2021 NBA player rankings, Nos. 60-51: Ranking Andre Drummond and Isaiah Thomas is hard

We begin this section of our countdown of the 101 best NBA players in 2021 with someone who did not develop as we expected. We end it with someone who developed far more than anyone expected, but is being doubted again after a health scare.

In between, we have the usual mix of high-upside youngsters and quality veterans we think will hold on just fine in four years. We also have the guy who went No. 59, thanks to one of us going out on a limb.

Age in 2021: 27 (9 seasons)

CHRIS GREENBERG: Maybe Andre Drummond didn’t merit the No. 3 spot in the previous edition of these rankings. But the Pistons’ center does still have four seasons averaging a double-double in the first five of his career. He played no fewer than 81 games in those four double-double seasons.

He’ll be just 27 entering the 2021-22 season. He’ll also very likely still be 6’11. These will be useful qualities.

LAZARUS JACKSON, DETROIT BAD BOYS: Drummond was third (?!) in the top 100 of 2017. He didn’t deserve to be that high then, and he doesn’t deserve to be this low now.

TIM CATO: Drummond was typecast as a star early on, but he’ll settle into a DeAndre Jordan role just fine in the coming years. Though that might works best if he gets out of Detroit.

MATT ELLENTUCK: Drummond needs a new home and I hope it happens before 2021. Detroit hasn’t figured out how to get the most out of him.

TOM ZILLER: Free Drummond!

KRISTIAN WINFIELD: Still can’t shoot free throws.

Age in 2021: 29 (8 seasons)

KRISTIAN WINFIELD: Ha! You thought I wasn’t gonna take 2 Knicks in a row? You thought wrong. Hahahahahaahahaahahahahaaha!

In four years, New York should have overhauled its culture and have set up some semblance of a winning foundation. While Kristaps Porzingis will be key to New York’s success, the Knicks will expect Tim Hardaway Jr. to take the steps in developing into a fringe All-Star. Hardaway can shoot and score off the dribble and has become a decent perimeter defender.

If he continues this upward trajectory, there’s no doubt in my mind he’s at least one of best 15 wing players in the league in 2021.

CHRIS GREENBERG: On behalf of reasonable Knicks fans (seriously, we exist), I cannot endorse this selection.

WHITNEY MEDWORTH: This is the most Kristian pick ever.

Listen, I like THJ a lot. Seems like a great kid. But he’s going to be stuck playing for the Knicks until 2021 considering that wild contract they handed out. Therefore, he is doomed.

MIKE PRADA: “In four years, New York should have overhauled its culture and have set up some semblance of a winning foundation.”

Where’s the MJ spitting gif when you need it?

MATT ELLENTUCK: I’m throwing up.

TIM CATO: Those Knicks-tinted glasses do fit your face well, Kristian.

KRISTIAN WINFIELD: Damn right, Tim.

JOE FLYNN, POSTING AND TOASTING: He’ll probably never defend and his three-point shooting has always been a touch overrated, but Timmy continues to expand his offensive repertoire and could end up one of the league’s best scoring guards.

Age in 2021: 33 (14 seasons)

WHITNEY MEDWORTH: Mike Conley is under the radar now and he’ll still be under the radar in 2021. He’ll only be 33 in 2021 and is going to still be one of the league’s best point guards. As much as I wish Conley could go play for a contender, he’ll still be in Memphis. Still underrated. Still grinding as Mike Conley does.

TOM ZILLER: This is an outright steal.

KRISTIAN WINFIELD: 33-year-old Mike Conley will play a lot like current Mike Conley, making this the best value pick of this draft.

JOE MULLINAX, GRIZZLY BEAR BLUES: This is interesting because that means Conley at age 35 will be viewed as still potentially the second- or third-best player on the Grizzlies.

I hope that’s true, but his size and playing style make me nervous. Players can change and evolve their games over time of course (see Gasol, Marc), so it’s possible Conley becomes much more perimeter-based as he ages.

MIKE PRADA: The reason I didn’t take him higher is that I’m worried that history of foot and leg injuries will catch up to him. Of course, we’ve been saying that for a few years now.

Age in 2021: 27 (8 seasons)

TIM CATO: I f$%^ing love Nerlens, man. His block and steal rates are setting records, his finishing ability around the hoop is wildly efficient, and he occasionally shows flashes of skill in places you wouldn’t expect your defensive anchor center to show them. Such as: leading a fast break, or nimbly Eurostepping around a defender, or pump-faking from 20 feet and dunking on the other side.

iIt’s hard to get too wildly excited about him until he finishes a couple seasons without any major injuries. But I legitimately think this 23-year-old has Defensive Player of the Year potential once he puts it all together.

TOM ZILLER: I’m a little worried about the Nerlens Noel experience after he got traded for nada and slow-walked through a drawn-out restricted free agency.

KRISTIAN WINFIELD: This summer also concerns me.

NICK ANGSTADT, MAVS MONEYBALL: Although he has tremendous upside, the injury risk may prove to be too much for teams. No. 57 seems like a fair spot to swing for the fences.

MATT ELLENTUCK: Nerlens is putting a lot of pressure on himself this season by taking that qualifying offer. However, I think next to Dennis Smith Jr. in a season with little expectations, this could be the perfect environment for him to thrive.

CHRIS GREENBERG: I’m just here for the Tyson Chandler comps.

Age in 2021: 31 (10 seasons)

KOFIE YEBOAH: This ranking is all about how well Bledsoe’s legs will continue to support his aggressive play style. It may seem rash, but with so many great young players entering the league, I can see why Bledsoe fell this far on the list.

I really hope Bledsoe and Devin Booker stay together for at least these four years, because win or lose, there will be highlights.

TIM CATO: Bledsoe goes 56th. The league’s other Eric, Eric Gordon, was (spoiler!) not taken. Wondering which player is better in 2021 is a legitimate question, I think, though a lot comes down to health.

KRISTIAN WINFIELD: What blatant disrespect to Eric Moreland.

TOM ZILLER: Bledsoe is way better than Gordon right now, I’d argue, because he’s a more complete player. But yes, health matters here.

TIM CATO: I believe we’re underrating Gordon.

But back to the point — Bledsoe’s a fine player, and this is a perfectly adequate pick, if a bit high for my tastes.

DAVE KING, BRIGHT SIDE OF THE SUN: By 2021, the 31-year old Bledsoe can still be near his NBA peak as long as he stays healthy, putting up 18, five, and five in his sleep.

Age in 2021: 24 (5 seasons)

MIKE PRADA: I’ve been a huge fan since I talked to the Bucks’ brass about him during his first Summer League. They expected Maker to play in the D-League his first year and slowly build up core strength.

Six months later, he was the starting center on a playoff team. Maybe that was true in name only since Greg Monroe played most of the minutes, but that’s still a much faster rise than the Bucks expected.

He still needs to bulk up smartly, but he’s already flashed a nice shooting stroke, plus terrific defensive instincts at the rim and on the perimeter. That last part is crucial and separates him from some of the other big men in this range. As long as the Bucks’ front-office dysfunction doesn’t swallow him up, he’s well on track to becoming the perfect post-modern NBA big man.

(I really want the Bucks to be good. Please don’t let me down.)

KYLE CARR, BREW HOOP: ​Thon’s ceiling could be All-Defense level; he has the athleticism and work ethic. If he can put that all together and still shoot a respectable percentage from three-point range, he will shoot past a lot of people on this list.

TOM ZILLER: He could legitimately end up in the top 25 on this list even if his offense doesn’t develop much. That defense!

RICKY O’DONNELL: The world deserves Mixtape Maker by 2021.

KRISTIAN WINFIELD: #MixtapeMakerForPrez

I think he’s gonna be much, much higher on this list in four years.

Age in 2021: 32 (13 seasons)

MATT ELLENTUCK: We still overlook how great Kevin Love is, though his 2016-17 finish was below Kevin Love-type standards. There is a legitimate argument to be had that he’s the second-best Cavalier, before and after Kyrie Irving his traded. On his own, Love showed the type of production he can maintain over the course of a season with the Timberwolves.

Love has the perfect build to thrive into his 30s too. He’s a true power forward who can slot into the five as he ages.

WHITNEY MEDWORTH: Where will Love even be playing in 2021?

CHRIS GREENBERG: Wherever gorgeous, half-court outlet passes are needed, he’ll be there.

TOM ZILLER: Good pick.

KOFIE YEBOAH: Droppin’ Dimes Droppin Dimes! I hope Kevin Love switches to that old man pickup style of play: annoying, but you can’t stop it.

CHRIS MANNING, FEAR THE SWORD: Provided his back and knees hold up, his shooting and rebounding should still make him a useful player for most teams.

MIKE PRADA: Still a good player now, but I worry about his long-term health. Also a little worried that players like him -- those once-elusive skilled big men that aren’t long enough to alter shots at the rim or quick enough defend the perimeter — are slowly going out of style in favor of converted 3s sliding up a position.

Age in 2021: 29 (9 seasons)

RICKY O’DONNELL: I don’t think 3-and-D players will be out of style by 2021. There are few better right now than Middleton and he’ll only be 29 years old at this point.

TIM CATO: This is a really good pick. I considered taking Middleton even higher than this, because I honestly think a Jimmy Butler/Paul George breakout year could be coming for him.

KYLE CARR, BREW HOOP: ​His two way ability will always be valuable, as he is still someone that makes your team better when he is on the court. Maybe as he increases in age, his three-point shooting rate will also increase.

MIKE PRADA: We sure Middleton can be the same player after that major hip injury? He didn’t quite look like himself down the stretch last year.

TOM ZILLER: I get nervous about low-profile 3-and-D players that basketball hipsters become enamored with all of a sudden. I remember Quinton Ross and Bobby Simmons.

TIM CATO: Yeah, but Quinton Ross and Bobby Simmons weren’t good. Middleton averaged 18 on 56 percent True Shooting two seasons ago, and looked as good as you’d expect coming off a major injury last season to me.

KRISTIAN WINFIELD: I was in Brooklyn for the game Middleton returned to the Bucks. Giannis seemed very excited to have his teammate back. I believe he’ll still be a good shooter — spot-up and off-the-dribble — and a capable defender.

Age in 2021: 25 (6 seasons)

ZITO MADU: This is admittedly a risky pick. Injuries cut Winslow’s season short at just 18 games, and in those 18, he wasn’t exactly a beacon of hope. But he’s only 21, and a good defender. There’s so much time left for him to improve his offense.

TIM CATO: He may be a second coming of Tony Allen, but I’m not even sure that’s a top-100 player in today’s NBA. I mean, Andre Roberson sure ain’t.

WHITNEY MEDWORTH: Winslow is the dude you want to be this good, but it’s just not gonna happen for him.

MATT ELLENTUCK: I don’t buy much into Winslow’s future. He’ll play towards the end of a rotation, but he’s too limited offensively to be close to a top-50 player.

TOM ZILLER: I almost took Winslow higher. I believe. I can’t live in a world where neither Michael Kidd-Gilchrist or Justise Winslow make it. The children of Gerald Wallace deserve more!

MIKE PRADA: This was only a year ago. I believe, too.

MATT PINEDA, HOT HOT HOOPS: If this is true, it means that Justise has become an elite defender. His offensive game isn’t going to get him near No. 52.

Age in 2021: 32 (10 seasons)

TOM ZILLER: The dude just averaged 29 points per game for a No. 1 seed. He has relatively low mileage because he once came off the bench for Jimmer Fredette and because he was a relatively old rookie.

He’ll be 32 in 2021 and his namesake was a small guard who didn’t age well, but times are different. If a 36-year-old Chris Paul is going to be the No. 77 player in the NBA in four years, Isaiah is sure as heck worthy of being here.

(For the record, I made this pick before Cleveland told the world Isaiah’s hip was a disaster).

TIM CATO: I don’t like short point guards — or more specifically, point guards who can’t play passable defense. But let’s not let the backlash go too far. I like this pick.

MATT ELLENTUCK: I expected him to go a lot higher and for me to have to scream in this segment of the post, but nah, this seems about the right place for him.

WHITNEY MEDWORTH: He’s 5’9 though.

CHRIS GREENBERG: According to him, he’s more like 5’8.

KOFIE YEBOAH: A 32-year-old point guard who is my height. I have mad respect for IT. It would be absolutely wild if he’s still this productive in four years.

CHRIS MANNING, FEAR THE SWORD: Let’s see how his hips heals and how he plays this year before even considering how good he’ll be in 2021.

INTRO | FULL LIST | TOP 100 OF 2017 | HOW WE DID IN 2013 | SNUBS | 101-91 | 90-81 | 80-71 | 70-61 | 60-51 | 50-41 | 40-31 | 30-21 | 20-11 | 10-1 | THE CASES FOR NO. 1