Philadelphia 76ers: Where Joel Embiid ranks among all starting centers
12. Marc Gasol, Memphis Grizzlies
Gasol took a step back last season. Partially because the Grizzlies were bad and he never felt 100 percent engaged. But part of it was age as well. The former Defensive Player of the Year is getting older, and his impact isn’t quite the same as a result.
With that said, Gasol is still a smart defensive anchor in the paint. He’s also an elite pick-and-pop option, using his newfound shooting touch to space the floor and open up driving lanes for Mike Conley.
Related Story. Ranking Covington and all 30 starting SFs. light
11. DeAndre Jordan, Dallas Mavericks
Alongside Luka Doncic and Harrison Barnes, Jordan will be one of Dallas’ featured options next season. He’s pick-and-roll prowess fits seamlessly with Doncic, while his defensive presence is something the Mavs have lacked since the days of Tyson Chandler.
Depending on how well Doncic plays in year one, Dallas could be a sneaky playoff contender under Rick Carlisle‘s guidance. With that said, the West is loaded, which makes things more challenging.
10. Andre Drummond, Detroit Pistons
Possibly the best rebounder in the NBA, Drummond will co-lead the Pistons’ playoff charge next to Blake Griffin next season. He has added more to his offensive game recently and is becoming a passable free-throw shooter, which is a big step in the right direction. He’s an All-Star candidate.