Post by Handsome Pete on Aug 23, 2021 19:02:16 GMT -5
Similar to last go around, I pulled a list of around 70 players career stats and current season stats to see relative to positional groups and overall who the standouts were. I'll post those tables afterwards (my screen clipping isn't working right now), but here's the list everyone cares about: The Top 25 - 25 and Under: Redux.
25. Dee Brown PG 23 6'1'' 160 C+ A- C+ C+ D C - Carolina Cougars
I went back and forth between Dee Brown and Terry Porter for the 25th and final spot. While I think Terry has had a solid rookie season, Dee gets the edge because I think a GM could talk themselves into Dee becoming a superstar more likely than they could with Terry. He's scoring with great volume, especially considering he's the back-up option for Carolina, and this season Dee has taken things to another level. He's been right around 2 TOs per 36 for his career, which is not elite but is close, and while I think his nearly 1.17 Pts/TSA this season are probably not sustainable, his stats look an awful lot like NVE's did when I did this exercise a few seasons ago. I wouldn't be surprised to see 20s sell high on NVE and hand the keys over to Dee in the near future.
24. Joe Dumars SG 22 6'3'' 190 B+ C+ C+ B C B - Indiana Pacers
The Pacers went from a middling playoff team to the best team in the league this season thanks to two major changes. First, they let Derek Harper walk and plugged in a much better option with Dwight Buycks. And second, they drafted Joe Dumars. I will admit that Dumars's stat line doesn't exactly jump off the page. For wings, he's slightly below average in scoring volume and rebounding, but he's a very capable defender and sports a strong Ast/TO ratio. And although his scoring volume isn't top-tier, he's very efficient on the offensive end, sporting above average ratings in FG%, FT%, 3P% and Pts/TSA. His WS are higher than most other wings this season, which I'm sure has a lot to do with the play of his team overall, but there's no denying that Joe is a key part of the Pacers leap from pretender to contender, and I think that warrants inclusion here.
23. T.J. Warren SF 24 6'8'' 220 A- C C C C+ C - Atlanta Hawks
Warren waited patiently in the wings for the Hawks the past few seasons behind established veterans Antonio Gates and Rodney McCray, playing well in the minutes he received but never quite exploding onto the scene the way I expected he would when he was drafted. After several years as the understudy, Warren has taken his place in the spotlight this season, and the early returns show he is pretty much who we thought he was: A highly efficient scorer who doesn't do much else to tilt the scales one way or the other. He's sporting a robust 1.2 Pts/TSA this season, and everthing else in his game is about average compared to the other wings. Warren is a great fit as a 3rd banana on a contending team, but probably shouldn't be counted on for much beyond that.
22. Jay Williams PG 22 6'2'' 195 B+ B A B- D+ A - Portland Trail Blazers
Jay Williams has silenced the haters with a great rookie campaign, only to follow it up with a more well-rounded sophomore one. In a season that has otherwise been disappointing for the Blazers, Williams continues to be a bright spot, scoring efficiently and chipping in a ton of assists. He's got a couple big knocks to his game though. First, his FT shooting stands out in comparison to his peers as really sub-par. Also, his turnovers are not back-breaking, but he's probably going to be on the higher end for a starter throughout his career. Even taking those into consideration, I think he's still probably the 2nd best point guard 25 and under, at least for now.
21. Caron Butler SF 23 6'7'' 233 A- C+ B B- A- A - New York Knicks
Caron has had some big TCs and is a great fit on the Knicks, where he can play to his strengths and doesn't have to be counted on as a scorer. That's a good thing, because despite his scoring improvements he's still below average in Pts/TSA relative to his peers. Move beyond the scoring output though, and you'll find an ideal complementary piece for a top-flight team, particularly one with a dynamo young point guard. Caron takes care of the rock and moves the ball well, but he truly shines on the glass. He's the best rebounding wing of the group I reviewed and one of only a handful of wings capable of averaging > 10 rebounds per game in a season. If he were in a different offense that asked him to do more, maybe he'd be higher on the list (or conversely, maybe we'd see more warts). But for what the Knicks ask him to do, Caron brings a ton of value to the court.
20. Luis Scola PF 23 6'9'' 240 A- C D+ C B C - Houston Rockets
Scola kicks off the first of what will be many bigs on this list, as the league in general has had a serious influx of young frontcourt talent over the past few drafts. Scola's business is putting points on the board, and business is GOOD. He's averaging around 30 PPG per 36 on good efficiency, and he rebounds and takes care of the ball enough that he's not a liability. He's not going to give you anything on defense but he'll at least score as much as he gives up on that end. Probably ideally suited as a 3rd big to bring the offensive firepower off the bench.
19. Charles Oakley PF 21 6'8'' 225 B+ C- D C+ A- B - Milwaukee Bucks
Oak is having a great rookie season for the resurgent Milwaukee Bucks team. He and teammate Karl Malone are putting up some great stats as focal points of the rebound-centric paint monster offense in Milwaukee, and Karl actually has been the better player according to win shares this season. I give Oak the nod because he's rebounding a little better, turning it over a lot less, and is only a touch less efficient offensively. Ultimately I think you could go with either and no one could complain.
18. Kevin Love PF 25 6'8'' 270 B+ B+ C+ C B D - Minnesota Timberwolves
Kevin Love has bounced around quite a lot for someone who's still 25 and under. After a blazing start for the Clippers, time with the Bucks, a couple seasons in the Yawn zone, and an Ankly sign and swap, he finds himself in Minnesota as the youngest part of an aging core. Love has fallen out of favor somewhat over the past few seasons, in part because other bigs have come into the league and in part because his play has fallen off. He was consistently around 1.2 Pts/TSA for his career, but this season he's well off that mark with a 1.13 average. Is that a sign that his play is starting to slip, or just an aberration that can be chalked up to randomness in the software? Time will tell, but given Love's impressive resume prior to this year, I think he is still deserving of a spot on the list.
17. Jonas Valanciunas C 23 6'11'' 240 A- C C- A- B- B - Houston Rockets
Jonas has been the anchor in the middle of the Houston Rockets team for KC's GMing tenure, and after being rewarded with a big deal this past offseason, he's turning in one of the best performances of his career. He's over 1.21 Pts/TSA, 2 blocks per game, and his turnovers are down to a slightly below average 2.2 per game rather than his career mark of nearly 3. If he can keep this up, 17 is probably too low, as there aren't many bigs who boast that kind of 2-way production.
16. Kawhi Leonard SF 24 6'7'' 225 B C+ C- A A- B - San Antonio Spurs
Am I crazy for having Kawhi this high? When he was set to hit free agency last season, it seemed like there were a lot of people who felt he didn't warrant a max deal. And it's true that when you look at offensive production, his output is among the lowest in his peer group. But to me Kawhi brings a skillset you don't get with any other wing on this list, a top-tier combination of rebounding and stocks. With the wings I looked at, he had the best blocks numbers, second best steals numbers, and second best rebounds. This season is peak Kawhi performance, averaging only 13 points but on 1.17 Pts/TSA, and an absurdly low number of TOs compared to his normal output. I think he's showing why he's worth paying max money to, even if he's never going to be among the league leaders in scoring.
15. Serge Ibaka PF 24 6'11'' 240 A C D+ A A B - San Antonio Spurs
Another Spur checks in at number 15 with Serge Ibaka. If this list were based on grades alone, Serge would be a top 5 candidate without a doubt. Based on production, he's still an easy top 15 selection. Serge can fill it up. He's averaging over 30 PPG per 36, 13 rebounds per game, and 2 blocks per game, all of which are upper echelon among his peers. His efficiency is good as well. There's one big red flag though that sticks out like a sore thumb. Those turnovers are AWFUL. He's around 3 turnovers per 36 for his career and he's smashing that mark this season, coughing it up nearly 4 times per 36 minutes. It's hard to justify putting him above some of the other bigs on this list because of how much that stands out as a weakness.
14. Cedric Ceballos SF 23 6'6'' 200 A C+ D+ C+ B- A - Toronto Raptors
Ceballos famously slipped to 1.3 after GM Dumptime opted to go with Dennis Scott. No offense to 3-D, who has turned out to be a decent player in his own right, but Ceballos has gone on to show what a huge mistake that was. He's a big time scorer at the position, with the highest points per 36 average on the 2nd highest P/TSA mark among all wings I looked at. He also chips in on the boards as well, averaging around 8.5 per 36. Like Serge above him, the turnover numbers stick out as a weakness, and that seems to be reflected in WS numbers consistently lower than I would expect. But should Ceballos hit the market via trade or free agency, there would not be many who would say no to adding a scorer of his caliber.
13. Brook Lopez C 25 7'0'' 260 A- C D+ B- B C - Charlotte Bobcats
After a breakout rookie season, I ranked Brook as the 2nd best player 25 and under in my last edition of this article. Since then, enthusiasm for Brook waned quite a bit, partly because the team in Cleveland never took that next step and partly because his level of play fell of a little in the following seasons. After a couple years in limbo as Sap tore down his roster for a rebuild, Brook found new life with the Bobcats. His per 36 averages for this season are remarkably similar to his career marks, which indicates how steady he's been in his career and why I was so high on him last time. He's a great 2-way big who can provide some scoring punch, grab some rebounds, and give you some defense. He's not elite in any category, but his strength comes from his lack of any defined weakness. Now that he's on a team where he doesn't have to be a primary scorer, he's in a better role to show that off.
12. Nikola Jokic C 22 7'0'' 275 B+ C+ B C+ B C - Texas Chaparrals
The Chaps just keep chugging along in the Western Conference, and as their championship core of Theo and Breshers fall off, Jokic came in with Granger to pick up the mantle. As one might expect from watching the real Jokic, the true standout skill for sim-Nikola is his passing. He's got the best Ast/TO rate among all bigs. He's above average pretty much every where else as well, from scoring volume and efficiency to rebounding to stocks. his efficiency has dipped slightly this year but not a ton, and his win shares are lower than they have been in prior seasons, but he's still a great centerpiece for a team and someone who will likely earn a max offer from everyone with enough cap room to bid should he decide to test free agency.
11. Patrick Ewing C 23 7'0'' 245 A- C- D+ A- B+ C - Pittsburgh Pipers
Ewing is my highest-rated rookie from this past draft, which is not a surprise considering he went #1 overall. He combines above average play on offense with stellar defense, where he's already among the top shot blockers in the league. The offensive efficiency is probably a little behind where you'd like it to be for someone who shoots this much, but a lot of that is as much a product of the lack of options around him as it is Ewing's skillset itself.
10. Jabari Parker PF 22 6'8'' 240 A- C+ D C- B B - Charlotte Bobcats
I have always been somewhat skeptical of Jabari Parker. He struck me as another iteration of Sidney Green, an above-average scorer who looks God-like because of the team built around him. However, the Bobcats have built a good team around Jabari and his scoring has only gotten better, so I'm ready to concede that this guy is a legit stud. The minutes per game will forever be the frustration with Parker, as his grades/attributes make sim league coaches HATE him. But when he gets minutes, the guy can fill it up like few others. He's got by far the highest average points per 36 minutes, and while in years past he was scoring those on only average efficiency, this season he's among the league leaders in P/TSA as well. His rebounding leaves a little to be desired and you're not getting anything on defense from him, but he scores better than almost any other player does anything else in this league.
9. Michael Beasley SF 24 6'10'' 244 A- B- A- C- B B - Vancouver Grizzlies
Beasley has bounced around a lot over the past few seasons, a sign both that his skillset is appealing to a lot of GMs and also that the Beasley experience is maybe not as fun when he's on your team as it looks from the outside. Part of Beasley's appeal is that he's one of only a handful of young #1 option wings out there. He's a slightly better version of Ceballos in most categories, except for Ast/TO percentage where he's streets ahead. However, his scoring efficiency is down a lot this year compared to his career average, continuing a trend from the prior season. That may be some cause for concern.
8. Carlos Boozer PF 21 6'9'' 268 A- C C- C A- A - Los Angeles Lakers
El Borracho has made a splash on the scene and breathed life into the Los Angeles Lakers the past couple seasons, keying their rise up the standings this season. Boozer is another fantastic scoring big, averaging nearly 32 points per 36 minutes on good efficiency. He's not much of a defender but he separates himself from a similar player in Jabari Parker because of his rebounding and handling. It will be interesting to monitor how the arrival of Dominique Wilkins will impact Boozer's numbers, as he is sure to take some shots away from the big man. But the Lakers are hoping Boozer and Wilkins become their version of Carr and Ellis for years to come.
7. Tobias Harris SF 23 6'8'' 226 A- C+ C B- C+ B - Vancouver Grizzlies
The Grizzlies young core is anchored by Tobias Harris, a do-it-all wing who provides good scoring punch, ample rebounding and decent efficiency. The trait that separates him from his peers, however, is the ball-handling. Tobi has the best TO per 36 numbers of any of the wings I looked at, and is having yet another strong season this year. When you have a player who can give you 25 PPG with under 1.5 turnover as a number one option, you're in great shape. If he could just get a touch more efficient in scoring, he'd be a top-4 player. But for now he'll remain at 7.
6. Yao Ming C 23 7'6'' 315 A- C C+ B B- C - Orlando Magic
Skrouse had a lot of feelings about Yao in TC, but this season has proven again why it's important not to worry too much about some of the ups and downs of TC. Yao has been a beast this year, leading the league in Pts/TSA, rebounding effectively, contributing as a shot blocker and tallying some nice assists. He should enjoy an illustrious career as one of the best all-around bigs in the league.
5. Andrew Bynum C 25 7'2'' 315 B- D+ C- A A C - Indiana Pacers
Andrew Bynum is somehow still only 25. His game has been dissected, trissected, resected and desected a million times, so we don't need to go into everything again here. But he's the best defender in the league by a long-shot, the best rebounder in the league, and while his offense has largely been a weakness throughout his career, he can have seasons like this one where he suddenly starts scoring efficiently and there's very few players that bring more value than Mr. Bynum. We're only two seasons away from BK owing Heebs a whole lot of skrouse.
4. Martell Webster SF 25 6'8'' 250 A- B- D- D A- C - Milwaukee Bucks
Like Mr. Bynum, Martell is a name that's been in the league for so long it's hard to fathom he's still only 25. Martell has twice been dealt for the #1 overall pick, and in both cases it seems like fair value. He's consistently among the best scorers for wings, he puts up big time rebounding numbers, and he doesn't play defense. However, unlike the last time we did this list, he's managed to win over the sim coaching staff, because he's now regularly playing 30+ minutes per game. By my estimation Martell is still the best wing in the league.
3. Derrick Coleman PF 25 6'10'' 245 A C B- B- A- B - Atlanta Hawks
The crown jewel of JHB's run as draft master. DC was both the best player in his draft and teeming with potential, and by this time in his career he has very much realized that potential. He's a top scorer and facilitator for his position, AND he plays defense and rebounds on top of it. If you want to pick nits, maybe you could complain about the 2.4 turnovers. But I'm not going to do it, because DC is too damn good.
2. Joel Embiid C 23 7'0'' 260 A- C C+ A- B- B - New York Knicks
Similar to Coleman in a lot of ways, as Embiid is an excellent scorer and has proven his worth in the playoffs in helping deliver the most recent championship to New York. While Coleman is obviously the better rebounder, Embiid has a much greater impact defensively, blocking 2.4 shots per 36 to just 1 for Coleman. Embiid is the best two-way big in the league in my opinion.
1. Kyrie Irving PG 23 6'3'' 200 C A A C+ D+ C - New York Knicks
Similar to the last time I did this excercise, the #1 spot was the easiest to assign. A point guard who is routinely the top WS earner each season across all positions, who has racked up multiple MVPs, and who is fresh off of winning a title for the New York Knicks? I think everyone would agree Kyrie is the best player in all of sim, regardless of age. The difference between him and the next best point guards on this list is so immense, that alone would probably warrant his place. His Pts/TSA is over 1.2 for his career, while anything over 1.15 would be a career year for most other point guards in the league. He's got an absurd Ast/TO ratio (nearly 8!), and he fills it up from deep in a way most players in sim cannot.
25. Dee Brown PG 23 6'1'' 160 C+ A- C+ C+ D C - Carolina Cougars
I went back and forth between Dee Brown and Terry Porter for the 25th and final spot. While I think Terry has had a solid rookie season, Dee gets the edge because I think a GM could talk themselves into Dee becoming a superstar more likely than they could with Terry. He's scoring with great volume, especially considering he's the back-up option for Carolina, and this season Dee has taken things to another level. He's been right around 2 TOs per 36 for his career, which is not elite but is close, and while I think his nearly 1.17 Pts/TSA this season are probably not sustainable, his stats look an awful lot like NVE's did when I did this exercise a few seasons ago. I wouldn't be surprised to see 20s sell high on NVE and hand the keys over to Dee in the near future.
24. Joe Dumars SG 22 6'3'' 190 B+ C+ C+ B C B - Indiana Pacers
The Pacers went from a middling playoff team to the best team in the league this season thanks to two major changes. First, they let Derek Harper walk and plugged in a much better option with Dwight Buycks. And second, they drafted Joe Dumars. I will admit that Dumars's stat line doesn't exactly jump off the page. For wings, he's slightly below average in scoring volume and rebounding, but he's a very capable defender and sports a strong Ast/TO ratio. And although his scoring volume isn't top-tier, he's very efficient on the offensive end, sporting above average ratings in FG%, FT%, 3P% and Pts/TSA. His WS are higher than most other wings this season, which I'm sure has a lot to do with the play of his team overall, but there's no denying that Joe is a key part of the Pacers leap from pretender to contender, and I think that warrants inclusion here.
23. T.J. Warren SF 24 6'8'' 220 A- C C C C+ C - Atlanta Hawks
Warren waited patiently in the wings for the Hawks the past few seasons behind established veterans Antonio Gates and Rodney McCray, playing well in the minutes he received but never quite exploding onto the scene the way I expected he would when he was drafted. After several years as the understudy, Warren has taken his place in the spotlight this season, and the early returns show he is pretty much who we thought he was: A highly efficient scorer who doesn't do much else to tilt the scales one way or the other. He's sporting a robust 1.2 Pts/TSA this season, and everthing else in his game is about average compared to the other wings. Warren is a great fit as a 3rd banana on a contending team, but probably shouldn't be counted on for much beyond that.
22. Jay Williams PG 22 6'2'' 195 B+ B A B- D+ A - Portland Trail Blazers
Jay Williams has silenced the haters with a great rookie campaign, only to follow it up with a more well-rounded sophomore one. In a season that has otherwise been disappointing for the Blazers, Williams continues to be a bright spot, scoring efficiently and chipping in a ton of assists. He's got a couple big knocks to his game though. First, his FT shooting stands out in comparison to his peers as really sub-par. Also, his turnovers are not back-breaking, but he's probably going to be on the higher end for a starter throughout his career. Even taking those into consideration, I think he's still probably the 2nd best point guard 25 and under, at least for now.
21. Caron Butler SF 23 6'7'' 233 A- C+ B B- A- A - New York Knicks
Caron has had some big TCs and is a great fit on the Knicks, where he can play to his strengths and doesn't have to be counted on as a scorer. That's a good thing, because despite his scoring improvements he's still below average in Pts/TSA relative to his peers. Move beyond the scoring output though, and you'll find an ideal complementary piece for a top-flight team, particularly one with a dynamo young point guard. Caron takes care of the rock and moves the ball well, but he truly shines on the glass. He's the best rebounding wing of the group I reviewed and one of only a handful of wings capable of averaging > 10 rebounds per game in a season. If he were in a different offense that asked him to do more, maybe he'd be higher on the list (or conversely, maybe we'd see more warts). But for what the Knicks ask him to do, Caron brings a ton of value to the court.
20. Luis Scola PF 23 6'9'' 240 A- C D+ C B C - Houston Rockets
Scola kicks off the first of what will be many bigs on this list, as the league in general has had a serious influx of young frontcourt talent over the past few drafts. Scola's business is putting points on the board, and business is GOOD. He's averaging around 30 PPG per 36 on good efficiency, and he rebounds and takes care of the ball enough that he's not a liability. He's not going to give you anything on defense but he'll at least score as much as he gives up on that end. Probably ideally suited as a 3rd big to bring the offensive firepower off the bench.
19. Charles Oakley PF 21 6'8'' 225 B+ C- D C+ A- B - Milwaukee Bucks
Oak is having a great rookie season for the resurgent Milwaukee Bucks team. He and teammate Karl Malone are putting up some great stats as focal points of the rebound-centric paint monster offense in Milwaukee, and Karl actually has been the better player according to win shares this season. I give Oak the nod because he's rebounding a little better, turning it over a lot less, and is only a touch less efficient offensively. Ultimately I think you could go with either and no one could complain.
18. Kevin Love PF 25 6'8'' 270 B+ B+ C+ C B D - Minnesota Timberwolves
Kevin Love has bounced around quite a lot for someone who's still 25 and under. After a blazing start for the Clippers, time with the Bucks, a couple seasons in the Yawn zone, and an Ankly sign and swap, he finds himself in Minnesota as the youngest part of an aging core. Love has fallen out of favor somewhat over the past few seasons, in part because other bigs have come into the league and in part because his play has fallen off. He was consistently around 1.2 Pts/TSA for his career, but this season he's well off that mark with a 1.13 average. Is that a sign that his play is starting to slip, or just an aberration that can be chalked up to randomness in the software? Time will tell, but given Love's impressive resume prior to this year, I think he is still deserving of a spot on the list.
17. Jonas Valanciunas C 23 6'11'' 240 A- C C- A- B- B - Houston Rockets
Jonas has been the anchor in the middle of the Houston Rockets team for KC's GMing tenure, and after being rewarded with a big deal this past offseason, he's turning in one of the best performances of his career. He's over 1.21 Pts/TSA, 2 blocks per game, and his turnovers are down to a slightly below average 2.2 per game rather than his career mark of nearly 3. If he can keep this up, 17 is probably too low, as there aren't many bigs who boast that kind of 2-way production.
16. Kawhi Leonard SF 24 6'7'' 225 B C+ C- A A- B - San Antonio Spurs
Am I crazy for having Kawhi this high? When he was set to hit free agency last season, it seemed like there were a lot of people who felt he didn't warrant a max deal. And it's true that when you look at offensive production, his output is among the lowest in his peer group. But to me Kawhi brings a skillset you don't get with any other wing on this list, a top-tier combination of rebounding and stocks. With the wings I looked at, he had the best blocks numbers, second best steals numbers, and second best rebounds. This season is peak Kawhi performance, averaging only 13 points but on 1.17 Pts/TSA, and an absurdly low number of TOs compared to his normal output. I think he's showing why he's worth paying max money to, even if he's never going to be among the league leaders in scoring.
15. Serge Ibaka PF 24 6'11'' 240 A C D+ A A B - San Antonio Spurs
Another Spur checks in at number 15 with Serge Ibaka. If this list were based on grades alone, Serge would be a top 5 candidate without a doubt. Based on production, he's still an easy top 15 selection. Serge can fill it up. He's averaging over 30 PPG per 36, 13 rebounds per game, and 2 blocks per game, all of which are upper echelon among his peers. His efficiency is good as well. There's one big red flag though that sticks out like a sore thumb. Those turnovers are AWFUL. He's around 3 turnovers per 36 for his career and he's smashing that mark this season, coughing it up nearly 4 times per 36 minutes. It's hard to justify putting him above some of the other bigs on this list because of how much that stands out as a weakness.
14. Cedric Ceballos SF 23 6'6'' 200 A C+ D+ C+ B- A - Toronto Raptors
Ceballos famously slipped to 1.3 after GM Dumptime opted to go with Dennis Scott. No offense to 3-D, who has turned out to be a decent player in his own right, but Ceballos has gone on to show what a huge mistake that was. He's a big time scorer at the position, with the highest points per 36 average on the 2nd highest P/TSA mark among all wings I looked at. He also chips in on the boards as well, averaging around 8.5 per 36. Like Serge above him, the turnover numbers stick out as a weakness, and that seems to be reflected in WS numbers consistently lower than I would expect. But should Ceballos hit the market via trade or free agency, there would not be many who would say no to adding a scorer of his caliber.
13. Brook Lopez C 25 7'0'' 260 A- C D+ B- B C - Charlotte Bobcats
After a breakout rookie season, I ranked Brook as the 2nd best player 25 and under in my last edition of this article. Since then, enthusiasm for Brook waned quite a bit, partly because the team in Cleveland never took that next step and partly because his level of play fell of a little in the following seasons. After a couple years in limbo as Sap tore down his roster for a rebuild, Brook found new life with the Bobcats. His per 36 averages for this season are remarkably similar to his career marks, which indicates how steady he's been in his career and why I was so high on him last time. He's a great 2-way big who can provide some scoring punch, grab some rebounds, and give you some defense. He's not elite in any category, but his strength comes from his lack of any defined weakness. Now that he's on a team where he doesn't have to be a primary scorer, he's in a better role to show that off.
12. Nikola Jokic C 22 7'0'' 275 B+ C+ B C+ B C - Texas Chaparrals
The Chaps just keep chugging along in the Western Conference, and as their championship core of Theo and Breshers fall off, Jokic came in with Granger to pick up the mantle. As one might expect from watching the real Jokic, the true standout skill for sim-Nikola is his passing. He's got the best Ast/TO rate among all bigs. He's above average pretty much every where else as well, from scoring volume and efficiency to rebounding to stocks. his efficiency has dipped slightly this year but not a ton, and his win shares are lower than they have been in prior seasons, but he's still a great centerpiece for a team and someone who will likely earn a max offer from everyone with enough cap room to bid should he decide to test free agency.
11. Patrick Ewing C 23 7'0'' 245 A- C- D+ A- B+ C - Pittsburgh Pipers
Ewing is my highest-rated rookie from this past draft, which is not a surprise considering he went #1 overall. He combines above average play on offense with stellar defense, where he's already among the top shot blockers in the league. The offensive efficiency is probably a little behind where you'd like it to be for someone who shoots this much, but a lot of that is as much a product of the lack of options around him as it is Ewing's skillset itself.
10. Jabari Parker PF 22 6'8'' 240 A- C+ D C- B B - Charlotte Bobcats
I have always been somewhat skeptical of Jabari Parker. He struck me as another iteration of Sidney Green, an above-average scorer who looks God-like because of the team built around him. However, the Bobcats have built a good team around Jabari and his scoring has only gotten better, so I'm ready to concede that this guy is a legit stud. The minutes per game will forever be the frustration with Parker, as his grades/attributes make sim league coaches HATE him. But when he gets minutes, the guy can fill it up like few others. He's got by far the highest average points per 36 minutes, and while in years past he was scoring those on only average efficiency, this season he's among the league leaders in P/TSA as well. His rebounding leaves a little to be desired and you're not getting anything on defense from him, but he scores better than almost any other player does anything else in this league.
9. Michael Beasley SF 24 6'10'' 244 A- B- A- C- B B - Vancouver Grizzlies
Beasley has bounced around a lot over the past few seasons, a sign both that his skillset is appealing to a lot of GMs and also that the Beasley experience is maybe not as fun when he's on your team as it looks from the outside. Part of Beasley's appeal is that he's one of only a handful of young #1 option wings out there. He's a slightly better version of Ceballos in most categories, except for Ast/TO percentage where he's streets ahead. However, his scoring efficiency is down a lot this year compared to his career average, continuing a trend from the prior season. That may be some cause for concern.
8. Carlos Boozer PF 21 6'9'' 268 A- C C- C A- A - Los Angeles Lakers
El Borracho has made a splash on the scene and breathed life into the Los Angeles Lakers the past couple seasons, keying their rise up the standings this season. Boozer is another fantastic scoring big, averaging nearly 32 points per 36 minutes on good efficiency. He's not much of a defender but he separates himself from a similar player in Jabari Parker because of his rebounding and handling. It will be interesting to monitor how the arrival of Dominique Wilkins will impact Boozer's numbers, as he is sure to take some shots away from the big man. But the Lakers are hoping Boozer and Wilkins become their version of Carr and Ellis for years to come.
7. Tobias Harris SF 23 6'8'' 226 A- C+ C B- C+ B - Vancouver Grizzlies
The Grizzlies young core is anchored by Tobias Harris, a do-it-all wing who provides good scoring punch, ample rebounding and decent efficiency. The trait that separates him from his peers, however, is the ball-handling. Tobi has the best TO per 36 numbers of any of the wings I looked at, and is having yet another strong season this year. When you have a player who can give you 25 PPG with under 1.5 turnover as a number one option, you're in great shape. If he could just get a touch more efficient in scoring, he'd be a top-4 player. But for now he'll remain at 7.
6. Yao Ming C 23 7'6'' 315 A- C C+ B B- C - Orlando Magic
Skrouse had a lot of feelings about Yao in TC, but this season has proven again why it's important not to worry too much about some of the ups and downs of TC. Yao has been a beast this year, leading the league in Pts/TSA, rebounding effectively, contributing as a shot blocker and tallying some nice assists. He should enjoy an illustrious career as one of the best all-around bigs in the league.
5. Andrew Bynum C 25 7'2'' 315 B- D+ C- A A C - Indiana Pacers
Andrew Bynum is somehow still only 25. His game has been dissected, trissected, resected and desected a million times, so we don't need to go into everything again here. But he's the best defender in the league by a long-shot, the best rebounder in the league, and while his offense has largely been a weakness throughout his career, he can have seasons like this one where he suddenly starts scoring efficiently and there's very few players that bring more value than Mr. Bynum. We're only two seasons away from BK owing Heebs a whole lot of skrouse.
4. Martell Webster SF 25 6'8'' 250 A- B- D- D A- C - Milwaukee Bucks
Like Mr. Bynum, Martell is a name that's been in the league for so long it's hard to fathom he's still only 25. Martell has twice been dealt for the #1 overall pick, and in both cases it seems like fair value. He's consistently among the best scorers for wings, he puts up big time rebounding numbers, and he doesn't play defense. However, unlike the last time we did this list, he's managed to win over the sim coaching staff, because he's now regularly playing 30+ minutes per game. By my estimation Martell is still the best wing in the league.
3. Derrick Coleman PF 25 6'10'' 245 A C B- B- A- B - Atlanta Hawks
The crown jewel of JHB's run as draft master. DC was both the best player in his draft and teeming with potential, and by this time in his career he has very much realized that potential. He's a top scorer and facilitator for his position, AND he plays defense and rebounds on top of it. If you want to pick nits, maybe you could complain about the 2.4 turnovers. But I'm not going to do it, because DC is too damn good.
2. Joel Embiid C 23 7'0'' 260 A- C C+ A- B- B - New York Knicks
Similar to Coleman in a lot of ways, as Embiid is an excellent scorer and has proven his worth in the playoffs in helping deliver the most recent championship to New York. While Coleman is obviously the better rebounder, Embiid has a much greater impact defensively, blocking 2.4 shots per 36 to just 1 for Coleman. Embiid is the best two-way big in the league in my opinion.
1. Kyrie Irving PG 23 6'3'' 200 C A A C+ D+ C - New York Knicks
Similar to the last time I did this excercise, the #1 spot was the easiest to assign. A point guard who is routinely the top WS earner each season across all positions, who has racked up multiple MVPs, and who is fresh off of winning a title for the New York Knicks? I think everyone would agree Kyrie is the best player in all of sim, regardless of age. The difference between him and the next best point guards on this list is so immense, that alone would probably warrant his place. His Pts/TSA is over 1.2 for his career, while anything over 1.15 would be a career year for most other point guards in the league. He's got an absurd Ast/TO ratio (nearly 8!), and he fills it up from deep in a way most players in sim cannot.
