Sixers: Ranking Danny Green and every starting small forward in the NBA
Indiana Pacers. T.J. Warren. 18. player. 100. . SF
Ranking NBA starting small forwards — 18. T.J. Warren, Pacers
T.J. Warren played in four games last season and we haven’t seen him since. It has been a long, winding road back to the court for Warren, and we still don’t have a clear timeline on when exactly he will make his return. That said, before the injury, very few players shared Warren’s upward trajectory.
Think back to the Bubble, where Warren was one of the handful of best players on the court. Once a mid-range specialist, he was all of a sudden hitting over 40 percent of his 3s, with deep range and plenty of pull-ups mixed in. At his peak, Warren was a diverse and uber-talented wing scorer who could defend multiple positions to boot. Now, we’ll have to see if he can return to that form — and how long it takes him. But, there’s a good chance Warren is higher on this list when next season rolls around.
27. . SF. New York Knicks. R.J. Barrett. 17. player
Ranking NBA starting small forwards — 17. R.J. Barrett, Knicks
The Knicks have struggled mightily in lieu of last season’s success, and everyone’s to blame. R.J. Barrett’s production is down across the board, and for much of this season, we were left to question if last season was the height of Barrett’s power. Now, however, Barrett (if not the Knicks) is starting to get back on track.
For the season, he’s averaging 16.9 points and 5.7 rebounds, which is by no means bad. His efficiency is down, but with league-average success from deep, even the floor is high for Barrett. He’s one of the strongest wings in the NBA, and he puts that strength to good use driving downhill and finishing through contact at the rim.
player. 38. . SF. Orlando Magic. Franz Wagner. 16
Ranking NBA starting small forwards — 16. Franz Wagner, Magic
Franz Wagner is essentially running neck-and-neck with Evan Mobley in the Rookie of the Year race right now. We have a long way to go, but the Magic forward has exceeded even the highest preseason expectations. He is very clearly a special two-way presence, and at the very forefront of what Orlando is building long-term.
For the season, Wagner is averaging 15.3 points and 4.8 rebounds while slashing .449/.337/.841 from the field. He’s one of the smartest rookies, making quick reads as a passer and already flashing real value scoring off the dribble, which was not always his strength in college. Wagner can score capably at all three levels, and at 6-foot-9, he’s already a well above average defender.