Ranking the Sixers’ young core against every NBA team
. . . Detroit Pistons. 8. team. 64
Ranking every NBA young core — 8. Detroit Pistons
- Cade Cunningham, Saddiq Bey, Killian Hayes, Isaiah Stewart, Sekou Doumbouya, Frank Jackson, Josh Jackson, Saben Lee, Luka Garza, Sekou Doumbouya, Jahlil Okafor, Chris Smith
It takes a certain degree of confidence in Cade Cunningham to place Detroit this high. The roster around him isn’t great. That said, consider my confidence in Cade Cunningham of a certain degree. He was the consensus No. 1 pick in a loaded draft class, and should put Detroit back on the map sooner than later.
The Pistons haven’t done a terrible job building around him either. Killian Hayes has yet to deliver on the hype associated with a No. 7 pick, but Isaiah Stewart (No. 16) and Saddiq Bey (No. 19) were both All-Rookie players. Bey is one of the best wing shooters in the NBA already, and spent time around Team USA this summer.
7. team. 86. . . . Minnesota Timberwolves
Ranking every NBA young core — 7. Minnesota Timberwolves
- Karl-Anthony Towns, Anthony Edwards, D’Angelo Russell, Malik Beasley, Jaden McDaniels, Josh Okogie, Nathan Knight, Naz Reid, Jarred Vanderbilt, McKinley Wright IV
The Timberwolves are going to break through at some point. It just has to happen. Karl-Anthony Towns is a genuine marvel. He’s the greatest shooting big in NBA history, with plenty of interior scoring talent to boot. He can pass, post-up, face-up, spot-up — anything. He’s a top-25 NBA player and deserves a more suitable roster around him.
Thankfully, the Wolves seem closer than ever to delivering that suitable roster (let’s ignore the Jimmy Butler saga for now). Anthony Edwards delivered on his No. 1 pick promise, and looks primed to rank among the NBA’s top perimeter scorers one day. D’Angelo Russell is an acquired taste and a deeply flawed “star,” but he’s still impactful on offense. Malik Beasley can give you 20 a night. Josh Okogie and Jaden McDaniels are already above-average NBA defenders.