NBA Power Rankings: Tiering all 30 projected starting small forwards for 2023-24

Tier 6: The young star-potential wings

In this tier, we’re going to find some young talent that possesses clear star potential. These are the small forwards that while they have some ground to cover in their development, the early returns are quite promising.

23. Trey Murphy III, New Orleans Pelicans

The New Orleans Pelicans have one of the most talented rosters in the NBA and Trey Murphy III emerged as potentially the next of their young players primed for a breakout season. However, a summer injury has put all that in jeopardy.

Murphy is likely going to miss the first few months of the season due to injuring his knee in an offseason workout. However, with the promise that he showed last season, it’s easy to see why New Orleans would be high on the young wing heading into this year. Because of the injury, though, you almost have to view this season as a red-shirt year.

The true test to see what Murphy is will likely come next season, a full year removed from this most recent knee injury. The early returns on Murphy are quite promising, however. There’s a good chance the Pelicans may have hit on another effective wing player.