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Power ranking the NBA’s top 10 shooting guards for 2019-20

By Austin Carroll

PHOENIX, AZ - JANUARY 24: CJ McCollum #3 of the Portland Trail Blazers and Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns look on during the game on January 24, 2019 at Talking Stick Resort Arena in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty Images)
PHOENIX, AZ - JANUARY 24: CJ McCollum #3 of the Portland Trail Blazers and Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns look on during the game on January 24, 2019 at Talking Stick Resort Arena in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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NBA - Portland Trail Blazers
NBA – Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Utah Jazz (Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr./Getty Images) /

23.8 PTS, 4.2 AST. 10. Scouting Report. 53.7 TS%. Donovan Mitchell. player. 118. Pick Analysis

Hold your horses, Utah fans. If anything, this rating should be seen as a compliment, rather than an insult. Even after a down year, Donovan Mitchell‘s floor is still clearly a top ten shooting guard in the league. However, when he’s at his best? You could make an argument he deserves to be in the top half of this list.

The one thing Mitchell seemed to be missing last year was a competent backcourt partner that can alleviate the burden on his shoulders on the offensive end. Utah found the answer to that equation in Mike Conley, a proven veteran who should have no problem integrating seamlessly next to Mitchell.

Well… at least that’s the game plan. It remains to be seen if that is actually what will happen. Over the course of his career, Conley has only had two consistent backcourt running mates — O.J. Mayo and Tony Allen. The former severely limiting Conley’s impact on the court, while the latter deferred to him on the offensive end. Similarly, Mitchell has never collaborated with a player like Conley.

It remains to be seen if this pairing can actually succeed in a mutually beneficial fashion on the court. Even if they can, it might be a rocky ride at first.

We’ve seen plenty of one-hit-wonder rookie guards before. That’s not to imply a player like Michael Carter-Williams is in any way comparable to Mitchell from a talent standpoint, but there is a non-zero chance he regresses and never again shines a light as bright as before. The eye-test and his advanced statistics both agree Mitchell has a lot to improve upon before solidifying himself in this conversation.