Ben Talks Ball

This article is heavily inspired by The Ringer’s QB Rankings by Steven Ruiz, check them out here: https://qbrankings.theringer.com/?_ga=2.173006243.1498946564.1663632768-1959242987.1577296957

There’s no better way to get people mad at you than to rank their favorite players, so this should be a lot of fun. Each team will have at least one player represented, and the one’s with multiple will be teams with players that played the position the majority of their career before this season. These rankings were determined using various factors: statistical analysis, the eye test, their performance last season, etc. Also keep in mind this list is for the better player for THIS season, so if I were to build a team to win a championship this year and this year only. Most importantly, however, this list my own. These are just my opinions, and I’m just using the rankings as a pretext to talk about all of the awesome point guards in the league. Anyway, let’s get to the fun stuff:

#1: Stephen Curry

“A Recently Stamped Top 10 Player of All Time Who Uses His Absurd Scoring and Gravity to Break Defenses“

Last Season’s Stats: 25.5 points, 6.3 assists, 5.2 rebounds

Breakdown: Simply put, there’s nobody else in the game right now that gives what he can give on any given night. No one else plays basketball like Steph Curry, because no one else can. His being on the court warps the defense in a way that we’ve never seen before, and may never see again.

Because Curry is so lethal at every aspect of offense, opposing teams are forced to focus extra attention on him. Usually by having a player stick to him exclusively in a tight man coverage, while the rest keep their eyes out for at all times for when he inevitably gets free(it’s more complicated than that, but that’s a basic summary of a common strategy). This strains the defense, making it easier for the Warriors to dissect, and generates easy buckets for his team. This is referred to as his “gravity”, and it’s a huge reason why the Warriors have won 4 rings with Steph as their franchise guy.

Best Attribute: Offensive Dominance

I’ve already explained how Curry is played, now to explain why he’s played like that. You already know the main reason: he’s the greatest three point shooter of all time. Anywhere past the half court line(and if we’re being honest, behind it) is money. You’ve already seen the highlights, you know how good he is. His release is beautiful, he can get it off in half second from any angle, any inch of space conceded is all he needs. Movement, catch and shoot, off dribble, Steph is lethal no matter how or where he shoots. What gets lost in the shuffle, however, is the rest of his offensive skillset. Far from a one-dimensional shooter, Curry can make you pay even if you take away his calling card. He drops absolute dimes, taking advantage of the attention he draws to get his team involved. Curry has a supremely underrated bag, with lightning quick crosses and step-backs that create the space he needs to get his shots, and is skilled enough to navigate the paint and get to the rim with ease. Making up for his below average size is an absurd level of touch around the rim, combined with an elite layup package, rivaled only by players like Kyrie Irving. At every facet of offense, Steph Curry is just stupidly good.

Worst Attribute: On Ball Defense

Contrary to popular belief, Steph is no longer a negative defender. He makes up for his lack of physical tools with solid fundamentals and playing good team defense. But while he’s not a negative, he isn’t necessarily a positive either. Especially during the playoffs, teams love to hunt Curry on the switch in pick and roll, exhausting him over the course of the game by not allowing him to rest by hiding on a weaker matchup. And while he’s a solid defender, he’s far from a lockdown guy, so when he gets targeted he usually needs help to get out of it. To be fair, he’s won 4 rings being targeted on defense the entire time, so it’s hard to be too critical, but when you’re that great the biggest criticisms become nitpicks.

#2: Luka Dončić

“A Generational Basketball Talent Who Plays With the Flair and Precision of A Classical Artist“

Last Season’s Stats: 28.4 points, 8.7 assists, 9.1 rebounds,

Breakdown: Steph may hold the top spot going into the season, but Luka may make me look like a fool for not putting him at the top within the first few games. Looking at the raw stats alone, Dončić averaged nearly a triple double while scoring 28 points a game. That’s lunacy, it’s a similar statline to Russell Westbrook’s MVP year- a season in which he averaged 31.6, 10.4, and 10.7. But while Westbrook did it through a consistent intensity and ferocity, attacking the defense at a breakneck pace, Dončić takes the opposite approach.

Watching Luka play is like watching a great jazz drummer. He sets the tone for the rest of the band. He sets the pace, sometimes it’s fast, up-tempo, go-go-go. Usually though, it’s slower, more laid back. The offense moves around, a semi-improv based off a few core principles and goals. And without a dummer or without Luka, the band as a whole is flat, it just doesn’t sound right. Dončić always appears to be relaxed and in control, rarely getting sped up, then slowly and meticulously picking apart the defense. Precision and timing is emphasized over speed and strength. Just like musicians he’s reminiscent of, it’s a joy to watch Luka work. At least, watch him work on the ball, that dude does NOT try off ball.

Best Attribute: Shotmaking

This segment could be one sentence: Luka hits shots that don’t even make sense. Like it’s stupid some of the shots he makes. His body control, timing, and touch anywhere on the floor is all at a Hall of Fame level. There’s legitimately no shot he can’t shoot. Even if he screws up and ends up with the ball in a bad spot way behind the three point line with the shot clock winding down, it’s just gonna make the inevitable bucket look even cooler. There are very few, if any players in the league more terrifying in a tight game late in the 4th then Luka Dončić, and that’s because you can do everything right and sometimes he just makes the basket anyway. I know I said shotmaking, but I’d like to take a minute to highlight his passing ability because, oh yea, he’s incredible at that too.

Worst Attribute: Defensive Effort

The actual worst attribute for Luka is his ability to not get drafted by the Sacramento Kings(I’m still upset). But I digress, for as much for as he is on the offensive end, Luka has a tendency to let his defense slip. For his large frame, he moves well, but is prone to just flopping and bitching at the refs than actually trying to contest. He does it on the offensive end too, and it’s extremely annoying, but that’s a personal thing I dislike(from a purely basketball lens it’s actually very effective, James Harden has a MVP because of it). He was admittedly better last season, with Jason Kidd holding him accountable, but he’s still not the defender he has the potential to be. It feels like he could be if chose to focus on that end just a little more, he could use his incredible feel for the game and size(his feet are a tad slow for a guard, but he’s capable of extremely advanced offensive footwork, so I think he could learn to move his feet) to be at least an average to slightly above average defender.

#3: Trae Young

“Dime-Dropping, Half Court Splashing All-NBA Stud, But Don’t Talk About the Defense“

Last Season’s Stats: 28.4 points, 9.7 assists and 3.7 rebounds

Breakdown: There will never be another Steph Curry, but there will be players in his vein. Trae Young is the best imitation we have. Young combines stupidly good three point shooting with incredible playmaking to be a total headache for opposing defenses to slow down.

Young is an extremely crafty player, he has to be at his size. Standing at 6′ 1″ weighing 165 pounds soaking wet, there were question marks about his ability to handle the NBA physicality. Trae made all of these doubters look like fools. How? He’s among the best in the league at two of the most important skills, three point shooting and basketball iq. Combine that with the sheer joy he gets from being the villain(sorry Knicks), and you have a recipe for a dangerous hooper, one who proves that even normal sized people can dominate in the NBA.

Best Attribute: Playmaking

It truly is a joy to watch Trae pass the ball. It rockets out of his hands, hitting the intended target directly between the numbers nearly every time. He really shines when throwing lobs; it’s a fine art, and Trae has it perfected. Surrounded by guys like Clint Capela, Onyeka Okongwu, and especially John Collins, Young takes full advantage of these lob threats, always putting the ball exactly where it needs to be(and sometimes he throws it off the backboard and that looks sick). Combine this touch with slick handles, high basketball iq, and lethal shooting to force the defense to play up on him, and you have one of the best playmakers in the league.

Worst Attribute: Defense

To put it bluntly, Trae Young’s defense is ass. Don’t worry, he’s still really good. Just not at this. He’s undersized, gets lost on help and targeted in the pick and roll. He offers little to no resistance on the ball, and often times seems disinterested on that end of floor. But unlike Luka, where he has the potential to be a solid defensive player, it’s unlikely Trae ever gets to that point. He just doesn’t have the build for it. The good news is that there’s plenty of guards who have won despite being undersized and poor defenders(like the guy Young based a lot of his game on; Stephen Curry), it just requires a specific type of team to be assembled, and Young is such a stud on offense he can make just any lineup work.

#4: Ja Morant

“The Basketball Equivalent of a Four Loko, Commits War Crimes on the Rim“

Last Season’s Stats: 27.4 points, 6.7 assists, 5.7 rebounds

Breakdown: Even if you’ve never watched an NBA game(which I highly doubt if you’ve read this far), you’ve seen some Ja Morant highlights. Maybe it’s the one where he teleports to the top the backboard to block a shot against the Lakers, maybe it’s the circus buzzer beater he hit against the Spurs, or perhaps the time he murdered Malik Beasley on live TV during the playoffs. Point is, he’s a one man highlight reel, and we’re all just along for the ride.

Beneath the highlights, however, are a legitimately skilled player, one deserving of being called a top 5, debatably top 3 point guard in the whole league. In terms of pure slashing, he’s probably the best guard in the league, but that’s no longer all he does. His PPG have increased each year he’s been in the league, from 17.8 his rookie season to 19.1, then exploding up to 27.4 this past season. That’s because he’s added more wrinkles to his game, as opposed to just sprinting forward and trying to destroy the rim. But he also still does that really well to.

Best Attribute: Freakish Athleticism

The first thing jumps out(pun intended) about Ja Morant is his explosiveness. It feels like every move he makes should have a sound effect appear behind it like a comic book. It’s hard to verbalize, it’s kind of a guttural, “whoaaaaaaooooohhhmygoddddddhowdidhedothaaaaaaaat”. He’s so physically gifted that one of the major concern about him is simply that he’s gonna hurt himself because he’s going too hard. But that won’t slow him down(I’m not sure anything can to be honest).

Worst Attribute: Ability to Play Under Control

The only problem with being so fast nobody can catch you is that your brain has to keep up too. Ja has a tendency to get stuck on one speed, and when he’s not able to just out-athlete his way through a matchup or scheme, he starts pressing. He’ll get called for charges, get tunnel vision and force shots in congested lanes, air mail passes, you know the signs. Every player does it sometimes, but it can’t just be option two if option one doesn’t work out. Ja is smart and skilled to make it happen, and if he can learn to decelerate as well as he can accelerate, his career will take off to even more then it already has.

#5: Damian Lillard

“A Future Hall of Famer Known for His Clutch Heroics Coming off the First Major Injury Of His Career“

Last Season’s Stats: 24.0 points, 7.3 assists and 4.1 rebounds

Breakdown: Is the clock running out on Dame Time? Last season would certainly suggest that, after Lillard posted career lows in Field Goal % and 3pt% and generally looked uncomfortable. Maybe it was the new rules that made it harder for free throws to be drawn, maybe it was the switch from a Spalding ball to a Wilson, or perhaps it was the nagging abdominal injury that had persisted since the Olympics. No matter the reason, Dame only lasted 30 games before being shut down with said abdominal injury. It almost makes you forget he was an All-NBA player the year prior. Almost.

The story for Damian Lillard has been the same for years, he puts up incredible stats with some heroic performances in the playoffs, before inevitably getting crushed by the Warriors(or occasionally, a generational center). Despite the trade rumors and the near constant roster turnover, Dame hasn’t ran from the grind, committing to the team that drafted him. It’s truly admirable, and while it’s been the butt of some pretty funny jokes, you have to respect a future Hall of Famer staying loyal in the era of super teams.

Best Attribute: Shotmaking

Ok, but why is Dame so good? Well, the dude just gets buckets. Especially in crunch time, where during a stretch in March of 2021(his last healthy season), he shot 68% inside the arc, 53% behind it, and didn’t miss a free throw in clutch minutes(which is defined as minutes when the scoring margin is within 5 points with five or fewer minutes remaining in a game, per the NBA’s official website). His range is bonkers, he’s able to routinely shoot 25+ footers with ease. Dame is the most dangerous off the dribble, which is why he’s so good in those late game situations with the ball in his hands. In terms of isolation scoring, there are very few that can match his ability to get a good shot off, be it stepback, fade away, even a floater or hard drive to cup, Lillard has counters to whatever the defense throws at him. There’s a reason he’s the only player in NBA history with two playoff series clinching buzzer beaters, and why opponents always fear Dame Time.

Worst Attribute: Health

I know this sounds redundant, but it’s a legitimate concern. At age 32, Dame isn’t getting any younger, and this is the most amount of time he’s ever missed. What if he comes back and his movement isn’t the same, he’s already an iffy(and that’s generous) defender, and that could be exacerbated if his athleticism takes a hit. The bigger concern would be on offense, if Lillard’s explosiveness was decreased, it would be a huge blow to his flamethrower scoring abilities. Less bounce off the dribble means he has harder time getting inside, which means he’s forced into more tough jumpers, jumpers with less separation due to the aforementioned lack of burst, it’s the same issue we saw with James Harden late last season. Now, this is all hypothetical, after all Harden was dealing with his hamstring and Lillard had abdominal issues, but the same principle still applies: if this injury has a lasting effect on Dame, we may never see his peak ever again.

#7: Jrue Holiday

“A Bulldog Defender Who Consistently Hits Big Shots, Which Mostly Makes Up for His Extreme Lapses in Judgment”

Last Season’s Stats: 18.3 points, 6.8 assists and 4.5 rebounds

Breakdown: The Milwaukee Bucks needed to make a big swing. Rumblings of Giannis being frustrated with the front office’s roster decisions combined with disappointing playoff runs forced the Bucks to make a huge gamble, if they didn’t they risked losing the best player they’d had since Kareem. Who did they gamble on? Jrue Holiday. And one championship ring later, I’d say it worked out pretty well.

See, the Bucks lacked a strong point of attack perimeter defender, and needed someone with the ability to hit the clutch shots to give Giannis some help. Holiday was the perfect fit. We could talk all day about intangibles like leadership, hustle, etc, but the truth is Jrue Holiday is simply a great basketball player at all facets. He hits his shots, runs the offense, and most importantly is an absolutely game wrecking defender. He may not be the flashiest player(he still has his share of awesome highlights) but he’s the definition of a winning player, and has the hardware to show for it.

Best Attribute: Defense

For my money, there’s no better defensive guard in the league then Jrue Holiday. I was tempted to limit it to just on ball defense, but Holiday just does everything well on that side of the floor. He does all of the little things that don’t show up on the stat sheet, crisp rotations, moves his feet well, contests shots without fouling, the fundamentals coaches preach like gospel. In the pick and roll Holiday is adept, always adjusting coverages based on the matchup and communicating well with his other defender. At 6′ 3″ 205, Holiday is an extremely compact player, with great core strength that allows him to fight through contact on screens and stay in position with his man off the ball. He has great instincts, a cerebral defender who knows what you’re going to do before you do it. In a 1 on 1 setting, Holiday is strong enough to hang with bigger players, while quick enough to stick with even the most dangerous guards. All told, Jrue is a one man wrecking crew, and can improve an entire team’s defense by just being on the court.

Worst Attribute: Offensive Consistency

The issue with Holiday isn’t actually his offense, in fact he’s pretty damn solid at it. A good but not great passer who can run the offense and knows when to take his shots. The thing is, sometimes Holiday is elite on offense, shredding teams on both ends of the floor. Other times, however, he’s not. When he’s off he can be an inefficient chucker, who forces bad shots and drives with tunnel vision. Or sometimes he’ll just airmail a pass, either to a guarded player or into the third row. Honestly there’s moments where it feels like we’re looking at the first documents case of basketball CTE. Despite the shortcomings, Holiday is always a guarantee to be a plus on the defensive end, but it’s hard to not get frustrated at his inconsistency. If he was on every night, he’d be a lock for a top 5 point guard in the league.

#8: Chris Paul

“Savvy Veteran Legend that Dissects the Defense with his Mid-Range and Playmaking, But Father Time is Undefeated“

Last Season’s Stats: 14.7 points, 10.8 assists 4.4 rebounds

Breakdown: CP3 is a legend. At 38, he’s still dropping dimes and making All-Star games the same as he’s been for the last 15 years. But as I said earlier; nothing lasts forever. Still chasing his first ring after getting heartbreakingly close the past two seasons, will this be the year he finally gets over the hump? Unlikely, with all the chaos in Phoenix, but maybe Paul has enough gas in the tank for one final run.

Let’s look at some numbers. As of the end of the 2021-22 NBA season, Chris Paul is: 4th all-time in APG(9.5), has the 3rd most total assists in NBA history(10,977), 4th most steals in league history(2,453), 10th in SPG(2.12), has led the league in APG 5 times and in total assists 3. Had the most SPG in the NBA 6(!) times and led the league in total steals 5 times. He’s also an advanced stats darling, but it would take me all day to list all of statistical accomplishments(read them yourself here). Basically, dude can hoop.

Best Attribute: Basketball IQ

Chris Paul is like a basketball supercomputer. It seems like any coverage you throw at him, man, 3-2 zone, box and 1, gap press, shit throw anything at him and he’ll usually figure it out. He’s just as smart off the court, a well respected leader and NBA Player’s Association representative. He knows every rule in the book, infamously winning a game thanks to a technical free throw he was awarded after an opponents jersey got untucked. Paul is elite at drawing fouls, either stacking up fouls on opponents best perimeter defender with reach in’s and other ticky tack calls, or drawing free throws down low with fundamental shot fakes and a little bit of acting. Some call him a whiner, this is not an incorrect statement. But having a guy who’s probably the smartest person in the whole building is always the guy I want on my team.

Worst Attribute: Age

Like grains of sand in the wind, we are all at the mercy of the passage of time. Time comes for all us, and no matter how much of a basketball genius you are or how well you take care of your body, eventually the train reaches your stop. Paul’s been able to mostly offset the impact of age because he relies more on his brain than his athleticism, but in the words of the immortal Teddy Ray: “YOU 38“. At a certain time you gotta go home and be a family man. In his media day interview, Paul talked at length about how nice it was to spend so much time with his wife and two kids. The NBA is physically taxing, but it’s extremely mentally taxing as well. You’ll miss school events, birthdays, major moments in your families lives will happen while you have to play a 7:30 game against the Pistons on a Tuesday. Well hey, you get to spend a lot more time with your family if you’re retired! I truly think if Paul had won a ring two years ago, he would have ridden off into the sunset. Maybe he plays another season, but that ring is the only thing keeping him going. For his sake I hope he gets it, he’s earned his chance to rest.

#9: Kyrie Irving

“Does Things on the Basketball Court that Leaves You Speechless, Then Does Stuff Off it That Shocks You More”

Last Season’s Stats: 27.4 points, 5.8 assists, 4.4 rebounds

Breakdown: I want to keep this section brief, because God knows there’s been way too much said about Kyrie Irving, by Kyrie Irving, and around the whole Kyrie Irving situation.

When he’s on the court, Irving’s great. I mean, he hit a series clinching three in game 7 over the best regular season team ever. Despite the chaos since then, when healthy(or not indisposed for some stupid reason), Kyrie delivers elite shotmaking, with an all time dribble and layup package that leaves defenses spinning. Sucks he’s such a dick.

`Best Attribute: Deep Bag of Moves

When you type “best handles in the nba” into Google, Kyrie is the first name to pop up. His mixtapes are legendary, from his team USA practice press break on Kobe, the (still genius) Uncle Drew ads/movie, and the clinics he puts out on a night to night basis. Sometimes when he’s on a heater there’s nothing you can do but laugh in disbelief as he picks you apart from every spot on the floor.

Worst Attribute: Himself

This guy thinks he’s Malcolm X because he didn’t get a shot. Fucking idiot.

#10: Jamal Murray

“Absurdly Talented Three Level Scorer, But Injuries Have Kept Him Out for Nearly a Year and a Half”

2021 Stats(Out For 2022): 21.2 points, 4.8 assists, 4.0 rebounds

Breakdown: It’s easy to forget, but before Jamal Murray went down, he was having the best season of his young career. Murray had nearly returned the level of production from his historic run in the bubble, where he acted as a perfect counter punch for Nikola Jokic as the Nuggets went on a cinderella run the Western Conference Finals.

Then, pop. Murray tore his ACL, and his potential All-NBA season was derailed, along with it the Nuggets championship dreams. But after a lengthy recovery, Jamal is back- and the league is better for it. While it’s far from certain he’ll return to his former level, like George Micheal so elegantly put it; you’ve gotta have faith.

Best Attribute: Three-Level Scoring

Nobody heats up quicker then Jamal Murray. All he needs is one shot to go down, and after that it’s curtains. Murray is a devastating three level scorer, one of the few who truly excels at all facets of scoring the basketball. At the rim he can jam it on the entire defense or hit any number of circus layups. He can get his shot up from any spot on the court and drill it. He’s even got some post moves. It’s so much fun watching him score the basketball(here’s more highlights, I couldn’t resist). If you need a bucket at any point you can throw it to him, and he’ll make it happen.

Worst Attribute: Consistency

Obviously the biggest concern for Murray heading into the season is whether or not his surgically repaired knee will hold up. Injuries not withstanding, consistency is Jamal’s biggest issue. The highlight videos are awesome, but the thing about those videos is they ignore the shooting percentages and the outcomes of the game. While he’s had steaks of brilliance, Murray can be just as cold as he is hot. He’ll got from 27-25-34 into a stretch of 11-7-16. If you want to be among the elite scorers in the league, you have to bring it every single night. Otherwise, Murray will be limited to just being a good player with great moments, rather than the incredible player he’s capable of being.

#11: Darius Garland

“Became the All-Star Leader of the Cavs Thanks to Elite Playmaking and Smooth Finishing”

Last Season Stats: 21.7 points, 8.6 assists, 3.3 rebounds

Breakdown: After a slew of injuries to guards in Cleveland, Darius Garland was tasked with being the only lead guard on a team with limited offensive creators. Impossibly, he managed to single handily carry the hefty playmaking and scoring load, and lead the Cavs to the 8th seed.

Every season he’s been in the league Garland has increased his shot and playmaking volume, and every year he’s improved his PPG and APG with that. Now with Donovan Mitchell as his backcourt partner, Garland will have someone to share the scoring load, which should allow him to refocus on the defensive end. Not that he needs to be a stopper, having a backline of Issac Okorro-Evan Mobley-Jarrett Allen mostly erases any deficiencies on that end. The Cavs are getting massive hype, but championship or not it’s going to be a lot of fun to watch Garland work.

Best Attribute: Playmaking

Look, I could really make this segment one stat and a highlight mix and we’d be good. The stat: The Cavaliers were 19th in Offensive Rating, pretty mid right? Well, when Darius Garland was off the court, that number cratered all the way down to 27th, with tanking teams like the Rockets. The entire offense relied on one man, and he was up to the task. Garland checks all of the playmaking boxes, he’s a skilled scorer that forces the defense to respect his shot, he’s unselfish, he has a high basketball IQ and can move his teammate into opportune positions like a chessmaster. He also throws a beautiful lob, a necessity on a team full of athletic big men. I could go on and on, or I could just show you this. Oh, and this too.

Worst Attribute: Getting to the Line

Look, it was either this or I say size again and that’s a cop out. Garland is a good free throw shooter. Actually good is underselling it, he’s great, averaging just about 89% from the stripe. Here’s the problem though, he only shoots like 3-4 foul shots game. Why is this not good? Well, for starters considering the massive usage rate he had after the injuries last year(only Trae Young was higher), you’d expect him to draw more fouls. It makes sense, ball in hands more means more drives means more opportunity for foul calls. My main theory for this lack of foul calls is that Garland loves his floater, and floaters aren’t whistled very often. Why should Garland draw more fouls? That’s easy, free throws are(pause for comedic effect) free points. Trae took about 7 free throws a game, and made 90% of them. Not a coincidence that Trae also averaged 28 points per game, tied for third in the league. Free throws are great a number of reasons, gets a player in the rhythm of the game, forces defenses to pull back so they get called, and can be a source of points even on a rough shooting night. Now I’m not saying Garland should change his game, but I am saying the just a few more whistles per game could be an easy way to continue to progress Garland’s offense.

#12: De’Aaron Fox

“An Elite Slasher with a Killer Middie and Sky High Potential, Who Needs To Prove He Can Be A Bonafide Star”

Last Season Stats: 23.2 points, 5.6 assists, 3.9 rebounds

Breakdown: I should preface by saying I’m a diehard Kings fan. Does bias play a role in this ranking? Absolutely. Fox is much more unproven then contemporaries that I’ve ranked him above. But as someone who’s watched almost every game he’s played in since he got drafted, I can confidently say that Fox has the ability to be a superstar.

You see it in flashes, it’s beautiful. You can’t even form full words or cohesive thoughts, just disbelief and amazement. Maybe it’s just the kid in me, the blind fan watching in pure joy as his favorite guy runs up and down the court. But then it’s gone; overshadowed by organizational dysfunction, atrocious supporting casts, and the general KANGZ curse that surrounds Sacramento. But first time in a long time, there’s legitimate hope. Fox finally has a player as talented as he is, a supporting cast that actually emphasizes his strengths, and a coaching staff with proven NBA success. Nobody else believes in the Kings, and that’s ok. I feel comfortable putting my money on Foxy.

Best Attribute: Inside the Arc Scoring

Everyone knows Fox is fast, it’s his defining characteristic. But like I said earlier with Ja, anytime a player only has one speed he’s easier to stop, even if that one speed is Mach 2. Recently, however, Fox has added a lethal counter punch to his straight line speed: decerlation. Fox’s athletic burst is absurd, it seems like he’s always able to speed up or slow down at will(which is super difficult to do even without a basketball in your hand). Combining this with his deep bag of circus layups makes Fox a great slasher. Sorry did I say great? I mean best in the league. When you look at the best at the rim scorers in the league, you see guys Zion and Ja, Giannis, then De’Aaron Fox in the same breath. He is a top 10 scorer at the rim period, and the best slashing guard in the league not named Ja Morant. This pairs perfectly with Fox’s new and improved mid-range scoring, a stunning array of step backs, fade aways, pull up jumpers, and even a few floaters that force the defense to not conceded any space on Fox, making his dominant slashing even more dangerous. Inside the arc, Fox is not only stupid fun to watch, but stupid good period. Look at this shit, it’s awesome. The issue is, he’s never had the talent around him or the floor spacing to give him an easier time getting to the rack. There’s reason why after Sabonis was traded to the team Fox averaged 29 points a game, and that was with Harrison Barnes being the only good shooter on the roster. With a revamped team around him, De’Aaron is going to be extremely dangerous, and I’m going to love every second.

Worst Attribute: 3 Point Shooting

Three point shooting is Foxy’s big weakness because A: He has yet to show consistent improvement and B: it seriously hinders both his game and the lineups he can play with. Starting with A, while he shot 37% from behind the arc in his second season, he’s since posted averages of 29%, 32%, and 30%. Not good, but at least he’s not a pussy like Ben Simmons and shoots about 3-5 a game. Point B: this one’s simple. If you can’t shoot then you can’t punish the defense for playing off you, meaning it becomes to score in the paint, run pick and roll(if you can’t make the defense pay of diving under the screen the effectiveness of screens goes down significantly), and generally makes life harder. It even limits potential lineups, because then you’re forced to always have shooters on the floor to try and make up for this lack of spacing, meaning you may not be able to always have your best players together. There’s reason to believe in improvement, though it may sound like the definition of insanity. Namely, the fact that in the game he played AS(After Sabonis) Fox hit a respectable 36% from downtown on 6(!!) attempts a game. If he can hold that average a whole season, it could get scary. Just being a league average three point shooter would transform Fox’s game.

#13: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

“A Big Guard Who’s Offbeat Style Has Made Him OKC’s Franchise Guy, Just Needs a More Consistent Jumper“

Last Season Stats: 24.5 points, 5.9 assists, 5.0 rebounds

Breakdown: Here I am again, talking about a phenomenal player who doesn’t get enough respect because his team sucks. At least the Thunder are trying to lose, the Kings have just been dysfunctional. Anyway this dude Shai is pretty good at basketball. The first thing that jumps out at you are his measurables; 6′ 6″ with a 6′ 11″ wingspan is nuts for a point guard, especially one as smooth as Gilgeous-Alexander.

It’s funny, the biggest knock on Shai is that he puts up “empty stats” being the best player on a losing team. Which the same thing they said about Devin Booker, and Karl Anthony-Towns, and Luka Dončić and… (I could go on for days). The point is, until you win in this league, people don’t respect you, but it’s kinda hard to win when your front office isn’t trying to help you. I’d actually argue it’s more impressive Shai has the stats he’s had, considering the supporting casts he’s had in OKC’s post Chris Paul era. Defenses know he’s the star of the show, and they’re unlikely to be punished for aggressively targeting him(since the drop off from Shai to second best offensive player has been steep). Despite all of this, he still puts up All-Star numbers(the only reason he hasn’t made it is because he’s never had a good enough record). Hopefully this is the last season OKC punts, because I can’t wait to see a full season of Shai playing meaningful basketball(maybe with a 7 foot French Unicorn by his side?).

Best Attribute: Body Control

I touched on it earlier, but it’s almost unfair how silky smooth Shai is for his size. His game is unconventional, opting for misdirection and slower drives to the basket, as opposed to explosive, Morant esq drives(if Ja is a Four Loko then Shai is a fine glass of Chardonnay). When he gets in the lane he can either go up and finish over any defender(or defenders). He hangs in the air for what feels like forever, and can contort his lengthy frame into all sorts of angles to get a clean shot off. The fundamentals are extremely sound, with a bevy of head-fakes and post moves he uses to create easy looks. Shai also uses his size to read the defense even in traffic. The assist numbers don’t jump off the page, but keep in mind that the players Shai’s been passing too have been…subpar. He had 13 Potential Assists per game last season, which is an imperfect stat, but it shows you he’s great at putting players in positions to succeed. Defensively, while he’s no lockdown defender, he uses his length and footspeed to harass his matchups. Also, it’s worth noting he crashes the glass well on both sides. Shai’s unique fluidity for his body type gives him numerous advantages all phases of the game.

Worst Attribute: Inconsistent Shooting

For as a natural as Gilgeous-Alexander is an athlete, it’s strange that his jumpshot is a little janky. Well, it’s not as janky anymore, but it’s still a little unorthodox. Unorthodox jump shots are fine, Tyrese Haliburton(who we’ll get too later) has a weird jumper and he’s an incredible three point shooter. Thing is, while Haliburton’s jumper is super quick, Shai has a longer wind up, which can make him more susceptible to be affected by closeouts. Ironically, Shai’s jumper looks much smoother off the dribble or side step then it does in just a standard catch and shoot, when in most cases the opposite is true. There’s a reason I said shooting inconsistency instead of just shooting, because SGA’s shown he can be a knockdown guy. Take a two month stretch in February and March of 2021, where over 17 games he hit 46.0 percent of his 3s on a little over 5 attempts a contest. If Shai can regain that mojo after a down year from behind the arc last season, the one flaw in his offensive tool kit will be no more.

#14: Fred VanVleet

“Toughness, Hustle, and Floor General Chops: VanVleet is the Full Package, Albeit a Little Undersized“

Last Season Stats: 20.3 points, 6.7 assists, 4.4 rebounds

Breakdown: Fred VanVleet has always been better than people give him credit for. So much so that I feel guilty ranking him this low(I’d like to apologize to both Fred and the country of Canada). His red-hot playoff run during 2019 was huge reason why the Raptors won, and he’s only improved since then. Now with Kyle Lowry taking a retirement tour in Miami, it’s up to another gritty undersized point guard to take up the mantle of franchise guy.

The Raptors are a beautifully weird basketball experiment. Instead of having normal things like “positions” or “roles”, they have a bunch of 6′ 7″- 6′ 9″ athletic wings that do everything. There’s only two men that get rotational minutes below that. One is Gary Trent Jr. he’s pretty cool, but he’s also 6′ 5″. The man tasked with leading all of these tall people is Fred VanVleet. Goes to show how legit he is, that a team full of meta-humans is led by a normal ass guy. He’s like Tony Stark, except he doesn’t have cool flying robot suits.

Best Attribute: Floor General

The Raptors are a crazy fun team, but with VanVleet they’d be lost. He’s truly a general, utilizing his extremely high basketball IQ and feel for the game to run the offense. VanVleet just doesn’t make very many mistakes, he takes care of the ball and does the little things well, like running hard off cuts and relocating for catch and shoot opportunities. He’s a good scorer himself, can knock down threes and get the cup and finish well despite his size.(if you had to guess who had the Raptors record for most points in a game I bet you wouldn’t have said Fred) Most importantly, he has that “it” factor, that clutch gene and unlimited confidence in both himself and his teammates to get the job done. Finally, VanVleet was an undrafted, undersized guard from Witchita State, who worked his ass off to become the All-Star he is today. Nobody is going to out work him, and that’s exactly why he’s the leader of the franchise.

Worst Attribute: Height

Boo, I know, it’s a lazy criticism. Thing is, VanVleet does so much well it’s hard to find a significant drawback. He’s listed at 6′ 1″, which is pretty far below the NBA average. But that’s really just a number, VanVleet makes up for height thanks to his great core strength, foot speed, and heady play. At the same time, he’s still short for an NBA player. Look, I know this section is half baked, but I honestly couldn’t come up with a larger weakness in his game. You’d like to see him be him more efficient with his shots, but the Raptors reportedly wanting to use him more off-ball should help with that. I’d like to see him draw some more fouls as well, but again these are all nitpicks. VanVleet’s game is extremely fine tuned because he has to make up for the one thing he can’t control; how tall he is.

#15: Ben Simmons

“His Messy Breakup with the Sixers made People Forgot How Talented He Is“

2021 Stats(Out For 2022): 14.3 points, 6.9 assists, 7.2 rebounds

Breakdown: There’s been a lot said about Ben Simmons in the past year, as his time with the 76ers came to a, let’s say, unceremonious end. I could spend this entire segment rehashing the soap opera this whole saga was, except none of it really matters. It’s a lot of fun and adds drama, but I really only care about what Simmons can do on the court.

Anybody that’s the main return of a trade for a player the caliber of James Harden is extremely talented(I actually had Simmons at #11 in these rankings nearly the entire process of building this essay, but ultimately I had too many questions to put him that high). For all of the (deserved) heat he got after the Game 7 loss to Atlanta two seasons ago, it’s hard to say if the Sixers would’ve gotten that far without him. He and Embiid were always an awkward fit, but Simmons’ skillset is so unique that he should be a perfect fit in Brooklyn, assuming he’s locked in mentally.

Best Attribute: Size and Versatility

Measuring at 6′ 11″ and 240 lbs, Simmons is big enough to play center(something he’s done in the past and may do a lot this coming season in Brooklyn). Simmons is also a fluid enough athlete, both handling the ball and moving in space to play the point, which he’s done the majority of his career. These measurables combined with this athleticism make Simmons an absolute force on defense. There are very few players in the NBA that I would say are truly capable of guarding 1-5, and Ben is one of them. High defensive IQ, great length, great footspeed, you can put Simmons on any threat you play and he’s going to give them headaches. There’s a reason why he’s made 2 All-Defensive teams, and been a finalist for DPOY, dude can flat out lock people down. He rebounds well(he should at his size), which is always nice to have from a guard. And, while his playmaking suffers because of his offensive cowardice(more on this below), he is still a creative passer with a good feel for the game. In short, Simmons can do everything on the court. Well, almost everything.

Worst Attribute: You Know The Answer to This One

Ben Simmons does not shoot. The problem isn’t that he can’t, it’s that we don’t even know we don’t even know if he can. The first three point shot he made came in his 172nd NBA game, and the crowd reacted like they’d just won the championship. Out of the 34 shots Simmons has tried from beyond the arc over his entire career, the majority have been heaves at the end of quarters. The most worrying fact is that Simmons just doesn’t even try to shoot. He is a(famously) passive scorer. He’s an atrocious free throw shooter, has extremely limited scoring moves outside of just being big, all around Simmons is a non-threat to score the ball in isolation. Can he be a threat? Potentially, sure. He’s had high scoring games in the NBA, but he doesn’t need to even average 20 to be the version of himself, he just has to take the shots. To be an elite playmaker, you have to have the ability to threaten the defense as a scorer, you just have too. It opens up the floor so much. If you aren’t a threat, and your defender can fly around playing help defense knowing you won’t make them pay for disrespecting your shot, then you have massive problems. That’s a huge reason why those Sixers teams could never get over the hump, and Simmons needs to change it if he wants to have success in the future.

#16: Dejounte Murray

“Hard Nosed Defender Who’s Improved His Offense Every Year He’s Been in the League“

Last Season Stats: 21.1 points, 9.2 assists, 8.3 rebounds

Breakdown: Dejounte Murray is a grinder. He’s gotten better and better with each season, and was rewarded with a breakout season in 2021. He was selected to his first All-Star game, and was good enough to command a hefty price from Atlanta. Now we’ll see how well Murray pairs with Atlanta’s other star, Trae Young(aka the #3 guy in my rankings).

The counting stats speak for themselves, Murray was an assist and 2 rebounds a game away from averaging a triple double on the season, something only two players have done before. This versatility is Dejounte’s greatest strength, there’s only one real hole in his game(we’ll get to that later). Sometimes it feels like you’re seeing double. He’ll snag a rebound, run the court, drop a dime, then get a steal and a breakaway bucket. Filling up the statsheet in all types of ways, it’s impossible to truly stop Murray from having a positive impact on the game.

Best Attribute: Defense

Murray’s calling card has always been defense, and man is he great at it. He’s been on the All-Defensive team, and was last year’s steals champion. Despite his wiry frame, Murray’s stronger then he looks. And at 6′ 4″ with a 6′ 10″ wingspan, he’s a monster on ball defender. You just can’t shake him once he gets locked onto his man. Off-ball, Murray utilizes his length to deny any type of entry pass and is adept at jumping passing lanes for steals. He can matchup anywhere from 1-3, and can switch onto bigger matchups with relative success. He’s also got the right mindset for defense, he’s in your face, talking shit, and fully believes there’s nobody he can’t clamp. Top to bottom, Murray is an ace on defense, and makes life easier for everyone around by taking care of business.

Worst Attribute: Inconsistent Shooting

On his career, Dejounte is 33% from behind the arc. Not atrocious, but you’d like to see improvement. An improved jumper could open up his game to superstar levels. All of the best guards in the league are great in pick and roll, and a big reason for that is because they can punish the defense for going under the screen by splashing a three. Forcing the defense to work harder breaks them down over the course of the game, and creates easier offense down the stretch. With Young as his backcourt partner, spacing isn’t a huge worry. But if Murray wants to make the superstar leap, it’ll require at least. a league jumpshot.

#17: Marcus Smart

“The Reigning DPOY, But Really Just A Dollar Store Jrue Holiday”

Last Season Stats:  12.1 points, 5.9 assists, 3.8 rebounds

Breakdown: From a glance, I know this seems insanely disrespectful. I mean, come on, the Defensive Player of the Year, the guy who won the award for literally being the best defender in the entire league is only 17th on my list. So either I’m an idiot(which is very likely), or there’s more going then meets the eye.

Before you read any further, let me just say that Marcus Smart is a great player. I mean, he is, plain and simple. Anyone who can win an award like DPOY is very good. Additionally, anyone who can be the starting point guard on a team that goes to the finals is very good. However, I just have a few too gripes with Smart to rank among the very top of the league. The DPOY win was controversial, as after Robert Williams the second went down it felt like the voters opted for the most active player on the best defense in the league, rather then the best individual defender as the award technically should be awarded to. (Also, the Celtics defensive rating without him (105.2) was the same with him on the court). Also personally, Smart flops wayyyy too much for my liking, watching his series against the Bucks was especially egregious, rather than actually attempt to guard up on Giannis, Smart(and the Celtics as a whole) opted to flop and cry for fouls. It’s weak shit, and Smart is too good of a player to be doing that. Offensively, he’s also a mixed bag, which I’ll get to later on. That being said, despite his weaknesses, Marcus Smart is great player that any team would love to have.

Best Attribute: Defensive Effort

Smart is the definition of hustle, determination, and annoying the hell of the other team. He plays up close and personal, talking shit and following his matchup all over the floor, never letting them so much as breathe without him up in their business. The Celtics played a switch heavy defense, and Smart was asked to hold up against every type of matchup, which he passed with flying colors. Smart’s like a bull, he never backs down, even with players twice his size. Dude plays plays way bigger than his body, battling and disrupting on every possession. His screen navigation is elite, sticking to ball handler when fighting over, perfectly playing both aggressive fires and icing ball handlers when asked. Very few players have the natural instincts for the ball Smart has, which is the icing on the cake for one of the most complete, effective, and game wrecking perimeter defenders in the game.

Worst Attribute: Offensive Control

A point guard is supposed to be a steadying force. A calming effect on the offense. When everyone’s lost and needs an anchor, it’s usually found in the point guard. Smart … is not that. The whole “agent of chaos” bit is awesome on defense, but you kinda want your lead ball handler to be able to reign it in a little. I’ll give credit where it’s due, Smart improved his playmaking last season, which was a big reason why the Celtics got to the Finals. Unfortunately, it was in this series where his limitations were exacerbated. He can be hot or cold, both as a scorer and playmaker. This inconsistency is frustrating from a veteran, and while he made big improvements last season, he needs to make another leap as a playmaker to join the truly elite guard company.

#18: Lamelo Ball

“Flashy Passer Who Needs to Realize Defense is Part of the Game Too”

Last Season Stats:  20.1 points, 7.6 assists, 6.7 rebounds

Breakdown: In 2017, Lavar Ball made a controversial statement(shocking right?) This one was different however, more introspective. Instead of saying he could beat Micheal Jordan in a 1v1 with “one arm tied behind his back” or saying his son was better then Steph Curry, no, nothing this cartoonishly wrong. Instead, the Ball patriarch said that he felt his youngest son, Lamelo, would be the best out of his 3 children. Lamelo was 16 years at this point in time, still grinding on the AAU circuit(for those unaware, AAU is the premier competitive organization for youth basketball players, almost every NBA today has played for at least one team).

He was blissfully unaware of the chaos that would follow: in just a few months he’d be yanked away from his idyllic life and be playing in the Lithuanian professional league. Barely 17 years old, playing in a league full of grown men fighting for a paycheck. It was trial by fire, and it undoubtedly made him tougher, however morally questionable it may have been(I think forcing your son to miss major life events so he can get hip checked by 35 year olds is bad parenting, but hey it seems to have worked out). After sometime in the NBL, the Australian professional league, Lamelo was draft eligible, and managed to prove his dad right. Rookie of the Year, All-Star last year, and at 21 he’s only going to get better.

Best Attribute: Playmaking

When you draw comparisons to Magic Johnson, you’re probably a pretty good playmaker. Like all the best playmakers, Lamelo is a showman; looking to not only deliver the assist, but amaze the crowd at the same time. There’s a reason why the fans the love him, he does stuff like this. For all the showboating though, there’s substance beneath the flash. Melo has great spacial awareness, he’s perfectly aware of exactly where the nine other players on the court are, and has the touch to deliver a beautiful needle threading pass or put just enough air under a lob for a thunderous dunk. The highlights are nice, but they don’t happen without Lamelo’s extremely high level processing and a deep understanding of the game.

Worst Attribute: Defensive Effort

Can Lamelo be a good defender? Probably, he’s tall for a point guard(6′ 6″) has moments where he uses his length and instincts to disrupt his matchup and come away with clean steal or block. Most of the time however, Ball looks disinterested. He falls asleep off ball, and usually little more than a traffic cone at the point of attack. It’s not the lack of success that bothers me, he still a super young player with plenty of room to grow. No, what bothers me is that Lamelo doesn’t really seem to give a shit about defense. You’d like to see the face of the franchise hold himself to a higher standard- and to win more games. In the two win or game Play In games Charlotte’s had over the past two years, they’ve given up 144 and 132 points, both in losses. Hopefully the defensive oriented Steve Clifford can instill better habits into Lamelo.

#19: Tyrese Haliburton

“League Darling Thanks to His Incredible Talent and Affable Personality, But Has to Make Improvements on Both Sides of the Ball to Live Up to the Hype”

Last Season Stats: 15.3 points, 8.2 assists, 4.0 rebounds

Breakdown: I love Tyrese Haliburton, both the player and the man. He lights up the room with a smile then lights up the court with his highlight reel plays. Haliburton is a sweet shooting, dime dropping stud who Indiana is blessed to have as their franchise player.

Being a Kings fan, finding out we traded Hali was an absolute gut punch. Literally, I felt sick to my stomach. In that moment whatever return we got for him didn’t matter, I just didn’t want to believe we’d traded my guy. He felt the same way. As much as it sucks to lose him, I think both sides can come out of the deal ahead. Sacramento gets a beast at center to help them break the 16 year playoff drought, and Indiana get to finally reset with a stud point guard to build around. It’s a win-win, and I’m excited to watch the Pacers kick some ass once their tank ends.

Best Attribute: Running the Offense

Haliburton is an extremely splashable player. What do I mean by that? Basically, you can put him in any lineup or situation, and he’ll succeed. He’s not really boxed in by any offensive deficiencies, he can make any combination of players work around him. That’s not to say Haliburton doesn’t have weakness on offense; he’s not an especially strong finisher, plays passive when he should be aggressive, and can have trouble shaking off stronger defenders, but these limitations don’t stop him from being a phenomenal offensive engine. Tyrese is lights out from three, with a quick trigger release that, while unconventional, is highly effective. This allows him to be one of the smoothest pick and roll operators in the league, by forcing the defense to put extra effort in to deny the three point shot. Once he gets down hill, he manipulates the defense with his eyes to create the slightest of openings for him to laser a pass. Whether it’s a lob to a rolling big man or cross body pass to shooter in the corner, Hali is on the money every time. His shotmaking and playmaking make him a one person offensive engine, and allows his coaches more wiggle room in the lineups they send out with him.

Worst Attribute: On Ball Defense

Off the ball, Hali has a great nose for jumping passing lanes. On the ball though, he really struggles. He’s tall at 6′ 5″, which is good, but he’s thin, and not wiry thin like Dejounte Murray, but skinny thin. Haliburton struggles to hold his ground against, well, anybody. Take the Kings-Pacers matchup this March, where Davion Mitchell dropped 25 points on Tyrese. Hali had no chance, he got blown by repeatedly, and if he wasn’t just driven past he was bodied out of the way. This isn’t even an exception, it’s just the rule. Haliburton gets shredded on the ball. He gets caught on screens, lost on quick blow bys, and doesn’t have the physicality to bang down low. Because of this, Tyrese is a negative on defense. Will he improve? Absolutely. But as of me writing this, Hali has a lot to fix on the defensive side of the ball.

#20: CJ McCollum

“After Years as the Number Two, He Finally Get His Chance to Shine in New Orleans“

Last Season Stats: 22.1 points, 5.1 assists, 4.3 rebounds 

Breakdown: Ok sure, maybe he isn’t the full time point guard for the Pelicans. It’s a revolving door in New Orleans, with Jose Alverado, Devonte Graham, and maybe even rookie Dyson Daniels manning the point in the regular season. But in crunch time, the big games(and most importantly, during the Pelicans playoff run last year), New Orleans puts the ball in the hands of the veteran they trust the most to lead this team: CJ McCollum.

You know the saying, “always the bridesmaid, never the bride.” Well, that’s pretty much CJ McCollum’s career. For years in Portland, CJ was widely agreed to be the best second option in the league(second option to one Damian Lilliard, #5 in these rankings). He’s probably the best player to never make an All-Star game, but you never heard him complain about the lack of respect. Nope, he just put his head down, went to work, and when he was traded to the Pelicans and finally given the shot to be the leading man, he took full advantage. His mid-season arrival through trade was part of the catalyst that sparked the Pelicans cinderella run to the playoffs, winning two play in games and pushing the #1 Seeded Suns to 6 games. It was a great trailer, but this season it’s time for the full movie.

Best Attribute: Scoring

As Dan Devine so elegantly put it in his article about the CJ trade, “McCollum’s a tick below All-Star status, but he’s a quality complementary scorer, facilitator, and caretaker.” McCollum doesn’t make very many mistakes with the ball in his hands. Most players with his level of usage have higher turnover rates, which is expected, but McCollum gives you the best of both worlds; high usage scoring and ball handling while taking care of the rock. CJ relies on technical footwork and tight handles to create scoring opportunities. While he can get to the cup, he prefers a diet of floaters and pull up jumpers as his bread and butter. He does a lot of his best work off the ball, (which he learned from years in Portland with Dame) especially as a knockdown catch and shoot guy. McCollum can run the pick and roll with expertise, and in a tight game can be counted on to score tough isolation buckets. All around, CJ just gets the job done at every aspect of scoring.

Worst Attribute: Defense

Just like the two guys above him, McCollum’s biggest drawback is defensive chops, or lack thereof. It’s not a lack of effort like Lamelo, or a need to grow into his body like Tyrese, it’s just that CJ is a wholly mediocre defender. He’s not going to lose you games, but he needs to a cog in a larger defensive system, rather then relied upon to shut down his matchup by himself. Thankfully, he’s got defensive savant Herb Jones as a backcourt partner in New Orleans, which should help cover up his deficiencies.

#21: Cade Cunningham

“The Former Number 1 Overall Pick Looking To Continue to Prove He’s Worth the Hype“

Last Season Stats: 17.4 points, 5.6 assists, 5.5 rebounds

Breakdown: In the 16th game of Cade Cunningham’s career, he put up 13 points, snagged 12 rebounds, and dropped 10 dimes, his first career triple double. It was a display of the poise, knowledge of the game, and all the tools you’d expect to see from a seasoned veteran, not some rookie that’s not even old enough to drink. Cunningham was cool as ice afterwards. No celebration necessary, after all, it was just another day at the office.

There’s a disproportionate amount of pressure put on the number 1 pick in any draft. The team drafting them is bad, but this rookie represents a brighter future. Being the first guy off the board puts a target on your back; every mistake amplified, every success written off, everything you do is under intense scrutiny. Every rookie has to go through that of course, but it’s just a different level for the first pick. It’s crazy, we put the weight of the world on the shoulders of these kids, then act surprised when they flame out, or don’t meet the insane(one might even say unrealistic) expectations set for them. The psychological adjustment to the NBA is oftentimes just as hard as the physical one. So when I say that Cunningham’s veteran poise is impressive, I mean it both on and off the court.

Best Attribute: Control Of The Game

Standing at 6′ 6″ and weighing in at 220 pounds, Cade has the measureables of small forward rather than a point guard. He’s shown the ability to score at all three levels, although he needs improvement(as we’ll talk about later). Cunningham is a true playmaker though, utilizing his size to see over smaller defenders and dissect the defense. His threatening ability to score allows him to draw the defense in and kick out, which is much easier for Cade thanks to his large frame. On defense, while Cade had many of the same struggles rookies often have when making the NBA leap, he did much better than most. Again, his size is his greatest asset, allowing him be a menace on ball while having the wingspan to disrupt passing lanes. Overall, Cade is in control of nearly all aspects of the game at all times, using his size and basketball IQ to breakdown opponents on both sides of the ball. There’s no doubt in my mind that Cade will have a massive jump in the rankings when I make this list next season.

Worst Attribute: Scoring Efficiency

Cade doesn’t have a quick first step. He’s able to mitigate that with heady play and supreme understanding how to manipulate the defense with his size and footwork, but that can only take you so far. What Cade needs is a knockdown jumper, to force the defense the play him tight and open up driving lanes. Unfortunately, his jumper just isn’t there yet. 31% from behind the arc last season, and is mid-range is the same story. He also doesn’t finish at the rim as well as you’d like to see for his size, but that’s a lock to improve over time. While Cade had some big scoring games, he got his points by taking 16 shots a game, and only shooting 41% from the floor on the year. Should Cade continue to be an inefficent scorer, the defense won’t have to play him tight at all, which would neuter his playmaking. But, if he ups that shooting percentage and improves his finishing on NBA level athletes, then there’s no limit to what Cade can accomplish.

#22: Jalen Brunson

“Tough Scorer Who Makes Up for his Size With A Deep Array of Moves and Counters“

Last Season Stats: 16.3 points, 4.8 assists, 3.9 rebounds

Breakdown: The breakout star of the 2022 Playoffs, Brunson earned himself a hefty $104 million contract with the Knicks. He was perfect compliment to the heliocentric basketball god that is Luka Doncic, with his ability to score in bunches without needing the ball in his hands. However, Brunson is even more dangerous when he’s the one running the show. The Knicks have needed a guy like that since Linsanity, and Brunson has all of the tools to be everything New York’s been searching for.

Best Attribute: Feel For The Game

“Everything about me has always been about hitting singles with occasional home runs,” said Jalen Brunson when asked about his style of play. It’s a pretty good self-scouting report: Brunson minimizes turnovers and carelessness with the ball by playing sound basketball within the flow of the game. You won’t see very many absurd Doncic-esq highlights(although he’s certainly capable of going nuclear), but with his seemingly infinite bag of moves, Brunson gets buckets nightly. He’s not a flashy passer, but he is a good one, able to dissect the defense when he gets into the lane. In pick and roll and isolation, Brunson is a smooth operator, constantly putting his team in winning situations. Also, he steps up in the big moments, as evidenced by his playoff run last year, in which the Mavs outperformed every expectation to make it to the Western Conference Finals. Brunson is a fundamentally sound extremely savvy leader of the team. He never puts his team at a disadvantage, is get a shot off at any moment, and creates good looks for his teammates. What’s not love about Jalen Brunson?

Worst Attribute: Limited Athleticism

There’s a reason why Brunson relies heavily on footwork and anticipation, he’s not a prototypical NBA athlete. He’s obviously a gifted athlete to be in the NBA, he blows the average person out of the water. But in a world where everyone is extraordinary, Brunson is just ordinary. It was the biggest knock of him coming into the league, and why he fell to the second round. The burst isn’t anything to write home about, and while he’s strong enough to handle the physicality inside and create space, his limited height(listed at 6′ 1″) makes every shot harder then it should be. He’s a master at hitting difficult shots by necessity, not naturally. Defensively, it’s pretty self explanatory why a small, limited athlete has a difficult time sticking with matchups. Thankfully he’s pretty strong, which allows him to make up for his deficiencies with physicality. Brunson is the definition of hard work over natural talent, and has given himself all the tools he needs to overcome his physical limitations.

#23: D’Angelo Russell

“A Legit Floor General, Who Still Needs to Prove He’s Worth the Price Tag“

Last Season Stats: 18.1 points, 7.1 assists, 3.3 rebounds

Breakdown: Who isn’t excited for the Timberwolves this season? After a joyous 2022 season that saw the T-Wolves make the playoffs for the first time since the one-year rental of Jimmy Butler, Minnesota swung big(literally) and traded for 3 time Defensive Player of the year Rudy Gobert It was the coronation of years of belief in Karl Anthony-Towns as their franchise cornerstone. Without a resurgence from D’Angelo Russell, none of this success would be possible

When Russell was traded to the Timberwolves the move was met with relative praise around the league. It looked like Minnesota was dumping an overpaid underperforming player in Andrew Wiggins for a up and coming young star. Sure, you gave your first round pick, but it was a necessary sweetener to seal the deal, right? Right? Today, well, to be honest the trade looks like a complete heist for the Warriors(this article turned out to be very prophetic in hindsight). Wiggins and Jonathon Kuminga(the player selected with Minnesota’s 9th overall pick) played key roles in Golden State’s championship win. Wiggins especially found new life, beating the draft bust accusations and being the second best player on the team most nights(hot take but I’ll fight stand by it). Russell has been good, but this season is a chance for him to take a massive leap. Will he return to All-Star form and guide the T-Wolves’ talented big men to success? Or will he continue to be solid with fleeting glimpses of brilliance? Only time will tell.

Best Attribute: Playmaking

DLo used to be a score first player, but after joining KAT in Minnesota, he adapted; being a lethal secondary scoring option and focusing on running the show instead. When the high flying Anthony Edwards was drafted, Russell dedicated himself to the craft even more, and now it’s become his greatest asset. And now that Rudy Gobert is on the squad, he’ll have a true lob threat for the first time in his T-Wolves career. So far it looks promising. DLo just knows how to get dudes open, using the threat of his shot making to draw the defense and drop dimes over the top of them. With KAT and Ant as one of the best 1-2 scoring punches in the league, Russell should get plenty of assists just by setting the table for them and letting them go to work.

Worst Attribute: Defensive Awareness

Despite being 6′ 4″, Russell has never been a good defender. It really showed it’s head against the Grizzlies in first round, a series where both teams played like they were AAU teams with brain damage. DLo isn’t a fan of contact, but instead of making up for it with smart rotations and anticipation, he gets lost on defense and puts more pressure on his team to cover for him. To be fair, the blitz heavy defensive scheme that Minnesota ran last year thrived on creating chaos, so it’s forgivable is Russell occasionally got lost in it. With the dominant Gobert manning the middle, he’ll get a lot of leeway to make mistakes and have it fixed by the big Frenchman. But in a more refined system, DLo will have to be a more refined defender, otherwise he risks being a playoff liability to a contending team.

#24: Alex Caruso

“Impressive Defender and Solid Player, But Needs Improvement Running the Show“

Last Season Stats: 7.4 points, 4.0 assists and 3.6 rebounds 

Breakdown: Look, in all fairness to Caruso he shouldn’t be the Bulls representative on this list. It should be Lonzo Ball, who would probably rank higher. But with Ball’s status to even play this year up in the air, Alex will likely slide over to the 1 and take over Ball’s responsibilities. (While editing this Billy Donovan announced that Ayo Dosumnu will be the starter on opening night. Why’d you wait so long to annouce it Billy. Are you trying to make me look like a fool Billy?).

Caruso is not a true point guard, thus why he ranks so low on the list about point guards. But don’t let this low placement and the meager counting stats fool you, Alex Caruso is a very good NBA player. He hangs his hat on defense, doing the dirty work necessary to win teams games. It’s not sexy, it doesn’t get you the glory, but it’s the reason why he has a ring under his belt. He isn’t a huge scoring threat or a playmaking savant, but he is a capable ball handler who can keep the offense moving, while being a monster on defense.

Best Attribute: Defense/Hustle

Everyone though Alex Caruso was a joke player. Funny white guy who’s balding in his 20s and had a few crazy highlights. Then in 2020 he was on the floor with Lebron and AD for the Lakers’ closing lineups in the playoffs. From G-League to bit player to critical championship piece, the Alex Caruso career arc is incredible. Why the meteoric rise? He personifies everything your high school basketball coach fawned over. Gritty player, hustles for every loose ball, does anything the coach asks him to do to win, dude’s intangibles are so good they’re tangible(I would also let him date my daughter). He’s got great feet, great screen navigation, he’s one of the best perimeter defenders in the league. Look at the Bulls recent playoff series against the Bucks; sure they lost because Giannis is the equivalent of Thanos on a basketball court, but that shit wasn’t Caruso’s fault. Look, when your 6′ 4″ 186 pound point guard is battling with a 6′ 11″ 243 pound destroyer of worlds, he immediately has my respect. That personifies Alex Caruso, he’s got that it factor, dare I say that dawg in him. (Also this video of him breaking down film is pretty interesting).

Worst Attribute: Offense

I mean, he’s not bad on offense. He keeps the ball moving, will take open shots, he’s a cog in the machine. He shoots the three well enough(36.6% on his career) to stretch the defense, but he’s not going to create his own shot. Simply put, Caruso is not really comfortable being the head of the offense, and usually doesn’t have to be, in LA he had Lebron and in Chicago he has DeMar and Zach Lavine. So the offense isn’t technically bad, he’s just a very limited cog in an offensive machine, who can’t be relied upon to carry the playmaking or the scoring load.

#25: Kyle Lowry

“A Rocky Start in Miami Has Raised Questions About How Much Gas Lowry Has Left in the Tank“

Last Season Stats: 13.4 points, 7.5 assists, 4.5 rebounds 

Breakdown: Who wouldn’t want to retire in Miami? You’ve got beautiful beaches, a great culture, Udonis Haslem playing his 190th season, there’s just so much to love. Kyle Lowry clearly agrees, which is why the greatest player in Raptors history(notice how I said greatest not best, the best is Kawhi, technically Hakeem if you wanna count those years)(Please pretend it didn’t happen like the rest of us) asked to be traded to the Heat. It made sense from a basketball stand point too; Lowry came with a championship pedigree, is a well-respected leader, and while declining, still looked to have some good basketball left. Then the wheels fell off.

It’s not that Lowry was bad, not so much in the regular season anyway. His scoring was down but he had some big moments and was still running the offense well, overall he was still the Lowry of old, just older(ba dum tiss). Then the playoffs rolled around, and a bum hamstring seemed to age Lowry 50 years overnight. He only played 10 of the 17 playoff games the Heat played, and in them he was a ghost of himself. Career lows across the board, most notably an abysmal 29% from the field and 24% from three(on 5 attempts a game). He’s a had full offseason to rehab, but at 36 years old, one has to wonder how much longer Lowry has left in the NBA.

Best Attribute: Control of the Game

Similar to Chris Paul, Lowry made a career off of heady play, intangible skills, and showing up in the clutch. Unlike Chris Paul, Lowry has a ring to show for it. Sure, the NBA is known for having superhumans, people who can jump out of the gym, knockdown shots from the parking lot, various other hyperboles, you get the point. The thing is, even with all these athletes, it’s the smartest guy on the court that’s gonna have the most success. Lowry is always the smartest guy on the court. Coupled with his knockdown shooting, impeccable feel for the game and playmaking, with dogged hustle on defense, and you’ve got a future Hall Of Fame point guard(or at least in the Raptors Hall of Fame).

Worst Attribute: Age

Kyle might just be cooked, sad as it is to say. Maybe he’s being weighed down by his dump truck ass, or maybe a hamstring injury at 36 is really difficult to recover from. Lowry isn’t the player he was, but the question is can he even be a player that deserves to start? His contract runs for two more seasons, and he’s set to make *check notes* $28 MILLION ANNUALLY?? He’s at the risk of becoming the next Russell Westbrook; a washed former All-NBA player who’s massive contract makes him a burden on his team.

#26: Reggie Jackson

“His Career Was Revitalized by the Clippers, Now He Has to Prove He Can Run Point for a Championship Team”

Last Season Stats: 16.8 points, 4.8 assists, 3.6 rebounds

Breakdown: Last season was kind of like a trial run for the Clippers. With Kawhi out and Paul George missing a majority of the year, their supporting cast rallied together to put together a winning season at 42-40. Sure, they lost both of their play in games, but the Clips showed that they have the best depth in the league. The man spearheading this operation of super role players was none other then the one, the only, Reggie Jackson

After starting his career in OKC, Jackson went from the end of the bench top spot starter, before a mid-season trade brought him to Detriot, where he took the starting job and ran with it, averaging 17.6 points and 9.2 assists after the trade. He kept it up the next season, upping his scoring to 18.8 a game and helped get what can only be classified as a fascinating roster to the playoffs. The seasons that followed were tumultuous, as Jackson’s play become more and more inconsistent. It seemed like the best of his career was behind when he was traded to LA. Instead, he had a resurgence, taking the starting spot on the Clippers and helped guide the team to the Western Conference finals. This past season he had the best counting stats in 6 years, and this year Jackson looks to prove he can be the one to guide the Clips to the promise land.

Best Attribute: Running the Offense

Reggie Jackson is the quintessential solid veteran point guard. He’s a threat to score at all three levels, runs the pick and well enough, drives and kicks to open shooters, basically he does everything that’s asked of him on a given night. Consistency is a bit of an issue, as it’s been his whole career, but Jackson can still be a plus on offense thanks to his facilitating and willingness to do the dirty work. No matter what, Jackson will give you something positive

Worst Attribute: Defense

Look, Reggie hustles, he gets a few steals, and he does well enough within a good defensive system. He’s not going to lose you games on that end. But, if not supported, he is a below average NBA defender. Much like his offensive game, Jackson is an inconsistent defender, and struggles to stay with his man in nearly every context. You’d really like to see him pick up this side of the ball, especially since the margins for championship teams are so slim.

#27: Markelle Fultz

“Elite Flashes Showcase Why He Was The First Pick, But Injuries and Inconsistent Shooting Drag Him Down“

Last Season Stats: 10.8 points, 5.5 assists and 2.7 rebounds

Breakdown: Triumph over adversity is the story of Fultz’s career. He was otherworldly in college, a massive 6′ 4″ 209 pound lead guard with electric athleticism, elite defense, and most notably, a knockdown jumpshot. Then, everything got turned upside. The saga is too long and convoluted for me to explain here, so I highly recommend reading Haley O’Shaughnessy’s detailed breakdown of the timeline. It would be enough to break anybody’s spirit, but Fultz isn’t just anybody.

Having been through more before his 21st birthday then most players go through in a career, Fultz landed in Orlando as a reclamation project. Despite injury problems that have followed him around, Fultz has had moments where he’s shown why he was considered an easy number 1 pick. The Magic have given him the support to have both a new outlook on life and new hope for NBA success. Now it’s time for Markelle to prove them right for betting on him.

Best Attribute: Rim Pressure

Fultz is a big body who can go from 0-60 in an instant. He can bulldoze his way through the lane or hang in the air for a century and knockdown some crazy jelly layup. He has incredible body control and fluidity for his size. Basically, anytime Markelle is on the floor he puts pressure on the rim. It’s not a matter of if he’ll get to the basket but when. And once he gets there he’s got the aforementioned control to deliver a perfect pass to a waiting shooter or a cutting teammate. When fully healthy, I’d argue he could be in same tier as Ja and De’Aaron when it comes to straining the defense with drives to the rim. It goes to show how much untapped potential Fultz has at just 24 years old, and how exciting he is to watch.

Worst Attribute: 3 Point Shooting

You wanna know how badly that nerve injury messed up Markelle’s shot? Not once in his 5 NBA seasons has he ever finished above 30% from 3. And 30% is really bad! In fairness, he’s been injured the past two seasons, (another big issue for Fultz), but regardless shooting 26% from behind the arc on his career is awful. Defenders have zero reason to play within 5 feet of Fultz from 3, and that can almost negate his otherworldly driving ability. If his shooting doesn’t improve, he may find himself struggling to find minutes behind the other two young point guards on Orlando: Jalen Suggs and Cole Anthony. It’s now or never for Fultz, if the jumper doesn’t improve, his path forward becomes extremely murky.

#28: Collin Sexton

“ A Guy Who Can Heat Up Quick and Cool Off Quicker“

Last Season Stats: 16.0 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.1 assists 

Breakdown: I could’ve written about Mike Conley, the presumptive starter going into the season, but Sexton’s more fun(it’s almost the end of the list let me have this one). I have valid reasons too, Conely’s likely out the door, with Utah joining the tank for Victor Wembanyama. They already traded their two franchise guys and some solid veteran role players. Clearly, the youth movement is the priority.

Sexton, who was an acquisition from one the aforementioned trades, signed. a 4 year, $71 million dollar contract with Utah after arriving. Big money, especially for a guy who only player 11 games last season before tearing his meniscus. He’s worth the risk, and he’ll have plenty of opportunities to prove he’s worth being the franchise point guard for the Jazz. Unless they get the 2nd pick and draft Scoot Henderson.

Best Attribute: Three-Level Scoring

The single best performance of Collin Sexton’s young career was when took down the full strength Harden-Kyrie-KD Nets nearly single handedly. He dropped 42 points, including 20 in row to clinch the game in double OT. It’s phenomenal, he’s going punch for punch for some of the greatest scorers of all time, and came out on top. I highly recommend you watch this. Nights like this are why you gamble on Sexton, he’s got the moxie and ability to straight up take over games. He’s an explosive athlete, ripping his way to the rim where he finishes with remarkable poise for a smaller player. While he had a massive dip in 3 point percentage last season, not only was that a small sample size, but a league wide trend at the start of the season. For his career, Sexton has been an above average shooter both behind the arc and inside it(though he doesn’t take many mid-range shots he’s shown the ability to knock them down), and I don’t expect that to change. If nothing else, Jazz fans can expect an efficient three-level shot creator who’s capable of taking over games with his scoring.

Worst Attribute: Defense

This one should be quick, Sexton is near total negative on defense. He’s shown flashes of competency and even a few lockdown moments, but the consistency just isn’t there. His measurables are below average, 6′ 1″ 183 pounds, which for a point of attack perimeter is less than ideal. Sexton plays with ferocious intensity on both sides of the ball, which helps make up for lack of size. Unfortunately, Sexton’s liable to miscommunicate coverages, or sometimes over help on the ball and lose his man cutting on the backdoor. Additionally, he can play too high, getting caught on screens or biting on fakes too hard. Sexton has the right mentality to become a plus defender, he just has to clean up some of his technique.

#29: Russell Westbrook

“After His Disastrous First Season In LA, Can Westbrook Recapture Any of His Former Brilliance?“

Last Season Stats: 18.5 points, 7.1 assists, 7.4 rebounds

Breakdown: Wow, how the mighty have fallen. For curiosity’s sake, I went back and read some articles and tweets from last season, fresh after Westbrook was traded to the Lakers and formed a “big 3” that would “contend for a title”. That didn’t happen, and LA’s season blew up in their faces. Some people guessed what would unfold with remarkably accuracy, others (expectedly) were way off, (the comments under this one don’t disappoint). Like way, wayyyy off. Anytime you prove Skip Bayless right you should feel so bad. So that was last season, but it’s a new year, there’s new hope! That’s why the Lakers went out and got big names, like Juan Toscano-Anderson! And Wenyon Gabriel! And nobody on the roster can shoot! It’s gonna be great.

Best Attribute: He’s Still Russell Westbrook

As funny as it is to clown on the Lakers, I think we’ve forgotten that we’re barely a year removed from Russ doing shit like this. There were moments last season, where Russ resembled his former self as well. At the end the day, he still does a lot of thing well on the court. He gets boards well for a guard, which is always nice. 7 assists a game is nothing to sneeze at, especially considering the shooters Russ was passing to. Honestly, it’s kind of like spinning a roulette wheel on any given possession. Sometimes it’s clear why he’s a future Hall of Famer, other times you just want him to retire so he doesn’t taint his legacy.

Worst Attribute: Unwillingness to Adapt or Change His Game

Here’s a three minute video that says everything I could write here without words. I’ve said it before, but nobody misses a shot quite like Westbrook. When he misses a shot he MISSES that shit. It’s a like rocket that fires off the backboard at Mach 5. Truly, it’s worthy of being called a brick. But that connects to my main gripe with Westbrook. He’s not the guy he once was, he just isn’t willing to accept it. No longer is he a league MVP, who’s brute force drives to the rim broke anybody who got in his way. Now, instead of aging gracefully, Russ is pressing. He’s overcompensating, and that’s why you get a 3 minute video of absolutely head stratching bloopers. It looks like someone who’s never touched a basketball rather then what was before the season a consensus top 10-top 5 point guard. It’s honestly bizarre how quickly he declined, and a lot of it is mental. If he stopped trying to be 2017 Russell Westbrook and just tried to be the best 2022 Russell he could be, I think you’d see a resurgence from a guy who’s still one of the best talents in the league today.

#30: Kevin Porter Jr.

“The Skies the Limit, But The Floor Is Steep“

Last Season Stats: 15.6 points, 6.2 assists and 4.4 rebounds

Breakdown: Last season Kevin Porter Jr. got a full season to learn an entirely new position, and the results were…uneven. There were games where he looked completely in control, dropping dimes and scoring effectively. Then there were nights where everything looked out of wack, where he was forcing bad shots and throwing even worse turnovers. It’s hard to get a good read on a player when the situation around him is a chaotic mess(as most tanking teams are), so I erred toward the side of caution with my ranking here(if this were a tier list, KPJ would be in the same tier as many of the players I put above him, again these rankings are only superlative). That being said, Porter Jr. has all the potential in the world, and could end up being the best left hander to ever play for the Rockets.

Best Attribute: Dynamic Scoring

There is a very real chance KPJ makes me look like a dumbass for placing him this low on the list. I’m ok with that, because when Porter Jr. is on he is stupidly fun to watch. That boy nice. You know the drill, he’s got an endless bag of tricks, great movement for his size, the ability to get a shot up at all three levels, all of the tools are there. At 6′ 4″ and with a 6′ 9″ wingspan he’s got the size to shoot over smaller guard defenders. Again, it’s very easy to see the player KPJ can be. The issue has never been potential, but the realization of it. He’s so young, only 21 years old! He has so much time, and I can’t wait to see the player he becomes.

Worst Attribute: Consistency

The big C-word, consistency. I touched on it above, but the biggest issue for many young players is just that. The NBA is a different level, you have to compete against the top .000000000001%(maybe there’s even more zeros) of basketball players on a night to night basis, you also have to do so through an 82 game gauntlet. Bringing your A-game every single night is such a difficult task, especially for young players, who have to navigate so many other real world challenges along with succeeding on the court. It’s super difficult and can only be taught through a trial by fire, so the consistency will come with reps over time. Thankfully for KPJ, it doesn’t seem like the Rockets are going to be very competitive this year, so he’s got a lot more time to learn the ropes.

#31: Monte Morris

“Definition of a Solid Veteran, Just Not the Guy You Want as Your Starter“

Last Season Stats: 12.6 points, 4.4 assists and 3.0 rebounds

Breakdown: Who doesn’t love a fun bench guy? On good nights, Morris is deadly from all three levels, bombing from three, driving hard in the lane, and creating lob opportunities for his teammates(something he’s randomly really good at despite being a mediocre passer in every other metric). On bad nights, he’s an inefficient chucker who offers very little in any other phase of the game. At the moment it seems like Morris will be the opening night starter in Washington, and we’ll see how long he holds onto that job with the ever steady Delon Wright and the 10th overall pick Johnny Davis nipping at his heels. Relatively young at 26, there’s still time for Morris to grow into a legitimate starter, but for now he’s still best suited for a 6th man role.

Best Attribute: Microwave Offensive

On any given night, Morris can give you buckets. He runs hard in the fastbreak off missed shots and cuts hard through the lane, which is why he was a great compliment to Nikola Jokic’s other worldly passing ability. Morris is super quick, darting past lazy help defenders and the average perimeter defender. He’s got a sneaky amount of athleticism, which he uses to both knock down all types of movement shots and get circus layups to fall. The best quality Morris has is the constant threat that he can heat up at any given moment. All needs to see is one shot hit nylon and before you know it he’s finishing the night with 20 points and the W.

Worst Attribute: Defense

There’s a reason dynamic scorers like Lou Williams, Tyler Herro, Jordan Clarkson, etc. come off the bench. They can’t guard a parked car. As the 6th man, these types of players are given the green light to shoot as much as they want, while getting an easier defensive matchup against bench units. Monte Morris fits this mold perfectly, and he did it very well in Denver. After Jamal Murray’s injury last season, Morris stepped into the starting role, and while he preformed well enough on offense, his defense got exposed. Especially in the playoffs agains the Warriors, Morris routinely cooked on blow bys, miscommunicated assignments, and overall offered little to no resistance at the point of attack or anywhere else. In fairness to Morris, he had to go against the #1 guy in these rankings and the eventual champions, but there’s a reason why Monte is a “sparkplug bench guy” instead of “solid starter on a championship contender” He’s got good instincts when it comes to poking the ball away or jumping the occasional pass, but that’s about it for defensive positives.

#32: Tre Jones

“A Former Second Round Pick Looking to Fill the Void Left by the Dejounte Murray Trade“

Last Season Stats: 6.0 points, 3.4 assists and 2.2 rebounds

Breakdown: It’s probably not a good sign that during my research on Tre Jones the first articles that came up were about how the Spurs are going to play point guard “by committee” and arguing for why Jones should play point guard instead of Josh Primo, a 20 year old wing who’s never officially ran the point. But hey, let’s give Jones the same respect we’ve given everyone else, and take a lot at what he’s got.

Best Attribute: Efficiency

Tre Jones is an extremely efficient player. There’s a reason why Greg Popovich likes him; he’s smart, doesn’t turn the ball over, and looks to create for others before himself. Despite a limited dribble package Jones is sneaky athletic, with enough burst to get by unsuspecting defenders and good touch around the rim. Off the ball he’s a hard cutter who doesn’t stagnate the offense. On defense he’s limited by his smaller stature but he hustles and has good instincts, especially when comes to poking the ball out of the hands of ball handlers. There isn’t one thing Jones does at an especially high level, but he does so many things well, and plays more like a 10 year vet then a 22 year old. There’s definitely a player here, I wouldn’t be surprised if Jones carves out a double digit year career. For now he’s still a pretty raw prospect, but one to keep an eye on for sure.

Worst Attribute: Shooting

10-51 from three last year. 19.6%. Yikes. Jones also shies away from mid-range shots, preferring to either get to the rim or pass it away. This can be chalked up to limited playing time early in his career. At this point, however, Jones doesn’t have a choice but to improve. He’ll never be a gung-ho three point bomber, but with an expanded role he’ll step into one or two long range tries a game, which in a perfect world gives him the reps to bring up that ghastly percentage. Bluntly, this is the swing skill that separates Jones from a long NBA career or a tour around the world playing internationally. I’m rooting for him.