Ranking the top 100 NBA players — 75. Norman Powell
Norman Powell continues to fly under the radar despite remarkable consistency on the offensive end. He’s just an excellent complementary scorer. The shadows of Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum loom large in Portland’s offense, but Powell is an athletic finisher, a smooth pull-up shooter, and a fine-tuned off-ball threat. If the Blazers do undergo big changes, it could afford Powell more breathing room — and thus a greater chance to prove his worth to the masses.
Ranking the top 100 NBA players — 74. Joe Harris
There aren’t many better shooters in the game of basketball. Joe Harris is the ultimate fourth weapon for a Brooklyn team built around 2-3 superstars. His off-ball movement, lights-out jumper, and razor-sharp instincts put him firmly in the “star in his role” category of these rankings. Harris can also defend reasonably well, which is rare for most specialist shooters.
Ranking the top 100 NBA players — 73. Myles Turner
Myles Turner is mounting another strong Defensive Player of the Year campaign, and while he won’t win, there is immense value rooted in Turner’s unmatched shot-blocking prowess. He’s not optimized in the Pacers’ system and would benefit immensely from a change of scenery, but Turner is a dominant defensive anchor who can hit 3s and finish above the rim. A lot of teams would love to have him.
Ranking the top 100 NBA players — 72. Bojan Bogdanovic
Bojan Bogdanovic remains a perennially underrated member of Utah’s highly productive core. This season, he’s hitting 42.7 percent of his 3s and a shade under 50 percent of his shot attempts. His efficiency, combined with solid wing defense and a high basketball I.Q., make him the perfect secondary option in one of the NBA’s most dynamic offenses.
Ranking the top 100 NBA players — 71. Desmond Bane
The Grizzlies have arrived, and so has Desmond Bane. The 23-year-old was one of the NBA’s best shooters from day one, but now he’s a threat to score 20+ on any given night. He stretches defenses to the breaking point with his shooting range, and now he can pressure them off the dribble. He’s also an excellent wing defender at 6-foot-5. He’s a legitimate part of Memphis’ core.