3 Bulls who should have ranked higher in ESPN’s Top 100 players list

2. DeMar DeRozan (28)

I do appreciate ESPN being at least a little willing to own up to their mistakes and bump DeMar DeRozan back into a more respectable tier after they so infamously name him the worst value contract and the worst move of the offseason just a year ago. After ranking 45th in the Top 100 list year, DeMar has managed to jump a respectable 17 spots on this list.

However, it still doesn’t feel like enough, does it? After just achieving an All-NBA Second Team bid, DeRozan should, by all means, be considered a top 10-15 player in the NBA right now. Sure, we’re expecting the return of a few superstars like Kawhi Leonard, Anthony Davis, and Paul George may push DeRozan out of All-NBA territory, but he’s certainly still up there with the best.

DeMar DeRozan still isn’t being treated like an All-NBA talent by ESPN’s NBArank panel.

ESPN’s minimal analysis of DeRozan is nothing more than a lazy reading of his mid-range scoring statistics from last year, so it’s hard to even form an explanation as to why ESPN believes DeMar belongs in this spot. Instead, ESPN could have mentioned the fact DeRozan just had the best 3-point shooting season of his career and achieved the second most points scored in the NBA last year.

If you look a few spots ahead of DeRozan, you’ll find that ESPN has ranked Anthony Edwards 25th. They offer a glowing review of the rising star,

"“If Edwards takes the leap we’re anticipating, an All-Star nod and Most Improved Player honors are within reach at age 21.”"

If being “within reach” of an All-Star appearance is good to get you in the top 25, then how exactly does an All-NBA selection result in being ranked 28th? Now that he’s finally in an environment perfectly tailored to his skill set, DeRozan is only going to continue proving his critics wrong and dispelling the narratives that have hung over his head for the last decade.