After discussing the Top 27 point guards and shooting guards for the upcoming 2026-27 NBA season, today we’re going to move up the positional scale and take a look at the top small forwards in the NBA for next year.
A familiar face took the top spot on this list, but an up-and-coming major talent who happened to attend the same university is creeping up on him.
We had a rookie crack the Top 10 and a future Hall of Famer just barely crack the Top 5.
Below, check out the Top 27 small forwards for the 2026-27 season.
Just missed the cut: Keldon Johnson
27. DeMar DeRozan (Denver)
2025-26 stats: 18.4 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 4.1 apg, 1.0 spg, 49.7 FG%, 32.0 3PT%
2026-27 salary: $3,876,529 (302nd overall)
17-year NBA veteran DeMar DeRozan joined the Denver Nuggets this summer after two seasons
with the Sacramento Kings, replacing Peyton Watson, who left the team this offseason.
DeRozan is on the downturn in his career, which is perfectly understandable considering he’s 37 years old now, but he remains a great midrange scorer with the ability to hit all sorts of shots from that part of the floor. Now coming off the bench for a team with championship aspirations, DeRozan’s numbers are undoubtedly going to take a hit, as he had a far brighter green light in Sacramento than he’s projected to have on a strong Nuggets team.
It’ll be interesting to see how DeRozan does come playoff time, as the Compton native has taken part in just one postseason since 2018-19 and has never been known as much of a playoff performer. Will he step up his postseason impact playing alongside Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray and Co., now that he won’t have as much pressure on his own shoulders? It’s entirely possible, but we’ll have to wait and see.
Either way, he won’t be asked to do much on this team besides get some buckets off the bench against reserve defenders.
For the latest DeMar DeRozan news and rumors, click here.
26. Bennedict Mathurin (New Orleans)
2025-26 stats: 17.6 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 2.4 apg, 0.8 spg, 43.0 FG%, 31.5 3PT%
2026-27 salary: $8,000,000 (205th overall)
Another swingman on the move this summer, Bennedict Mathurin is now set to play for his third team in two seasons when he suits up for the New Orleans Pelicans in 2026-27.
Mathurin has ability as a slasher and pull-up midrange scorer, also possessing a crafty floater he uses in the short midrange when he gets closer to the basket. As such, he’s a very adept bucket-getter out of the pick-and-roll. Last season, the 24-year-old ranked in the NBA’s 84th percentile in scoring as a pick-and-roll ball-handler, producing 1.00 points per possession out of the play type, a higher mark than Austin Reaves (82nd percentile) and James Harden (80th percentile).
The young wing just needs to keep improving on his outside shooting (Mathurin is a career 33.6 three-point shooter) and his playmaking, as he too often just seeks out his own shot when he has the ball. In 2025-26, Mathurin averaged just 2.4 assists to 2.2 turnovers.
Regardless, Mathurin does have some potential, and his addition could prove worthwhile for New Orleans.
For the latest Bennedict Mathurin news and rumors, click here.
25. Lu Dort (Atlanta)
2025-26 stats: 8.3 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 1.2 apg, 0.9 spg, 38.5 FG%, 34.4 3PT%
2026-27 salary: $17,222,222 (109th overall)
After seven successful years in Oklahoma City, Lu Dort was traded to the Atlanta Hawks this offseason in a move designed to alleviate some of the Thunder’s cap stress.
Dort is one of the best defensive wings in the NBA today, one capable up or down the positional scale thanks to his strength, quickness and tenacity. In fact, according to Basketball-Reference, Dort logged more minutes at power forward last season than he did at shooting guard, despite him being just 6-foot-4, proving what a versatile weapon he is.
Dort isn’t much of a scorer, but he’s done well to develop his three-point shooting to the point of respectability. Over the past three seasons, the Canadian forward has hit 38.4 percent of his threes, so he will fit well on an up-and-coming Hawks team in 2026-27.
For the latest Lu Dort news and rumors, click here.
24. Andrew Wiggins (Miami)
2025-26 stats: 15.4 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 2.7 apg, 1.1 spg, 1.0 bpg, 47.5 FG%, 41.4 3PT%
2026-27 salary: $30,169,644 (61st overall)
One of the most underrated defensive wings in the NBA today, Andrew Wiggins may not have lived up to the hype of being a former No. 1 pick, but that he’s still a plus-starter 13 years into his career is very impressive in its own right.
Wiggins has fit in well in Miami since arriving in 2024-25, playing in a no-nonsense, unselfish, team-first style that meshes wonderfully with Heat culture. Wiggins can get buckets one-on-one, hit spot-up threes, slash to the basket and finish athletically, as well as be a threat in transition, all while playing very solid defense on the other end of the floor thanks to his lateral quickness.
The Canadian forward just enjoyed the best analytical season of his career, posting a career-best plus-1.2 BPM and 1.7 VORP, showing just how adept the Heat are at getting the absolute best out of their players.
It helped that Wiggins had the best three-point shooting season of his time in the NBA, knocking down an eyebrow-raising 41.4 percent of his threes. That skill will be crucially important for Miami next season as Wiggins shares the floor with the newly acquired Giannis Antetokounmpo, who will cause havoc down low and give Miami’s shooters, like Wiggins, wide-open looks.
For the latest Andrew Wiggins news and rumors, click here.
23. Peyton Watson (Cleveland)
2025-26 stats: 14.6 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 2.1 apg, 1.1 bpg, 49.1 FG%, 41.1 3PT%
2026-27 salary: $20,465,116 (91st overall)
The subject of a long free agency this summer that culminated in a trade to the Cleveland Cavaliers from the Nuggets, Watson parlayed his breakout 2025-26 season into a four-year, $88 million contract this offseason.
Most important for Watson going forward will be proving that his career-high 41.1 percent shooting from three last season wasn’t a fluke. That’s because prior to last year, Watson was shooting 32.8 percent from three for his career. If he reverts to that latter number, he can still make an impact defensively and with his slashing, but he may not be able to live up to his new deal.
Either way, Watson plays with great energy on both ends and possesses a 7-foot-plus wingspan, allowing him to pick pockets, jump passing lanes and defend the rim at a high level from the wing. He’s also an athletic finisher around the basket, a strong transition threat and can do some secondary scoring, so as a two-way role player, Watson is a plus during his time on the floor.
For the latest Peyton Watson news and rumors, click here.
22. Paul George (Boston)
2025-26 stats: 17.3 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 3.6 apg, 1.7 spg, 43.9 FG%, 39.2 3PT%
2026-27 salary: $54,126,380 (11th overall)
A one-time borderline superstar-level wing, Paul George has been affected by Father Time of late, mainly in his inability to stay healthy. Over the past two regular seasons, George has seen action in just 78 games combined, and over the past five seasons, the former Fresno State standout has appeared in just 58 percent of potential regular-season contests.
Even so, when he has been out there, George is still impactful on both ends of the floor. Just last season, George ranked 12th in the NBA in steals per game while shooting over 39 percent from three. And for those wondering if those numbers were empty or not, George made the Philadelphia 76ers 4.4 points per 100 possessions better during his time on the floor in 2025-26. George’s impact translated to the playoffs, too, as his swing rating actually improved to plus-6.5 points in the postseason, helping Philadelphia reach the second round of the playoffs.
George will head into the season with some pressure, as it’ll be his first campaign with the Boston Celtics, having to fill the huge shoes left behind by Jaylen Brown. George obviously won’t be expected to match the departed swingman’s level of output, but he will need to pick up a lot of slack playing for a Boston team that almost always has championship-or-bust expectations.
Can he live up to that? We’ll find out, but we do think he’s underrated by some, as he’s still got the ability to hit tough shots, finish around the basket and create havoc defensively.
For the latest Paul George news and rumors, click here.
21. Dyson Daniels (Atlanta)
2025-26 stats: 11.9 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 5.9 apg, 2.0 spg, 51.7 FG%, 18.8 3PT%
2026-27 salary: $25,000,000 (72nd overall)
Atlanta Hawks shooting guard Dyson Daniels is a defensive specialist through and through, albeit one who could do some scoring off of slashes and with a unique floater in the lane that goes in more often than not. Daniels followed up a 1st Team All-Defense campaign in 2024-25 with a 2nd Team All-Defense last season, while earning Defensive Player of the Year votes in both campaigns.
Daniels has averaged 2.5 steals over the past two seasons, an impressive mark that only begins to describe his defensive impact. Atlanta rankedTop 10 in defensive efficiency last year, and rankedsecond in the metric behind only the Thunder after the All-Star break, with Daniels’ point-of-attack defending playing a large part in that.
Of course, Daniels’ shooting remains a huge hindrance, as the Australian guard regressed mightily in 2025-26 with his outside marksmanship. Daniels shot 18.8 percent from three in the regular season and just 28.6 percent from three in the playoffs last year. In the modern NBA, being that poor of a shooter will, without a doubt, get exploited once the games matter, so the Hawks have to hope Daniels can get back to at least that mediocre tier of outside shooters this upcoming season.
For the latest Dyson Daniels news and rumors, click here.
20. Jimmy Butler (Golden State)
2025-26 stats: 20.0 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 4.9 apg, 1.4 spg, 51.9 FG%, 37.6 3PT%
2026-27 salary: $56,832,773 (10th overall)
After an offseason in which the Golden State Warriors franchise didn’t add any sort of firepower, a lot of pressure will lie on the shoulders of six-time All-Star Jimmy Butler, who could reportedly return anywhere from January to February of next year after suffering a torn ACL. That’s particularly troublesome considering Butler will be 37 by then, but if there’s anyone with the willpower to return from a major injury and remain a high-level player, despite being at an advanced age, it’s Butler.
If Butler does return in All-Star form, the Warriors’ outlook might not be so glib, as Golden State boasts an impressive 42-18 record (a 57-win pace extrapolated for a full regular season) with Butler and Stephen Curry in the lineup. Butler was still an elite player when he went down, with a plus-5.5 BPM, a mark that would rank seventh in the NBA (ahead of Tyrese Maxey, Anthony Edwards and Kevin Durant) if Butler had played enough games to be ranked.
When healthy, Butler remained an elite tough-shot-maker, a high-level, versatile defender and a winning player, as evidenced by his making Golden State 11.6 points per 100 possessions better during his time on the floor in 2025-26.
We’ll just have to wait and see if he can reach that same level post-ACL injury. Either way, that injury is the main reason we have Butler this low in this ranking. If he were headed into the campaign fully healthy, we're confident he'd be in the Top 10, if not a bit higher.
For the latest Jimmy Butler news and rumors, click here.
19. Dillon Brooks (Phoenix)
2025-26 stats: 20.2 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 1.8 apg, 1.0 spg, 43.5 FG%, 34.4 3PT%
2026-27 salary: $20,992,727 (88th overall)
Phoenix Suns agitator Dillon Brooks had arguably the best season of his career in 2025-26, averaging a career-high in points at 20.2 per game. He did so without needing to likewise post a career-high usage rate, although his 28.6 percent usage rate last season was the second-highest mark of his career, just trailing his 28.8 percent rate in 2021-22.
There’s a question as to how impactful Brooks’ production in 2025-26 actually was, however, as the Canadian swingman made the Suns 3.9 points per 100 possessions worse while he was in the game last season. His minus-2.3 BPM also ranked outside of the Top 145 players in the league in 2025-26.
Even so, Brooks has become a pretty solid off-the-dribble scorer from the midrange and can hit threes with his feet set or of the tougher variety, expanding his game in a noteworthy way in his age-30 campaign. Most importantly, his pest-like defending has the propensity to get under foes’ skin, making him a throwback instigator and an effective defender.
For the latest Dillon Brooks news and rumors, click here.
18. RJ Barrett (Toronto)
2025-26 stats: 19.3 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 3.3 apg, 0.7 spg, 49.1 FG%, 33.9 3PT%
2026-27 salary: $29,616,071 (65th overall)
Fellow Canadian swingman RJ Barrett has a similar problem to Brooks in that although his numbers are solidly impressive, his actual impact to winning remains highly questionable. Barrett’s plus-0.2 BPM ranked him merely 89th league-wide in 2025-26. On the other hand, the former Duke Blue Devil has posted a positive swing rating in each of the last three seasons, including a career-high plus-3.6 mark just this past season.
Barrett has the ability to score off the dribble from the midrange, as well as from three, at solid enough levels,s but where he runs into trouble is both in getting to the rim and finishing at an elite level from there. He also doesn’t draw enough fouls to be a star, and when he does get to the stripe, he’s pretty inaccurate from there, hitting just 68.6 of his 5.1 nightly free throws over the past three seasons.
Barrett makes up for it somewhat with his underrated rebounding and playmaking, but overall, he’s more in that solid starter tier and not all that close to the All-Star tier, making him a somewhat disappointing former No. 3 overall pick.
For the latest RJ Barrett news and rumors, click here.
17. Jaden McDaniels (Minnesota)
2025-26 stats: 14.8 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 2.7 apg, 1.1 spg, 51.5 FG%, 41.2 3PT%
2026-27 salary: $25,750,001 (72nd overall)
Two-way swingman Jaden McDaniels has improved his offensive game over recent seasons, coming off a 2025-26 campaign that saw him post career-high averages in points per game and assists per game. Now 25 years old, however, it’s unclear how much more of a ceiling McDaniels has to reach. Did he just peak, or will he be able to improve his offensive output further in his late 20s? Perhaps with Julius Randle now gone to Brooklyn and playing alongside a playmaker at the level of LaMelo Ball, McDaniels will be able to take another leap offensively in 2026-27.
Regardless, the Washington native has done well to improve his offensive game as much as he has already, and considering the level of impact he makes defensively on a nightly basis, even his mundane offensive production is enough to make him an important player for Minnesota.
McDaniels, standing 6-foot-9 with a reported 7-foot wingspan, has fantastic length and lateral quickness on the wing, making him a beastly point-of-attack defender, one who is fully capable of earning the second All-Defensive Team honor of his career this upcoming league year.
For the latest Jaden McDaniels news and rumors, click here.
16. Devin Vassell (San Antonio)
2025-26 stats: 13.9 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 2.5 apg, 0.9 spg, 43.7 FG%, 38.4 3PT%
2026-27 salary: $27,500,000 (68th overall)
San Antonio Spurs swingman Devin Vassell is a high-level two-way player thanks to his shooting ability, his long arms and his speed laterally. Vassell ranked in the NBA’s 85th percentile as a spot-up shooter last season, producing 1.20 points per possessions out of the play type, a higher mark than Desmond Bane (1.18 PPP) and Tyler Herro (1.18 PPP), two similarly well-regarded shooters.
But Vassell has more in his bag on offense than just spot-up shooting, as the former Florida State star is able to attack strong closeouts by taking a few dribbles and knocking down pull-up jumpers from the midrange, even over good contests, as Vassell gets great lift on his jumper, making it easier for him to hit shots over tight defense.
Vassell is an impactful role player, too, as he made the Spurs 6.4 points per 100 possessions better while he was on the floor in 2025-26. We don’t think Vassell has All-Star potential or anything, but we certainly think he’s an All-Star role player thanks to his two-way prowess and outside shooting.
For the latest Devin Vassell news and rumors, click here.
15. Michael Porter Jr. (Brooklyn)
2025-26 stats: 24.2 ppg, 7.1 rpg, 3.0 apg, 1.1 spg, 46.3 FG%, 36.3 3PT%
2026-27 salary: $40,806,150 (39th overall)
Coming off the best statistical season of his career, Michael Porter Jr. made a charge at first-time All-Star honors in 2025-26, falling just short of achieving that. Once Porter Jr. wasn’t named an All-Star, his play did taper off; prior to Feb. 1, 2026, when All-Star reserves were announced, Porter Jr. was averaging 25.6 points, 7.4 rebounds and 3.2 assists on 39.8 percent shooting from three. After that, over his final 14 appearances of 2025-26 after that, the 28-year-old put up 20.5 points and 6.5 rebounds on 25.6 percent shooting from three.
We have a feeling we could see the former version of Porter Jr. in 2026-27, considering it’s a contract year for the high-level scorer. Porter Jr.’s current contract only runs through next season, so he’ll be trying his hardest to prove he can be a top option for a team as he seeks his next big payday.
Either way, Porter Jr. has won a championship as a role player before, too; it’s just that role players don’t get paid as much as stars, so the Missouri product will surely be looking to prove the 2025-26 version of himself was not a fluke. Porter Jr. ranked in the Top 30 league-wide in BPM in 2025-26 thanks to his ability to shoot and hit ridiculous jumpers in his massive 6-foot-10 frame, so his production was impactful, even if his Brooklyn Nets were one of the worst teams in the league.
Porter Jr. might even be a trade candidate this upcoming season, especially if a low-level playoff team finds itself in need of some scoring punch. Either way, we’re quite intrigued to see what 2026-27 brings for the seven-year NBA veteran.
For the latest Michael Porter Jr. news and rumors, click here.
14. Trey Murphy (New Orleans)
2025-26 stats: 21.5 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 3.8 apg, 1.5 spg, 47.0 FG%, 37.9 3PT%
2026-27 salary: $27,000,000 (69th overall)
An even bigger trade candidate for next season is Trey Murphy III, as the New Orleans Pelicans have been one of the worst teams in basketball over the past two seasons, winning just 47 regular-season games over that stretch, and look primed for a rebuild.
The way teams rebuild is by trading their best players for a multitude of first-round picks, and Murphy is the type of talent who could fetch New Orleans a bevy of high-level trade assets on the open market. That’s because shooting is so coveted in the modern NBA, and Murphy provides just that, not just with his feet set but off the dribble from the midrange, too.
Murphy’s at his best as a spot-up shooter, however. The former Virginia standout ranked in the NBA’s 93rd percentile as a spot-up shooter in 2025-26, producing 1.27 points per possession from those looks, the 30th-best mark in the NBA for the campaign. And Murphy isn’t just a scorer, either, as the long swingman is also an underrated rebounder, playmaker and defender, making an impact in multiple facets, not just with his jumper.
Murphy ranked as roughly a Top 45 player in the NBA analytically last season, looking at VORP and BPM, proving how impactful he was despite in 2025-26 despite suiting up for one of the worst teams in the league.
For the latest Trey Murphy news and rumors, click here.
13. Mikal Bridges (New York)
2025-26 stats: 14.4 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 3.7 apg, 1.5 spg, 49.0 FG%, 37.1 3PT%
2026-27 salary: $22,826,087 (83rd overall)
For a long time, the New York Knicks caught flak for trading four unprotected first-round picks, a protected first-round pick and a first-round pick swap to the Nets in exchange for Mikal Bridges, far more of a role player than a star, which is what that type of haul should usually land you.
However, Bridges and Co. emphatically shut the naysayers up, as the team won a championship with the long swingman playing a vital role for the club, making the trade haul it took to land him very much worth it. Although Bridges averaged just 14.4 points last season, his lowest mark since 2021-22, he still made the Knicks 4.3 points per 100 possessions better while on the floor in the postseason, and considering how vital every single bucket is come playoff time, that number is even bigger than it might look.
Despite the mundane scoring average, Bridges ranked Top 35 in the NBA in VORP and Top 25 in BPM last season, in large part thanks to his shooting and defending. Bridges has a 7-foot-1-plus wingspan, has good lateral quickness and is a very heady player on the less glamorous end of the floor, making him a real two-way threat. He’s also more than a spot-up shooter, as he’s another player capable of putting the ball on the floor and hitting midrange jays.
Overall, although the cost to get him was hefty, it proved worth it for New York, and we think we’ll see another impactful year out of the former Villanova star in 2026-27, who hasn’t missed a single game to this point in his pro career. If they say availability is the most important ability, then Bridges is a star in that regard, at least.
For the latest Mikal Bridges news and rumors, click here.
12. Norman Powell (Chicago)
2025-26 stats: 21.7 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 2.5 apg, 1.1 spg, 47.0 FG%, 38.0 3PT%
2026-27 salary: $21,500,000 (86th overall)
Norman Powell’s ranking here is banking on his 2025-26 with the Miami Heat not being a fluke. Powell earned All-Star honors for the first time in his career last season, doing so at 32 years old, an impressive feat. And that honor was very much well-earned by Powell, who was averaging 23.0 points and 3.7 rebounds on 39.2 percent shooting from three at the time All-Star reserves were announced for 2025-26.
However, Powell then proceeded to be affected by injuries and although he didn’t miss too much time, his stints wearing street clothes did negatively affect the great flow he had going, eventually even forcing Miami to start bringing him off the bench in favor of Herro.
What we think helps Powell’s potential output for 2026-27 is the fact that he’ll be playing for a Chicago Bulls team that’s very much in the early stages of a rebuild, meaning he will be able to get his shots up and put up numbers without having to feel the pressure of a playoff push.
Blessed with a beautiful outside jumper (Powell is a near-40 percent three-point shooter for his career) and the athleticism to drive to the basket and finish around the rim, we think we’ll see another 20-plus-point-per-game scoring season out of the now-33-year-old this upcoming campaign.
For the latest Norman Powell news and rumors, click here.
11. AJ Dybantsa (Washington)
2026-27 salary: $14,748,000 (128th overall)
Reigning No. 1 overall draft pick AJ Dybantsa enters Year 1 of his career with loads of promise as a supersized wing with elite scoring potential thanks to his shiftiness, crafty ball-handling and ability to hit tough shots from all over the floor, as well as his athletic explosiveness as a driver and finisher around the basket.
In his lone season at BYU, Dybantsa not only led the Big 12 in scoring at 25.5 points per game, but he also led the entire country with that scoring average last season. He did so while chipping in 6.8 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.1 steals per game while shooting a tidy 51.0 percent from the floor. His three-point shooting remains a bit of a work in progress, as he hit 33.1 percent of his threes at BYU, but that mark was forgivable considering the average degree of difficulty on his shot attempts.
In Summer League, Dybantsa continued to struggle from three, hitting just one of his 11 three-point attempts over two games, but he was extremely impressive otherwise, putting up 25.0 points and 7.0 rebounds per contest.
Dybantsa has work to do around the edges with regard to his efficiency, but few players have the level of athleticism and skill in a massive and stout 6-foot-9 package as he does, so we expect big things as a rookie out of the Boston native.
For the latest AJ Dybantsa news and rumors, click here.
10. Brandon Miller (Charlotte)
2025-26 stats: 20.2 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 3.3 apg, 1.0 spg, 43.5 FG%, 38.3 3PT%
2026-27 salary: $15,104,121 (120th overall)
Although Brandon Miller’s raw numbers didn’t appear to change much from 2024-25 (21.0 points, 4.9 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.1 steals per game) to last season, the fact his efficiency improved in the manner that it did (Miller’s true shooting percentage went from 54.0 in ‘25 to 57.4 last season) meant that the now-fourth-year forward did improve but in a way that helped the Charlotte Hornets as a team, rather than just his individual numbers.
That’s backed statistically, too, as Miller made Charlotte 7.1 points per 100 possessions better last season, a full four-point improvement from the campaign prior. Miller’s nightly performances on the wing played a large part in the Hornets having just their second winning season since 2015-16 and coming within one win of qualifying for the playoffs for the first time since that campaign.
All in all, Miller can hit shots off the dribble over good defense from the midrange, as well as from three, and use his impressive athleticism to finish around the basket with aplomb. He’ll need to continue working on his playmaking, as Miller tends to get tunnel vision with the ball in his hands, but overall, he’s improved every season he’s been in the NBA, and we expect that trend to continue in 2026-27.
For the latest Brandon Miller news and rumors, click here.
9. Brandon Ingram (LA Clippers)
2025-26 stats: 21.5 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 3.7 apg, 0.8 spg, 47.7 FG%, 38.2 3PT%
2026-27 salary: $40,000,000 (43rd overall)
After just one season in Toronto, former Duke standout Brandon Ingram is on the move again this offseason after a tumultuous deal saw him end up with the Los Angeles Clippers. In L.A., Ingram will have a bigger role than he did in Toronto, which will allow him to perhaps up his averages from 2025-26.
That’s not to say he had a disappointing season, because that wasn’t fully the case, at least not in the regular season. Ingram posted an All-Star campaign, earning the honor for just the second time in his career last year, but his playoff run with Toronto was brutal to put things kindly. In the postseason, Ingram put up 14.8 points on 33.9 percent shooting from the floor between Games 1 and 4, before heel inflammation ended his playoff run early.
However, Ingram would eventually undergo heel surgery this offseason and will reportedly be ready to go by training camp, so the Clippers will be expecting the All-Star version of Ingram to arrive off the bat. Ingram’s a solid three-level scorer, boasts a tidy crossover and uses his fantastic length to knock down jumpers over strong contests. His lack of burst, speed and elite athleticism have prevented him from reaching that All-NBA tier in his career, but he makes up for it with craftiness and the ability to hit star-level shots, as well as his decent rebounding and playmaking.
For the latest Brandon Ingram news and rumors, click here.
8. Franz Wagner (Orlando)
2025-26 stats: 20.6 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 3.3 apg, 0.9 spg, 48.1 FG%, 34.5 3PT%
2026-27 salary: $41,754,636 (33rd overall)
After making a run at first-time All-Star honors in 2024-25, Franz Wagner somewhat disappointed in 2025-26, though that had a lot to do with injuries - primarily a high-ankle sprain - that forced him to miss 48 games on the campaign. As if the ankle sprain wasn’t bad enough, Wagner would then miss three of the Orlando Magic’s four playoff games last year due to a calf strain, so all in all, it was pretty much a lost season for the German wing.
Even so, those injuries aren’t usually of the long-term variety, so we expect Wagner to look more like his 2024-25 version this season than his 2025-26 self.
Although he still struggles mightily from the three-point line - Wagner is shooting 29.8 percent over the last three seasons combined - he's an elite slasher, a slippery swingman who can get to the basket and finish with craft and unique touch. He’s also an underrated playmaker on his slashes, one who does a great job at hitting cutters while he’s mid-drive and distracting the defense himself. Wagner’s a very fluid athlete for his size (6-foot-10, 220-plus pounds) and an expert finisher near the cup and the short midrange, making him very tough to defend once he has a head full of steam.
If Wagner is able to develop more midrange and three-point off-the-dribble shooting (might be a tall task considering his slow release and catapult-style jumper), he’ll easily be in perennial All-Star conversations, if not in borderline All-NBA talks. Even at his present level, however, he’s one of the best wings in the Eastern Conference.
For the latest Franz Wagner news and rumors, click here.
7. Deni Avdija (Portland)
2025-26 stats: 24.2 ppg, 6.9 rpg, 6.7 apg, 0.8 spg, 46.2 FG%, 31.8 3PT%
2026-27 salary: $13,125,000 (145th overall)
After showing signs of ascension over the previous two seasons, Deni Avdija absolutely exploded in 2025-26, turning in first-time All-Star honors and putting up a quite impressive 24/6/6 stat line for the campaign. Avdija was one of just three players to put up such averages last season along with Nikola Jokic and Luka Doncic, placing the Portland Trail Blazers forward in rare air.
Avdija has great burst and can put his shoulder into foes to get to his spots near the rim, making him very difficult to slow down. What’s more, his three-point shooting might progress back to the mean this upcoming season, which gives us hope he’ll have a strong 2026-27 and prove his more recent campaign wasn’t a fluke. Over 2023-24 and 2024-25, Avdija shot 36.9 percent from three; if the Israeli small forward is able to get back to that mark, he’ll make the Blazers a potent squad in the West, especially with a returning Damian Lillard and after the offseason pickup of Ja Morant.
Set to make just over $13 million this season, Avdija will be one of the best value contracts in the league in 2026-27 even if he just repeats his 2025-26 output. And if he improves upon it? The Blazers will have a steal of a contract on their hands.
For the latest Deni Avdija news and rumors, click here.
6. Kawhi Leonard (Toronto)
2025-26 stats: 27.9 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 3.6 apg, 1.9 spg, 50.5 FG%, 38.7 3PT%
2026-27 salary: $50,300,000 (13th overall)
Few players have had an offseason as tumultuous (without getting into league trouble) as Kawhi Leonard just did. And at the time of this writing, his issues still aren’t fully settled. Despite his punishment being dolled out, with Leonard being fined just $700,000, his trade to the Raptors still hasn’t been finalized as we approach mid-September and the start of training camp in a couple of weeks.
Regardless, assuming Leonard’s trade goes through and he’s fully healthy, we expect a huge year from the two-time NBA champion in his return to Toronto. Leonard was one of the best players in the league last season, appearing in 65 games and ranking Top 5 in both VORP and BPM, earning MVP votes, 2nd Team All-NBA honors and finishing his All-Star season with a Top 10 finish in Clutch Player of the Year voting, too.
What excites us about Leonard’s move to Toronto is the fact that he’ll be playing on a strong Raptors team, featuring players that he should mesh well with. Scottie Barnes is one of the most versatile players Leonard will have played with in quite some time; the duo could form one of the most impactful defensive forward rotations in the NBA thanks to their length, instincts and lateral quickness on that end of the floor. The wing tandem averaged 3.3 steals combined last season, so Toronto’s defense should improve with the Leonard addition.
That’s without mentioning the other end of the floor, as Leonard is a better offensive player than the guy he’s replacing, Ingram, too. Leonard is an elite one-on-one scorer thanks to his ability to hit ridiculous jumpers over even the best defenders in the league.
The Los Angeles native has a throwback midrange bucket-getting prowess, as Leonard is extremely efficient from that area. Despite 40.9 percent of Leonard’s shot attempts coming from within three feet and 16 feet of the basket last season, he still shot 50.5 percent from the floor on the campaign, while 62.9 true shooting percentage last season ranked 25th in the NBA.
All in all, Leonard showed that he’s still at peak form last season, so his 2026-27 outlook will depend on his health, as is often the case with him. Well, and with his trade going through and no further punishment being dolled out.
For the latest Kawhi Leonard news and rumors, click here.
5. Kevin Durant (Houston)
2025-26 stats: 26.0 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 4.8 apg, 0.9 bpg, 52.0 FG%, 41.3 3PT%
2026-27 salary: $43,902,439 (28th overall)
Kevin Durant is another guy winning the battle against Father Time, much like Leonard.
In his age-37 campaign last season, Durant ranked seventh in VORP and 11th in BPM. Durant was also a 2nd Team All-NBAer last year, as well as an All-Star, leading the Houston Rockets to a 52-win campaign. However, the season would end in disappointment, as Durant suffered injuries that would cause him to miss most of the team’s first-round playoff defeat at the hands of the Lakers.
Even so, we expect a fully healthy Durant to return to form off the bat in 2026-27 and get back to his high-scoring ways. Durant remains one of the best one-on-one bucket-getters in the league thanks to his shiftiness and ability to hit difficult jumpers from legitimately just about anywhere on the floor. The term ‘three-level scorer’ gets thrown around a lot but it applies to Durant just about as well as it does for anyone in league history.
A freakish talent standing 7-feet tall with a 7-foot-5 wingspan, Durant has legitimate high-level guard skills as a shooter and ball-handler the likes of which we have never seen out of a player with his size and frame. The Slim Reaper is set to pass Kobe Byrant on the all-time scoring list this season, barring unforeseen health problems, which just goes to show the type of player he has been throughout his career. That’s with him missing his entire age-31 campaign after tearing his Achilles, too, making the accomplishment all the more impressive.
Durant remains the cream of the crop for NBA scorers today, and we expect that not to change one iota in 2026-27. It’ll just be interesting to see, as the young Rockets develop around him, will Durant be able to lead them to a championship push? After all, all Durant's legacy is still missing is a championship won not alongside Stephen Curry, so we wonder if he's feeling the pressure to fill that slight gap in his resume.
For the latest Kevin Durant news and rumors, click here.
4. Jalen Williams (Oklahoma City)
2025-26 stats: 17.1 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 5.5 apg, 1.2 spg, 48.4 FG%, 29.9 3PT%
2026-27 salary: $41,240,250 (35th overall)
Jalen Williams’ place in this ranking may seem high, especially after the disappointing 2025-26 campaign he just posted, but his relatively poor season had most to do with him playing through injuries, including to his wrist and both hamstrings, rather than any sort of actual regression.
As such, we’re banking on Williams to look more like his 2024-25 self when he averaged 21.6 points, 5.3 rebounds, 5.1 assists and 1.6 steals on 48.4 percent shooting this upcoming campaign. If anything, we could see him improving on that in 2026-27 the way many thought he would last season.
In 2024-25, Williams was named an All-Star, earned 2nd Team All-Defense honors and was a 3rd Team All-NBAer, playing a major part in the Thunder’s march to a championship that campaign. His importance was shown last season, too, as the fact that he missed most of the Thunder’s Western Conference Finals defeat to the Spurs after Game 1 was too much for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Co. to overcome.
For the latest Jalen Williams news and rumors, click here.
3. Jaylen Brown (Philadelphia)
2025-26 stats: 28.7 ppg, 6.9 rpg, 5.1 apg, 1.0 spg, 47.7 FG%, 34.7 3PT%
2026-27 salary: $57,736,350 (6th overall)
Not much was expected out of the 2025-26 Boston Celtics, considering the player coming up soon on this ranking was thought to be missing most - if not all - of the season. Instead, the team went 56-26 and finished as the East’s No. 2 seed before seeing its season cut short in the first round of the playoffs.
Disappointing ending aside, a lot of Boston’s surprising season had to do with Jaylen Brown elevating his game, averaging career-highs across the board, including in points per game, rebounds per game and assists per game, while shooting nearly 48 percent from the floor. Brown was one of just two players last season to put up a 28/6/5 stat line, along with Doncic, producing at a level not many were sure he had in him. Brown finished sixth in the MVP vote last season for his efforts and was named an All-Star and 2nd Team All-NBAer.
But the analytics weren’t quite as impressed with Brown’s output in 2025-26 as most fans were, as the former Cal Golden Bear ranked outside the league’s Top 20 in both VORP and BPM. What’s more, Brown surprisingly made the Celtics 4.6 points per 100 possessions worse during his time on the floor last season, and that number was an even more concerning 31.4 points per 100 possessions worse in the playoff loss against the rival 76ers.
As such, Brad Stevens made the difficult decision to trade Brown to a direct rival in Philadelphia this offseason. And while we think Brown could use that as motivation to have another monster season, the Sixers simply have too many mouths to feed, in our opinion, for him to post another 28-point-per-game campaign.
Still, Brown is a two-way beast, capable of hitting shots from all over, slashing to the basket, finishing explosively near the rim and playing tight defense on the perimeter, so we expect him to remain in that All-NBA tier in 2026-27.
For the latest Jaylen Brown news and rumors, click here.
2. Cooper Flagg (Dallas)
2025-26 stats: 21.0 ppg, 6.7 rpg, 4.5 apg, 1.2 spg, 46.8 FG%, 29.5 3PT%
2026-27 salary: $14,517,480 (131st overall)
One of the brightest young American stars the NBA has seen in some time, Dallas Mavericks swingman Cooper Flagg lived up to the hype as a rookie, becoming the second teenager in league history to put up a 21/6/4 stat line, joining Doncic on the list. If we broaden the horizon and check the same statistical filters for rookies rather than just teenagers, Flagg is just the fourth first-year player in the three-point era to post a 21/6/4 stat line, with Doncic, Michael Jordan and Larry Bird joining him on the list.
Pretty solid company there for Flagg.
Flagg has a massive ceiling: a swingman with prototypical size at 6-foot-9 and plus-length (7-foot wingspan) who can score, rebound, create and defend, and who is unselfish and has a very team-first attitude.
Flagg reaching that massive potential is going to come down to his outside shooting. As a rookie, the 19-year-old shot under 30 percent from three, a number he’s going to have to improve upon if he’s going to reach that MVP-level ceiling he appears to have.
Even then, if Flagg never becomes more than a mediocre outside shooter, he’s going to be hugely impactful on both ends of the floor for a very long time thanks to his size, length, athleticism, quickness and competitiveness. He’s also already showing signs of being a future elite offensive player with his ball-handling at his size, his ability to stop on a dime and hit tough jumpers and his slashing and finishing around the basket.
Set to play with the best teammate he’s had thus far in his brief NBA career, Kyrie Irving, excites us about Flagg’s potential in Year 2; hence, his quite lofty place in this ranking.
We expect a sophomore leap out of the former Duke star.
For the latest Cooper Flagg news and rumors, click here.
1. Jayson Tatum (Boston)
2025-26 stats: 21.8 ppg, 10.0 rpg, 5.3 apg, 1.4 spg, 41.1 FG%, 32.9 3PT%
2026-27 salary: $58,456,566 (3rd overall)
Celtics star Jayson Tatum deserves tons of credit for returning from his Achilles tear as quickly as he did and performing at an impressive level once he came back in 2025-26, all things considered. Sure, there’s a chance his return messed with the team’s flow and played a part in Boston’s surprising first-round playoff exit, but at the same time, his swing rating in the postseason was plus-10.7 points per 100 possessions, making it obvious in hindsight why the Celtics chose to build around him and ship Brown to a rival.
Tatum will enter 2026-27 with a bit more pressure than usual, because if Boston gets off to a slow start, a lot of the talk is almost certainly going to revolve around: Why did the Celtics trade Brown after he led them to a 56-win regular season just last year? After all, wasn’t it Brown who won the Eastern Conference Finals and Finals MVP awards in 2023-24, and not Tatum?
Even so, Tatum has proven to be one of the league’s top players, earning four straight 1st Team All-NBA selections from 2021-22 through 2024-25, and helping lead the team to a championship in 2024, even if he didn’t earn either of the aforementioned accolades.
Tatum often chooses to take tough jumpers when he has the size and athleticism to attack the basket and finish around the rim more often, and there’s still at least some question about how he’ll continue to look returning from such a major injury. But his style of play has proven to be effective, as evidenced by his four Top 6 MVP finishes and the fact that Boston has never missed the playoffs with him on the team.
On the other hand, this is the first time Tatum won’t have Brown by his side, and even beyond the on-court production that will be missed in his absence, Brown was often the player who would catch a lot of the blame whenever the Celtics would fall short. Without that scapegoat, a lot of the blame could shift to Tatum if Boston were to fall short this season.
That’s why we say that the St. Louis native will face more pressure than usual in 2026-27.
For the latest Jayson Tatum news and rumors, click here.
This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: NBA Ranking: The Top 27 small forwards for 2026-27
