Hoopshype Executive Survey: Top Players Under 25 to Build Around

[BallerTalk]

Really hoping Cade has the type of season that moves him up this list.

Cade will be top 5 after this season.

23-7-6 on better shooting and more efficient play.

He, Mobley and Barnes should all be ranked right around each other at this point. Green, just a step behind them because his game, while better offensively, is more one dimensional overall.

Tales from betwixt the cheeks

[WillyJakkz]

Man Scottie Barnes is giving off Kawhi Leonard vibes to me, not flashy just very very effective congrats Raptors.

Tough but I'll go Zion Williamson slightly over Barnes. If healthy (I know) that guy is flat unstoppable and easier to build around with shooting and defense.

[ForeverTFC]

I think Ja is a bit too high though he brings a lot of intangibles so I get it. SGA is too low.

Regarding Mobely/Scottie/Cade, I'll post what I put into the Raptors board: do I think Scottie has a higher ceiling than Mobley? I do but I am willing to admit that I'm biased. Do I think Mobley's span of outcomes is better than Scottie's span of outcomes? Without a doubt. Mobley has already proven that he can be the anchor of your defense. Scottie has not proven anything yet other than he will be a starter in this league. I think the ratings are fair between them. Cade just needs to prove more. If you are going to be ball dominant, you have to showcase that you can take over. We'll see if he climbs.

Also lol at Trae Young. Hawks fans probably losing it right now.

[Harry Garris]

It's got to be Cade for me. If I'm building a team around a guy it has to be a perimeter playmaker since he can be the focal point of an offense, and I think he's going to be the best one.

[Duffman100]

Man Scottie Barnes is giving off Kawhi Leonard vibes to me, not flashy just very very effective congrats Raptors.

Tough but I'll go Zion Williamson slightly over Barnes. If healthy (I know) that guy is flat unstoppable and easier to build around with shooting and defense.

We lost Lowry but then got a potential Superstar version of him.

Barnes is just so similar because he just does what needs to be done to win games.

[MartyConlonJr]

Oh God no, We'll see again Hawks fan saying that Trae is underrated and underappreciated

Are we wrong?

Ja at #3 and Trae at #9. What exactly has Ja done to prove he is a better prospect than Trae let alone 6 spots higher?


I'll tell you this, if Ja or Tatum or Lebron or any star in the league led the league in points and assists in the same season the media and this board would be so far up that players rear end we wouldn't hear the end of it. Trae does it and its crickets around here.

Westbrick won MVP for averaging a triple double which is way easier and way less impressive than leading the league in scoring and assists yet no one gives Trae any credit.

Westbrook had 2518 points and 840 assists in his MVP season averaging 31.6 ppg and 10.4 apg. James Harden had 907 assists and averaged 11.2 apg, beating Russ out for 'most assists'.

Trae had points 2155 points and 737 assists last season, averaging 28.4 ppg and 9.7 apg.

Not sure how Westbrooks feat was way easier, as he eclipsed Traes stats plus had 10 boards a game.

[Billl]

I'm a homer and went with Cade. He doesn't have an obvious kryptonite on either end and he's a natural leader. And in terms of flexibility in the type of other star you might play with him, he's pretty tough to beat. You don't need anyone to cover from him defensively, or get him the ball, or otherwise make up for a shortcoming.

Lots of great young talent on that list though. That cade/mobley/barnes/Green draft class is gonna go down as one of the great ones. Even a couple of the guys in that class that are a step below could end up making an all-star game.

[JonFromVA]

I picked Garland because of his infectious personality, unselfishness, and Nash/Steph-level ceiling.

I mean, this was posted up on YouTube 4 years ago, and it hasn't stopped or been repressed ...

Watch on YouTube

[Zion Wembanyama]

Zion Williamson
Luka Doncic
LaMelo Ball
Anthony Edwards
Evan Mobley
Scottie Barnes
Cade Cunningham
Darius Garland
Trae Young
Jalen Green

[_qubik]

After the top 3, Mobley and Ant are the clear pick for me, they are VERY young, and a lot ahead of the curve, Ant is a big guard, with great athleticism and is improving very fast, Minnesota will be better, and he might learn in a enviroment trying to win, not a bottom team like KAT.

Mobley is a great defender, he is veeery versatile and the Cavs is the most promising team in the league, I see him being a player impacting lile KG, he might never be the number one scorer, but he will have top level impact every facet of the game

Zion and Lamelo are close to me, Zion has only health against him, but he is clearly the player with the highest ceiling and already great floor, high efficiency with high usage

Lamelo is very good, big, smart, has a good shot, insanely passing vision and looks good on defense but without consistency, appreciate a lot his game and think his future is bright

Cant forget, Trae might be 1st in all stats from the guards rankings, but you aint winning with him as your best player, at least we can see Hawks fans delusion year after year

[Whopper_Sr]

I'd have Garland over Morant. Possibly over Tatum as well.

[Pointgod]

1 Luka (unaminous #1 pick)
2 Tatum (11 of 15 second place votes)
3 Morant (4 second place votes)
4 Mobley
5 Ant Edwards
6 Zion
7 Scottie Barnes
8 Lamelo
9 Trae
10 Garland
11 Cade
12 Jalen Green
T-13 SGA
T-13 Haliburton

https://hoopshype.com/lists/nba-poll-top-players-to-build-around-luka-doncic-jayson-tatum-ja-morant-zion-williamson-lamelo-ball/

What do we think?

Don’t know if Trae is underrated here or rated correctly because of his defensive deficiencies. Other than Tatum and Luka, he’s the only player that’s been to a conference finals. I mean that has to count for something right?

[Johnny Bball]

The number of people that would build around a centre, wow. How much more proof do you need.

[whitehops]

The number of people that would build around a centre, wow. How much more proof do you need.

there isn't a single center on that list?

i'm assuming you're referring to mobley, in which case he's a unicorn defensively where he has center height/length, wing mobility and can protect the rim like a center (and has overall great defensive instincts). his perimeter game still has much to be developed but he's shown traits that could make him a fairly versatile offensive player.

imo he doesn't project to be the #1 scoring option offensively or run an offense but him being in an anthony davis-type role is still a very valuable player. if he does play some center he's definitely more of a "giannis center" than an embiid or jokic type, and giannis is a decent player to build around.

[Ruma85]

It's got to be Cade for me. If I'm building a team around a guy it has to be a perimeter playmaker since he can be the focal point of an offense, and I think he's going to be the best one.

The first 3 games he played last season, you can tell he had the understanding and potential to b be very good player.

[sfernald]

Give me Zion and I pray he stays healthy. If he does, he could be #1 next year. He has that kind of potential. Few others do.

[realball]

Anthony Edwards seems crazy overrated to me. He's a great scorer, but would you really want him to lead your offense? I would not put him over actual playmakers like Lamelo and Cade.

I don't think so. He's 20 years old and already putting up 21, 5 and 4.

He's got superstar written all over him.

Yeah, but Cade is 19 and put up 17/6/6. Lamelo put up 20/8/7. I think guys who can make plays are way more valuable than pure scorers. Shooting can be improved, but passing is really something you have to have a natural feel for.

[CobraCommander]

I picked Garland because of his infectious personality, unselfishness, and Nash/Steph-level ceiling.

I mean, this was posted up on YouTube 4 years ago, and it hasn't stopped or been repressed ...

Watch on YouTube

Damn that was good.....he has some personality.

[CobraCommander]

Anthony Edwards seems crazy overrated to me. He's a great scorer, but would you really want him to lead your offense? I would not put him over actual playmakers like Lamelo and Cade.

I don't think so. He's 20 years old and already putting up 21, 5 and 4.

He's got superstar written all over him.

Yeah, but Cade is 19 and put up 17/6/6. Lamelo put up 20/8/7. I think guys who can make plays are way more valuable than pure scorers. Shooting can be improved, but passing is really something you have to have a natural feel for.

Ant has all that and the physical gifts that surpasses everyone but maybe someone like Zion. Ants untapped physical gifts are waiting for his basketball mind to catch up with his supernatural super human body

[yellowknifer]

I went other Luka. Trae should be 2 or 3. Mobley 2 or 3. Morant 4. Tatum 5. Morant moves up list a lot if he learns to shoot the 3 well. Tatum just needs to make better decisions and be more consistent. Trae needs to up his defense more consistently. It's a lot to ask of him but he needs to try. Luka needs to get in top shape. Looks like he is in better shape. Mobley just needs time. He could wind up 1 on this list. He's a freak of nature. Barnes is scratching from the outside looking in, 6 or 7 or 8 is pretty good for him. If he makes his 3 dangerous he will move way up this list though.

Anthony Edwards is very good too. He's above Barnes probably right now because he's pretty well rounded. Just needs to work on decision making and the basics. Improve his jumper. Usual stuff I think you can expect to see. Huge talent. Really there are so many stellar under 25 players... exciting time to be watching the NBA. All of these guys will have a huge impact next season and maybe tilt the tables in the league a bit too. Last year no one could say for sure who would win it all. I think the same goes this year, maybe even more so.