That’s what these rankings are designed to do — spotlight the 100 best NBA players, regardless of salary or current team context, based on where they stand at this very moment, approaching the (still theoretical) 2011-12 season.

There is no objective criteria for these rankings. The list is represents my opinion after watching far too many basketball games, scouring every statistic available, recalling conversations I’ve had while reporting on the league and poring over hours and hours of clips on Synergy Sports. And even with all that information, separating some of these guys amounts to making an impossible subjective call.

The overarching goal here is to find two-way players. If you’ve been a regular reader of this blog, you know how much attention is paid to defense and efficiency with the ball. Those 18 points per game look nice in the box score, but if a player gets them by chucking up contested 20-foot jumpers and lazily watching opposing ball-handlers stroll into the lane, he’s going to have a hard time making this list (hi, Andray Blatche). A one-dimensional player seeking to make the top 65 or so better be darn good at that one dimension. Finding truly accomplished two-way players for the bottom 10 spots was basically impossible, making those places more a matter of taste than I’d like.

Ranking sophomores proved especially difficult, and only two made the list. I sought a balance between rewarding the potential for growth next season and punishing bad play already on the record, and that balance tilted against players with only one NBA season to their names. I’m with the group that believes DeMarcus Cousins has a very bright NBA future, but the glaring, near-historic (for a big man) inefficiencies of his rookie season keep him off this list for now, because immediate improvement is uncertain.

Jonny Flynn would be ranked #4,387

College Wolf wrote:
I would take ANY of the gophers' guards over Johnny Flynn. I am so happy he is gone. I was more proud of that trade that the McKinnie release.

Will the TWolves have anyone besides K-Lav on the list you think? Maybe Beasley since he wasn't listed as an Honorable Mention, but man... I don't know. Hard to see Beasley in the top 80 above guys that have already been mentioned.

There are 150 starters in the NBA... how pathetic would it be if we only have ONE guy on this list?

College Wolf wrote:
Beasley was the 2nd person listed in the "Just Missed the Cut" section. Wow, behind guys like Tony Allen and Collison? That hurts.

Michael Beasley, F, Minnesota Timberwolves: I watched more tape on Beasley than any other player. And after all of it, I’m not sure Beasley is a net plus, over 48 minutes, despite his ability to generate a shot at will — an important crunch-time skill. Too many bad shots and too little spirit on defense, though he is solid in isolation situations on that end.

Wow so he's watched more tape on Beasley than anyone else, but has him ranked below John Salmons, Nick Collison, Lou Williams, and Hedo, among many other random middling basketball players. The only logical conclusion is that he didn't watch any tape on all these other guys. Zack Lowe gets 100 negative Howls.