Ranking NBA players — 90. Kristaps Porzingis, Wizards
Kristaps Porzingis is still something of a unicorn. He’s a 7-foot-3 center who takes deep 3s and blocks shots. Unfortunately, years of injuries have made Porzinigs more vulnerable in certain defensive matchups. He’s also prone to poor shot selection, as his rate of success plummets dishearteningly whenever he ventures inside the arc.
Ranking NBA players — 89. Josh Giddey, Thunder
Josh Giddey has to figure out the jump shot. He just does. But, at 6-foot-8, his unique blend of size and passing more than makes up for it in the short term. He can make every read and he’s brave enough to attempt every pass. He set rookie triple-double records and he doesn’t lack touch around the rim. The jumper’s not a lost cause.
Ranking NBA players — 88. Aaron Gordon, Nuggets
Aaron Gordon was miscast as Denver’s second option last season because of injuries, which made it difficult to properly appreciate his impact. Gordon is by no means a go-to scorer, but he’s a skilled face-up threat who can hit 3s, attack closeouts, or simply finish plays at the rim. There aren’t many superior wing defenders in the NBA either.
Ranking NBA players — 87. Grant Williams, Celtics
Last season marked Grant Williams’ coming out party. The Celtics are absurdly deep, but Williams earned important minutes in the playoffs (and the NBA finals) because of his versatility, intelligence, and competitive fire. He always knows where to be on the floor defensively. On offense, Williams has rounded into form as a reliable spot-up shooter and unselfish ball-mover. He makes life easier on teammates.
Ranking NBA players — 86. Christian Wood, Mavericks
There are real concerns about Christian Wood’s ability and willingness to buy into his role in Dallas, whatever that role may be. His attitude problems were infamous in Detroit and Houston, and now he’s slated to join a real contender. That makes chemistry and buy-in all the more important. On the flip side, Wood’s self-confidence is not unfounded. He’s highly skilled, with deep 3-point range, a dynamic face-up game, and the ability to (on paper) fit into several different roles offensively.