As we close in on March, and fantasy playoffs, it's a good time to evaluate the power rankings at each position in the NBA. We have now passed an active trade deadline that impacted a number of teams and players, as we have already seen in our Point Guard Power Rankings and Shooting Guard Power Rankings. There wasn't as much movement at Small Forward at the deadline, and the King is still on his throne, but there are some names you should know before playoffs begin.
Because of the number of players on this list that will be free agents this summer, the contract push could play a big role in their individual performances down the stretch. Always keep an eye on players with expiring deals when we get into March, because as Neil Diamond once said, "Money talks."
What makes ranking small forward intriguing is the multiple position availability, making this group incredibly diverse. At shooting guard, there were players that were eligible at either point guard or small forward as well, but the statistics put up by any of those three positions are going to be relatively similar. But the differences between a player like Joe Johnson, who's also SG eligible, and Gerald Wallace, also PF eligible, are pretty obvious.
Here are the Top 20 small forwards as we enter March.
1. LeBron James, Cleveland - 29.9 ppg, 7.1 rpg, 8.5 apg, 1.6 spg, .97 bpg
2. Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City - 29.8 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 2.9 apg, 1.4 spg, 0.9 bpg
3. Carmelo Anthony, Denver - 29.1 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 3.4 apg, 1.2 spg
4. Gerald Wallace, Charlotte - 19.0 ppg, 10.7 rpg, 2.1 apg, 1.6 spg, 1.2 bpg
5. Josh Smith, Atlanta - 15.6 ppg, 8.6 rpg, 4.0 apg, 1.6 spg, 2.1 bpg
6. Andre Iguodala, Philadelphia - 17.2 ppg, 6.9 rpg, 5.8 apg, 1.9 spg
7. Joe Johnson, Atlanta - 21.6 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 4.5 apg, 1.1 spg
8. Rudy Gay, Memphis - 20.0 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 1.9 apg, 1.4 spg, .8 bpg
9. Danny Granger, Indiana - 22.8 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 2.8 apg, 1.6 spg, .9 bpg
10. Luol Deng, Chicago - 18.3 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 2.1 apg, 1.0 spg, .9 bpg
11. Caron Butler, Dallas - 16.7 ppg, 6.6 rpg, 2.3 apg, 1.4 spg
12. Paul Pierce, Boston - 17.9 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 3.3 apg, 1.2 spg, .851 ft%
13. Stephen Jackson, Charlotte - 21.2 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 4.9 apg, 1.8 spg
14. Corey Maggette, Golden State - 20.3 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 2.5 apg
15. Jeff Green, Oklahoma City - 14.7 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 1.5 apg, 1.1 spg, .8 bpg
16. Vince Carter, Orlando - 16.4 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 2.9 apg, .846 ft%
17. Rashard Lewis, Orlando - 14.8 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 1.5 apg, 1.1 spg, .396 3-pt %
18. Andrei Kirilenko, Utah - 12.3 ppg, 4.6 apg, 2.8 apg, 1.4 spg, 1.3 bpg
19. Michael Beasley, Miami - 15.8 ppg, 6.7 rpg, 1.4 apg, 1.0 spg
20. Danilo Gallinari, New York - 13.9 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 1.6 apg, .9 spg, .387 3-pt %
Sleeper Specials:
John Salmons, Milwaukee - 13.0 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 2.5 apg, 1.3 spg, .384 3-pt %
Wilson Chandler, New York - 15.4 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 2.0 apg
Omri Casspi, Sacramento - 11.9 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 1.4 apg, .385 3-pt %
Time to Sell:
Jason Richardson, Phoenix - 15.1 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 1.8 apg
Trevor Ariza, Houston - 15.4 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 3.7 apg, 1.7 spg
Hedu Turkoglu, Toronto - 12.5 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 4.3 apg
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