It’s late August and we’re in the thick of the NBA’s slow season. What better time to examine which teams have a nucleus of young players that could be an indicator of success over the next decade?
With any rankings, you need solid ground rules. So, without further ado, let’s get right into it::
- Defining young: Players are only eligible if they’ll be age 24 or younger at the start of the NBA regular season on October 18.
- Each team’s top three players age 24 or younger are graded 1-10. This grade is factored by NBA production and a projection of their peak through their age-24 season.
- Read rule no. 2 again to make sure it sticks.
- The team’s three highest-graded players have their scores aggregated to provide one total team score.
- Individual player grade tiers (1-10):
- 1 – Free agent
- 2 – End of roster
- 3 – Fighting for playing time
- 4 – Below average contributor
- 5 – Average contributor
- 6 – Above average contributor
- 7 – Significant winning traits
- 8 – All-Star consideration
- 9 – All-NBA consideration
- 10 – Elite superstar
Who are the players behind the blue, red, and orange that are driving their team rankings, you ask?
30. Bucks: MarJon Beauchamp (5), Jordan Nwora (4), Lindell Wigginton (4) = 11. Having the best player in the world on your team covers some holes.
29. Jazz: Nickeil Alexander-Walker (4), Jarred Vanderbilt (4), Walker Kessler (3) = 11. Utah needs an infusion of young talent. Welcome, Danny Ainge and draft pick accumulation.
28. Clippers: Brandon Boston Jr. (5), Moussa Diabaté (4), Jason Preston (3) = 12. Shoutout to the Ohio Bobcats. Terance Mann just misses the cut-off at 25. Honorable mention – Moses Brown.
27. Suns: Deandre Ayton (7), Josh Okogie (3), Duane Washington Jr. (3) = 13. There are only three players to choose from with Devin Booker and Mikal Bridges both being 25.
26. Nets: Cam Thomas (6), Nic Claxton (4), Day’Ron Sharpe (3) = 13. Honorable mention – Kessler Edwards.
25. Lakers: Talen Horton-Tucker (5), Lonnie Walker (5), Max Christie (4) = 14. Honorable mention – Austin Reaves.
24. 76ers: Tyrese Maxey (7), De’Anthony Melton (5), Jaden Springer (3) = 15. Slim pickings on the under-25 crew, but I’m very eager to see Maxey’s leap.
23. Heat: Tyler Herro (7), Nikola Jovic (6), Omer Yurtseven (3) = 16. Udonis Haslem juust missed the age cut-off for this exercise.
22. Nuggets: Michael Porter Jr. (7), Bones Hyland (5), Christian Bruan (4) = 16. MPJ’s ceiling will be dictated by his health, he can easily be an eight-player alongside reigning MVP Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray.
21. Wizards: Rui Hachimura (6), Johnny Davis (6), Daniel Gafford (5) = 17. As evidenced by this list, it was time to turn Beal into unprotected draft assets, but Washington went the other way and signed him to a maximum five-year extension. Honorable mentions – Deni Avdija and Corey Kispert.
20. Blazers: Anfernee Simons (6), Shaedon Sharpe (6), Trendon Watford (5) = 17. Honorable mention – Nassir Little.
19. Spurs: Keldon Johnson (7), Jeremy Sochan (7), Josh Primo (4) = 18. The Spurs are missing that franchise building block and need draft lottery luck. Honorable mention – Devin Vassell.
18. Mavericks: Luka Doncic (10), Frank Ntilikina (4), Josh Green (4) = 18. The cupboard is bare beyond Luka.
17. Celtics: Jayson Tatum (10), Grant Williams (5), Payton Prichard (3) = 18. This is criminal, Robert Williams turns 25 on October 178, one day before the NBA season begins, making him ineligible for this exercise. Jaylen Brown is also 25 and will be turning 26 shortly after the season tips off.
16. Raptors: Scottie Barnes (9), Gary Trent Jr. (6), Precious Achiuwa (4) = 19. OG Anunoby just missed the list at 25 years old, but the Raptors have interesting young pieces to go along with their fringe all-star veterans in Fred VanVleet and Pascal Siakam.
15. Timberwolves: Anthony Edwards (10), Wendell Moore (5), Jaylen Nowell (4) = 19. Nowell quietly had a great shooting season last year and he could be the spacing threat this team needs with Karl-Anthony Towns and Rudy Gobert starting. Honorable mention – Jaden McDaniels.
14. Warriors: Jonathan Kuminga (7), James Wiseman (6), Jordan Poole (6) = 19. Poole may look low, but these rankings are for both sides of the court. Honorable Mention – Moses Moody.
13. Knicks: RJ Barrett (8), Mitchell Robinson (6), Immanuel Quickley (6) = 20. This group is subject to change very quickly via the Donovan Mitchell sweepstakes. Honorable mention – Quentin Grimes and Cam Reddish.
12. Pacers: Tyrese Haliburton (8), Benedict Mathurin (7), Jalen Smith (5) = 20. I’m very high on Mathurin, he should get all the minutes he can handle early on a rebuilding team.
11. Bulls: Patrick Williams (8), Lonzo Ball (6), Ayo Donsumu (6) = 20. Ball should be higher, but knee injuries are a lingering concern. Honorable mention – Dalen Terry.
10. Hornets: LaMelo Ball (8), Miles Bridges (7), Mark Williams (5) = 20. I like PJ Washington and Kai Jones but I think Williams turns into a more useful player as he develops.
9. Kings: De’Aaron Fox (8), Keegan Murray (7), Davion Mitchell (6) = 21. Honorable mention – Kevin Huerter. If Keegan Murray proves to be a guy, the Kings could finally be onto something in the West.
8. Rockets: Jalen Green (8), Jabari Smith Jr. (7), Kevin Porter Jr. (6) = 21. The Rockets are loaded with young players who need to develop into winning basketball players. Honorable mentions – Tari Eason and Alperen Sengun.
7. Hawks: Trae Young (9), De’Andre Hunter (7), Onyeka Okongwu (5) = 21. I’m extremely high on Hunter and the leap he’s going to take this season with what should be even more spacing and quality looks with newcomer Dejounte Murray.
6. Magic: Paolo Banchero (9), Franz Wagner (7), Jalen Suggs (6) = 22. Honorable Mention – Wendell Carter Jr. who I have at tier 6 but the tie goes to the guard who was drafted by the team.
5. Pelicans: Zion Williamson (9), Herb Jones (7), Dyson Daniels (6) = 22. Brandon Ingram turns 25 just ahead of the season making him ineligible, obviously a key part of this exciting nucleus.
4. Pistons: Cade Cunningham (9), Jaden Ivey (7), Jalen Duren (6) = 22. Loaded with intriguing youngsters, Saddiq Bey is right there behind Duren.
3. Thunder: Chet Holmgren (8), Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (8), Josh Giddey (7) = 23. It breaks my heart to leave Ousmane Dieng off this list, but OKC has deep talent under 25 years old. When will it translate to being a contender is the question.
2. Grizzlies: Ja Morant (10), Jaren Jackson Jr. (7), Desmond Bane (7) = 24. I like Jaren Jackson Jr. a lot but the shooting percentages and foul concerns keep him at a 7. One of the most exciting teams in the NBA.
1. Cavaliers: Evan Mobley (9), Darius Garland (8), Jarrett Allen (7) = 24. These three are the clear-cut nucleus of the team and Mobley has an unlimited future. October basketball cannot come soon enough.
Thoughts on individual or team rankings, either leave a comment here or send them to @Seth_Hoops on Twitter.