Philadelphia 76ers: Where Robert Covington ranks among all starting small forwards

9. Josh Richardson, Miami Heat

At this point, Richardson has established himself as Miami’s second-best player. He’s in the same perpetually underrated tier as Covington and Ingles, often lacking the flash and statistics needed to gain recognition.

His improvements as a shot-maker, along with his defensive versatility on the wing, place him firmly in the top-10. He should vindicate this ranking next season.

8. Brandon Ingram, Los Angeles Lakers

Ingram started to look like a No. 2 pick last season, averaging 16.1 points per game and shooting 39 percent from three-point range, which was a significant development. Now he’ll be tasked with becoming the Robin to LeBron James’ Batman in L.A. — at least until they add another star.

There’s good reason to question Ingram’s readiness, especially as the Lakers launch themselves into Western Conference contention. But he’s more than talented enough to fill that role, and his playmaking chops should aid Luke Walton‘s lineup flexibility.

7. Khris Middleton, Milwaukee Bucks

Middleton will thrive under Mike Budenholzer in Milwaukee. Giannis Antetokounmpo remains the Bucks’ most important piece, but Middleton is a skilled scorer whose floor-spacing provides much needed balance on the wing.

He’s also a quality defender, switching between two or three positions as needed. He’s on track for another fringe All-Star season, if not more.