Top 100 NBA players — 25. Bradley Beal, Wizards
Bradley Beal came back down to earth this season, struggling from the field before undergoing season-ending surgery after the All-Star break. The question now is whether Beal spends the next five years in Washington or Philadelphia — I mean, somewhere else. He might be the biggest open-market free agent of 2022. When healthy, Beal is one of the league’s most potent individual scorers. He’s somewhat one-sided, but that one side is exceedingly strong.
Top 100 NBA players — 24. Zach LaVine, Bulls
Zach LaVine continues to elevate his game, season after season. He has developed into the pillar of a major market franchise, a feat that would have once sounded unfeasible not long ago. He has graciously shared the spotlight with DeMar DeRozan in the midst of a career-best season, but the Bulls are LaVine’s team at the core. He dragged them from mediocrity and ultimately put them back on the map before this season’s breakout.
Top 100 NBA players — 23. DeMar DeRozan, Bulls
Speaking of DeRozan, he should probably crack more than a few MVP ballots. The Bulls have slipped in the standings, but very few players have put the ball in the basket like DeRozan has this season. Yes, the Bulls ultimately feel like LaVine’s team, but this breakout doesn’t happen without DeRozan’s shocking productivity. He’s much more than some outmoded mid-range assassin.
Top 100 NBA players — 22. Donovan Mitchell, Jazz
Donovan Mitchell and the Jazz are approaching the day of reckoning, and it will be fascinating to see which direction Utah takes should things continue to go south. Is it Mitchell’s team for the long term, or is Gobert (and he unwavering commitment to Utah) the last star standing? Obviously, the Jazz would rather build around the younger, more explosive Mitchell if forced to choose. He has been as good as advertised all season, taking on expanded ball-handling duties and cementing his status as one of the NBA’s premier guards.
Top 100 NBA players — 21. Zion Williamson, Pelicans
Zion Williamson is going to be great, so long as he can stay on the court. The Pelicans have mishandled the situation around him, and he may not be content in NOLA long term, but hey — the roster “around” him right now is pretty darn impressive. If Williamson gets back in the mix and the Pelicans keep the current group together, perhaps with a couple upgrades on the margins, then NOLA might leapfrog several teams in the West. Zion’s efficiency and physical imposition at the rim goes without saying. Last season, he even started running point. Now, he just has to figure out the defense.