By George Efkarpidis/ Gefkarpidis@eurohoops.net
Ranking players is never easy and there are many factors that are part of the equation. That’s true especially for rookies and for players who despite being many years in the league, they have changed teams and it’s pretty hard to predict how things will turn out for them.
With so many European stars being part of the NBA, it was really hard to figure who will make the cut, even if 30 seems like a big number. So an honorable mention goes to Cedi Osman and Ersan Ilyasova of Turkey, to injured Finn Lauri Markkanen, to Serb Nemanja Bjelica, to the Czech guard Thomas Satoransky and also to Georgian icon Zaza Pachulia.
Click here to see the first picks, from number 30 to number 21.
And now for the middle part of the list, players from number 20 to number 11.
20. Danilo Gallinari (LA Clippers / Italy)
Year of Birth: 1988
Height: 208cm (6-10)
Position: F
“Gallo” battled various injuries last season and failed to impress, participation in only 21 games last season.
Surely, with Deandre Jordan and Blake Griffin gone, Gallinari figures to be a focal point of a Clippers offense that lacks talent and players that can get their own shot.
With Tobias Harris as the go-to scorer, he and “Gallo” can form a strong 1-2 punch for the puzzling and rebuilding LA Clippers.
19. Nikola Mirotic (Pelicans / Spain)
Year of Birth: 1991
Height: 208cm (6-10)
Position: F
Last year, during a Bulls practice, a fight between Bobby Portis and Nikola Mirotic resulted in the Spaniard missing 23 games for Chicago.
Upon his return, Mirotic was in top form averaging 16.2 points per game while connecting on 42% of his three-pointers in 26 games with the Bulls.
After getting traded to the Pelicans, Mirotic posted 14.6 points and his role grew after DeMarcus Cousins’ unfortunate injury.
“Threekola” will likely start the season behind newly acquired Julius Randle in the depth chart but will have a strong chance to surpass him due to the former’s lack of perimeter shooting.
18. Enes Kanter (New York Knicks / Turkey)
Year of Birth: 1992
Height: 211cm (6-11)
Position: F/C
The New York Knicks may have had another losing season but Enes Kanter certainly wasn’t in fault. The Turkish center posted 39 double-double’s last season good for 10th in the league in that category.
He also enjoyed a career-high 59% field-goal percentage as well as a career-high 85% in free-throws to go along with 14.1 points and 11 rebounds.
With Kristaps Porzingis expected to miss a good chunk of the regular season, Enes Kanter will command a lot of attention on the offensive end.