Rank these players in terms of who you'd rather build around moving forward

[ropjhk]

Luka Doncic
Zion Williamson
Jayson Tatum
Ja Morant
Trae Young
Donovan Mitchell
Devin Booker
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Ben Simmons
Jaren Jackson Jr.
De'Aaron Fox

[iggymcfrack]

Tatum’s getting mad underrated on a lot of these lists. He’s 21 years old, a superstar efficient #1 option on offense, and possibly the best defensive player in the entire NBA. I wouldn’t trade him for Harden, Jokic, or Embiid, let alone Trae, Booker, or Morant.

[VancouverRaps]

Luka
Zion
Ja
Tatum
Simmons
Booker
Mitchell
SGA
JJJ
Fox

[Roddy B for 3]

Magic Johnson tier-
Luka Doncic= elite playmaker/#1 scorer/+average defense)

Charles Barkley tier-
Zion=(health risk)/#1 scorer/frindge elite defense/frindge elite playmaker

Steve Nash tier-
Trae= #1 s order/elite playmaker/(bad defense)
Tatum= #1 or #2 scorer/fringy elite defense
Booker= #1 or #2 scorer/(average defense)/good playmaker
Ja= (health risk)/#1 or #2 scorer/elite playmaker/good defender
Simmons= frindge DPOY/elite full court playmaker/(limited offensively)

Carmelo Anthony tier-
Mitchell= #2 scorer/frindge elite playmaker/really good defender

Chris Bosh tier-
Fox= elite playmaker/#2 or #3 scorer, great guard defense
SGA= frindge elite playmaker/#3 scorer/great guard defense
JJJ= D anchor/#3 scorer/versitle offense

[robbie84]

Ja Morant is seriously over rated on realgm.
There isn't a single NBA GM that would take Ja over Trae Young.

[Texas Chuck]

Rookie Doncic - 32.2 mins

21.2 pts / 7.8 TRB / 6 AST / 1.1 STL / .3 BLKS / 3.4 TOV's

16.5 FGA's (.427 FG%) 7.1 3PA's (.327 3P%) 6.7 FTA's (.713 FT%) = .497 eFG%

Mavs record - (33-49)

Rookie Morant - 29.9 mins

17.6 pts / 3.5 TRB / 7.1 AST / 1.0 STL / .3 BLKS / 3.2 TOV's

13.6 FGA's (.493 FG%) 2.2 3PA's (.358 3P%) 4.4 FTA's (.783 FT%) = .522 eFG%

Memphis record - (28-26)

I love Ja too. The problem with posting this alone is that it either ignores the massive leap made by Luka in year 2 or presumes Ja will make a similar one. Both of which seem flawed.

Now if you want to make a more in-depth argument for Ja, I'm here for it. But this isn't really it.

[PMONSTER]

John Paxson used a term describe how they felt about Derrick Rose after the knee surgeries... It's how I feel about Zion

"in this case it might be more about building with Derrick, as opposed to saying, 'OK, Derrick, you got to shoulder all the burden.' But that's OK."

Luka Doncic
Ja Morant
Devin Booker
Ben Simmons
Zion Williamson
Jayson Tatum
Donovan Mitchell
Trae Young
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
De'Aaron Fox
Jaren Jackson Jr.

[Black Jack]

I'm buying low on Zion...it will be fun bumping this thread in a year or two. Again, there's absolutely no one who can possibly be rated above him other than Luka in my book, and even that requires injury doubts. A healthy Zion will absolutely destroy the rest of these prospects.

[Firespo]

1)Zion Williamson

2)Luka Doncic

3)Jayson Tatum

4)Ja Morant

5)Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

6)Donovan Mitchell

7)Ben Simmons

8)Devin Booker

9)De'Aaron Fox

10)Jaren Jackson Jr.




11)Trae Young

[Whole Truth]

Rookie Doncic - 32.2 mins

21.2 pts / 7.8 TRB / 6 AST / 1.1 STL / .3 BLKS / 3.4 TOV's

16.5 FGA's (.427 FG%) 7.1 3PA's (.327 3P%) 6.7 FTA's (.713 FT%) = .497 eFG%

Mavs record - (33-49)

Rookie Morant - 29.9 mins

17.6 pts / 3.5 TRB / 7.1 AST / 1.0 STL / .3 BLKS / 3.2 TOV's

13.6 FGA's (.493 FG%) 2.2 3PA's (.358 3P%) 4.4 FTA's (.783 FT%) = .522 eFG%

Memphis record - (28-26)

I love Ja too. The problem with posting this alone is that it either ignores the massive leap made by Luka in year 2 or presumes Ja will make a similar one. Both of which seem flawed.

Now if you want to make a more in-depth argument for Ja, I'm here for it. But this isn't really it.

I was merely pointing out that Ja is on the same plane as Luka & Young's rookie campaigns on better efficiency & lower usage.

Luka in his 2nd year is taking 20.4 FGA's to the 16 attempts in his rookie season averaging 28pts on 20 shots. He's upped his 3pt APG to 9 from 7. His usage rate is up from 30% to 37% at roughly the same shooting percentages 46% FG% / 32% 3PT%. All I see on the surface is an increase in volume, 4 additional shots, 2 more 3's for the 6pt scoring bump.

With that 7% increase in usage rate from 30 to 37%, Luka's assists are up from 7.1 to 8.7 & so is his TO rate from 3.4 - 4.2, where he has a much better shooting team. Ja is currently averaging 7.1 assists on the same 3.4 TO rate with a young team that struggles with consistency from range.

I don't know if advanced stats say otherwise but this massive leap seems attached to his increased volume & usage. Where I doubt Ja will be taking 20 shots a game & go from a 25% usage rate to 37%, not sure I'd want him too either.

That said, the argument for improvement. Ja is a 160lbs soaking wet as a drive first PG, some strength training, bump his 25% usage rate, bump his 2 APG from 3 on better than 36% shooting, his young teammates get some more consistency in their shooting to hit their open looks & …..

He may never score as much as Luka & Young because of his much lower usage rate & shot attempts but I'd take a more efficient 25-30% usage rate, where his teammates are more engaged & involved in the teams overall success. It's why Memphis are currently sitting 8th in his rookie year where they were predicted a last place finish. Leading the league in assists at 30 a game with Ja setting the tone.

[Texas Chuck]

All I see on the surface is an increase in volume, 4

probably want to go beyond the surface then, no?

Obviously all the efficiency numbers have gone way up which shouldn't happen with that type of increase in volume but did.

The Mavs team offense, driven by Luka, is essentially lapping the league this year. He's not just putting up a bunch of counting stats based on volume, but he's driving one of the best offenses we've ever seen.



He took a massive leap. He's still got clear flaws and plenty more to improve on, but the results are clear that he's a much much better player than last year. He made one of the biggest leaps any player ever has.

That's my point -- Ja might do the same, but we can't, and shouldn't assume it because we've almost never seen anything like this before.


Again I love Ja. I've been on record that I think he will be the best player from his draft, not Zion. But we shouldn't presume things no matter how much we want to.

[Bornstellar]

Zion Williamson
Luka Doncic
Ja Morant
Trae Young
Jayson Tatum
Devin Booker
Donovan Mitchell
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Jaren Jackson Jr.
De'Aaron Fox
Ben Simmons

[3toheadmelo]

Adding Ayton to the list cause he's the best big man of his draft class

1. Zion
2. Luka
3. Tatum
4. Booker
5. Deandre Ayton
6. Ja Morant
7. Donovan Mitchell
8. Trae Young
9. SGA
10. Ben Simmons
11. Fox
12. JJJ

[JAYZGOAT]

Did Sixers fans expect to see anything different on RealGM?

[gizardoe]

I would always take the wing with good size luka tatum then zion after I see him stretching the floor and like Thor’s mom says “ eat a salad”

[Crizzle]

I honeslty wont be surprised if JJJ becomes the best player from this list and thats not me being a homer. IM already gonna go against the grain and say he will be a better player than Ja. He was seen as a raw player coming into the draft. His ceiling is ridiculously high

[MGB8]

Ja Morant has a too-young Memphis team in the 8 spot in the West as a rookie and people have him outside the top 3/4.... lols

[Whole Truth]

All I see on the surface is an increase in volume, 4

probably want to go beyond the surface then, no?

Obviously all the efficiency numbers have gone way up which shouldn't happen with that type of increase in volume but did.

The Mavs team offense, driven by Luka, is essentially lapping the league this year. He's not just putting up a bunch of counting stats based on volume, but he's driving one of the best offenses we've ever seen.

He took a massive leap. He's still got clear flaws and plenty more to improve on, but the results are clear that he's a much much better player than last year. He made one of the biggest leaps any player ever has.

That's my point -- Ja might do the same, but we can't, and shouldn't assume it because we've almost never seen anything like this before.

Again I love Ja. I've been on record that I think he will be the best player from his draft, not Zion. But we shouldn't presume things no matter how much we want to.

TC, Mavs have a 114 offensive rating without Doncic in 1214 mins. His supporting cast is a potent offense without him, though he undoubtedly makes them better, vice versa.

I don't know much about advanced stats, help me out. Which efficiency numbers are you referring to because his FG%, 3PT% & eFG% are roughly the same as his rookie year?.

[FelixD]

All I see on the surface is an increase in volume, 4

probably want to go beyond the surface then, no?

Obviously all the efficiency numbers have gone way up which shouldn't happen with that type of increase in volume but did.

The Mavs team offense, driven by Luka, is essentially lapping the league this year. He's not just putting up a bunch of counting stats based on volume, but he's driving one of the best offenses we've ever seen.

He took a massive leap. He's still got clear flaws and plenty more to improve on, but the results are clear that he's a much much better player than last year. He made one of the biggest leaps any player ever has.

That's my point -- Ja might do the same, but we can't, and shouldn't assume it because we've almost never seen anything like this before.

Again I love Ja. I've been on record that I think he will be the best player from his draft, not Zion. But we shouldn't presume things no matter how much we want to.

TC, Mavs have a 114 offensive rating without Doncic in 1214 mins. His supporting cast is a potent offense without him, though he undoubtedly makes them better, vice versa.

I don't know much about advanced stats, help me out. Which efficiency numbers are you referring to because his FG%, 3PT% & eFG% are roughly the same as his rookie year?.

What are you talking about?
His FG is up 4% from his rookie year.
His TS is up 5% from his rookie year.
His 3pt stays the same.

The biggest difference is that this year he is shooting 70% within 0-3 feet. That is insane for a guard

[robbie84]

Should Embid be added to the list?