With all this talk of trades and lack of help for stars like Kobe, Garnett and Pierce I got to thinking about a lot of solid NBA players who aren’t being allowed to shine. Maybe, I am delusional. Maybe these guys really can’t run anymore. So I thought it would be fun to run down a list of players in the league who were once big time players and are now bench players. Do you guys think they can still run and to what degree? Could they be superstars, starters, solid bench guys or are they just roster filler?

So here we go.

Antonio McDyess- Could still be a solid top 10 big. I think he should be a starter. Would be a good fit in Lakers/ Celtics and is much cheaper than J. O’Neil with just as much game.

Jerry Stackhouse- I think this guy can still carry a team more so now than earlier in his career because of maturity. He should def. be starting.

Jalen Rose- Still had a very good season a couple of years ago. Could probably be a star on a bad team, a starter on a good team and a sixth man on a great team. Bottom line, this guy should be on the floor more than he has been the last couple of seasons.

Derek Anderson- This guy has solid role player written all over him. Athletic, can shoot, good basketball I.Q., and championship experience… Put him in Min. with Garnett and use some of those surplus young shooting guards as trade filler.

Bonzi Wells- Not great but he can be used while he still has something left in his legs. A lot of young guys have his game but Bonzi has playoff experience (was part of a pretty good Portland team) which would make him a solid role player. Put him in Cleveland off the bench.

Damon Stoudamire- Can he still score like he used to? Probably not? Could he be a starter somewhere? I think so.

Eddie Jones- This is the guy Kobe needs. This is the guy Kobe should want, a sharp shooter who can handle the rock and will defer to Ms. Kobe.

Mike James- Playing time will be cut significantly next season (Randy Foye) so where does he go. Can he still start for a team or is he just a b.u. pg now?

Steve Francis- He can put the ball in the bucket. Can he help anyone? Might be able to play with Garnett (Starburry did it). How about Indiana? Francis- O’Neil / Sarburry- Garnett?

Malik Rose – not a star I know but shouldn’t he be playing more than 12 min. a game. Any playoff team that did not win this season should be looking at this guy. He is one of those difference makers.

Jim Jackson- This guy isn’t even in the league right now! WTF! The guy was playing great for the Rockets some how ends up on the Lakers bench last season and is now gone. What? This guy could have def. helped Ms. Kobe that year. This guy can still ball and be solid role player. Stars get you to playoffs but role players win championships. All playoff teams should be watching this guy.

Grant Hill- In the last season of his contract so now he is a very good starting SF or sixth man for the price. Def. not worth the money before but now a very good bargain. Put him alongside Ms. Kobe or Pierce and what do you get? The guy is still putting up good solid #’s.

Joe Smith- I happen to think this guy is a better PF than people give him credit for. Give him playing time and the #’s will come. He is disciplined and not looking to be the star. Is a 15ppg. 8 rpg. player if given the opportunity.

Andre Miller- Will a contender please pick this guy up? A star he is not, but he is a top PG who can turn a playoff team into a championship contender.

Shareef Abdur-Rahim- Another victim of split playing time the last few years (Randolph, Kenny Thomas/ C. Williamson) This guy is still a 20 ppg. 9 rpg. player. Sac. Needs to give this guy more playing time or let him go elsewhere.

I know what you guys are thinking, “This guy thinks every big is a top PF.”

Honestly, I think there are 3 types of players:

1. Guys who perform their best as starters with sig. playing time

2. Guys who can make a diff. coming off the bench and splitting time.

3. Guys who can do both.

I rank Abdur-Rahim and Joe Smith ahead of guys like Bargnani, Kwame Brown, Etan Thomas/ Jarvis Hayes, Chris Wilcox, Sean May, Marvin Williams…

And alongside guys like Okafor, Al Jefferson

Why the rush to develop the young guys? Let the veterans do their thing because they can still ball. Let the young guys sit and learn because they aren’t better just more athletic. A lot of these guys bring B-ball I.Q. to the table which more times thann not prevails over athleticism.

So what do you guys think?