10. Joe Harris
There are three reasons why Joe Harris is ranked 10th in these rankings. He’s one of the best pure shooters in the league, he’s on the NBA title favorites in the Brooklyn Nets, and LeBron James isn’t healthy. Harris plays an important role being an elite sharpshooter on the Nets and is no longer a negative defender.
9. Michael Porter Jr.
To be honest, the forward positions for the Denver Nuggets are fluid. Aaron Gordon could easily but in this spot, however, for the sake of this article, Michael Porter Jr. will be the Nuggets power forward. That being written, while he’s not great defensively, Porter Jr. is showing that he can be really special on the offensive end. He could easily be in the top five of this list in the next two or three years.
8. Norman Powell
While he’s naturally a shooting guard, Norman Powell is now starting at small forward for the Portland Trail Blazers who just traded for him. He’s a three-level scorer who is having a breakout season. He’s not great defensively but he can go off for 25 points any given night.
7. DeMar DeRozan
If DeMarr DeRozan had played 20 years ago, he’d be considered a superstar. However, without much of a 3-point shot, DeRozan is a borderline All-Star at this point in his career. He’s lethal in the mid-range, a good playmaker, and he’s a solid defender for the San Antonio Spurs.
6. Gordon Hayward
It’s good to see the Utah Jazz version of Gordon Hayward re-emerging on the Charlotte Hornets. Hayward is a two-way wing who is an underrated playmaker. He’s a great veteran pillar for this young upcoming Hornets team to learn and rely on.