Best of: The Top 100 NBA Players Entering The 2017–18 Season, Part 2: #75–51
As we enter the second portion of this list, we go from mostly role players to quality starters. There is one big difference between players 100 through 76 and 75 through 51- defense. Many players in the bottom quarter lacked one or two key tools, causing them to fall. But as we get higher on the ladder, many more complete players will appear.
#75: Danilo Gallinari, F, Los Angeles Clippers
Gallinari is the best Small Forward the Clippers have had in a very long time- however, he isn’t best utilized as a Small Forward. He excels playing as a small-ball Power Forward, but he won’t get that opportunity with the Clips, playing alongside two dominant big-men in Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan. His shooting will help space the floor for those guys, but there is going to be a lot of untapped potential with his game for the Clippers.
#74: Clint Capela, C, Houston Rockets
Capela’s defense, rim protection and ability to catch alley-oops at any time make him one of the league’s most underrated players. He is a perfect fit with fellow Rockets Chris Paul and James Harden. He’s exceled as the roll-man in pick-and-rolls with Harden already, and Paul is just another masterful passer to get him good looks.
#73: Markelle Fultz, PG, Philadelphia 76ers
Markelle Fultz will have no weaknesses at the next level. He struggled with guarding his opponents in his lone year of college basketball at Washington, but is a good off-ball defender has all of the athletic tools neccesary to become a very good defender on-ball. He’s already a solid shooter, playmaker, and finisher. He can score at all three levels with minimal effort. He has a play style reminiscent of that of James Harden, as he loves to slowly and methodically maneuver his way around defenses. The Sixers have got yet another young star on their hands.
#72: Dennis Schroder, PG, Atlanta Hawks
Schroder has been a decent player for a few years, but this was the year many expected him to make the jump and become a very good player. Unfortunately, that jump never came. He had fine counting stats, but he was a very inefficient scorer, and the questions about his three-point shot were not put to bed, as he only made 34% of his triples. The upcoming season will be big for Schroder- if he can’t assert himself as a high-quality player next year, it will be time for Atlanta Hawks fans to be concerned.
#71: Jusuf Nurkic, C, Portland Trail Blazers
Nurkic was overshadowed in Denver by the stellar play of Nikola Jokic, but began lighting up opponents when he was dealt to Portland in February. He led them on a hot streak that landed them in the playoffs, but suffered an injury that prevented him from playing for much of the end of the season. He hits free agency next summer, and it will be very interesting to see how the Blazers will try to free up money to bring him back.
#70: Brook Lopez, C, Los Angeles Lakers
Lopez has always been extremely underrated as an offensive player, but on defense he isn’t always so reliable. However, he will still hold major value for his new team this season, and it has nothing to do with his performance on the court- his massive contract expires after the season, which will help the Lakers in their attempt to create cap space to sign two players to max contracts- hopefully, LeBron James and Paul George.
#69: Derrick Favors, PF, Utah Jazz
It may be hard to believe, but Derrick Favors is somehow still just 26 years old. He’s always been a reliable player, a big who can score, rebound and defend. However, he isn’t a great athlete and his jump-shot isn’t quite there. He’s good enough to be worth playing a significant amount of minutes, but his lack of a jumper really hurts.
#68: JJ Redick, SG, Philadelphia 76ers
Getting Redick on a one-year deal was the dream scenario for the Philadelphia 76ers- they needed shooting desperately, and got the best shooter in the NBA who doesn’t play for the Golden State Warriors. Getting him on a one-year contract guarantees flexibility come next summer, when the Sixers seem keen on landing a star in free agency.
#67: Dwyane Wade, SG, Chicago Bulls
It’s been a rough 13 months for one of the greatest players to ever play- he had a rough breakup with the Miami Heat, and joined a Bulls team that was filled with turmoil, and never came together. Then the Bulls decided to begin a rebuild and they traded Jimmy Butler away, stranding Wade with a bunch of young kids hoping to become good players one day. It’s unfortunate, as he should be spending the end of his career coming off the bench as a spark plug for a contending team. Despite the shortcomings that have come with his aging, he somehow still possesses the rare ability to just be able to get a bucket when it’s really needed.
#66: Wilson Chandler, F, Denver Nuggets
Chandler has always been an under-the-radar player who can contribute at multiple positions on both ends. He’s going to prove he has lots of value this year for the Nuggets as a complementary piece, and could very well get paid the big bucks in free agency down the line.
#65: Joe Ingles, SF, Utah Jazz
Ingles got a huge raise after his breakout season last year, and although he still isn’t very well known, it’s very much deserved. His three-point shooting, ball-handling and passing all make him a player that everyone should want on their team.
#64: Ricky Rubio, PG, Utah Jazz
Rubio is one of the few remaining Point Guards in the NBA that is a great defender, and he doesn't get nearly enough credit for it. His infamous shooting struggles have also started to disappear, he shot relatively well from deep during the second half of last season. He is, of course, a wizard when it comes to passing the basketball, and everyone should be excited to see what he and Rudy Gobert can pull off together in the pick-and-roll, because it’s going to be a ton of fun to watch.
#63: Robert Covington, SF, Philadelphia 76ers
Covington has quickly become on the NBA’s most underrated wings. In past years he was an excellent shooter but didn’t have much else, but when his shooting percentages dipped in 2016–17, he became an elite perimeter defender, finishing 4th in Defensive Player of the Year voting. The additions of Fultz, Redick and Simmons to the lineup will get Covington many more open looks, so expect his three-point shooting to peak this year while he continues his top-tier defense. Covington is set to sign amajor contract extension in November, and the Sixers are definitely correct to be considering him a long-term piece of the puzzle.
#62: Jeff Teague, PG, Minnesota Timberwolves
News of Teague signing with the Wolves broke as soon as Free Agency began. The two parties were rumored to have heavy mutual interest, and it makes sense why- the Wolves needed an experienced Point Guard to play alongside their dynamic trio of Jimmy Butler, Andrew Wiggins and Karl Anthony-Towns. However, it isn’t a perfect fit- the Wolves should have signed someone who is a very good three-point shooter, a high-caliber defender, and who doesn't need the ball in his hands to be a factor. Maybe someone like…
#61: George Hill, PG, Sacramento Kings
Hill turned down a big offer from Utah to test his worth, and the worst possible scenario ended up becoming a reality- the Jazz quickly dealt for Rubio, filling the vacancy that Hill was considering leaving. The Point Guard market quickly dried up, and out of nowhere, he was offered a three-year deal by the Sacramento Kings. Why the Kings committed to Hill long-term remains to be seen-they have their backcourt of the future in De’Aaron Fox and Buddy Hield already locked in. Hill is a good player, but that was a terrible signing by Sacramento.
#60: Andre Drummond, C, Detroit Pistons
It’s been a steep fall for Drummond, once thought of as one of the best young players in the NBA. He still rebounds at an elite level, but that’s all he’s good at at this point in his career- he isn’t a very good rim protecter, is a non-factor on the offensive end, and can’t play at the end of games due to his league-worst free throw shooting.
#59: Devin Booker, SG, Phoenix Suns
Booker’s stock reached an all-time high when he dropped 70 points in Boston against the Celtics, but he’s been a player to keep an eye on for a while now. He has the potential to be a contender to lead the league in points per game every year once he reaches his ceiling. His defense is questionable, but it is by no means terrible, and his scoring ability is so fantastic it won’t matter.
#58: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, SG, Los Angeles Lakers
Just like Lopez, KCP’s large expiring contract will help the Lakers in their pursuit of big-name free agents come 2018. But in the present, he makes for the perfect match with rookie Lonzo Ball- he is an excellent defender who can match up with Point Guards and Shooting Guards, he is a fine shooter off the catch, and can keep the ball moving. Even if he becomes a single-year rental, he will help Ball’s development in a big way.
#57: Gary Harris, SG, Denver Nuggets
Harris’ skillset is almost identical to KCP’s. He has the same athleticism, defensive ability and versatility. However, he has two advantages over Caldwell-Pope- he’s a much more consistent three-point shooter, and he can handle the ball for spurts of time. Harris hits the open market next summer, and he’s going to command huge offers from many teams.
#56: Nicolas Batum, SG/SF, Charlotte Hornets
Batum is a player who has long been underappreciated. He isn’t very flashy or exciting to watch, but he gets in done on both ends. He’s a very good defender out on the perimeter and can shoot the ball from deep as well. His talents are buried in Charlotte, where mediocrity has long been the standard under owner Michael Jordan.
#55: Serge Ibaka, PF/C, Toronto Raptors
Ibaka has also had his performance decline in recent years, but he’s still a good (and very valuable) player. As a big, he can step out and knock down jumpers, while also being a good rebounder and a great rim protecter. The Raptors should trade current middle-man Jonas Valanciunas to make room for Ibaka to play Center, and although it’s very unlikely, it would be very interesting to see Ibaka man the middle on his own.
#54: Andre Iguodala, SG/SF, Golden State Warriors
The former Finals MVP seems to have lost a step or two if his performance last season was any indication. However, what he provides for that Warriors team is incredibly hard to replace. Aside from his remarkable defense, he consistently makes big plays in big games. If the pressure is on, count on Iggy to come up large.
#53: Jae Crowder, SF, Boston Celtics
Crowder seems like a logical candidate to be traded next winter, as the Celtics are stacked at the Small Forward position, between Crowder, young up-and-comers Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum, and of course, prized free agency signing Gordon Hayward. He remains a very valuable trade piece, though, because of his tenacity on the defensive end, solid shooting, and remarkably cheap contract.
#52: Harrison Barnes, SF, Dallas Mavericks
After his horrendous NBA Finals performance for the Warriors, many laughed when the Mavericks gave Barnes a four-year max contract. And he may not be worth all of that money, but he rebounded in a big way last season, averaging nearly 20 points per game. He may not be a star, but he is still a very solid scorer.
#51: Goran Dragic, PG, Miami Heat
Dragic was one of the driving forces behind Miami’s phenomenal 30–11 second-half run last season, averaging over 20 points per game and doing so very efficiently. He continues to be an underrated offensive player, he’s been a high-quality scorer for a long time now.
As the list continues, the themes of defense and shooting continue to show their heads. Now that we have gotten through the bottom half of the list, be ready for many more go-to offensive options to show up soon.
