Kyle Kuzma is a gifted scorer who effortlessly gets to his spots. The defense has gone sideways in the nation’s capital, but he is malleable and gets into passing lanes when engaged. Kuz is the captain of a sinking ship, but a contender looking to add a versatile wing should airlift him out shortly, boosting his long-term stock.

Dillon Brooks is the sport’s premier menace, toeing the line between Dennis Rodman and Tony Allen’s level of intensity. To put it mildly, he is an acquired taste, but his antics have overshadowed a bounceback 2023 campaign. His stroke from a distance has returned, which has made him respectable again offensively. Paired with his suffocating defense, Brooks is a high-end 3-and-D option.

A professional bucket-getter, Norman Powell is quietly amid a career renaissance in Los Angeles. A three-level maestro, the veteran comes off the bench and turns the tides of a contest in a flash. He offers little outside of putting the ball in the cup, but his dazzling efficiency is uber-valuable for any club.

There’s an argument Mike Conley is one of the league’s most crucial cogs. Minnesota relied on his maturity as a table-setter—getting the squad into sets and moving the rock. Without him, they were a disjointed disaster that went on prolonged droughts and defaulted into “hero ball.” If his body holds up, he’s the X-factor of a true contender.

Rim-running lob threats will always excel next to a passer like Luka Doncic, but Dereck Lively II showed he could be capable of more as a rookie. His roaming instincts don’t appear on the box score but are absurd for a 20-year-old. If Lively develops a more refined post presence, watch out.

It took four years, but Deni Avdija finally took a (mini) leap. His stats increased across the board, including a newfound confidence in putting the ball on the deck. If he continues to put on size, he’s a two-way prototype who could flourish in the Rose City. 

Nic Claxton is an elastic defensive center who doesn’t get exposed when pulled out of the paint. He has soft hands around the basket, and his athleticism masks a chunk of his offensive warts. If the free throw proficiency ever comes around, he’ll garner many more suitors.

A bottle rocket wishes it could generate Collin Sexton’s energy. A lightning-quick first step with tenacious aggressiveness makes him a force around the rim. The 3-point shot looks viable, and I believe he’ll develop more point-point guard habits. You can’t teach intensity or a will to succeed, traits that will only carry Sexton further up the food chain. 

The perfect modern role player, Al Horford, is still an asset creeping up on 40. He occasionally gets exposed in the pick-and-roll due to his declining foot speed, but few are better at guarding the game’s top bigs. You can’t leave him open from deep, and his baby hook is lethal ahead of the break in transition. 

KCP is a relentless perimeter defender who shoots north of 40% from beyond the arc. Quicker assignments give him fits, but on a night-to-night basis, he wreaks havoc. On a youthful Orlando side, his value will be paramount.

The embodiment of Memphis hoops, Marcus Smart, is a bully on the court. At the tail end of his stint in Boston, he unlocked a playmaking element that could ease Ja Morant’s offensive burden. I trust his maturity and better understanding of his role on this team.

Malik Monk is a bouncy microwave scorer who comes alive in the clutch. Mike Brown is comfortable giving him the keys late in contests, which puts him in a different tier than players like Powell. Gifted shot creators that are productive off the bench are rare, and his upward trajectory shows little signs of slowing down.

The ultimate utility man, Josh Hart, will do anything to give his group the edge. He can guard 1-4 with a pesty style that gets in the opposition’s head. The hustle is unmatched, whether diving on loose balls or crashing the glass. Although he’s erratic at times, his current stint in the Big Apple proves he has winning DNA.

CJ McCollum is a savvy vet who gets points in a hurry. His height as a shooting guard makes him a defensive liability, and he seems to disappear at critical junctures. At 33, the decline is coming, but he’s still a feasible third option in the regular season. 

In a league obsessed with launching triples, Brook Lopez is an ultra-rare sniper who protects the cup. He’s losing a step, but his skillset will age reasonably well.

The unsung hero of the recent Knicks run, Isaiah Hartenstein, is an imposing force who consistently makes the right decisions. His lateral quickness for a seven-footer helps him dominate the boards and defend in switches. He is a work of progress from deep but flashes some post moves that encourage a more well-rounded offensive arsenal.

Myles Turner is a shot-blocking five who sprints up and down the floor. He gets a bit trigger-happy from behind the line, but his spacing helps the NBA’s fastest-paced offense.

A mid-range assassin with a nice handle, Devin Vassell must prove he’s worth his $146M extension. He’s done an excellent job handling less attention with Victor Wembanyama in the fold but has to ascend to a 20+ ppg weapon. The field goal selection needs work, but it gets a pass because he’s been surrounded by a substandard supporting cast.

Immanuel Quickley has a smooth outside stroke that pairs well with an automatic floater. The defense is there, with solid length for his position. He doesn’t need the ball to make an impact but needs to be more aggressive “hunting his.”

A flame thrower from downtown, Trey Murphy III is an underrated gem. At 6’9″, he rises over contests and contains opposing wings on the other end. The shot creation is a work in progress but flashes at Virginia and in the pros make me bullish about his future. 

Jonathan Kuminga is a hyper-athletic power forward who’s brilliant near the basket. His constant tension with the franchise has slightly stunted his growth. Kuminga is a force when dialed in—if that becomes a more regular occurrence, his full breakout is imminent.

Anfernee Simons shoots the leather off the rock, but it’s hard not to watch him and feel something is off. As the primary option of a woeful Portland group, he does whatever he wants, which sometimes looks rather ugly. He has the tools to latch onto a contender and prove he’s a talent with an unselfish pedigree.

The Michael Jordan of Delaware (Google It) has surpassed being a frisky eighth man with an evolving bag that turned him into a bucket. The three-point efficiency is out of control, and he has a great gauge of when to start hurling. He can carry the load on any given evening and will be pivotal in Minnesota’s chase for a championship.

The John Collins Award recipient for the player tossed in the trade machine the most by their own fanbase, we’re at an uncomfortable career crossroads for Tyler Herro. He’s a crafty offensive engine who will either get hot quickly or railroad momentum with mind-boggling attempts. Defensively, it’s only gotten worse, and real strides have to transpire at some point. The traits are there—if the “Heat Culture” mentality follows suit, he’ll be a tantalizing prospect yet again.

Los Angeles found something with Austin Reaves as a primary ball handler running pick-and-rolls with LeBron James and Anthony Davis. For some reason, they essentially scrapped that element of their attack, and his numbers paid the price. New coach JJ Reddick will likely allow Reaves to revert to being a more involved contributor, which should help him reach his 2023 playoff heights.

Jerami Grant secured his bag and has the option to either help usher along a rebuild or take a reduced role on a Finals hopeful. He’s a Swiss army knife versatile enough to fit any type of lineup. A better situation would help magnify his attributes.

After getting shipped to Toronto, RJ Barrett averaged a hair under 22 ppg on 55/39/63 shooting splits. Besides his bizarre issues at the charity stripe, it was his best stretch since coming out of Duke. He’s out of the spotlight and ready to prove that the brief sample size north of the border wasn’t a fluke. 

A living kaleidoscope, depending on which lens you look through, Zach LaVine has been a perennial loser or an elite scorer saddled with unlucky circumstances. It’s hard to imagine he’s in the Windy City much longer, but with his contract, the pool of bidders is likely small. You can’t fake ability, and if his body holds up, a year 11 renaissance is on the table.

Khris Middleton is on the wrong side of 30, with injuries piling up. He has moments of brilliance, but at this point, he’s too feast or famine for my liking. Yet, as a mid-tier third threat who can channel brilliance when called upon, I like his chances to be 85% of his prime self.

Michael Porter Jr. is a movement marksman coming off a catastrophic Western Conference Semifinal run. The prototypical qualities are there, but the intensity inconsistency on both ends is a vibrant red flag. Nikola Jokic could solve world peace if you gave him enough resources, so maximizing Porter Jr’s talents should be attainable.

Hidden on an unserious Charollete squad was Brandon Miller, who quietly had a stellar rookie campaign. He’s further along than many analysts give him credit for. The 21-year-old can bury rhythm jumpers or navigate off screens and attack downhill. Getting set up by LaMelo Ball should only make his life easier. Don’t be shocked if, already in year two, Miller gets the bulk of the crunch time looks. 

The reigning Sixth Man of the Year, Naz Reid, is more than a gimmick or an excellent name for a cat. He’s a powerful roller that can flush it home over anyone. He’s the size of a tank but moves like a gazelle with a confident handle. Don’t forget Reid routinely outshined Karl Anthony-Towns and Rudy Gobert at critical points in their deep run.

Jalen Johnson is going to be a household name very shortly. He flashes promising defensive instincts with an offensive game predicated on timely cuts and hoisting threes. His usage will see an uptick with the departure of Dejounte Murray, and if he can shake off nagging injuries, Johnson has fringe All-Star potential in a top-heavy Eastern Conference.

Herb Jones terrorizes other teams’ top players on and off the ball. He will hound for 94 feet, and it looks like he’s physically attached to his assignments’ jerseys. Most of his offensive work is in the corners, with no one in the zip code, but there are signs of improvement. If he could be a C+ scorer, his upside would look vastly more optimistic.

It’s a perimeter-oriented league, and Alex Caruso is the best defensive guard in the sport. He wrecks sets with his activity and puts his body on the line to gain extra possessions for his squad. OKC is banking on his three-point volume to continue to trend upward, which helps keep him on the floor.

On the right night, Jaden McDaniels punishes stars with his length and a budding third option. Other stints, the first half remains constant, but his arsenal is stagnant at best, often clunky and disconnected. He’s too much of a competitor to plateau long-term.

If he’s in uniform, Bradley Beal is still, theoretically, a walking bucket. He’s missed a ton of time since 2019, but at 31, plenty of gas remains in the tank. Phoenix is impossible to defend with him in the lineup, and he’s due for a season to go his way.

Jalen Suggs is a younger, less erratic Marcus Smart. He got plenty of DPOY buzz with his staunch perimeter defense. The explosiveness of the rack is real, but the shooting from distance is a coin-flip. After a taste of success, another step forward is looming.

Draymond Green is an offensive hub who desperately needs to regain the semblance of a jump shot he had in his early years. When paired with Steph Curry, he helps constantly to create favorable situations, and the offense reaches beyond first gear. The off-ball work is still effective, but at this point, it’s fair to wonder if he can stay out of trouble for long enough for any of this to matter. 

This is where the criteria really matter. This feels harsh, but is it? Harden turns into a pumpkin in the postseason, with less than a handful of stellar series throughout his career. The scoring is down considerably, and although the passing remains elite, he is a liability in transition. It’s never clear if he’s committed to the team he’s on, and it’s hard to imagine him in a prominent role contributing to a title.

Aaron Gordon bought into the Denver culture and has a ring to show for it. His confidence went south in 2023 when teams realized they could leave him wide open around the arc. The shooting can’t be much worse (I think). When that comes back around, the high-flying putbacks and telepathic communication with Jokic will be more prevalent.

A premier rim protector, Jarrett Allen is a walking double-double. He’s the less enticing of the Cleveland frontcourt duo, but that shouldn’t diminish his influence. A change of scenery would do a massive boost to his PR. 

The hiring of Ime Udoka has transformed Jalen Green. He’s a sparkplug scorer—it looks chaotic, but it works. He led Houston to an 11-game win streak, during which he averaged north of 27 ppg. That hot stretch was a precursor for what’s to come as he vies for his first playoff birth.

Fred VanVleet is a feisty veteran who is not quite ready to pass the torch to Green as the squad’s leader. He’s an advanced analytics darling who is an underrated two-way commodity. 

In a shocking twist, the Chicago front office did something right by extending Coby White right before his ascension. He was robbed of Most Improved Player of the Year and made substantial strides in everything. The rise should continue with the departure of DeRozan and LaVine on the trade block.

Evan Mobley showed more paint prowess in one playoff outing against Boston than the rest of his pro tenure. He’s a freak defensively who alters shots and thwarts actions. It’s a less-than-ideal partnership next to Allen, but Mobley is special enough to overcome that hurdle and shine regardless.

Despite mostly zagging on modern playstyles, DeMar DeRozan remains a midrange maestro. He can do it in every way—off the catch, off the bounce, off a screen, on the blocks. I’m unsure how he adapts to Sacremento’s breakneck pace, but the veteran will find a way.

Cade Cunningham is a standout distributor who does a sufficient job picking his spots. He’s a calculated operator who needs to improve his willingness to carry the scoring burden on a languishing offense around him. 

Franz Wagner’s stock cratered with his shocking woes from downtown. An 8% dip is unheard of and feels like an outlier more than a trend. This summer in the Olympics, he shot 64% from deep. If Wagner’s jumper comes back, he’s a franchise cornerstone.

Is LaMelo Ball finally ready to take that next step forward? The tools are there: a streetball handle, flashy passing, and a sweet stroke. He’s only played over 55 games once—when he can stay in the lineup, the rest should fall into place.

Getting benched by the French national team is a new low in the Rudy Gobert saga. He’s still the human eraser under the cup, but his fleeting reputation is due to have psychological ramifications. A rejuvenated start on a title favorite should be an healthy remedy.

No one is more confident in Dejounte Murray than Dejounte Murray. Being Trae Young’s sidekick was a mess from the jump, so being the lead ball-handler in New Orleans instantly raises his floor. Expect the defensive intensity to return to a more serious environment.

The Julius Randle conversations have gotten so out of control he’s become grossly undervalued. This is a two-time All-NBA selection with a crafty offensive bag. He’s tough on the glass, and getting away from the New York City media might negate his postseason meltdowns.

OG Anunoby can switch onto almost anyone and is a 38% shooter from distance. Playing under Tom Thibodeau probably doesn’t help his concerning injury history, but he’s the ideal 3-and-D wing nonetheless. 

Pros: JJJ is an unselfish DPOY who had reps as “the guy” last season.
Cons: He can’t rebound the position and is prone to lingering injuries.
Verdict: A high-ceiling tweener with room to grow.

Don’t let poor roster construction fool you on Darius Garland. He’s a floor general who wants to set up others for success. The fit alongside Donovan Mitchell isn’t flawless, but it has to improve slightly. His numbers plummeted after breaking his jaw—a freak incident that shouldn’t be held against him. 

Baby Jokic, Alperen Sengun, is skilled creativity at its peak. He looks slight but is bruiser down low. The outside jumper needs work, but his lack of spacing as a calculated finisher and willing passer has yet to prove an issue. 

Preseason hitch in his shot aside, Mikal Bridges is an unselfish role player who can man the controls at a moment’s notice. In the past, he has shown that he can slow down the game’s best defensively. The scoring needs to keep pace, but he’s in a position to thrive next to his Villanova brethren.

When available, Kristaps Porzingis is the third-best guy on the defending champions. Constant lower body injuries force me to drop him considerably, but this is a top-30 talent when he’s on. The offensive platter has always been on display, but Boston unlocked his unreal defensive instincts. 

Desmond Bane is the total package. He’s a sniper who can hit shots from all over the court and uses his jacked frame to knife through defenses. It’s easy to be in the shadows next to Ja Morant, but Bane hasn’t even scratched his ceiling.

It must be painfully awkward if you know your organization was trying to cut ties with you all summer. Brandon Ingram has been very good but fails to be great regularly. If he finally can excel without the ball in his hands, that All-Star form will return.

Chet Holmgren is the 22-year-old Al Horford with hops. He can slide into the four or the five, gobble up boards, and drain triples. As a “rookie,” he swatted over two shots a contest and made opposing guards fear his presence. This should be the lowest on a ranking he’ll ever be.

When he’s not making the wrong kind of headlines, Kyrie Irving is still a gifted scorer who can put the ball on a string. His personal volatility can hinder a must-watch athlete at the tail-end of his prime.

If you blink hard enough, there are moments where Trae Young is a suitable Damian Lillard tribute act. He wants everything on offense to run through him, which is fine if Atlanta wasn’t trying to compete. Few smaller guards can produce at such a high volume, but he needs to find a defensive motor before he loses the keys to the franchise.

Scottie Barnes is a mismatch who has earned his stripes barreling to the basket and rising up in the midrange. He can be the offensive engine or play a small-ball five. His relentless physicality is refreshing, but the three-point stroke has to develop if he wants to climb more tiers.

An old-school four that does his damage on the blocks, Pascal Siakam, is a steady scorer ready to go nuclear at any given time. The skillset isn’t aesthetically pleasing, but it works more often than not.

Karl-Anthony Towns managed to look invaluable and totally dispensable in consecutive playoff rounds. He’s not the best big-man shooter ever, but he is a pick-and-pop master who can quickly find his groove. His undeniable talent has to outweigh his desire to be the featured name at the top of the marquee. 

Zion Williamson is a human highlight reel that can do more than throw down vicious slams. As a point forward, he disregards defenders and flies into the paint. He’s coming off his healthiest season, but staying in shape for seven months is his greatest hurdle.

The best shot-blocking guard…ever? Derrick White is a rim-protecting anomaly who is rapidly improving at age 30. He’s a flame thrower from a distance who is increasingly willing to drive in the lane. Every team in the NBA would yearn for his services.

The most willing player in the sport, Jrue Holiday, just wants to win. 43% from downtown is bonkers without the All-NBA defense and generosity to defer to his teammates. He’s an overqualified supporting piece with the wherewithal to flip a switch when called upon.

J-Dub is the next-in-line, two-way standout who will define a generation. The Santa Clara product struggles with compliance, defaulting to SGA instead of taking the game by the horns. If he keeps refining his scoring, the Thunder will have a decade-defining duo.  

General managers should blow up Danny Ainge’s line to acquire Lauri Markkanen. A seven-foot bucket, his movement, and unlimited range have lifted Utah out of the gutter since his arrival. The volume and efficiency would translate to any contender.

Domatis Sabonis is a unique offensive hub who has mastered handoffs and swinging the ball out of the paint. He’s the league’s best glass cleaner and will continue to be a double-double machine. Where did the spacing go? If he can consistently knock down triples again, that changes the equation for his ceiling. 

Is Damian Lillard close to the cliff? He blamed his underwhelming debut campaign on a lack of an off-season. A valid excuse? We’ll see. I’m expecting a minor resurgence after a year to develop chemistry next to Giannis. The pick and roll should be more prevalent, and an emphasis on “letting Dame cook” should bolster his confidence. 

A mobile brick wall, Bam Adebayo is a staunch defensive anchor. He sets the finest barely legal screens and is an underrated roller. Aside from the “Bam middy,” the offense is sparse, but a commitment to an outside jumper could unleash his next form. 

A dynamite shot creator with slippery handles, Tyrese Maxey, can get anywhere he wants on the floor. No one manages to stay in front of him, and his movement puts defenders in a blender. There are not many holes in his bag—it’s a matter of staying in control and letting the game slow down for him at times.

Paolo Banchero needs more credit for turning around the Magic. He is the first and often second option on offense and has put on enough muscle to withstand that workload. The Jayson Tatum comps are more than sharing an alma mater—a similar third-year leap is on the horizon.

The second-best player on a champion, Jamal Murray’s disaster-class playoffs and Olympics have hurt his once pristine reputation. He looked like such a shell of himself playing for Canada that it’s fair to wonder what in the world happened. I’m giving him one “bizarre events” pass for now and assume he’ll be good to go by the opening tip. 

A first step so fast it paralyzes defenders, De’Aaron Fox is coming into his own as a scorer. Now that the threes are falling at a sufficient clip, he has more room to operate. He comes alive in the fourth quarter and knows when to get others involved. The ascension is real.

If you combine Chris Paul’s passing with the ugliest hitch since Shawn Marion, you get budding show-stealer Tyrese Haliburton. He’s a breathtaking facilitator with refined scoring chops. An Eastern Conference Finals birth is only the start.

Kawhi Leonard somehow got better as a first option but got hurt again when it mattered most. It’s pretty simple: few are more talented, but at some point, he has to prove he can play through four playoff rounds again.

Last week, during a preseason game, Paul George bruised a bone in his left knee. His playoff shortcomings are one thing, but his increasing unavailability has knocked him down a few rungs in the game’s hierarchy. He still has tantilizing two-way prowess, but it needs to be on display more often. 

Assuming Ja Morant is the same player the last time we saw him without various scandals hanging over him, he’s an MVP contender. He can go from zero to a hundred in a flash and use his athleticism to be a premier floor raiser. He’s bound to make the most of his second chance.

Jimmy Butler narrowly escapes being lumped with Paul George and Kawhi Leonard because of his pair of Finals births since 2020. His public riff with Pat Riley was odd but also a reminder that he’s a stone-cold killer when his eyes are on the prize. He knows his clock is ticking to secure a ring, and he will be a man possessed. Side note: Will defenders ever stop falling for his second up fake?

Donovan Mitchell is an undersized two with a flair for the dramatics. Nothing is off his scoring menu, but how many more postseason flameouts does he get before Cleveland grapples with some difficult questions?

In 2023, Caleb Martin thoroughly outplayed Jaylen Brown throughout the Eastern Conference Finals. Boston radio stations promptly tossed him in the trade machine and ridiculed his massive extension. Fast forward to June, and Brown got the last laugh. The left-hand jokes are dead, and Brown is a Finals MVP at the helm of a potential dynasty.

Anthony Davis is an automatic DPOY contender who chips in 24 and 12 a night. He played the most games in his career and stepped it up in the postseason against (spoiler) the best in the world. His unwillingness to play the five is a constant problem, but it’s nice to see “the brow” back on track.

Relax. LeBron is still a specimen with an improving jumper in year 22. He roams on defense, often in the corner, and takes too many quarters off to be in the top 10, but when he has to use it, he still has his fastball. He’s slowing down, but at a snail’s pace—I’m not sure he’ll ever look human.

The king of New York (sorry, Aaron Judge), Jalen Brunson, is inexplicably a top scorer in basketball. Physically, nothing stands out, but his herky-jerky mannerisms and merciless competitive fire more than compensate. Guards his size historically have short shelf lives, which is a pause for caution, but all Brunson does is break down barriers.

Too early? Sorry, aliens don’t come down to earth often. His only real flaws? His weight and defaulting into too many step-back heaves. Even with a peculiar roster surrounding him, Wemby stood out as a winning asset that would soon dominate the league. With Chris Paul setting him up instead of Jeremy Sochan, his stats will jump off the page.

Booker’s “cool factor” might’ve been surpassed by other emerging names, but that doesn’t diminish his elite scoring ability. He’s still a superstar with an uncanny ability to hit timely shots. He should get more run as a point guard, where he’s been lethal out of the pick-and-roll.

Phoenix’s incompetence overshadowed another fantastic Kevin Durant season. He was remarkably healthy and put up an absurd 52/41/86 percent shooting line. Constant injuries and questions about his commitment can derail his final years, but his efficiency and natural ability are still astonishing.

Joel Embiid is a criteria nightmare. He’s the most physically imposing threat since Shaq, but he has more MVP trophies (one) than defining playoff series (zero). Does it matter how talented someone is if they aren’t available when it matters most? I respect the dominance, but he has to surpass the second round. 

Maybe he’s not Michael Jordan (yet), but Anthony Edwards has cemented himself as a high-volume bucket. It’s sloppy at times, but when he’s in the zone, there’s no stopping him. He can turn on the clamps defensively and has the athletic profile to have a limitless ceiling.

Steph Curry’s Team USA stint was just a reminder he’s the baddest man on the planet when he has it going. You can only pray he misses, and his presence alone generates a high-powered offense. The reigning Clutch Player of the Year has a slightly better cast around him and will try to drag Golden State back to the playoffs.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is an unstoppable driver who uses quirky angles and a change of pace to score in droves. He manages to get out of every predicament and never looks flustered. He’s in the thick of the MVP race, but needs a deep run in May to crack the top four.

The best player on the best team. Jayson Tatum is a social media punching bag but also a two-way monster who has reworked the hitch in his shooting motion. With a chip on his shoulder despite winning a championship, Tatum on a revenge arc is a scary sight for 29 other clubs. 

Luka Doncic is an offensive supernova who was a few fractions away from averaging a 30-point triple-double on the season. He makes everything happen for Dallas, and his shot-making is demoralizing. He has to consistently fair better on defense to have a shot at taking the throne. 

On both ends, Giannis is an imposing force that essentially does whatever he wants. He is capable of capturing another DPOY or winning the scoring title. If the jump shot ever develops, no one is better.

The reigning-defending-undisputed best player in the universe. Nikola Jokic is an unrivaled offensive hub who cannot be stopped. He has eyes in the back of his head and is firmly in control 98% of the time he suits up. Right now, there’s no one in his airspace—he’s that good.