Top 100 NBA players for 2021-22 season

Ranking the top 100 NBA players — 95. Dillon Brooks

The Grizzlies probably need to demote Dillon Brooks from the No. 2 scoring role at some point, but even so, he was an invaluable two-way contributor on a playoff team last season. He averaged 17.2 points and showed real juice creating off the dribble.

While Brooks’ offensive flourishes are somewhat magical, his real talent is defense. There aren’t many better wing/guard defenders in the NBA. He was an underrated All-Defense candidate, as his physical, high-I.Q. approach makes him a nice counter to the opposition’s lead scorer. He is a great third or fourth piece on a contender. Memphis just needs to get another guy.

Ranking the top 100 NBA players — 94. Jaren Jackson Jr.

Jaren Jackson Jr. played only 11 games last season, making it hard to gauge his production with any real certainty. He took a step back, yes, but in a COVID-warped season, coming off injury, it’s hard to put stock in his rocky 3-point shooting or defensive inconsistency. Expect a bounce-back season.

At some point, Memphis should transition to Jackson as the full-time center. Until then, he can still provide ample value as a weak-side rim protector and volume 3-point shooter. Assuming the percentages inch back up, Jackson’s 3-and-D nature, coupled with the potential for a major breakthrough, puts him firmly on this list.

Ranking the top 100 NBA players — 93. Thaddeus Young

Thaddeus Young is the quintessential Swiss Army knife. He’s the perfect Spur, and also a player the Spurs may look to trade (or simply buy out) as San Antonio’s rebuild stubbornly edges closer. He was misutilized in Chicago last season, and even so, put together a worthy Sixth Man of the Year campaign. He averaged 12.1 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 4.3 assists on 55.9 percent shooting.

The 3-point shot is historically uneven, but Young is one of the NBA’s best wing defenders, with the versatility to slide all the way down to five in some lineups. On offense, he’s an elite processor, making split-second decisions as a passer, while also displaying graceful footwork around the paint.

Ranking the top 100 NBA players — 92. Evan Fournier

The Knicks signed Evan Fournier to an expensive three-year contract, and for good reason. He’s a perfect complement to New York’s offensive core, with a buttery 3-point stroke and strong instincts as a secondary playmaker. He should elevate the Knicks’ offense pretty drastically.

Splitting last season between Orlando and Boston, Fournier averaged 17.1 points and 3.4 assists while shooting 41.3 percent from deep. His volume from behind the 3-point line will unclog driving lanes for R.J. Barrett and Julius Randle, and he does enough as a go-to scorer to command respect from defenses off the dribble. The addition of Kemba Walker will only help Fournier find his groove in the Knicks’ backcourt.

Ranking the top 100 NBA players — 91. Tim Hardaway Jr.

Approximately two (2) Dallas Mavericks showed up for the first round of the NBA playoffs — Luka Doncic and Tim Hardaway Jr. While Doncic did most of the heavy lifting, Hardaway’s red-hot 3-point display kept Dallas in the series. At times, it looked like he might push them over the top. After years of being maligned for his contract, Hardaway signed another pricey extension this summer, and it was well deserved.

Hardaway excels as a complementary scorer. Next to Doncic, a heliocentric playmaker who dominates the ball, the excess has been trimmed from Hardaway’s role. He is almost exclusively a shooter, with only stray opportunities to break down his defender and create from scratch. That is the best role for Hardaway. Compact and efficient.