46-50: http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/13879059/nbarank-46-50 50. Al Jefferson 49. Jabari Parker 48. Derrick Favors 47. Greg Monroe 46. Dwyane Wade Current Rockets: 277. Sam Dekker 265. Clint Capela 264. Jason Terry 235. Marcus Thornton 232. K.J. McDaniels 165. Corey Brewer 135. Patrick Beverley 112. Terrence Jones 104. Donatas Motiejunas 94. Trevor Ariza 67. Ty Lawson
Pretty obviously too high. Dude played 25 games as a rookie and was...fine, I guess? I mean...12 and 5 is fine for a rookie season, but is he really better than dudes like Lawson, Rudy Gay, Ariza, Demarre Carroll, Gallinari, or Parsons? And that's not even mentioning he's coming off an ACL tear.
well according to this list the Bucks will win 50 and make at least the second round since they got 4/5 starters at top 50.... Yeahhhh.... Maybe. Noone knows and that's why he shouldn't have been put so high in the list. He COULD be better than Ariza and Caroll this year. Don't think Gallo yet. Lawson is not easy to compare because they play different positions. I think he will be much improved on his pnr and on ball defence tho since he's been busting his butt off trying to learn how to hedge. [And because I watched the worst player in the nba yesterday having learned to defend the pick and roll after two traning camps with the coaching staff. So at least there's plenty of learning going on in the team.] He is explosive as before his injury from all the videos of him dunking all over the place. But because I'm paranoid and negative nancy I won't believe it until I see it with my own eyes on an nba game. Wiggins shouldn't have been top 50 either btw. He COULD be top 50 player but that takes for granted a great leap in efficiency ,shooting and playmaking. This list sucks plain and simple.
I didnt investigate, but I am sure this list is based on the upcoming season value and production. Jabari will have big role on an average team, so he's that high. Obviously too high, but lets not get crazy, we don't care what ESPN thinks, right? And that would explain why the deepest team in the NBA has only 3 players in top 90. Because upcoming season we'll be sharing the load and we'll be beasting as a team, not as individuals.
41-45: http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/13874522/nbarank-41-45 45. Khris Middleton 44. Andrew Wiggins 43. Dirk Nowitzki 42. Rudy Gobert 41. Derrick Rose Current Rockets: 277. Sam Dekker 265. Clint Capela 264. Jason Terry 235. Marcus Thornton 232. K.J. McDaniels 165. Corey Brewer 135. Patrick Beverley 112. Terrence Jones 104. Donatas Motiejunas 94. Trevor Ariza 67. Ty Lawson
Middleton is where he should be top 50. It's the rest of the list that sucks. He's a young wing ( the MOST devoid of talent position in the NBA) who shoots 40% from 3 and is top 3 wing defender. He is also one of the best shooters from midrange and can defend 3 positions. Top 50 means you can take them in any team in the league and he would be a starter. Which is true. Can't think of any team that he wouldn't start. [and yes if he was in the Rockets he would start over Ariza because he's better shooter and better defender].
At this point Dirk is not a top 50 player. His defense makes Harden's look like all 1st team and while he is still a lethal shooter he doesn't offer all that much else anymore on offense. Also don't think Rose should be that high, but it's at least possible that his rank could come out to be ok if he somehow stays healthy.
Disagree, Middleton is like top 75 at best. Is he better than DeMarre Carroll? Parsons? He's like an Ariza type player when he played for the Wizards and shot 40% from three.
yes. He's better than Carroll and Parsons. He's top 5 sg in the league. He's as good as Ariza in the Wiz if Ariza didn't have Wall Gortat and Beal and was his teams' no.1 offensive option and their top defender, and maintained his efficiency. If Ariza could do that then he would be top 50 without a doubt as well.
Wow. You seriously think so? Who else do you consider to be in the top 5 along with Middleton? Who played more at two for the Bucks last season was it him or Giannis? Obviously both are very very versatile players but does Middleton get more games at SG or forward?
Harden Thompson Wade (even at his age and injuries) Kobe (I reluctantly put him here but the SG pool is not very deep). Middleton really the last spot? A healthy Wes Matthews if he recovers well is better. So is Iggy (but fair enough he won't get the minutes). Beal is possibly in the mix as he's young enough to improve this year. Who else am I missing here?
It's fine if Middleton is not recognised. His game is not flashy and not many watch Bucks games.I was hoping that he would remain unknown a little longer so as to have a cheap contract- but it was in vain. He played SG all season. But he can also play SF in small lineups and PF in super small lineups. My top 5 in sg are Harden Thompson Wade (minus points depending on health but this year when he was healthy he was still great) Buttler Middleton Beal can't shoot as well from 3 is always injured and is not such good defender. Oladipo is not as great defender (we are still waiting to show us his defence btw) and can't shoot well. This shows more than anything how dire is the situation at sg in the league. There is a void of talent. Middleton is not a star- at least if he doesn't further develop, he just became 24- but is the PERFECT third banana. Just perfect. He can be a third banana in any team in the league because he's low usage sharpshooter with amazing and versatile wing defence.
Harden Thompson Butler DeRozan Wade Green Korver I would take all of them over Middleton this season. Maybe he gets better in the next year or two.
