5 NBA players who should be playing a different position

The NBA loves its versatility these days. The league is full of players who can defend and play multiple spots. But that does not mean they are optimized.

In the NBA these days versatility is the buzz word. It is the ability to switch on defense and prevent those killer pick and rolls from tearing up the interior of defenses. It is the ability to throw out lineups that can attack from multiple areas and defend multiple positions.

This is the wave of the NBA’s future. Teams continue to value this versatility and multiplicity of skills. Traditional positions are going out the window.

But they are far from dead. And there are still odd fits as teams go for more versatility but have less definition. Throwing together a team that has a bunch of players who can play anywhere on the floor is no guarantee that they will actually fit together.

How the league defines certain positions may change, but the basic skills remain the same. Shooting guards need lateral quickness to stick with the fastest players in the league. Small forwards need to be able to hit down spot-up jumpers. Power forwards need to pinch down and guard the post. And centers need to be able to dominate the glass.

The more things change, the more they stay the same. And some things truly never change when it comes to the NBA.

Despite some extreme versatility, there are positions on the floor where certain players in the NBA would fit better than where they are currently playing. Just because a bigger forward can play small forward does not mean he should. Just because a guard is small in stature, does not mean he should always be on the ball playing point guard.

These are the decisions general managers and coaches have to make. And sometimes players are just stuck in bad situations and bad positions, having their talents handcuffed by the constructs of NBA offense. Thinking around the league may have evolved into some unique ideas, but offensive structures still require players to be in certain places.

There is no straight line to complete versatility. Otherwise, everyone would be playing pick up in a disorganized mess. It is still up to coaches to put all these new players and pieces in the right spots.

For several promising players, that just is not the case. Even in a more versatile-friendly NBA.