Ranking teams’ 25-and-under players

Many Pistons fans take comfort in looking a few years into the future, when Detroit’s bad contracts come off the books and its young players have developed. But that type of analysis ignores that other teams have young players too. Where do the Pistons youngsters rank? Ryan Pravato attempts to determine that by answering a simple question.

-Dan

If you had to start an NBA team comprised of just the players on the roster 25 years old and younger (by November 2011), whom would you choose?

No. 1 Oklahoma City Thunder

Kevin Durant
Russell Westbrook
Serge Ibaka
James Harden
Eric Maynor
Daequan Cook
Cole Aldrich
Byron Mullens
Reggie Jackson (rookie)

The Thunder lead because of what these players have already become. Even if Durant and Russell don’t improve a lick from here on out, they’re still premier players. Plus, Harden and Ibaka are already two very dangerous role players. So, knowing full well that these four will continue to improve, there’s no other unit close to having as lethal of a foundation in place with so much obscene potential unfulfilled.

And Aldrich is by no means a lost cause yet.

No. 2 Los Angeles Clippers

Blake Griffin
Eric Gordon
Eric Bledsoe
DeAndre Jordan
Al-Farouq Aminu
Willie Warren
Trey Thompkins (rookie)
Travis Leslie (rookie)

Bledsoe is a tough, flashy, athletic point guard, but he must improve his perimeter game. If he does, he’ll join Griffin and Gordon as eventual top-5 players at their positions. Aminu is the question mark. I think it’ll be feast or famine with him, and this group will heavily depend on him if Jordan fails to develop offensively.

Leslie, a phenomenal athlete and capable shooter, was a sneaky late-round pick.

No. 3 Utah Jazz

Derrick Favors
C.J. Miles
Gordon Hayward
Kyrylo Fesenko
Jeremy Evans
Enes Kanter (rookie)
Alec Burks (rookie)

The Jazz possess a ridiculous amount of upside, but the problem with the ridiculousness is that the upside will really never live up to its tease on paper. However, there are, at worst, a lot of future high-quality starters in this group, that will allow a perennial playoff team to form. But are there any eventual superstars here? Not likely. Maybe not the sexiest team, but these players certainly each bring a little something different to the table that help the Jazz become a consistent winner.

And watching Jeremy Evans do things like this is really entertaining.

No. 4 Minnesota Timberwolves

Kevin Love
Michael Beasley
Wesley Johnson
Martell Webster
Wayne Ellington
Anthony Randolph
Lazar Hayward
Nikola Pekovic
Derrick Williams (rookie)
Malcolm Lee (rookie)
Ricky Rubio (rookie)

Williams and Rubio really make this group tantalizing, but are we really confident Williams avoids falling into the Beasley category of mediocrity? Are we even confident Rubio will suit up? What do we make of Johnson’s lackluster rookie campaign or the pulse that showed in Randolph late last season?

In all this uncertainty, Love is a fine piece to have in your back pocket, but if Williams and Rubio pan out … watch out.

No. 5 Sacramento Kings

Tyreke Evans
DeMarcus Cousins
J.J. Hickson
Jason Thompson
Marcus Thornton
Donte Green,
Darnell Jackson
Hassan Whiteside
Jimmer Fredette (rookie)
Tyler Honeycutt (rookie)
Isaiah Thomas (rookie)

Who will do the dirty work on this unit? Can Evans stay healthy? Will Cousins stay on the floor? Can Hickson be consistently consistent? With Jimmer’s shot-making ability, it’s tough to imagine him not achieving at least a mid-teens scoring average for his career, but can he stay in front of anybody?

This group is obviously talented, but maybe not the right blend of demeanors and styles.

No. 6 Washington Wizards

John Wall
Jordan Crawford
Javale McGee
Andray Blatche
Yi
Trevor Booker
Kevin Seraphin
Jan Vesely (rookie)
Chris Singleton (rookie)
Shelvin Mack (rookie)

Wall, Crawford and McGee have proven themselves to be genuine NBA talents still with great potential. Vesely was a high-risk, high-reward selection, and the likelihood is slim that fellow rookies Shelvin Mack and Chris Singleton develop into starting caliber players. Talented enigma Andray Blatche is still 25 years old, so keep him in mind, too.

Really, we all know that this is a Wall production through and through. I’d buy a ticket.

No. 7 Orlando Magic

Dwight Howard
Ryan Anderson
Earl Clark
Justin Harper (rookie)
DeAndre Liggins (rookie)

To have one of the very few dominant centers in the league is reason enough to choose this group. Even scarier is just how demonstrably more he can improve offensively.

No. 8 Philadelphia 76ers

Jrue Holiday
Evan Turner
Thaddeus Young
Louis Williams
Spencer Hawes
Jodie Meeks
Marreese Speights
Craig Brackins
Nikola Vucevic (rookie)
Lavoy Allen (rookie)

We don’t really know how good Holiday and Turner will be (noticing a pattern?), but one heck of a versatile back court is a legitimate possibility. And that chance is too good to pass up. A Speights-Vucevic frontcourt works, as both are talented offensively. Young and Williams aren’t shabby support players, either.

No. 9 Detroit Pistons

Monroe’s flurry late last season really boosts this group’s value. Knight has All-Star talent and the work ethic to get there. He very well could be the best point guard in the 2011 draft, and that’s saying a lot, because Irving has franchise player written all over him. Will Stuckey flourish as the off guard now given the chance? Despite Daye’s shortcomings athletically and physically, you can’t give up on a near 7-footer with such smooth a stroke.

No. 10 Atlanta Hawks

Al Horford
Josh Smith
Jeff Teague
Marvin Williams
Keith Benson (rookie)

An intriguing unit especially with the emergence of Teague (bet Atlanta still wished they had Jordan Crawford, too). Both Horford and Smith are best at the four spot, which is a problem—a problem I wouldn’t mind having. And if you’re wondering: Williams is on this list because he just turned 25 in June and Smith won’t be 26 until December.

No. 11 Boston Celtics

Rajon Rondo
Jeff Green
Glen Davis
Avery Bradley
JaJuan Johnson (rookie)
E’Twaun Moore (rookie)

Let me know when Rondo warms up his jumper. It’s slowly improving but not good enough yet. Until then, he’s just a freak athlete with a high hoops IQ and uncanny creativity who largely benefited from playing with great players so far in his career.

Bradley is a nice scoring prospect, and Johnson definitely has the tools to be a dependable rotational NBA big. Otherwise, this group is a bit weak on upside, but not poor by any stretch.

No. 12 Chicago Bulls

Derrick Rose
Omer Asik
Nikola Mirotic (rookie)
Jimmy Butler (rookie)

I know the desire for a flashy, yet humble superstar guard is high, but do you sacrifice a deeper, younger unit for that one superstar on an island?

No. 13 Indiana Pacers

Darren Collison
Roy Hibbert
George Hill
Paul George
Josh McRoberts
A.J. Price
Lance Stephenson

This group’s depth matched with their versatility makes them dangerous, but maybe never dominant. Although, it’s very tough to tell yet whether Hibbert has already hit his ceiling or Collison will become that 35-minute-per-night guy. George has tools to be an impact player, maybe even an All-Star.

Stephenson may be the cherry on top of all this. Unfortunately, he’s a few cards short of a full deck.

No. 14 Memphis Grizzlies

Rudy Gay
Mike Conley
Darrell Arthur
O.J. Mayo
Greivis Vasquez
Xavier Henry
Ishmael Smith
Josh Selby (rookie)

Conley showed he’s more than an adequate point guard with pieces around him. Arthur looks like a dangerous sixth man at the very least. I’m very curious to see what the ceiling could be for Vasquez.

Henry oozes potential with his shooting ability, athleticism and defensive mentality. He’ll definitely be an impact player next to Conley and Gay in a few years.

No. 15 Denver Nuggets

Danilo Gallinari
Ty Lawson
Wilson Chandler
Timofey Mozgov
Kosta Koufus
Kenneth Faried (rookie)
Jordan Hamilton (rookie)
Chukwudiebere Maduabum (rookie)

Gallinari and Lawson are exciting, talented players, but certainly not All-Star caliber. So what? Jason Terry and Tyson Chandler never made an All-Star team.

As for the intriguing rookies, Faried will surely have ample opportunities to clean up many of the misses by the extremely talented, but chuck-happy, Hamilton.

No. 16 Los Angeles Lakers

Andrew Bynum
Shannon Brown
Devin Ebanks
Derrick Caracter
Darius Morris (rookie)
Andrew Goudelock (rookie)
Ater Majok (rookie)

Bynum’s track record of injuries incredibly sours this group that otherwise includes intriguing, yet flawed, projects. Morris will be well worth the wait, as he’s about as natural of a point guard as you will see at age 20.

No. 17 Toronto Raptors

DeMar DeRozan
Jerryd Bayless
Ed Davis
Amir Johnson
Sonny Weems
James Johnson
Alexis Ajinca
Julian Wright
Jonas Valanciunas (rookie)

DeRozan and Bayless have done enough to make me think they will pan out as nice starting-caliber players. The upside of Davis and Valancuinas is monstrous.

Then you have Julian Wright.

No. 18 Golden State Warriors

Stephen Curry
Dorell Wright
Ekpe Udoh
Reggie Williams
Andris Biedrins
Jeremy Lin
Klay Thompson (rookie)
Jeremy Tyler (rookie)
Charles Jenkins (rookie)

Udoh might not develop into a starting center, but his jump shot and shot-blocking skills keep me believing. This group certainly has plenty of pure shooting, but it lacks playmaking ability sans Curry. Thompson might be just what the doctor ordered.

No. 19 Portland Trail Blazers

Wesley Matthews
Nicolas Batum
Greg Oden
Patty Mills
Armon Johnson
Elliot Williams
Luke Babbit
Nolan Smith (rookie)
Jon Diebler (rookie)
Tanguy Ngombo (rookie)

Safe and reliable, above-average players in Mathews and Batum here – though, I’m looking for Batum to make that next giant leap in this his fourth year. Nolan Smith is a rock-solid point guard. If Diebler could cover a cupboard, I’d feel much better about his chances at sticking.

No. 20 Cleveland Cavaliers

Ramon Sessions
Daniel Gibson
Omri Casspi
Manny Harris
Christian Eyenga
Luke Harangody
Samardo Samuels
Alonzo Gee
Semih Erden
Kyrie Irving (rookie)
Tristian Thompson (rookie)
Milan Macvan (rookie)

Irving has the skills to quickly become a facilitator and scoring point guard. Thompson needs to add a ton of polish offensively, but making some All-Star teams shouldn’t be too lofty of an expectation for a fourth pick, you know? Eyenga and Harris aren’t bad wing prospects, but probably not starting caliber.

No. 21 Charlotte Bobcats

D.J. Augustin
Tyrus Thomas
Gerald Henderson
Dante Cunningham
D.J. White
Bismack Biyombo (rookie)
Kemba Walker (rookie)

This group, obviously extremely dependent on the rookies, could be fantastic or utterly pedestrian. Walker will be at worst a decent NBA player, but really, how high is his ceiling? Will Biyombo be any good at all? (Deng Gai, anyone?) Also, after what seems like a decade in the league, Thomas can’t yet be labeled a bad or good basketball player.

No. 22 Houston Rockets

Kyle Lowry
Chase Budinger
Patrick Patterson
Goran Dragic
Jordan Hill
Jonny Flynn
Marcus Morris (rookie)
Donatas Motiejunas (rookie)
Chandler Parsons (rookie)

Lowry played starting-point guard minutes last season and performed like he belonged. Dragic and Budinger are sound backups, but nothing more.

Between Hill, Patterson and Morris, one of them is bound to develop into an above average big, right? I think it’s safe to assume it won’t be Hill, though.

No. 23 New York Knicks

Toney Douglas
Landry Fields
Shawne Williams
Bill Walker
Derrick Brown
Andy Rautins
Iman Shumpert (rookie)
Josh Harrellson (rookie)

Not an untalented bunch, but they lack versatility. Still waiting for the real Bill Walker to stand up. Shumpert’s the guy to watch here – a 6-foot-6 ball hawk with a Billups-like body and the potential to be a fine shooter.

No. 24 New Jersey Nets

Brook Lopez
Jordan Farmar
Damion James
Ben Uzoh
Brandan Wright
Johan Petro
MarShon Brooks (rookie)
Bojan Bogdanovic (rookie)
Jordan Williams (rookie)

A rather ragtag bunch sans Lopez, but both Brooks and Bogdanovic should become steady, dependable scorers. Ultimately, there’s not enough upside here.

No. 25 San Antonio Spurs

DeJuan Blair
James Anderson
Da’Sean Butler
Kawhi Leonard (rookie)
Cory Joseph (rookie)
Davis Bertans (rookie)
Adam Hanga (rookie)

The Spurs have nice upside with their draft selections and an under-the-radar pickup of Butler late last season. You just know a couple of these players will turn into solid pros.

No. 26 Milwaukee Bucks

Brandon Jennings
Ersan Ilyasova
Luc Mbah a Moute
Chris Douglas-Roberts
Jon Brockman
Larry Sanders
Tobias Harris (rookie)
Jon Leuer (rookie)

The opinions vary quite drastically on Jennings’ star status. Quite simply, he’s not an elite point guard, and I don’t think he has it in him to be one. Ilyasova, Mbah a Moute and Brockman are consummate role players — too bad these aren’t role-player rankings.

No. 27 Dallas Mavericks

Rodrigue Beaubois
Ian Mahinmi
Corey Brewer
Dominique James

The Frenchmen are impressive when they see the floor. Mahinmi may never develop into much more than a bit player, but those two jumpers of his in the Finals had to give him confidence. Beaubois will be a sniper for years to come.

No. 28 Miami Heat

Mario Chalmers
Dexter Pittman
Norris Cole (rookie)

Chalmers showed during last season’s playoffs that he’s a gamer ready to take on a larger role.

No. 29 Phoenix Suns

Robin Lopez
Gani Lawal
Garret Siler
Markieff Morris (rookie)

You’d think Lopez’s averages of 5.9 points per game and 3.3 rebounds in his first three seasons will increase significantly going forward. But that might depend your definition of significantly.

No. 30 New Orleans Hornets

Marco Belinelli
Quincy Pondexter
Jason Smith

This is the only ranking where I’m 100 percent certain.