, one NBA Finals MVP.

LeBron James at 28: Four-time MVP, two NBA titles, two NBA Finals MVPs.

So yeah, LeBron James is the best small forward to start a franchise with.  He may just be the best player regardless of position or era in NBA history to start a franchise around.