Power Rankings: Where Immanuel Quickley lands among NBA’s Top 30 point guards

Tier 4: All-Star Candidates

16. James Harden, LA Clippers

Does anyone but the LA Clippers want James Harden suiting up for playoff games? Absolutely not. Yet he is still a high-impact player who drives good offense, a special passer and efficient shooter who is growing in his ability to play off of others. His style of basketball should age fairly well and his numbers are good enough for an obligatory tip of the cap when considering All-Stars.

15. Trae Young, Atlanta Hawks

The dichotomy between Trae Young's offense and his defense is as stark as anyone in the league, but last season his offense struggled as well and he and Dejounte Murray continued not to gel as a pairing. The Hawks played their best basketball when one or the other was injured and out of the lineup, which does speak to their lack of scaleability with one another but also suggests they may each play better broken up now.

Young remains an explosive shooter and incredible passer, and his floater is one of the best in the league. His confidence shooting from well outside the 3-point line stretches defenses and opens up those passing lanes. His best season was three years ago, and he needs to prove he is still a star-caliber player; he'll have a chance to do that this year.

14. Dejounte Murray, New Orleans Pelicans

Dejounte Murray is not the shooter and passer that Young is, but he is a better defender, rebounder and finisher at the basket. He has also improved as a shooter, making him a more well-rounded player and, theoretically, one better able to fit into a winning team. It's a crowded collection of offensive stars in New Orleans, and how he can fit alongside those teammates will be crucial, and point to whether the problem was mostly Young or mostly Murray in Atlanta.

13. LaMelo Ball, Charlotte Hornets

LaMelo Ball has suffered through two injury-riddle seasons since being one of the youngest All-Stars in league history as a sophomore. Ball played a total of 58 games combined in two seasons, but when he was available he showed flashes of the unique talent that he is. At 6'7" he has unique size at the position, and his combination of scoring, passing, shooting and rebounding should be prolific. He needs to stay healthy and prove himself on some level defensively, and another bad season could see him tumble down the list, but he gets the benefit of the doubt here as a player who just turned 23.