GIUSEPPE CACACE/AFP via Getty Images
15.PaulGeorge
Highest Placement: 11
Lowest placement: 24
Paul George, 32, may be past his prime, but he’s still an elite NBA talent at both ends of the parquet. He will start the season as the Clippers’ shooting guard, with his 6’8″ frame giving him a huge size advantage over most opponents. Head coach Tyronn Lue noted he could use George as a point guard sometimes this season also, which gives him some extra play opportunities.
It’s fair to question George’s stamina and shooting decline last season (35.4 percent out of three, the lowest since his rookie year). But there’s nothing he can’t do at a high level when he’s healthy.
On our top 100 overall list, George is the highest-ranked #2 option in the NBA.
– Black
14.Damian Lillard
Highest Placement: 10
Lowest placement: 24
After a poor (physically and statistically) 2021-22, Damian Lillard seems ready to return to his old form. According to the Rose Garden Report Sean HighkinsPortland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups said Dame’s “zero-to-sixty breakout” is back.
When it’s right, few players are as consistent and dangerous offensively as Lillard. He presents the danger of deep pull-ups like Trae while still being able to break through defenses and punish the edge.
– Bailey
13. Devin Booker
Highest Placement: 6
Lowest placement: 31
Devin Booker just finished fourth in the MVP pick, and yet it feels like his fame is being stifled a bit.
13th place is no offense, to be clear. It is precisely. This league is deep. But there remains a tendency to hide him behind Chris Paul’s shadow or diminish his influence based on circumstances beyond his control (i.e. The Suns weren’t doing well until the arrival of CP3).
The bankability of Booker’s scoring is underappreciated. There’s a reason the Suns fell apart in the second round of the playoffs when the Mavericks reformatted their entire defense to harass him. He ranked first in points per touch among 278 players who managed at least 30 touches per game last season. And he placed fourth in the same category for 2019-20 and 2020-21.
There’s also an underestimate of the passes he throws once he’s coming downhill. The Suns would do well to give him more floor general reps on the lower court — especially given the state of this year’s bench.
– Favale
12. Trae Young
Highest Placement: 9
Lowest placement: 26
Trae Young is an offensive powerhouse. He will generate most of his team’s offense as a scorer (28.4 points per game last season), shooter (38.2 percent out of three) and playmaker (9.7 assists per night). But Young, with his slight physique, isn’t a powerful defender.
The Atlanta Hawks recognized Young’s talent and worked to pair the 24-year-old guard with long, athletic defensemen. The addition of Dejounte Murray, one of the better defenders in the league, should help make up for Young’s limitations.
Murray also gives Atlanta another capable primary playmaker who should prevent teams from constantly sending traps to get the ball out of Young’s hands.
– Pinkus
11. Jimmy Butler
Highest Placement: 9
Lowest placement: 18
Age and mileage are starting to catch up with Jimmy Butler, but when you need a player to emerge in a big moment, few players do it better than him.
The 33-year-old is on a strong playoff run (27.4 points, 7.4 rebounds, 4.6 assists, 2.1 steals, 50.6 percent shooting) and will once again need to play a big role for the Heat stay in the lead of the east.
Still capable of holding his own at a high level defensively, Butler could easily finish in the NBA top-10 even in Year 12.
– Black