Will be interesting where the Blazers end up. I guess they now only do it with top100. Today 51-100 came out; 100. Anfernee Simons, G, Portland Trail Blazers 2023 NBA Rank: 85 At 6-foot-3, Simons is a small guard who can certainly be exploited defensively at times. His usage rate was uncomfortably high at times in the wake of the Damian Lillard trade, perhaps making it unsurprising that his effective field goal rate was the lowest it has been since the 2019-20 season. But even with more defensive attention, Simons managed to finish last season shooting a career-best 65.8% within 3 feet of the basket, per Basketball-Reference. -- Chris Herring 80. Jerami Grant, F, Portland Trail Blazers 2023 NBA Rank: 58 For the third time in his past four seasons, Grant notched a 20-point-per-game campaign. He also shot 40% from deep for the second time, giving a much-needed boost to the rebuilding Blazers in the wake of the Lillard trade. But for all the offensive skill he showcased, his rim protection took a step back. Opponents shot 4.3 percentage points better than their averages around the basket when Grant was defending last season, almost a total reversal from the 3.9 percentage points worse on average they shot when Grant was defending during the 2022-23 season. -- Herring https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/41555759/nba-rank-2024-2025-best-players-100-51;
Some Blazer legends; 84. CJ McCollum, G, New Orleans Pelicans 2023 NBA Rank: 44 McCollum shot a career-best 42.9% from range last season on high volume (8.4 attempts per game) as an off-ball scorer. But injuries to Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram in the playoffs left McCollum as a primary facilitator and he struggled, committing more than twice as many turnovers (4.0 per game) as in the regular season (1.7) while shooting 24.1% from 3-point range. There's a possibility McCollum could be coming off the bench this season as a sixth man because of the sheer number of players in the backcourt, and the veteran has expressed he's fine with a reduced role. -- Wright 61. Josh Hart, G, New York Knicks 2023 NBA Rank: 91 Few players are more fearless crashing the boards than Hart, who, despite standing 6-4, is one of the most tireless, rugged rebounders in the NBA. The Knicks' Swiss Army knife showed an improved playmaking ability last season by logging six triple-doubles in a two-month span after zero during his first six seasons in the league. A favorite of defensive-minded coach Tom Thibodeau, Hart also logged 48 minutes or more in four playoff games last season. -- Herring
Kind of sad that both Simons and Grant slid back, 15 spots and 22 spots. Especially with Grant - I'm worried if we don't trade him soon we could get stuck with that contract for all 4 years.
Actually will that be it for Blazers? Kind of don't see us having anyone in the top 50. I remember just a few years ago when we had 5-6 guys in the top 100. They used to also do it to 200 or 250 or something which was nice to see how the backups stacked up. Seems now they only do 100.
Certainly not on rankings at this stage. All of these are using last years numbers and Dame was not great last year.
What are you talking about? Statistically, there's been very little difference. One could argue that his last season was his best in the NBA....
Wow Ayton was 49 last year and 51 in 2022.... I can't imagine he is in the top 50 now? But also seems crazy that he would be below 100 so maybe he is. Timelord was #89 last year and #58 the year prior - sheesh we really bought into a freefalling stock there. Scoot was #78 last year. Dame was 14 last year and 14 the year prior in 2022. I'm not sure he is even in the top 20 now, was a poor season for him, lost in the 1st round and many young guys like Wemby are certainly jumping him.
So here are the Blazers this year, last year (2023-24) and two year ago (2022-23) Ayton NR - 49 - 51 Grant 80 - 58 - 64 Ant 100 - 85 - 91 Scoot NR - 78 - undrafted Timelord NR - 89 - 58 Dame 23 - 14 - 14 Hart 61 - 91 - NR CJ 84 - 44 - 45
I would bet real money Dame won’t be Top 15. Jokic, Embiid, Giannis, Brown, Tatum, Brunson, Curry, LeBron, Ant, KD, Luka, Shai, Haliburton, AD will definitely be ranked better than him. At least one of Zion, Mitchell, Butler, and Wemby will be ahead of him too. Then there’s Kawhi, Booker, Sabonis, Sengun. Dame may not be Top 20.
ESPN lists are usually wacky. I guess that means I'm a bit wacky because I tend to agree about the Blazer vets. I think Grant and Simons are about the same level but that Grant has more value by being a wing instead of a somewhat undersized tweener guard. #80 & #100 seems about right to me. As for Ayton, him dropping out of the top-100 is a bit perplexing. But for me, the perplexing thing is why he was ranked so high to begin with. I think he's pretty much the opposite of what a C needs to be in the 'modern' NBA
I bet your right - he's at least the same as last year at #58 if on the Lakers, and might even slide into the top50.
23. Damian Lillard, G, Milwaukee Bucks 2023 NBA Rank: 14 Lillard has acknowledged his first season in Milwaukee was not an easy transition. After 11 seasons in Portland, he was traded on the eve of training camp and never found his footing. Lillard averaged 24.3 points and 7.0 assists, which earned him a starting spot in the 2024 All-Star Game. He had some bright moments in Milwaukee, but he was far from the dominant force he had been in years past as he struggled to find his on-court chemistry alongside co-star Giannis Antetokounmpo. -- Collier
Ayton not in 50-11. So he drops from 49 last year and 51 two years ago to outside the top 100. Blazers go from FIVE players in the top100 last year to TWO this year. Too bad we couldn't have flipped all of those vets last year and commit to a full rebuild. Oh well, whats done is done, would like to see us move these vets for something but at a point we'll probably get to where they're only worth 2nd round picks and it just doesn't matter if we trade them or keep them. In that case at least let them walk in free agency. If we give Ant or Ayton huge new contracts I'll have completely lost faith in Cronin/mgmt.
