24. Thunder — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Josh Giddey, Lu Dort
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is one of the most talented individual scorers in the NBA. Very few players can dominate the isolation game like him — with long strides, elite change-of-pace ability, and endless craft inside the painted area. What Gilgeous-Alexander lacks in explosiveness, he makes up for with length and skill. He is once again joined in the backcourt by Josh Giddey, the 6-foot-8 NBA sophomore who is already virtuosic with his passing. Lu Dort earned a hefty extension this summer with his timely scoring and linebacker presence on the defensive end.
23. Pacers — Tyrese Haliburton, Myles Turner, Buddy Hield
Tyrese Haliburton quickly ascended the stairs to stardom. He’s the foundational piece upon which the next era of Indiana basketball will be built. A selfless star, Haliburton is the kind of team-oriented player who impacts winning even when shots aren’t falling. And the shots are beginning to fall more with each passing month, it seems. He can spot-up along the perimeter, cut to the basket, and play the second star role, or he can run point and rack up the assists. Next to him is Myles Turner — one of the NBA’s premier defensive anchors — and Buddy Hield, one of the highest volume 3-point shooters in NBA history.
22. Wizards — Bradley Beal, Kristaps Porzingis, Kyle Kuzma
Bradley Beal and Kristaps Porzingis are the Wizards’ foundation for the foreseeable future. Washington has been treading water in mediocrity for a while now, and this duo probably isn’t enough to lift them out of it. Porzingis can block shots, bury 3s, and even do some cool stuff off the dribble, but he’s not the same player who once captured the imagination of fans in New York. Injuries have sapped away a concerning about of his athleticism. Kyle Kuzma made seismic improvements after getting to Washington, but he’s not exactly a third star.