Point Guard Rankings for 2022-23

[Lipoli390]

The Hoopshype writers came up with their list of the top 25 NBA PGs for the 2022-23 season. They ranked our own DLO #23 on the list. They ranked Luka Doncic #1. Here's their ranking:

1. Luka
2. Steph Curry
3. Ja Morant
4. Trae Young
5. Damian Lillard
6. Chris Paul
7. James Harden
8. Kyrie Irving
9. SGA
10. Jrue Holiday
11. LaMello Ball
12. Darius Garland
13. VanVleet
14. Cade Cunningham
15. Tyrese Haliburton
16. Ben Simmons
17. Jamal Murray
18. De'Aaron Fox
19. Jalen Brunson
20. Marcus Smart
21. Lonzo Ball
22. Russell Westbrook
23. D'Angelo Russell
24. Josh Giddy
25. Kyle Lowry

Hard to quibble too much with this list, although my list would be a bit different. The one thing I don't like about the list is including both Josh Giddy and SGA. They both play for the same team and in my view that means they shouldn't both be considered PGs. I also think its' too speculative to rank Haliburton and Cunningham ahead of players like Jamal Murray, and Marcus Smart, even though I think they'll definitely prove to be as good or better. I wouldn't put Westbrook ahead of DLO and I also think the question marks surrounding Simmons right now should have him ranked below DLO as well. I don't see Lowry as a top 25 PG anymore.

Here's a question. If you could trade DLO straight up for anyone on this list, who would you NOT want to trade for? Note that my question doesn't necessarily track how you'd rank DLO as a PG relative to the others right now. When considering trades there are issues of fit, attitude, durability and upside/potential.

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

It's a fair list for the most part, but I'd argue that D'Angelo Russell could be ranked as high as 14th for one reason or another over the following:

8. Kyrie Irving
14. Cade Cunningham
16. Ben Simmons
17. Jamal Murray
18. De'Aaron Fox
19. Jalen Brunson
20. Marcus Smart
21. Lonzo Ball
22. Russell Westbrook

I'd also acknowledge that while Kyrie Irving is a better basketball player than Russell, I wouldn't trade Russell for him straight up due to the inconsistency that surrounds him. He's an all-time talent, but I'm not sure how much he loves basketball anymore and that's a huge red flag for me.

I'm excited for D-Lo's resurgence this season now that he has a complimentary big in the pick-and-roll. Karl-Anthony Towns is highly-efficient in that action, but it's not his preferred play after setting a ball screen as he'd rather pop to the perimeter. I really think adding Rudy Gobert to the mix opens up D-Lo's game significantly both as a scorer and as a facilitator due to the pressure he puts on the rim and the space he'll create for his ball-handler. I'd expect Russell to be closer to Darius Garland and Fred VanVleet on future lists than Kyle Lowry and Russell Westbrook.

[Lipoli390]

It's a fair list for the most part, but I'd argue that D'Angelo Russell could be ranked as high as 14th for one reason or another over the following:

8. Kyrie Irving
14. Cade Cunningham
16. Ben Simmons
17. Jamal Murray
18. De'Aaron Fox
19. Jalen Brunson
20. Marcus Smart
21. Lonzo Ball
22. Russell Westbrook

I'd also acknowledge that while Kyrie Irving is a better basketball player than Russell, I wouldn't trade Russell for him straight up due to the inconsistency that surrounds him. He's an all-time talent, but I'm not sure how much he loves basketball anymore and that's a huge red flag for me.

I'm excited for D-Lo's resurgence this season now that he has a complimentary big in the pick-and-roll. Karl-Anthony Towns is highly-efficient in that action, but it's not his preferred play after setting a ball screen as he'd rather pop to the perimeter. I really think adding Rudy Gobert to the mix opens up D-Lo's game significantly both as a scorer and as a facilitator due to the pressure he puts on the rim and the space he'll create for his ball-handler. I'd expect Russell to be closer to Darius Garland and Fred VanVleet on future lists than Kyle Lowry and Russell Westbrook.

I agree, Cam. Actually, there isn't anyone on our roster I'd trade for Kyrie Irving. He's a great player, but you simply can't trust him to be there for you. I think you're right that by the end of next season, DLO will be ranked close to Garland and VanVleet, Lowry and Westbrook. If he stays healthy, I see DLO having a career year. The stars are aligned perfectly for him: (1) his age, i.e., just entering his prime at age 26; (2) continuity, i.e., a full year playing with most of the current rotation players, especially KAT and Edwards; (3) a high-quality head coach, i.e., another full season under Finch, a really good head coach who knows how to use him; and (4) the addition of Gobert, which should unlock and amplify DLO's best skill (running pick & roll) while also adding a layer of added excitement and inspiration.

I've never been a DLO fan, but I'm excited by what I think we might see from him next season. He'll need to adapt. That is, he needs to shoot less, pass more and more the ball more quickly than he typically has in the past. At his best next season, he'll average 15 points and 10 assists with a lot of additional hockey assists.

[Monster]

These listed are so subjective I typically try not to get too caught up in them.

A couple thoughts:

Not sure why Lebron wasn't on this list if Harden, Luka, Cunningham and both OKC guys are.

I don't think Morant is the 3rd best PG in the league. My not sure who I would place Ober him partly because some guys haven't been healthy but I'm just gonna leave it as I don't think he is quite that high. It also depends on the rest of your team.

Where is Dejounte Murray?

If I was gonna make a title run for 1 season maybe I would do a Lowry for Russell deal.

Not sure if I would do a Kyrie for Russell deal or not. Kyrie is more talented but...I really don't know if he will be healthy and I have other questions about him.

I for sure wouldn't do a Russell for Westbrook deal I don't see what Westbrook would add and I believe Westbrook has more game left than some people.

Edit: Also why isn't our future 2-way guy Sharife Cooper on this list?!? :)

[Q-is-here]

I'd put DLO in that group of guys that Cam called out if we were to create tiers, but from a team fit perspective, there are some of those guys I'd prefer over DLO and others I would not.

[Coolbreeze44]

I'd trade DLO for everybody except Lowry. Big surprise, I know.

[Lipoli390]

I'd put DLO in that group of guys that Cam called out if we were to create tiers, but from a team fit perspective, there are some of those guys I'd prefer over DLO and others I would not.

I agree there are better PG fits for the Wolves. As you know, Lonzo Ball has always been high on my list for the perfect PG fit on the Wolves.

[Lipoli390]

I'd trade DLO for everybody except Lowry. Big surprise, I know.

I'm excited about what we might get from DLO next season. However, I only mentioned who I wouldn't trade DLO for, namely Kyrie. I wouldn't trade him for Lowry or Westbrook. I might trade him for Simmons, but it would depend on knowing more about Ben's back and state of mind. Otherwise, I'd trade him for anyone else on that list.

[D-Mac [enjin:19736340]]

It's a fair list for the most part, but I'd argue that D'Angelo Russell could be ranked as high as 14th for one reason or another over the following:

8. Kyrie Irving
14. Cade Cunningham
16. Ben Simmons
17. Jamal Murray
18. De'Aaron Fox
19. Jalen Brunson
20. Marcus Smart
21. Lonzo Ball
22. Russell Westbrook

I'd also acknowledge that while Kyrie Irving is a better basketball player than Russell, I wouldn't trade Russell for him straight up due to the inconsistency that surrounds him. He's an all-time talent, but I'm not sure how much he loves basketball anymore and that's a huge red flag for me.

I'm excited for D-Lo's resurgence this season now that he has a complimentary big in the pick-and-roll. Karl-Anthony Towns is highly-efficient in that action, but it's not his preferred play after setting a ball screen as he'd rather pop to the perimeter. I really think adding Rudy Gobert to the mix opens up D-Lo's game significantly both as a scorer and as a facilitator due to the pressure he puts on the rim and the space he'll create for his ball-handler. I'd expect Russell to be closer to Darius Garland and Fred VanVleet on future lists than Kyle Lowry and Russell Westbrook.

Is there a story behind why you named him Dangelo? :)

[FNG]

I'd trade DLO for everybody except Lowry. Big surprise, I know.

I'm excited about what we might get from DLO next season. However, I only mentioned who I wouldn't trade DLO for, namely Kyrie. I wouldn't trade him for Lowry or Westbrook. I might trade him for Simmons, but it would depend on knowing more about Ben's back and state of mind. Otherwise, I'd trade him for anyone else on that list.

I agree on Lowry and Westbrook, but I wouldn't hesitate one second to trade him for either Irving or Simmons. I would not trade Russell for Giddey.

This list unfortunately shows why TC was not able to move DLo this summer. It was widely rumored that finding a deal for Russell was a high priority this off-season, but I think TC might have been disappointed to learn how low he was valued around the league. While many of us here appreciate some forward progress DLo made last season and value the contributions he made to a successful season, he is ranked behind every top 25 PG except Josh "can't shoot" Giddey and Kyle "Rocking Chair" Lowry. By the way, even though I would not trade a 26 year old DLo for a 36 year old Lowry, I would rank Lowry ahead of DLo based on his superior season last year.

Despite DLo's low ranking around the association, I continue to be excited about the Wolves' prospects this year. "Good DLo" could be a nice supporting piece to a 55-win season, and I trust Finchie to replace him with J-Mac whenever "Bad DLo" makes an appearance.