Ranking the top 100 NBA players — 60. Michael Porter Jr.
The playoffs have not treated Michael Porter Jr. well, but he’s still young and has shown a steady rate of growth across two NBA seasons. At 6-foot-10, he’s one of the best shooters on the planet, capable of drilling difficult long-range shots with a hand in his face. He can shoot on the move, hit step-backs like a guard, or beat closeouts off the dribble. His scoring prowess at 23 years old is not common.
Defense is the swing skill for Porter, who lacks agility in space. He’s not a bad athlete, but he’s rigid and technically unsound on the defensive end. Teams have exploited him time and time again, to the point where postseason opponents are actively seeking him out. That will need to change for Porter to become a perennial All-Star.
Ranking the top 100 NBA players — 59. Bojan Bogdanovic
Bojan Bogdanovic doesn’t get a ton of love nationally, but he’s a big part of Utah’s two-way buzzsaw. He famously gave LeBron James hell in the playoffs a few years ago with Indiana, and has been similarly productive with the Jazz. The 32-year-old has lost a half-step defensively, but he can dig in when called upon.
Offensively is where Bogey has shined the most in Utah’s spaced-out attack. He’s a deadly 3-point shooter, hitting 39.0 percent of his over six attempts per game last season. With Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert drawing so much attention in the middle of the court, it has been easy for Bogey to camp on the wings and pick his spots as a complementary talent.
Ranking the top 100 NBA players — 58. John Collins
The arrival of Clint Capela and Bogdan Bogdanovic, not to mention the ascension of other young talent on the roster, forced John Collins to adjust to a smaller workload as the 2020-21 season progressed. Safe to say it worked out. The Hawks were one of the last four teams standing, and Collins was an absolute standout in the playoffs. He parlayed that prime-time showcase into a massive five-year, $125 million extension.
Collins is not without his flaws, but does check a ton of boxes for a contending team. He plays with great hustle and energy, which shows up most evidently on the glass. He’s a rebounding machine. On offense, he can spot up and rim run, but he can also score off the bounce, with slick footwork and excellent lateral mobility. His poster dunks are on the cherry on top.
Ranking the top 100 NBA players — 57. Bogdan Bogdanovic
After injuries decimated Atlanta in the first half of the season, Bogdan Bogdanovic and the team underwent a renaissance under the newly-hired Nate McMillan. After the All-Star break, Bogey was essentially the NBA’s most efficient marksman. He slashed .473/.438/.909 for the season, and contributed amply beyond his shooting too.
Bogey can operate out of the pick-and-roll and supply some secondary ball-handling next to Trae Young. He’s a smart and aware offensive player, and very seldom lacks for confidence. He has been playing on big (professional) stages since well before he arrived in the NBA, and that was evident during the Hawks’ surprise run to the conference finals.
Ranking the top 100 NBA players — 56. Fred VanVleet
Last season wasn’t too kind to Fred VanVleet or the Raptors. That said, it’s reasonable to expect a return to form in 2021-22, with the Raptors returning to Canada and VanVleet due for an expanded role in lieu of Kyle Lowry. He will operate as the primary initiator now, with a potential for career highs across the board.
VanVleet is burdened with the natural limitations of being a 6-foot guard in the NBA, but he’s remarkably effective on both sides of the ball despite that. You won’t find many better point-of-attack defenders, and VanVleet can trade pull-up jumpers with anyone in the league. He only shot 38.9 percent from the field last season, but he averaged 9.2 attempts per game from 3 (with a 36.6 percent success rate). He will fill it up in a hurry.