If your favorite NBA team still desperately needs help at a certain position, you could be in some serious trouble. While there are players who stand out above the rest of their peers, there are few true standouts left on the open market.
Point guard is the strongest remaining position, and there are a few quality centers to be had as well. However, shooting guard and power forward are dwindling quickly, and small forward is just a disaster. If you don't already have a 3 on your team, just give up now.
The stars are all off the market, though two remaining players—one center and one point guard—have looked like stars for brief moments.
It's time to focus on the guys who don't always shine as bright.
Point Guard No. 1: Mo Williams
Last Team: Utah Jazz
Age: 30
2012-13 Per-Game Stats: 12.9 points, 2.4 rebounds, 6.2 assists, 1.0 steals, 0.2 blocks, 14.4 PER
Mo Williams is no longer a starting-caliber point guard in the current guard-heavy NBA landscape, but he's a capable backup who will remain a consistent offensive presence whenever he's on the court. Whether he's scoring or distributing, Williams can put up points.
In order to regain trust with his new team, the 30-year-old floor general will need to start cutting back on the turnovers. During his one full season with the Los Angeles Clippers, Williams posted an 11.7 turnover percentage. It was easily the lowest mark of his career.
However, once he returned to the Jazz, the number shot back up to 18.0, which was worse than any season save the 2004-05 campaign with the Milwaukee Bucks, his second year in the league. He just tried to create too much, and the results backfired.
Finding a balance is crucial for Williams' success.
Shooting Guard No. 1: Gerald Henderson
Last Team: Charlotte Bobcats
Age: 25
2012-13 Per-Game Stats: 15.5 points, 3.7 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 1.0 steals, 0.5 blocks, 16.4 PER
Believe it or not, a member of the Charlotte Bobcats actually ranks at the top of a position!
Well sure, the shooting guard market has dwindled rather significantly, but Gerald Henderson does still finish No. 1 in the depleted market.
The former Duke standout still isn't much of a long-range marksman, but he's a great slasher to the basket who thrives making plays around the rim. Thanks to his remarkable athleticism and ability to elevate off the ground quicker than most, Henderson is a great off-ball threat when he cuts to the hoop.
Additionally, he's developed into a quality defender during his NBA career, holding opposing shooting guards and small forwards to respective PERs of 15.7 and 15.1 in 2012-13.
Small Forward No. 1: Alan Anderson
Last Team: Toronto Raptors
Age: 30
2012-13 Per-Game Stats: 10.7 points, 2.3 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 0.7 steals, 0.1 blocks, 12.6 PER
Alan Anderson loves shooting the basketball.
As indicated by his 38.3 percent shooting from the field, perhaps he loves doing so a bit too often. If Anderson could corral his shooting instincts and focus more on his strength—driving to the rim—he'd be an even more effective offensive player.
However, his ability to maintain control of the ball and limit turnovers remarkably well enables him to remain a consistent offensive presence even when his shot isn't falling.
Anderson isn't the most glamorous player out there, but he can be a useful seventh or eighth man.
Power Forward No. 1: Kenyon Martin
Last Team: New York Knicks
Age: 35
2012-13 Per-Game Stats: 7.2 points, 5.4 rebounds, 0.4 assists, 0.9 steals, 0.9 blocks, 13.9 PER
After playing 18 games with the New York Knicks during the 2012-13 season, it's quite clear that Kenyon Martin isn't yet ready to pull the plug on his NBA career.
He might not be the offensive standout he was in his prime, but Martin is well aware of that and reacts accordingly. By displaying remarkable awareness of his skills and deficiencies, he was able to shoot 60.2 percent from the field during his Madison Square Garden tenure.
Of course, Martin's primary contributions still come on defense, though.
Although he struggled containing versatile power forwards who could drag him out to the perimeter, Martin thrived when banging away in the paint. He did a great job shifting over to center and slowing down bigger opponents, which was nice when Tyson Chandler was either injured or on the bench.
Center No. 1: Nikola Pekovic
Last Team: Minnesota Timberwolves
Age: 27
2012-13 Per-Game Stats: 16.3 points, 8.8 rebounds, 0.9 assists, 0.8 blocks, 0.7 steals, 20.26 PER
Nikola Pekovic isn't just the best center available; he's the best player on the market as well.
At the 5, it's not even close. Brandan Wright, Greg Oden and the rest of the available bigs pale in comparison to the Montenegrin center. Pek is a tremendous two-way player who is able to turn his physicality and bull-in-a-china-shop mentality into both defensive and offensive success.
Now that the 27-year-old has learned to stop fouling, it's time for him to develop more of a finesse game. He needs to add more moves to his offensive arsenal and become a much more adept passer.
But even if he takes steps backward during the 2013-14 campaign, Pekovic will still be better than everyone else currently available.
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