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Evaluating players is a subjective art. Siakam was less valuable to the Raptors as a player than the Pacers. The long list of omitted players may include future All-Stars, and the best (or luckiest) front offices will find those who were overlooked.
Kyle Anderson is the obvious miss on the top-30 list (he could slot as high as No. 19 to give a sense of how close the final 11 are. Anderson may not have much footspeed, but he’s a highly effective role player.
Some ball-handling guards include Markelle Fultz, Spencer Dinwiddie and De’Anthony Melton, who would be in the top 30 if he didn’t sit out much of the season with injury. The same applies to potential restricted free agents Saddiq Bey and Patrick Williams. Other possible restricted players are Precious Achiuwa, Isaac Okoro, Max Christie and Simone Fontecchio, among others.
Wings include Gordon Hayward, Royce O’Neale, Lonnie Walker IV, Alec Burks, Haywood Highsmith, Malik Beasley, Gary Harris, Nicolas Batum, etc. Viable rotation big men include Mason Plumlee, Dario Šarić, Daniel Theis and more. Does James Wiseman finally find a place to blossom? Regardless, the NBA needs to make sure Boban Marjanovic has a roster spot somewhere next season.
Some teams can opt players out to restricted free agency. The Pelicans can decline Jose Alverado’s option to re-sign him with the right of first refusal, opt him in for an extension, or wait until he’s unrestricted in 2025. The Thunder may make similar decisions on Isaiah Joe and Aaron Wiggins.
Others, like Zion Williamson, Lauri Markkanen, T.J. McConnell and Alex Caruso, have non- or partially guaranteed salaries with virtually zero chance of being waived outright. The Knicks may decide Bojan Bogdanović is too expensive and may waive him for financial flexibility, though trading him instead may make more sense.
The Sixers may not have room for Paul Reed Jr., but he’s more likely to be traded than waived. Others like Jae’Sean Tate may have their team options picked up to be traded. The Grizzlies have an expensive roster, and they may let Luke Kennard go via option or opt him in for a trade.
The many available developing prospects have all been slighted, but like the limited roster spots in the league, this list can’t go on forever.
