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.

For the ninth season in a row, ESPN.com is predicting the top players in basketball with NBArank.

Who will be the best player this season? To get the final prediction, we asked our expert panel to vote on pairs of players.

LeBron James vs. Kawhi Leonard. Zion Williamson vs. Luka Doncic. Devin Booker vs. D'Angelo Russell.

We asked, "Which player will be better in 2019-20?" To decide, voters had to consider both the quality and the quantity of each player's contributions to his team's ability to win games in the regular season and postseason.

We'll roll out our top 100 players over the next week. Here are Nos. 100 to 51.

More: NBA insiders debate underrated, overrated players

NBArank: 100 to 51

100. Derrick White

• San Antonio Spurs | PG

• Previous rank: NR

• 2019-20 projected RPM wins: 3.4

Zach Lowe on White's 2019 playoffs: If you paid attention during the regular season, you knew White was good. I'm not sure anyone expected him to work as San Antonio's best player for much of its series against Denver, with a 36-point eruption in Game 3 that stood as the best single-game performance of the first round -- a two-way masterpiece that bordered on perfection -- until Damian Lillard's 50-pointer.

Foul trouble slowed White in Game 5. Tiny cracks emerged in his defense. But zoom out and the Spurs must be thrilled with how at home he looks in the postseason hothouse.

99. Evan Fournier

• Orlando Magic | G

• Previous rank: 99

• Projected RPM wins: 2.7

Brian Windhorst on Fournier's summer: Here is the kind of guy Fournier is. As soon as he got his bronze medal with France in the FIBA World Cup, he gave it away, saying he already had one from 2014 at home. Then he criticized American friends, such as former Magic teammate Tobias Harris, for not coming to play. Fournier played with the same fearless attitude throughout the tournament. He battered Team USA, and even though he didn't shoot great down the stretch, he finished at 41% from 3-point range and averaged 19.8 points in the event. Still unclear: Whether he gave away the watch he got for making the all-tournament team.

98. Mitchell Robinson

• New York Knicks | C

• Previous rank: NR

• Projected RPM wins: 3.9

Kevin Pelton on Robinson's role: After spending most of his rookie campaign coming off the bench, Robinson projects as a starter in 2019-20. Among New York's young players, he is the best equipped with role-player skills to contribute if and when the Knicks add a star.

97. Robert Covington

• Minnesota Timberwolves | SF

• Previous rank: 49

• Projected RPM wins: 6.5

Andre Snellings on Covington's rank: At No. 97, Covington is cartoonishly underrated if healthy. He quietly plays Defensive Player of the Year-caliber D, with Rudy Gobert as 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.

96. Derrick Favors

• New Orleans Pelicans | PF

• Previous rank: 83

• Projected RPM wins: 2.9

Pelton on the Pelicans' trade for Favors: If Favors proves a good fit, by trading for him New Orleans will have full Bird rights when Favors hits unrestricted free agency next summer. The downside to dealing for Favors is he isn't quite as stretchy a big man as would be ideal next to No. 1 overall pick Zion Williamson. As hard as he worked to add 3-point range playing power forward in Utah, Favors topped out last season at 17 made 3s, and he is a 21% career shooter from beyond the arc. So Favors will congest things a bit for Williamson on offense.

That is offset by his polished defense, which will take pressure off Williamson to be a rim protector from day one.

95. Jarrett Allen

• Brooklyn Nets | C

• Previous rank: NR

• Projected RPM wins: 3.7

Pelton on Brooklyn's center position: Though not quite 31 years old, DeAndre Jordan has aged rapidly because of his dependence on athleticism. Because he still is a strong finisher and his size won't fade, Jordan might be worth $10 million in the first couple of years of this deal. By 2022-23, when Jordan will be 34? That looks incredibly unlikely. Worse yet, the Nets might have to start Jordan ahead of third-year center Allen, a similarly good pick-and-roll option who is far more active defensively at this stage of his career.

94. Justise Winslow

• Miami Heat | SF

• Previous rank: 96

• Projected RPM wins: 3.3

Pelton on Miami's rotation: The Jimmy Butler trade did come at a cost to Miami's depth. Of the seven Heat players who logged more than 1,200 minutes last season, just three -- Winslow, Bam Adebayo and Kelly Olynyk -- will return. So, Miami is counting on them, along with healthy comebacks from veterans Goran Dragic, James Johnson and Dion Waiters, who combined to miss 102 games due to injuries in 2018-19.

93. Ja Morant

• Memphis Grizzlies | G

• Previous rank: N/A

• Projected RPM wins: -1.2

Mike Schmitz on Memphis' lottery picks: With Jaren Jackson Jr., Morant has an agile big who can get up and down, provide spacing in pop situations or function like a lob target as a diver. Morant-Jackson transition drag screens will give defenses fits, and Jackson's ability to shoot and handle will give the Grizzlies creative ways to combat teams that dare Morant to shoot or funnel him to the rim, while providing Morant the driving lines he didn't have at Murray State. Jackson's defensive versatility and rim protection also will help Morant cover up some of his mistakes on that end of the floor as he gains experience. Memphis still needs to continue building out its roster and putting shooters around Morant, but he and Jackson figure to make up one of the best point guard-big man duos in the league sooner than later.

92. Julius Randle

• New York Knicks | PF

• Previous rank: 84

• Projected RPM wins: 1.0

Adrian Wojnarowski on Randle joining the Knicks: Randle has developed into one of the NBA's most versatile offensive frontcourt players. At 24, he had the best NBA campaign of his five-year career last season, averaging 21.4 points on 52% shooting to go along with 8.7 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game for the Pelicans.

91. Danilo Gallinari

• Oklahoma City Thunder | SF

• Previous rank: NR

• Projected RPM wins: 2.2

Lowe on Gallinari's fit in OKC: Gallinari was a borderline All-Star last season, and he can work as the stretch power forward the Thunder haven't had since Serge Ibaka kinda, sorta became one. OKC can even steal some minutes with Gallinari as a wing.

90. Otto Porter Jr.

• Chicago Bulls | SF

• Previous rank: 38

• Projected RPM wins: 6.2

Pelton on Porter in Chicago: Porter is a solid complementary piece, a capable defender who scores with high efficiency in a limited role. He is a career 39% 3-point shooter who made better than 43% of his attempts in each of the previous two seasons, before dipping to 37% in the first part of 2018-19. There's little question that the Bulls could use a player such as that alongside Zach LaVine on the wing.

89. Joe Harris

• Brooklyn Nets | SG

• Previous rank: NR

• Projected RPM wins: 2.0

Pelton on Harris and the Nets: The youth of Brooklyn's returning core of role players sets the Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving pairing apart from other star duos we've seen in recent memory. Of the other players on the roster, only Harris (28 in September) is older than age 26. At 27, Irving also is in the middle of his prime, giving the Nets plenty of options to supplement Durant if he needs to manage his playing time while coming back from injury and to prolong his career beyond that.

The wing players Brooklyn has stocked up on should fit well in smaller roles alongside Durant and Irving. Harris, the NBA's reigning 3-point champion, led the league by shooting 47.4% beyond the arc last season.

88. Fred VanVleet

• Toronto Raptors | PG

• Previous rank: 74

• Projected RPM wins: 5.1

Tim Bontemps on VanVleet's 2019 playoffs: VanVleet might be Toronto's backup point guard, but he was a crucial part of the team's run to the title. He got hot from 3-point range over the final three games of the Eastern Conference finals against the Bucks to help the Raptors make the NBA Finals, and he played tremendous defense on Warriors star Stephen Curry in their matchups.

87. Marcus Smart

• Boston Celtics | SG

• Previous rank: 54

• Projected RPM wins: 6.55

Pelton on Marcus Smart's defense: No regular starter expends more energy on defense than Smart, who seems to will himself into position to thwart opponents' plays. In addition to effort, that also requires strong pattern recognition from Smart, who excels at gambling defensively when the odds are in his favor.

86. Josh Richardson

• Philadelphia 76ers | SG

• Previous rank: 68

• Projected RPM wins: 2.3

Kirk Goldsberry on Richardson's fit in Philly: With the Heat, Richardson built his brand by playing outstanding perimeter defense. He provides Philly with an active, versatile wing capable of frustrating even the world's best perimeter players. Unlike Butler, Richardson will be content to play off the ball and stretch the floor, making him an ideal wing alongside Ben Simmons.

Richardson might not be as good as Redick as a shooter, but he really is good at hitting open catch-and-shoot 3s. His shooting percentage jumped to 42.4% (73rd percentile) when his defender was at least 6 feet away. Simmons created 452 such open looks last year, and it's fair to expect Richardson's 3-point activity to skew toward his strengths in Philly, where he'll play alongside higher-usage teammates who command a lot of defensive attention.

85. Paul Millsap

• Denver Nuggets | PF

• Previous rank: 61

• Projected RPM wins: 3.9

Lowe on Millsap: Millsap is one of the league's ultimate gap-fillers -- on both ends. He senses what the Nuggets need and does it. He seizes more of the offense if things bog down. He can create something from nothing in crunchtime. He always appears in the right place, at the right time, on defense.

84. Ricky Rubio

• Phoenix Suns | G

• Previous rank: 52

• Projected RPM wins: 1.6

Windhorst on Rubio's summer: Now one of most experienced international players, Rubio played with a vision and aggression befitting his experience. Spain has a number of experienced players, but he drove it to the World Cup title, scoring 20 points in the championship game to cement MVP honors. He shot the 3-pointer better than in the past, at 38%. If he carries that to training camp, it will be a true boost for the Suns.

83. Jusuf Nurkic

• Portland Trail Blazers | C

• Previous rank: 75

• Projected RPM wins: 2.1

Pelton on Nurkic's defense: Terry Stotts' defensive scheme calls for the screener's defender to drop back into the paint on pick-and-rolls, protecting the rim. The 7-foot Nurkic excelled in that scheme, using his size to intimidate in the paint. Per Second Spectrum tracking on NBA Advanced Stats, the 55.9% of shots inside 5 feet opponents have made with Nurkic as a primary defender ranks in the top 20 among players who have defended at least four such shots per game.

82. P.J. Tucker

• Houston Rockets | PF

• Previous rank: NR

• Projected RPM wins: 0.2

Pelton on Tucker's playoff performance: Because he spent so long in the lottery in Phoenix after returning to the NBA, Tucker didn't make his playoff debut until age 31, following a deadline trade to Toronto. That's too bad, because since joining the Rockets, Tucker has proved to be their version of Draymond Green in many regards, including playoff overperformance.

81. Bam Adebayo

• Miami Heat | C

• Previous rank: NR

• Projected RPM wins: 3.8

Lowe on Adebayo passing Hassan Whiteside last season: Adebayo is a legit starter -- hoppy, fast, a smart passer with growing confidence in his elbow jumper.

80. Brook Lopez

• Milwaukee Bucks | C

• Previous rank: 30

• Projected RPM wins: 3.2

Malika Andrews on Lopez's role in Milwaukee: Nothing about Lopez's 3-point shooting is ordinary. He attempted 512 3-pointers in the regular season -- the most by a 7-footer in league history.

While Giannis Antetokounmpo dominated headlines for the Bucks, Lopez was his shooting sidekick, opening the paint for Antetokounmpo's drives and dunks while making defenses pay if they didn't step out to guard him.

79. Patrick Beverley

• LA Clippers | PG

• Previous rank: NR

• Projected RPM wins: 3.1

Wojnarowski on Beverley's free agency: Beverley was one of the most pursued guards in the free-agent marketplace. His tenacious, versatile play had a huge role in the Clippers' surprising run to the postseason and their six-game playoff series against the Golden State Warriors.

78. Eric Gordon

• Houston Rockets | SG

• Previous rank: 42

• Projected RPM wins: 4.0

Wojnarowski on Gordon's new contract: Gordon agreed to a three-year, $54.5 million contract extension in August. Gordon, 30, was entering the final year of his contract in 2019-20, which is worth $14 million. He has averaged nearly 17 points in his three seasons with the Rockets, which included an NBA Sixth Man of the Year award. Gordon is part of a nucleus that includes James Harden, Russell Westbrook and Clint Capela that is expected to compete with the elite in the Western Conference.

77. Kyle Kuzma

• Los Angeles Lakers | PF

• Previous rank: 70

• Projected RPM wins: 1.4

Nick Friedell on Kuzma's potential: If Kuzma is as good as so many people in Los Angeles believe he is, he will shoot up this list by playing alongside Anthony Davis and LeBron James. The Lakers' platform has the ability to create stars. Kuzma will become one this year if he lives up to his potential.

76. Spencer Dinwiddie

• Brooklyn Nets | G

• Previous rank: 76

• Projected RPM wins: 3.0

Lowe on future finances for Brooklyn and Dinwiddie: In the 2021-22 season, things get hairy for the Nets. Jarrett Allen's first veteran contract will kick in. Dinwiddie can decline a $12.3 million player option and reenter free agency in the summer of 2021 if he is confident he can get a fatter deal. Caris LeVert's deal rises every season, per contract details obtained by ESPN.com. Deals for Joe Harris and Taurean Prince might too if Brooklyn re-signs them. All of a sudden, the Nets could vault something like $25 million over the tax -- triggering a tax bill approaching $50 million. Even obscenely wealthy owners might blanch at that.

75. Steven Adams

• Oklahoma City Thunder

• Previous rank: 47

• Projected RPM wins: 5.2

Lowe on what's next for Adams: Adams is maybe the biggest winner in the Russell Westbrook trade, by the way. He actually can grab some defensive rebounds now. He is one of the league's burliest rebounders, and yet his career defensive rebounding rate is almost on par with that of Andrea Bargnani -- one of the worst big man rebounders ever.

74. Bogdan Bogdanovic

• Sacramento Kings | SG

• Previous rank: NR

• Projected RPM wins: 1.8

Windhorst on Bogdanovic's summer: He shot 36% from 3-point range for the Kings last season, but he was relentless throughout the World Cup, nailing 53% of his 3s and making an average of four per game. Granted, the line is closer in international play, but everything about his shot looked smooth, and his confidence was great. He averaged 22.9 points and was unquestionably one of the best guards in China, as he was named to the all-tournament team.

73. JJ Redick

• New Orleans Pelicans | SG

• Previous rank: 65

• Projected RPM wins: 1.2

Goldsberry on Redick's shooting: Redick has jumped around his whole career. The Pelicans will be his fifth team since he entered the league in 2006. But as Redick entered his prime, the NBA began a love affair with 3-point shooting, and Redick has the checks to prove it, as teams have continued to value his unique ability to knock down shots in all sorts of predicaments.

Along with Curry and Klay Thompson, Redick is one of the few NBA players who can come off of a curl, set his feet and get a high-efficiency shot off in traffic.

72. Montrezl Harrell

• LA Clippers | C

• Previous rank: NR

• Projected RPM wins: 4.1

Lowe on the Lou Williams and Harrell tandem: Each is good on his own: Williams the slippery scorer, and Harrell the ferocious dive-and-dunk machine who treats the rim like a pull-up bar along his door frame. Together, they form something more. They lift each other. They keep adding subtle touches designed specifically to work in concert. Defenses have no idea what is coming.

71. Dejounte Murray

• San Antonio Spurs | PG

• Previous rank: 64

• Projected RPM wins: 0.7

Lowe on the Spurs' continuity: The Spurs might have the most vanilla tentpole All-Stars in the league, but they also get Murray back to join Derrick White. Remember: The normally stolid Spurs could not hide their enthusiasm last year over what Murray was about to do before his knee injury.

70. Gary Harris

• Denver Nuggets | G

• Previous rank: 43

• Projected RPM wins: 3.6

Bobby Marks on Harris' bonus watch: Already pressed against the luxury tax, the Nuggets could see their $979,000 buffer shrink if shooting guard Harris stays healthy and the team has a deep playoff run.

As part of his four-year, $74 million rookie extension, Harris has $2.4 million in incentives for team playoff success and individual honors. If Harris plays 60 games (which he has done only twice in five seasons), the Nuggets reach the NBA Finals and the team logs 57 wins, Harris will earn $775,000. Winning an NBA championship would push that total to $975,000 and leave the Nuggets just inches away from paying the tax.

69. Marvin Bagley III

• Sacramento Kings | PF

• Previous rank: NR

• Projected RPM wins: 1.1

Pelton on Bagley's importance: How far Sacramento progresses as a franchise over the next three seasons will be closely tied to the development of Bagley. In some ways, the broad outline of Bagley's offense-first skill set should seem familiar to new head coach Luke Walton, who had a similar big man in Julius Randle with the Lakers. Walton progressively gave Randle more minutes at center, relying on his ability to switch pick-and-rolls rather than asking him to protect the rim like a more traditional 5-man. Bagley's athleticism gives him similar potential as a switch defender.

68. Lonzo Ball

• New Orleans Pelicans | PG

• Previous rank: 62

• Projected RPM wins: 2.0

Ohm Youngmisuk on Ball's new team: The Pelicans could be one of the more exciting young up-and-comers. Ball, who averaged 9.9 points, 5.4 assists and 5.3 rebounds in 47 games last season before suffering a season-ending ankle injury on Jan. 19, can hardly wait to start lobbing passes to New Orleans' latest first overall pick, Zion Williamson.

67. Eric Bledsoe

• Milwaukee Bucks | SG

• Previous rank: 56

• Projected RPM wins: 5.6

Lowe on Milwaukee and Bledsoe: Even the Bucks are worse off for losing Malcolm Brogdon, their second-best player for parts of the Eastern Conference finals. (One of biggest swing questions in the 2020 title race is whether Bledsoe has permanent playoff-itis. With Brogdon, the Bucks almost made the NBA Finals despite Bledsoe struggling. Without him, they have limited margin for Bledsoe error.)

66. Deandre Ayton

• Phoenix Suns | C

• Previous rank: NR

• Projected RPM wins: 3.7

Pelton on Phoenix and Ayton: As expected, Ayton's combination of size, skill and athleticism made him an efficient scorer. His .608 true shooting percentage ranked him second among rookies who played at least 500 minutes, behind Mitchell Robinson of the Knicks. As Phoenix finds more playmakers on offense, Ayton should be able to improve on the 21% of the team's plays he used as a rookie, becoming more of an offensive force.

65. Gordon Hayward

• Boston Celtics | SF

• Previous rank: 40

• Projected RPM wins: 2.8

Tim MacMahon on Hayward's upcoming season: Hayward 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 Jazz did. But Hayward should benefit from a better atmosphere in Boston and a full year of chipping away at rust and doubt and merit All-Star consideration in the Eastern Conference.

64. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

• Oklahoma City Thunder | PG

• Previous rank: NR

• Projected RPM wins: 0.9

Schmitz on SGA's potential: I've long been a supporter of Gilgeous-Alexander as the best long-term point guard prospect in the 2018 draft, and I'll remain on that island for the time being. While not clearly as dynamic as Trae Young, I love the fact that Gilgeous-Alexander should be able to defend up to three positions in time, all while making every pick-and-roll read, striding it out into finesse finishes and keeping defenses honest from 3-point range.

Gilgeous-Alexander has the approach to the game -- along with the physical upside -- that could make him one of the league's best two-way point guards down the line. He needs to continue shooting it better from 3 and rely less on inside-the-arc jumpers, but I'm keeping my stock in Gilgeous-Alexander for the moment.

63. Domantas Sabonis

• Indiana Pacers | PF

• Previous rank: 92

• Projected RPM wins: 4.2

MacMahon on Sabonis and valuable bigs: Throughout these rankings, we aren't buying the theory that big men aren't that valuable in today's NBA. I count 15 players who will see all or a significant chunk of their minutes at center (including Derrick Favors, Domantas Sabonis and Jaren Jackson Jr.) among the 50 players in this pool. And there are a bunch more to come in the top 50.

62. Joe Ingles

• Utah Jazz | SF

• Previous rank: 53

• Projected RPM wins: 4.4

Lowe on Ingles' moves: Ingles keeps help defenders guessing until the very last second. He has a fake for every part of his body -- eye fakes, pump fakes and the meanest pass fake since Manu Ginobili was spinning big guys around like tops. It wouldn't surprise me if Ingles has some sort of nose fake we don't know about.

61. Marc Gasol

• Toronto Raptors C

• Previous rank: 51

• Projected RPM wins: 2.5

Windhorst on Gasol's summer: He took only one week off between the NBA Finals and reporting to the national team, making his strong play even more impressive. He played 39 minutes and scored 33 points in a double-overtime win in the semifinals against Australia -- one of his best performances in a long career for Spain -- in what turned out to be the vital one in securing the gold.

60. Caris LeVert

• Brooklyn Nets | SG

• Previous rank: NR

• Projected RPM wins: 2.0

Lowe on LeVert's potential: LeVert has a chance to grow into a championship third option, which is probably his appropriate NBA ceiling. He is still just 24, with potential to become an All-Star, two-way wing. His jump shot -- he is a career 32.9% shooter from deep -- might be the swing factor. The presence of Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant ensures Levert will not be overburdened as a primary on-ball creator.

59. Buddy Hield

• Sacramento Kings | SG

• Previous rank: NR

• Projected RPM wins: 4.8

Pelton on Hield's potential: Because he already is 26 -- after revealing last December he had previously been listed a year younger than his actual age -- Hield doesn't have the same kind of upside as De'Aaron Fox. But the centerpiece of the return for DeMarcus Cousins has developed into a high scorer, topping 20 points per game last season by virtue of a combination of more playing time, a faster pace and a 3.2-point increase in his points per 100 possessions. Hield hasn't made much progress as a playmaker and will likely always struggle defensively, but he is a reliable starter at a position that is difficult to fill. (Nobody knows that better than the Kings, who drafted Ben McLemore and Nik Stauskas in the lottery before dealing for Hield.)

58. Lou Williams

• LA Clippers | SG

• Previous rank: 72

• Projected RPM wins: 3.4

Youngmisuk on Williams' award-winning season: Clippers' supersub Williams won the Sixth Man of the Year Award for the third time in five years. Since joining the Clippers in 2017-18, Williams has won Sixth Man kudos two years in a row. Williams, 32, averaged 20 points and 5.4 assists in 26.6 minutes per game off the bench last season.

57. Malcolm Brogdon

• Indiana Pacers | SG

• Previous rank: 89

• Projected RPM wins: 2.3

Andrews on Brogdon in Indiana: The Pacers' splashiest free-agency acquisition was former Rookie of the Year Brogdon, who signed a lucrative three-year, $85 million contract with Indiana. Until Victor Oladipo returns from the quad injury that ended his 2018-19 season, much of the Pacers' offense likely will run through Brogdon.

56. Brandon Ingram

• New Orleans Pelicans | SF

• Previous rank: 55

• Projected RPM wins: -0.4

Lowe on Ingram in New Orleans: The Lakers rushed Ingram into an alpha scorer identity. Playing a secondary role alongside Lonzo Ball and Zion Williamson (and Jrue Holiday, if he remains with the Pelicans, instead of nudging them for a deal to a win-now outfit) will be perfect for Ingram. He can attack off the catch and run pick-and-rolls against scrambled defenses when Holiday, Ball or Williamson swings the ball to him.

His 3-point shooting will be the wild card -- the difference between Ingram being a solid veteran and something much more.

55. Zach LaVine

• Chicago Bulls | SG

• Previous rank: NR

• Projected RPM wins: 2.8

Lowe on Chicago: This is a huge year for LaVine and Lauri Markkanen. If LaVine grows into more of an all-around player -- and not an empty-calories hog -- Chicago's ceiling and position in the trade market change. Markkanen should be good. He has a good stroke, and some handle and vision, as well as a bit of a nasty streak. But this will be his third season. It's time for production to catch up with appearances.

54. Jaren Jackson Jr.

• Memphis Grizzlies | PF

• Previous rank: NR

• Projected RPM wins: 2.6

MacMahon on Jackson's potential to rise: Jackson's rookie season got overshadowed by frequent flashes of brilliance by 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.

53. Clint Capela

• Houston Rockets | C

• Previous rank: 36

• Projected RPM wins: 5.4

Marks on Capela' fit in Houston: He is perfect fit for the Rockets' offense, because 54% of his production comes out of the pick-and-roll and cuts, according to Synergy. In fact, per NBA Advanced Stats, more than 99% of Capela's shot attempts have come from within 9 feet of the rim.

52. Andre Drummond

• Detroit Pistons

• Previous rank: 45

• Projected RPM wins: 6.8

Eric Woodyard on Drummond being underrated: My biggest takeaway from the rankings was 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.

51. Jaylen Brown

• Boston Celtics | SG

• Previous rank: 37

• Projected RPM wins: 3.4

Windhorst on Brown at Team USA: Brown was one of the few Celtics who wasn't afraid to push back against Kyrie Irving last season when the former Boston point guard took some shots at the younger players on the roster. Brown is sometimes quiet, but he isn't meek. That attitude has been positive this summer.

More: NBA insiders debate underrated, overrated players

Results from the Czech Republic, Self Transcendence 24-hour Track Race, English Schools’ Combined Events and Race Walking Championships and more

Coverage of the South and Midlands Relays can be found here.

Mattoni Ústí nad Labem Half Marathon, Czech Republic, September 21

Britain’s Jessica Piasecki won the women’s race in a PB of 71:34 in a close finish with Ukrainians Daria Mykhailova (71:36) and Olha Skrypak (71:41).

Germany’s Hendrik Pfeiffer won the men’s race in 63:17.

English Schools’ Combined Events and Race Walking Championships, Exeter, September 21-22

Stuart Bladon won the senior boys’ decathlon with a score of 6468 points as the other medallists Adam Booth (6367) and Luke Cressey (6112) both set PBs.

Stephen Simmons, only 15th last year, won the intermediate boys’ octathlon with a PB score of 5346 points while Oliver Thatcher claimed silver and Jami Schlueter took the bronze.

Sammy Ball, who was seventh last year and is the England octathlon champion, won the junior boys’ pentathlon with a PB score of 3356 points with Jake Minshull (3243) and Jacob Blanc (2992) the other medallists.

Erin Lobley won the junior girls’ pentathlon comfortably with 3241 points as Seren Rodgers’ PB got her second place with 3096 and Grace Colmer was third with 3062 points.

Ella Rush won the under-17 heptathlon with 4978 points as Rebekah O’Brien finished second with a PB 4852 with Katie Chapman also improving her best score with 4625 points.

Emily Race went one place better than last year to win the senior girls’ event with 4910 points ahead of last year’s intermediate champion Jessica Hopkins who set a PB of 4789 points while Emily Tyrrell won bronze with a score of 4764 points.

Emily Tyrrell clocks 14.98 (-3.8) in the sprint hurdles in bright and breezy conditions in the senior girls heptathlon as the English Schools Combined Events & Race Walks Champs in Exeter gets underway. @SchoolAthletics pic.twitter.com/0PsyXSDfOj

— AW (@AthleticsWeekly) September 21, 2019

Self Transcendence 24-hour Track Race, Tooting Bec, September 21/22

There were victories for Rob Payne and Jo Newens, Adrian Stott reports.

Payne completed 251.989 km/155.57 miles, a total of 629 laps of the track.

In so doing he achieved the men’s individual British Athletics guideline qualifying standard for 24 hours of 250km.

Newens , who like Payne was also running her first 24-hour track event, achieved 221.373km/137.55 miles which surpassed the women’s guideline British Athletics qualifying team standard for 24 hours of 215km.

In all, 31 runners from 48 starters bettered the 100 mile barrier, a record for the event.

Rhodes College Invitational, Memphis, USA, September 21

Britons took four of the first six places with Scott Beattie second and Patrick Dever third, both in 24:22, while Isaac Akers was fifth in 24:26 and Cameron Field sixth in 24:36.

Buenos Aires, Argentina, September 22

Kenyan Evans Chebet won in a South American all-comers’ record of 2:05:00 ahead of Rueben Kiprop’s 2:05:19. Daniel Kipkore was third in 2:06:52.

In fifth, Derlys Ayala from Paraguay won the South American title in 2:10:31.

The women’s winner Rodah Jepkorir timed 2:25:46.

Admiral Swansea Bay 10km, September 22

Kieran Clements won the men’s race in 30:03 from Liam Dee (30:17) and James Hunt (30:22).

Natasha Cockram won the women’s race in 33:27 from Clara Evans (33:36) and Jenny Nesbitt (33:46).

Hengshui, China, September 22

Marta Lema took more than a minute off the course record in 2:24:31.

Aychew Bantie won the men’s race in 2:08:51.

Zandaam, Netherlands, September 22

Kenya’s Evaline Chirchir ran 50:32, the fourth fastest ever woman’s time over 10 miles.

Kenya’s Irene Cheptai was second in 50:35, while Dagnechew Selamawit of Ethiopia was third in 50:48.

Ethiopia’s Solomon Berihu took the men’s race in 45:49. Kenya’s John Langat was second in 46:20.

Sheffield 10km, September 22

Andrew Heyes won in a course record of 30:44.

Mohamed Saleh was second in 31:23 and Jamie Hall clocked 32:13 to take third place.

Elaine Livera was the first woman in 37:41, ahead of Anna Watkinson-Powell who was second in at 38:01 and Hannah May Fletcher who finished third in 38:33.

Simplyhealth Great East Run, Ipswich, September 22

Record entries saw 2010 European 10,000m runner-up Chris Thompson win in 66:43. Andrew Rooke was second in 69:39, with Danny Rock third in 70:22.

Congratulations to Chris Thompson, winner of the @SimplyhealthUK #GreatEastRun ?? pic.twitter.com/q8f9QoAsKi

— Great Run (@Great_Run) September 22, 2019

Lauren Deadman was the first woman in 79:03, with Sophie Delderfield second in 82:21 and Alice Heather-Hayes third in 87:40.