Manchester United have moved to assure supporters that the club remain committed to "competing for trophies at the highest level" and success on the pitch comes before making money.

United, who lost 2-0 to West Ham on Sunday, won the last of their 20 league titles in 2013 and in the subsequent six seasons have been criticised for the way they have balanced commercial success with building a team capable of challenging for top honours.

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But at a recent fans' forum, United sought to address some of the supporter frustration, where they said the club is heading in the right direction.

"Everyone at the club, from the owners down, is focused on competing for and winning trophies at the highest level," a United spokesman said. "To do that we have invested heavily in the playing squad and will continue to do so.

"At the same time, the exciting pool of talent coming through from our youth and academy sections is a result of increased investment in this area over the last five years. It's important to note that while our successful commercial operation helps drive that investment, the priority is the focus on achieving success on the pitch.

"Similarly, it is worth noting that we are not looking at or buying players based on their commercial appeal. We agree that recruitment is critical. We are committed to getting this right and there has been huge investment in this area to put our recruitment department into a position to be able to deliver the manager the players he wants. This process is significantly more effective than four or five years ago."

United have also hinted that they are still on the look out for a technical director. Sources have told ESPN FC that an in-depth search has been ongoing for nearly a year but the summer transfer window came and went without an appointment being made.

Asked about the search for a technical director at the fans' forum, United said they are still open to changing the club's structure but are happy with the way players are recruited following a summer which saw Harry Maguire, Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Daniel James arrive at Old Trafford.

"We are continually reviewing and looking at the potential to evolve our structure on the football side," the club spokesman added. "Much of the speculation around this type of role focuses purely on recruitment.

"We've materially expanded our recruitment department in recent years and we believe this runs in an efficient and productive way. Many of the senior staff in these roles have been at the club for over 10 years.

"Recruitment recommendations and decisions are worked on by this department and the manager and his team, not senior management.

"We feel the players signed this summer demonstrate that this approach is the right one and any future appointment would complement this process. Regarding transfer budget, we have invested significantly in the squad and we will continue to do so."

Tuesday will be a good day for Manchester United and the Glazer family, when the club are expected to announce record annual revenues in excess of £615 million.

Once again, the self-styled "world's biggest football club" will prove themselves to be top of the league, certainly among their Premier League counterparts, when it comes to making money. The problem for United, however, is that the good news stops with the financial results. On the pitch, under manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, performance continues to be hugely disappointing as they fall further and further behind Liverpool and Manchester City.

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City's most recent results saw the champions post an annual turnover of £581m, while Liverpool reported £455m. Even 12 months ago, United outstripped them both by announcing turnover of £590m.

Since Sir Alex Ferguson retired six years ago, United have excelled in just two areas: making money off the pitch and failing, repeatedly, on it. Executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward, the man charged by the owners with running United on a day-to-day basis, stated in May last year that "playing performance doesn't really have a meaningful impact on what we can do on the commercial side of the business."

Playing performance is certainly not matching up to commercial success right now. Whether it truly matters to the Glazers, only they can say.

At a recent fans' forum, United did insist that "while our successful commercial operation helps drive investment, the priority is the focus on achieving success on the pitch." And that means Solskjaer is in the firing line as United continue to tread water in the Premier League.

Sunday's 2-0 defeat at West Ham was United's 10th in their last 19 games under the Norwegian, an abject run of form stretching back to their last away win in all competitions, against Paris Saint-Germain, in March. The buck always stops with the manager: David Moyes, Louis van Gaal and Jose Mourinho can all attest to that. But he can only work with the hand he's dealt and as such, questions must be asked of the Glazers and Woodward.

As part of his responsibilities, Woodward will have to give his assessment of United's current health when he addresses investors on Tuesday. It will be a tough call for Woodward. If he focuses purely on the financial results, it will be akin to Nero fiddling while Rome burns. But if he addresses the failures on the pitch, and how United continue to drop behind City and Liverpool while being forced to play in the Europa League, will he speak about the shortcomings in the boardroom that have left the club in its current state?

Since Woodward stepped into the role ahead of the 2013-14 season, in tandem with Moyes' appointment as manager, United have finished an average of 21.5 points adrift of the champions. But the money keeps rolling through the tills.

Throughout that time, Woodward and the Glazers have overseen the sackings of three managers, the signings of expensive flops like Angel Di Maria, Memphis Depay, Alexis Sanchez as well as poor strategic planning behind the scenes.

When Mourinho was sacked last December, United spoke of the determination to hire a technical director to help with the process of player recruitment, yet almost 10 months on, they have still not made that crucial appointment. Sources have told ESPN FC that some candidates have shied away from pursuing the role because they would have to report directly to Woodward rather than have a direct line to the owners -- a red line for those who believe that the position requires some kind of relationship with the people who sign the cheques.

The Glazers, meanwhile, remain silent on the decline of United as a force on the pitch and those who have dealt with the owners talk of nice guys who lack the edge of those who simply want to win.

Supporters have never accepted the Glazers due to their leveraged takeover in 2005, which plunged United into debt (net debt stood at £301.7m in the last quarterly figures) and, as reported by the Guardian in October 2018, their ownership has led to over £1 billion being drained out of the club in interest charges.

Across town, Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed al Nahyan has invested over £1 billion at Manchester City in 11 years, so the shifting fortunes of both clubs is perhaps easy to understand.

While City have spent wisely, recruited smartly and upgraded the Etihad Stadium on a regular basis, United have gone the other way, with the lack of investment at Old Trafford being summed up by the leaking roof ahead of last season's derby game against City which saw a torrent of water gush down onto the seats in the Sir Bobby Charlton Stand.

Bad signings, an aging stadium and a lack of urgency when making key appointments are all issues that have defined the Glazer era, and most noticeably since Woodward replaced David Gill. But perhaps it's no real surprise. Supporters of the Glazers' NFL franchise, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, have witnessed a drift into obscurity since the team won the Super Bowl in 2003 and United now appear to be heading the same way.

The money is still coming in, as Tuesday's numbers will show. And as Woodward admitted, what happens on the pitch doesn't affect United's financial power off it. In the eyes of the Glazers, maybe the ongoing struggles of the team are only a minor issue to them.

Cameron Bancroft will return to Durham as the club's overseas player for the 2020 season.

Bancroft captained Durham in the County Championship and the Royal London Cup this year, which represented a controversial appointment in the wake of his involvement in Australia's ball-tampering scandal.

But director of cricket Marcus North repeatedly defended the decision, and Bancroft ended up leading the club's averages in both first-class and List A cricket.

He made 726 runs at an average of 45.37 in nine Championship matches, and a further 377 runs at an average of 94.25 in the Royal London Cup.

Bancroft will be available for all three formats, though the club is yet to confirm whether or not he will continue as captain.

"We are delighted to welcome Cameron back to Emirates Riverside for our 2020 season," said North.

"He has had a huge impact on the field with his leadership and undoubted quality through his performances. Cameron has also had an impact off the field as an ambassador for the club with a number of community projects."

It is expected that several other members of Australia's Test squad will sign county deals for 2020. Peter Siddle is already on a two-year deal at Essex, while several clubs have enquired about the availability of Nathan Lyon.

Australia are not scheduled to play a Test between February and November next year, and many of their internationals are expected to enter into the draft for The Hundred, which starts immediately after their white-ball series in England.

Big Picture

Bangladesh v Afghanistan could well become a more regular fixture in the game in the future than it is now. They don't have a lot of encounters coming up in the next 12 months, but in the long-term, they could well meet more frequently, on the big stage, given how they have developed as teams - and have a rivalry going too - in the past few years.

The two sides have gone for youth over experience in this tri-series, but with mixed results. It's experience that has made the difference for Afghanistan, though, as Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan and Mujeeb Ur Rahman have all played pivotal roles in Afghanistan's two wins. The bad news for Afghanistan is that Rashid, who hasn't fully recovered from the hamstring injury he picked up in the last match, is uncertain for the final. The day before the game, Rashid conceded that the physio has a lot of work to do with him, and as things stand, he is not more than a 50% chance.

But Bangladesh have no reason to let their guard down in case Rashid doesn't make it. Among the youngsters, the likes of Hazratullah Zazai, Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Fareed Ahmad are solid players, with the ability to swing things Afghanistan's way. While Zazai is a relatively known entity, Gurbaz's stroke play has been a revelation, and Fareed has shown plenty of promise with the new ball.

For the home side, Shakib Al Hasan has had a stellar tournament, while Mahmudullah is the team's leading run-scorer and Mohammad Saifuddin their top wicket-taker. Afif Hossain, among the newbies, has won a match single handedly, but someone like Najmul Hossain hasn't done much in the tournament so far.

The home side can bank on their experience of playing at the Shere Bangla National Stadium, although it hasn't been a happy venue for them in multi-team tournaments, as they have lost all their finals here to date. Fans are expected to flock to the stadium despite it being the middle of the week - and there's a forecast for rain - which could add to the pressure of having not won a final at the venue. For Afghanistan, who were until recently on a record 12-match winning streak, successive defeats leading into the final would have had a chastening effect, but they would want to quickly pick themselves up, and what better occasion to do it than this?

Form guide

Bangladesh: WWLWL (Last five completed matches, most recent first)

Afghanistan: LLWWW

In the spotlight

Bangladesh's poor showings in T20Is has made the selectors turn to Shafiul Islam once again, who has played just 14 games in the format in more than nine years. If Shafiul and the rest of the bowling attack can keep the Afghanistan batsmen quiet, Bangladesh have a good chance. He has taken four wickets in two games, and shown that he can still swing the new ball considerably.

Gulbadin Naib hasn't quite quite come to the party - just 11 runs and three wickets in the series - especially given that he may have had a point to prove in his first appearance since losing the ODI captaincy, but he is certainly capable of turning things around with both bat and ball, and Afghanistan would want that to happen in the final.

Team news

Doubts over Rashid's fitness, after he aggravated a hamstring injury by continuing to bowl in the last match, mean that slow left -arm spinner Sharafuddin Ashraf, who hasn't played all tournament, is suddenly in contention.

Afghanistan (probable): 1 Hazratullah Zazai, 2 Rahmanullah Gurbaz, 3 Asghar Afghan, 4 Najibullah Zadran, 5 Mohammad Nabi, 6 Shafiqullah, 7 Gulbadin Naib, 8 Rashid Khan/Sharafuddin Ashraf, 9 Karim Janat, 10 Naveen-ul-Haq, 11 Mujeeb Ur Rahman

Coach Russell Domingo hinted that Bangladesh could look to play as many as four seamers in the final, which would mean one of their eight batsmen will have to sit out. It, however, looks unlikely given the inconsistency of the batsmen.

Bangladesh (probable): 1 Liton Das, 2 Najmul Hossain, 3 Shakib Al Hasan (capt), 4 Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), 5 Mahmudullah, 6 Sabbir Rahman, 7 Mosaddek Hossain, 8 Afif Hossain, 9 Mohammad Saifuddin, 10 Shafiul Islam, 11 Mustafizur Rahman

Pitch and conditions

Gamini Silva has kept a shade of grass on the Shere Bangla National Stadium pitch for the final. In night games over the last two years, teams batting first and second and have won twice each. There's also the chance of a shower or two in Dhaka on Tuesday.

Stats that matter

• Shakib became the fourth bowler to reach 350 T20 wickets in the last game against Afghanistan, joining Dwayne Bravo to become the second cricketer to score more than 4500 runs and take 350 wickets in the format.

• Sabbir Rahman is 54 runs short of reaching 1000 T20I runs.

• In eight tournament finals at Shere Bangla National Stadium, the sides batting first have won on three occasions.

Quotes

"The main reason to come back to bowl [in the previous game], was that I wanted to know the severity of the injury. The physio and coaches didn't want me to bowl. I was okay with the first two overs but after going for a run, it got worse. Hopefully, it will be okay for tomorrow. Physio will have a lot of work to do."
Afghanistan captain Rashid Khan on his hamstring injury.

Bangladesh coach Russell Domingo conceded that the team is yet to play a "perfect game of cricket" in the T20I tri-series, adding that to pull it off, they might field a four-man pace attack for the final against Afghanistan on Tuesday, depending on the conditions at Shere Bangla National stadium.

In the last two matches, the three-man pace attack - Mustafizur Rahman, Mohammad Saifuddin and Shafiul Islam - have taken nine wickets at an average of 18.44 and a strike rate of 15.33. Both matches were held in Chattogram where pitches for limited-overs games are usually flatter compared to in Dhaka. The greenish pitch at Shere Bangla could tempt the home team to add another pacer against the spin-heavy Afghanistan side. But the forecast of rain could change the plans.

Domingo said that even if the conditions on Tuesday don't let them play four pace bowlers, it is a strategy Bangladesh must get familiar with in T20Is, given the next World Cup is going to be held in Australia in 2020.

"I think we are going to add a fourth seamer to our 12 and make a decision tomorrow, looking at the wicket," Domingo said. "It is an area we can exploit if there's more pace and bounce. But [playing four pace bowlers] is definitely something that we can consider. It is not a Bangladesh way of doing things. My thinking is where we are going to play the World Cup in a year's time. We are playing in Australia, and I can't see us playing one or two seamers there. We have to play at least three or four fast bowlers in Australia.

"Winning now is important but we also have to think of what is in the best interest of the team going forward. It is a fine line to balance it. It is always good to have a fast-bowling attack but I understand the culture, and the fact that the strength of the team lies in spin bowlers. I am trying to find the balance as a coach."

Domingo pointed out that Bangladesh batsmen have been falling in a heap in the first ten overs and that, ahead of the final, they have been looking at playing a better game, ideally going into the final five overs with seven or eight wickets in hand. So far in the tournament, they have had scores of 117 for 6, 97 for 6, 90 for 3 and 101 for 5 in the first 15 overs. They have averaged 9.21 per over in the last five overs in these matches.

"It is always good to have a fast-bowling attack but I understand the culture, and the that the strength of the team lie in spin bowlers. I am trying to find the balance as a coach." Russell Domingo

"We haven't played the perfect game of cricket yet," Domingo said. "We have been good in certain areas and average in certain areas. We are still trying to find the perfect game. So we haven't got to the last five or six overs with only two or three wickets down.

"We lose too many wickets in the first ten overs. We have to get to the 15th over with two wickets down, maybe, so that we have a platform for the last five overs.

Domingo also backed opening batsman Najmul Hossain, who has made just 5 and 11 in his two appearances so far in the competition.

"We will have a look at the conditions tomorrow. He is a young player and I have been very impressed with what I have seen, the way he carries himself, the way he trains, fields and fitness. Sometimes it is more than just runs and wickets that you look at. He provides us with an unbelievable work ethic and attitude which is important," he said.

India captain Virat Kohli has received a demerit point and an official warning for an "inappropriate" shoulder contact with South Africa quick Beuran Hendricks while taking a run during the third T20I on Sunday in Bengaluru. Kohli was found guilty of a Level 1 breach of the ICC Code of Conduct.

The incident occurred on the fourth ball of the fifth over, bowled by Hendricks, when Kohli pulled a delivery to deep midwicket and rubbed his right shoulder with Hendricks' right while running down the pitch. Kohli was found to have breached Article 2.12 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to "Inappropriate physical contact with a Player, Player Support Personnel, Umpire, Match Referee or any other person (including a spectator) during an International Match."

It was Kohli's third offence since the introduction of the revised code in September 2016. He now has three demerit points after getting one for the Centurion Test in South Africa last year and one more during the match against Afghanistan in this year's World Cup on June 22.

During the Centurion Test, Kohli was penalised for his behaviour with on-field umpire Michael Gough on the third day of the match, and was fined 25% of his fee. During South Africa's second innings, Kohli persistently complained to Gough about the state of the damp ball after a rain interruption and then threw the ball into the ground in an "aggressive manner," according to the ICC.

During the World Cup match against Afghanistan, Kohli was reprimanded for "excessive appealing and charging aggressively towards the umpire" Aleem Dar. The incident occurred when Kohli advanced towards Dar in appeal of an lbw decision against Rahmat Shah in the 29th over of Afghanistan's chase. Kohli was fined 25% of his match fees then too.

According to the revised code, when a player reaches four or more demerit points within a 24-month period, they are converted into suspension points and a player is banned. These demerit points remain on a player's disciplinary record for 24 months from their imposition after which they are expunged.

Kohli admitted the offence and accepted the sanction proposed by match referee Richie Richardson which meant there was no need for a formal hearing. The charge was levelled by on-field umpires Nitin Menon and CK Nandan, third umpire Anil Chaudhary and fourth official C Shamshuddin.

England have dropped Jonny Bairstow from the Test squad for New Zealand, while handing first call-ups to Dom Sibley and Zak Crawley. Bairstow, who averaged 19.45 in Tests this summer, was named in the T20I squad, along with a host of new faces that includes Somerset opener Tom Banton and Pat Brown, the Worcestershire slower-ball specialist.

With Ben Foakes overlooked for the New Zealand tour as well, the decision to leave out Bairstow means Jos Buttler is set to take over as England's first-choice Test wicketkeeper on a tour that falls outside the Future Tours Programme but which has been earmarked as an important stepping stone for England ahead of their trip to South Africa in December.

The New Zealand series comes too soon for James Anderson, who recently confirmed his desire to play on despite injury limiting his Ashes involvement. England instead looked to one of Anderson's younger Lancashire team-mates, with Saqib Mahmood included for both legs of the tour.

Of the XI that beat Australia at The Oval earlier this month to secure a 2-2 series draw, Bairstow is the only omission. Sibley is rewarded for a breakthrough season in which he has scored 1324 Championship runs - more than anyone else in the country - while Crawley, 21, has risen quickly to prominence since his debut at the end of 2017.

More to follow...

England T20I squad: Eoin Morgan (capt), Jonny Bairstow, Tom Banton, Sam Billings, Pat Brown, Sam Curran, Tom Curran, Joe Denly, Lewis Gregory, Chris Jordan, Saqib Mahmood, Dawid Malan, Matt Parkinson, Adil Rashid, James Vince

England Test squad: Joe Root (capt), Jofra Archer, Stuart Broad, Rory Burns, Jos Buttler, Zak Crawley, Sam Curran, Joe Denly, Jack Leach, Saqib Mahmood, Matthew Parkinson, Ollie Pope, Dominic Sibley, Ben Stokes, Chris Woakes

Jacksonville Jaguars star cornerback Jalen Ramsey, who requested a trade last week, called the team Sunday night to inform it that he is sick and will be unable to practice Monday, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter.

Ramsey, who thinks he has the flu, still wants to be traded and may not practice at all this week, sources tell Schefter. The Jaguars are not interested in trading Ramsey, according to sources, setting up a standoff with the two-time Pro Bowler.

Jaguars owner Shad Khan is leading the organization's stance on Ramsey's trade request, according to sources.

Ramsey, 24, played in last Thursday night's 20-7 home victory over the Titans. He revealed in a recent episode of Uninterrupted's "17 Weeks" podcast that an upsetting conversation with team management after a Week 2 loss to the Texans was the final push for his decision to request a trade.

"Some disrespectful things were said on their end that made me definitely walk out and call my agent as soon as I walked out, and I told him, I said, 'It's time; my time is up here in Jacksonville. I want to ask for a trade,'" Ramsey said.

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady turned philosophical when discussing wide receiver Antonio Brown being released after just 11 days with the team.

"I do have a lot of personal feelings, none of which I really care to share," Brady said in his weekly interview on "The Greg Hill Show" on sports radio WEEI. "It's a difficult situation. That's kind of how I feel."

Brady, who spent one-on-one time with Brown on and off the field in hopes of easing his transition to the team, shared in general terms how he approaches his role as a leader on the Patriots.

"There's a lot of human elements. As a player, as a person, I care deeply about my teammates. I want everyone to be the best they can possibly be," he said on the program. "From the day I started with this team, even back in college, you try to provide leadership, and you try to care for people. You try to provide whatever you think you can to help them reach their highest potential -- whatever situation it is.

"I've had a lot of teammates over the years, so you invest -- not just your head, but your heart. You invest your soul. That's what makes a great team. That's what makes a great brotherhood. So I think in the end, the endearing trait about sports for me is the relationships I get to build, because they're very meaningful. That's at the heart, I think, philosophically, [of] my life. It's really about great relationships and seeing guys from all different backgrounds. I think it brings all of us together in so many ways."

Brady said that as long as he's playing and part of a team and community, he will "keep believing in people, in joy, in love" because "that's what works for me."

"Everyone needs something a little bit different. Everybody's upbringing was a little bit different. Everybody's emotional states are different," he said on the program. "How do you contribute -- whether someone is hurting physically, mentally, emotionally -- how do you provide to them what they may need in order to support them to help us all grow and evolve. Not only as individuals. Not only as members of the team. Not only as members of the family. Not only as members of a community. But everybody has different challenges. I think you recognize those challenges, try to provide them as best as possible, and go to bed at night trying to do the best you can do. If things don't work as you hoped, then absolutely when you put your heart on the line, there's emotions that come up. A lot of things are not always in our control. But you wake up the next day and try to find hope and optimism."

The 42-year-old Brady noted how he had the privilege of a "great upbringing" that not everyone is fortunate to have.

"People that know me, I think, know how optimistic I am and just my belief that positivity and optimism can overcome a lot of things. There's a lot of things that get in the way of that, and again, I think we're in a culture where we want to cast judgment so quickly on people. We want to disparage people so quickly. And it just speaks to me that a lot of people are probably hurting, because when you're not feeling great, you want other people to know that. I think it becomes very emotional," he said.

"Again, it's a tough life. Life is not easy. Football is not easy. Evolving and growing as people is not an easy thing. I'm very different now -- at 22 than I am at 42. So I have a lot more perspective. Life is challenging for all of us ... we all go through different aspects of our life and we try to do the best we can do. We develop friendships and relationships, people that support us, and sports has a great way of bringing a lot of people together. I believe the more you care for people, the more you love people, the more you find joy in your life, the better our society is. The better our communities are. The better our teams are. The better our families are. That's how I feel."

Brady lamented today's negative culture.

"It's so easy for us to blame and shame because everyone has a voice now," he said. "A lot of them can just be nameless, faceless comments that are very difficult for people. You love too much, that's a problem. You hate too much, that's a problem. You win too much, that's a problem. You lose too much, that's a problem. Everything ends up being a problem.

"So you just have to focus on, look at yourself, and 'What do I believe in? What are my beliefs?' I'm responsible for my own beliefs. I'm responsible for my own actions. And I'm going to do the best I can do to contribute in the best way possible. I'm not going to add on. I'm not going to be a part of this culture that can become very negative, can become very blaming, very much point fingers. I think as a parent, what responsibility do we have to teach our children? What society do we want this to become? How do we choose in the role we have to make a difference, to contribute in a positive way? And if we don't, that's our choice. For me, based on my upbringing, my choice is something that's different than that."

The 2019 version of NBArank debuted Monday with players Nos. 100 to 51, including hyped rookies (the Memphis Grizzlies' Ja Morant), established veterans (the Denver Nuggets' Paul Millsap) and intriguing players on new squads (the New Orleans Pelicans' Lonzo Ball).

Who didn't make the cut but should have? Which players are the most underrated and overrated? And which future stars are set to rise the most over the next year?

Our NBA experts answer the biggest questions about this year's rankings and what they mean for the upcoming season.

More: Ranking the best players in the NBA this season

1. What is your biggest takeaway from the rankings?

Tim MacMahon, ESPN: We aren't buying the theory that big men aren't that valuable in today's NBA. I see 15 players who will see all or a significant chunk of their minutes at center (including New Orleans Pelicans center Derrick Favors, Indiana Pacers power forward Domantas Sabonis and Memphis Grizzlies power forward Jaren Jackson Jr.) among the 50 players in this pool. And there are a bunch more to come in the top 50.

Nick Friedell, ESPN: This section is chock-full of guys whom teams are banking on to take significant leaps in their play this season. A lot of these young players have the ability to play much better over time. Whether they do -- or don't -- will be key to their teams' seasons.

Eric Woodyard, ESPN: Detroit Pistons star center Andre Drummond being listed outside of the top 50. Sure, he isn't the greatest offensive threat. But we can't just glance over the fact that Drummond led the league in boards the past two seasons and is one of eight players in league history to post at least 1,000 points and 1,000 boards in six or more consecutive seasons. I don't see him slowing down, either -- he's only 26. Maybe they forgot about Dre.

Malika Andrews, ESPN: This group from 100 to 51 is Eastern Conference heavy. It makes sense: The East's best teams don't always flaunt the biggest superstar duos or trios, but they're often deep with rotation players. Both of the East's top 2019 playoff teams, the Bucks and Raptors, had several players make this list.

Andre Snellings, ESPN: The NBA is getting younger, with the new generation taking over and carrying the wave moving forward. A whopping 31 of the players ranked 51-100 have been in the NBA five seasons or fewer, which in the era of one-and-done means most of these guys are under 25 years old. With this shaping up as one of the most exciting NBA seasons in recent memory, it would appear that the future is in good hands.

2. Which player didn't make the top 100 but should have?

Andrews: One of the first things I did when I received a copy of the rankings was scan for Danny Green. How could he not be a top-100 player? When Kawhi Leonard was traded from San Antonio to Toronto, Green was also a key part of that blockbuster deal. Green is one of the best 3-and-D players in the league and has proved to be a key rotation piece. It doesn't compute that he didn't make the cut.

MacMahon: Sacramento Kings small forward Harrison Barnes has his limitations, particularly as a playmaker. But anyone capable of scoring 19 points per game with decent efficiency deserves to be considered among the top 100 players in the NBA. My unsolicited advice to the Kings: Utilize Barnes primarily as a stretch-4 in pace-pushing lineups.

Woodyard: Many people forget that when coming out of high school, Minnesota Timberwolves small forward Andrew Wiggins was heralded as the best player in the nation. After one year at Kansas, he has by no means enjoyed a legendary NBA career, with no All-Star appearances, but the kid can straight-up ball. Could he go harder at times? Sure. But he put up 18.1 points with 4.8 assists last season, with a career average of 19.4 points per game. I think the trade rumors could spark a career season for Wiggins. He is a top-100 player in this league.

Snellings: I almost picked Terry Rozier by default because someone is going to have to produce for the Hornets this season, but Jonas Valanciunas was too strong not to pick. He has been a per-minute monster who wasn't getting the minutes for years, averaging 19.4 points per 36 minutes on 56.2% shooting with 13.3 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per 36 minutes, primarily for the Raptors the past four seasons. The Grizzlies traded for him and gave him minutes to end last season, and his production scaled with more playing time. He's a legit 20-10 threat this season who has had a positive defensive RPM for four straight seasons -- a clear top-100 player.

Friedell: There are few players on the list I would want on the floor more than Andre Iguodala. He might not put up big numbers anymore on a night-to-night basis, but he is very smart, and his teammates and coaches respect him.

3. Who is most likely to outperform his ranking?

Woodyard: I was shocked when I didn't see LA Clippers point guard Patrick Beverley's name listed on the NBA All-Defensive Team last year. You can't tell me he wasn't at least worthy of second-team. I'm not buying that. With the additions of Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, the good thing for Beverley is he will be in the spotlight more. More media attention and more wins typically bring more opportunities to achieve individual accolades and possibly a title. I totally expect Beverley to outperform his No. 79 ranking. He's as tough as nails, and playing with better talent will only help him.

Friedell: If Kyle Kuzma (No. 77) is as good as so many people in Los Angeles believe, he will shoot up this list this season playing alongside Anthony Davis and LeBron James. The Lakers' platform has the ability to create stars, and Kuzma will become one this year if he lives up to his potential.

Snellings: I like a lot of the young players on this list, such as Deandre Ayton, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Marvin Bagley, to potentially make star leaps this season. But the player most likely to outperform his ranking is Robert Covington, who, if healthy, is cartoonishly underrated at No. 97. Covington quietly plays Defensive Player of the Year-caliber defense, with Rudy Gobert the only player in the NBA to rank higher than Covington in defensive RPM in each of the past three seasons. Covington had injury issues last season, but in 2017-18, he measured eighth in the NBA in overall impact as determined by RPM, and all seven of the players in front of him that season are consensus top-25 guys when healthy.

MacMahon: Small forward Gordon Hayward (No. 65) arrived in Boston as a top-30 player. It's probably a stretch to expect him to get back to that level with the Celtics, who have too many mouths to feed to build an entire offense around him like the Utah Jazz did. But Hayward should benefit from a better atmosphere in Boston, and a full year of chipping away at rust and doubt could merit All-Star consideration in the Eastern Conference.

Andrews: Brandon Ingram. Ingram missed the final five weeks of the 2018-19 season after being diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis, but now he's back in the gym. A source told ESPN's Andrew Lopez that Ingram has been a full participant in optional practices this summer. So long as he stays healthy, Ingram has the upside to outplay his ranking.

4. Who is least likely to live up to his ranking?

Friedell: Hayward should be better after another year of work following that gruesome leg injury, but the problem for the Celtics is that he just might never be the player he once was. Some nights last season, he showed flashes of who he was before the injury, and other times he had little impact on the floor. Hayward might get passed this season by a group of young, hungry players coming up behind him.

MacMahon: Portland Trail Blazers center Jusuf Nurkic, simply because he will miss so much of the season while recovering from his gruesome leg injury and then surely will need significant time to work his way back into form as a skilled, physical force. Let's be real: The Blazers wouldn't have taken on the potential headaches and humongous salary that come with center Hassan Whiteside if they anticipated Nurkic to rank as the 83rd-most impactful player in the NBA this season.

Snellings: Brandon Ingram (No. 56). Ingram's game doesn't scale well on a team such as the Pelicans. He prefers to create with the ball in his hands, but Lonzo Ball, Jrue Holiday and even rookie Nickeil Alexander-Walker are better creators for both themselves and the team. And of course, the primary frontcourt iso threat will be Zion Williamson, not Ingram. Ingram doesn't shoot well enough to be maximized as an off-ball threat, and he doesn't create well enough to justify the types of touches he'd require to thrive.

Andrews: Gordon Hayward (No. 65). Although Enes Kanter recently said that Hayward should be eyeing the All-Star Game, there are plenty of questions surrounding the Celtics forward. Hayward seemed to grow more comfortable during the 2018-19 season, but he never appeared to be back in pre-injury form. If he cannot inch back toward 100 percent, his ranking will likely slip. Boston is counting on Hayward to replace some of the production the team lost during summer free agency.

Woodyard: I get it, the New York Knicks are a big-market team, but it disturbs me that they haven't reached the playoffs since 2012-13 and are somehow receiving all of this attention. With no disrespect, center Mitchell Robinson (No. 98) is going to have to prove to me that he's top-100 worthy because I don't see the Knicks putting him in position to really take off. Hopefully, I'm wrong. He was solid as a rookie in the 66 games he played. I'll be tuned in to see the improvement.

5. Which player ranked 100-51 will finish the highest heading into the 2020-21 season?

MacMahon: Jaren Jackson Jr.'s rookie season with the Grizzlies got overshadowed by frequent flashes of brilliance from Luka Doncic and Trae Young, but Jackson also showed signs of being special. Anthony Davis is the only other teen to average at least 13 points and one block per game. Jackson's blend of perimeter shooting and rim protection makes him a perfect big man to build around in the modern NBA.

Andrews: Jaylen Brown. With Kyrie Irving gone, the young guard has more room to grow. The Celtics had a turbulent 2018-19 season. Now, it seems the air has been cleared. For Boston to make a push in the 2020 playoffs, Brown and Jayson Tatum need to take the next step in their development.

Woodyard: One thing I know about Michigan State University players is that they are tough! That said, I'm looking forward to watching Jackson make big strides in his second season in Memphis. He's no longer surrounded by veteran guys such as Mike Conley and Marc Gasol, but I think that'll open doors for him to take off in this league. Although he made the All-Rookie First Team, I think we were robbed of seeing his true talent due to injuries.

Friedell: Jackson is primed for a big season. Playing alongside Ja Morant should only clear up more space for him on the floor. Jackson is one of the best young big men in the league and will take another step in his progression this season.

Snellings: Lonzo Ball is out of the pressure cooker of being the "next big thing" for the storied Lakers franchise and is also in position to increase his playmaking role for the Pelicans after deferring to LeBron James last season. Ball averaged 10.2 points (36% shooting, 31% from deep), 7.2 assists, 6.9 rebounds and 1.7 steals per game as a 20-year-old rookie, numbers eerily similar to then-co-Rookie of the Year Jason Kidd. If Ball is healthy this season, he should finally start to fulfill some of that Kidd-like upside.