PG Rankings

Starting Point Guards Countdown (30-25)

30. Jameer Nelson

The Mavericks have improved across the board at every position, but the point guard situation remains a question mark, as they have to decide between Raymond Felton, Jameer Nelson, and Devin Harris. Felton should not be asked to do much in Dallas where he will only be asked to run and set everything up on offense. He will run the offense with poise and be streaky as a scorer, but his lackluster season in New York will likely have him in a backup role. Nelson brings the same qualities to the table as Felton. However, he is a better spot up shooter and commits less turnovers on pick and roll plays. He is suspect on defense, but Tyson Chandler can erase his mistakes. Finally, Harris offers a new element at point guard with speed. His improved shooting is also a bonus. Although Harris is a better scorer and defender, Nelson is currently the starter at point guard. None of this will matter as the ball handling duties will be split between Monta Ellis and Chandler Parsons.

29. Darren Collison

Darren Collison revived his career last season in Los Angeles for the Clippers as he averaged 11.4 points and 3.7 assists. At times during their postseason run, he was the third best player on the team after Chris Paul and Blake Griffin. Sacramento liked what they saw as they gave Collison a three year contract. Initially, I liked the move because I thought Isaiah Thomas would be the starter. With Thomas ditching Sacramento for Phoenix, Collison will be asked to compete against an elite point guard every night in the West and I do not think he will thrive. Collison does not do any one thing great, but he does a lot of good things. He will score, defend, and rebound for a young Kings team with low expectations.

 28. Jose Calderon

The Knicks traded for Jose Calderon as Phil Jackson and Derek Fisher look to implement the triangle offense in "The City That Never Sleeps." Calderon is a player and coach favorite as he is willing to pass the ball and commits little to no turnovers on a nightly basis. The triangle offense has always featured a point guard with shooting ability and a team-first mindset. Calderon certainly fits that mold and his 11.4 points and 4.7 assists should help the offense flow smoothly. At 6'3, you would like to see Calderon look to attack the basket more, but that has never been a part of his game that developed. He has been a consistent veteran on every team he has been on and I expect the same for the Knicks.

27. George Hill

With the devastating leg injury to Paul George, George Hill will be one of the many players asked to step up in the absence of the Pacers star player. Physically, he fits the description of the contemporary point guard at 6'4. However, Hill lacks explosiveness and a killer-instinct, as he seems to go AWOL in key moments. Some even argue that Hill is not a point guard because of his inability to run the Pacers offense. Hill does bring the ability to shoot and score in the paint. He is a willing defender as he can defend both guard positions and he rebounds well for his size. In Indiana, he just does not look like the confident player he once was in San Antonio. In my opinion, Hill is a better fit off the bench because then he is allowed to attack the basket and play against backups. 
  

26. Steve Nash 

Steve Nash would elevate the Lakers and put them in the playoffs if they had a time machine. At this point in what has been an illustrious career for Nash, he is just trying to finish out his contract. Nash still possesses an innate ability in terms of distributing the ball. Also, he can still shoot the ball and get into the lane at times. His defense is suspect, but it has always been that way. Injuries in the last two seasons have Lakers fans upset with the former MVP and many view him as selfish. In his final season, the Lakers are not expected to make the playoffs. If Nash remains healthy, he could end his career on the court with decent stats and be a good mentor to Jeremy Lin. Either way he is a future Hall of Famer. 

25. Trey Burke

Trey Burke struggled early on in his rookie season as he returned from an injury. Suddenly, he caught fire at the beginning of 2014 as he averaged 14.8 points and 6 assists in the month of January. Also, he shot the ball at 40 percent from the field and 36 percent from beyond the arc during January. His numbers slightly dipped as the season waned, but he was in a comfortable groove. Utah drafted Dante Exum, but this could be good for Burke as he will share point guard duties and play more off the ball. At Michigan, Burke did some of his damage playing off the ball and coming off of screens. Burke has a pure jumper, but struggles in the paint because of his smallish stature. He has a chance to be a solid point guard especially when you see Kyle Lowry and Ty Lawson play at a high level with the same frame. Look for Utah to run more with Exum and Burke running the point.