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

Ranking NBA starting small forwards — 12. Norman Powell, Trial Blazers

The Blazers are hot garbage these days, but Norman Powell continues to produce admirably in less-than-ideal circumstances. He doesn’t fulfill the most essential role on Portland’s roster due to the abundance of self-creation split between Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum, but even so, Powell still averages 18.6 points in characteristically efficient fashion (.455/.399/.820).

With injures abound on the roster, Powell will continue to step up when called upon. You won’t find too many more rock-solid offensive players in the NBA. You know what you’re going to get with Powell — elite 3-point shooting, explosive slashing, and some useful secondary creation.

Ranking NBA starting small forwards — 11. Joe Harris, Nets

Joe Harris is lucky to occupy the best possible roster for his particular skill set, but simply put, he is a star in his role. Harris may not have the same explosive potential as some players listed behind him, but he’s one of the NBA’s best 3-point shooters and a true wizard moving off the ball. Harris elevates those around him with his gravity, and he can expertly calibrate his game to complement the creators around him.

In 14 games this season, Harris is averaging 11.3 points on .452/.466/.833 splits. The list of shooters who can out-shoot Harris is slim (probably the Curry brothers and Klay Thompson). His dynamism off the ball outstrips even the most explosive on-ball efforts from some of his small forward peers. It’s easy for him to get lost in the shuffle in Brooklyn, but it’s frankly absurd that he’s the No. 4 option on a reasonable contract for that team. You could not find a better fit between player and teammates.

Ranking NBA starting small forwards — 10. Gordon Hayward, Hornets

Gordon Hayward doesn’t really get the respect his deserves. Charlotte is probably the most fun League Pass team in basketball, and yes — Hayward doesn’t exactly match the highlight reel potential of his core teammates. That said, Hayward is one of the best glue guys in the NBA, and his skill set goes a long way towards elevating the likes of Miles Bridges and Terry Rozier, who do populate the NBA highlight reels.

For the season, Hayward is averaging 17.0 points and 3.7 assists on .470/.392/.845, providing balanced offense as the No. 3 or 4 option every night. He can still get to his spots and provide some juice in isolation, but Hayward has never quite reached the star heights of his Utah days. That doesn’t mean he doesn’t impact winning in a major way still.