Top 100 NBA players — 60. Mike Conley, Jazz
Mike Conley has never been the flashiest “star,” but he remains essential to Utah’s offense. The Jazz like to move the ball and shoot 3s, both of which are areas of the game Conley happens to thrive. He’s still one of the smartest players on the court, and his veteran savvy translates to the defensive end too.
Top 100 NBA players — 59. Christian Wood, Rockets
The Rockets’ rebuild probably does not favor Christian Wood, who’s a little too good for such a purposefully bad team. Soon to be entering the final year of his contract, Wood will no doubt be a hot name on the summer trade market. Several contenders would be wise to make offers. Wood is one of the NBA’s most versatile offensive bigs, a deadly 3-point shooter who can handle in transition, make tight maneuvers in the post, face up from the elbow — you name it.
Top 100 NBA players — 58. Clint Capela, Hawks
It has been something of a down year for Clint Capela after last season’s electric start with Atlanta. Even so, he’s a nightly double-double machine who controls the glass, protects the paint, and provides Trae Young with a valuable vertical outlet at the rim. He’s a star in his role type of guy. Capela doesn’t dominate games on his own, but as part of a balanced system, his value is immense.
Top 100 NBA players — 57. Nikola Vucevic, Bulls
Nikola Vucevic has struggled to reach his All-Star heights of yesteryear, but even amid severe struggles from the floor, he’s central to Chicago’s dynamic offensive attack. He can stretch bigs out to the perimeter, punish mismatches inside, and he’s a nice connective passer between Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan, and Chicago’s perimeter weapons. Vucevic is going to give you 20-10 on a regular basis even now, so it’s hard to complain.
Top 100 NBA players — 56. Malcolm Brogdon, Pacers
The Pacers have been bitten particularly hard by the injury bug this season, and Malcolm Brogdon was an unfortunate victim. He has been productive when healthy, albeit slightly less efficient than normal for a team sitting near the bottom of the East. This whole season has been something of a disaster for Indiana, but with Tyrese Haliburton providing a face for the rebuild and Rick Carlisle in for the long haul, better days are ahead. The question is, does Brogdon experience those better days in Indiana?