Ranking the top 100 NBA players — 40. Deandre Ayton
The former No. 1 overall pick has done more than enough to earn the contract extension Phoenix balked on last summer. Deandre Ayton is the centerpiece of a championship-caliber defense, with nimble feet on the perimeter and bruising strength in the paint. On offense, he continues to expand his repertoire while maintaining a borderline telepathic connection with Chris Paul.
Ranking the top 100 NBA players — 39. Klay Thompson
It’s been essentially two years since we saw Klay Thompson play basketball. It’s impossible to pinpoint proper expectations for a player as historically good as Thompson coming off two career-altering lower leg injuries. That said, Thompson’s gift is singular. He’s probably the second-best shooter in league history, and one has to think that touch doesn’t simply go away. We should see soon enough.
Ranking the top 100 NBA players — 38. Domantas Sabonis
Domantas Sabonis has been tragically miscast in Indiana, where’s he plays out of position and under a perennially rotating coaching staff. The future of his Pacers marriage is uncertain, but Sabonis’ dynamic offensive skill set puts him in rarified air. He’s a brilliant passer, with a deep bag of old-school tricks in the post. He is difficult to position defensively and is far from perfect, but the right team would really benefit from Sabonis’ vast contributions.
Ranking the top 100 NBA players — 37. Kyle Lowry
The Heat look ever the contender, in no small part because of Kyle Lowry’s infusion of toughness and basketball I.Q. on the perimeter. For some reason, the broader conversation around Lowry’s talent has fallen off in recent years. Teams were hesitant to trade for a perennial All-Star candidate. Why that is, we may never know. But you could argue multiple teams passed up a run at last season’s championship by not matching Toronto’s asking price before the trade deadline.
Ranking the top 100 NBA players — 36. Pascal Siakam
Pascal Siakam is the subject of many jokes about his spin move and predictability, but he’s still quite good. In fact, he’s very much underrated for a player who, just a few years ago, was the No. 2 option on a championship team. His efficient downhill scoring provides the engine for a lot of what Toronto accomplishes offensively. He can defend all over the floor too, and is no stranger to the 3-point line.