ESPN ranks Golden State Warriors’ Draymond Green a top 40 player

It’s almost the end of the offseason, and as usual, ESPN is releasing their top 100 NBA players. Andrew Wiggins came in at No. 77. He was the only Warriors player to be ranked between 51-100.

Now, Draymond Green has been listed, coming in as a top 50 player. Green was ranked No. 37, which, although his impact may be that of a top-20 player, seems like a reasonable ranking for the three-time All-Star forward.

The Golden State Warriors, who will have four players in the top 100, now know where ESPN has ranked versatile forward Draymond Green.

For Green, he was ranked above Pascal Siakam, who was No. 38, and below Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who came in at No. 36. Here’s what ESPN, who did a paragraph on each player, said on Green.

"“Swing skill: Will his offense reappear? Green showed that he can still play at an extremely high level on the defensive end and is a playmaker for the Warriors offensively in helping set up the best ways for Curry to go off. The question is whether he will be able to consistently hit the open looks he’s being given by opposing defenses,” ESPN’s Nick Friedell wrote."

Green’s ranking is justified. While he’s one of the best all-around players in the NBA, others with a much-higher offensive ceiling will undoubtedly come before him. His impact on the game is what got him this high.

With his odd shooting issues these past few seasons, Green’s scoring has slipped. He averaged just seven points per game, the lowest amount since his second season in the NBA.

His assists and rebounds were still there, averaging 8.9 and 7.1 per game respectively. While his scoring dipped, his playmaking remained solid. A former Defensive Player of the Year, Green also makes his presence felt on that end of the court.

Overall, the three-time NBA Champion has become a staple of this Warriors franchise, and he’s one of the reasons they’ve been so dominant. However, once an All-Star-caliber player, Green’s scoring slump, which has gone on for a couple of years, has hurt his overall standing in the league.

Teams are leaving the veteran wide open from deep. He’s shot under 28 percent from deep for two consecutive seasons. That’s where Green can improve his game, and even without a capable three-point shot, he’s clearly still a top-40 player.

Green is the second Warriors’ player ranked as Wiggins came in at No. 77. Klay Thompson’s rank was also released, coming in at No. 32. Stephen Curry has yet to be ranked but should undoubtedly be ranked in the top ten.