NBA Power Rankings: Impact youngsters edition

Harrison Barnes: Barnes returned after being out for 16 games with an ankle injury. His value doesn’t look all that great given how awesome the Warriors have been in his absence, but make no mistake, “The Black Falcon” is everything you could ask for in a modern NBA wing and he’s only getting better.

The Spurs don’t boast any player falling under our particular criteria, but that’s okay, I’ve heard these guys Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili, Tony Parker, LaMarcus Aldridge and Kawhi Leonard are alright.

Kyrie Irving: He’s turning 24 in March, so he technically still counts under the parameters. There are some who believe if he was able to play in last season’s Finals the Cavs would’ve beat the Warriors. So, in other words, he’s really good.

Steven Adams: Sure, he isn’t a prolific scorer and isn’t a super athlete, but the Thunder don’t need that from him. Instead, he’s a rock solid defender that can run the floor, will crash the glass and has a penchant for getting under the skin of opposing players. No wonder some compare him to the great Bill Laimbeer.

Austin Rivers: He showed in the playoffs that he does indeed rise to the occasion and he’s had a few high-scoring games, so big breakout potential is all there. For the Clippers’ sake, let’s hope he finds a way to consistently get all that together.

Bobby Portis: Last year’s SEC player of the year, Portis has fit like a glove for the Bulls and is pushing the likes of Taj Gibson and Nikola Mirotic on Chicago’s loaded front line for more playing time. He deserves it.

Tyler Johnson: A lesser-known player but that doesn’t diminish his importance as a real table-setter for a much-maligned Miami bench. The Heat’s starting five is fabulous, but they still won’t go far without production from the second unit and Johnson’s a key part of it. He isn’t one to be forgotten.

Dennis Schroder: He appears to be in coach Mike Budenholzer’s doghouse with a couple DNP-CD’s in the Hawks’ last two games, but he’s a very talented young point guard who does eclipse the likes of Shelvin Mack and could give Jeff Teague a run for his money as the team’s starter sooner than later.

Bismack Biyombo: Despite this being Biyombo’s fifth NBA season he’s still quite young and the fruits of his labour are now beginning to show. The Hornets cast him away too soon as the Raptors have found themselves a real diamond in the rough just beginning to show polish as a monstrous defender, rebounder and even finisher around the rim.

Myles Turner: Missing 22 games earlier this season with a thumb injury, the Pacers’ first-round pick has a long ways to go still, but since his return he’s shown flashes of real innate shot-blocking ability that could serve the Pacers well later on in the season and in case Jordan Hill or Ian Mahinmi must miss a few games.

Marcus Smart: So he hasn’t exactly taken the big leap forward that many thought he would in his second NBA season, but that doesn’t mean that Smart hasn’t made an impact. Defensively sound and a fierce competitor, he, along with Avery Bradley, have given the Celtics’ second unit a real tough identity.

Can we just pretend Toronto native Dwight Powell is 23?

Andre Drummond: He leads the league in rebounding and double-double games this season and he’s only 22. He represents both the Pistons’ present and future. Simply put, he’s an incredible talent.

Every significant player sans Nikola Vucevic: Seriously, take a look at their roster: Aaron Gordon (20), Mario Hezonja (20), Elfrid Payton (21), Evan Fournier (23), Tobias Harris (23), Victor Oladipo (23). This team is threatening to make the playoffs way ahead of schedule and it’s because these kids are a lot more than alright.

This is how you know the Grizzlies’ window is rapidly closing. They only have two players under the age of 23 and they’ve played a total of 23 minutes this season combined.

Clint Capela: Dwight Howard remains a dominant force in the NBA, when he’s able to play. It’s unfortunate, but Howard will always require rest in the middle of the season in order to keep him fresh enough for the playoffs. Thankfully for the Rockets, Swiss youngster Capela has stepped in as a raw shot-blocking, alley-ooping, rebounding replacement for Howard very admirably, and is the team’s future at the centre position.

Bradley Beal: Out for the last 12 games with a leg injury, Beal was in the midst of a strong season that had him averaging 19.8 points per game. He’s a deadeye shooter with great athleticism and size for his position. There’s a reason why many compare him to Ray Allen.

Cody Zeller: This should be Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, but a shoulder injury has kept him out all season and he’s unlikely to return until maybe the playoffs. Therefore, Zeller kind of gets this by default. Is he a future all-star? Probably not, but that shouldn’t take away from the solid job he’s doing for a Charlotte team that could make the post-season.

Kristaps Porzingis: Was there any doubt? New York’s new king is not only helping the Knicks by being a damn good basketball player, he’s also taking pressure off Carmelo Anthony and the other Knicks players by making headlines across the five boroughs almost every night.

The jury’s still out on Willie Trill Cauley-Stein, but when it comes to Ben McLemore I think it’s safe to say he definitely isn’t the player the Kings thought they were getting when they drafted him seventh overall in 2013.

Rudy Gobert: There’s optimism that the “Stifle Tower” could return this season, but knee injuries are finicky, so there’s no point in holding your breath until that happens. Still, he’s the Jazz’s most impactful youngster solely because he has true superstar potential, able to affect games on both ends at a very high level. Get better Rudy.

Anthony Davis: He’s only 22…

C.J. McCollum: We’re cheating here as he’s turned 24 in September, but making room for this exception is worth it. Playing in his third season, McCollum is absolutely tearing up the league right now, averaging 21.1 points per game on 45 per cent shooting, and 40.6 per cent from deep. He’s a definite front-runner for most improved player and the combination of him and Damian Lillard has the Blazers’ future looking a lot more bright than anyone ever imagined coming into this season.

Giannis Antetokounmpo: The “Greek Freak” is enjoying the best season of what looks to be a very promising NBA career. He’s playing well, now the rest of the Bucks need to start holding up their ends of the bargain.

Andrew Wiggins and Karl-Anthony Towns: Wiggins was last season’s rookie of the year and Towns is a strong contender for this year’s award. Look out Western Conference, the Timberwolves are going to be really good pretty soon.

When you trade away basically all of your first-round picks for the sake of a delusional championship window you end up like the Nets with no young players worth mentioning.

Jordan Clarkson: Clarkson’s probably the Lakers’ best player at this point. This isn’t saying a whole lot, but he is a genuine talent and seeing how he’s only making $845,000 this season and his contract is up, the young man’s primed to get paid big time.

So Robert Sarver believes “millennial culture” is to blame for youngster Devin Booker’s struggles? I guess this must be true seeing how stable a situation it is in Phoenix and all.

Emmanuel Mudiay: Mudiay hasn’t been overly impressive this season, but he also hasn’t been bad, either. The Nuggets need a lot if they’re ever going to climb back up to respectability, and having a 19-year-old rookie point guard who doesn’t look completely overmatched out there certainly isn’t the worst way to get started.

Jahlil Okafor: His talent is undeniable and he’s putting up the kind of production many predicted he would, so that’s a definite bright spot. Now, with Elton Brand coming to Philly, maybe he’ll also start to grow up a little bit and learn how to conduct himself better as a professional.