Philadelphia 76ers: Ranking starting small forwards in 2021 preseason

5. Khris Middleton

After an impressive playoff run that capped off with the Milwaukee Bucks winning an NBA title, Khris Middleton was a big reason why they were able to do so. Middleton became a go-to closer in the playoffs, which is extremely important for an All-Star level player like Middleton. His playoff run earned him this fifth-place spot.

4. Jaylen Brown

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Every season of his career Jaylen Brown has made significant improvement and there’s a chance that he makes another step forward in his game this year which is insane to consider. Last season he was an elite two-way player and is still only 24-years-old. If the Boston Celtics are going to make a deep playoff run, he will have to be a significant part of that run.

3. Paul George

If Kahwi Leonard wasn’t going to miss most of next season, then he’d be number two on this list, but he is going to miss most of next year. With that in mind, All-Star Paul George will probably end up playing the small forward spot for the Los Angeles Clippers and he’s still a top-three small forward although he hasn’t played that position on a consistent basis since his time on the Thunder.

2. Jimmy Butler

After making the NBA Finals two postseasons ago, Jimmy Butler and Miami Heat fell way short in the playoffs this past year. However, with new additions in Kyle Lowry and P.J. Tucker and a full offseason to rest, there’s no reason not to expect that Butler won’t come back with a vengeance.

1. LeBron James

It’s debatable if LeBron James is still the best player in the NBA, but while Durant is the starting power forward for the Nets, James is still by far the best small forward in the NBA. There’s no denying he’s getting up there in years, but he’s still the best player on the Los Angeles Lakers and they are still the favorites to come out of the Western Conference come playoff time.

Green isn’t an elite small forward, but he’s a perfect fit for this version of the Philadelphia 76ers’ starting five. Do you agree with these rankings? Comment below if you think a player is too low or too high.