Ranking 76ers’ P.J. Tucker and the top 30 NBA power forwards
Golden State Warriors. Draymond Green. 6. player. 41. . PF
Still a complete singularity. We may never get another player who can quite capture Draymond Green’s unique version of stardom. He can’t shoot (or score in general, frankly), but Green’s 5G processing speed is what makes Golden State’s offense tick (apart from the obvious brilliance of its backcourt). Google “Glue Guy,” and you should see a picture of Draymond Green.
211. . PF. Memphis Grizzlies. Jaren Jackson Jr.. 5. player
Jaren Jackson Jr. is the current frontrunner for DPOY, and no, the home scorekeeper is not artificially boosting his block numbers. Jackson absolutely obliterates those foolish enough to challenge him at the rim. Even if he feels completely tangental to the play happening on the floor, he’s liable to fly out of nowhere to swat a shot into the stands. Add in deep 3-point range, and you have a tantalizing second star on a contender.
PF. Utah Jazz. Lauri Markkanen. 4. player. 118.
Lauri Markkanen has built on his strong FIBA play last summer to become a first-time All-Star for the rebuilding Jazz. Utah has to be pretty thrilled to have a 25-year-old scoring machine of Markkanen’s caliber on top of its boatload of future draft picks. A 7-footer with an unblockable jumper and pristine footwork, Markkanen is due for a long, productive career.