Who are your top 5 players 26 and under?

[crimson_stallion]

Funnily enough, I was actually not even thinking about the Celtics when I asked myself this question.  I was sitting around and just pondered to myself:

"If you had to choose a player to be the cornerstone of your franchise for the next 10 years (so 26 years old or younger), what would be your top 5 choices?"

For the top 4, I keep coming up with the same obvious names:

1. Kawhi Leonard
2. Anthony Davis
3. Karl-Anthony Towns
4. Giannis

Now I have to be honest, I'm struggling to think of somebody who I would put in that $5 spot over Kyrie. 

The obvious alternative would be John Wall, and it's a close call...but I'm not 100% convinced I'd take wall over Kyrie.  I don't think I'd take Beal over Kyrie (I think Wall is better then Beal).  So it's basically Wall's two-way versatility versus Kyrie's ability as a closer, and on a championship team having a closer is probably more important.

Embiid is a beast, but too risky.  Simmons, Fultz and Ball have sky high potential, but too unproven.  Porzingis could become really special, but hasn't really shown enough YET to convince me he's worthy of being a franchise player.

I keep coming back to Kyrie.   

So this begs the question - is Kyrie Irving legitimately one of the top 5 young players in the league, to potentially build a franchise around???

I've been consciously aware of the fact that Kyrie is "2-3 years" younger then Isaiah...but I don't think I've been grasping just how impressive Kyrie is for a 25 year old.  I guess this really helps to hit home just how impressive this acquisition is for Boston. 

[KGs Knee]

Nikola Jokic

Jokic has been fantastic in his first two seasons, and I'm expecting a 3rd year breakout from him, solidifying his place as a franchise cornerstone.

[crimson_stallion]

Nikola Jokic

Jokic has been fantastic in his first two seasons, and I'm expecting a 3rd year breakout from him, solidifying his place as a franchise cornerstone.

Really?

I mean I know the kid is talented, but you have enough confidence in him to hang the next 10 years of your franchise on his shoulders?

I kinda foresee him being an Al Horford type player (a career fringe All-Star).  I wouldn't mind having him as a 2nd or 3rd piece, but I couldn't take him over a player as good as Wall or Kyrie.

But then I haven't really seen him play a great deal, so I could be selling him short.

[Androslav]

Nikola Jokic

Jokic has been fantastic in his first two seasons, and I'm expecting a 3rd-year breakout from him, solidifying his place as a franchise cornerstone.

Really?

I mean I know the kid is talented, but you have enough confidence in him to hang the next 10 years of your franchise on his shoulders?

I kinda foresee him being an Al Horford type player (a career fringe All-Star).  I wouldn't mind having him as a 2nd or 3rd piece, but I couldn't take him over a player as good as Wall or Kyrie.

But then I haven't really seen him play a great deal so I could be selling him short.

I think that Jokić could be the best offensive big in the game, maybe he already is.
Sure AD can score more and more efficiently, but Jokić can take a mediocre offense and turn it into elite one. As it was evidenced last year. AD, for example, didn't do such a thing in his first 5 years in the league, Jokić did it in his 2nd. NJ now has better teammates and more experience.
The passing, his punishing on the switches, an occasional outside shot when needed, and "a lot more fun" with Nikola Jokić. That 126 ORtg is just silly.
crimson_stallion be sure to watch him this year, the guy is a Jazz musician out there.
I still wouldn't put him in the overall top 5 under 26.


Top 6, that actually produce wins now,
Not those who could/project to/would if healthy

1. Kawhi Leonard (expecting another leap)
2. Anthony Davis
3. Kyrie (expecting another leap)
4. Giannis (expecting another leap)
5. Gobert
6. KAT (expecting another leap)

Embiid (huge health risk)
Jokić (defense/athleticism)
Kristaps (defense/longevity)
Rookies (not buying ATM)

[Bucketgetter]

So building for the next 10 years around 1 guy that is 26 and under?

For one thing, John Wall is 27, so that clears that dilemma up for you. But I’m definitely taking Embiid over Kyrie, as well as the other 4 you mentioned.

[Somebody]

1. Jayson Tatum
2. Jaylen Brown
3. Kyrie Irving
4. Marcus Smart
5. Lakers pick
  full homer mode baby (that list was in no particular order)

[TheSundanceKid]

1. Jayson Tatum
2. Jaylen Brown
3. Kyrie Irving
4. Marcus Smart
5. Lakers pick
  full homer mode baby (that list was in no particular order)

Who's the homer, that list looks full of legit HOFers

[Somebody]

1. Jayson Tatum
2. Jaylen Brown
3. Kyrie Irving
4. Marcus Smart
5. Lakers pick
  full homer mode baby (that list was in no particular order)

Who's the homer, that list looks full of legit HOFers

Eyyyyy TP fam.

[moiso]

So building for the next 10 years around 1 guy that is 26 and under?

For one thing, John Wall is 27, so that clears that dilemma up for you. But I’m definitely taking Embiid over Kyrie, as well as the other 4 you mentioned.

Crazy to take a guy who doesn't play if you have a choice.  As amazing as he is, how many games has Embiid helped Philly win?  Can't be many, he's only played in 31 games in 3 years.

[johnnygreen]

1. Kawhi Leonard - Arguably the best player in the league.
2. Kyrie Irving - an elite player, who plays arguably the most important position in basketball today. Would have been #3 before the trade, but any Celtics player gets preferential treatment from me.
3. Anthony Davis - I know I'll get killed for putting him at #3, but something seems off. I mentioned this in another thread, but how can arguably a top 5 player in the league only take his team to the playoffs once in five years? I'm not asking him to win the title, but to just make the playoffs.
4. Karl-Anthony Towns - All around awesome skill set.
5. Kristaps Porzingas -  the next generation big man.

Joel Embiid - has only played in 31 games in three years. Thanks for coming.
Giannis Antetokounmpo - I know he puts up great numbers, but I don't know if you can build an offense around him. He seems more like a player who thrives with getting garbage baskets. As a Celtics fan, I never thought, how are we going to stop the Greek Freak and win this game.

I had to edit my initial list, as I thought the list was for players 25 and under, so I left off Kawhi.

[Donoghus]

Kawhi
AD
Giannis
Towns
Kyrie

[Moranis]

Not sure why we need to pick an arbitrary age limit.  For example, I'd take 27 year old Klay Thompson over Kyrie Irving and be just fine even if Thompson started his fall a bit earlier than Irving.  Same thing with Cousins who just turned 27 a couple of weeks ago. 

I'd consider a player like Wiggins who isn't as good now, but has performed at a better rate than Irving did at similar career points.  If I thought Gobert had an offensive jump in him, I'd take him in a second over Irving (again if I thought he had the offensive potential, which I just don't follow the Jazz enough to know if he does). 

If I was watching a guy like Simmons every day in practice, I wouldn't hesitate to take him if he showed 1st ballot HOF type talent.  Same thing with Embiid if I really knew of his health condition.

[green_bballers13]

Not sure why we need to pick an arbitrary age limit.  For example, I'd take 27 year old Klay Thompson over Kyrie Irving and be just fine even if Thompson started his fall a bit earlier than Irving.  Same thing with Cousins who just turned 27 a couple of weeks ago. 

I'd consider a player like Wiggins who isn't as good now, but has performed at a better rate than Irving did at similar career points.  If I thought Gobert had an offensive jump in him, I'd take him in a second over Irving (again if I thought he had the offensive potential, which I just don't follow the Jazz enough to know if he does). 

If I was watching a guy like Simmons every day in practice, I wouldn't hesitate to take him if he showed 1st ballot HOF type talent.  Same thing with Embiid if I really knew of his health condition.

So effectively, you would take young guys that haven't proven they can stay healthy, let alone win basketball games, over guys that have proven to win basketball games?

Kawhi
AD
Giannis
Kyrie
Wall
KAT
Porzingis

[green_bballers13]

1. Kawhi Leonard - Arguably the best player in the league.
2. Kyrie Irving - an elite player, who plays arguably the most important position in basketball today. Would have been #3 before the trade, but any Celtics player gets preferential treatment from me.
3. Anthony Davis - I know I'll get killed for putting him at #3, but something seems off. I mentioned this in another thread, but how can arguably a top 5 player in the league only take his team to the playoffs once in five years? I'm not asking him to win the title, but to just make the playoffs.
4. Karl-Anthony Towns - All around awesome skill set.
5. Kristaps Porzingas -  the next generation big man.

Joel Embiid - has only played in 31 games in three years. Thanks for coming.
Giannis Antetokounmpo - I know he puts up great numbers, but I don't know if you can build an offense around him. He seems more like a player who thrives with getting garbage baskets. As a Celtics fan, I never thought, how are we going to stop the Greek Freak and win this game.

I had to edit my initial list, as I thought the list was for players 25 and under, so I left off Kawhi.

Completely agree about AD (and maybe even KAT)- how many times have transcendent talents like Lebron, KD, Westbrook, Curry, etc etc missed the playoffs? Now, I understand that many of the top players in the league have had other good players on their teams, but come on man. The Pelicans have been terrible with AD around!

[Moranis]

Not sure why we need to pick an arbitrary age limit.  For example, I'd take 27 year old Klay Thompson over Kyrie Irving and be just fine even if Thompson started his fall a bit earlier than Irving.  Same thing with Cousins who just turned 27 a couple of weeks ago. 

I'd consider a player like Wiggins who isn't as good now, but has performed at a better rate than Irving did at similar career points.  If I thought Gobert had an offensive jump in him, I'd take him in a second over Irving (again if I thought he had the offensive potential, which I just don't follow the Jazz enough to know if he does). 

If I was watching a guy like Simmons every day in practice, I wouldn't hesitate to take him if he showed 1st ballot HOF type talent.  Same thing with Embiid if I really knew of his health condition.

So effectively, you would take young guys that haven't proven they can stay healthy, let alone win basketball games, over guys that have proven to win basketball games?

Kawhi
AD
Giannis
Kyrie
Wall
KAT
Porzingis

It seemed pretty obvious that Kawhi, Giannis, AD, and KAT were everyone's top 4.  That didn't need discussion.  I was talking about players I'd take over Irving at 5, which I thought was fairly obvious if you actually read what I wrote (you know with me constantly mentioning Irving).  Jokic was mentioned so I didn't see the need to bring him up again, though I'd probably take Jokic over Irving.

I don't like Porzingis all that much.  I don't foresee a long super productive career from him.  I'd definitely take Irving over the Zinger.