Ranking the best young core's in the League right now

[Preacherpj]

Draft is over -- how do you guys think our young core compares to others around the league.... for the purposes of this I'm cutting a line at age 25.... everything under that I'm calling a young core player, everything over... I'm not counting. Also not looking at future draft assets on this list, just players currently on the rosters.



the contenders

Boston
Players
James Young, Jayson Tatum, Terry Rozier, Jaylen Brown

Sixers
Players
Stauskas, Ben Simmons, Saric, Poythress, Okafor, Fultz, Embiid, Justin Anderson, Luwawu-Cabarrot, Richaun Holmes, TJ Mcconnell

Milwaukee
Players
Giannis, Malcolm Brogdon, Thon Maker, Khris Middleton, Jabari Parker, Gary Payton II, DJ Wilson

Portland
Players
Nurkic, Swanigan, Zach Collins, Maurice Harkless, Vonleh, Allen Crabbe, CJ McCollum, Napier

Minnesota
Tyus Jones, Shabazz Muhammad, KAT, Wiggins, Justin Patton

Denver
Players
Jamal Murray, Mudiay, Trey Lyles, Tyler Lydon, Jokic, Juan Hernangomez, Gary Harris

Sactown
Players
Cauley-Stein, De'Aaron Fox, Harry Giles, Buddy Hield, Justin Jackson, Labissiere, Frank Mason III, Georgis Papagiannis, Malachi Richardson

PHX
Players
Bender, Booker, Chriss, JJackson, DJJR, Len, Peters, Warren, Ulis, Reed, Knight


My initial rankings
1. Sixers
Just so much raw talent. Hard for to rank anyone else here. Health could be an issue, but it seems like Simmons, Embiid and Fultz all have franchise altering potential; Saric has already proven to be a valuable NBA wing. They found good contributers at other spots like TJ McConnell

2. Minnesota
Not as many assets - but KAT is a top ~15ish player in the league, averaged 25/12... the best player on this list. Wiggins is a more than capable sidekick throwing in 23 PPG, again this isn't as deep of a core as others on this list, but its the best 1-2 punch.

3. Milwaukee
The presence of Giannis is enough to push them to this spot for me, its unfortunate that Parker hasn't always stayed healthy, but he's a really good scorer. Middleton is a well rounded player.

4. Portland
Going back to a 1-2 punch, I love McCollum and pairing him with Nurkic is a really strong foundation (Lillard is 26 btw). Not as deep of a group, but the top-two are very good.

5. Denver
Jokic is a stud and easily one of the best players on this list.

6. Phoenix
A little lower for me because I don't think we have a guy on the KAT, Giannis, McCollum, Jokic level RIGHT NOW. Booker could be that guy, but he's not on their tier IMO. We have as much depth in our young core as anyone, but we really don't know yet with guys like Bender/Chriss/Jackson.

7. Sacramento
They've pretty quietly built up an interesting group of young athletic dudes, I'd be pretty excited if I was a Kings fan in this post-Cousins era

8. Boston
Most of their core guys are over 25.

[Midnight_Suns]

I think we fit in at number 3. Giannis is a franchise player but our youth collectively has more potential than Milwaukee.

[Preacherpj]

I think we fit in at number 3. Giannis is a franchise player but our youth collectively has more potential than Milwaukee.

I think we have more upside, but more risk as well. Giannis already is a franchise player, Booker needs to get a little better defensively to be in that category.

If I ranked all these groups based on potential, we would definitely be higher.

[Zelaznyrules]

I think we fit in at number 3. Giannis is a franchise player but our youth collectively has more potential than Milwaukee.

I think we have more upside, but more risk as well. Giannis already is a franchise player, Booker needs to get a little better defensively to be in that category.

If I ranked all these groups based on potential, we would definitely be higher.

It seems to me that you are ranking Philadelphia almost completely on potential and skipping that approach with us. Maybe it ranks out the same but we've seen a grand total of 31 games from Philly's 3 best players and yet you're already counting them as special. I think Milwaukee is at the top of the list and Boston/Sacramento bring up the rear. Every other team just depends on how likely it is they'll reach their projections.

[rsavaj]

1. Milwaukee
2. Philly
3. Minnesota
4. Phoenix
5. Denver
6. Boston
7. Sacramento

[ImNotMcDiSwear]

1 PHI. Clearly ahead of the rest in terms of top tier talent.

2 PHO. A diverse collection of very good young players several of whom could approach all-star status in time.

3 BOS. I am giving them partial credit for their slew of future draft assets, but Danny has a disappointing track record in the draft. Brown and Tatum are great pieces, but the next most valuable young player is Smart, who is a role player coming up on his RFA contract already.

4 DEN. One likely and one possible future all-star, with a couple players who could also be very good rotation players.

5 MIN. Really depends on whether you count Butler. I am half-counting him here. Blew the #5 pick last year and traded away LaVine. Wiggins could be an all-star but has unexpected holes in his game. KAT is the real deal but will not have a quality young supporting cast by the team he signs his RFA deal.

6 MIL. The best player on this list in Giannis with only solid supporting talent; they are unlikely to have any more chances to add to this core except through free agency due to their current success.

7 SAC. A diverse collection of pretty good young players maybe one (Fox) or a couple (Hield? Skal?) of whom could approach all-star status in time. Lose an extra point for not having a '19 1st.

8 POR. I just don't think there's much here, though I loved Collins at 10.

[LukasBMW]

1. Minnesota
KAT is the block everyone would love to build around.
Butler is still young and a top 10 player
Wiggins will now have less pressure on him and can be more efficient.
This team could be scary starting NOW.

2. Philly
It's boom or bust. Embiid, Fultz, and Simmons were all basically unanimous #1 selections. All have superstar potential. If all 3 hit...look out. But Embiid has had injury problems and Fultz and Simmons have yet to play one NBA minute. Fultz and Simmons also have faced questions about their motor and motivation. Philly could boom, but it could also bust.


3. Milwaukee
Giannis could be the best player in the NBA next year. He's that good.


4. Phoenix
Other then KAT, KP, or Giannis, Booker is probably the best young superstar in the league.


5. Denver
Meh.

6. Boston
Jury is out on Brown and Tatum, but with their future picks and assets, they could build an empire.


7. Sacramento
They'll find a way to F--- it up. LOL

[Phystic]

I agree with OP ranking accept for Denver. I dont think Jokic had proven anything yet. And I dont see him as that much different than Booker as far as potential goes. And I think our depth of youth and potential far outweighs denvers


And now that I think about it. I'm not so sure I would put Portland over us. But that may be a bit closer.

So I'd have Philly, Minny, Milwaukee, Phx, Portland, Denver.

Could be my familiarity with our roster, but just see them as more desirable.

[Preacherpj]

I think we fit in at number 3. Giannis is a franchise player but our youth collectively has more potential than Milwaukee.

I think we have more upside, but more risk as well. Giannis already is a franchise player, Booker needs to get a little better defensively to be in that category.

If I ranked all these groups based on potential, we would definitely be higher.

It seems to me that you are ranking Philadelphia almost completely on potential and skipping that approach with us. Maybe it ranks out the same but we've seen a grand total of 31 games from Philly's 3 best players and yet you're already counting them as special. I think Milwaukee is at the top of the list and Boston/Sacramento bring up the rear. Every other team just depends on how likely it is they'll reach their projections.

True, but Simmons 1-1, Fultz 1-1 and what we've seen from Embiid project to be better if they reach their potential than any trio Phoenix has.

[Preacherpj]

I agree with OP ranking accept for Denver. I dont think Jokic had proven anything yet. And I dont see him as that much different than Booker as far as potential goes. And I think our depth of youth and potential far outweighs denvers


And now that I think about it. I'm not so sure I would put Portland over us. But that may be a bit closer.

So I'd have Philly, Minny, Milwaukee, Phx, Portland, Denver.

Could be my familiarity with our roster, but just see them as more desirable.

Portland's talent is all older.... I mean McCollum is 25 years old.... if we are talking young talent, they probably shouldn't even be on this list.

Phoenix has an incredibly interesting young group of players, and most of them are just babies -- you aren't going to find any team in the league that has five guys who are being counted on for the future UNDER the age of 22.... its potentially really scary good.

Ulis - 21
Booker - 20
Jackson - 20
Bender - 19
Chriss - 19

and then you still have Len, Sauce, DJJR, TJ Warren, Reed and Peters all under the age of 24...... this could be a special group.

I think we need to start moving towards winning now, enough 'tanking' we have enough young pieces. Now its about fitting in pieces around our core and DEVELOPING our players.

[jeff2020]

1) Minnesota- I am counting Butler in this. Wiggins will have less pressure on him and play much better and obviously KAT is just a monster. This team if they add a stretch 4 in the offseason could be scary good.

2) Milwaukee- They have Giannis Antetokounmpo. That is enough for me. But also all their pieces fit so well and already have a taste of the playoffs and if Parker ever gets back healthy this team could be a 3-4 seed in the East next season. So long and athletic at every position.

3) Phoenix- Maybe a tad biased here but I love our young core. Every piece fits well and with Jackson, Bender and Chriss everyone can switch and guard positions 1-4 if not 1-5. Booker is a future all-star and I like Ullis as a backup PG a lot but nothing more than that. TJ Warren will eventually find his role on this team as the 6th man if he sticks around and I think that suits him best. We have 3-4 potential All-Star players 20 or younger and that's more than any team on this list can say.

4) Philadelphia- I really am not as in love with them as everyone else is. Embiid has never been healthy his entire career going all the way back to college. Missed his first 2 seasons in the NBA and missed half his only college season and over half of last season. That is a HUGE red flag to me. Simmons should be solid and a potential all star. Fultz I am also not sold completely on. I mean this isn't a Ben Simmons comparison to in college because he did help his team win 20+ games. Fultz didn't even get his team to 10 wins. They only won 9 and only 2 in the Pac-10. So 7 of those wins were to complete cupcakes. Another big red flag to me. But there is potential there for sure do not get me wrong.

5) Boston- Brown and Tatum play the same position which is a head scratcher to me. If they get Hayward they move up this list for sure but then you have 3 guys playing the same position. They have the nets pick next season so that has to count for something but overall there really isn't anything to get excited about at all. Lots of role players with limited potential.

6) Portland- They have Lillard and McCollum and that's a big deal. They need size in the worst way and getting Zach Collins is nice but he isn't pushing you anywhere past where you were last season. Nurkic is a nice piece as well but nothing to put them into a top 4 seed with that core.

7) Denver- I like Murray and I am in a small camp but I like Mudiay too. I don't really see Mudiay becoming an all star and Murray may have 1 or 2 in him but that's about it. Overall just blah.

8) Sacramento- I like Fox a lot. Outside of that they don't have much. Cauley-Stein is whatever, Skal Labissiere is blah, Buddy Hield is what he is, a 2 who can shoot the 3 ball and nothing else. I love the Frank Mason pick as a backup PG just like Ullis. Justin Jackson will be a nice player, but not changing your franchise. Harry Giles is a BIG if. Lot of potential but until he proves he can stay healthy I can't get too excited.

[thamadkant]

I agree with OP ranking accept for Denver. I dont think Jokic had proven anything yet. And I dont see him as that much different than Booker as far as potential goes. And I think our depth of youth and potential far outweighs denvers


And now that I think about it. I'm not so sure I would put Portland over us. But that may be a bit closer.

So I'd have Philly, Minny, Milwaukee, Phx, Portland, Denver.

Could be my familiarity with our roster, but just see them as more desirable.

Jokic is better than anyone on the Suns period.


He's a white Chris Webber with range... Perfect PF for today.


Sorry but Jokic has proven a lot....

[Zelaznyrules]

I think we have more upside, but more risk as well. Giannis already is a franchise player, Booker needs to get a little better defensively to be in that category.

If I ranked all these groups based on potential, we would definitely be higher.

It seems to me that you are ranking Philadelphia almost completely on potential and skipping that approach with us. Maybe it ranks out the same but we've seen a grand total of 31 games from Philly's 3 best players and yet you're already counting them as special. I think Milwaukee is at the top of the list and Boston/Sacramento bring up the rear. Every other team just depends on how likely it is they'll reach their projections.

True, but Simmons 1-1, Fultz 1-1 and what we've seen from Embiid project to be better if they reach their potential than any trio Phoenix has.

Probably but if you use that same reasoning with us, we move ahead of a few of the other teams on your list. And if you don't use that reasoning, Philly is down there with us and looking up at several teams. Besides, if I had the choice of an Embiid in hand vs the future first draft pick in the bush, I go for the draft pick. Counting on Joel to stay healthy is a very scary proposition. If he's on your team, you're pretty much reduced to counting on him but I'd bet there's a lot of teams thrilled they don't have to face that dilemma. And personally, I think Booker has a better career than anyone on the Philadelphia team.

[Damkac]

All I know is Bucks, Wolves and Philly are top 3 in some order. But I think Suns have very deep young core and if at least some of them will reach their potential this team has great future.

[Zelaznyrules]

All I know is Bucks, Wolves and Philly are top 3 in some order. But I think Suns have very deep young core and if at least some of them will reach their potential this team has great future.

I mostly agree although I see a few more question marks about Philly than most do. As for us, I think we have more (several more) younger players with high potential than any of the other's listed. Unfortunately, other than maybe Booker, all of our young guys could still easily max out far below the level we hope and expect them to reach.

[Revived]

Yeah I'd put the Bucks above everyone else just because of Giannis. When you have one player that looks like a lock for future HOF and MVPs among other awards then they go ahead.

I expect him to dethrone LeBron as best player in the league within next 2 seasons.

[Damkac]

All I know is Bucks, Wolves and Philly are top 3 in some order. But I think Suns have very deep young core and if at least some of them will reach their potential this team has great future.

I mostly agree although I see a few more question marks about Philly than most do. As for us, I think we have more (several more) younger players with high potential than any of the other's listed. Unfortunately, other than maybe Booker, all of our young guys could still easily max out far below the level we hope and expect them to reach.

Embiid's health is the biggest question mark. If he wasn't injuried all the time I think I would rank their core 1st.

[King4Day]

4-5 range is fair.
I have Minny first with Philly second (strictly because of injuries and we don't know how good Simmons is yet)

[8on]

The only one I like is ours.

I don't know if Philly fits together. Simmons, to me, is more like Lamar Odom or a taller Rondo. There's no foundational scorer in that bunch. Not sure if Embiid can be a plus defender by any stretch. Centers need to be that in order to win games. Plenty of concerns. I still like Furkan Korkmaz and TLC (lol), but I'm not sold on anyone in their core. Fultz is a huge question mark because he couldn't make his team better.

Fox and Hield don't really seem like a match in Sacramento. Both of them need the ball. Would've gone wit Markannen, honestly.

Towns is great offensively, but he needs to be a defensive stopper. Add Butler, Wiggins and Ricardo Rubio and you get a 44 win team. Nothing to write home about, yet.

Jokic is great offensively, but - there's a whole other side of the ball. Nobody else on Denver's team impresses me. Like Portland or Charlotte, they're too good to be bad and too unimpressive to be great.

Then you have my wonderful Suns. Booker could be some weird hybrid of Kobe and Klay when it's all said and done. Chriss is a pogo stick who could, one day, be as sensational on offense as anyone. Josh is very interesting as a glue guy. Not sure he'll ever put it all together, but he has enough raw tools to make an impact. Bender could also be a consummate glue guy as well. As Golden State has proven, you need big glue guys.

Those are my impressions.

[Phystic]

I agree with OP ranking accept for Denver. I dont think Jokic had proven anything yet. And I dont see him as that much different than Booker as far as potential goes. And I think our depth of youth and potential far outweighs denvers


And now that I think about it. I'm not so sure I would put Portland over us. But that may be a bit closer.

So I'd have Philly, Minny, Milwaukee, Phx, Portland, Denver.

Could be my familiarity with our roster, but just see them as more desirable.

Jokic is better than anyone on the Suns period.


He's a white Chris Webber with range... Perfect PF for today.


Sorry but Jokic has proven a lot....

Admittedly, his numbers were a bit higher than I thought they were last season. But my point is still is I don't see him being that much above Booker to offset the rest of the young pieces we have.

Proven a lot? He had a very nice sophomore year, I wouldn't say that's "proven a lot". Many players start their careers well and then crumble. And I don't mean this to be solely for Jokic, I mean this for Booker, and Warren, and every other young player here. Jokic has a ton of potential and like I said his numbers were better than I realize this past season. But I feel like he's entering Porzingis territory when it comes to the hypemachine.