By this point everyone knows the value of tiering players; in many ways tiers are more valuable than overall rankings. When it gets to those middle rounds, rankings become very subjective, and taking the last solid point guard over one of many remaining solid shooting guard becomes the right move even if the shooting guard may be ranked a few spots higher.

NOTE: We usually use Yahoo as the default here, but in this instance we are using ESPN’s positions, since so many players in Yahoo have multiple position eligibility. It makes for some positions with not too many players, but, well, y’know.

Tier 1
Gilbert Arenas, Dwyane Wade, Allen Iverson, Steve Nash, Chris Paul

These are the best of the best. It’s not out of the question that all of these guys get taken in the first round. It’s a very subtle drop to the next tier, but it’s noticeable.

Tier 2
Jason Kidd, Joe Johnson, Chauncey Billups, Mike Bibby

Depending on how many separations you want to make, these guys can be in the above group. But nobody will be taking these guys in the first round. That said, they’ll likely be gone by the end of round 2, with the possible exception of Bibby.

Tier 3
Jason Terry, Kirk Hinrich, Andre Miller, Raymond Felton, Jameer Nelson, Baron Davis, Stephon Marbury

All of the above should make a solid PG1, but all have some issues. Terry is going to play off guard and won’t rack up the assists. Hinrich has a brutal FG% and might be as good as he’s going to get. Miller is consistent and boring, and the preseason hype of Denver’s run-and-gun offense might make him a bit overrated. Felton and Nelson are looking to put together a whole season of strong play, while Davis and Marbury are looking to bounce back to superstar levels.

Tier 4
Mike James, Tony Parker, Rafer Alston, Deron Williams

Here’s another mini-tier of unquestioned starters who should be plenty valuable. It’s tough to put James in here when he was better than everyone in the tier above him last year, but it’s going to be a very different situation in Minnesota.

Tier 5
Luke Ridnour, Steve Francis, Ben Gordon, T.J. Ford, Mo Williams, Damon Stoudamire, Sam Cassell, Delonte West, Jason Williams

Similar to the above tier, just with even more pressing questions. Will Ridnour, Cassell and West see as many minutes this year? Can Francis be productive as second-fiddle to Marbury? Can Ford, the Williamses and Stoudamire stay healthy? Can Gordon expand his game at all?

Tier 6
Derek Fisher, Speedy Claxton, Sebastian Telfair, Jarrett Jack, Devin Harris, Jamaal Tinsley, Smush Parker, Brevin Knight

Here we’ve got a bunch of players who are looking at possibly starting jobs, but don’t have too much of a track record to go on. Telfair, Jack and Harris are all young with upside, while Fisher and Claxton are solid vets and Tinsley is an ultimate tease, but without his main minutes competition from last year. There’s still reason to be skeptical of Parker after his out-of-nowhere performance last season, and Knight may be pushed into a backup role in Charlotte.

Tier 7
Earl Watson, Anthony Johnson, Carlos Arroyo

A mini-tier here of players who just might find themselves with a starting job, or at least enough minutes to provide some value in deep leagues.

Tier 8
Chris Duhon, Monta Ellis, Bobby Jackson, Antonio Daniels, Earl Boykins, Juan Dixon

These guys aren’t too likely to help out too much, but all of them have had at least some marginal value at times in the past year, so they are worth keeping an eye on.