This will be the third of a 10-part series ranking the Top 100 players in the NBA for the 2023-24 season.
Keep in mind, these are projections for the upcoming season. So does track record matter? Absolutely. Does last year matter? It matters the most. This list is based on what the players have shown they can do during the previous three years and how much it will carry over to this upcoming year.
Without further ado, here are the Top 80-71 players for the 2023-24 season.
80. Clint Capela
Clint Capela is one of the more interesting players in the league. He is someone who has historically filled his role as the sole rim defender and rebounder on his team for a little bit. Even though he is not a great scoring threat, the lob-threat duo of Trae Young and Capela is plenty of fun to watch. The Hawks have been underwhelming since making it to the Eastern Conference Finals in 2021, and if they want to get back to being even second-round contenders, Capela will have to get back to who he was in Houston.
79. Nikola Vucevic
Since being traded to the Bulls at the 2021 deadline, Nikola Vucevic has been steadily declining. He is a two-time All-Star but has not earned another selection since joining the Bulls. In addition to this, in the three seasons before being traded, Vucevic averaged 20 points per game but has not done so since. He is also a massive liability on the defensive end. Vucevic is still a solid rebounder and post player, and he will likely have that going for him this year. The Bulls, for whatever reason, decided to run it back after not making the playoffs last year, so it will be interesting to see how this crew makes adjustments.
78. Deandre Ayton
There are very few players in the league whose reputation has fallen more than Ayton in the past two seasons. Though my lists are not completely objective, two years ago, I had him at No. 37. Last year, I had him at No. 52, and he comes in at No. 79 this year. Is averaging 18 and 10 consistently impressive? Yes. However, he also has taken a big step back defensively and lacks the intangibles. He can revive his career in Portland, but his past few years certainly have not helped his case as a team player.
77. Kyle Kuzma
With the Wizards’ decision to trade their two stars, Bradley Beal and Kristaps Porzingis, this summer, Kyle Kuzma’s role just got a whole lot bigger. He will likely be the best player on his team, and if not him, it will be Jordan Poole. Even though this team probably will not win many games, you can expect Kuzma’s numbers to take another jump this year. Last year, he averaged a career-high in points per game (21) and added seven rebounds, too. Am I expecting him to be an All-Star this year? Probably not, but the Kuzma-Poole duo has the potential to be interesting.
76. Josh Giddey
A lot of people are expecting the Thunder to be a team that will make a huge jump this year. If this is the case, Giddey will be one of the main reasons for that. He had a super solid start to his rookie season in 2021-22 before getting injured. However, he was able to play 76 games last season. Not only did he play more games, but his numbers jumped in points per game, rebounds per game, true shooting percentage, player efficiency rating (PER), and box plus-minus (BPM). The Thunder probably won’t make any noise in the playoffs if they even make it, but they are definitely on the rise.
75. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope
The two-time champion comes in at No. 76. Caldwell-Pope is one of the harder players to rank in the league. On one hand, you cannot have a super solid team when he is a second or even third option. On the other hand, Caldwell-Pope is a fantastic teammate who plays his role flawlessly. He is one of the best three-point shooters in the league and a phenomenal perimeter defender. He probably won’t ever be a guy to score 17 a game on a contender, but there are not many role players you want on a team more than Caldwell-Pope.
74. Alperen Sengun
Sengun had a super solid sophomore season for the Rockets. He played over eight more minutes per game, shot over 7.9 percent better from the field, and finished 8.8 percent better from three. In addition to his efficiency improving, his PER was also three points higher and his BPM was two points higher. Sengun is one of the better rebounders and passing bigs in the league. Though the Rockets probably will not win many games, it will be a lot of fun to see the development of Sengun.
73. Jalen Green
Sengun’s teammate comes in at No. 73. After making the All-Rookie First Team two seasons ago, he did not progress in his sophomore year. Even though his points and assists per game increased, he decreased in efficiency and took a step back defensively. Nonetheless, I think that the additions of Fred VanVleet and Dillon Brooks will give more guidance to Green. I also think Kevin Porter Jr. not being with the team will make Green’s role more concrete. Though Green will not likely take an All-Star jump, the 21-year-old has the chance to put the league on notice with a third-year jump.
72. Chris Paul
Paul’s longevity is pretty underrated. He was second in MVP votes and made the All-NBA First Team in 2008. He also finished ninth in MVP votes and made the NBA Third Team in 2022. Even though he has had a legendary Hall of Fame career, it is clear that he has taken a step backward. Last season, he averaged his career-low in points per game, PER, and BPM. With this being said, he will likely be playing in a much smaller role after an offseason traded to Golden State. With fewer responsibilities on the court, he can be a more efficient and impactful player for his new team.
71. Keegan Murray
Keegan Murray was a strong contributor to one of the best stories of the 2022-23 season. He started almost every single game and was very efficient. As he gets older and has more experience, his role will grow and his numbers will only get better. I’m not expecting the Kings to have another season like they did last year, but I would fully expect Murray to take a sophomore season jump.
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