Sixers: Ranking Danny Green and every starting small forward in the NBA

Ranking NBA starting small forwards — 21. Keldon Johnson, Spurs

Keldon Johnson has improved drastically in each of his first three NBA seasons. The stats paint the picture of an excellent complementary talent. The 6-foot-5 Johnson can defend all over the floor, with the offensive skill set to play on the wing or operate as the small-ball four. His season averages of 14.8 points and 6.3 rebounds on .460/.446/.708 are difficult to poke holes in. He is the quintessential 3-and-D talent.

There is still plenty of room for Johnson to grow moving forward too. He’s still somewhat limited off the dribble, but has the foot speed and shooting touch to become a real weapon — especially when matched up with more slow-footed forwards. He’s not quite the flawless two-way master his staunchest supporters suggest, but Johnson is on the precipice of a long, fruitful NBA career.

Ranking NBA starting small forwards — 20. De’Andre Hunter, Hawks

The biggest hurdle for De’Andre Hunter to overcome at this stage in his career is his inability to stay on the floor. Injuries have rattled Hunter two years in a row, but when healthy, his flourishes of production are impossible to ignore. Hunter is not only a 41.5 percent 3-point shooter, but also a crafty in-between scorer with the strength, footwork, and soft touch to take defenders off the dribble.

For the season, Hunter is averaging 12.8 points and 3.0 rebounds for the (perhaps too deep) Hawks. He has struggled to find a rhythm, playing in only 16 games so far, but Hunter’s two-way versatility and perfectly suited skill set next to Trae Young make him a prime breakout candidate over the season’s second half.

Ranking NBA starting small forwards — 19. Eric Gordon, Rockets

Eric Gordon has been remarkable for an extremely young Rockets team, looking flat-out like the team’s best player for long stretches this season. He’s still the same player who feasted off of James Harden passes for so many years, but now he’s being asked to produce more off the dribble — both for himself and for teammates. The results have been nothing short of eye-opening, both for fans and, I’m sure, contenders around the league looking to make a trade deadline splash.

For the season, Gordon is averaging 14.9 points and 3.2 assists on .507/.461/.738 splits. His efficiency both inside and outside the arc has been essential for a Houston team full of young players who haven’t quite learned to make the best decisions with the ball. The Rockets have a lot of guys struggling from the field right now, with poor shot selection being the team’s primary malady most nights. Gordon can only do so much, but he is thriving in subpar circumstances.