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The NBA is ever closer to its beginning and we too are getting closer, thanks to ESPN’s analysis, to increasingly noble positions. Today we analyze from 79 to 70.
Read the positions: 100-90 – 89-80
79. Fred VanVleet, G, Houston Rockets
Rank in 2023: 56
VanVleet finished last season with his lowest points average since 2019-20, but achieved a personal best in assists (8.1 per game). His drop in the standings is quite surprising considering the leadership and stability he brought to a young team like the Rockets. Houston signed VanVleet to build a winning culture, and there will still be a lot of work to do with Alperen Sengun, Amen Thompson, Jabari Smith and Jalen Green developing. His job will be to help young players take the next step in development, while serving as the playmaker of a playoff-hungry team. –
78. Brandin Pod Ziemia, G, Golden State Warriors
Position in 2023: Unranked
A year ago, Podziemski was the 19th pick in the draft, destined to fill a reserve role in the guard rotation. The Warriors had confidence in him, but not high expectations of how much he would contribute immediately. He ended up playing an average of 26.6 minutes and starting 28 games, and is now in the running for a spot in the starting lineup alongside Stephen Curry. Podziemski, along with his draft partner Trayce Jackson-Davis, represents the Warriors’ attempt to “win now by investing in the future.”
77. Jaden McDaniels, F, Minnesota Timberwolves
Position in 2023: Unranked
Four years into his career but only 24 years old, the 6’9″ McDaniels, with a 7″ wingspan, is regarded by Timberwolves management as Anthony Edwards’ “Scottie Pippen,” their ” Michael Jordan.” In modern basketball, with increasingly fluid positions, McDaniels is an ideal defender, capable of marking all positions and limiting all types of opponents from the perimeter to the paint. The Wolves bet a lot on him, selling Karl-Anthony Towns and increasing his salary from 3.9 to 23 million dollars, thus expecting a leap in production from him.
76. Tyler Herro, G, Miami Heat
Rank in 2023: 79
Herro deserves to be higher. The Heat guard posted career highs in points (20.8) and assists (4.5) last season. However, like his partner Jimmy Butler, on-field availability matters in player rankings. Herro played only 42 games, the lowest number of his career, due to various injuries and has never played more than 70 games in a season.
75. Donte DiVincenzo, G, Minnesota Timberwolves
Position in 2023: Unranked
A key part of the Knicks’ offense last season, DiVincenzo made 283 3-pointers in 2023-24, the third-best in the NBA and nearly double the previous year, when he played alongside Stephen Curry in Golden State. At 27, he may still have room for improvement. In the Eastern Conference Semifinals, he averaged nearly 23 points per game in the seven-game series. DiVincenzo is expected to play a key role for the Timberwolves, who will eagerly embrace his three-point shooting ability now that Towns is with the Knicks.
74. Zach LaVine, G, Chicago Bulls
Rank in 2023: 38
LaVine fell in the rankings after injuries limited him to 25 games in a disappointing season that was also marred by trade rumors. Despite the speculation, however, a market did not develop for him, and he returned to Chicago for his eighth season with the Bulls. LaVine said he’s OK with the team’s new youth focus, even if it means adjusting to regain his two-time All-Star form.
73. Jarrett Allen, C, Cleveland Cavaliers
Position in 2023: 50
If the rankings were based only on games played from January 3 to the All-Star break, Allen would be in the top 50. In that time he averaged 17.3 points, 12.4 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game, and Cavaliers had the best record in the league with 18 wins and 2 losses. He finished the season averaging a double-double in points and rebounds for the third time in his career. The concern remains his on-court compatibility with Evan Mobley. According to Cleaning the Glass, the Cavaliers ranked just in the 38th percentile in points per 100 possessions when Mobley and Allen played together.
72. Austin Reaves, G, Los Angeles Lakers
Rank in 2023: 66
After a busy summer with the US national team at the FIBA World Cup, Reaves needed time to find his rhythm after shining in the 2023 playoffs. His slight drop in ranking reflects his drop in shooting efficiency from the previous year ( 52.9% from the field and 39.8% from three compared to 48.6% and 36.7%), in addition to the Lakers’ first-round elimination. However, his improvements as a point guard and the fact that he played all 82 games are clear. Reaves is expected to move up again after this season.
71. Klay Thompson, G, Dallas Mavericks
Rank in 2023: 41
Thompson dropped 30 spots after averaging just 17.9 points per game and shooting 38.7 percent from three last year, which was his last with the Warriors. As he stated after joining the Mavericks, Thompson firmly believes he still has “a lot of good basketball ahead of him” and is eager to prove it by playing for a championship team like the Mavericks. Dallas hopes that Thompson’s experience and his three-point shooting are the missing elements to reach the title.
70. Bradley Beal, G, Phoenix Suns
Rank in 2023: 37
It was a steep decline for Beal, who finished his first season with the Suns with 51/43/81 shooting percentages, but missed 29 games, preventing Phoenix from finding a true identity. Since the start of the 2019-20 season, Beal has missed 130 games due to injury — more than Anthony Davis (120) and almost as many as Kawhi Leonard (161) — without suffering the same negative impact on his reputation. This drop in the rankings is directly linked to its recent lack of reliability. If he can stay on the court and help the Suns reach their potential, his ranking will also rise again. — McMenamin
