Bleacherreport
Inside the NBA Crew's Top 50 Player Rankings Heading into 2024-25 Season, Part 1
J.Jones21 min ago
- AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post Versatility is the name of the game in today's NBA, and this first batch of stars is loaded with it. Seven or eight players featured here will spend significant time at different positions this season. Hence, some positional designations that differ slightly from the traditional five. One of the best perimeter defenders in the NBA and an increasingly reliable playmaker and catch-and-shoot threat, Derrick White could be a star for several teams, but he's happily taken on a lesser role for a title favorite.Evan Mobley, Big (Cavaliers) It feels like there's still plenty of climbing for Evan Mobley to do on lists like this, but that'll depend on the development of his outside shot. Even if that never comes, though, his defense and passing make him an uncontroversial top-50 player.48. Alperen Şengün, Center (Rockets) Alperen Şengün is one of the league's most dynamic playmaking 5s. The 22-year-old's post scoring is more advanced than most players his age, too.Chet Holmgren, Big (Thunder) Though he spent the bulk of last season playing center, Chet Holmgren may be more of a 4 (or even a wing) in lineups with incoming big man Isaiah Hartenstein—at least when the latter returns in potentially five to six weeks from a hand injury. When that happens, that should give Holmgren, who's already a well-established rim-protector, an opportunity to showcase his perimeter skills.Tyler Herro, Guard (Heat) Perhaps one of the early surprises of the aggregated list, Tyler Herro cracks the top 50 thanks in large part to Shaq having him in his personal top 40. It's not crazy to expect a leap from the 24-year-old scorer, though. He's averaged at least 20 points and four assists in each of his last three seasons.Brandon Ingram, Wing (Pelicans) Lack of three-point volume and ho-hum scoring efficiency may have some of the masses out on Brandon Ingram, but he remains a dangerous mid-range scorer and underrated distributor.Aaron Gordon, Forward (Nuggets) One of the more versatile forwards in the league, Aaron Gordon can handle the ball, operate as one of Nikola Jokić's favorite targets from the dunker's spot and defend the opposition's best wings and forwards. And as if that's not enough, he's also functioned as the Nuggets' backup center in each of the last two postseasons (one of which ended with a title).Bradley Beal, Guard (Suns) It's safe to say we've entered the post-prime era of Bradley Beal's career. Injuries may be a pretty common part of his reality going forward. But in his new role as a third option in Phoenix, he also posted career highs in true shooting percentage ( 60.7 ) and three-point percentage (43.0).LaMelo Ball, Point Guard (Hornets) It feels like sort of a prove-it year for LaMelo Ball, who's appeared in just 58 games over the last two seasons. When available, he's one of the most productive playmakers in the league (23.5 points, 8.3 assists, 5.9 rebounds and 3.7 threes over that stretch). He just hasn't been available much.DeMar DeRozan, Wing (Kings) He's aging into his mid-30s and still may be a little overreliant on mid-range shooting, but DeMar DeRozan has proved capable of playing anywhere from the 2 to the 4 and is suddenly one of the league's more underrated distributors. Again, playmaking and versatility are in abundance here, but the crew is ready to up the ante on talent for the next 10.
- Melissa Tamez/Icon Sportswire via This group boasts plenty of scoring, including some stars looking to prove they're superstars and a few stretch 4s and 5s pushing the big-men-with-skill revolution forward.40. Kristaps Porziņģis, Center (Celtics) He'll miss the first several weeks of the season recovering from an ankle/foot injury, but Kristaps Porziņģis is one of the league's best three-and-D centers. His outside shooting is critical to Boston's historically dominant attack.James Harden, Guard (Clippers) James Harden had one of the widest ranges of outcomes of anyone in this exercise. Kenny (a guard) had him in the top 15. Shaq barely had him in the top 50. And he didn't make Chuck's list at all. And honestly, any of those three outcomes are legitimately in the cards. With a bigger role following the departure of Paul George, he could average 20 and 10 and help the depleted Clippers scrape into the playoffs. His numbers could look like they did last season (16.6 points and 8.5 assists), with L.A. just sort of hovering around the middle of the West. Or age could catch up to the 35-year-old in a bigger role, and Kawhi Leonard could miss a bunch of time, resulting in the Clippers missing the play-in altogether (which many analysts are predicting).Lauri Markkanen, Big (Jazz) One of the most unique offensive weapons in the NBA, Lauri Markkanen was top-40 in the league in both threes made and dunks last season, despite appearing in just 55 games. Among volume scorers, he's one of the game's quickest decision-makers, too.Jaren Jackson Jr, Big (Grizzlies) Another three-and-D big man, Jaren Jackson Jr. blocks and alters plenty of shots as a weak-side rim protector, and he can take over quarters with his outside shooting, too., Forward (Pelicans) After storming onto the scene with a combination of size and athleticism that we hadn't really seen since prime Barkley, the 6'6", 284-pound Zion Williamson has faded from the limelight in recent years. With a more traditional playmaker in Dejounte Murray now on the team, his scoring average could bounce back up to the high 20s.Trae Young, Point Guard (Hawks) Over the last few years, it's felt like Trae Young's faults have gotten a lot more attention than his strengths. And yes, he's undersized and sometimes a problem on defense, but he's also one of the best and most prolific offensive engines in the NBA. With Murray now in New Orleans, he could threaten for a 30-and-10 campaign.Scottie Barnes, Forward (Raptors) Scottie Barnes broke out as a dynamic point forward and multipositional defender last season, earning his first All-Star nod and averaging 19.9 points, 8.2 rebounds, 6.1 assists, 1.5 blocks and 1.3 steals. If he becomes a more consistent three-point shooter, he'll be a perennial All-NBA contender.Pascal Siakam, Forward (Pacers) Pascal Siakam can realistically play anywhere from the 3 to the 5 and has long been a solid slasher and underrated playmaker. If he can shoot for an entire season like he did after the trade to the Indiana Pacers (he hit 38.6 percent of his triples in the blue and gold), he'll be in the hunt for an All-Star nod.Jamal Murray, Guard (Nuggets) After Jamal Murray struggled in the 2024 playoffs and Paris Olympics, the Denver Nuggets showed some faith in him and signed him to a max extension anyway. If he can play as he did in the 2023 title run, he'll be worth every penny. If injuries have permanently slowed him down, the Nuggets could be in a little trouble for the next few years.Julius Randle, Forward (Timberwolves) It'll be interesting to see how Julius Randle fits on a team with a high-usage top option in Anthony Edwards and a non-shooting center in Rudy Gobert. Things could feel awfully cramped, but he's long been a good and willing passer (even if he may hold onto the ball a bit too long at times). And his ability to control possessions should take some pressure off Edwards. Now, we move into the top 30 with a group that's loaded with multi-time All-Stars and All-NBA players. The level of talent at this point in the exercise is a good reminder of just how stacked the league is right now.
- Jason Miller/ In a few weeks, everyone here could have legitimate arguments to crack the top 20, but that's a tough group to get into. Being one of the 30 best players in today's NBA is a monumental feat. Kawhi Leonard hasn't finished a playoff run healthy since 2020. He sat out this entire preseason for maintenance on a current knee injury. So, it's fair to be skeptical about his impact in 2024-25. But having him out of the top 50 entirely (like Chuck did) is bold. Even after missing all of 2021-22, he's 30th since the start of that campaign in total wins over replacement player.Tyrese Maxey, Guard (76ers) An up-and-coming playoff riser, Tyrese Maxey has a career box plus/minus in the postseason that nearly doubles his regular-season mark. And with a legitimate third star on the roster with him and Joel Embiid, Maxey's slashing and outside shooting could be even more dangerous. As teams send help to either Embiid or Paul George, he will be able to exploit scrambled defenses.Jrue Holiday, Guard (Celtics) Even in his mid-30s, Jrue Holiday may still be the best point-of-attack defender in the NBA. His low-mistake playmaking makes life easier for Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, too. And in 2023-24, he shot a staggering 61.9 percent on corner three-point attempts.Karl-Anthony Towns, Big (Knicks) Karl-Anthony Towns should look better with the New York Knicks than he did over his last couple of seasons for the Timberwolves. He's back to his natural position of center and will be able to attack a restricted area that won't be clogged up by a rim-runner. His 25-and-10 days could be on their way back.Domantas Sabonis, Center (Kings) If it wasn't for Jokić, Domantas Sabonis would almost certainly be praised as the NBA's best playmaking center since his dad, Arvydas, was in the league. Last season, he averaged a whopping 8.2 assists, but that's obviously not all he provides. Sabonis is also a battering ram of a scorer inside and has led the NBA in rebounds per game in each of the last two seasons.Tyrese Haliburton, Point Guard (Pacers) An injury slowed Tyrese Haliburton pretty dramatically in 2023-24, but he looked like a near-lock for an All-NBA nod in the early portion of the season. In his first 33 games, he put up 23.6 points, 12.5 assists and 3.4 threes, while shooting 40.3 percent from deep. If he's healthy and putting up numbers like that again, the Indiana Pacers have a real shot to contend again.De'Aaron Fox, Point Guard (Kings) One of the league's fastest end-to-end playmakers, De'Aaron Fox showed significant improvement on two of his only weaknesses in 2023-24. Last season, he shot 36.9 percent from deep (up from 32.1 percent over his first six seasons) and led the league in steals per game at 2.0.Donovan Mitchell, Guard (Cavaliers)Damian Lillard, Point Guard (Bucks) Damian Lillard's effective field-goal percentage dropped over five points from 2022-23 to 2023-24, and it may be a little optimistic to expect a full bounce back in his age-34 campaign. But he has now had a full season and change to adjust to his new role and team. And playing with Giannis Antetokounmpo means he'll often face disadvantaged defenses. Another All-Star campaign could be on the way.Jimmy Butler, Wing (Heat) If "Playoff Jimmy" Butler, who Barkley described as "just a winner," shows up for the entire regular season, the Miami Heat could be in the mix for a top-four seed, and this ranking might look a little low. But part of the reason we all know "Playoff Jimmy" so well is Butler's more relaxed approach to the regular season. That might change in this contract year, but we have multiple seasons of evidence to suggest he will treat the season like a warm-up for the playoffs. That's it for now, folks. But don't worry, you'll get the full lists for all three members of the crew next week, as well as the aggregate ranking for the trio.
Read the full article:https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10135743-inside-the-nba-crews-top-50-player-rankings-heading-into-2024-25-season-part-1
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