How OKC Thunder compare vs. adversaries- dissecting Sports Illustrated top 100 by conference, division, team
Southeast Division:
Two squads in the SE division have four players on the list with John Wall the only player breaking into the top 25. In fact most of the players fall in the 50 – 100 range with nine of the 14 players landing there and three of the five others all on Washington. Although this division captures one additional player ranking it could well be the weakest division in the east.
On the other hand the Heat and Hornets aren’t franchises who easily accept rebuilding phases, therefore those two squads in particular are ones to keep an eye on as the season progresses Conversely, the Magic aren’t expected to be playoff bound, but the more intriguing question is how new bench boss Steve Clifford navigates this front court heavy roster without a typical starting point guard.
Atlanta are committed to the rebuild and are attempting to be the east’s “Dubs lite”. Will Trae Young live up to expectations and land on this list next season or become the answer to a Luka Doncic trivia question?
Breakdown by tier:
- no players in top 10
- one player ranked 11 – 25
- four players in 26 to 50 range
- four players in 51 -75 range
- five players in 76-100 range
Atlanta Hawks:
- 91: Kent Bazemore
Charlotte Hornets:
- 32: Kemba Walker
- 73: Nicolas Batum
Miami Heat:
- 45: Goran Dragic
- 71: Josh Richardson
- 86: James Johnson
- 93: Kelly Olynyk
Orlando Magic:
- 66: Aaron Gordon
- 90: Nikola Vucevic
- 92: Evan Fournier
Washington Wizards:
- 24: John Wall
- 27: Bradley Beal
- 42: Otto Porter Jr.
- 69: Dwight Howard