18. Jeff Teague, Minnesota Timberwolves
Teague will never reach his 60-win Hawks peak, but he remains an effective starting point guard. He’s a savvy playmaker, probing the interior and facilitating at a high level. He’s a decent tertiary or quaternary scorer as well.
For a Timberwolves team that desperately needs his playmaking skills, Teague remains an important part of their rotation. He’s charged with distributing shots between Jimmy Butler, Karl-Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins.
17. Lonzo Ball, Los Angeles Lakers
Ball struggled with his shot last season, but he did a lot of other things well. He’s already an above-average defender and rebounder at the one spot, while his playmaking chops and off-ball instincts are still tantalizing.
As long as he becomes a proficient spot-up shooter, his fit next to LeBron James is borderline ideal. Ball will always have flaws, but he’s a unique talent with an extraordinarily high basketball I.Q. He’ll figure things out in year two.
16. George Hill, Cleveland Cavaliers
Hill didn’t seem right last season. After a breakout campaign with the Jazz, Hill sputtered in Sacramento before looking painfully mediocre in Cleveland’s depressing Finals run. At his best, though, Hill is a positive defender and high-end playmaker.
Depending on Cleveland’s goals next season, Hill might start next to Collin Sexton in a two-point guard lineup. For now, however, we’ll keep Hill in this spot.