Ranking the top 100 NBA players — 95. Joe Harris, Nets
We haven’t seen Joe Harris in a season, but he’s the ultimate star in his role. The Nets will no doubt appreciate his services upon return. He’s one of the best off-movement shooters in the NBA and he’s big enough to stay alive defensively in the postseason. Brooklyn has a lot to figure out, but getting Harris back in the mix will provide quite a boost.
Ranking the top 100 NBA players — 94. Gary Trent Jr., Raptors
Gary Trent Jr. took another step forward in his first full season with Toronto. He could always shoot, but Trent has really rounded into form as a three-level scorer. He hits a lot of tough shots that no once else on Toronto’s roster can hit. Add in his improvement on defense, and you have a legitimate building block for a young, still-improving Raptors squad.
Ranking the top 100 NBA players — 93. De’Andre Hunter, Hawks
Injuries have really put a dent in De’Andre Hunter’s career so far. He just can’t seem to stay on the floor long enough to really find his rhythm. But, when he’s right, Hunter provides a massive lift to the Atlanta starting five. He’s an efficient 3-point shooter who can use his strength to punish mismatches inside, while his versatile wing defense is key to Atlanta being anything close to presentable on that side of the ball.
Ranking the top 100 NBA players — 92. Dillon Brooks, Grizzlies
Dillon Brooks was something of a chaos agent in the Grizzlies’ second round loss to Golden State. He followed up stretches of brilliance with stretches of utter stupidity, but hey, it’s happens. It’s the playoffs. On the whole, Brooks is a dogged defender and one of Memphis’ most reliable perimeter shot-makers. The Grizzlies are better with him on the floor.
Ranking the top 100 NBA players — 91. Franz Wagner, Magic
Franz Wagner immediately outperformed expectations in Orlando, and it quickly became clear that he is central to the future of the franchise. It’s rare to find rookies who are so well rounded. Wagner can beat the defense in multiple ways, be it as a scorer or as a passer. His head is always on a swivel and hopefully in year two he gets more opportunities to explore the extent of his scoring repertoire. On the other end, he can defend 3-4 positions at a high level.