Big men are kinda strange in the NBA right now...It used to be
The top guys:
Garnett, Gasol, Duncan, S Oneal, Brand Etc....
The Middle:
Everyone else
The truly horrible:
Scott Pollard, etc.
There are still 3 tiers, but the gap is getting smaller and smaller. Now, big men seem more interchangable, as their roles have diminished. Now, Joel Pryzbilla having a 20 and 12 night is good, but not even close to out of the question. Etan Thomas, Brendan Haywood, who cares, either is good. Miami doesn't even have a decent 5 on their squad. former 4's like Drew Gooden, or Joe Smith are now just as good as a 5
Channing Frye is buried because Lamarcus Aldridge is a little bit better than him talent wise, and is more suited to the style of play portland rolls with skill-wise. On our team he'd easily leapfrog Leon and BBD and POB to be the first big off the bench.