10 Feet High

Welcome back to the race for NBA Executive of the Year, Kevin Pritchard!

With all the Tracy McGrady and Amare Stoudemire talk, Portland’s GM just made an excellent move to acquire veteran do-everything center Marcus Camby from the reeling Clippers.

The best part?

Camby has an expiring deal so this won’t hamper any potential free-agent luring come summer time, and furthermore, the Blazers didn’t have to give up any marquee guys. Trading the pesky, albeit starkly average, Steve Blake immediately makes this a better team by allowing last summer’s free agent Andre Miller to assume full point guard responsibilities in lieu of splitting time.

Ridding themselves of chronic black hole Travis Outlaw was another key. Outlaw is a gifted scorer and athlete, but for a kid who came straight of high school, he never really learned how to play the game. Despite his occasional scoring outbursts, he was such a streaky player and enigmatic defender that he really didn’t fit in Nate McMillan’s system. In other words, he will mesh perfectly in dysfunctional Clipperland, playing with the offense-thwarting Al Thornton, Baron Davis and Ricky Davis.

We will get to Camby in a second, but by merely trading away Blake and Outlaw, Portland automatically improves, leaving more touches for All-Star Brandon Roy and the versatile LaMarcus Aldridge both in the paint and at the high post. This team is no longer the eighth seed out west.

Getting Camby was a downright theft. When the Blazers lost Joel Przybilla and Greg Oden to season-ending knee injuries, this team’s title hopes went down the drain. Both provided stellar rebounding and defense, and more importantly, they clogged the paint, a necessity to compete for a title.

The value of Camby is immense in that his presence is felt all over the floor. He can do what Przybilla and Oden can ... and a whole lot more as well.

Perennially one of the game’s best shot blockers (career average of more than 2.5), the two-time All-NBA Defensive Team selection may not be the hefty five-man like a Przybilla, but his superior length in the lane is responsible for several altered shots every game. When Shaq was “the real” Shaq, you’d always hear announcers comment on how guys wouldn’t drive when he was in the game. Camby is near that level.

(Even leaper extraordinaire Josh Smith isn't immune to Camby's interior presence)

His presence alone deters drivers and forces offenses into jump shots, ultimately allowing for long misses and for this athletic Portland team to get out in transition and take advantage of fast break numbers.

Because he runs the floor so well and is so dexterous for a 7-footer, he also becomes a viable scoring option on the break. He certainly doesn’t have the conventional set shot, but Camby is more than capable of knocking down 14-footers, an upgrade from both Przybilla and Oden, two traditional centers who prefer operating on the block and in the paint. And unlike Oden for example, who completely disrupts the flow of the offense with his awkward and delayed post touches, Camby doesn’t need the ball on offensive sets. He doesn’t need to score to be effective. By the end of the game, you will check the box score and see he had 8 points, 16 rebounds, 4 blocks and 3 assists.

The other value of Camby is in the pick-and-roll, which will surely to free up Miller and Roy, who will be able to attack the basket more frequently, as well as create open shots for Camby when the defense hedges too high.

Look, we all know the Western Conference runs through the Lakers. They are the champs and have looked every bit the part thus far. All-Star Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum have been stellar this year, proving to be the ultimate twin tower escapade in the league. Portland is talented enough on the perimeter with Miller and Roy, alongside the gifted LaMarcus Aldridge and now a true center in Marcus Camby, that they can challenge LA the way we thought they would when the season began.

The NBA playoffs are all about home court, and LA’s troubles at the Rose Garden (lost nine of ten) cannot be overlooked. I’m still not sold on Dallas, Denver or San Antonio. Caron Butler should help the Mavericks, but this team is too finesse with Dirk, who as great as he is, can’t be the best player on a championship team. George Karl teams never win the big one. And the Spurs are too old, fragile, and slow.

Don’t say you weren’t warned. Watch out, Western Conference. The Portland Trail Blazers just put themselves right back in the contending hunt.

All-Hickory Hoosiers (Underrated):

Ramon Sessions: I’m not going to say I told you so. Oh wait, I am. Sessions is one of those guys no one ever seems to talk about. Maybe it’s because he plays in Milwaukee or that he inexplicably played behind Luke Ridnour for much of the season, but Sessions is quickly becoming one of the best young point guards in the NBA. At 6-3, he has the size to defend other one's, surprising lateral quickness and a really good first step. The second-year man out of Nevada gets to the line (354 attempts this season at 79 percent) and shoots a decent percentage for a point guard at nearly 45 percent. During a ten-game stretch in April 2008, Sessions averaged an impressive 12 points, 11 assists and two steals. He was very efficient this season, averaging 12 points and six assists in 28 minutes a night. Just 23, Sessions will only get better and is one of the best values with a salary barely over the league minimum.

Delonte West: I loved West at St. Joe's and even more now that he’s a pro. West has a smooth left-handed stroke (40 percent from three) and is a terrific finisher on the break. He is a capable passer as well, averaging nearly four dimes for his career despite not even playing 30 minutes a night. But Delonte’s true value is an excellent defender who is frequently assigned the other team’s best guard. Other than LeBron, he is the best defender on one of the NBA’s best defensive teams but still fails to get that type of recognition.

LaMarcus Aldridge: I’m not sure what this kid has to do to make an All-Star team. All he’s done so far is become the best young power forward in basketball not named Al Jefferson, who may deserve to be on here as well. At 6-11, the former Longhorn has incredible range out to 18 feet with his jumper, and he can play with his back to the basket, block shots and actually likes contact. I once read an article saying that opposing coaches and scouts actually worry and prepare more for Aldridge than they do for Brandon Roy. I’m sorry but that’s just scary. In just his third NBA season, he averaged 18 points and 8 rebounds as the second best player on a much-improved Blazers team. And you gotta love a big man who can shoot free throws! This season, Aldridge hit 78 percent from the line.

Kelenna Azubuike: A former D-Leaguer, Mr. Azubuike has developed into one of the better wings off the bench. He can score (14 points) and is very active around the basket. Undrafted out of Kentucky, Azubuike reminds me of Ryan Gomes. He matches up well against most twos and threes, and has vastly improved a once mediocre shooting stroke. He is a very good athlete with solid upside who should be starting within the next couple of years.

Brandon Bass: How good has he become? Coming out of LSU, Bass was a raw athlete drafted in the second round. Now he is an integral component of the Mavs second unit. Bass can guard most threes and fours, and has vastly expanded his shooting range to 16 feet. Playing just 19 minutes a game, Bass averaged nine points and five rebounds, while getting to the line 210 times (87 percent). He too could be starting within a year or two.

Joel Przybilla: Przybilla has become one of the best offensive rebounders in the game and has been a crucial component to the Blazers newfound success. In just 24 minutes of play, Przybilla averaged almost nine rebounds but for whatever reason doesn’t get the love he deserves. He is an underrated shot blocker (nearly two a game for his career) and has become more comfortable with his back to the basket.

Jeff Green: This dude is going to be special. He is still raw but Green has already immensely improved his jumper and has the potential to be an excellent defensive stopper. He reminds a bit of Josh Howard in that he is just so versatile, but I think he has much more potential given his rare athletic ability. In just his second season, the former Hoyas star became a starter and his numbers jumped from 12 points and 5 rebounds to 17 and 7. Within a year or two, I think he can make the leap and become one of the game’s elite three men.

David Lee: Lee is the like the human version of the movie "Proof of Life." He is widely regarded as good, but still remains an afterthought. How does "Proof of Life" not get more pub? An enthralling performance from Russell Crowe, solid outing by David Morse, and best of all, nearly two hours of Meg Ryan! This film not getting respect remains an enigma to me. No matter how well Lee performs though, no one (other than quality fantasy owners) seems to take notice. In just his fourth season out of Florida, the former McDonald’s All-American dunk champion averaged 16 points and 12 rebounds. Okay, I know these numbers are slightly tainted due to "D’Antoniball," but still, 16 and 12? Lee is 6-9, runs the floor exceptionally well, can shoot out to 15 feet, and only makes $1.8 million. How can you not love this guy?

Shane Battier: If Battier showed up at a random open gym, he might be the sixth guy taken out of ten. I’m not even sure he can dunk. But don’t let his lack of leaping ability or flashiness fool you. It seems trite, but I’m not sure there’s a more cerebral player in the entire league. I could run down the list of statistics for this guy, but they would hardly wow you. With this former Dukie, it’s all about his ability to consistently knock down the three and be a lock-down defender. His basketball IQ is through the roof, and Houston is not nearly the same team without his services. Battier is like the anti-video game player, but I’ll take him on my squad any day of the week. He is the perfect example of the "No-Stats All-Star."

Brandon Roy: Yes, my man B-Roy is underrated. I know he is already a two-time All-Star, but every time I hear talk of the premier players in the league, Brandon never gets mentioned. Other than Kobe, Bron, Flash, and Chris Paul, and maybe Dwight Howard and Chris Bosh, Roy is one of the best players in the NBA. Maybe its because he’s from the West Coast (my hometown of Seattle to be exact), or maybe it's because he plays in Portland, and not LA or Miami, but even though he continues to improve, Brandon doesn’t get even close to the love of the other stars in the league. Take it for what it's worth, but through January, Roy wasn't even in the top 15 of NBA jersey sales. Bottom line is with the exception of the five or six players mentioned, is there anyone else you’d rather build around than the 24-year-old Roy?

Marcus Camby: Camby is one of the more unique big men in basketball. He seems to have been forgotten ever since he signed with the Clippers but remains one of the better centers around. All you fantasy owners out there know precisely what I’m talking about. What other five man can get you 10 points, 11 rebounds, more than 2 blocks and shoot over 50 percent from the floor? Yet since coming into the league from UMass, Camby has never made the All-Star team, even though he was the NBA Defensive Player of the year two seasons ago.

Kirk Hinrich: I’ve always loved Hinrich’s game. He can handle the ball, score and really pass. But the best part about his game is probably his defense. He’s already been a second team All-NBA defender, but has found himself pigeon-holed behind the very talented trio of guards in John Salmons, Ben Gordon and Derrick Rose. As a result of this and some injuries, his minutes have gone down (34 career to 26 this year), but he has been great in the playoffs hounding Rajon Rondo, as well as making clutch shots. Hinrich clearly isn’t your typical reserve guard. This guy could easily start on many teams (Houston, Charlotte, and Orlando to name a few) and certainly deserves mention as one of the best defenders in the NBA.

Ryan Gomes: Count Gomes as a member of Elmer’s crew. Similar to Battier, Gomes is not underrated in the sense that he puts up huge numbers, but rather in that he is a superb glue guy. On a quality team, Gomes could be the type of player to put them over the top. And like Bass, Gomes can defend multiple positions. He can also put it on the floor and score the ball.

Luc Richard Mbah a Moute: The former UCLA Bruin proved to be an outstanding defensive weapon this season for the Bucks. Using his long arms, strength, intelligence, and quickness, "The Prince" effectively defended twos, threes and even fours, and developed into a reliable help defender. Not bad for an undrafted rook.

(Honorable Mention: Carl Landry, Aaron Brooks, Chuck Hayes – notice a theme here? - Marquis Daniels, Earl Watson, Lamar Odom).

All-Keanu Reeves (Overrated):

Caron Butler: He used to be underrated but now everybody talks about this guy like he’s a bonafide All-Star. Butler is a nice player and effective third option, but should not be featured on any playoff team. I’ve always liked Butler's game, but he is become overly hyped to the point where he is far overvalued.

Allen Iverson: "We talking bout practice?" These days, Iverson is merely going off his name basis. "The Answer" has been more like "The Question." First of all, Iverson has never won anything, in college or in the NBA. He’s never been a high percentage shooter but has made up for it with his scoring ability and high-octane style of play. This past season in Detroit, Iverson proved to be a complete cancer and at 17 points, his scoring was by far the lowest of his career. But it’s the volume of shots it took for him to get those points that’s most troubling. Iverson was abysmal from the field, shooting just 27 percent from three and 41 percent overall. All of this and he still made the All-Star team! One last thing about AI. There is a common misconception that has bothered me for some time now. Fans think that because he consistently is at the top of the league in steals, that he is one of the best defensive players. MEMO TO ALL THESE PEOPLE: THIS IS NOT THE CASE. Iverson frequently gambles on passes he has no business doing so on, leaving his team in vulnerable 4-on-5 half-court situations. Of course he gets to some, but this does not make him a defensive stopper in the slightest bit.

Rasheed Wallace: Why does everyone still love this guy? Despite his size, Wallace has never been a very good rebounder, but his ability to stretch the defense with his shooting range has made him valuable. However, the former Tar Heel has not averaged 17 a game since the 2003-04 season, and is coming off his worst shooting percentage of his 14-year career. For a guy generally regarded as an All-Star caliber player, look at his scoring and rebounding average over the past five seasons: 12/7, 13/7, 12/7, 15/7, 15/8. Hardly overwhelming, right? Wallace is no longer one of the game’s best four men and hasn’t been for quite some time.

Michael Redd: My general rule for a guy who gets a max contract is that he has to put his team over the top. He has to take them from the cellar to the playoffs, or from first-round exit to title contender. Redd has done neither. He doesn’t make anyone better (less than three assists). He is a one- dimensional player who reminds me of a poor man’s, left-handed version of Ray Allen. He is supposed to be a knockdown three-point shooter, but Redd is coming off another sub-40 percent year from beyond the arc. Furthermore, he is atrocious defensively, often guarding the opposition’s worst guard, and has become overly injury prone (an average of 53 games played the past three years) as he’s aged. Redd is nowhere close to the All-Star two guard he once was.

Carmelo Anthony: Okay, here’s the thing. "Melo" is often compared to LeBron or D-Wade, because they were drafted the same year, but in reality, Anthony is nowhere near his counterparts --- and never will be. I think what we need to realize is that he may not have the ability to lead a team to a title. The addition of Chauncey Billups has transformed the Nuggets into one of the best teams in the West and taken the load off of Carmelo. We need to just accept him for what he is. Melo is a star but not a superstar; he is more of a “1B” option.

Tracy McGrady: I was hesitant to even include him on this list because he has fallen so far off the radar. McGrady has become a real life version of the movie "Waterworld," a ton of money spent with not much to show for it. The fact remains that McGrady is still viewed as an All-Star when in truth, he hasn’t performed like one in a couple years. Not since 2006-07 did T-Mac average over 24 points, 5 assists, shoot 41 percent and 75 percent from the line. For all his praise, McGrady has never been to the second round of the playoffs. Given Houston’s success this year without him, one could easily say the Rockets are indeed better off without No. 1.

Jason Kidd: This one’s tough for me because I’ve always respected Kidd’s overall floor game and ability to control an entire game without scoring. Kidd is unquestionably a first ballot Hall of Famer, but is now a shell of his old self. He struggles mightily against quicker guards. Just look at how Tony Parker lit him up in the first round. It’s hard not to notice the drop-off. He has not averaged more than 11 points in three seasons, and his inability to break guys off the dribble has become a glaring problem, yet Kidd is still mentioned among the top five points in the game.

Bruce Bowen: Bowen is nowhere near the defensive stopper he was three or four years ago for the Spurs. The 37-year-old can no longer keep up with rangy shooting guards like a Rip Hamilton, let alone bother Kobe or Ray Allen like he used to. On top of that, Bowen has seen his minutes decline to 19 and his scoring average dip below three points. He seems to tire easily and at this point his career has become a completely one-dimensional stop-up three-point shooter (only in the two corners), and above average defender at best.

(Honorable Mention: Ben Gordon, Tyson Chandler, Kevin Martin)