Sixers: Ranking Tobias Harris and every starting power forward in the NBA
79. . PF. Dallas Mavericks. Maxi Kleber. 27. player
Ranking NBA starting power forwards — 27. Maxi Kleber, Mavericks
Maxi Kleber has traversed the Mavs’ rather crowded frontcourt to assert his value on a regular basis. He’s far from perfect, but Kleber’s switchable defensive presence and strong spot-up shooting makes him a comparable frontcourt partner for Kristaps Porzingis.
Kleber’s production doesn’t leap off the page — 7.2 points and 5.7 rebounds on .404/.359/.750 splits — but he does the little things to keep him on the map in Dallas. His defense is legitimately underrated, and he’s impressively mobile for a 6-foot-10 big.
169. . PF. Houston Rockets. Jae'Sean Tate. 26. player
Ranking NBA starting power forwards — 26. Jae’Sean Tate, Rockets
Jae’Sean Tate burst onto the scene last season and earned All-Rookie honors at 25 years old. Now even older, he’s central to the product Houston is currently putting on the floor — if not the most essential member of its “young core.” Tate can defend all over the court, he rebounds at a high level, and he’s a perceptive off-ball player.
With no shortage of opportunities for such a young, unformed team, Tate has the numbers to back up his confidence on the court. He’s averaging 12.5 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 3.1 assists on .503/.303/.701 splits. He will stick in the league for a while.
player. 24. . PF. Chicago Bulls. Patrick Williams. 25
Ranking NBA starting power forwards — 25. Patrick Williams, Bulls
After starting in all 71 appearances as a rookie, Patrick Williams underwent season-ending surgery just five games into 2021-22. It’s an unfortunate setback, but when healthy, Williams already has the tools to impact winning for a contender like Chicago. At 6-foot-7, his thick thighs and board shoulders make him easy to locate on screen. He’s an impressive athlete, with the strength to bully smaller wings on offense and the versatility to guard multiple positions defensively.
Last season was muted to some degree, but Williams averaged 9.2 points and 4.6 rebounds on extremely efficient .483/.391/.728 splits. He has some real wiggle scoring off the bounce, and he has no trouble playing off of Zach LaVine and Chicago’s other playmakers. The upside is tremendous still. He’s a real third-year breakout candidate.