Don't Underestimate the Little Guy

Because there has been limited NBA action since the LeBron fiasco, you are seeing headlines that would normally not make it to the front page of espn.com such as Kwame Brown joining the Bobcats. But you still might have not heard that the Milwaukee Bucks acquired Earl Boykins. On the periphery, it does not seem like this deal should make news. Boykins is the second to shortest player in NBA history at 5-5 and has played on nine teams in his 11 year NBA career. However in reality, Boykins is an asset to any team that he joins, particularly because of the intangibles that he brings: experience, hustle, and an ability to change the momentum of the game.

Boykins will likely backup second year point guard Brandon Jennings. Jennings is undoubtedly an emerging star, but he is a young player that can learn from Boykins. From 2003-2006, Boykins played with the Denver Nuggets in 15 playoff games in which he averaged nearly 13 points, 4 assists, and 1 steal, in under 28 minutes per game. While these numbers are clearly not superstar statistics, for only $1.3M, the Bucks are adding experience to a young team. Boykins is also a crowd favorite, drawing cheers and energy from the fans the moment he steps on the court. He can push the ball, has great court vision and is automatic at the free throw line. With his speed and tiny frame, he can maneuver through the defense and find the open man for an easy bucket. The 133 pound Boykins won’t make the Bucks a championship contender, but he will bring experience and strong work ethic that will push his young teammates to perform each night.

Pacers Win The Prize

The deal between the Pacers, Nets, Hornets and Rockets has one main headline: "Ariza to Hornets in four-team trade." While Ariza might be the biggest name involved, Darren Collison should be lighting up the headlines.

The Indiana Pacers just acquired a point guard that made a measly $1.3M but averaged nearly 19 points and 9 assists in the starting role while Chris Paul was hurt. After Paul was injured, Collison had his first 40+ minute game in which he dished out 18 assists. He started 37 games and is bringing exceptional  experience for a rookie point guard to the Pacers.

Collison also had a notable PER (Player Efficiency Rating) of 16.55 which ranks 16th among the 68 point guards that qualified for a rating - quite impressive for a rookie (the only rookie above him was rookie of the year Tyreke Evans). However, PER does not place enough emphasis on a player's defensive capability and it fails to account for the intangibles of the game such as leadership and hustle. Collison is a natural leader, a true point guard. Becoming an unexpected starter mid season as a rookie behind arguably the best point guard in the league is not an easy task, but Collison seemed to take it on with ease. He hustles for loose balls, plays aggressive defense (a product of a defensive minded UCLA squad), and has a high basketball IQ. Though the Hornets had to make a move in order to ease Paul's woes, it seems they may regret this decision in the future.

Barnes No Longer Laker Foe

The +/- stat is one of the few metrics in the box score that reflects the impact a player has on his team. This stat is particularly meaningful for bench players or players with limited minutes as it shows if a player helped spark or contribute to a run and effectively change the momentum of the game. Of the top 20 players in the +/- category in the 2009-2010 NBA season, Matt Barnes played the fewest minutes yet ranked ninth on the list. Similar to Bruce Bowen and Nate Robinson, Barnes can get under your skin. However, if given the opportunity, a basketball fan would welcome Barnes to his favorite team's roster.

Barnes does not mind hacking the offensive player in order to send a message that scoring against him will be a challenge. He has been known to make some dirty plays such as throwing elbows or faking an inbounds pass into Kobe Bryant's face. Barnes even got into a public tiff on Twitter with Lamar Odom after the Lakers lost in Orlando this year. Despite the hatred that Barnes stirred among Laker fans and players, they are now happy to have Barnes on the team. Case in point: Barnes pulled some stunts in the past, but because he brings defensive energy and has a positive impact on his team even while playing limited minutes, he has been quickly welcomed by the Laker community. Adding Barnes alongside Artest and Bryant could put the Lakers in a position to have the best defensive backcourt in the league.