I was looking at something that got me thinking some more about Julius Randle and the luke warm reaction to him. I am going to play the game of comparing Randle's stats to another PF's stats without identifying the other player to start:
Randle 36.7 min / 20.4 pts / 12.3 rebs / 5.8 Assts / 3.4 TO / 47% FG% / 36% 3P% / 81% FT% / 0.2 BLK / Age 26 / 6' - 8"
Young PF 36.7 min / 22.5 pts / 11.3 rebs / 6.0 Assts / 3.4 TO / 55% FG% / 37% 3P% / 68% FT% / 0.4 BLK / Age 24 / 6' - 11"
I imagine most will guess who the mystery young PF is but he is considered one of the best young players in the game. Essentially untouchable in terms of his team trading him. Where as the reaction to Randle in this thread is "eh", hollow stats, needs the ball in his hands. For the record, I think the other young PF is a better overall PF prospect and franchise asset than Randle, but not by a lot. Both are great young players and both would be great adds to the Celtics.
The mystery PF is Domantas Sabonis (if you hadn't guessed). Looking principally at ESPN PER, here is the ranking for top players I consider as true PF (or likely to play as full time PF):
1. Antetokounmpo MIL
2. Boucher TOR
3. Davis LAL
4. Williamson NOP
5. Wood* HOU (listed as a C)
6. Sabonis IND
7. Randle NYK
I don't know how Chris Boucher gets in there, I don't think of him as a top PF. Sometimes the PER gets off. Boucher has a 45% 3P% so maybe that is why is PER is unexpectedly high. He is not even the starting PF on the team, so he can be discregarded. Durant is listed as PF but I see him as a SF but if he was included, he would be #1. Christian Wood is listed as a center but based on his PER, this is where he would rank as a PF. I think most teams would be happy to have him as their starting PF. All this puts Sabonis at #6 and Randle at #7 for best PF in the game (+/- depending on if you want to consider Durant and Boucher). That seems about right.