The Baltimore Ravens and San Francisco 49ers have done a great job building their rosters through the draft, and much has been made recently of the 49ers' 2007 draft class that netted starters Patrick Willis, Joe Staley and Dashon Goldson in the first four rounds.

However, both the Ravens and Niners are among the teams that diligently mine the later rounds and rookie free-agent pool for contributors.

According to draftmetrics.com, 32.1 percent of games started in the NFL were by players drafted in Rounds 5-7 or signed as rookie free agents, and both of this year's Super Bowl teams have at least five key contributors who come from that group. And the lists below do not include players on injured reserve who made significant contributions this season, like Ravens ILB Jameel McClain.



Ravens
ILB Dannell Ellerbe (free agent, 2009)
DE Pernell McPhee (5th round, 2011)
DE Arthur Jones (5th round, 2010)
NT Ma'ake Kemoeatu (free agent, 2002)
PK Justin Tucker-(free agent, 2012)

49ers
CB Tarell Brown (5th round, 2007)
OT Alex Boone (free agent, 2009)
DT Ricky Jean Francois (7th round, 2009)
P Andy Lee (6th round, 2004)
TE Delanie Walker (6th round 2006)

This shows how critical the days and weeks spent on the road and in film study are and how critical the hours spent recruiting free agents immediately after the draft are.

Scouts and position coaches play a huge role in that process and often have $3,000 or less per player to work with in terms of signing bonuses.

Super Bowl XLVII helps illustrate the value of all that work, and plenty of 2013 prospects fit in the same category as the players listed above.

Here are five players from this year's class who have late-round or free-agent grades but could become NFL contributors in the right situation.

Tennessee LB Herman Lathers: He's undersized and a knee injury cost him the 2011 season, but he overcame bone cancer as a child and battled back from that knee injury in 2012, so his intangibles are not a question.

Lathers is smart on and off the field and is the kind of hard worker teams like to have in their locker room. He has enough speed and tackling skills to cover kicks and can be a versatile backup linebacker early in his career.

His best fit is likely in a Tampa 2-type scheme, and you have to look no further than his performance against South Carolina this season to see what he can do. Lathers had 15 tackles, two tackles for loss, a sack and an interception against the Gamecocks.

Notre Dame RB/WR Theo Riddick: He lacks a true position fit and might not have ideal top-end speed, but Riddick is a gamer. He's a versatile playmaker with the ball in his hands and has the football intelligence and skill set to play multiple roles in the NFL.

Riddick could become a bigger version of New England Patriots utility man Danny Woodhead. He can offer quickness as an inside runner, the flexibility to motion out wide or to the slot where he can run solid routes and catch the ball reliably, and Riddick is also capable of helping in the return game.

He would be a great value pick if he's still available in the fifth round.

Vanderbilt RB Zac Stacy: Comes with some durability concerns and isn't expected to run well based on film study, but Stacy has deceptive lateral agility and shows the ability to stick his foot in the ground and accelerate upfield.

He's a no-nonsense runner who hits the hole hard, runs with good balance and stays behind his pads. Stacy was productive, especially considering the lack of running lanes his offensive line was able to open versus SEC competition.

He could be a nice pickup for a team looking to add to its running back rotation.

Colorado TE Nick Kasa: It's tough to look good on a 1-11 team, especially when you're a converted defensive end with only 26 career receptions. However, Kasa has good size and is just scratching the surface of his potential.

He showed signs of promise at the Senior Bowl, and while he's not a great athlete who will stretch the seam Kasa offers a big target and is a strong runner after the catch.

Kasa could help out as a blocker early in his career while developing his pass-catching skills and could eventually develop into a solid contributor somewhere between current NFL tight ends Kevin Boss and Leonard Pope.

South Carolina State S Jakar Hamilton: He began his career at Georgia, where he battled fellow 2013 prospects Shawn Williams and Bacarri Rambo for a starting spot.

Hamilton didn't win out and transferred to SCSU, where he has dominated small-school competition. He carries some baggage that will drop him to the later rounds, but he's a good athlete with versatility and experience. He has the ability to contribute as a corner/safety hybrid, and there's a huge market for that kind of player in today's wide-open NFL.

Other potential diamonds in the rough
Princeton DE Mike Catapano
Nevada CB Khalid Wooten
Chadron State G Garrett Gilkey
Notre Dame DE Kapron Lewis-Moore
Mississippi State WR Chad Bumphis
SMU ILB Taylor Reed
Ohio State LB Nate Williams
Vanderbilt G Ryan Seymour
Alabama State WR Greg Jenkins
Wake Forest FB Tommy Bohanon
Stony Brook (NY) RB Miguel Maysonet
Nevada TE Zach Sudfeld
Tennessee WR Zach Rogers
New Hampshire DT Jared Smith
Miami RB Mike James

http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/8901138/nba-jimmy-butler-earl-clark-most-radar-players

please

There's always an urge in the NBA to judge young players as though they were finished products, neglecting to take into account that there are factors that delay the realization of potential.

For some, it's because there's some development that needs to take place; for others, the team roster or style of play may not be a good fit. Steve Nash played barely 10 minutes a game his rookie year, as Kevin Johnson and Jason Kidd dominated playing time in the backcourt, and even the most optimistic Suns fan would not have envisioned the rarely used rookie from Santa Clara would one day be a two-time MVP.

It not only took a good deal of personal development on Nash's part, but also moving to an organization that believed in his talents and made available the playing time for him to prove himself.

Along those lines, here are five players who didn't play much earlier in their careers who are now getting a chance to showcase their talents and making the most of it.

Jimmy Butler | Small forward | Chicago Bulls
Career MPG coming into 2012-13: 8.5
2012-13 MPG: 20.7 | January MPG: 25.9

Coming out of Marquette, Butler was a high IQ, versatile wing with a defensive tenacity that made him a natural fit for Tom Thibodeau's Bulls. Still, he was stuck behind a crowded wing rotation of Ronnie Brewer, Luol Deng, Rip Hamilton and Kyle Korver. With the departures of Brewer and Korver, and injuries to Deng and Hamilton, Butler has had the opportunity to get minutes as a defensive stopper and energy guy, and as such has earned a spot in the rotation.

He's excellent at chasing opponents off screens ("locking and trailing") and closing out on shooters, and exhibits great awareness in off-the-ball defensive help situations. Offensively, while his efficiency from the perimeter still needs improvement, he is extremely efficient around the basket (field goal percentage at rim: 0.730) and does a great job crashing offensive boards (offensive rebound percentage: 8.0) and converting those opportunities (1.6 points per possession, one of the best marks in the league). Additionally, Butler does a good job of moving without the ball, making himself with weak to strongside cuts to the front of rims. Butler's next step is becoming a consistent perimeter shooter, particularly from the corner 3-point area.

Earl Clark | Small forward | Los Angeles Lakers
Career MPG coming into 2012-13: 10.1
2012-13 MPG: 17.3 | January MPG: 27.8

I was a part of the Suns' front office that drafted Clark, and worked very closely with him during his time in Phoenix, including late-night shooting sessions after every home game and during D-League assignments. The vision for Clark was he would be first and foremost a long, versatile defender, with the length and quickness necessary to guard the Kevin Durants and Dirk Nowitzkis of the world, and eventually his offense would catch up.

Unfortunately for Clark, a regime change between his rookie and sophomore year derailed any chance of him realizing his potential in Phoenix, but after some showing signs of development in Orlando, he's finally getting a chance in Los Angeles. He has brought versatility and athleticism to the Lakers' power forward position, with his ability to space the floor with his shooting (effective field goal percentage: 0.536) while still bringing energy to the floor and rebounding at a high level (offensive rebounding percentage 9.1; defensive rebounding percentage: 22.9).

Clark also has been able to exhibit his passing skills by putting the ball on the floor, penetrating and kicking to open teammates. But his true value has come on the defensive end, where his length and agility have allowed him to be the main defender on everyone from Durant to Eric Gordon. As his confidence grows with continued playing time, expect Clark to keep improving both defensively and in decision-making as he becomes more familiar with opponent tendencies in live game action.

Larry Sanders | Center | Milwaukee Bucks
Career MPG coming into 2012-13: 13.5
2012-13 MPG: 25.4 | January MPG: 26.0


The knock on Sanders coming out of VCU was that he was a bit of a "knucklehead," with an overinflated sense of self-worth and a suspect work ethic. Fortunately for Sanders, the Bucks were patient with his maturation process, and he is paying major dividends for them this season. Despite playing the equivalent of two quarters a game, Sanders leads the league in blocks per game (3.1) and is also the league leader in block percentage (8.9). His combination of "aircraft carrier" length, leaping ability and reaction time allow him to also be a force on the offensive and defensive glass (ORB: 11.3; DRB: 25.1).

Offensively, he flourishes in the pick-and-roll; again, his length and athleticism make him an easy target on hard rolls and lob plays. Sanders also is developing into being able to shallow roll for the short jumper, but still has major room for improvement, particularly in terms of shot selection.

He doesn't always exhibit the best feel on the court, but is able to make a large impact on the game with energy play and athleticism. If Sanders continues to play with a high motor and work on his game, he should be able to consistently hit the 15-foot jump shot as a counter to his rolls to the rim.

Nikola Vucevic | Center | Orlando Magic
Career MPG coming into 2012-13: 15.9
2012-13 MPG: 32.5 | January MPG: 36.6


One of the less heralded pieces of the Dwight Howard trade, Vucevic has quietly emerged as one of the most productive young centers in the league after not playing much in his rookie year in Philadelphia. He's an elite rebounder on both ends, checking at No. 6 in DRB (27.1) and No. 20 in ORB (12.2). He's one of only 10 players in the league averaging a double-double.

Offensively, he does a great job of setting solid screens and rolling hard to the basket, which not only creates scoring opportunities for himself, but also draws defensive attention, creating space for his teammates. He also can shallow roll to about 15 feet and knock down the midrange jumper. Despite rudimentary footwork in the post, he does a good job of getting deep seals, and can finish with either hand, over either shoulder. Defensively, he moves his feet well on the perimeter, and excels in pick-and-roll coverage and positional help defense. Vucevic needs to do a better job of using his size to fight opponents off the post, but is a plus defensive player overall, particularly with his ability to protect the defensive glass at an elite level.

DeAndre Liggins | Shooting guard | Oklahoma City Thunder
Career MPG coming into 2012-13: 6.8
2012-13 MPG: 7.9 | January MPG: 10.8

While Liggins hasn't played as much as the other players on this list, he recently has had the opportunity to showcase his abilities, including a five-game stretch in mid-January where he averaged 19.6 minutes per game and shot 0.500 from the field, including 5-of-7 from 3-point range. He's a tough-as-nails perimeter defensive athlete who is able to space the floor with his catch-and-shoot ability. He's not as good as his 62.5 3-point percentage would suggest, but he did shoot 39.1 from college distance in his last year at Kentucky. If Liggins can develop into a legitimate two-way role player, he'll be the perfect complement to the talent Oklahoma City already has assembled.

http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/draft2013/story/_/id/8894753/2013-nba-draft-ben-mclemore-rising-list-top-30-nba-prospects

Thanks

Two weeks have passed since we released our first Big Board of the season.

The top of the draft remains, as a whole, a bit underwhelming. While a number of prospects project to be impact players at the next level, no one here looks like a potential franchise player at the moment. What this draft does have, however, is depth. You might not want to have a top-three pick, but the Nos. 8 to 20 range in this draft has promise.

There is still plenty of time for these prospects to make major leaps up (or down) the board, but what's more interesting to keep an eye on is the direction certain prospects are trending.

So, how are we ranking the top 30 prospects of the 2013 draft right now? Here is our second Big Board of the season.


1Nerlens NoelSCHOOL: KentuckyCLASS: Fr.HT/WT: 6-11, 215POS: C
10.2 ppg9.3 rpg4.7 bpg
Noel is still a placeholder here for the top pick. Noel isn't close to wrapping up the top spot and will probably land only here if a team with a need for shot-blocking in the middle, like the Cavaliers, for example, lands the No. 1 pick. Noel is still trying to shrug off the perception that his freshman season is a disappointment. I think he's been exactly who he was advertised to be -- a super-athletic defender with a very raw offensive game. He has played four times since the last Big Board update and totaled more blocks (32) and rebounds (37) than points (30). While his offense is still a work in progress, he continues to get better and better on the defensive end of the floor.

PREVIOUS RANKING: 1 | PLAYER CARD

2Ben McLemoreSCHOOL: KansasCLASS: Fr.HT/WT: 6-5, 195POS: SG
16.1 ppg5.4 rpg45 3p%
McLemore continues his meteoric rise up our Big Board and, if he can keep it up all season, might be the one guy who could end up being a consensus No. 1 pick by June. His numbers the past few games haven't been particularly dynamic, but he's doing the little things it takes to move Kansas all the way up to No. 2 in the rankings. A number of general managers now have him atop their draft boards, and I think that number could continue to grow as the season progresses. Adding "winner" to his final NBA résumé could be what pushes him over the top, especially when you consider that Noel, Shabazz Muhammad and Alex Len all play for teams that have been up and down this season.

PREVIOUS RANKING: 3 | PLAYER CARD

3Shabazz MuhammadSCHOOL: UCLACLASS: Fr.HT/WT: 6-6, 225POS: SF
18.2 ppg4.8 rpg44 3p%
Muhammad continues to rebound from a shaky start. In the four games since our last update, he averaged 18 points per game and shot better than 50 percent from the field. But there's a growing feeling among scouts that Muhammad might have leveled off a bit. His motor and killer instincts are apparent, and most scouts believe he could be a 20-points-per-game scorer at the next level. But does Muhammad have the ability to go from very good to superstar? Most scouts are still waiting to be convinced.

PREVIOUS RANKING: 2 | PLAYER CARD


4Alex LenSCHOOL: MarylandCLASS: So.HT/WT: 7-1, 225POS: C
13.2 ppg8.3 rpg1.9 bpg
Len has the talent to be the No. 1 pick in the draft. His biggest challenge right now is a collection of guards who aren't helpful in getting him the ball. In the past four games since our last update, Len had just eight field goal attempts against North Carolina State, just seven against North Carolina and six against Duke. It's hard to put up big numbers if you don't get the ball. Len's ridiculous reverse baseline dunk against Mason Plumlee and Duke showed off the incredible potential he has. The question is whether NBA scouts will get to see it enough to justify taking him No. 1.

PREVIOUS RANKING: 4 | PLAYER CARD

5Anthony BennettSCHOOL: UNLVCLASS: Fr.HT/WT: 6-8, 240POS: PF
18.1 ppg8.6 rpg38 3p%
Bennett had an unusually quiet couple of weeks. He had nine points against both San Diego State and Colorado State before dropping 17 against Wyoming and 13 against Nevada. Those two nine-point outings were the only two games this season in which Bennett failed to score in double-digits. Teams have adjusted their scouting reports on Bennett and are constantly double-teaming him and getting physical with him in the paint. To justify his staying this high on the draft board, Bennett is going to have to show scouts he can respond to being the focal point of a Mountain West team's defense.

PREVIOUS RANKING: 5 | PLAYER CARD

6Otto PorterSCHOOL: G'townCLASS: So.HT/WT: 6-8, 200POS: SF
14.7 ppg1.8 spg1.2 bpg
Porter continues to grow as both a player and as the go-to guy for Georgetown. With second-leading scorer Greg Whittington out for academic reasons, Porter has taken on an increased offensive load. Over the past five games without Whittington, Porter is averaging 19 points and 9.8 rebounds per game while shooting 52 percent from 3-point range and 59 percent from the field. More importantly, Georgetown has a couple of big wins over ranked opponents in Notre Dame and Louisville. The two biggest concerns scouts had about Porter coming into the season were his jump shot and his ability to be a go-to player. He's done a great job of answering both question marks the past two weeks.

PREVIOUS RANKING: 6 | PLAYER CARD

7Cody ZellerSCHOOL: IndianaCLASS: So.HT/WT: 6-11, 210POS: C
16.0 ppg8.1 rpg60 fg%
Zeller is coming off the worst two games of the season -- a 2-point stinker against Penn State in which he didn't score a field goal, and a 2-for-7 outing against Michigan State. No one is going to judge Zeller based on two games, but his struggles against the big, physical front of the Spartans continues to fuel doubts among NBA scouts about how his game will translate.

PREVIOUS RANKING: 6 | PLAYER CARD

8Michael Carter-WilliamsSCHOOL: SyracuseCLASS: So.HT/WT: 6-5, 175POS: PG
12.6 ppg8.9 apg37 fg%
Carter-Williams remains holding on, perilously, to the top spot in our point guard rankings despite recent uneven play. He shot just 4-for-13 against Louisville and had eight turnovers in the game but also came up with a couple of huge steals at the end of the game and one terrific dunk that put Syracuse in the win column. He shot the ball better against Cincinnati before going just 4-for-17 from the field against Villanova. With his assist totals dropping, his turnovers rising and his jump shot struggling to fall in conference play, the Carter-Williams bandwagon is slowing down, but he remains a very intriguing draft prospect.

PREVIOUS RANKING: 8 | PLAYER CARD

9Marcus SmartSCHOOL: OK St.CLASS: Fr.HT/WT: 6-4, 225POS: PG
13.2 ppg4.5 apg40 fg%
Smart gets this high on the Big Board based more on what he could be someday than what he is right now. His three-point, five-assist performance against Texas Tech didn't scream top-10 pick last Saturday. But his 12-point, 10-rebound, seven-assist game against Baylor showed off the best of Smart as a tough, steady playmaker who puts winning ahead of great stats. Whichever team drafts him will have to be patient, but Smart has the potential, both physically and mentally, to one day be the best player on this board.

PREVIOUS RANKING: 9 | PLAYER CARD

10Alex PoythressSCHOOL: KentuckyCLASS: Fr.HT/WT: 6-7, 215POS: SF
13.2 ppg6.7 rpg63 fg%
Poythress continues to ooze potential but also still plays like a tease. His 20-point, 12-rebound performance against LSU was one of his best of the season. He got to the line 10 times and used his athleticism and strength to dominate. But his 6-point game against Alabama (during which he struggled with foul trouble most of the game and attempted a total of three shots) and 12-point, 7-rebound game against Auburn suggest he's still a long ways away from being the consistent scoring threat the Wildcats desperately need.

PREVIOUS RANKING: 10 | PLAYER CARD

11Archie GoodwinSCHOOL: KentuckyCLASS: Fr.HT/WT: 6-5, 195POS: SG
15.1 ppg5.1 rpg3.3 apg
Goodwin can be an amazing finisher at the basket, but when he gets to the line, he falls apart. Over the past six games, Goodwin is just 32-for-50, or 64 percent. Combine that with a horrific 1-for-17 from 3-point range in his past seven games, and he's not doing a very good job of persuading NBA scouts that he can shoot the ball.

PREVIOUS RANKING: 11 | PLAYER CARD

12Mason PlumleeSCHOOL: DukeCLASS: Sr.HT/WT: 6-10, 230POS: PF
17.4 ppg11.2 rpg1.6 bpg
Plumlee has come down to earth as the Blue Devils have hit conference play. A 3-for-9 performance against Clemson, a 7-for-20 night against Georgia Tech and a 5-for-15 game against Miami have dinged his shooting percentages. But his last game, a terrific 19-point (on 9-for-12 shooting) effort against Maryland and Len, Plumlee again proved his terrific athletic ability for his size will find him a spot in an NBA rotation someday. However, scouts have tempered their expectations that Plumlee will be much more than an athletic big man who runs the floor, rebounds and adds size in the paint. In this draft, that's enough to get you drafted in the lottery.

PREVIOUS RANKING: 12 | PLAYER CARD

13Isaiah AustinSCHOOL: BaylorCLASS: Fr.HT/WT: 7-0, 215POS: PF
14.5 ppg8.8 rpg38 3p%
Austin continues to inspire debate among scouts concerning how his game will translate at the NBA level. Is he a 5? A 4? A 3? More importantly, who does he defend at the next level? A few scouts still have him as a top-10 pick, but many more have him somewhere in the next tier between Nos. 11 and 15.

PREVIOUS RANKING: 13 | PLAYER CARD

14C.J. McCollumSCHOOL: LehighCLASS: Sr.HT/WT: 6-3, 190POS: SG
23.9 ppg2.9 apg52 3p%
There's nothing new to report here, so I'll just repeat what I wrote two weeks ago: "McCollum may have been the best scorer in college basketball before a foot injury knocked him out last week. There's a good chance that he has played his last college game. How will it affect his stock? Most of the scouts I spoke with aren't worried. They've seen him play enough, and as long as he's going to be willing and able to do NBA team workouts, his draft stock shouldn't take a major hit."

PREVIOUS RANKING: 14 | PLAYER CARD

15Rudy GobertCOUNTRY: FranceAGE: 20HT/WT: 7-1, 220POS: PF
8.3 ppg4.6 rpg1.9 bpg
Gobert is starting to play a bigger role on his team of late. He had 16 points and 6 boards in 20 minutes against Le Havre on Jan. 21, and followed with 9 points and 9 rebounds against Limoges on the 26th.

PREVIOUS RANKING: 15 | PLAYER CARD

16Trey BurkeSCHOOL: MichiganClass: So.HT/WT: 6-1, 175POS: PG
17.9 ppg3.74 A/TO
Burke continues to wow us with his steadiness, as 29.4 percent of all of his possessions end in an assist, compared to just 8 percent of his possessions ending in a turnover. NBA teams love point guards who are proven winners and leaders, and Burke has proven to be the heart and soul of the No. 1 team in the country this season. He doesn't have the raw abilities of Smart or the flash of Carter-Williams, but he's also more ready to step in and take over a team from day one.

PREVIOUS RANKING: 17 | PLAYER CARD

17Victor OladipoSCHOOL: IndianaClass: Jr.HT/WT: 6-5, 214POS: SG
13.9 ppg2.5 spg55 3p%
Oladipo's rise this season has been extraordinary. Last season, NBA scouts saw him as a fringe second-round prospect. This season, a number are now convinced he'll be in the lottery. Given his trajectory and that of his teammate Zeller, it's not inconceivable that Oladipo goes ahead of Zeller on draft night. His PER now ranks him 12th among all players in the NCAA (Zeller is ninth). Sunday's game against Michigan State (21 points, 7 rebounds, 6 steals, 3 blocks on 8-for-12 shooting) was arguably the best of his career. If he can keep the momentum going, he's got a great shot at the lottery. NBA teams love guards with elite athleticism, high motors, versatile defensive skills and respectable outside jumpers.

PREVIOUS RANKING: 26 | PLAYER CARD

18Glenn Robinson IIISCHOOL: MichiganClass: Fr.HT/WT: 6-6, 210POS: SF
12.1 ppg6.0 rpg40 3p%
Robinson is still scratching the surface as a basketball player. But his elite athletic ability (YouTube his 360 dunk versus Minnesota last week), rebounding ability and improved shooting touch all have scouts drooling. If teams are looking for a player who could be a home run down the road, Robinson could easily end up in the lottery. He's not ready yet, but all the pieces are there.

PREVIOUS RANKING: 25 | PLAYER CARD

19Jamaal FranklinSCHOOL: San Diego St.Class: Jr.HT/WT: 6-5, 195POS: SG
17.4 ppg9.4 rpg3.4 apg
Franklin is an elite athlete, a terrific rebounder and a defensive troublemaker ... but his jump shot continues to betray him. He went for 3-for-14 against Wyoming in a loss, 5-for-14 against Nevada and 4-for-15 against New Mexico the past three games. Factor in his 5-for-22 shooting from 3-point range, and you can understand why NBA scouts gag a little bit when he's referred to as a shooting guard.

PREVIOUS RANKING: 18 | PLAYER CARD

20Dario SaricCOUNTRY: CroatiaAGE: 18HT/WT: 6-10, 223POS: SF
7.9 ppg4.6 rpg1.9 apg
Saric continues to be living mostly on reputation at the moment. In his past two games, he has scored a combined 14 points while shooting 33 percent from the field and going 0-for-5 from beyond the arc. Scouts have given him a lot of space as he adjusts to a new team and a new role, but they are starting to run out of patience.

PREVIOUS RANKING: 16 | PLAYER CARD

21Tony MitchellSCHOOL: North TexasClass: So.HT/WT: 6-8, 220POS: SF
14.1 ppg8.4 rpg2.8 bpg
Mitchell had one of his best games of the season last Saturday against Florida Atlantic (24 points, 8 rebounds) before dropping in two more uninspired showings -- a 10-point, 7-turnover performance in a loss against Middle Tennessee followed by a 3-for-9 shooting night against Arkansas-Little Rock. Scouts aren't sure what to do with him at this point. Everyone believes he has NBA talent, but there are legitimate questions about how much he really wants to do anything with it.

PREVIOUS RANKING: 19 | PLAYER CARD

22James Michael McAdooSCHOOL: UNCClass: So.HT/WT: 6-9, 223POS: PF
14.6 ppg8.4 rpg1.4 spg
McAdoo continues to get by primarily on his athletic ability. His 19-point, 11-rebound game against Maryland was marred, once again, by his maddening tendency to turn the ball over. His PER of 17.64 for the season is very low for a big man this high on our Big Board.

PREVIOUS RANKING: 20 | PLAYER CARD

23Willie Cauley-SteinSCHOOL: KentuckyClass: Fr.HT/WT: 7-0, 220POS: C
7.6 ppg5.8 rpg1.9 bpg
Cauley-Stein hasn't played in four games thanks to a knee injury but is getting close to returning. How did he move up the board without playing a game? He's actually still a little on the low side right now. A number of NBA guys insist that when teams get to workouts, Cauley-Stein could be a lottery pick if he declares. Others say if he waits a year, he'll be a top-five lock.

PREVIOUS RANKING: 24 | PLAYER CARD

24B.J. YoungSCHOOL: ArkansasClass: So.HT/WT: 6-3, 170POS: PG
16.4 ppg4.1 apg21 3p%
There was a time when Young looked like the favorite to be the first point guard taken. He's been solid as a sophomore, but his shooting woes (0-for-9 from 3 and 13-for-39 from the field) in his past three games, combined with low assist totals, have NBA scouts wary that he's a high-volume, low-efficiency scorer -- and not a point guard.

PREVIOUS RANKING: 21 | PLAYER CARD

25Jeff WitheySCHOOL: KansasClass: Sr.HT/WT: 7-0, 235POS: C
13.1 ppg8.3 rpg4.3 bpg
Withey's slide down two spots doesn't have anything to do with his play. Oladipo and Robinson's moves up the board pushed him down. While scouts aren't convinced Withey has major NBA upside, his rebounding and shot-blocking ability should make him a rotation big man in the league for years.

PREVIOUS RANKING: 23 | PLAYER CARD

26Steven AdamsSCHOOL: PittsburghClass: Fr.HT/WT: 7-0, 240POS: C
6.8 ppg6.3 rpg2.0 bpg
Adams continues to be a major work in progress on the offensive end. But his rebounding ability alone could put him in the first-round discussion. He's likely to stay at least one more season at Pittsburgh.

PREVIOUS RANKING: 22 | PLAYER CARD

27Myck KabongoSCHOOL: TexasClass: So.HT/WT: 6-1, 170POS: PG
N/A
We're still waiting for Kabongo to finish his NCAA suspension. He's eligible on Feb. 13 against Iowa State. The biggest question for the Longhorns is whether that's enough time to convince the selection committee that Texas belongs in the NCAA tournament.

PREVIOUS RANKING: 27 | PLAYER CARD

28C.J. LeslieSCHOOL: N.C. StateClass: Jr.HT/WT: 6-8, 206POS: PF
15.6 ppg7.3 rpg56 fg%
Leslie remains a player plagued by the dreaded "upside" tag. As a freshman and sophomore, it usually helps more than it hurts. As a junior, the questions start pouring in. His 17-point, 10-rebound performance against North Carolina on Saturday and 20-point, 14-rebound game against Virginia showed us, once again, what he's capable of. But he needs to do it every night.

PREVIOUS RANKING: 28 | PLAYER CARD

29Lorenzo BrownSCHOOL: N.C. StateClass: Jr.HT/WT: 6-5, 185POS: PG
12.7 ppg6.9 apg2.1 spg
Brown has been just as up-and-down as Leslie this season. When he's good, such as his 20-point, 11-assist performance against North Carolina, he can be really good. But when he's struggling (see the Clemson game), he still looks like he has a ways to go.

PREVIOUS RANKING: 29 | PLAYER CARD

30Kelly OlynykSCHOOL: GonzagaClass: Jr.HT/WT: 7-0, 238POS: C
18.2 ppg7.0 rpg66 fg%
Olynyk is all over NBA draft boards at the moment. A small handful of teams have him in the mid-first round. A number of others have him firmly in the second. I've split the difference here. His 26-point, 9-rebound, 5-assist game against BYU with 9-for-9 shooting from the field got the attention of a lot of scouts. His 36.46 PER ranks second in the NCAA right now.

PREVIOUS RANKING: NR | PLAYER CARD
Next five in: Gorgui Dieng, C, Louisville; Gary Harris, SG, Michigan State; Le'Bryan Nash, F, Oklahoma State; Rasheed Sulaimon, SG, Duke; C.J. Wilcox, SG, Washington

Ever since Alex Smith was benched for Colin Kaepernick during the 2012 season, and it became apparent that the latter was going to retain his grip on the San Francisco 49ers' starting QB job, the speculation has been rampant as to where Smith would wind up in 2013. Will the Niners hang on to him as an insurance plan? Given that Kaepernick will make only $740,844 in 2013, Smith's salary is more palatable. Or will San Francisco try and market Smith to the highest bidder, given that there are so many QB-needy teams around the league?

Ryan O'Halloran of the Florida Times-Union assessed four possible suitors for Smith, including the Arizona Cardinals, Cleveland Browns, Jacksonville Jaguars and Philadelphia Eagles. All four could use help at the QB position, while the Browns would offer Smith the chance to work with Norv Turner again.

The two other options we've heard mentioned most frequently are the Kansas City Chiefs and New York Jets. While some believe that Smith may not be the best fit for Andy Reid's offensive system, there's no rule that states Reid isn't allowed to tailor his offense to suit his QB's strengths. As for the Jets, the main hurdle is the salary cap, and whether the club would want to use around $21 million of cap space on Smith and Mark Sanchez alone.

At one point or another, probably not too long ago on a highlight segment, you've seen Russell Westbrook deliver one of his patented coast-to-coast specials.

When it happens, it's something you don't forget.


Usually it starts with a turnover or a defensive rebound, then it picks up steam somewhere near midcourt and by the end of the play the muscular 6-foot-3 point guard is catapulting himself at the rim for another vicious, rim-rocking throwdown.

No other current player -- not even the NBA's other athletic point guards like Derrick Rose, John Wall, Kyrie Irving, Ty Lawson, Rajon Rondo, Eric Bledsoe or even Nate Robinson -- comes close to finishing in the electrifying fashion that Westbrook does on a regular basis.

That's why it's so surprising, then, that a closer look via Synergy Sports Technology reveals a troubling trend: The transition game has consistently been a major weakness for Westbrook, at least whenever he decides to try and take it upon himself to score.

Believe it or not, the transition game is actually far and away the least efficient part of Westbrook's offensive repertoire, and has been since he entered the league back in 2008.

As far as points per play, he's never ranked higher than the 37th percentile of the league during any of his five NBA seasons (see chart on right), and this is a trend that is not getting a whole lot better.

What's more concerning is that the transition game represents where roughly 20 percent of Westbrook's shots have historically come from, per Synergy, which is one reason the 24-year-old is shooting less than 43 percent from the floor in his career and less than 42 percent this season. While Westbrook currently ranks No. 7 in the league in scoring, he has the lowest shooting percentage (41.9) among those in the top 10. Nobody else shoots less than 44 percent.

Here's a look at some of the ways Westbrook can become more efficient in transition.

Cut down on turnovers
According to Synergy, 14.2 percent of Oklahoma City's transition plays this season that involve Westbrook end in turnovers. If you compare that to Irving, Stephen Curry and Tony Parker, the three other point guards averaging at least 20 points a game this season, Westbrook has work to do in this area; Irving is at 12.9 percent, Curry is at 10.5 percent and Parker is at 11 percent.

Westbrook, on the other hand, has finished three of the previous four seasons at more than 15 percent. To make marked improvement in the transition game, Westbrook will have to give himself and the Thunder more chances to score by taking better care of the basketball on the break.

Get to the free throw line more often
Synergy shows that Westbrook is fouled in the act of shooting on 11.8 percent of his plays in transition, a number greater than many point guards, including Curry (6.8 percent), but perhaps not nearly as high as it should be given his ability to blow past defenders and get to the rim.

Consider that Parker gets fouled on 20.9 percent of his plays in transition, and you can see that there's greater room for potential here.

Yes, Westbrook has an all-time great in Kevin Durant to consider much of the time -- and that surely comes into play here -- but there are also times when he pulls up for a long 2-point shot rather than using his strength and quickness to take the ball to the hole. For the record, Westbrook entered last week shooting a career-low 34 percent on shots from the 16-23 feet, per HoopData.com.

Become a better shooter off the dribble
This is one area in which Westbrook still has a lot of room for improvement, and along with limiting turnovers may be the easiest way for him to become better in transition.

More than 32 percent of Westbrook's shots this season are coming off the dribble, many of those presumably in transition, and he has a 0.761 points per possession in those attempts. That ranks in the 56th percentile in the league, making him pretty average in that area.

This so happens to be an area in which the other high-scoring point guards excel. Irving, who is taking roughly 39 percent of his shots off the dribble this season, has a 0.91 PPP that puts him in the 82nd percentile. Curry, who takes nearly 43 percent of his shots off the dribble, has a 0.907 PPP that is right behind Irving and better than 81 percent of the league. Nearly 39 percent of Parker's shot attempts come via the dribble, and his 0.956 PPP puts him in the 87th percentile.

Westbrook is one of the NBA's most electrifying players and a big reason behind OKC's success in recent seasons. Despite his poor shooting numbers this season, his player efficiency rating is still No. 11 in the league. His value to the Thunder can't be underestimated.

That isn't to say that he's a finished product, however, and there are several approaches he can take to make strides in the transition game. The easiest, most immediate change he can make this season as the Thunder make another run at an NBA title is to take fewer jumpers and drive to the basket more often.

The end result could very well be a foul and a trip to the line. Or better yet, another poster in the making.

If we go after Smith I'll be upset. Especially if they were to try and trade for him. He isn't that good to begin with and he's due $8 million dollars next year.