Ranking every NBA young core — 28. Milwaukee Bucks
- Donte DiVincenzo, Grayson Allen, Sandro Mamukelashvili, Jordan Nwora, Mamadi Diakite
Donte DiVincenzo is the starting two-guard on a championship-winning team, which speaks to his ability. Last season, he averaged 10.4 points and 5.8 rebounds per game, hitting 37.9 percent of his 3s and supplying the Bucks with excellent team defense on the perimeter. He was unfortunately hurt for most of the playoffs, but should resume a significant role next season.
The Bucks also acquired Grayson Allen over the summer. He carved out playing time on a deep Memphis team, and should fight for minutes with the second unit in Milwaukee. Bad reputation aside, Allen is a gritty defender and a good volume shooter.
Ranking every NBA young core — 27. LA Clippers
- Terance Mann, Keon Johnson, Ivica Zubac, Luke Kennard, Jason Preston, Brandon Boston Jr., Jay Scrubb
Terance Mann helped LA push the Suns in the conference finals, stepping into the gargantuan void left by Kawhi Leonard and producing admirably. The Clippers’ player development has been a major success of late, and Mann should continue to play a major role in the rotation next season.
The Clippers also have Ivica Zubac, a quality starting five on a championship contender. He was pivotal in LA’s postseason run, despite his slow-footedness around the paint, and he’s an excellent finisher out of pick-and-rolls. Luke Kennard struggled in the first year of a pricey extension, but can still play. Keon Johnson is one of the best athletes from the 2021 NBA Draft.