[wonzi_bellsParticipant]

 Someone did this post a couple of months ago and I came to find that the reality of it is much of the same players of today will still be up there on top.

This was my original list , but I changed some of it just re-thinking some of my evaluations of players, as well as with Embiid’s injury and some free agent signings that shook the landscape of how of some of these player’s roles will end up being.

Player – Age of Player Today (Age of Player in 2019-20 Season) – Experience in League in 2019-20 Season – High School Class

1. Anthony Davis – 22 (26) – 8th season – Class of 2011

2. Kevin Durant – 26 (31) – 13th season – Class of 2006

3. Stephen Curry – 27 (31) – 11th season – Class of 2006

4. Andrew Wiggins – 20 (24) – 6th season – Class of 2013

5. LeBron James – 30 (35) – 17th season – Class of 2003

6. Blake Griffin – 26 (30) – 10th season –  Class of 2007

7. Karl-Anthony Towns – 19 (24) – 5th season – Class of 2014

8. DeAndre Ayton – 16 (21) – 2nd season – Class of 2017

9. Kyrie Irving – 23 (27) – 9th season – Class of 2010

10. John Wall – 24 (29) – 10th season – Class of 2009

11. James Harden – 25 (30) – 11th season – Class of 2007

12. Kawhi Leonard – 24 (28) – 9th season – Class of 2009

13. Russell Westbrook – 26 (31) – 12th season – Class of 2006

14. DeMarcus Cousins – 24 (29) – 10 season – Class of 2009

15. Harry Giles III – 17 (21) – 3rd season – Class of 2016

16. Chris Paul – 30 (34) – 15th season – Class of 2003

17. Paul George – 25 (29) – 10th season – Class of 2008

18. Giannis Antetokounmpo – 20 (25) – 7th season – N/A

19. D’Angelo Russell – 19 (23) – 5th season – Class of 2014

20. Klay Thompson – 25 (29) – 9th season – Class of 2008

21. Emmanuel Mudiay – 19 (23) – 5th season – Class of 2014

22. Damian Lillard – 25 (29) – 8th season – Class of 2008

23. Ben Simmons – 18 (23) – 4th season – Class of 2015

24. Bradley Beal – 22 (26) – 8th season – Class of 2011

25. LaMarcus Aldridge – 29 (35) – 14th season – Class of 2004

Honorable Mentions:

Al Horford – 29 (33) – 13th season – Class of 2004

Serge Ibaka – 25 (30) – 11th season – N/A

Jimmy Butler – 25 (30) – 9th season – Class of 2007

Rudy Gobert – 23 (27) – 7th season – N/A

Andre Drummond – 21 (26) – 8th season – Class of 2011

Jabari Parker – 20 (24) – 6th season – Class of 2013

Jahlil Okafor – 19 (24) – 5th season – Class of 2014

Skal Labissiere – 19 (23) – 4th season – Class of 2015

Josh Jackson – 18 (22) – 3rd season – Class of 2016

Malik Monk – 17 (21) – 3rd season – Class of 2016

 

I actually think it was absured that I left off Chris Paul on my original list now, even with him being 34 years old and sort of injury-prone. Given that numbers of HOF-worthy point guards still manage to kill it at the age of 34, like Stockton, Nash, Payton and Kidd, I had to reconsider my position on his age being a detriment. Also, I still think whatever team he’ll be on will still be good, whether it be on the Clippers with Blake Griffin or ring-chasing with another team. Also, Al Horford surprised me with how young he’d be as well and I’m betting on that he’d leave the Hawks in 2016 for a better squad, don’t know if that’ll carry over into 2020 but he has a game that’ll age well and none of his past lengthy injuries were career-threatening with it only being injuries to the pectorals. 

Also, some of the omissions that I had were Kevin Love since I thought he’d leave Cleveland but now seems content with having the reduce role, which hinders his value and thus can’t be on the list, as well as the back injury. Also, he might get traded down the line for someone who fits better with LeBron James since he doesn’t have a no-trade clause in his new contract and the lack of flexibility with the five-year length could leave him in a bad spot. Then I took out Parker, who I had on the original list, because I started to think about the role he’ll have with the Bucks and how they’d be down the line in five years. Essentially, Parker and Antetokounmpo are vying for the same spot, which is the small forward/small-ball power forward with the ball in his hands most of the time to make the decisions and I think one of those guys’ value will be diminished without having the ball in his hands since I don’t see either being elite spot-up options. So it basically me choosing Antetokounmpo over Parker since he’s a better passer and is more athletic to be a two-way player. 

And then I watched Emmanuel Mudiay, Ben Simmons, Harry Giles play more in the past couple of months got really enamored with them. Also, Marvin Bagley could reclassify into 2017 but I don’t see him being a Top 25 player by his second year. And in ten year, DeAndre Ayton will be at the top spot.

 

[ZachAttackParticipant]

No Jazz players in the top 25 and only one in the honorable mention list when it’s likely that they’ll be near th top of the league at that time? I think that the Jazz’s whole starting 5 is deserving to be somewhere on that list, whether it’s honorable mention or actual top 25. Other than that, good list though.

[ZachAttackParticipant]

No Jazz players in the top 25 and only one in the honorable mention list when it’s likely that they’ll be near th top of the league at that time? I think that the Jazz’s whole starting 5 is deserving to be somewhere on that list, whether it’s honorable mention or actual top 25. Other than that, good list though.

[wonzi_bellsParticipant]

I don’t think they have a transcendent player on their squad. Hayward is good, borderline All-Star. Favors is just good and Gobert is can be a Defensive Player of the Year. I think Exum would have to be the one to step up.  I like him but I didn’t know he’d end up that much of a project as he was last season with him physically not being able to score or contain guys and he has a shakey jumper, albeit he has a feel for the game, but all-in-all, I can’t lay my bet on him yet. 

Plus, Hayward has a player’s option in 2017 and my rule with coveted unrestricted free agents is you better already have a championship contending team on hand or have some emerging superstar next to him so they can be championship contenders down the road, especially when small markets are involved. So, that means the Jazz have two years to provide a chamionship contending team out west. Then, Favors is a unrestricted free agent in 2018, so same thing to a lesser extent basically. 

[wonzi_bellsParticipant]

I don’t think they have a transcendent player on their squad. Hayward is good, borderline All-Star. Favors is just good and Gobert is can be a Defensive Player of the Year. I think Exum would have to be the one to step up.  I like him but I didn’t know he’d end up that much of a project as he was last season with him physically not being able to score or contain guys and he has a shakey jumper, albeit he has a feel for the game, but all-in-all, I can’t lay my bet on him yet. 

Plus, Hayward has a player’s option in 2017 and my rule with coveted unrestricted free agents is you better already have a championship contending team on hand or have some emerging superstar next to him so they can be championship contenders down the road, especially when small markets are involved. So, that means the Jazz have two years to provide a chamionship contending team out west. Then, Favors is a unrestricted free agent in 2018, so same thing to a lesser extent basically. 

[Reptilian MonkParticipant]

Not likely the Jazz starting five will be 5 of the top 30 players in the league in 5 years. Exum, Burks/Hood, Hayward, Favors, Gobert will not be 5 of the top 30 players in 5 years. Most likely players with highest potential I think are Gobert and Exum. Overall this is a good attempt at predicitng this, these things usually make me cringe but that was good. I think Wiggins, Towns, Ayton are a bit high and will probably be that highly ranked in more like 7 years when they enter more towards their primes.  

[Reptilian MonkParticipant]

Not likely the Jazz starting five will be 5 of the top 30 players in the league in 5 years. Exum, Burks/Hood, Hayward, Favors, Gobert will not be 5 of the top 30 players in 5 years. Most likely players with highest potential I think are Gobert and Exum. Overall this is a good attempt at predicitng this, these things usually make me cringe but that was good. I think Wiggins, Towns, Ayton are a bit high and will probably be that highly ranked in more like 7 years when they enter more towards their primes.  

[wonzi_bellsParticipant]

 Oh, I forgot about Draymond Green and Justice Winslow, I’d at least put them in honorable mentions. Haven’t thought those two through much.

Draymond Green – 25 (30) – 8th season – Class of 2008

Justise Winslow – 19 (23) – 5th season – Class of 2014

[wonzi_bellsParticipant]

 Oh, I forgot about Draymond Green and Justice Winslow, I’d at least put them in honorable mentions. Haven’t thought those two through much.

Draymond Green – 25 (30) – 8th season – Class of 2008

Justise Winslow – 19 (23) – 5th season – Class of 2014

[Rip255]

 Ben Simmons at the same level as Bradley Beal? I thought you said you’d seen him play…

[Rip255]

 Ben Simmons at the same level as Bradley Beal? I thought you said you’d seen him play…

[TRC1991Participant]

Probably a pointless excersize to be speculating on 

[TRC1991Participant]

Probably a pointless excersize to be speculating on 

[BallerScriptParticipant]

 It is just for fun, nothing pointless about it.

[BallerScriptParticipant]

 It is just for fun, nothing pointless about it.

[Rip255]

Irony at its best.  All I can do is shake my head. 

Saying "Don’t look forward to the future of the NBA" is possible THE MOST POINTLESS thing you can do on an NBA Draft forum. 

 

[Rip255]

Irony at its best.  All I can do is shake my head. 

Saying "Don’t look forward to the future of the NBA" is possible THE MOST POINTLESS thing you can do on an NBA Draft forum. 

 

[TarHeelRavenParticipant]

I’d put Dennis Smith Jr. on that list also.  His handle, speed and quickness and explosiveness is at an elite level.  He’s only 6-1 and not very big but he’ll get bigger and stronger and could possibly one of the top point guards in the league in the near future. 

[wonzi_bellsParticipant]

 I didn’t want to put him on the list in only his third year. His shooting has to get better.

[wonzi_bellsParticipant]

 I didn’t want to put him on the list in only his third year. His shooting has to get better.

[TarHeelRavenParticipant]

I’d put Dennis Smith Jr. on that list also.  His handle, speed and quickness and explosiveness is at an elite level.  He’s only 6-1 and not very big but he’ll get bigger and stronger and could possibly one of the top point guards in the league in the near future. 

[Robb_CParticipant]

Nice attempt, but to have D’Angelo Russell over the best 2way guard in the league in jimmy butler among other this on this list just doesn’t make sense.

[Robb_CParticipant]

Nice attempt, but to have D’Angelo Russell over the best 2way guard in the league in jimmy butler among other this on this list just doesn’t make sense.

[wonzi_bellsParticipant]

Well, this is all a matter of opinion. If I see Russell as this highly efficient 20-24 PPG and 6-8 APG player who can’t torch a defense by creating his own shot and finish while facilitating for others, does it make him better? Also, I think around 30, Jimmy Butler might start to wear down since he plays a physical style of getting to the rim to draw fouls and I don’t think he’s a good enough shooter to mitigate that towards the future.

 

[wonzi_bellsParticipant]

Well, this is all a matter of opinion. If I see Russell as this highly efficient 20-24 PPG and 6-8 APG player who can’t torch a defense by creating his own shot and finish while facilitating for others, does it make him better? Also, I think around 30, Jimmy Butler might start to wear down since he plays a physical style of getting to the rim to draw fouls and I don’t think he’s a good enough shooter to mitigate that towards the future.

 

[nill650Participant]

 Way too much can and will happen between now and 19-20 season with injuries etc to predict with any amount of assurance that anyone outside of anthony davis,james harden and King James that are present on your list will either still be in the league(paul),become elite(kat) live up to the hype(simmons)or reach any resemblence of legend status(wiggins).

Granted alot of those players already in the league have a damn good shot at it from a stats perspective, but to exclude a Kevin Love because he is on a team that has more options than him on offense is a narrow scope to guage his effectiveness on the court.

Also the fact that you do not have Hezonja,Porzingas,Saric,or Mirotic on your list anywhere is absurd.

I believe in 19-20 season the top 25 most valuable players to the league going into that season should be:

 

1 James will still be the King at 35.

2 Davis 

3 Wiggins

4 Hezonja

5 Adetokoumpo

6 Durrant

7 Cousins

8 Westbrook

9 Irving

10 Harden

11 Towns

12 Love

13 Leonard

14 Mudiay

15 Porzingas

16 McGary

17  Beal

18  Parker

19 Saric

20 Mirotic

21 Vucevic

22 Klay Thompson

23 Miles Turner

24 Zack Lavine

25 Noah Vonleh

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[nill650Participant]

 Way too much can and will happen between now and 19-20 season with injuries etc to predict with any amount of assurance that anyone outside of anthony davis,james harden and King James that are present on your list will either still be in the league(paul),become elite(kat) live up to the hype(simmons)or reach any resemblence of legend status(wiggins).

Granted alot of those players already in the league have a damn good shot at it from a stats perspective, but to exclude a Kevin Love because he is on a team that has more options than him on offense is a narrow scope to guage his effectiveness on the court.

Also the fact that you do not have Hezonja,Porzingas,Saric,or Mirotic on your list anywhere is absurd.

I believe in 19-20 season the top 25 most valuable players to the league going into that season should be:

 

1 James will still be the King at 35.

2 Davis 

3 Wiggins

4 Hezonja

5 Adetokoumpo

6 Durrant

7 Cousins

8 Westbrook

9 Irving

10 Harden

11 Towns

12 Love

13 Leonard

14 Mudiay

15 Porzingas

16 McGary

17  Beal

18  Parker

19 Saric

20 Mirotic

21 Vucevic

22 Klay Thompson

23 Miles Turner

24 Zack Lavine

25 Noah Vonleh

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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