Ranking the top 100 NBA players — 90. R.J. Barrett
R.J. Barrett took a considerable leap forward in his second NBA season, averaging 17.6 points and hitting 40.1 percent of his 3s. That level of improvement is a good sign for the future, as Barrett’s ability to space the floor feeds his ability to attack downhill and score at the rim. He has always had the strength and explosiveness, and now the skill is coming along.
Also, at 6-foot-7, Barrett is making the best of his elite defensive tools under Tom Thibodeau. He can play physical with the NBA’s strongest wing scorers, an attribute that will only increase in importance after New York’s perimeter-oriented moves this summer. Barrett is still rough around the edges, but he’s already a very useful two-way player.
Ranking the top 100 NBA players — 89. De’Andre Hunter
De’Andre Hunter was notably absent from Atlanta’s conference finals run, dealing with an unfortunate meniscus tear. That said, he was Atlanta’s fourth-best player for much of the season. At 6-foot-8, he is beginning to cash in on the defensive upside that was advertised coming out of college. He also took a major step forward offensively in year two, averaging 15.0 points per game and becoming a legitimate No. 3 option to Trae Young and John Collins.
The Hawks have depth in spades, and that front office has taken special care to add pieces that fit. Hunter fits with Atlanta. He’s well-positioned as a tertiary option offensively, and he’s the backbone of Atlanta’s perimeter defense. His return will make a notable difference next season.
Ranking the top 100 NBA players — 88. D’Angelo Russell
In a lot of ways, D’Angelo Russell is still a very cool player. Last season, despite injuries and COVID abound, he averaged 19.0 points and 5.8 assists on above-average shooting splits. He’s a talented pull-up shooter, with deep range and some real court vision when he commits to distributing the ball. He’s a good player.
On the other hand, Russell is a putrid defender. He is an absolute zero on that side of the ball. He’s also a bit unreliable on offense, his game equal parts magic and mud. He can pull out some absolute show-stopping moments, but he can also over-dribble and fall prone to harmful shot selection. It’s a mixed bag the Wolves are clearly content to live with.
Ranking the top 100 NBA players — 87. Dennis Schröder
No one wants to sign Dennis Schröder, which is a bit weird to me. He struggled in the Lakers’ first round exit, no doubt, but he posted a strong season as LeBron James’ No. 2 on the perimeter. Schröder is still a slippery downhill scorer, with elite speed and feathery touch around the rim. His ability to get dribble penetration and playmake off of it would add value to just about every NBA team.
Schröder is not a great shooter, but he’s not a bad one. He’s also a pretty good defender for his position, even if a slight frame at 6-foot-2 limits his versatility. The Celtics will be very happy with Schöder on a discount next season.
Ranking the top 100 NBA players — 86. Tyrese Haliburton
Tyrese Haliburton was even stronger than expected in his first season, finishing third in Rookie of the Year voting and quickly becoming the Kings’ second-best player. Not long from now, he could take over the title of Sacramento’s best player. That’s in the cards given his size, I.Q., and playmaking versatility.
The Kings were smart to pair Haliburton with De’Aaron Fox, and Fox with Haliburton. They’re a nice complement to each other. Fox can get downhill and create advantages, while Haliburton exploits them, splashing deep 3s, making the extra pass, and skewering discombobulated defenses. He does all the little things that contribute to winning. Sooner than later, it could rub off on Sacramento.