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Top 5 under 25: The most valuable youngsters in the NBA

By Morgan Dunn

OAKLAND, CA - APRIL 05: Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the Minnesota Timberwolves is congratulated by Andrew Wiggins #22 after he made a basket against the Golden State Warriors at ORACLE Arena on April 5, 2016 in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CA - APRIL 05: Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the Minnesota Timberwolves is congratulated by Andrew Wiggins #22 after he made a basket against the Golden State Warriors at ORACLE Arena on April 5, 2016 in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /
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OAKLAND, CA – APRIL 05: Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the Minnesota Timberwolves is congratulated by Andrew Wiggins #22 after he made a basket against the Golden State Warriors at ORACLE Arena on April 5, 2016 in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CA – APRIL 05: Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the Minnesota Timberwolves is congratulated by Andrew Wiggins #22 after he made a basket against the Golden State Warriors at ORACLE Arena on April 5, 2016 in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /

We explore the five most valuable players in the NBA currently under the age of 25.

Young talent is an extremely valuable commodity in the NBA, evidenced by the sheer worth of draft picks in this era. The youth movement in the NBA is a very real thing, and there are some extremely tantalizing youngsters around the league right now.

Here’s a look at the Top 5 players under the age of 25 from a value standpoint.

Honorable Mentions

Joe Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers – Embiid is a very interesting case, and I think some people would probably put him in the Top 5. However, just 31 games played in three years bumps him to the honorable mentions here. Embiid’s talent borders on mind-boggling, as he appears capable of being a once-in-a-generation center if he can stay healthy. Give his injury history, that’s a big if.

Devin Booker, Phoenix Suns – Booker has become a bit overrated in his two years in the NBA, but he’s still miles ahead of where I thought he’d be. He’s a good shooter and a gifted scorer, but he currently doesn’t do a whole lot more than that. His defense needs serious work, and he needs to work on his all-around game to avoid remaining a one-dimensional threat. Still, Phoenix’s refusal to even discuss Booker’s involvement in any Kyrie Irving deal shows how highly they value him.

Andrew Wiggins, Minnesota Timberwolves – Wiggins has a ton of talent, and he’s fresh off a season in which he scored nearly 24 points per game. However, he still has a long way to go defensively, which is surprising given his defensive potential. At just 22, though, there’s plenty of room to grow.

Bradley Beal, Washington Wizards – One of the smoothest shooters you’ll ever see, Beal made a significant leap last season. Averaging more than 23 points per game and posting a PER of more than 20, the 24-year-old is very much the player Washington was hoping they were getting when they made him the third selection in the 2012 NBA Draft.

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