Rotation piece
These players are or can grow into important parts of the rotation, but are unlikely to ever play 30-plus minutes per game or be one of the five best players on a contending roster.
Jabari Walker
The 6’9 forward has played in all 28 games and is averaging 17.8 minutes each night in his second NBA season as a 21-year-old. It may be a bit unfair to keep him in this tier, but his offensive game needs work. He is a career 27.5 percent 3-point shooter and averages 7.3 points per game.
Jabari Walker has room to improve, but he is likely best suited for a reserve role on a contending team, even in his prime.
Matisse Thybulle
The 26-year-old is an elite defender but has never played more than 25.5 minutes per game for a full season. Thybulle got a three-year $33 million contract from the Mavericks in the offseason that Portland matched, but his playing time did not increase. The 6’5 wing plays a key role, but his limited offensive skill set prevents him from playing massive minutes.
Thybulle is shooting 39.3 percent from 3-point range this season, but he struggles to make plays and rebound. He has made two All-Defensive teams but must improve his offensive game to jump into the next tier. There has been little progress in his first five NBA seasons, which sticks him here.