In times like this for the Utah Jazz, top 100 rankings should mean very little. The Jazz aren't aspiring to make the postseason, so what should it matter where their players are currently ranked? However, Jazz fans might be happy with which Jazzmen showed up on Action Network's Top 100 and where they ranked.
It should surprise no one that Lauri Markkanen made the cut while ranking high on the list, especially considering a previous list from last month did that, but there were definitely some rankings involving current and previous Jazz players that deserve to be put under the scope.
1. Lauri Markkanen was ranked pretty (unreasonably?) high!
Enough has been said about why Markkanen is such a good player. There's a good reason why the Jazz played hard to get with the Warriors during those trade rumors involving "The Finnisher," just like there's a good reason why the Jazz gave him a sizable pay raise.
Markkanen was ranked No. 23 on the list. Matt Moore described Markkanen's qualities, but didn't really explain why he ranked that high.
"A top-level scorer with great size, efficiency, and an adaptable playstyle, it’s no wonder the Warriors coveted him so much in trade talks before the season. The questions are how to build a winning team around him and if there’s anything he can add to his game to get Utah into the playoffs," Moore wrote.
For even more context, Markkanen was ranked ahead of De'Aaron Fox, Jaylen Brown, Domantas Sabonis, and Pascal Siakam, among others. All four of those guys have received more accolades and have achieved more success with their teams than Markkanen has.
Markkanen could be on that level someday, but it's hard to argue that he's proven enough to be ranked better than them.
2. Lauri Markkanen over Rudy Gobert (by a lot?!)
Look, this isn't meant to dump all over Markkanen. CBS Sports' Top 100 player rankings had a much more reasonable ranking with Markkanen, putting him at No. 31. That's around where he should be ranked. He's not only a star, but his skillset and frame allow him to exploit matchups in an NBA that values that ability now more than ever.
However, ranking him 27 spots ahead of Jazz legend Rudy Gobert seems a little asinine, no? Again, Markkanen is quite a rare commodity of a player, but he's never made the playoffs, while Gobert is coming off a season in which he returned to form and was one of the best players on a team that dethroned the reigning champions and made the Western Conference Finals.
Underrating Rudy Gobert is nothing new, and comparing him to Markkanen is apples and oranges. The difference is that Gobert has objectively proven he's a winning player, whereas Markkanen has not, despite his ascension in Utah.
3. Another Jazzman made the list
It would not have been that surprising if Markkanen was the only Jazz player who made the list. However, another Jazzman made the top 100: Collin Sexton. Brandon Anderson explained why Sexton made it at No. 91.
"Sexton took a real leap last season as a playmaker, and his shot looks real and is proven at this point while his free throw rate is on its way up too. He’s become a serious weapon offensively, even as the defense lags horribly behind. When some team eventually comes calling for Lauri Markkanen, I’d want to be the second team swooping in after for Sexton."
Sexton actually has a good case. He has evolved into a better all-around player in Utah while maintaining his efficient scoring abilities in limited minutes. There's a case to be made that he's one of the most underrated NBA players.
If he was on a team trying to win, he could get more recognition around the league. That could be on the Jazz, but it may take a while for him to get the attention he deserves.
4. Walker Kessler has a lot to prove this season
That statement should be followed by the biggest D'UH made by the entire state of Utah. Much attention will be paid to how Kessler does this season, and the Top 100 rankings from Action Network serve as more proof of that.
Kessler did not make the Top 100, but he was among the Honorable Mentions along with John Collins. Other players coming off injury-ravaged seasons, like Marcus Smart and Mitchell Robinson, made the cut over him.
Kessler had a down season, but Robinson and Smart made it over him more for reputation than what they've done recently. If Kessler returns to form as an elite rim protector, he has a better case to make the Top 100, especially if it leads to more Jazz wins.